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Aston Martin-Mercedes tie-up: secret plans revealed by CAR

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 06 August 2008 11:20 Aston Martin and Mercedes are plotting a wide-ranging tie-up that could see the two famous brands collaborate on engines, hybrids, transmission and even entire platforms, CAR can reveal. The top-secret partnership between Aston and Merc – dubbed Project Alligator by the Germans – is detailed in our exclusive story in the new September 2008 issue of CAR Magazine. The scoop includes the lowdown on: • How Mercedes engines could power future Aston Martins • AMG's 6.2-litre V8 tipped for Vantage models• Diesels and hybrids from Germany planned for Aston• Whole platforms to be shared by top-end models• Eight-speed Merc auto bound for British sports cars• Why Maybach and Aston could co-operate on future modelsWe speak to the engineers and insiders who are working on Project Alligator and spill the beans on the secret project that will reshape future generations of Aston Martins.

Toyota resumes sales of Lexus GX 460

Toyota has resumed sales of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV, two weeks after it announced a recall of the 9,400 models already sold. The Japanese automaker stopped sales of the vehicle after Consumer Reports magazine declared the SUV a safety risk, warning readers that it was prone to oversteer in turns. Lexus tested the car in response to the warning and made changes to the vehicle's electronic stability-control software.

Pininfarina to close manufacturing operations

Italian design and manufacturing house Pininfarina S.p.A announced it will be cutting back its operations, with the closure of its manufacturing facilities. The decision will see the brand now focusing solely on design and engineering aspects for the automotive industry. The move follows the recent completion of a partnership with Volvo, which saw the production of the C70 convertible at Pininfarina's Sverige AB plant in Uddevalla.