Harley Davidson Signature Series Seat W/backrest 51985-08 on 2040-parts.com

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee facelift revealed

Chrysler has rolled out a facelift for the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the usual cosmetic tweaks, better interior and new 8-speed auto ‘box. Jeep has worked hard to make the latest Grand Cherokee a much more appealing road car than before, with car-like on-road manners despite still having Land Rover levels of off-road ability. The only real criticisms we can level at the current Grand Cherokee (which, coincidently  we have in for review this week) is some cheap trim on the inside, a blobby infotainment system and an old-school, five-speed auto ‘box that really has no place in a modern, premium SUV.

Kia styling chief Schreyer is fluent in Koreapean

The way Peter Schreyer sees it, there is one key difference between European and Korean automakers: Europeans design from the heart, Koreans from the head. "In a European company, everybody is a car driver, a car enthusiast," says the Germany-born design chief of Kia Motors Corp. "Everybody from the CEO to the little designer to people on the production line, they want to build cars they want to drive themselves." Koreans can be more market-oriented: "They look at the big picture, which markets to explore or conquer.

Smart's $99 loan deal has big balloon payment at end

Hoping to benefit from the federal cash-for-guzzlers program, Smart USA has set up a $99 monthly payment for buyers who use their $4,500 rebate. But there's a catch--and a hefty balloon payment disclosed only as a note to an asterisk in Smart's press information announcing the offer. The Smart financing is for $99 a month for 36 months, with a balloon payment of $6,667 due at the end.