Eagle Sbf 4340 Forged H-beam Rod 5.400 Crs5400c3d-1 on 2040-parts.com

Mark Vaughn: We’ll always have Vegas

There were a few bare spots on the floor of the Consumer Electronics Show this year, spots that in previous years had been jammed sardine-like with myriad Taiwanese makers of Hello Kitty knockoff cell phone cozies and electronic barking dogs, but the show this year was nonetheless pretty well attended. Besides, for those working their way upstream through the aisles like so many digitally trained trout, the empty spots left by exhibitors that pulled out were like refreshing mountain meadows or little piazzas in crowded Italian cities. Show management stocked the open spots with cushy couches, too, on which many a jet-lagged showgoer snoozed.

Money woes may keep Converj from market

General Motors' tight finances may hold the automaker back from building a production version of the Cadillac Converj concept car. GM revealed the coupe, which would use the same technology as the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, last week at the auto show here. GM designed the Converj so the production version--if it ever happens--will look "exactly like this," says Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman of global product development.

New BMW M3 & M4 teased on video

New BMW M3 & M4 teased on video (M4 Concept pictured) The new BMW M3 and M4 – effectively an M3 Coupe – are due for a debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month, and BMW are starting the tease with a new video. The video shows nothing of real note, just the outline of the M3 and M4 picked out by moving lights. Which seems a bit daft when we already have a pretty good idea of what’s on offer.