Nissan Maxima 04-08 Front Splash Shield Lh on 2040-parts.com

BMW i3 EV WILL get BMW motorcycle engine as range extender

BMW’s head of R&D, Herbert Diess, has confirmed the BMW i3 EV will come with the option of a range extender engine. BMW’s head of R&D, Herbert Diess, has confirmed to Automotive News that when the i3 arrives in BMW showrooms at the end of 2013 it will be offered with a range extending engine as well as a pure EV. The range extender engine will be housed in the boot and is derived from a BMW motorcycle engine, and will turn the i3 from a small EV, useful only in confined city environs with a range of around 40 miles, in to a small runaround that has a range of 250 miles.

GM product chief Bob Lutz to retire

GM boss Bob Lutz Retires By Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 09 February 2009 17:41 GM boss Bob Lutz will retire at the end of the year. The vice chairman of global product development – who has been at the centre of the automotive industry for the last 46 years – will be replaced by Tom Stephens, GM’s current veepee for global powertrain and global quality. Lutz, 76, will continue to report to GM boss Rick Wagoner throughout 2009 in his new role as GM vice chairman and senior advisor, before bowing out at the end of December.

Chevrolet to restore Covettes damaged in sinkhole disaster

Though we're very happy that no one was hurt when a sinkhole opened up beneath the Bowling Green, Ky. National Corvette Museum, the fate of the eight Corvettes damaged in the cave-in remained has remained unclear. Photos and footage of the incident show a few cars sitting on top of the rubble at the bottom of the 40-foot wide, 25 to 30-foot deep pit; others are presumably pinned under the debris.