2004 Dodge Stratus 89392 Miles Speedometer Instrument Cluster Gauges 2416399 on 2040-parts.com

Smart Forspeed concept signals new design direction

Smart will unveil a new concept at the forthcoming Geneva motor show that signals a new design direction, hints at future product and confirms parent company Daimler's renewed commitment to the brand. Car Design News was granted early access to the concept, baptized Forspeed, at a secret photography studio in Stuttgart last week and heard the head of advanced design, Steffen Kohl, explain how the two-seat, electric-powered vehicle prefaces design themes in both the next Fortwo and the revived Forfour, which will be launched in 2014. "The fullness of this concept's exterior surfaces is important and will be reflected in future production models," said Kohl, "Smart will still be short, spacey, agile, and with wheels at the corners of the car, but with an added sporty and emotional design and without losing all the brand's iconic elements like its ‘plastic fantastic' aspect and the safe and hi-tech modular tridion shell assembled with all these changeable body parts.

Mercedes-Benz recalls diesel cars for a problem with the fuel filter

Mercedes-Benz is recalling nearly 7,000 diesel vehicles from the 2011 and 2012 model years to fix a possible defect with the diesel filter that could cause it to leak fuel. Mercedes said it is concerned that a crash or a fire could ensue in the event of a fuel leak from the area around the heating component in affected vehicles. The recall will involve an estimated 6,782 vehicles.

Muscle-car icons immortalized in new postal-stamp set

Perhaps sensing that it's at risk of going the way of the carbureted big-block and leaded gasoline, the United States Postal Service is apparently willing to try anything to boost its bottom line. Though we're sure its recently announced line of postal worker-inspired apparel will be a runaway (and runway) success, we're glad to see the USPS reaching out to the automotive-enthusiast community with a new set of limited-edition stamps that commemorate the American muscle car. We told you about the stamps earlier this year, but we can now confirm the lineup.