New life for Lincoln from the ashes of Mercury

The demise of Mercury has one potentially positive outcome for the car world: a revitalization of Lincoln. News of Mercury's pending closure was paired with Ford's plans to boost Lincoln's lineup. Six new or significantly refreshed products will arrive in the next four years, and a seventh, the restyled MKX, is preparing for launch.

Kustom kar kings' Dean Jeffries dead at 80

UPDATED: Dean Jeffries, a contemporary of California's great kustom kar kings in the early 1950s, who would go on to fame making cars for TV and movies, died Sunday, May 5 at 80. Jeffries grew up in Lynwood, Calif., across the street from Indy racer Troy Ruttman and around the corner from Sam and George Barris' shop. He spent his days hanging around the greats: George Cerny, Von Dutch and Big Daddy Roth.

Dacia parades machine gun-equipped Duster

THE ROMANIAN military has apparently displayed an armoured and machine gun-equipped version of the humble Dacia Duster 4x4. The army-grade Duster has been given a degree of bulletproof plating, as well as under-body armour for the most vulnerable areas like the engine and fuel tank. However, it’s the remote-controlled machine gun mounted on the roof that’s sure to raise the most eyebrows.