1989 Jaguar Xj6 Vanden Plas 3.6 Liter Cruise Control Vacuum Actuator on 2040-parts.com

Ford Transit van gets five-cylinder turbodiesel

The full-size Ford Transit van that replaces the E-series Econoline in late 2013 will have a turbocharged five-cylinder diesel in its powertrain lineup. Today Ford uses the 3.2-liter engine in the Ranger pickup sold in international markets. The engine, which wears Ford's Power Stroke marketing name for diesel engines, is built in South Africa and will be exported to the Transit assembly plant near Kansas City, Mo.

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.

James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin featured at London auction

Two 1964 Aston Martin DB5s were featured in the James Bond Goldfinger and Thunderball movies. One survives, and it's up for grabs at the RM Auctions Automobiles of London sale on Oct. 27.