Acdelco Alternator 15279852 on 2040-parts.com

Expert: Fisker Karma's engine packaging, not batteries, likely caused fire

A garage fire last week in suburban Houston has been linked to a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, but the company quickly noted that the battery remained intact and unplugged -- and did not appear to be the cause. But if not the battery, then what? More likely, poor packaging in the engine compartment and exhaust routing generated excess heat.

Chrysler details changes to minivan, Jeep Patriot

Wider use of the Pentastar V6, fascia changes and more luxurious materials in the interior are the key changes being made to the Chrysler Town & Country minivan and the Jeep Patriot for the 2011 model year. The changes come as Chrysler works to revive interest in its products after nearly two years of virtually no new-product activity while the automaker worked through a government-sponsored bankruptcy. Earlier this year, Chrysler unveiled the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is now on sale.

Concept Car of the Week: Dodge Deora (1967)

Half concept car, half custom but all awesome, the Dodge Deora was designed by former GM designer Harry Bentley Bradley for the famous car customizers the Alexander brothers who wanted to build a radical custom truck using one of the Big Three's new cabover mini-pickups. They relied on Bradley's futuristic drawings to seduce Chrysler who eventually agreed to provide a stripped down A100 truck for them to customize although the final design shares almost nothing with the original donor car. The cabin was radically chopped and integrated into the rest of the body and – after its suspension was also lowered – the overall height of the Deora was reduced by a whopping 380mm.