Suzuki Z400 Voltage Regulator / Rectifier Ltz400 on 2040-parts.com

Merc to revive straight six, plus 4cyl and smaller V8s

Mercedes has just signed off a new engine family which will see most full-sized Mercs in future run four-cylinders, downsized V8s and… straight sixes. A friendly Mercedes engineer recently met CAR to disclose the engine plans for future models, including the surprise disclosure that Merc plans to switch to straight sixes, like its rivals over in Munich.  It's fair to say I almost choked on my breakfast croissant when I found out the details of the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015. Mercedes' future four-cylinder engines Again, there will be a family of new low-cost fours, and the big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of downsized turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

Lincoln gets own design studio

Ford is creating a dedicated design studio for its luxury brand Lincoln in an ongoing bid to rejuvenate the brand and position it further apart from the core Ford offering. The new design studio will be situated in the Product Development Center in Dearborn, Michigan, with Max Wolff – recruited from Cadillac last year – charged with leading the brand in its revival efforts. Ford has also announced that it will be increasing spending on the brand, giving it unique interiors and powertrains.

2012 SEAT Ibiza facelift arrives in the UK – and with a price drop

The 2012 SEAT Ibiza facelift arrives in the UK With the Geneva public debut for the SEAT Ibiza facelift, the titivated Ibiza arrives in the UK with a small price drop. SEAT revealed a facelift for the 2012 Ibiza in January and debuted it last week at the Geneva Motor Show. But with that out of the way it’s now time to get the order book for the new Ibiza buzzing, and a price drop is not a bad way to do it.