99 00 Olds Alero Temperature Control on 2040-parts.com

New Mercedes CLA helps Daimler to 16% profit jump

The new Mercedes CLA (pictured) help Mercedes to a 16% profit jump. There’s an argument that the move in to more compact car sales by premium car makers will see their turnover rise and their profits fall as more compact cars tend to work on smaller margins than high-end luxury cars. But Mercedes has defied that logic by posting a 16 per cent increase in profits for the third quarter of 2013, boosted by sales of the new compact coupé – the Mercedes CLA.

One lap of the web: A Lotus superbike, a track-only Z06 and a pair of M cars

Motorcycle News Lotus has licensed its name for this 200 HP superbike. Motorcycle News is reporting that Lotus, the beloved sportscar manufacturer that launched a thousand acronymic reliability jokes--"L.O.T.U.S, Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious"--has lent its name to a 200 HP, V-twin-powered superbike that is to be manufactured by a new company. While it does wear a lovely JPS-style livery, it's not clear where the lightness has been added or if it's been simplified.

Mercury dies off, Lincoln to benefit

Ford's brand portfolio is set to get smaller by the end of the year. Following the sale of Aston Martin, Land Rover, Jaguar and most recently Volvo (to Chinese automaker Geely), the Blue Oval has now announced the demise of its 'middle of the range' Mercury brand, with production of the last vehicles set to cease at the end of 2010. In a statement released to media, Ford announced that the shuttering of the 71-year old Mercury brand was in the interest of focusing on Lincoln, the automaker's only remaining premium brand.