1981 Pontiac Firebird Timing Chain & Gears on 2040-parts.com

Ford to adjust voice, touch-screen system

Ford Motor Co. will improve MyFord Touch, which uses voice and touch-screen controls, but won't remove it despite recent criticism that it distracts drivers, CEO Alan Mulally said last week. With the technology, also offered on Lincoln vehicles as MyLincoln Touch, drivers use a touch screen on the center console to control such things as temperature, music and cell phones.

New Mercedes S-Class Plug-in Hybrid to debut at Frankfurt Motor Show

The new Mercedes S-Class (pictured) will arrive with a plug-in hybrid version in September We’ve known Mercedes were planning a plug-in hybrid version of the new S-Class as far back as 2009, and it now appears it will debut – as a 2014 model – at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. When Mercedes revealed the Vision S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at Frankfurt in 2009, they had fitted it with a V6 petrol engine mated to a 44kw motor and a bank of lithium-ion batteries, and promised the hybrid S-Class would do 90mpg, have emissions of under 75g/km and manage 18 miles in EV mode. That means the hybrid S-Class would have performance comparable to the V8 petrol-engined S500 but attract no BIK or VED in the UK.

Video: Previewing the cars of RM Auction's Monterey sale

Get an early, behind-the-scenes look at some of the cars set to cross the block at RM Auctions' sale this week as part of the Pebble Beach Concours weekend, with Autoweek's Andrew Stoy and Hagerty's Rob Sass. The Monterey Week is packed with car shows, vintage racing and car auctions. Autoweek will be there providing streaming photo galleries and live coverage of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, historic racing at Laguna Seca, the Monterey car auctions and much more.