Toyota Ist 2002 Condenser [0776060] on 2040-parts.com

Former auction-house owner Kruse facing Pennsylvania theft charge

Former auction house owner Dean Kruse surrendered to northern Indiana authorities last week to face a theft charge in Pennsylvania, where he is accused of failing to pay a man $38,000 for selling an antique hearse. The Associated Press, citing The Herald Republican of Angola, Ind., said that Kruse, 69, was released Aug. 31 from the DeKalb County Jail in Auburn, Ind., after posting a $5,000 bond.

Transmissions gone wild!

If you've been car shopping recently, or just paying attention to Autoweek car reviews, you've noticed that the six-speed automatic -- de rigueur as recently as a year ago -- suddenly has ratio envy. The new hotness? Eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions.

Honda Civic (2011) at Frankfurt motor show

This is the ninth generation of Honda’s small car star, which has gestated from trend setting (Civic Mk1 of 1972) to stylistically dull if technically advanced (most) to sci-fi-style wacko but technically mainstream (Civic Mk8). New Civics, over the years, have been about as easy to forecast as David Beckham’s next hairstyle as Honda engineers – never the most predictable bunch – veer from brave to bashful. The new Civic, unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, is eye-catching although less off-centre than generation eight, and is closed basely mechanically on its predecessor.