Author: Tabitha

For many people, actor/racer Steve has yet to be topped as the coolest cat who ever lit up the silver screen or a racetrack. And that list includes Sean Connery, Paul Newman, James Garner, or any of the current heartthrobs. Sonic Editions, a company specializing in all kinds of classic images, sells limited-edition Steve McQueen photographs from the Michael Ochs Archives of Los Angeles, Calif. Ochs shot most of them back in 1971 when McQueen was directing and starring in his racing movie, Le Mans. Each print is produced on high-grade Fuji Crystal Archive paper and comes professionally framed. Choose…

You are what you wear, as the saying goes. If you’re a car lover, you can display your passion with ties and scarves from Cyberoptix TieLab. The company produces a variety of neckties and bowties that cover a variety of interests, including automotive. For example, this gearshift motif lets everyone know youÕre into manual transmissions. Other tie styles depict racetrack layouts, racing stripes, vintage auto brands and auto parts, etc. Prices vary depending on the product and material; for example gearshift ties sell for $30 for the micro-fiber version and up to $56 for those made from fair-trade silk. You…

One of the most technology dense cars on the planet is also the cheapest to maintain over 10 years. The Toyota Prius hybrid has been the most fuel-efficient car without a plug sold in North America, writes alternate-vehicle website Green Car Reports, but a new study finds it also relatively inexpensive to maintain. Your Mechanic, a website that arranges auto-repair house calls, recently reviewed maintenance-related expenses for its customers’ cars, finding the Prius to have the lowest average maintenance costs of any car over a 10-year period. The Prius averaged $4,300 in maintenance-related costs, beating out second-place Kia Soul by…

A start-up called Solar Roadways is laying the groundwork for the energy revolution along an iconic stretch of American road: Route 66. In 2014, reports auto information site The Car Connection, Solar Roadways launched a crowd sourcing campaign, raising $2.2 million. The goal was $1 million. Those funds were used, in part, to refine its energy-generating solar panels and the glass pavers that protect the panels from traffic. The state of Missouri is gathering funds to pay for the installation of Solar Roadway panels at the Route 66 Welcome Center in Conway. The company says that using its technology across…

Even gearheads will doff their jeans and T-shirts and get dressed up once in a while. When they do, they can add a pair of silver speedometer and gauge cuff-links supplied by Cuff-Daddy. These racing-inspired replicas feature an authentic-looking 5/8-inch-diameter speedometer that attaches to one cuff, while the other contains an equal-sized fuel gauge. Each one features an acrylic coating for lasting protection and is covered by Cuff-Daddy’s lifetime warranty. The $20 (including same-day shipping within the United States) price includes a hard-sided presentation box. Check them out at www.cuff-daddy.com.

For fueling up your kids or grandkids, The Busted Knuckle Garage has just the items. The specialty-auto-accessories company has created a children’s five-piece tableware set that’s made of unbreakable Melamine and features the appropriate Busted Knuckle racing designs. Each kit comes with a three-section eight-inch dinner plate, five-inch bowl, six-ounce cup plus a fork and spoon. The entire serving comes packaged in an attractive gift box and sells for $20. Get yours from www.bustedknucklegarage.com.

The Sleuth has learned that the Japan-based automaker’s thin lineup of vehicles that are available in North America is about to be bolstered. A premium-grade sport ute that currently goes by the name Grand Tourer will be shown this fall at the Paris Auto Show in France. The new model will also feature Mitsubishi’s latest plug-in hybrid technology similar to the system that will be optional in the 2017 Outlander tall wagon. The Spy Guy also sees the impending launch of the Grand Tourer as a sign that Nissan, which is Mitsubishi’s largest shareholder, believes that there continues to be…

Well, not exactly, but The Sleuth sees similarities between the two from a design perspective. In particular, the nosepiece and rear end have much in common with the current 911. The update, which lowers the rear roof section by close to an inch, represents a significant improvement compared to the awkward lines of the current Panamera. Similarly, the four-place passenger compartment is as luxurious and sporty-looking as the 911’s. There is no change in the front-engine layout, although the platform the car now rests on is brand new. A full range of powerplants will return, including a hybrid edition and…

Many automakers have set up shop in Mexico, drawn by the country’s lower wages and various government incentives. The Sleuth hears that BMW is following suit and will begin assembling the next-generation 2019 3-series cars from a brand new solar-powered facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. That happens to be close to where Ford and General Motors also build cars. The 3-series, as well as one other yet-to-be-named model destined for dealerships in the United States and Canada, won’t be entirely made in Mexico since their engines and transmissions will be built in Germany (as they are for cars coming…

The Sleuth has uncovered some heretofore secret intel concerning the 10-speed automatic transmission that was jointly developed by General Motors and Ford. That unit was originally intended for use in both automakers’ full-size pickups, but Chevrolet has decided that it will be available in the 640-horsepower 2017 Camaro ZL1. Not to be outdone, word is that Ford will also make the 10-speed an option for the Mustang GT’s 5.0-liter V-8 and possibly the Shelby GT350 model with its 5.2. It seems the automatic is capable of producing ultra-quick shift changes, and quicker apparently than Porsche’s paddle-shift PDK unit. That makes…