Heater Hose Connector 3/4 X 5/8 (dorman# 800-419) on 2040-parts.com

Crunch watch August 09: the auto industry

By Tim Pollard, Alex Michaelides, Ben Pulman and Freddie Fulton Motor Industry 31 August 2009 10:00 Welcome to CAR's news aggregator as we round up the seismic change in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour  Monday 31 August 2009• Bank holiday today in UK; staff on a well earned break from Crunchwatch!Friday 28 August 2009• Toyota will stop producing vehicles at the New United Moor Manufacturing plant in California next March. Company officials and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the decision, which comes in the wake of factory partner GM’s announced that it would abandon the venture back in June (Detroit News)• Tengzhong may finalise its deal to buy Hummer from GM next week, well placed sources told AN (Automotive News, subscription required)• German economics minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg says it is 'hardly realistic' for GM to keep hold of its European outfit Opel and Vauxhall (Automotive News Europe, subscription required)• Ford's US cop car favourite, the Crown Victoria, is going to cease production in 2011 (Detroit News)Thursday 27 August 2009• Nissan and Chrysler have abandoned plans to build cars for each other in the wake of Chrysler’s alliance with Fiat.

AC Schnitzer upgrades BMW M6 line

AC Schnitzer has a new performance package for the BMW M6 coupe, convertible and Gran Coupe. In addition to engine upgrades, the tuning company adds suspension pieces, bodywork, interior bits and a choice of 20- or 21-inch wheels. Output is up from 560 hp to 620 hp, while torque grows to 582 lb-ft.

McLaren MP4-12C launches into production

It's finally happening. Perhaps the most anticipated British sports car in at least a decade--the McLaren MP4-12C--has gone into production. McLaren announced the news on Wednesday, and as many as 1,000 copies of the potent speedster will be built this year.