Dorman 611-058 Wheel Lug Nut on 2040-parts.com

Only one minivan in Chrysler's future, no subcompacts for U.S. market

The Chrysler Group will offer just one minivan in the future--the Chrysler Town & Country--as part of a plan to end duplication in dealer showrooms and give each of its brands a strong and distinctive lineup. Under the plan, the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and Dodge Avenger mid-sized sedan will be replaced by a single crossover in 2013, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News. The Chrysler brand will get a replacement for the 200 sedan when the Avenger, its sibling, is replaced.

Ford eyes dandelions as sustainable alternative to synthetic rubber

Ford, in conjunction with Ohio State University, is turning to the humble garden weed as sustainable resource, researching the dandelion's potential use as an alternative to synthetic rubber. While the automaker already makes considerable use of sustainable materials in its vehicles – such as soy foam seat cushions and straw-filled plastic for interior trim – this latest discovery opens up a wealth of new possibilities for automotive applications. According to research conducted by Ford, a milky-white substance that is found in certain dandelion roots can produce a sustainable rubber that could be used to create plastic parts for vehicle interiors.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA (2008): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 14 January 2008 00:59 Mitsubishi picked an elegant way to signal its intention to sell more diesel models in the US; its Concept-RA unveiled today in Detroit is a slinky two-seater coupe that's more likely to turn heads for its sharp looks than its 2.2-litre turbodiesel. It also points to the new Eclipse, which could come to Europe next time round. The sports car is one of the best-looking concepts shown by Mitsubishi for ages, its bright red paintwork contrasted by matt black finish on certain functional body parts, including the top of the engine which actually forms part of the bonnet.