1497-8794a 9 Transom Bracket Port Mercury Midsection Outboards 1998-2006 on 2040-parts.com

NHTSA upgrades probe into Jeep fuel tanks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has upgraded its investigation into the fuel tank on three Jeep models to an engineering analysis, another step toward what could become a recall. Safety advocates say the location of the fuel tank, mounted behind the rear axle, makes it prone to catching fire in the event of a rear crash. The investigation covers Jeep Grand Cherokees built between 1993 and 2004, Jeep Cherokees built between 1993 and 2001, and Jeep Liberty SUVs built between 2002 and 2007.

Bentley SUV will create a new niche

The Bentley SUV (EXP 9 F pictured) will create a new market sector. We all saw the Bentley SUV when it arrive two years ago at the Geneva Motor show, and the general consensus was along the lines of ‘What a truck’. But Bentley have taken that reaction on board and are busy redesigning the looks of their SUV (well, the exterior anyway – the interior was lovely) to give it a more appealing look, one probably more biased towards an SUV version of the Continental Series rather than the Mulsanne.

Fiat 500L: UK price from £14,990

Fiat has revealed that their supersized 500 – the Fiat 500L – will cost from £14,990 for the 1.4 litre 500L Pop Star or Easy. Actually based on the Punto underpinnings, rather than the 500′s – the 500L is Fiat’s take on the MINI Countryman (well, both the 500L and the upcoming 500X SUV) and designed to extend the appeal of the 500 – Fiat’s most successful model – to a market that has outgrown the diminutive 500. Starting point for the 500L is aether the ‘Easy’ trim or ‘Pop Star’ trim (more daft trim levels) and come with standard features including a 5″ touchscreen radio, Bluetooth, Cruise, Electric door mirrors and leather on the gear knob and steering wheel.