2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 4x4 Clutch Outlet Duct 5434012 on 2040-parts.com

Tax-return car deals

Automakers are offering cut-rate financing, cash back and lease deals just as our income-tax-refund checks are coming in the mail. These timely tax-return car deals are paired with the necessity for automakers to make room on dealer lots for all-new models. (See the Cadillac CTS deals.) Here, we break down some of the incentives being offered this month.

One Lap of the Web: An Engine of Ice and Fire

-- George R.R. Martin, beloved and bearded historian of the great land of Westeros, drives a first-generation Mazda RX-7 -- according to Jalopnik, and a creepy Street View-browsing "Game of Thrones" fan. Despite swimming in HBO cash, Martin lives modestly in Santa Fe, N.

2014 Jeep Cherokee delayed?

Chrysler Group late today took the unusual step of postponing a planned media drive of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee scheduled for early next month but vowed that "vehicles will still be in showrooms in September." The media event -- in which waves of national and foreign journalists were to gather in Seattle between Aug. 8 and 14 to drive the Cherokee for the first time -- was delayed until at least the first half of September, according to an email from the automaker. "Over the last couple of weeks during final quality and durability testing, we have discovered the opportunity to further improve powertrain calibration" in the Cherokee, the company said.