Crown Automotive J3182095 Exhaust Gasket on 2040-parts.com

Alfa Romeo will reportedly become standalone company

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne plans to turn Alfa Romeo into a standalone company, Automotive News Europe reports. Marchionne is expected to announce wide-ranging plans for the brand on May 6 which will see Alfa Romeo become a stand-alone legal entity within Fiat-Chrysler, with a publicly disclosed profit and loss statement. Alfa Romeo is currently part of Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., which also contains Lancia, Fiat Professional trucks and vans and the Abarth performance brand.

Updated: Lexus LF-LC Concept

The Lexus LF-LC concept – a four-seat coupe that will make its debut at the NAIAS in Detroit – has been further unveiled in these latest shots. Designed in Toyota's Catly studio in Newport Beach, California, the show car appears to develop Lexus' L-Finesse design language, while retaining familiar features such as the huge grille first seen on the LF-Gh concept and subsequent GS sedan production car. The upward flick of the windowline into the C-pillar is also reminiscent of the flagship LFA.

Mercedes-Benz considering Aston Martin buyout

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly considering a deal to buyout sports car manufacturer Aston Martin, fuelling rumours that the canned Aston Martin Lagonda SUV concept from 2009 (pictured above) could once again be back on. The move would see Merc increase its current 5% stake in the British brand following a deal announced last year to supply AMG engines for Aston’s next generation of sports cars. On Bing: see pictures of the Aston Martin Lagonda SUV concept Find out how much a used Aston Martin costs on Auto Trader It’s no secret the firm has been toying with the idea of a premium SUV following the Lagonds concept, so with Mercedes technical expertise and existing model range, it opens up potential new models to Aston Martin.