Hypertech 705002 Interceptor on 2040-parts.com

Redesigned 2011 Chrysler 200 convertible revealed early

Photos of the redesigned 2011 Chrysler 200 convertible have hit the Internet, weeks before its planned official debut. Images of the 200 convertible, which replaces the Chrysler Sebring convertible, apparently leaked onto the Web in Europe. The car likely will make its formal debut at the Chicago auto show in February or at the New York auto show in April.

CES: GM to open the dashboard to developers

At last year's Autoweek Design Forum, father of the iPod and Nest Labs co-founder Tony Fadell suggested that automakers concentrate on designing and building cars, leaving handset makers to handle infotainment. The latest announcements from Ford and GM -- in conjunction with the International CES -- suggest that automakers would rather treat the dashboard space as a handset. Yesterday, Dearborn, Mich., announced the Ford Developer Program, which opens up Sync to outside application development; now General Motors has announced a similar initiative.

U.S. equity firm to invest $70 million in Saab

Race-car fan and private-equity executive Alex Mascioli is pumping $70 million into Saab as the Swedish automaker works to stay afloat. Mascioli's firm, North Street Capitol, is buying $10 million in shares of Swedish Automobile, which owns Saab, and is also giving the company a $60 million loan to pay for the carmaker's reorganization. U.S.-based North Street Capital struck a deal in September to buy the Spyker sports-car business from Swedish Automobile for $44 million.