Nissan Patrol Stop Lights Red Couple on 2040-parts.com

Smart to sell Nissan-built car in U.S. in 2011

The U.S. distributor of Smart cars says it has a tentative deal with Nissan to sell a small, five-door car built by the Japanese automaker under the Smart brand, beginning in late 2011. Smart USA Distributor LLC, which is owned by Roger Penske's Penske Automotive Group, said the car would be powered by a gasoline engine and fit the B-segment size class.

BMW M5 manual mess-up

By Chris chilton Motor Industry 27 January 2007 01:34 North American customers were delighted when BMW bowed to their demands for a full three-pedal manual version of the current V10 M5 super saloon, but aren’t quiet so enamoured with the finished product. The issue is not with the gearbox itself – BMW successfully replaced the European model’s seven-speed SMG box with the old-shape M5’s six-speed manual – but with the compromises that were needed to get there. Without the benefit of computer control for the opening and closing of the clutch plates, M division’s engineers couldn’t eliminate axle tramp under hard take-offs.

Pininfarina to close manufacturing operations

Italian design and manufacturing house Pininfarina S.p.A announced it will be cutting back its operations, with the closure of its manufacturing facilities. The decision will see the brand now focusing solely on design and engineering aspects for the automotive industry. The move follows the recent completion of a partnership with Volvo, which saw the production of the C70 convertible at Pininfarina's Sverige AB plant in Uddevalla.