20. Derrick Kuzak
Ford Motor Company Group vice president product development
Ford's quiet answer to Lutz
Rookie
Influence on: After developing Ford Motor Company vehicles in Europe, North America, and Japan, he's now in charge of developing North American Fords, Mercurys, and Lincolns. He's also in charge making products for One Ford, which unifies North American vehicles with European and Asian models, anyway.
Most significant project: EcoBoost, the turbocharged, direct gas-injection engines that will replace V-8s with V-6s, and V-6s with fours.
So he's partially responsible for: The death of the mainstream V-8 engine.
He says: "Combined with downsizing engines, direct injection allows less turbo lag and higher compression for more boost."
We say: Soft-spoken, public speaking-averse Kuzak is a car guy for the future.
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