04 Mercedes E500 Steering Column Collar Cover Panel 2114600195 03-06 on 2040-parts.com

Acura future products: Hybrids joining revamped lineup

Sales have begun to rebound for Acura, American Honda Motor Co.'s luxury brand, and a product renaissance in 2012--complete with a big entry into hybrid powertrains--could provide a further boost. Acura's two crossovers will be redesigned. And while the RL flagship won't have the rear-drive V8 version--those plans were killed in 2009--it will be significantly re-engineered.

One Lap of the Web: It's always St. Patrick's Day when you're Irish

-- If your crippling hangover didn't remind you today, yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. You know what that means: today is a good time to catch up on both green-themed car news.

Mercedes signs joint venture to build carbonfibre parts

Not to be outdone by BMW’s joint venture with the SGL Group to manufacturer commercially viable carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the electric Megacity Vehicle, Mercedes has announced a joint venture with Japanese company Toray Industries to manufacturer and market its on CFRP automotive parts. The deal was signed in Germany today, with Toray taking a 50.1% stake, Daimler holding 44.9% and the remaining 5% being taken by other shareholders. The two companies started working together in March 2010, and while Toray has been working on the materials and moulding processes, Merc has designed the automotive parts and the technologies to join the parts together.