Moog K6444 Strut Cushion/mount-suspension Strut Mount on 2040-parts.com

A profile of Steve McQueen: Autoweek archives

For today's Autoweek archive feature, we are highlighting an article by Denise McCluggage from February 1981. McCluggage knew McQueen and recalls her encounters with the “King of Cool” through the years until his death. Before becoming a star, McQueen and McCluggage met over their mutual love of automobiles, more specifically the MG-TC, which both subsequently owned.

Jaguar hybrid cars due in 2013-14

Jaguar will launch its own hybrid vehicles soon after Land Rover, CAR can confirm. Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both brands but its strategy puts part-electric Land Rovers first on the launchpad in 2013.Hybrid Jaguars – set to include the XJ and XF, but eventually every model – are therefore likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.The staggered roll-out of battery Jags and Land Rovers makes sense: heavy 4x4s have come in the firing line from green protestors who label them Chelsea Tractors. Hybrid Land Rovers will trim emissions and – in plug-in hybrid mode – enable even big bulky Range Rovers to drive in zero-emissions mode into central urban areas emitting nothing more unsaintly than an electric whir.So which Jaguars will go hybrid first?It's likely that the largest models such as the XJ will receive the hybrid power packs first; large cars reap the greater benefit and can more easily swallow the additional cost, put at around £10,000 in today's money.JLR's Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago.

Alpina B6 xDrive boosts Gran Coupe to 540 hp

The 2015 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe was revealed on Wednesday. The new super-coupe will make its North American debut next month at the New York auto show and go on sale immediately after. The Alpina B6 is based on the 6-series Gran Coupe (and thus features four doors, despite the name).