Spidi T-2 Leather Jacket Black/white E54/us44 P103-011-54 on 2040-parts.com

EV car maker Aptera shuts down

Automotive startup company Aptera Motors, promoter of the weirdly styled, three-wheeled 2e electric car, shut down on Friday, saying it was out of money. The company said it was unable to raise funds from private investors that would have kept it going until it received a $150 million loan from the Department of Energy's Advance Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program. "This is a difficult time for everyone connected with our company because we have never been closer to realizing our vision," CEO Paul Wilbur said in a statement.

Saab says it will restart production after securing short-term loan

Saab aims to restart production within a week after its owner, Spyker Cars, secured a 30 million euro ($44.7 million) short-term loan to help ease its cash crunch. Spyker said it will borrow the money from Gemini Investment Fund in a convertible loan agreement with a 6-month maturity. The interest rate of the loan is 7 percent a year and the conversion price is 4.88 euros per share.

BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo Touring (2011): first pictures

Alpina has released first details of the estate edition of its 5-series based B5 Bi-Turbo. The wannabe M5 Touring car will be officially unveiled at the 2011 Geneva motor show next week. Alpina has been tuning BMWs for more than 40 years with the factory's blessing and increasingly close collaboration. Presaging the recent move by BMW M to forced-induction engines, Alpina first turbocharged the 5-series when they launched the B10 Bi-Turbo of 1989.