Air Cleaner 6.6l Fits 11-12 Sierra 2500 Pickup 397350 on 2040-parts.com

Lotus's glimmer of hope: Proton stands by Hethel

After another painful year of sales for Lotus in the UK – down 58% on 2011 - Norfolk's beleagured sports car brand has kicked off the New Year with the grand unveiling of its new flagship Malaysian showroom, and the thumbs-up from senior Proton company suits that Lotus isn't on its last legs. The announcement comes in the same week Lotus’s sales figures were released for 2012. Showing a substantial 58% decrease in sales and selling just 137 vehicles, Lotus Cars was the worst performer in the UK with a woeful 0.01% share of the market.  Are Lotus's Malaysian owners sticking by the company?

Video: Check out new episode of Hagerty Classic Car TV

This week, Hagerty Classic Car TV takes us to the Concours d'LeMons in Monterey, Calif. But before that, we get news featuring the Ford Mustang, John Travolta and Auburn Auction stories. At Monterey, we get to check out the AMCs, Ford Pintos and MGs at the concours, along with a raced-out Ford Probe.

Maybe Not So Absurd

The big luxury utes are coming, and I've been thinking about them quite a bit lately. In particular, I speak of the Bentley EXP 9 F, the Lamborghini Urus and the Maserati Kubang. At first glance they seem illogical; they're all imposing and, each in its own way, over the top.