Cardone 19-2766 Front Brake Caliper-reman Friction Choice Caliper on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes-Benz to cut production time, halve number of vehicle architectures

Mercedes-Benz is restructuring its global production network to cut the average production time for its models to 30 hours by 2015 from 43 in 2008. "We have increased productivity by 2 percent a year over the last few years. We will be accelerating our productivity efforts," Mercedes production boss Wolfgang Bernhard said during an investor conference that was part of the automaker's plant opening in Kecskemet, Hungary, on Thursday.

Los Angeles Motor Show: Porsche reveals new Panamera flagship

THE SCINTILLATING Panamera Turbo S has been launched at twin events at the Tokyo and Los Angeles motor shows. The new flagship at the top of the firm’s grand tourer line-up packs a 562bhp punch from a twin-turbocharged V8 engine mounted at the front, with drive transmitted to all four wheels via a sophisticated drive system that can shift torque to whichever wheels can best use it. Displaying true supercar pace, the Turbo S can catapult to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 192mph.

Concept Car of the Week: Fiat Scia (1993)

After a successful design competition between famous Italian design houses to rework the little Cinquecento, Fiat renewed the experience two years later by giving to nine of them – including Fiat's in-house studio – a new Fiat Punto as a base to let their creative juices flow. The results ranged from being simply forgettable (Zagato Monomille), ridiculously daft (Boneschi Doblone) or just plain ugly (Giannini Punto 4x4 TL), but one of the concepts stood out from the flock for being brilliantly bold. This was the Fiat Scia, presented to the public at the 1993 Turin Auto Show.