Bosch P3601ws Cabin Air Filter on 2040-parts.com

E85 makes inroads on cost and availability

Three years ago, we embarked on a Midwest road trip in search of what was then the Holy Grail of fuel: E85. Our findings weren't too positive--there were far more E85-compatible vehicles on the road in 2006 (5 million) than there were E85 pumps to fuel them (about 700 out of some 200,000 fuel stations nationwide). In addition, those burning the mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol were paying a pretty penny for their earth-friendly ways, losing about 15 percent in fuel economy while often paying the same price as for regular unleaded.

Automotive Suppliers Demo the Future at CES

There is no shortage of cool stuff at CES. Just wandering around the 2 million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center was like being in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory for technophiles. For instance, just inside the Center Hall was the ginormous LG wall o' TVs, all synched together and blasting incredible 3D images that looked like a Beetles short from 1967.

Plenty of contenders for Pebble Beach honors

The one we saw first was Sam Mann's 1930 Duesenberg J Graber Cabriolet. It was entered in the Tour, a 60-mile pre-Pebble cruise around Monterey, down to Big Sur and back, which gives cars entered in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance a chance to show that they are more than just pretty things. Mann's Duesey had all the looks of a winner, with its long front hood, flowing fenders and two seats way in the back.