Sigtronics Spa-400 Intercom on 2040-parts.com

BMW works hard to avoid gas-guzzler tax

BMW AG hopes to get out from under the gas-guzzler taxes that are tacked on to the sticker prices of some of its high-performance models in the United States. Jim O'Donnell, president of BMW of North America, says the company is studying fuel-efficiency improvements that could eliminate the gas-guzzler taxes on its vehicles as early as the launch of their redesigns in the next few years. The 2010 550i GT incurs a $1,000 gas-guzzler fee, for example.

Land Rover confirms end of Defender production

It's been all but a foregone conclusion for some time now, but Land Rover has confirmed to our sister publication Automotive News Europe that the aging Defender won't live to see 2020. Originally conceived as an agricultural machine, the first Land Rover prototype used scavenged Willys Jeep bits left over from World War II. American kids of a certain age may have been captivated by the Land Rover's mystique while watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom back in the '70s.

BMW releases videos 'outlining' 3 Series history

The BMW 3 Series has been a mainstay within the range for nearly 40 years, embodying the values and design direction of the German brand to become the perennial bestseller in markets worldwide. Over the course of the last four decades, the company has launched an all-new model fitted with advancements in not only mechanical componentry, but also design and safety, to coincide with the needs and desires of customers at the time. The compact executive class car, available in no less than five different body styles at one point, is still considered the benchmark in many design studios, not to mention those thriving to replicate its dynamic driving attributes.