Misch 4x4 Center Console Pad Jkcp150 on 2040-parts.com

Revving up for winter

It happens every year, that inevitable moment Mother Nature decides to unleash her snowy wrath on the greater part of the United States. Winter has arrived and suddenly your rear-wheel drive, high-performance cars aren't providing you with the performance or confidence you need to combat those Antarctic-esque conditions. For those fortunate enough to live in year-round T-shirt permitting weather, we invite you to keep reading, because it's a fact that all 50 states receive some measure of winter weather in a typical year.

Tesla touts top sales at Detroit auto show

Tesla credits the "exceptional cold weather performance" of its Model S for 20 percent-higher-than-expected Q4 sales of 6,900 units, bringing total Model S sales worldwide to 25,000 so far. In fact, Tesla says its sedan does so well in the snow that the rear wheels are the only ones that need any torque. "This car performs outstandingly in winter conditions," said Tesla vp of vehicle engineering Chris Porritt in a video released the day of the Detroit Auto Show.

Iowa distributes thumb bands imprinted with ‘TXTING KILLS'

Thumb bands that read “TXTNG KILLS” have been making their way around the state of Iowa, the Wall Street Journal reports. The bands--which are meant to serve as a reminder to avoid texting while driving--have been distributed at events such as the Iowa State Fair and the Iowa-Iowa State college football game. “A lot of people want them for their kids,” Courtney Greene, spokeswoman for Iowa's Department of Public Safety, told the Wall Street Journal.