Brodix Sr20 Cylinder Heads on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen to take full control of Porsche

Volkswagen Group's decision to take full control of Porsche Automobil Holding SE's carmaking business is seen as positive by analysts. VW said it has agreed to buy the remaining 50.1 percent of Porsche SE's automotive business that it doesn't already own for 4.46 billion euros ($5.54 billion), ending a seven-year takeover saga that divided two of Germany's most powerful families. The agreement means Volkswagen can now fully fold the Porsche automaking business into its stable of brands, which range from Audi and Bentley sedans to Skoda and Seat volume models and Ducati motorbikes.

Hyundai steps up new model push

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 11 September 2006 10:45 Hyundai's bid to gatecrash the world's top five car-makers will continue with two crucial new models: a seven-seat SUV and a mid-size hatch. In 2007, the aggressive Korean car maker will wade into Europe's biggest market – the C-segment – with a family hatch, and launch a big, seven-seat crossover SUV Stateside. The crossover – captured here by our spy photographers – will be named Veracruz, continuing Hyundai's habit of adopting Mexican names.

Tornadoes halt output at Mercedes, Toyota plants in South

Violent weather across Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee has halted production at Toyota and Mercedes-Benz plants in Alabama, as emergency workers try to assess two days of damage in the region. On Wednesday, a mile-wide tornado destroyed parts of Tuscaloosa, Ala., damaging the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International auto-assembly plant just north of the city.