Steel Horse Automotive Cast Aluminum Side Steps on 2040-parts.com

GM preps for new engines, 8-speed transmission

General Motors is spending $332 million to upgrade powertrain plants in three states to build a new eight-speed automatic transmission, a new V6 and a new family of small-displacement gasoline engines. The plants are in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. GM is also adding $46 million to an earlier $600 million program to upgrade powertrain plants in Saginaw and Romulus, Mich.

Chrysler races to upgrade its lineup

In a bid to improve its lineup before a fleet of new Fiat-based vehicles arrives in 2012, Chrysler Group is rushing new features and equipment into 15 reworked vehicles. The equipment, such as a Fiat dual-clutch, six-speed transmission and a new Chrysler V6, will boost fuel economy, improve driving dynamics and spiff up drab interiors, all areas in which Chrysler has fared poorly in consumer surveys. All the vehicles will be on sale by the first quarter of next year.

Saab secures investment from China et al

China's Hawtai Automotive invest €150 million in Saab As you can’t have failed to notice, Saab has stopped production because it’s run out of money. And despite the best efforts of Vladimir Antonov to throw money at Saab, the EIB and the Swedish Debt Office seemed unwilling to move quickly to allow Saab to get back in to production. But things they are a-changing.