1982 Yamaha It 250 Trials J17 Swing Arm on 2040-parts.com

Kia goes (dark) green

By Jesse Crosse Motor Industry 23 September 2008 11:00 Kia has unveiled a portfolio of new environmental technologies, including a 1.4-litre Ceed with stop-start (due in the UK in 2009), a Ceed hybrid and the latest version of its fuel cell-powered Sportage. The Korean manufacturer is investing heavily in research and development and will increase its spend on R&D from £2.2 billion this year to £2.6 billion by 2010, combined with a 40 percent increase in manpower at its research centres around the globe. The money is being spent on developing downsized, turbocharged engines, efficiency improvements to conventional engines such as friction reduction and the separation of accessories like water pumps from the engine.

Swedish sports-car maker Koenigsegg may buy Saab

General Motors has chosen Swedish luxury sports car maker Koenigsegg Automotive AB as the preferred bidder for the Saab brand, news reports said. Koenigsegg and Norwegian investors have signed a letter of intent to take over Saab, Swedish television said Thursday, attributing its report to unnamed sources. "The deal is there now and a few minor details remain," a source told Reuters.

Henry III, Act I: Henry Ford's great-great grandson will soon enter the stage

Why do we think 29-year-old Henry Ford III will make a great auto executive? Not because he is the great-great grandson of Henry Ford, direct descendant of the founder, and next in line for the throne if Ford Motor Co. was a monarchy.