Standard Motor Products Us947 Ignition Switch on 2040-parts.com

General Motors combines smartphone functions with the Chevrolet Volt

General Motors is bringing together two of the hottest areas of technology--smartphones and plug-in electric cars. GM's OnStar telematics unit has developed a downloadable application that will let Chevrolet Volt drivers use a Blackberry Storm, Apple iPhone or Motorola Droid to remotely control and monitor some vehicle functions, such as charging. The Volt is slated to go into production late this year and arrive in California utility company fleets by early 2011.

Toyota sets electric car record at Nurburgring with TMG EV P001

Toyota TMG EV P001 - new EV lap record at the Nurburgring Every car maker wants a lap record at the Nurburgring, and Toyota is no different. What is different this time is that Toyota has taken a non-production car with an electric motor – the Toyota TMG EV P001 – to crack the record for an EV. Nurburgring regular Jochen Krumbach took the Toyota Motorsport EV P001 round the 20.8km Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in a blistering 7m 47.794s, annihilating the previous record of 9m 1.388s.

Future products: Suzuki Swift on hold as VW reviews plans

American Suzuki's product plans are murky--partly as a result of Volkswagen's acquisition of 20 percent of Suzuki Motor Corp. this year and partly because of the growing strength of the yen against the dollar. The Swift, a small car popular in Europe and Japan, was scheduled to go on sale in the United States this year.