Chevy Chrome Oil Pan, Small Block, 1949-1954 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota ends powertrain deal with Tesla

To the surprise of no one, Toyota has announced the end of a partnership with Tesla that gave rise to the slow-selling RAV4 EV, which will be replaced by a fuel cell car next year. Toyota has said that it can't meet California's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate profitably with electric cars, but it thinks it can make money, or at least not lose so much of it, with fuel cells. Toyota signed a $100 million joint development deal in 2011 with Tesla, to build powertrains for its RAV4 EV.

Audi RS5 spotted at the Nurburgring

The Audi RS5 caught testing at the Nurburgring this week. The Audi S5 is a cracking looking car. Stylish and understated, it carries a big enough stick to provide oodles of fun for most, but a real barn-stormer of car, with plenty of power would, even in these constrained times, be a winner.

Chrysler races to upgrade its lineup

In a bid to improve its lineup before a fleet of new Fiat-based vehicles arrives in 2012, Chrysler Group is rushing new features and equipment into 15 reworked vehicles. The equipment, such as a Fiat dual-clutch, six-speed transmission and a new Chrysler V6, will boost fuel economy, improve driving dynamics and spiff up drab interiors, all areas in which Chrysler has fared poorly in consumer surveys. All the vehicles will be on sale by the first quarter of next year.