Sierra Supply 160deg Thermostat Replacement (18-3555) on 2040-parts.com

First Sight: Mercedes-AMG GT

“If I was to buy any sports car that wasn't a Mercedes, it'd be a Porsche 911,” says Mercedes' head of design, Gorden Wagener. “But when you see the two cars together, we think ours has the edge.” He's talking about the new Mercedes-AMG GT, a front-mid engined, two-seater sports car that's unashamedly aimed at higher-end 911s, and we've come to see it at Mercedes' Sindelfingen studio.  The GT replaces the larger SLS, and is seen by Wagener as the best example yet of his 'sensual purity' design philosophy: “The SLS is very much [he gestures] line, line with a surface in between. With the GT we started with the surface and worked to refine and reduce the number of lines.” Elements of the SLS's platform have been carried over, so the GT measures the same 1,939mm wide.

Marchionne says he'll likely step aside from Chrysler in 2015 or 2016

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne on Wednesday hinted that he will be stepping aside from the helm of the U.S. automaker within five years. During a question-and-answer session at the 2011 Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich., the 59-year-old executive said Chrysler's future plans "will be up to the guy after me--after 2015 or maybe a year later….

Drive trailer gets our right foot all twitchy

Once in a while, in between the Fast and Furious movies, we pine for some real old-school car chases on film--whether they involve police, murderers or other race-car drivers. Le Mans comes to mind, along with Bullitt, or anything by John Frankenheimer. And if a car-centric movie wins a few indie awards, that's all the better.