Summit Racing Coil-over Spring 325 Lbs./in. Rate 7" Length 2.5" Diameter Each on 2040-parts.com

$5 billion competition on to replace Humvee

Competition is heating up to win a contract for a vehicle that will replace nearly 18,500 aging military Humvees for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps starting in 2015. Six proposals are in play, with little time left before federal contracting officials decide on development of the $5 billion-plus program.

Jaguar XF – the 2010 police version for Plod

This is the first police-spec Jaguar XF – bound to an orderly life of patrolling the motorways around the Midlands area encircling Jaguar's HQ. The local constabulary has bought seven 271bhp 3.0-litre Diesel S models in police trim.What's changed to make the XF a police car?Not much out of the ordinary. It's much easier to spot than a demarked police car, with its roof bar, LED flashers in the grille and refletive decals galore.It's ironic that Jags used to be the getaway vehicle of choice in the 50s, 60s and 70s in films of a certain bent; now Jaguar has gone good and supplying Plod himself.

July 9: Keeping it topped off

As expected, when I walked back to my parking space at VSP parking across the street from Burbank Airport the i-MiEV was fully charged. No problem. It had more than 24 hours to get charged and it can't take more than 16 hours to do it, if you figure one hour per kWh at 120 volts.