1951-58 Dodge Vacumn Control on 2040-parts.com

Carbon-fiber parts and a software fix help create a lighter, faster Fiat

Chrysler Group's Mopar parts brand and Italian supplier Magneti Marelli have teamed up on a design exercise based on the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth that shaved weight and added horsepower. The vehicle, called the Venom, has a number of carbon fiber components -- hood and side mirrors, for example -- that makes it about 200 pounds lighter than the 2,512-pound Abarth. The Venom uses software updates and additional exhaust components to boost the Abarth's standard 160-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged engine's output by as much as 25 percent.

Skoda MissionL Concept revealed – the Skoda Lauretta, perhaps?

Skoda MissionL Concept - destined to be the Skoda Lauretta Skoda is on a mission to push its sales through the roof in the next year or seven – aiming for 1.5 million sales, no less, by 2018 –  and part of that strategy is to fill the gap in its range between the Fabia and Octavia. So it’s a good thing the Skoda MissionL Concept fits the bill. Not that we have a great deal to go on with the MissionL Concept, as all Skoda have done so far is send us a short press release and the teaser photo above (which was a lot darker until we sent it through Photoshop).

Jaguar F-Type Coupe teased again ahead of debut

The new Jaguar F-Type Coupe’s curves With the real F-Type about to be revealed in Los Angeles – the Jaguar F-Type Coupe – Jaguar has already started garnering interest with the first teaser photo of the F-Type Coupe. That photo showed a birds-eye view of the new F-Type Coupe – complete with panoramic glass roof – but this time Jaguar has revealed what could be the money shot – the view from the rear three quarters looking along the side of the new F-Type and highlighting its curves. It’s a view that is reminiscent of the same angle on the E-Type – no bad thing – even if we don’t expect the F-Type Coupe to keep the E-Type’s side-hinged rear hatch we saw on the C-X16 Concept.