2002 Bmw K1200lt K1200 Lt Front Fairing Map Light on 2040-parts.com

Cash for clunkers plan revives trade fight

Import brand automakers and dealers warned on Thursday that a vehicle scrappage proposal before the Senate would violate trade agreements and could weaken the economy. The Senate could vote on the plan on Thursday, which would offer $10,000 to any moderate- or low-income consumer who trades in a car or truck that is at least 10 years old and buys a new one that is more fuel-efficient and "assembled in the United States." The trade-ins would be scrapped rather than resold. The U.S.-made mandate "smacks of the protectionism that led to the Great Depression," said Barbara Nocera, the top Washington lobbyist for Mazda North American Operations.

Ford Focus ECOnetic (2010) revealed at Frankfurt

Ford has revealed the 2010 Focus ECOnetic at Frankfurt For the first time Ford has made Start-Stop an option, which was something we thought should be added to the Fiesta ECOnetic when we had it. The Focus ECOnetic also benefits from Smart Regenerative Charging and something called Tension FEAD (no, we had no idea either, but apparently it reduces friction) which help make the new ECOnetic Focus more economical and less polluting. With Stop-Start fitted to the 1.6 litre Duratorq TDCi the Focus manages to hit the magic 99g/km mark.

Fiat Panda Cross wins top 4×4 Award

The Fiat Panda Cross, that mirculous little go-anywhere 4×4, which only came to the UK a few months ago, has won the Top 4×4 Award from 4×4 and MPV Driver Magazine. Well done! Amazingly, the judges put the little Fiat at the top of the pile, praising its affordability and off-road ability, and highlighting the cracking little 1.3 turbo diesel engine which makes this car shine.