Rubicon Express Rxj712 Rear Monotube Shock For Jeep Jk on 2040-parts.com

GM bets on new four-cylinder family in Europe; U.S. plans unclear

General Motors' European subsidiary, Opel, has revealed a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine that will be offered from early 2013 across its lineup, starting with the soon-to-be-revealed Astra-based Cascada convertible. The aluminum block unit, the first in a new range of so-called SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) ECOTEC engines, forms the centerpiece of the company's downsizing strategy for displacement. The engine is claimed to have improved torque characteristics and a significant reduction in consumption compared with its predecessor.

Your Fisker Karma is ready, Mr Di Caprio

The firts Fisker Karma is off to Leonardo di Caprio - without the leggy passenger The Fisker Karma has been on its way for what seems a very long time. But finally, Henrik Fisker’s eponymous company is delivering what it’s been promising, and the first recipient later this month of the Karma will be Leonardo di Caprio. Henrik Fisker has a few more famous faces in his 3,000 order bank including Al Gore (former vice President and the man with the disingenuous climate-change campaign to his credit) and Colin Powell (best know for the Gulf war and being the only man called Colin who can’t pronounce his own name).

Bentley uses 3D printing to prototype new designs [w/Video]

3D printing is changing the way the world makes things by helping people of all disciplines to enhance and refine their ideas cheaply, quickly and effectively.  Bentley is the latest carmaker to utilize the technology to fabricate and prototype different parts to see how they'll look and work on the finished design. Using 3D printers, designers can produce parts from the exterior and interior such as the grille, tires, headlamps and door handles as well as combine different types of contrasting materials, ranging from hard plastics to rubbers of different tensile strengths.  The technology allows the user to create a solid 3D object straight from a digital model by printing layers of material on top of each other. This process rapidly decreases the delivery time, as parts can be printed overnight, and allows designers to be more creative in their ideas because of the reduced cost. Bentley isn't the first carmaker to use 3D printing technology. Audi announced last year it was beginning to prototype vehicle parts using 3D printers.