2006 06 Honda Cbr600rr Generator At Lkq Motorsports on 2040-parts.com

Strong results for Maserati

By Chris Hope Motor Industry 27 July 2007 02:27 This week has thrown up some surprising financial results for struggling car manufacturers from all corners of the industry. Last February, at the release of the Quattroporte Automatica saloon, chief exec Roberto Ronchi promised an end to Maserati’s financial woes. Five months later, the Italian supercar maker sees black for the first time in its 17-year Fiat stewardship.

Ford Energi drivers use all-electric mode 60 percent of the time

Ford has noticed quite a few interesting things by researching how owners use their Ford plug-in hybrids. It appears that Ford owners are driving their hybrids in electric mode nearly 60 percent of the time, using their cars' 21 miles of gas-free all-electric range. This figure contrasts quite a bit with the 41 percent of all-electric drive time earlier in the year, demonstrating that winter driving patterns differ quite a bit from summer driving.

Hot Wheels and Icon in sandbox battle

As first reported by Jeff Glucker of Hooniverse, the toymaker Mattel has been accused of infringing on a trademark held by the low-volume vehicle builder Icon 4X4. Icon claims that a Hot Wheels toy being distributed worldwide is based on its Icon FJ40—which itself is based on the Toyota FJ40—and that Hot Wheels' use of Icon's design, promotional materials and the name “FJ40” violates trademarks held by Icon. In its response to Tuesday's Hooniverse post, Hot Wheels claimed that the toy is not based on the Icon FJ40, and that it has the right to use the term “FJ40” despite Icon's trademark.