1475-nn1a-003 Tachometer, 00041194-0g195e on 2040-parts.com

Oh, puh-leeze: Lighten up, people

Rarely do I come to the defense of a competitive member of the fourth estate, but the people at Car and Driver are getting the hooey knocked out of them by everyone from "professional media representatives" to the NASCAR faithful. What was CD's egregious sin? Its editors concocted an April Fool's joke with them good ol' boys Chrysler and General Motors as its punchline.

Mercedes to build C-class in Alabama

Mercedes-Benz will add production of C-class sedans to its plant near Tuscaloosa, Ala., starting in 2014. Daimler AG Chairman Dieter Zetsche, who participated in the creation of the Alabama plant project as a fast-rising executive in 1993, said in a statement released Wednesday from Stuttgart that the U.S. operation will take over about one-fifth of the model’s global production.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid – by Williams F1 +video

Porsche has developed the 911 GT3 R Hybrid with Williams F1 KERS Technology Read the headline carefully before you judge. This isn’t a Porsche 911 for the road, but a track 911 – the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. And yes, you read that right.