373346 Packard Lifter Tappet on 2040-parts.com

Volvo XC60 – Star of New Moon

The Volvo XC60 stars in 'New Moon' Product placement can work with cars in big films. Just look at what the original James Bond films did for Aston Martin, from the DB5 in Goldfinger to the DBS in Casino Royale. Then there’s the Mustang in Bullet, the VW Beetle in the Herbie films, and let’s not forget the Mini in the Italian Job.

Mercedes-Benz prototypes spotted

Modern technology makes it harder for automakers to hide their upcoming products from prying eyes. Take, for example, these images sent to us from Autoweek subscriber Jonathan Peters while he was in Utah. Peters speculates that what he saw was a gathering of a varied Mercedes-Benz cars being tested, along with cars from other carmakers for comparisons.

Aston Martin may build Maybachs for Daimler, reports say

Aston Martin is in talks with Daimler AG over a potential partnership that would see the British luxury carmaker design and build a new Maybach ultraluxury sedan for the German automaker, Europe press reports said. Aston Martin may take engine technology from Daimler in exchange for building Daimler's Maybach cars, the Financial Times said on Wednesday, citing people close to the situation. German automotive magazine Auto Zeitung said Daimler has already commissioned a mock-up of a new Maybach limousine that would use know-how and parts from Aston Martin.