1949-1954 Chevrolet Accessory Coat Hook, Repop, Stainless Steel on 2040-parts.com

Land Rover confirms end of Defender production

It's been all but a foregone conclusion for some time now, but Land Rover has confirmed to our sister publication Automotive News Europe that the aging Defender won't live to see 2020. Originally conceived as an agricultural machine, the first Land Rover prototype used scavenged Willys Jeep bits left over from World War II. American kids of a certain age may have been captivated by the Land Rover's mystique while watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom back in the '70s.

McLaren Automotive officially launches as the MP4-12C speeds toward production

McLaren Automotive laid out its ambitious plans to become a competitive player in the high-performance car market on Thursday and wants to build up to 4,000 top-shelf sports car annually by the middle of the decade. The company held a grand opening at its base in Woking, England, to celebrate the progress and officially unveil the MP4-12C as it moves toward production. The estimated 592-hp supercar is expected to be exceptionally light and aerodynamic as the company takes aim at the best of Ferrari and Lamborghini.

L.A. auto show: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze dials in 40 mpg

A key piece of the future of General Motors will be on display next week in Los Angeles. Yes, the Chevrolet Volt will be there. But so too will the 2011 Cruze, the new compact car in Chevy's lineup due towards the end of next year that promises up to 40 mpg on the highway.