Engine Timing Idler Sprocket Beck/arnley 025-0455 on 2040-parts.com

Chrysler future products: Only one minivan, no Jeep Compass

In 2014, Chrysler Group will drop the Jeep Compass and replace the Chrysler Town & Country minivan with a crossover, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed. The changes are part of a long-term effort by Marchionne to give each Chrysler Group brand a more distinct identity and eliminate product overlaps. Brand identity is crucial for Chrysler because more than 90 percent of its dealerships now sell all four volume brands: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.

Caterham Seven to use Suzuki three-cylinder turbo power (2013)

Caterham has announced its new entry-level Seven will cost less than £17,000 and use a three-cylinder, turbocharged engine sourced from Suzuki. The new car will go on sale in the autumn of 2013, with first customer deliveries expected in November. What’s the specification of the new Caterham Seven?

Volkswagen plans 4 million cars from one platform

Volkswagen is pushing the global-platform concept to a level unprecedented in the auto industry, introducing a modular platform this summer that eventually will be the basis of microcars, sedans, crossovers and SUVs for its four largest brands. While automakers now share platforms across brands and sometimes even segments, the VW initiative that starts this summer is far more ambitious than anything seen so far. By 2017, some analysts estimate, the MQB platform that debuts with the Audi A3 eventually will be used in 4 million units a year--close to half of VW's annual production.