01 02 03 Ford Taurus Hub Rear W/abs Rear Disc Brakes on 2040-parts.com

Tesla teases Model S prior to debut

Prior to its world debut on March 26, Tesla has decided to whet the appetites of green-car fans by releasing a teaser image of its upcoming Model S sedan. Under the direction of former Mazda designer Franz von Holzhausen, the Model S features a rounded front nose, a front fender plate with an affixed Tesla emblem and a noticeably shorter hoodline. Unlike the Fisker Karma, the Model S will be powered solely on battery propulsion and do without a range-extending engine, which helps accommodate the shorter hood.

‘Crash avoidance’ systems rated for safety

The European car safety body Euro NCAP has confirmed it is currently testing a number of cars fitted with crash avoidance technology in an effort to judge the systems’ effectiveness. This news coincides with an announcement from the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which has published the first results of its own version of the scheme. Euro NCAP and IIHS are cooperating to establish a standardised test formula.

Chrysler to build more Rams, V6 engines

Chrysler Group will add a third shift next spring at its Warren Truck plant in suburban Detroit and revamp part of its Mack Engine complex in Detroit to make more Pentastar V6 engines. The moves represent about $238 million in further investment in the Detroit area and will add 1,250 jobs, a Chrysler spokeswoman confirmed. A formal announcement is scheduled for Thursday in Detroit.