Roushcharged Windshield Decal on 2040-parts.com

Wheel maker connects with exotic clientele via social media

Reaching potential buyers of custom wheels for exotic cars takes more than buying ads in magazines. Miami-based ADV.1 Wheels is building a business fueled by a social-media approach that includes car-forum interaction, photo shoots and short films on the Internet. The company launched a Facebook fan page in late March, has received more than 59,000 “likes” and aims for 100,000--at which point ADV.1 Wheels has promised to give away a set of the company’s Trakfunction wheels.

Lotus owner Proton tries to quell sale rumours

The Malaysian owners of Lotus have taken the unusual step of quashing rumours circulating of an impending sale of its British sports car division. Several newspaper articles have suggested that the new owners of Proton may divest its loss-making Lotus subsidiary. The ownership structure of Proton has changed in recent weeks, after the Khazanah Nasional Berhad sold its entire stake in Proton to DRB-Hicom.

Dax Shepard goes full throttle

Dax Shepard leaned on his Hollywood acting friends to fill out the cast of his new movie, Hit and Run, that hits theaters on Aug. 24. (Watch the movie trailer here.) But he wrote the script with his "stars" in mind--a hot-rodded 1967 Lincoln Continental and a Tatum Baja 1000 racer that he keeps in his garage.