IIHS's Top 10 Safety PicksThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

IIHS's Top 10 Safety Picks
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety picks the ten safest cars of the 2006 model year.
Perry Stern

Winter Driving Tips From the Experts
Winter conditions can be challenging for drivers of all skill levels. The editor of Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada offers sound advice from the Great White North.
Marc Lachapelle, with Gerry Malloy for Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Porsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on the Boxster S, but kicks it up a notch in the performance department.
Mike Meredith

Faces Of The Week, Jan. 9-13, 2005 (Forbes)
Howard Stern rules!; Mineta eyes Delta-Northwest combo; Oprah backs Frey; Ergen faces female fury.

Phase Change In Fluids Finally Simulated After Decades Of Effort (Science Daily)
Researchers at the University of Rochester have now created a mathematical model that will allow scientists to simulate and understand phase changes, which could have an impact on everything from decaffeinating coffee to improving fuel cell efficiency in automobiles of the future.

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used Car
Carfax provides guidance and tips to help you spot vehicles with potential water damage.
Editors of MSN Autos

Asia News: China s market for in-car GPS maps to exceed US$1.25bn (Telematics Update)
According to a Xinhua report, China's market capacity of electronic GPS maps used in vehicles may exceed 10 billion yuan (US$1.25 billion) within the next three years.

Faces Of The Week, Jan. 9-13, 2005 (Forbes)
Faces Of The Week, Jan. 9-13, 2005

Phase Change In Fluids Finally Simulated After Decades Of Effort

Phase Change In Fluids Finally Simulated After Decades Of Effort (Science Daily)
Researchers at the University of Rochester have now created a mathematical model that will allow scientists to simulate and understand phase changes, which could have an impact on everything from decaffeinating coffee to improving fuel cell efficiency in automobiles of the future.

Parsing China's Trade Surplus (BusinessWeek Online via Yahoo! News)
Some numbers just make you sit up and take notice. After seeing those out of Beijing on Jan. 11 -- showing China's trade surplus had topped $101 billion last year, triple the 2004 figure -- the world definitely noticed. The big jump came in spite of a 2% revaluation of China's currency, the yuan, in July. With the latest figures, trade hawks in the U.S. and elsewhere are sure to call for a more

2007 Ford Edge - Powertrain (The Auto Channel)
DETROIT, Jan. 8, 2006 With an all-new powertrain combination, Ford Edge delivers impressive performance feel. This crossover has near-luxury levels of quietness and refinement and fuel economy numbers associated with smaller vehicles.

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Porsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on the Boxster S, but kicks it up a notch in the performance department.
Mike Meredith

Wynn Cash: Wrong about Pats, but right on everywhere else (South Coast Today)
Hey, I'll be honest with you kids for once -- since we started our run, I've gained the ability to be. Lot of things going on the life of your old pal this week, so I'm going to spare the chatter. Not surprisingly, business picks up when the slate of games gets shorter.

Ecology Center Recommendations Regarding Flame Retardants in Cars Could Undermine Fire Safety (The Auto Channel)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- The Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, MI, is recommending that automobile manufacturers abandon one of the most effective flame retardants available for preventing car fires. Automobiles contain numerous heat sources and car fires remain a common occurrence in the U.S.

Test Drive: Project Gotham Racing 3
Editors at MSN Autos take Microsoft's latest driving game out for a spin.
Perry Stern

Top Luxury Cars on MSN AutosThe most popular luxury cars

Top Luxury Cars on MSN Autos
The most popular luxury cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to the site's vehicle pages during the third quarter of 2005.
compiled by MSN Autos

Phase Change in Fluids Simulated (Slashdot) brendotroy writes "After decades

Phase Change in Fluids Simulated (Slashdot)
brendotroy writes "After decades of work by the physics and computer science communities, scientists at the University of Rochester have finally created a mathematical model that will allow scientists to simulate and understand phase changes. This discovery 'could have an impact on everything from decaffeinating coffee to improving fuel cell efficiency in automobiles of the future.'"

Gasoline Powered Cars to Join 8-Tracks on Tech Scrap Heap (The Auto Channel)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Jan. 11, 2006--Gasoline-powered automobiles, compact discs and desktop computers are headed toward the technology scrap heap, according to a recent survey of American teenagers.

More Michigan (Detroit Free Press) BY HUGH McDIARMID JR. Chemicals

More Michigan (Detroit Free Press)
BY HUGH McDIARMID JR. Chemicals that settled as dust and film on floors and windows of cars and trucks, especially in hot weather, are found at levels that could pose health problems, according to a study released Wednesday.

Car Make, Age And Fuel Economy All Affect How Much Vehicles Pollute, Study Finds (Science Daily)
When it comes to how much automobiles pollute, some makes are cleaner than others, according to new research. A study using data on nearly 4 million cars that underwent government-mandated emissions test in three states found that cars manufactured by German auto maker BMW were the least likely to fail these state pollution tests. Cars manufactured by Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and GM were

Innovation is changing safety of automobiles (The Times Argus)
DETROIT Every day across America, cars rear-end the vehicle in front. Drowsy drivers drift into the wrong lane. Motorists are tossed from an open window in a rollover.

Top Luxury Cars on MSN Autos
The most popular luxury cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to the site's vehicle pages during the third quarter of 2005.
compiled by MSN Autos

Buying a Bushel of Korn (The Motley Fool via Yahoo!

Buying a Bushel of Korn (The Motley Fool via Yahoo! News)
Whiny nu-metalheads Korn are about to give nu meaning to the term "commodity."

Johnson Controls Announces Pricing of $2.5 Billion Debt Offering (The Auto Channel)
The net proceeds from this offering, which is expected to close January 17, 2006, will be used to refinance commercial paper issued to finance the December 9, 2005 acquisition of York International Corporation.

Excise duty on all cars may be cut to 16% (Business Standard India)
Not just small cars, but all automobiles may get excise relief in the Budget with the ministry of heavy industries recommending an across-the-board reduction in the excise duty for automobiles from 24 per cent to 16 per cent, instead of confining the benefit to a few cars.

Test Drive: Project Gotham Racing 3
Editors at MSN Autos take Microsoft's latest driving game out for a spin.
Perry Stern

Phase Change in Fluids Simulated (Slashdot)
brendotroy writes "After decades of work by the physics and computer science communities, scientists at the University of Rochester have finally created a mathematical model that will allow scientists to simulate and understand phase changes. This discovery 'could have an impact on everything from decaffeinating coffee to improving fuel cell efficiency in automobiles of the future.'"

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

U.S. Transport Secy. Eyes Delta-Northwest Combo (Forbes) Would it work

U.S. Transport Secy. Eyes Delta-Northwest Combo (Forbes)
Would it work for two stumbling giants?

Car Make, Age And Fuel Economy All Affect How Much Vehicles Pollute, Study Finds (Science Daily)
When it comes to how much automobiles pollute, some makes are cleaner than others, according to new research. A study using data on nearly 4 million cars that underwent government-mandated emissions test in three states found that cars manufactured by German auto maker BMW were the least likely to fail these state pollution tests. Cars manufactured by Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and GM were

Photos (click to enlarge) (Detroit Free Press)
In 1933, General Motors produced about 675,000 automobiles, most of them Chevrolets.

'Line' process requires smooth running (Bangkok Post)
This is our penultimate article in our series about selecting continuous improvement initiatives for your manufacturing organisations. Our series is based on the fact that the choice should tie closely with the type of manufacturing processes used in your organisation.

Winter Driving Tips From the Experts
Winter conditions can be challenging for drivers of all skill levels. The editor of Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada offers sound advice from the Great White North.
Marc Lachapelle, with Gerry Malloy for Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada

Gasoline Powered Cars to Join 8-Tracks on Tech Scrap Heap (The Auto Channel)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Jan. 11, 2006--Gasoline-powered automobiles, compact discs and desktop computers are headed toward the technology scrap heap, according to a recent survey of American teenagers.

Phase Change in Fluids Simulated (Slashdot)
brendotroy writes "After decades of work by the physics and computer science communities, scientists at the University of Rochester have finally created a mathematical model that will allow scientists to simulate and understand phase changes. This discovery 'could have an impact on everything from decaffeinating coffee to improving fuel cell efficiency in automobiles of the future.'"

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

The Truth About Fuel Economy Ratings
If your new car's actual fuel mileage does not match the fuel economy numbers on the window sticker, it's not necessarily your car's fault.
Ann Job

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used CarCarfax

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used Car
Carfax provides guidance and tips to help you spot vehicles with potential water damage.
Editors of MSN Autos

IIHS's Top 10 Safety Picks
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety picks the ten safest cars of the 2006 model year.
Perry Stern

Senate Confirmation Hearings: Day 2 (New York Times)
The following is a transcript from the hearing nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the U.S. Supreme Court, as provided by CQ Transcriptions Inc.

Phase Change in Fluids Simulated (Slashdot)
brendotroy writes "After decades of work by the physics and computer science communities, scientists at the University of Rochester have finally created a mathematical model that will allow scientists to simulate and understand phase changes. This discovery 'could have an impact on everything from decaffeinating coffee to improving fuel cell efficiency in automobiles of the future.'"

Car Make, Age And Fuel Economy All Affect How Much Vehicles Pollute, Study Finds (Science Daily)
When it comes to how much automobiles pollute, some makes are cleaner than others, according to new research. A study using data on nearly 4 million cars that underwent government-mandated emissions test in three states found that cars manufactured by German auto maker BMW were the least likely to fail these state pollution tests. Cars manufactured by Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and GM were

Algae like a breath mint for smokestacks (USA Today)
Overshadowed by a multibillion-dollar push into other "clean-coal" technologies, a handful of tiny companies are racing to create an even cleaner, greener process using the same algae stuff that thrives in the world's oceans.

Excise duty on all cars may be cut to 16% (Business Standard India)
Not just small cars, but all automobiles may get excise relief in the Budget with the ministry of heavy industries recommending an across-the-board reduction in the excise duty for automobiles from 24 per cent to 16 per cent, instead of confining the benefit to a few cars.

How Will America's Big Two Automakers Survive?
After decades of market share losses, look for a leaner and more focused Big Two.
Ann Job

IIHS's Top 10 Safety PicksThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

IIHS's Top 10 Safety Picks
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety picks the ten safest cars of the 2006 model year.
Perry Stern

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

2006 NAIAS Coverage
The Official Web Site of the North American International Auto Show.
Editors of MSN Autos

How Will America's Big Two Automakers Survive?
After decades of market share losses, look for a leaner and more focused Big Two.
Ann Job

Car Make, Age and Fuel Economy All Affect How Much Vehicles Pollute, Study Finds (PhysOrg)
When it comes to how much automobiles pollute, some makes are cleaner than others, according to new research.

Photos (click to enlarge) (Detroit Free Press)
In 1933, General Motors produced about 675,000 automobiles, most of them Chevrolets.

Detroit Auto Show: Ferrari GG50 (Autoblog)
Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Sports/GTs What a better way to commemorate 50 years designing automobiles than to design your own Ferrari and build it. That s what Giorgetto Giugiaro did and he came up with the GG50. The GG50, as we reported earlier when it originally debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show, is based on Ferrari s 612 Scaglietti and features the same mechanicals

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Judge Samuel Alito's Nomination to the Supreme Court (Washington Post)
SPEAKERS:

Bain Capital buys TI unit for $3 billion (International Herald Tribune)
The division, which has $1 billion in annual revenue and 5,400 employees, is a small part of the Dallas-based company and is not closely tied to Texas Instruments' main business of producing semiconductors.

Top Luxury Cars on MSN Autos
The most popular luxury cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to the site's vehicle pages during the third quarter of 2005.
compiled by MSN Autos

Indian lenders may follow State Bank's lead (International Herald Tribune)

Indian lenders may follow State Bank's lead (International Herald Tribune)
A decision by State Bank of India, the largest Indian lender, to raise its interest rates on deposits, effective Monday, may prompt other banks to follow suit as competition increases for funds, investors and analysts said.

2006 NAIAS Coverage
The Official Web Site of the North American International Auto Show.
Editors of MSN Autos

Test Drive: Project Gotham Racing 3
Editors at MSN Autos take Microsoft's latest driving game out for a spin.
Perry Stern

Bain to pay $3B for Attleborough unit of Texas Instruments (bizjournals.com via Yahoo! Finance)
Bain Capital LLC is spending $3 billion to acquire a Texas Instruments Inc. division that sells sensors and controls.

Enea moves North American HQ to San Jose (Silicon Valley/San

Enea moves North American HQ to San Jose (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal)
Enea said on Monday that it is moving its North American headquarters from Phoenix to San Jose.

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Porsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on the Boxster S, but kicks it up a notch in the performance department.
Mike Meredith

AUTOMOBILES: Will that roof rack whack gas mileage? (The Charlotte Observer)
Q. I'm wondering if putting a roof rack on a car will decrease its gas mileage. Our science teacher gives weekly extra credit, and to be frank, I need the extra credit. -- Phil

Texas Instruments to Sell Unit to Bain for $3 Billion (Update4) (Bloomberg.com)
Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Texas Instruments Inc., the world's largest maker of chips that run mobile phones, agreed to sell its sensors and controls business to Bain Capital LLC for $3 billion as the company focuses on the faster-growing handset market.

Apple's tune resonates at CES (CNET)
Apple's big trade show kicks off Tuesday, but signs of the Mac maker's influence were omnipresent last week.

New direct TV technology for automobiles (Hindustan Times)
Betting big on the direct-to-home television boom, Indian Space Research Organisation has embarked on an ambitious project which would enable reach of TVs far and wide, even on mobile platforms such as cars.

Test Drive: Project Gotham Racing 3
Editors at MSN Autos take Microsoft's latest driving game out for a spin.
Perry Stern

Law enforcement blotter (Conroe Courier) District 2 (South County) *

Law enforcement blotter (Conroe Courier)
District 2 (South County) * A 42-year-old Conroe man was observed lying on the ground by the roadway in the 25000 block of Brookhaven at 11 p.m. Dec. 31. The individual smelled of alcoholic beverage and could not keep his balance while attempting to stand.

Put winter plants onto low-salt diet (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)
In this season of ice and snow, pause to think of the flowers of spring. Plants that live near pavement, including turf grass, are in jeopardy from the ice-melting chemicals that have become the other white stuff of the winter landscape.

AUTOMOBILES: Will that roof rack whack gas mileage? (The Charlotte Observer)
Q. I'm wondering if putting a roof rack on a car will decrease its gas mileage. Our science teacher gives weekly extra credit, and to be frank, I need the extra credit. -- Phil

2006 NAIAS Coverage
The Official Web Site of the North American International Auto Show.
Editors of MSN Autos

(AFX UK Focus) 2006-01-09 03:00 GMT: Toyota puts Michigan among top potential sites for new engine plant - report (Interactive Investor)
TOKYO (AFX) - Toyota Motor Corp has put Michigan among the top potential sites for a new engine plant in the US, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an unidentified senior company executive.

WHAT HAPPENED: A look back at news and newsmakers from the past week (Macon Telegraph)
Storms hit Middle Georgia, cause sporadic damage Strong storms - some suspected of including tornadoes - caused pockets of property damage and knocked out electric service to parts of the midstate Monday.

Life lessons (The Star Press) YORKTOWN -- Ask the residents

Life lessons (The Star Press)
YORKTOWN -- Ask the residents of the Waters, a nursing home in Yorktown, what they regret most about their long lives, and they don't say they wish they had had more money, even if they had been poor.

Commuters driven to transit (The Charlotte Observer)
It seems that America's longtime love affair with the family automobile is shifting toward a passionate embrace of public transportation, and the romance will only grow stronger with time.

2006 North American International Auto Show Introduces New, Convenient Parking System (The Auto Channel)
DETROIT, Jan. 8 -- The 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) has partnered with Click and Park to institute a new parking system during NAIAS 2006 Public Days, Jan. 14, 2006-22.

Put winter plants onto low-salt diet (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)
In this season of ice and snow, pause to think of the flowers of spring. Plants that live near pavement, including turf grass, are in jeopardy from the ice-melting chemicals that have become the other white stuff of the winter landscape.

AUTOMOBILES: Will that roof rack whack gas mileage? (The Charlotte Observer)
Q. I'm wondering if putting a roof rack on a car will decrease its gas mileage. Our science teacher gives weekly extra credit, and to be frank, I need the extra credit. -- Phil

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Porsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on the Boxster S, but kicks it up a notch in the performance department.
Mike Meredith

WHAT HAPPENED: A look back at news and newsmakers from the past week (Macon Telegraph)
Storms hit Middle Georgia, cause sporadic damage Strong storms - some suspected of including tornadoes - caused pockets of property damage and knocked out electric service to parts of the midstate Monday.

Top Luxury Cars on MSN Autos
The most popular luxury cars on MSN Autos, based on visits to the site's vehicle pages during the third quarter of 2005.
compiled by MSN Autos

The Truth About Fuel Economy Ratings
If your new car's actual fuel mileage does not match the fuel economy numbers on the window sticker, it's not necessarily your car's fault.
Ann Job

Lobbyists' contributions cheapen government (Billings Gazette)
It is disgraceful the way that lobbyists with big corporate money backing them can influence our congressmen in Washington by contributing large amounts to their campaign funds.

The Most Powerful Computer on the Planet (NewsFactor via Yahoo!

The Most Powerful Computer on the Planet (NewsFactor via Yahoo! News)
You won't see it on the shelves of electronics stores anytime soon, but a little-known class of computers is causing a frenzy of development and innovation within the tech world.

DGFT issues notices to 8 luxury car importers (The Economic Times)
DELHI: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has slapped show-cause notices on eight importers in the case relating to customs duty evasion in the import of luxury automobiles, some of which were being used by politically-influential persons.

Driven by a passion (Asia News Network)
Imagine Datuk Jeffrey Lim as a seven-year-old glued to the TV watching a Sultan emerge from a Rolls-Royce. Later, he saw the Queen of England, Heads of State and tycoons doing the same. In that moment, he vowed to himself that one day he will own a Rolls-Royce.

IIHS's Top 10 Safety Picks
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety picks the ten safest cars of the 2006 model year.
Perry Stern

AUTOMOBILES: Will that roof rack whack gas mileage? (The Charlotte Observer)
Q. I'm wondering if putting a roof rack on a car will decrease its gas mileage. Our science teacher gives weekly extra credit, and to be frank, I need the extra credit. -- Phil

Englewood residents assess damage to homes (Coos Bay World Link)
I don't even have the words to describe it, Old Wireless Lane resident Stephanie Katruska said Thursday, looking at the pile of flood-ruined carpeting, flooring, chairs, boxes and furniture in her yard in the house in which she grew up, owned by her mom, Shirley Warnken.

Johnson Controls Selects Brandmotion to Distribute Aftermarket Modules for Company's Railport Vehicle Personalization (The Auto Channel)
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 -- Johnson Controls - a major, global supplier of automotive seats, interior systems, electronics and batteries - has named Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Brandmotion, LLC as the exclusive distributor of aftermarket modules for the company's Railport(TM) Vehicle Personalization System.