8300122 Bolt 2009-chad-kx.gr Chain Adjuster Blocks Kaw Grn on 2040-parts.com

Fisker, Energy Department face tough Congressional hearing on federal loans

Struggling Fisker Automotive took a bludgeoning Wednesday on Capitol Hill from top congressional Republicans who compared Fisker to failed automotive startups of the past and lambasted the Department of Energy for allowing the electric-car producer to draw down nearly $200 million in taxpayer-funded loans. House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told Fisker founder Henrik Fisker that he will be remembered fondly for his design work for BMW and Aston Martin. But he compared Fisker to Malcolm Bricklin, John DeLorean and Preston Tucker -- three entrepreneurs known for their failed startup car companies.

Choice of UK police cars massively slimmed down

Car enthusiasts will soon be able to relax a little after it was announced that the range of police cars approved for use in Britain is being slashed. Those backward glances in your mirror will now be a simpler mental process. This week’s Government spending review will purge many of the wilder police cars favoured by some constabularies, as they launch a drive to save £3.4 million each year by standardising procurement of patrol cars.

Last-ever BMW M3 Coupe rolls off line

With only a shade over 16,000 examples produced for the worldwide market during its run, the first-generation BMW M3 wasn't built in significantly larger numbers than the Lamborghini Gallardo (13,059 cars by the end of the 2012 model year). And they were all coupes. The four-door M3 was introduced in 1994, two years after the second-generation coupe bowed, sat out the car's E46 run and then returned for the E90's run.