One Lap of the Web: Mock the Week Edition

-- Mazda Europe designer Peter Birthwhistle talks about the future of Mazda: potential hybrid and electric powertrains for the Skyactiv-obsessed company, and how we'll all be driving Mazda-branded pods in the 22nd century. But he also mentions, rather interestingly, how certain Mazdas capture a quintessentially long-hood, RWD look -- and not just the Miata, either, which is RWD. No, it's the exhaust systems on those Skyactiv engines that force a longer, larger hood compartment, and the "long, flowing looks" not usually found on FWD engines.

Rear-drive revelers: Spring Fest draws LX devotees to California love-in

Long before Eminem boosted the image of Detroit and the Chrysler 200, Fatchance was getting the West Coast party started for Chrysler's rear-drive LX cars. Fatchance is the Internet handle of John Fortuno, a man who--like many others we met at the Sixth Annual Spring Fest for LX owners--claims his car, a 2005 Chrysler 300C, changed his life. It introduced him to www.LXforums.com, a worldwide virtual car club that has more than 38,000 members dedicated to the Chrysler LX rear-drive platform used by the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger, Challenger and Magnum.

Mulally says fixes coming for MyFord Touch

Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally vows that revised versions of the Sync and MyFord Touch infotainment systems will be simpler and more reliable and says more improvements are coming. He also says Ford has tightened its quality-control process for developing those systems' software.