Ignition Switch Niehoff Dr142b on 2040-parts.com

First Fiat 500s will have stick shifts

The 2012 Fiat 500 , heading to U.S. dealerships later than first expected, is enduring another hiccup: The first units arriving in dealerships in late February will have manual transmissions, the company said. Moreover, only about 20 percent of the 130 Fiat dealerships will be open when those first cars arrive, said Laura Soave, head of the Fiat brand in North America, at the Detroit auto show last week.

BMW i8 revealed: The BMW Vision ED lives

BMW i8 Revealed Today BMW reveals the i8 Concept, the production concept of the Vision EfficientDynamics supercar we saw back in 2009 and, for BMW, their way forward in a more eco-conscious world. But being aware of the climate doesn’t mean the joy has to be taken from the drive, and the BMW i8 aims to offer a car which can claim a green halo be also be a stimulating and appealing car for the petrolhead. The i8 is remarkably similar to the original Vision ED Concept, although it has dumped the 1.5 litre diesel the Concept has for a new 1.5 litre petrol engine with direct injection which develops 220bhp and 221lb/ft of torque.

Infotainment in cars could get a boost from backup-camera mandate

A federal mandate to require backup cameras in all vehicles, expected Feb. 29, will be a bonanza for suppliers of collision-avoidance equipment. But the mandate also could provide an unintended boost to the infotainment industry.