05 Scion Tc Torque Converter 2dr 2.4l At Actual Image 113963 on 2040-parts.com

Michelin Challenge Design 2009 preview

Michelin has released details of three more contenders which will be displayed at the Michelin Challenge Design exhibit at the 2009 NAIAS next week. The stand will feature 11 scale models and 24 two-dimensional drawings that were selected by a jury of top automotive designers. Among these are Raquel Aparicio’s Soft Vehicle, Fernando Gomez’s Packard concept and Niels Grubak Iversen and David Goncalves’ Phoenix concept.

Porsche reports big drop in sales

Well, it’s not exactly a surprise, given the doom and gloom in the industry at the moment, but Porsche has just reported a 27% drop in sales, down to 34,000 units, over the last six months. As you would expect, some models fared worse than others. The recently updated Porsche 911, which has had mid-cycle tweaks including the new PDK ‘box, held up pretty well.

NHTSA report: Audi S8 tops 2009 theft rates

The Audi S8 and the Toyota Camry stood out among the most stolen 2009 passenger vehicles in a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The just-released report tracked theft rates for all new 2009 passenger vehicles stolen that year. It excludes most SUVs and pickups, so the Cadillac Escalade won't make this list.