Cardone 77-1178f Engine Computer/ecu/pcm-reman Engine Control Computer on 2040-parts.com

BMW and Merc to join forces

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 08 February 2008 13:03 CAR Online today reveals the extent to which BMW and Mercedes are plotting to cooperate on future models. In a wide-ranging plan, the two German premium marques could join forces to take on the might of Audi, with its backing and economies of scale of the whole Volkswagen group and, increasingly, Porsche. BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer and his counterpart at Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, are coming to the conclusion that the two brands – for so long, fierce rivals – should work together rather than fight against each other.

What the Future Holds, Nobody Knows

It's a testament to the talent, charisma and relative celebrity of Ian Callum, Derek Jenkins and Franz von Holzhausen - heads of Jaguar, Mazda and Tesla design, respectively - that they managed to captivate a crowd of industry insiders at the tail end of the Los Angeles Auto Show's second press-preview day. This despite being given a nebulous topic to discuss with a moderator who knew little about the subject. Dan Lyons, a technology columnist at Newsweek, oversaw the panel discussion that was to focus on "Tomorrow's Cars...Practical Transportation or Groundbreaking Design?" He asked only one question on that topic before digressing into a more general discourse on the design strategies of Jaguar, Mazda and Tesla.

One Lap of the Web: Cool cufflinks in your Crown Coupe

-- Want to be the coolest person at your next event "celebrating lifestyle and automotive achievement that will embody the realization of automotive aspiration"? (Note: this was part of a real invitation we received.) You can do no better than buying these cufflinks made from a Cosworth-powered Jaguar F1 car. The bolts were "used to retain the crank within the engine block," says Ledon Gifts in their Etsy store.