Author: Tabitha

Comedian and former talk-show host Jay Leno is also well known for his collection of cars and motorcycles that numbers in the hundreds. Now he has allowed his name to be used for line of car-care products. They include the usual washing and polishing liquids and sprays/gels for paint, chrome, tires and wheels, plus interior cleaning aids for leather, vinyl and plastic surfaces. The collection of products is fairly inclusive (there’s even an assortment of brushes, towels and sponges that display the Jay’s signature) and appears to be reasonably priced. The kit shown here (one of many different kits) sells…

Speedkore specializes in making carbon-fiber components and performance engines for Ford Mustangs. For a hard-core weekend racer with a Mustang, the company can provide a Carbon Series kit, including Mustang Shelby GT350 body and performance engine (worth 750 horsepower), performance suspension, brakes, radiator and a wheel-and-tire package. Speedkore also includes a Carbon Series interior with racing bucket seats and other goodies. All of this weight-saving goodness (the company does not say how much lighter, however) will cost you slightly more than $105,000, not including your donor Mustang. Visit www.speedkore.com.

It’s pretty easy to spray-clean your car’s windshield and rear glass from the outside. The job becomes more difficult, however, when attempting to remove grit and grime from the inside (and even the outside of certain cars and tall trucks). The Reach & Clean glass tool kit from Invisible Glass can save you considerable grief. Included is a pivoting 14-inch handle and triangular head that makes it easier to access hard-to-access areas. There are also five washable and reversible microfiber cleaning head covers and a handy nylon-mesh storage bag. The Reach & Clean kit sells for $25 at www.invisibleglass.com.

Casters are great for easily moving your car within the confines of the garage. If space is an issue, just put the car on rollers and move it right against a side wall. The only problem is that you first have to jack up each end of the vehicle to slide the casters beneath the wheels. The GoJak from Zendex Tool Corporation is unique because it’s both a dolly and a jack, combined, that can raise your vehicle up to six inches off the floor. Depending on the model selected, a set of four GoJaks can lift vehicles weighing 4,100-6,300…

The Spymaster hears that a revised version of the automaker’s most excellent sedan will at long last receive a power boost in 2018 as part of a significant physical and mechanical refresh. Mazda intends to make available the same turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s in the CX-9 tall wagon. The powerplant’s 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque will be competitive with the Honda Accord’s optional turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which is rated at 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The Mazda6’s turbo should also keep up with the Toyota Camry’s available non-turbo V-6 that makes 301 horsepower and 267…

Never one to overlook a trend, The Sleuth sees a seismic shift occurring within Toyota’s design department. It appears that the gone-but-not-forgotten FJ Cruiser remains a point of influence for the automaker, especially with used versions selling for big bucks these days. Last spring, Toyota showed off the outdoorsy FT-4X concept and more recently followed it up with the similar FT-AC ‘design experiment’ that appears nearly ready for production. There were even hints originating from Toyota’s PR department that a hybrid powertrain would be ideally suited for the all-wheel-drive FT-AC, providing the car is green-lighted. At this point, it’s clear…

JPS Motorsports creates realistic-looking replicas of the 1957 Porsche Speedster (roadster) in standard and flared body styles, but the company also builds a version of an early 1955-’59 Porsche 356A coupe. The turn-key vehicle has a steel-reinforced fiberglass body, new 2.1-liter air-cooled four-cylinder engine with dual carburetors, rebuilt four-speed manual transmission, front and rear disc brakes, retro-styled bucket seats and a wood-rim steering wheel. You can also specify extra-cost items, including air conditioning, leather interior, rear disc brakes, a bigger engine and fancier wheels. The base package starts at $35,000. Check out the coupe and Speedster at http://www.jps-motorsports.com.

Roadmaps are on their last legs, thanks to GPS navigation and Google Earth. But if you want to understand how to navigate around some of the world’s major cities and get a history lesson at the same time, check out the selection of relief maps from 4D Cityscape Time Puzzles. Building one of these multi-dimensional maps lets you learn how various urban centers have evolved from their earliest beginnings, up to their present-day appearances. North American city puzzles include New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Toronto, Canada, but several foreign city puzzles are also available. Each sells for $40 and…

The Sleuth’s prognosticators were mostly correct when months ago they passed along intel concerning the next-generation Jeep off-roader (referred to as the JL). Still, it will be reassuring to legions of Wrangler fanatics that, following the recent reveal, both the two- and four-door versions look about the same as before. In fact, with some subtle changes in grille, windshield angle and bodywork, the new Wrangler actually manages to look better. Also improved is a one-piece zipperless soft top that easily folds for fun-in-the-sun enjoyment. For the first time, a power-folding top will be available on certain models. The Jeep’s 3.6-liter…

The Spy Guy applauds the marketing team at Ford’s up-level offshoot for replacing the MKX name with Nautilus. He wonders, however, if this same group checked on the meaning of the word before attaching it to the significantly updated 2019 edition. According it Wikipedia, it’s ‘a cephalopod mollusk with a light external spiral shell and numerous short tentacles around the mouth’). The name was also attached to the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine that was launched in 1954. In any event, the MKX name has frequently been confused with MKZ, which is a four-door sedan. The Nautilus will be available with…