2004 Seat Cordoba 1.4l Diesel Manual Valeo Starter Motor on 2040-parts.com

Who's Where: Lorenzo Ramaciotti appointed Chief of Design for Fiat Group

Starting June 1, 2007 Lorenzo Ramaciotti will become the new Group Chief of Design at Fiat Group Automobiles. Ramaciotti was snatched up by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and convinced to head the company's design direction, filling a newly created position that hasn't previously existed at Fiat. Lorenzo Ramaciotti, who retired from Pininfarina in June 2005 after working for the famed coachbuilder for 32 years, will be responsible for all the Fiat Group brands, including Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati.

GM's green future: EVs, plug-in hybrids

General Motors' future green-car efforts will focus on plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles rather than conventional hybrid powertrains, product chief Mary Barra said Wednesday. Barra said GM has narrowed its future development emphasis in an effort to defend its leadership position attained with the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. GM will unveil an electric Spark minicar in late November at the Los Angeles auto show.

Porsche Panamera to receive long-wheelbase treatment for 2012

Porsche is developing a long-wheelbase version of the Panamera in a bid to satisfy demand for greater rear-seat legroom from customers in North American and China. Details remain sketchy, but insiders at the company's research and development center in Germany have indicated to AutoWeek that the 115-inch wheelbase of today's Panamera will be extended by almost five inches, taking it up to nearly 120 inches. By comparison, the long-wheelbase version of the Mercedes-Benz S-class boasts a 124-inch wheelbase.