Mercury 856628t Spring, Inlet Grate 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.

Adaptive steering for big Fords arrives on new Edge

By Tim Pollard Motoring Issues 30 May 2014 17:43 Ford today announced all its future large cars will have adaptive steering as standard - letting reps flick their wrists on the way in to the Welcome Break on the M4, yet tip their fingers when changing lanes on the London orbital. It's a further sign that what was once the high-tech preserve of the German brands is now firmly in the mainstream. BMW was one of the brands which pioneered variable-ratio power steering; in essence, it changes the ratio between the driver's inputs at the wheel and the rate at which turns are made at the rack.

BMW 'looking' at an M1 supercar successor

BMW is actively considering a new range-topping supercar model in the spirit of the M1 and Z8, CAR has learned. Global sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson said the company had other priorities, but that there remained a desire to showcase the brand's sporting aspirations. 'We have never replaced the M1, although we have made ventures in that direction,' he said.