Unlike most automakers competing in Europe, Mazda is not downsizing its engines to help meet tougher emissions standards. It’s driving efficiency by changing its engine geometry. One of the side benefits of this approach is that Mazda’s front-wheel-drive models have the long, flowing looks of popular premium rear-drive models. Mazda Europe design chief Peter Birthwhistle, who has spent a quarter century with the automaker following stints at Vauxhall, Audi and Porsche, explained how and why this happened.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen has reached an outline deal with Dongfeng and France to raise up to 4 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in fresh capital and deepen cooperation with the Chinese carmaker, sources familiar with the matter said.The agreement is due to be presented to the PSA board on February 18 and likely signed as a non-binding memorandum of understanding the same day, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation.