Today, the auto supplier industry received their piece of the government aid pie with the passage of a $5 billion aid package dubbed the Supplier Support Program. As pert the terms of the program, the initial funds will come from Uncle Sam’s wallet but it is the auto manufacturers themselves who will ultimately be responsible for their disbursement, essentially placing the fate of struggling suppliers directly in the hands of their contractors. Although the $5 billion granted in the package today falls noticeably short of the $10 billion originally requested, a spokesperson for the Obama camp assured that this was merely “the first piece” of the entire funding puzzle.

Diesel engine manufacturer and Ford Motor Co. supplier, Navistar International, has announced they will be closing both their truck engine production facility and Indianapolis Casting Corp. foundry on July 31, 2009. Navistar’s decision to close their doors coincides with the expiration of their contract with Ford and, as Navistar Vice President Eric Tech put it, “the significant change in Ford’s business plans.” Industry partners since 1979, the riff in Ford and Navistar’s relationship is as much a result of the ailing industry as it is a question of loyalty.

2009 Volvo V50 Interior

Working to provide relief for nickel-allergy sufferers, Volvo has created a new set of rigorous tests aimed at reducing the amount of nickel-leakage in Volvo cars’ interiors. Acknowledging that nickel allergies affect an astounding 120 million people in the industrial world, Volvo has combined the use of stringent testing procedures with advanced nickel-plating technology to produce an interior air quality that will allow consumers affected by nickel-irritants to drive with ease. Referred to as the “Volvo Standard,” Volvo’s nickel policy involves minimizing nickel-leakage in all interior metallic surfaces by outfitting nickel-containing surfaces with nickel-free plating.

According to a study published this week, a genetically modified strain of the common bacteria E.coli has been created that could lead to a new, more powerful type of biofuel. Researchers from the University of California’s Los Angeles report they’ve created bacteria that produces long-chain alcohol perfect for use as a fuel.

Some strains of E. coli are the bad business that causes food poisoning, so it’s well known. Because of that, its genome is one of the most well documented of any bacteria, so it’s easy to work with and manipulate. Scientists have been able to create E. coli that produces ethanol in the past, but this is the first time anyone has coaxed the bacteria to produce larger molecules, and more molecules means more power. For instance, ethanol has only two carbon molecules, while the alcohols created by the new E.coli strain has a chain of 5 to 8 carbons.

Ultra high-performance aftermarket tuning company Brabus took some time off from tweaking the innards of Mercedes and Maybach cars. They got together with Tesla and produced a decked out Tesla Roadster for the 2008 Essen Motor Show.

Apparently, Brabus doesn’t know how to tweak an electric motor so they just pimped out everything else. There’s a high-quality matte white paintjob and a futuristic lighting package installed under all the new carbon fiber bits and a series of daytime running lights installed in the grille. The sides of the Roadster have entrance lights that can be activated with the key fob or by pulling on a door handle. There’s carbon-fiber everywhere, carbon-fiber air inlets, carbon-fiber rear wing and carbon-fiber rear diffuser. All good stuff.

But the wildest part by far is the ‘space sound generator‘. Check it out along with some more pictures and the press release:

NCR, the maker of exclusive high-end motorcycles has just come out with a limited edition Mike Hailwood TT replica built in honor of the 30th anniversary of Hailwood’s Isle of Man win on the Ducati 900 NCR. They actually based this bike on the Ducati Sport 1000S, which will make it the second bike NCR has based on the 1000S, the first being the highly tuned, race ready New Blue.

If you’re a Ridelust reader, you’re probably aware of my love for all things Ducati, especially the Ducati Sport 1000S. So I’m really starting to appreciate NCR. This bike is ridiculously light. It features titanium all over the place, which is NCR’s calling card: it has an 11-pound titanium frame, a titanium exhaust system, the engine has billet titanium connecting rods and titanium valves, and all the fasteners are titanium. Plus carbon-fiber wheels and bodywork.

Check out specs and pictures of the NCR Mike Hailwood TT Replica:

Small is the new big. The Mini, the Fit, the ForTwo, the Peapod… it seems like cutting edge cars keeps getting smaller.

So it’s a perfect time for 22-year old designer Shao Yung Yeh’s single passenger, insect-inspired vehicle. The suspension is based on insect legs that can raise and lower depending upon traffic and road conditions. And instead of a central drivetrain, the car is powered by an electric motor at each wheel, while the battery pack sits in the car’s abdomen and is able to move fore and aft to adjust the car’s center of gravity.

Yeh told Wired.com, “(Insects) not only inspire the styling but also the entire structure and the package of the car.”

Check out pictures and a video of the Insecta:

Honda Motor Co. thinks it can apply it’s 4-wheel hybrid and battery technology to it’s motorcycles by 2011. The main hurdle they need to overcome is the size issue. Hybrid cars are generally made of lightweight materials, since the engine and more specifically, the batteries, are usually so heavy. On a motorcycle, there isn’t much more they can lighten in terms of body parts, so they’ll need to do some drastic engineering to the batteries or the hybrid technology itself to make it fit. Still, Honda believes they can do it.

They say the gasoline/electric hybrid motorbike technology will be 50 percent more fuel-efficient, and be available in sizes between 200 and 1,000 cc. There will also be a line of 100% electric scooters with below 200cc engines. Unfortunately, the smaller electric bikes will only be able to run about 20 miles on one charge, although they still means they could be useful within city limits.

Pininfarina B0 (B Zero) Electric Car

One of the surprise hits so far from the Paris Auto Show is the unfortunately named Pininfarina B0 (pronounced B Zero) electric car. The car is dedicated to the memory of CEO Andrea Pininfarina, who recently died in an auto accident. The B Zero, which is a full scale production car, not just a concept, is a four-seat, four-door electric hatchback created in partnership with the French company Bolloré.

The first B Zeros (I can’t bring myself to call such a nice looking car the B0) should start rolling off the line in late 2009. Pininfarina always does nice work, but this B0 is particularly impressive. It not only looks nice, it has a really well designed inner structure; for example, the lithium polymer LMP batteries will be located under the vehcile, between the axles to give the B0 a more stable center of gravity. The batteries in electric cars are often one of the heaviest parts of the car. Pics after the jump

Last year, Green Earth Technologies’ G-OIL motor oil got the Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award at the ninth annual Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) held in Las Vegas. It was on the top of Popular Mechanics’ editors’ best new products of 2007 as well. G-Oil is a motor oil made with American-grown base oils, namely cow fats.

Recently, EcoGeek had an article about Green Earth Technologies new addition to it’s automotive lubricant G-Oil line, a 10W-30 with amazing biodegradability. The oil biodegraded over 90% in only 9 days, which is 19 days faster than the American Society of Testing Materials required 28-day rate.