The F-Sport starts with the hardtop convertible IS 350C and adds 19-inch wheels, upgraded brakes and suspension goodies. The F-Sport sits on a suspension that’s been dropped an inch, featuring Bilstein performance shocks and upgraded sway bars. Capping off the package is a unique grille, badges on the outside and a numbered badge on the inside to show off its uniqueness.

Besides the added accessories, you’ll find heated and ventilated front seats, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a navigation system with hard drive and a backup camera.

F-Sport models of the IS 350C start at $57,500, not including an $875 destination charge, and they will arrive at dealerships later this month.

Pictured is an IS 350C wearing F-Sport accessories. Lexus will have images of the F-Sport Special Edition soon, though we don’t expect it to look drastically different than what you see here.

On the 3 Series, the $2,500 can be applied on sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon versions of the 328 and 335. The sDrive30i Z4 and sDrive35i also get the $2,500 credit. The 1 Series also sees an offer, amounting to $1,500 on the 128i and 135i coupe and convertible.

Also available are numerous interest rate specials as low as 0.9%.  

These current offers are good until April 30.

Originally, it was reported that a California Highway Patrol officer
used his car as a brake for the Prius, but that turns out not to be the
case. The rest of the story from the California Highway Patrol:

“The California Highway Patrol immediately went through a series of
actions with negative results.

“CHP Officers immediately responded to the area were able to locate the
vehicle eastbound I-8 east of Kitchen Creek Rd.  A CHP Officer was able
to pull along side and instruct Mr. Sikes via the PA system. With the
Officer's assistance, he was able to slow the Prius to approximately 50
m.p.h. The Officer then placed his patrol vehicle in front of the Prius
as it came to a stop in the number #1 lane of e/b I-8.  The Officer then
placed the patrol vehicle against the front bumper of Prius.   

“The vehicles did not touch until after they came to a stop.”

Toyota executives said a technical specialist his been dispatched to
look at the car.

Runaway
Toyota Prius Stopped By California Patrol Car (Jalopnik)

Ford’s security features include a hardware firewall that controls what information can go between the Sync’s entertainment system and the vehicle’s computer. The firewall prevents external parties from accessing the car’s computer.

The entertainment computer itself does not allow the download or execution of external applications, which could include dangerous software. Any upgrades to the Sync system will not come over the Internet directly. Instead, drivers will need to download an upgrade from a home computer and transfer it to a thumb drive that’s plugged into the car’s USB port. The computer won’t even run software that doesn’t come from Ford.

Data such as contact lists and address books from smartphones will also be protected. This includes a “valet mode” that lets drivers use a four-digit PIN to protect stored information from those they don’t want to have access.

Ford says it has no real-world instances of internet thieves attempting to hack on-board computers. But as car connectivity proliferates, surely this type of crime will become more tempting.

Ford Adds Security and Other Features to Sync (Gadgetwise)

I can’t believe its been 6 years.  ZCG will celebrate its 6th birthday on April 7th 2010.  Its been a great ride with lots of Z car good times.  Zonc will be joining us to host our Dyno day celebration. See the details below.

zoncdynoday[1]

I’m Looking to Buy a 2011 Volvo C70 Convertible. What’s New? (Ask.cars.com)
First Drive Review: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Introduction, Part 1 (PickupTrucks.com)
MotherProof.com Review: 2010 Kia Forte (MotherProof.com)

I’m Looking to Buy a 2011 Volvo C70 Convertible. What’s New? (Ask.cars.com)
First Drive Review: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty Introduction, Part 1 (PickupTrucks.com)
MotherProof.com Review: 2010 Kia Forte (MotherProof.com)

While Toyota isn’t calling the campaign an official recall, spokesman Brian Lyons said to think of it as a “heads up” for the other 30 states:  

“The service campaign could mirror what’s in the current recall, but final instructions won’t come until March,” said Lyons.  

Owners of Tundras originally sold or currently registered in the remaining 30 states will be notified by Toyota in the coming weeks. In the original recall, corrosion could lead to spare tires falling from the vehicle’s underside, as well as excessive corrosion affecting brake lines and fuel tank straps.  

We’ll be following developments as they become available, so stay tuned.

While Toyota isn’t calling the campaign an official recall, spokesman Brian Lyons said to think of it as a “heads up” for the other 30 states:  

“The service campaign could mirror what’s in the current recall, but final instructions won’t come until March,” said Lyons.  

Owners of Tundras originally sold or currently registered in the remaining 30 states will be notified by Toyota in the coming weeks. In the original recall, corrosion could lead to spare tires falling from the vehicle’s underside, as well as excessive corrosion affecting brake lines and fuel tank straps.  

We’ll be following developments as they become available, so stay tuned.

If the NHRA Tire Kingdom Gatornationals was a golf tournament and not a drag race, it would be a “major.” Some races, like some golf events, just mean more than others.

The U.S. Nationals stands above all other drag races in importance and prestige, and the Winternationals, the second-oldest stop on the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour, is a clear-cut number two. Behind them – but not far behind – are the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., the event in Englishtown, N.J. (which has undergone numerous name changes since its inception in 1968), and this week’s tour stop: The Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

“To me, it’s always been one of the big ones, right up there with Pomona, Englishtown, and, obviously, Indy,” says Toyota-supported Larry Dixon, driver of Alan Johnson’s Al-Anabi Racing dragster and the defending event champ in Top Fuel (pictured racing against Antron Brown). “When I was a kid, there were only a handful of national events. The schedule has grown a lot over the years, but the old races, to me anyway, are still the biggest. It just seems like all my heroes have won there at one time or another. I want to win every race I go to, but winning at Gainesville definitely means more than winning at Memphis or Phoenix.”

Gainesville Raceway will always be special to Dixon for another, bigger reason: It’s where he made his first passes in a Top Fueler, in March 1994, when he drove the car he was then crewing on, Don “the Snake” Prudhomme’s dragster, to a 4.76-second time – quicker than Prudhomme himself had run in his long career. Just 12 months later, Dixon, who would go on to be named NHRA’s 1995 Rookie of the Year, was a Gatornationals champ.

“I won the first time I ever ran Gainesville, and that’s still really cool to me,” says Dixon, who also picked up back-to-back titles there in the early 2000s. Today, he’s a four-time Gatornationals champ, tied with retired legend Joe Amato as the winningest Top Fuel driver in the event’s history.

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Prudhomme, John Force, Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, and virtually every great driver in drag racing annals has won the “Gators,” as the event is known to racers, at least once. The historic facility also was the backdrop for some of the landmark runs in the sport’s history: the first 260-mph pass (Amato, 1984), the first 260-mph Funny Car pass (Kenny Bernstein, also in 1984), the first 270 (Garlits, 1986), and maybe the biggest run of all time, the first 300 (Bernstein, 1992).

In Funny Car, Toyota-supported drivers Cruz Pedregon and Del Worsham both have Gatornationals victories on their résumés. Worsham scored in 2004, the year he eventually finished a career-high second in the final NHRA standings. Pedregon prevailed in 1998, the best non-championship season of his career.

“I still vividly remember the 1998 race,” says Pedregon, who qualified No. 1 and set low e.t. that year and went on to qualify No. 1 at the next three events. “The car was running flawlessly all weekend and we beat Force in the final, and that was back when nobody could beat Force – especially in Gainesville, where he really strung together a lot of wins in the ’90s. That one race got our whole season going.

“Gainesville is usually the first race of the year that has really warm conditions, the kind you’re going to have to deal with at the next 15 races,” he adds, “and as a driver, you really have to adjust. You have to be ready for the car to smoke the tires in the middle of the track and on the top end. It’s quite an adjustment after Pomona and Phoenix; it’s like racing on another planet. The teams that figure it out early, in the first or second qualifying session, are usually the ones that end up in the final on Sunday.”

The history and tradition of the Gatornationals are not lost on Pedregon, who, like Dixon, is both a California native and a student of the sport.

“It’s always such a big race. To me, it’s just as big as Pomona, and I’m a California guy,” Pedregon says. “All the prestige, the history – it’s just different from most races. It’s like another Winternationals, but for guys on the East Coast. I won there in Alcohol Dragster back in the day [1989], when we didn’t even know what we were doing. Somehow, we found our way to the final and won it, and we were running people I’d never raced before, guys I’d only heard about, just a completely different group than the ones who were at Pomona. With a nitro car, we’re basically going up against the same teams every weekend now, but trust me, every one of us still wants to win Gainesville as much as we did 20 years ago.”

&siteid=DMG_rss_201003_RLA_explan_toyrac_nhra_focus_why_gainesville_is_drag_racings_other_ma

What: NHRA Gatornationals
When: Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14
Where: Gainesville Raceway
Television: ESPN2 – Qualifying – 3/14, 12 a.m. – 2 a.m. ET; 3/14 10 a.m. – 12 noon ET
ESPN2 – NHRA Raceday, 3/14, 12n -12:30 p.m. ET
ESPN2 – Eliminations, 3/14 6 – 9 p.m. ET;

GAINESVILLE FULL OF FIRSTS FOR DIXON – For Toyota Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon, Gainesville and firsts have become synonymous. Not only has the Al-Anabi Racing driver finished first in winning four Top Fuel events at the Gatornationals, but the legendary track has played a huge role in his career.

It was in Gainesville where Dixon drove a dragster for the very first time when he attended a Frank Hawley Drag Racing School in 1990. He also went on to earn his first license for a Top Fuel car in Gainesville and then came back as a rookie to win the Gatornationals in 1995. Finally, the Gatornationals were the site of another first last season when Dixon and the brand new Al-Anabi Racing team won their first-ever event at the Florida track.

GAINESVILLE WINNERS – Three current Toyota-sponsored drivers have previously won the Gatornationals. Larry Dixon has won four times in Gainesville, taking Top Fuel honors in 1995, 2001, 2002 and 2009. In addition to Dixon’s efforts, both Toyota Camry Solara Funny Car drivers have won in Florida with Del Worsham winning in 2004 and Cruz Pedregon victorious in 1998.

LAST YEAR’S GATORNATIONALS – Larry Dixon defeated Cory McClenathan in the final round to win the 2009 Gatornationals. The victory was the first of the season for Al-Anabi Racing and the first of five on the season for Dixon.

Each of the other three current Toyota-sponsored Top Fuelers, Antron Brown, Lucas and Shawn Langdon, advanced to the second round, while Del Worsham was also eliminated in the second round and Cruz Pedregon was topped in the opening round of Funny Car competition.

Talking Gainesville:
Cruz Pedregon, Snap-On Toyota Camry Solara: “Gainesville is the big kickoff for the east coast swing. It’s a big race and a very prestigious one. In a lot of ways, it’s the Pomona of the east coast with one of the biggest crowds we’ll see all year. Not only do Gator fans love their Gatornationals, but fans come from all over the east coast and all the way up to Canada for this one.”

Del Worsham, Al-Anabi Racing Toyota Camry Solara: “You’ll see the biggest crowds in drag racing down in Gainesville. On Sunday, they’ll probably have to lock the gates to keep people out. The crowds are just stunning. They have been coming out like that for as long as I’ve been around. When you get there, you just can’t believe it.”

Toyota-Sponsored Cars At Gainesville

Top Fuel:
Antron Brown, Don Schumacher Racing, Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Larry Dixon, Al-Anabi Racing, Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Dragster
Shawn Langdon, Morgan Lucas Racing, Lucas Oil/Dixie Choppers Top Fuel Dragster
Morgan Lucas, Morgan Lucas Racing, GEICO/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster

Funny Car:
Cruz Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon Racing, Snap-On Tools Toyota Camry Solara
Del Worsham, Al-Anabi Racing, Al-Anabi Racing Toyota Camry Solara Funny Car

Top Fuel Drivers Championship	POINTS	POINTS BEHIND LEADER
1. Cory McClenathan	201	0
2. Doug Kalitta	196	-5
3. Larry Dixon	161	-40
5. Morgan Lucas	108	-93
8. Shawn Langdon	92	-109
9. Antron Brown	90	-111
Funny Car Drivers Championship
1. John Force	224	0
2. Jack Beckman	187	-37
3. Ron Capps	148	-76
9. Del Worsham	97	-127
11. Cruz Pedregon	82	-142

&siteid=DMG_rss_201003_RLA_explan_toyrac_toyota_nhra_gainesville_preview

The F-Sport starts with the hardtop convertible IS 350C and adds 19-inch wheels, upgraded brakes and suspension goodies. The F-Sport sits on a suspension that’s been dropped an inch, featuring Bilstein performance shocks and upgraded sway bars. Capping off the package is a unique grille, badges on the outside and a numbered badge on the inside to show off its uniqueness.

Besides the added accessories, you’ll find heated and ventilated front seats, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a navigation system with hard drive and a backup camera.

F-Sport models of the IS 350C start at $57,500, not including an $875 destination charge, and they will arrive at dealerships later this month.

Pictured is an IS 350C wearing F-Sport accessories. Lexus will have images of the F-Sport Special Edition soon, though we don’t expect it to look drastically different than what you see here.

On the 3 Series, the $2,500 can be applied on sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon versions of the 328 and 335. The sDrive30i Z4 and sDrive35i also get the $2,500 credit. The 1 Series also sees an offer, amounting to $1,500 on the 128i and 135i coupe and convertible.

Also available are numerous interest rate specials as low as 0.9%.  

These current offers are good until April 30.

On the 3 Series, the $2,500 can be applied on sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon versions of the 328 and 335. The sDrive30i Z4 and sDrive35i also get the $2,500 credit. The 1 Series also sees an offer, amounting to $1,500 on the 128i and 135i coupe and convertible.

Also available are numerous interest rate specials as low as 0.9%.  

These current offers are good until April 30.

Brian Vickers (pictured) uses it to let folks share in his action-packed world away from the track.

Denny Hamlin uses it to give away race tickets, weigh in on important issues in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or just talk a little basketball.

Scott and Amanda Speed use it to keep fans up-to-date on their zany lives.

Samantha Sarcinella uses it to provide in-race updates of how fiancée Kyle Busch is doing, along with info about the couple’s wedding plans.

And Michael Waltrip, well, you never quite know what he’ll use it for…

What we’re talking about, of course, is Twitter (www.twitter.com), the hottest social-networking site in the NASCAR universe. The premise is simple – sign up and you can post a limitless number of free messages, with just one catch: No message can be longer than 140 characters, which means things like grammar and sentence structure are sketchy at best.

NASCAR’s three national series are taking a weekend off before heading to Bristol, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your favorite Toyota drivers will be lying low. Thanks to the power of Twitter, fans can follow them pretty much 24/7, and the results can be informative, funny, outrageous and downright bizarre at times. There’s no question, it’s become huge in NASCAR circles.

“I just started doing it and it’s fun so I do it,” says Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 56 NAPA Toyota. “It’s neat to be able to interact with the fans. I don’t think most sports figures would be saying hello to them or talking to their fans. For the most part, NASCAR drivers are down to earth, normal, every day guys who came up racing on short tracks and working on their racecars. We’re really no different than anyone else. I worked on clam boats, and I started racing cars because I love it.”

And you never know what anyone might say on Twitter. Some recent offerings (with original grammar and spelling, in case you blame us for it….):

• “I won another 50 bux, I’m on fire playin online poker last days ha” – Scott Speed and one of several Tweets showing he’s hitting a rich seam of form in online poker, as well as on the race track.
• “@AllWaltrip..goof ball huh? yea youre right. got nothing for u on that one. i keep assuming i’ll grow up one day. but then again u havent ” – Michael Waltrip to big brother Darrell, who he has converted to a Twitter user.
• “Was a good day for KBM, 2nd and 13th. Really proud of all the guys and how we ran. Feel good about things to come! Watching MX on speed” – Kyle Busch after March 6 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he finished second and teammate Tayler Malsam was 13th.
• “On that note.. My mom just got her new Lexus.. Its a baaaad machine. She loves it” – Denny Hamlin.
• “Not a good start to the day I was backing down my driveway and ran over my mail box opps now I know its there I guess hahah” – Steve Wallace.
• “Good morning getting ready for a street fight here in Atl that is best way I can describe a cup race” – Max Papis on race morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
• “Great time with the Weather Channel people. Thats harder than it looks but the forecast for the weekend is not bad at all! Blame me if not?” – Brian Vickers, after spending an hour hosting The Weather Channel in Atlanta.
• “Congrats!!! Found a cool wedding website, stylemepretty.com might help you with ideas!” – Sam Sarcinella.

If you haven’t already done so, check out Twitter.com for a wealth of information, gossip and who-knows-what else.

A list of some of the Toyota Twitter names follows, but if your favorite driver isn’t listed, search the web and see if they’re Tweeting, too. You might be surprised who’s doing it.

To check out a driver’s Tweets, go to www.twitter.com and add / and their Twitter name. For example, to read Martin Truex Jr.’s Tweets, go to www.twitter.com/martintruexjr56

BrianLVickers – Brian Vickers
dennyhamlin – Denny Hamlin
HomeDepotRacing – Joey Logano
Kylebusch – Kyle Busch
SamSarcinella – Kyle Busch’s fiancée
martintruexjr56 – Martin Truex Jr.
maxpapis – Max Papis
mw55 – Michael Waltrip
MWRteam – Michael Waltrip Racing team page
RobbyGordon – Robby Gordon
scottspeed – Scott Speed
Amanda_Speed – Scott Speed’s wife
stevewallace66 – Steve Wallace

&siteid=DMG_rss_201003_RLA_explan_toyrac_social_networking_connects_toyota_racers_fans

Originally, it was reported that a California Highway Patrol officer
used his car as a brake for the Prius, but that turns out not to be the
case. The rest of the story from the California Highway Patrol:

“The California Highway Patrol immediately went through a series of
actions with negative results.

“CHP Officers immediately responded to the area were able to locate the
vehicle eastbound I-8 east of Kitchen Creek Rd.  A CHP Officer was able
to pull along side and instruct Mr. Sikes via the PA system. With the
Officer's assistance, he was able to slow the Prius to approximately 50
m.p.h. The Officer then placed his patrol vehicle in front of the Prius
as it came to a stop in the number #1 lane of e/b I-8.  The Officer then
placed the patrol vehicle against the front bumper of Prius.   

“The vehicles did not touch until after they came to a stop.”

Toyota executives said a technical specialist his been dispatched to
look at the car.

Runaway
Toyota Prius Stopped By California Patrol Car (Jalopnik)

Ford’s security features include a hardware firewall that controls what information can go between the Sync’s entertainment system and the vehicle’s computer. The firewall prevents external parties from accessing the car’s computer.

The entertainment computer itself does not allow the download or execution of external applications, which could include dangerous software. Any upgrades to the Sync system will not come over the Internet directly. Instead, drivers will need to download an upgrade from a home computer and transfer it to a thumb drive that’s plugged into the car’s USB port. The computer won’t even run software that doesn’t come from Ford.

Data such as contact lists and address books from smartphones will also be protected. This includes a “valet mode” that lets drivers use a four-digit PIN to protect stored information from those they don’t want to have access.

Ford says it has no real-world instances of internet thieves attempting to hack on-board computers. But as car connectivity proliferates, surely this type of crime will become more tempting.

Ford Adds Security and Other Features to Sync (Gadgetwise)

First, the optional media hub I needed to have — which has a USB plug for iPods and flash drives — wasn’t working. The dealer needed the car overnight and lent us an Impreza while it was being fixed. Once power was flowing to it, the media hub still couldn’t play music from either of our iPhones. It turns out the software has not been updated for the iPhone 3G, but if you use a 3GS, it works fine. Members of the Subaru forum I frequent say the navigation-system-equipped models with USB do work with the iPhone 3G. Bizarre. I'll have a more thorough update on this later in the month.

While moving some music files to a mound of jump drives (that’s how we get press kits these days), I got a frantic text from my wife saying the Outback was hit while parked by a semi right in front of her office. The entire back bumper was ripped off, and there was some damage to the tailgate.

Luckily, the repair place said the damage wasn’t more extensive beyond the cosmetics, and repairs cost less than $2,000. I was surprised it was that low because the entire bumper needed to be replaced. At least I knew the paint would match pretty well because the car was just a month old. It took about two weeks to get everything fixed, mainly because Subaru didn’t have a spare bumper to send.

Because of the accident, we had to buy new child-safety seats. The insurance company and the companies that make the seats, say you can never be sure how an accident affects the seats. You might not be able to see hairline fractures, and the seats will be void of any warranty if something were to go wrong later.

We got one exact replacement of our Britax Boulevard, and since Carter is getting older, we replaced our Marathon with a Frontier, which can be used as a convertible to a booster. Since our youngest is now 9 months old, we had to move her from an infant seat to a convertible, and the rather large Boulevard is behind the passenger seat. I was shocked and relieved that the passenger seat could slide all the way back with this behind it. Since I often ride shotgun in the car, the ample legroom is terrific, and it's the No. 1 reason we traded in the 2008 for the 2010.

Two months into ownership, we have less than 2,000 miles on the Outback, and it’s averaging just over 22 mpg, which is what I’d expect for the heavy traffic my wife sometimes drives it in, especially in winter when we let it warm up a few minutes each morning. The 2008 rarely averaged above 20 mpg.

One last update regarding those WeatherTech floormats I tested a month ago. I saw comments that there shouldn’t be such a big gap on the passenger side, and indeed, once we got the car back from the repair shop, I moved the mat around, and it aligned much better than before.

This included the Child Protect System, which uses steel-reinforced padded bolsters around a child-safety seat for children between ages 3 and 12. This special seat protects car parts from penetrating the interior during an accident — essentially a padded tank for your child.

The ESF crew also showed off active door supports, which extend on the sides of the vehicle 20 to 30 milliseconds before a crash, and airbags near the driver’s headrest to protect the heads of the driver and passenger during a rollover.

“Virtual crumple zones” and radar sensors make up the “Pre-Safe 360 system,” which senses the impact of other vehicles before they happen and sends out warning signals such as flashing the lights, applying the brake or triggering a neck-protection system to prevent whiplash.

Mercedes-Benz did not make any prices clear, but these systems are likely expensive, and most will not reach the market for several years, though the automaker says to expect the child-safety seat in possibly three years.

Mercedes-Benz ESF 20009 Tests Future Safety Technology (Wheels)

This included the Child Protect System, which uses steel-reinforced padded bolsters around a child-safety seat for children between ages 3 and 12. This special seat protects car parts from penetrating the interior during an accident — essentially a padded tank for your child.

The ESF crew also showed off active door supports, which extend on the sides of the vehicle 20 to 30 milliseconds before a crash, and airbags near the driver’s headrest to protect the heads of the driver and passenger during a rollover.

“Virtual crumple zones” and radar sensors make up the “Pre-Safe 360 system,” which senses the impact of other vehicles before they happen and sends out warning signals such as flashing the lights, applying the brake or triggering a neck-protection system to prevent whiplash.

Mercedes-Benz did not make any prices clear, but these systems are likely expensive, and most will not reach the market for several years, though the automaker says to expect the child-safety seat in possibly three years.

Mercedes-Benz ESF 20009 Tests Future Safety Technology (Wheels)

These include vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Cold states (and their adjoining states) that use road salts frequently are also included: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina.

The recall is due to a reinforcing bracket and the fuel filler pipe, which could corrode if exposed to salt and other road debris. This could create a leak in the fuel filler pipe and possibly lead to a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

Dealers will inspect the fuel filler pipe and replace it with an improved part for free. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 800-222-0037 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hot line at 888-327-4236.

These include vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Cold states (and their adjoining states) that use road salts frequently are also included: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina.

The recall is due to a reinforcing bracket and the fuel filler pipe, which could corrode if exposed to salt and other road debris. This could create a leak in the fuel filler pipe and possibly lead to a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

Dealers will inspect the fuel filler pipe and replace it with an improved part for free. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 800-222-0037 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hot line at 888-327-4236.

Tron Legacy – The 2010 Official Trailer – We hate that it won’t be out until December 17th 2010, and that anticipation will only be exacerbated by trailers such as this official Disney release. But recent Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges is back, along with his son to race cyber cycles and bring new life to the classic 80’s feature with this sequel / reboot – Tron: Legacy. Geek Alert!!!

First, the optional media hub I needed to have — which has a USB plug for iPods and flash drives — wasn’t working. The dealer needed the car overnight and lent us an Impreza while it was being fixed. Once power was flowing to it, the media hub still couldn’t play music from either of our iPhones. It turns out the software has not been updated for the iPhone 3G, but if you use a 3GS, it works fine. Members of the Subaru forum I frequent say the navigation-system-equipped models with USB do work with the iPhone 3G. Bizarre. I'll have a more thorough update on this later in the month.

While moving some music files to a mound of jump drives (that’s how we get press kits these days), I got a frantic text from my wife saying the Outback was hit while parked by a semi right in front of her office. The entire back bumper was ripped off, and there was some damage to the tailgate.

Luckily, the repair place said the damage wasn’t more extensive beyond the cosmetics, and repairs cost less than $2,000. I was surprised it was that low because the entire bumper needed to be replaced. At least I knew the paint would match pretty well because the car was just a month old. It took about two weeks to get everything fixed, mainly because Subaru didn’t have a spare bumper to send.

Because of the accident, we had to buy new child-safety seats. The insurance company and the companies that make the seats, say you can never be sure how an accident affects the seats. You might not be able to see hairline fractures, and the seats will be void of any warranty if something were to go wrong later.

We got one exact replacement of our Britax Boulevard, and since Carter is getting older, we replaced our Marathon with a Frontier, which can be used as a convertible to a booster. Since our youngest is now 9 months old, we had to move her from an infant seat to a convertible, and the rather large Boulevard is behind the passenger seat. I was shocked and relieved that the passenger seat could slide all the way back with this behind it. Since I often ride shotgun in the car, the ample legroom is terrific, and it's the No. 1 reason we traded in the 2008 for the 2010.

Two months into ownership, we have less than 2,000 miles on the Outback, and it’s averaging just over 22 mpg, which is what I’d expect for the heavy traffic my wife sometimes drives it in, especially in winter when we let it warm up a few minutes each morning. The 2008 rarely averaged above 20 mpg.

One last update regarding those WeatherTech floormats I tested a month ago. I saw comments that there shouldn’t be such a big gap on the passenger side, and indeed, once we got the car back from the repair shop, I moved the mat around, and it aligned much better than before.

It’s called Dolmette – a motorcycle built with a 24 gas powered chainsaw engines. Only in…Germany? Dolmar, for those who do not know, is a brand of chainsaw. These wacky Chermans took 24 of them and went hog wild on two wheels. Man, I love youtube.

A reader would like to know what vehicles out there could fit nine passengers, and Ask.cars.com names some options. Then, PickupTrucks.com has a road test of the 2010 Chromed Ram 2500 Crew Cab. Finally, MotherProof.com asks its hot-or-not question of the week: What do you think about puppy car seats?

Which Vehicles Can Fit Nine Passengers? (Ask.cars.com)
Road Test Review: 2010 Chromed Ram 2500 Crew Cab (PickupTrucks.com)
Hot or Not: Puppy Car Seats (MotherProof.com)

A reader would like to know what vehicles out there could fit nine passengers, and Ask.cars.com names some options. Then, PickupTrucks.com has a road test of the 2010 Chromed Ram 2500 Crew Cab. Finally, MotherProof.com asks its hot-or-not question of the week: What do you think about puppy car seats?

Which Vehicles Can Fit Nine Passengers? (Ask.cars.com)
Road Test Review: 2010 Chromed Ram 2500 Crew Cab (PickupTrucks.com)
Hot or Not: Puppy Car Seats (MotherProof.com)

AutoMD.com mystery shoppers visited over 600 shops in the top-50 most populated cities in America, which included “mom & pop” repair facilities, dealership service centers and franchises (ie: Pep Boys, NTB, etc.) – According to the report: To measure pricing integrity, the mystery shoppers called back two weeks later with an industry standard price estimate. The best and worst list was then calculated based on each city‘s rankings for three critical factors, weighted equally:

1. Repair Affordability: The average cost-per-job for that city based on prices quoted by repair shops
2. Price Disparity Range: The percentage variance between the lowest price quoted and the highest price quoted in each market
3. Shop Integrity Factor: The percentage of shops that shifted their original quoted price by more than 5% when presented with an industry standard price estimate

In AutoMD’s report, Memphis ranked as the best city for fairness and consistency of prices quoted. Chicago, the windy city and home to Molly’s Cupcakes, ranked as the worst. Here’s the 5 Top & Bottom cities:

Thanks to Dan & AutoMD for the heads up on this great research!

In a video webcast for the media, Toyota also showed that similar, dramatic engine-speed increases can be induced in other brands of vehicles using this testing method.

Last month, Southern Illinois University professor David Gilbert performed a demonstration for ABC News that showed a Toyota Avalon accelerating after he applied an electric current to the vehicle's electronics. In today's presentation, Toyota and engineering consulting firm Exponent described the steps Gilbert took in his test and then explained the problems with it.

Exponent officials said Gilbert's test involved cutting three of the six wires leading from the accelerator-pedal assembly to add a new resistor and power connection to the system. While this process — which officials described as a re-engineering of the system — doesn't record an error code in the engine's computer, Exponent said that for this short to occur, it would need to skip over two wires — one for grounding and another for power. However, there's no explainable way for that to happen, and if either of those wires were affected, an error code would register.

As part of the presentation, Toyota also demonstrated what would happen to a Ford Fusion and a BMW 3 Series if they were modified like Gilbert's Avalon. When tested, the engines in both cars revved quickly to their maximum rpm and, like the Toyota, didn't record any error codes in the engine computer.

While corroded wires could lead to some sort of short in a car's electrical system, Exponent said that Gilbert didn't offer evidence that corrosion had affected the wires leading to the pedal, as the wires are encased in various seals to protect against the elements. Toyota said it hasn't seen corrosion, either.

In a video webcast for the media, Toyota also showed that similar, dramatic engine-speed increases can be induced in other brands of vehicles using this testing method.

Last month, Southern Illinois University professor David Gilbert performed a demonstration for ABC News that showed a Toyota Avalon accelerating after he applied an electric current to the vehicle's electronics. In today's presentation, Toyota and engineering consulting firm Exponent described the steps Gilbert took in his test and then explained the problems with it.

Exponent officials said Gilbert's test involved cutting three of the six wires leading from the accelerator-pedal assembly to add a new resistor and power connection to the system. While this process — which officials described as a re-engineering of the system — doesn't record an error code in the engine's computer, Exponent said that for this short to occur, it would need to skip over two wires — one for grounding and another for power. However, there's no explainable way for that to happen, and if either of those wires were affected, an error code would register.

As part of the presentation, Toyota also demonstrated what would happen to a Ford Fusion and a BMW 3 Series if they were modified like Gilbert's Avalon. When tested, the engines in both cars revved quickly to their maximum rpm and, like the Toyota, didn't record any error codes in the engine computer.

While corroded wires could lead to some sort of short in a car's electrical system, Exponent said that Gilbert didn't offer evidence that corrosion had affected the wires leading to the pedal, as the wires are encased in various seals to protect against the elements. Toyota said it hasn't seen corrosion, either.

First Drive Review: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty (PickupTrucks.com)

First Drive Review: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty (PickupTrucks.com)

For instance, a 9-3 Sport Sedan had an MSRP of $30,360 for 2009. The 2010 model starts at 28,950 (all prices do not include a $775 destination charge). Moving up a trim level, you can nab an Aero model for $38,165.

Saab is also touting its all-new 9-3X premium crossover model, which is the all-wheel-drive, Outback-style version of the 9-3. This decked-out version starts at $37,025.

The 9-3 SportCombi with added cargo room starts at $30,380 for the 2.0T and $37,070 for the Aero model. The 9-3 Convertible prices range from $40,040 for the 2.0T to $45,130 for the Aero.

The recall is due to insufficient plating on the automatic transmission oil cooler pipe assembly, which may lead to corrosion. If the pipe develops a hole, transmission fluid could leak, creating a potential fire hazard if there is an ignition source.

Dealers will inspect the aft oil cooler pipe assembly and replace it if they find it has insufficient plating to prevent corrosion. This service will be free.

Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 800-222-0037 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hot line at 888-327-4236.

Last week, the 2010 Subaru Outback easily bested the new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour and the 2010 Toyota Venza in a faceoff. In this week’s podcast, the editors who make those decisive calls explain how they came to realize that even though all of these wagons look a bit odd, they’re not so bad to drive.

You can download the podcast via iTunes here or listen in your browser by pressing the button below.

Cars.com Podcast #44

The redesigned 2010 Hyundai Tucson has arrived to some decent fanfare and hot sales. The affordable crossover manages to shove its way into territory dominated by the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V with a combination of styling, utility and affordability. It’s that affordability and the sub-$19,000 starting price Hyundai advertises that Cars.com editors Joe Bruzek and Stephen Markley wanted to take a closer look at. Both are 20-somethings and are a target audience for Hyundai.

The two had a chance to get behind the wheel of a base GLS model Tucson with manual transmission to see how much value Hyundai’s crossover offers at $18,995 before a $795 destination charge. To read a full review of the new Tucson, go here.

Beginning with the exterior, the Tucson, even in base form, has a slick, fluid look that sets it apart from competitors. Most importantly, that fluid feeling doesn’t differ significantly from more expensive Limited trims. The small differences were just that — small. The smaller wheels make the car look a bit like it was on roller skates, but the black door handles don’t stand out on darker-colored cars. (They do come body-colored or chrome on higher trim levels.) “While body design alone wouldn’t sway me over something like the CR-V, it does make a difference that the base Tucson still catches your eye quickly,” Markley said.

Overall, interior quality is very good except for some cheap-looking window switches, which are found in every trim level. Markley sees the interior as less flashy but it certainly gets the job done. Bruzek’s take is that the interior is significantly more stylish than the competitors, just like the outside. A standard USB port for iPods won acclaim from both editors.

The manual transmission only added to the fun because the Tucson has a sporty ride. Shoppers who like to pay attention to the driving experience might prefer this bottom-dollar GLS. The manual isn’t available on higher trims.

Neither editor expected a particularly lively driving experience, but Bruzek noted the front-wheel-drive GLS handled with minimal body roll through the corners and exhibited a satisfying fun-to-drive factor for a small crossover.

There isn’t a lot of cargo room in the Tucson, which is on the smaller side of the segment at 55.8 cubic feet. A CR-V is 72.9 cubic feet, and the RAV4 is 73 cubic feet. To these guys, being smaller wasn’t a put-off because neither would be carrying anything more than small furniture (Markley) or miscellaneous car parts (Bruzek).

They disagreed on whether to opt for the manual or automatic transmission, however. Markley, preferring a manual transmission to anything, made his preference clear, but Bruzek noted that for only $1,000 more you can have the comfort and ease of an automatic while also improving your gas mileage by 1 mpg. The Tucson’s mileage is rated at 22/30 mpg city/highway for the manual and 23/31 mpg for the automatic in the front-wheel-drive model, putting it near the top of its class in that regard.

The Tucson’s value begins to weaken when you move into the upper trim levels, where some features seem out of place in the segment. Adding pricey extras — like a panoramic sunroof on the Limited trim level, which is packaged with the navigation system — begins to push the crossover’s price upward of $28,000. At that price point, larger options like the 2010 Ford Edge and 2010 Nissan Murano open up. Of course, that’s another reason the GLS required the extra scrutiny.

“The base GLS is probably the only version I would consider, strictly because of the value,” said Bruzek. “If you can stay in the low $20,000s, it’s still well worth a look over the CR-V and RAV4, but it’s when you add the premium features that it starts to lose its bang-for-the-buck appeal.”

GLS Standard Features

• 6-Speed manual transmission

• AM/FM/CD player with iPod/USB and MP3 jack

• Electronic stability control

• Remote keyless entry with alarm

• Tilt steering wheel

• Power windows with driver’s auto down

• Air conditioning

• Trip computer with gas mileage info

This is also a good time to note that the 2011 Sorento, which also got high marks from reviewer David Thomas, still has a $1,000 cash-back incentive attached. That deal is also set to run through the end of March.

This is also a good time to note that the 2011 Sorento, which also got high marks from reviewer David Thomas, still has a $1,000 cash-back incentive attached. That deal is also set to run through the end of March.

Many popular models are included, such as the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, as well as 2010 Chevrolet and GMC pickups of the 1500, 2500HD and 3500HD variety. With summer fast approaching, it may be a good time to lock in a 2009 Chevrolet Corvette with its available zero-percent financing for 72 months.

For a complete list of which models are available with the offers in your area, visit Cars.com’s incentive listings here.