02 Honda Crv Left Headlight 756846 on 2040-parts.com

GM preps for new engines, 8-speed transmission

General Motors is spending $332 million to upgrade powertrain plants in three states to build a new eight-speed automatic transmission, a new V6 and a new family of small-displacement gasoline engines. The plants are in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. GM is also adding $46 million to an earlier $600 million program to upgrade powertrain plants in Saginaw and Romulus, Mich.

Jeep rolls out blacked-out Grand Cherokee 'concept'

Jeep rolled out a new trim package for the Grand Cherokee on Wednesday and is running a contest on the Internet to give it a name. For now, Jeep bills the new Grand Cherokee as a concept but says it anticipates bringing it to showrooms this spring--timing that implies that the production decision has already been made. The concept starts with the four-wheel-drive Grand Cherokee Laredo X package, then adds blacked-out trim, a mesh grille and 20-inch aluminum wheels painted in gloss black.

Future products: Mercedes-Benz plans B-class coupe, crossover, sedan

Mercedes-Benz is set to launch a wave of small luxury vehicles in the United States. An all-new C-class coupe will debut next year, followed by three derivatives of the front-wheel-drive B class in 2012 and 2013. "Everyone wants to be Mercedes-Benz," said Ernst Lieb, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.