Spark Plug-conventional Acdelco Pro 9195166 on 2040-parts.com

2008 Fiat’s best year EVER!

Didn’t they do well!? Fiat has just announced that, despite the doom and gloom in the car world in 2008, particularly in the last quarter, they have had their best year ever, with their trading profit up by 4% and turnover by 1.5% to €60 billion. Well done them.

Nissan’s new lightweight philosophy revealed

The leaked official drawings of the new Nissan Micra might have revealed the conventional styling of the company’s new supermini, but they gave little clue to the dramatically lightweight new platform that underpins it. The new Micra will be significantly lighter and more fuel efficient than the outgoing car due to a ruthless pursuit of weight reduction on the new V-platform (V = versatile), which on average has slashed 50kg from the new car's weight, and up to 70kg on some models. Project leader Noritaka Tsuru described the new package as a 'breakthrough car' that required a complete 'change in mentality' in how Nissan makes cars.

SsangYong releases new Rodius sketches

SsangYong has released the first images of its new Rodius MPV, soon to be unveiled at next month's Geneva motor show. Based on SsangYong's ‘Robust, Premium, Specialty' design philosophy the carmaker says the new Rodius is "styled to be fit for outdoor, off-road driving as well as on-road driving". The front three-quarter sketch shows that the exaggerated, streamlined front grille has been retained – albeit it with a slight modification – while it also features angular headlamps.