04-08 Mazda Rx8 Interior Front Rear Wiring Harness Fe05-67-050b J on 2040-parts.com

The Great Texas Beer Run

For reasons still not clear, boatloads of German immigrants made Texas their home in the 1800s. What they thought they would find similar to their cold, richly forested homeland in the hellaciously hot, mes-quite-scrub, rattlesnake-filled Texas Hill Country is lost to history. Worse, they brought almost nothing with them from the Old World to remind them of home.

2009’s 10 most fuel-efficient cars in America: The AutoWeek list

Toyota Prius Hybrid 46 mpg combined Base price: $22,720 Our take: The perennial mpg all-star takes the crown again for 2009. Honda Civic Hybrid 42 mpg combined Base price: $24,320 Our take: Another top contender in reliability and fuel economy, the Honda Civic Hybrid is a smart choice. Smart Fortwo Coupe 36 mpg combined Base price: $12,635 Our take: This funky coupe is the least expensive on our list, proving you can be green without spending it.

Mercedes introduces illuminated three-pointed star [w/video]

Illuminated badges and emblems on cars aren't a new idea – those old enough to remember will recall the warm glow of the old Wolseley grille emblems – but in recent history they have been the reserve of concept cars and the aftermarket. Mercedes is set to restart the trend however as it begins to offer an LED-illuminated star as a dealer-fit option on the E–, GL–, M– and CLS–Class. We've started to see lighting spill out onto the exterior of concept cars for a while and this move is sure to have other OEMs and aftermarket firms alike following Mercedes' lead.