2007 Mercedes E320radio Navi A2118204397 on 2040-parts.com

Mopar salutes Don Garlits and muscle-car past as it eyes global future

Mopar made its name in performance and parts, but Chrysler's aftermarket division is staking its future on practicality. The brand celebrated its 75th anniversary on Tuesday at the Mopar engineering lab in Center Line, Mich., just north of Detroit. While it rolled out four custom cars with various stages of show-and-go upgrades and drag-racing legend Don Garlits, Mopar officials were decidedly forward-looking.

Car production increases again

THE SOCIETY of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said UK manufacturers built 91,282 cars in August, up 16.2%, or 12,705, on the same period in 2012, leaving year-to-date volumes 3.1% ahead of 2012, at 984,545. The figures showed 20,298 cars were made for the home market this year, up 21.1%, while 70,984 were for export, up 14.8%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The past 12-months has been one of the most productive since late 2008." Samuel Tombs, of consultancy Capital Economics, said the CBI figures showed the manufacturing sector "continuing to go from strength to strength".

2013 BMW M3 offered in Frozen Red, White and Blue

Hot on the heels of the BMW 6-series Frozen Silver Edition coupe, the company says it will build a Frozen Edition of the M3 in three all-American colors: red, white and blue. Last year the company produced Frozen black and Frozen silver versions of the hopped-up 3-series. Standard equipment includes: --BMW Individual Frozen red, white, or blue exterior paint --Competition package including: --Matte black 19” light alloy wheels --Electronic damper control --Lowered suspension (-10 mm) --Sport mapping for EDC and DSC --Premium package --Black Extended Novillo leather with contrast stitching in exterior color on seats, headrests, door inserts, armrests, middle console and door pulls.