Yamaha Ttr 50 Ttr50 Rear Wheel on 2040-parts.com

Chevrolet Sonic gets $14,495 base price

The new Chevrolet Sonic small car--which replaces the Aveo in Chevy's lineup--carries a base price of $14,495 for the sedan and $15,395 for the hatchback, including shipping charges, when it goes on sale this fall. The 2012 Chevy Sonic sticker price is a jump of $2,249 to $3,005 above the 2011 Aveo, but the Sonic is a new design that includes more standard equipment. It rides on General Motors' new Gamma platform.

Video: 7 sexiest car-wash scenes on film

It's Friday afternoon, and in an effort to help you faster pass the last few hours of the work week, we want to call your attention to New York Magazine's video slideshow of the hottest car-wash scenes on film. The spread is entertaining enough in its own right, but the real fun comes from the deadpan commentary provided by Debra Gorgos of Professional Carwashing & Detailing Magazine, who critiques the scrubbing skills of these scantily dressed stars. As for the common (in Hollywood, at least) practice of using one's bikini-clad chest in place of a soapy sponge?

Jaguar XKSS Heaven

12 Jaguar XKSS together at Pebble Beach (click for bigger image) Jaguar what, I hear you ask? The Jaguar XKSS is the roadgoing version of the legendary D-Type Jaguar and the precursor to the Jaguar even my mum knows –  the Jaguar E Type (or Jaguar XK-E if you’re on the other side of the Pond). So what’s so special about the Jaguar XKSS, then?