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AutoWeek's Keith Crain receives Mercedes Star Driver award

AutoWeek editor-in-chief Keith Crain recently received the Star Driver award from Mercedes-Benz, an honor that recognizes an individual who has made great contributions to motorsports and the automobile industry. Crain, shown at left with Geoff Day, director of communications at Mercedes-Benz USA, is the sixth recipient of the Star Driver honor. He joins the ranks of Sir Stirling Moss, John Fitch, Jochen Mass, Jesse Alexander and AutoWeek senior contributing editor Denise McCluggage.

Jaguar XF – the 2010 police version for Plod

This is the first police-spec Jaguar XF – bound to an orderly life of patrolling the motorways around the Midlands area encircling Jaguar's HQ. The local constabulary has bought seven 271bhp 3.0-litre Diesel S models in police trim.What's changed to make the XF a police car?Not much out of the ordinary. It's much easier to spot than a demarked police car, with its roof bar, LED flashers in the grille and refletive decals galore.It's ironic that Jags used to be the getaway vehicle of choice in the 50s, 60s and 70s in films of a certain bent; now Jaguar has gone good and supplying Plod himself.

Cloud rises over diesel plan for Nissan Maxima

Nissan North America may postpone a V6 diesel engine planned for the Maxima sedan in 2010. Since the company revealed its Maxima diesel plan two years ago, gasoline prices have fallen dramatically, auto sales have collapsed and Nissan has begun reviewing product plans as it scrambles to restore profitability. "We haven't reached a decision on the diesel yet, but we have to consider where we want to put our capital investments," says Larry Dominique, North American vice president for product planning.