New Bosch Spark Plug, 30650843 on 2040-parts.com

U.S. sales rise 9 percent in July

U.S. demand for light vehicles continued to defy mostly weak economic indicators by rising 9 percent in July. Big sales gains at Japan's and Europe's top automakers--Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen--offset declines at Ford Motor Co.

Is this supercharged V8 destined for the Corvette ZR1?

This is a big week for spy shots, and apparently a friend of a friend of a “friend” snapped this little ditty of what could be the motor of the next Z06, or ZR1. Corvette Online nabbed the shot of a supercharged LT1-looking V8 mill; they cite the injector cover shape and the throttle body. The site also noted the twin-rotor supercharger with an LSA/LS9-style pulley on the front.

Fisker Surf (2011) at the Frankfurt motor show

Fisker showed off its new Surf station wagon at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show this week. As correctly revealed by CAR Online, Fisker's Frankfurt surprise was a more practical version of the Karma range-extener hybrid. Fledgling brand Fisker calls the Surf 'the world’s first electric luxury/sports automobile for an active and eco-friendly lifestyle'.