1970 Turbo 400 Torque Converter Cover on 2040-parts.com

Salon Privé 2011: Night Shift

Salon Prive does a Night Shift for the Pommery Picnic It may be a bit of an exagerration to say that Salon Privé – one of our favourite ‘Car’ outings – is going to include a night shift in 2011 – but almost. Salon Prive’s move from the Hurlingham in Chelsea out to the less central – but more hospitable – Duke of Northumberland’s gaff at Syon Park means there’s room to expand the event, so we’re getting treated to the ‘Pommery Picnic’ on the Friday evening – 7pm ’til 11pm. As we never fail to mention when we bang on about Salon Prive, it’s just like a Garden Party in a wealthy friend’s house where he just happens to have littered the grounds with the world’s greatest cars.

Mercedes SLK55 AMG (2011) at the Frankfurt motor show

This is Merc's hot rod drop-top, the SLK55 AMG. It's the most powerful SLK of all time, because under that bonnet and behind that three-pointed star is a new 5.5-litre V8 producing 416bhp. So the badge finally corresponds to the engine size?

In NYC's cab contest, vans aim to be seen

Nissan North America Inc., Ford Motor Co. and a little-known Turkish vehicle manufacturer are in a three-way competition to supply the next generation of taxis to New York City. The winner will snare a large fleet deal: more than 13,000 vehicles delivered over the next three to five years, with a 10-year exclusive agreement from the city.