Hotchkis Rear Swaybar on 2040-parts.com

New Mercedes B Class to spawn 7 Seat version

It looks like Mercedes are going to stretch the appeal of the new B Class by adding a new 7 seat option. Mercedes foray in to small hatchbacks has not exactly been an unmitigated success. The last generation A and B class were really just two sizes of the same car, neither of which had much driver appeal and were bought as runarounds by Mercedes buyers who wanted a car for ‘er indoors.

Dodge Durango (w/ Gallery)

Chrysler's Dodge brand has released the first photos of the third generation Durango. Built on the same platform as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the latest iteration of the SUV features a unibody structure rather than the body-on-frame setup of its predecessors. The Durango has never been a particularly elegant offering within the Dodge lineup, but it seems the company is looking to change this perception with this latest incarnation.

Obama calls for shared sacrifice in auto bailout

President-elect Barack Obama says he wants to keep tough conditions on automakers that get federal loans. The companies must develop sustainable business models because it would be unacceptable "to keep them on their lifeline through taxpayer dollars in perpetuity," Obama told The Washington Post. Obama said industry restructuring will require "everybody, from labor to management to creditors to shareholders, giving something up." His comments contradict suggestions that the new administration will relax federal loan agreements reached last month with General Motors and Chrysler LLC, possibly with softer demands on the UAW.