3" Exhaust Protector Vavle Sierra #18-4456 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota recalls Highlander hybrid, Lexus RX 400h

Toyota is recalling about 82,000 hybrid vehicles in the United States to fix a flawed control board inside the powertrain. The recall covers about 45,000 Toyota Highlander hybrids and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h hybrids from the 2006 and 2007 model years. Toyota says some of the transistors on the control board might have been improperly soldered and could be damaged from large current flow during high-load driving.

Smart Forspeed concept signals new design direction

Smart will unveil a new concept at the forthcoming Geneva motor show that signals a new design direction, hints at future product and confirms parent company Daimler's renewed commitment to the brand. Car Design News was granted early access to the concept, baptized Forspeed, at a secret photography studio in Stuttgart last week and heard the head of advanced design, Steffen Kohl, explain how the two-seat, electric-powered vehicle prefaces design themes in both the next Fortwo and the revived Forfour, which will be launched in 2014. "The fullness of this concept's exterior surfaces is important and will be reflected in future production models," said Kohl, "Smart will still be short, spacey, agile, and with wheels at the corners of the car, but with an added sporty and emotional design and without losing all the brand's iconic elements like its ‘plastic fantastic' aspect and the safe and hi-tech modular tridion shell assembled with all these changeable body parts.

Porsche 911 50 Years Edition stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

The Porsche 911 is 50 years old this year – just in case you missed the memo – and the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show represents the final culmination of the celebrations. The 911 was originally launched at this very event, way back in 1963. At the 2013 Frankfurt IAA, Porsche is paying homage to its home-grown hero with a new 911 50 Years Edition, based on the latest 991-series Carrera S.