Explorer 2002 Seat Belt Assembly, Rear 3rd Row Passenger Side 373355 on 2040-parts.com

BMW-Mercedes alliance: the latest news

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 06 October 2008 17:13 BMW and Mercedes are continuing to work on joint projects, CAR can reveal. The two premium brands reckon working together might just stave off the threat of the credit crunch, collapsing car sales in key markets and the uncertainty wobbling the very foundations of the motor industry. But the BMW-Merc collaboration is proving difficult, according to executives in Germany contacted by CAR.

Dual-clutch transmission put on hold at Chrysler

Chrysler Group has delayed introduction of a fuel-saving automatic transmission so it can make the shift patterns more palatable to U.S. drivers--the latest sign that a key tool in automakers' plans to meet tougher fuel-economy rules needs some fine-tuning. Two weeks ago, Ford Motor Co., which uses a similar dual-clutch transmission in its Fiesta and Focus, took a hit in Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey because many drivers complained about balky shifting.

Kia Naimo concept at the Seoul auto show explores an electric-powered city car

Kia continues to explore its electric-car capabilities with the Naimo small-car concept, unveiled on Thursday at the Seoul motor show. The boxy, four-seat Naimo fits into the B-size class, which includes cars such as the Honda Fit, the Toyota Yaris, the Ford Fiesta and the Chevrolet Sonic. The Naimo is 153.2 inches long and has a wheelbase of 104.2 inches.