1971 71 Plymouth Cricket Brochure 4dr on 2040-parts.com

GM to double size of battery lab

General Motors says it will spend $8 million to double the size of its Global Battery Systems Lab, which the company claims is the largest and most technologically advanced automotive battery lab in the United States. GM says the expansion will speed up the development of hybrid and electric vehicles, such as the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, by improving on-site testing of battery cells and systems. When finished, the lab will be 30,000 square feet bigger than it is now, for a 63,000-square-foot total.

Production of U.S.-spec Lotus Exige and Elise to end in August

The end is near for production of U.S.-specification versions of the Lotus Elise and Exige sports cars. Lotus said on Thursday that it will pull the models from the United States because the airbags no longer meet safety standards. Rules require cars to have smart airbags, which adjust deployment for the speed of impact.

Taggart motorcycle collection to cross the block during Pebble Beach weekend

Auction house Mecum will sell a collection of Michael Taggart's motorcycles along side the classics, vintage racers and exotics this year at Pebble Beach. They all will be offered at the third-annual Mecum Monterey Auction on Aug. 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course in California.