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Muscle-car icons immortalized in new postal-stamp set

Perhaps sensing that it's at risk of going the way of the carbureted big-block and leaded gasoline, the United States Postal Service is apparently willing to try anything to boost its bottom line. Though we're sure its recently announced line of postal worker-inspired apparel will be a runaway (and runway) success, we're glad to see the USPS reaching out to the automotive-enthusiast community with a new set of limited-edition stamps that commemorate the American muscle car. We told you about the stamps earlier this year, but we can now confirm the lineup.

New Mercedes-Benz S-class spotted in SoCal

The new Mercedes-Benz S-class must be hustling toward the developmental-cycle finish line, because it's been spotted en masse in places such as Toronto (where it must be undergoing cold-weather testing) and Irvine, Calif. (where it must be gauging the interest of Benz-crazy vox populi). Because as devoid as it is of bodywork-breaking pillboxes, camera-obfuscating swirl paint, and surly engineers, the fact that it's seen here in little more than some sticky paper and a pair of cheap sunglasses on the driver means that the elder statesman of the automotive world is readying its next debut.

Cautious welcome for fuel duty freeze

MOTORING groups have given a cautious welcome to Chancellor George Osborne's announcement of a freeze on fuel duty until May 2015. Both the AA and the RAC pointed out that Mr Osborne was already getting big sums from motorists in taxation. Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Transport is the single biggest area of household expenditure bar none and our own research shows that 800,000 of the poorest households are in transport poverty, spending a quarter or more of their income on running a car.