The Universal Group G109 Generator (brand New) on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin and Mercedes 'to strike €300m deal'

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 22 October 2008 21:25 CAR Online today lifts the lid on the secret deal – codenamed Romeo and Juliet – being hammered out between Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz. We have sensational details of the alliance, including a plan for hybrid Aston Martins, the full range of proposed Lagonda models and even a possible DB10 and 4x4 from the Aston Martin Lagonda stable. Back in August 2008, we revealed how the British sports car maker was in talks with the German giant over future cooperation (read our original Aston-Merc scoop here).

This Week in 1958: Montgomery, NY, hosts Governor's Trophy Race for the third year in a row

Fifty-five years ago was the third consecutive year that a former Air Force base in Montgomery, N.Y., served as a racetrack. The Governor's Trophy Race was a growing event and spectators only had to travel 75 miles from New York City to see race legends like Carroll Shelby compete. Nearly 30,000 spectators came to the two-day event in 1957, and race organizers were expecting even more in 1958.

Industry pulse: NHTSA administrator David Strickland talks distracted driving

Editor's note: In an exclusive interview with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator David Strickland, Melanie Batenchuk of Be Car Chic asked about distracted driving and the agency's combined efforts with the Department of Transportation to curb this bad behavior. David Strickland has been championing safer, distraction-free driving since the beginning of his tenure at NHTSA in January 2010. Strickland has been working tirelessly toward this goal alongside stakeholders such as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, private-sector executives, automobile manufacturers and safety advocacy groups.