Car companies, community & a cause

Last Saturday night (April 20) was one of those I-can't believe-I-get-paid-to-do-this kind of evenings. My wife Maria and I -- along with 550 of our closest friends -- were invited to attend the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute's 31st annual dinner. The name sort of says it all, and the dinner is a simple enough concept that even I get it: It's held to raise money.

More tech details of Rolls-Royce RR4’s V12

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 23 March 2009 16:23 Rolls-Royce today confirmed a handful of new details for the ‘baby’ Rolls, codenamed RR4 and previewed in the 200EX concept car at the 2009 Geneva motor show. The RR4 will be powered by a unique Rolls 6.6-litre turbocharged V12, producing ‘upwards of 500bhp’, the company disclosed. Drive is sent through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

Ford and Dodge upgrade police patrol vehicles for Michigan State Police test day

Ford touted the addition of its 3.7-liter V6 engine to its Police Interceptor sedan, and Dodge boasted about the new Charger Pursuit with all-wheel drive on Thursday. That can only mean that the Michigan State Police force is doing its yearly vehicle testing, and two of the Detroit Three are trying to get noticed. General Motors has its new rear-wheel-drive Caprice to bank on, which we believe is the best of the group.