2007 Jeep Compass Patriot Marine Blue Pearl Coat Touch Up Paint on 2040-parts.com

Iowa distributes thumb bands imprinted with ‘TXTING KILLS'

Thumb bands that read “TXTNG KILLS” have been making their way around the state of Iowa, the Wall Street Journal reports. The bands--which are meant to serve as a reminder to avoid texting while driving--have been distributed at events such as the Iowa State Fair and the Iowa-Iowa State college football game. “A lot of people want them for their kids,” Courtney Greene, spokeswoman for Iowa's Department of Public Safety, told the Wall Street Journal.

Ferrari 458 Italias ‘selling for £200k in UK’

The first examples of the new Ferrari 458 Italia supercar are trading for close to £200,000, price guide Glass’s Guide reports today. It claims wealthy enthusiasts are paying a £25,000 premium to jump the queue and get into one of the first 458s in Britain. The Italia lists at £169,545 in the UK, with first deliveries due for summer 2010.

General Motors to keep green car technology in house

For the first time in its 100-year history, General Motors plans to design, develop and manufacture electric motors for its growing array of gasoline-electric hybrids and electric vehicles. The electric motors used in GM's current lineup of hybrids are made to GM specifications by outside vendors. GM wants to bring the design and manufacturing in-house to save money and to apply its own technology to boost performance, lower weight and reduce power consumption, said Larry Nitz, GM's chief hybrid powertrain engineer.