Honda Cb350 Tachometer Metal Case on 2040-parts.com

Honda shows off Concept C and Concept S at Beijing motor show

Alongside the Chinese introduction of its new ILX and RDX, Honda rolled out two concept vehicles that the company says presage new models to hit the Chinese market. The “C” in “Concept C” apparently stands for “cool,” “challenge” and “China,” which is er, um, iffy, but at least it's a departure from Honda's as-of-late anodyne exterior design. Though it rather closely resembles a late-model Hyundai dressed up in Super Sentai garb, Honda claims that the C's design was inspired by a dragon.

BMW and Merc to join forces

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 08 February 2008 13:03 CAR Online today reveals the extent to which BMW and Mercedes are plotting to cooperate on future models. In a wide-ranging plan, the two German premium marques could join forces to take on the might of Audi, with its backing and economies of scale of the whole Volkswagen group and, increasingly, Porsche. BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer and his counterpart at Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, are coming to the conclusion that the two brands – for so long, fierce rivals – should work together rather than fight against each other.

Ford reportedly to shut down Mercury

The Mercury brand, rumored to be on the verge of death several times over the past decade, would be shut down under a plan being prepared for Ford Motor Co.'s board of directors, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. Citing two executives who have knowledge of the plan but asked not to be identified, the news service said the plan would be submitted to Ford's board in July. How quickly Mercury would be shut down depends how quickly the automaker can convince Lincoln Mercury dealers to close or merge with a Ford-brand dealership, the report said.