| New Lexus line races into
In March, Lexus is launching a high-performance division. Called the F—for "Flagship"—the first model will be the sporty, $56,765 Lexus IS F. Several more F models are in the pipeline, including a luxury sedan and an SUV-wagon crossover. This represents a radical departure for Lexus, which has enjoyed enormous success as Toyota's luxury brand, despite being often faulted by driving enthusiasts for making cars that are unexciting, albeit attractive, well-built, and competitively priced. Now obviously Toyota's top brass wants to change this impression—and that is something that should concern executives at the high-performance divisions of its luxury rivals, specifically Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and, increasingly, Audi. Mercedes offers an AMG version of nearly every model it sells, including light trucks.
English game is paralysed by a fear of the unknown
Brian Barwick yesterday began his search for a manager with the X factor, but it is the fear factor that must be eradicated if English football is to be a force in world football again. Fear of failure, fear of ideas, fear of the new, fear of stepping beyond our comfort zone. Most of all, there is the undermining belief that for all our bravado and bold pronouncements — Peter Crouch actually spoke of winning the tournament two days before the qualification game with Croatia — we are not good enough. We fear that, man for man, our technique will let us down against the first good team we play. Croatia did not win because of pride or passion, the famous red herrings of English football. They won because those two elements remain our greatest strength and faced with a team who have them, too — and plenty do in these days of new republics — it comes down to who is better at football; and the good continental team will triumph.
A sip of alcohol causes only small stumble in car's mpg
Q: It is my understanding that ethanol has less energy per gallon than gasoline, ergo, I would get fewer miles per gallon. I recently purchased Sunoco gasoline from a pump with a sticker indicating that it contained 10 percent ethanol. Should I expect to get fewer miles per gallon from this and, if so, how much? Also, is ethanol safe to use in my car, which is not designed for it?
Lou Feigh, South Whitehall Township
A: It's generally agreed that most vehicles will tolerate a 10 percent ethanol mix in gasoline without modifications, said Andre Boehman, professor of fuel science and engineering at Penn State.
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Douglas Pils: Where will Romo fall in pecking order of Cowboys' QBs?
Has Clemens sullied Texas' good name and done a disservice to all those who came before him by making himself look silly in the past week? That's what bothers us about whether or not Clemens had trainer Brian McNamee inject him with steroids and human growth hormone. If true, this isn't Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds, people who are easy to mock from afar. No, if true, this one hits closer to home. You wanted to hear this kind of indignation from McGwire, but in the back of your mind you knew he couldn't do it. McGwire followed the "rules" of the day and he did it better than anyone until Bonds. Now, we're left to wonder if Clemens is less like Ryan and more like Big Mac. Coming at us with the "third-ear-out-of-my-forehead" defense doesn't sound like a man intent on making us believe him.
Ronan wrestlers claim division title
When Cheff was penalized a point for stalling, the match was tied with 17 seconds to go.But Cheff scored his own takedown as time ran out."Their styles clash a little bit," Fisher said. (Fouty) is a tough wrestler. He just has a style that doesn't work well for us. It's a scrap every time they step on the mat with each other," he said.Cole McArthur widened the Ronan lead with a decision at 135.But Polson made up ground with wins at 145 and 160.Logan Torgison became a four-time divisional champ with a tech fall over Whitefish's Cody Morris and Brock Picard picked up a major decision over Libby's Steve Gary."He's been a pleasure to coach," Owen said of Torgison."We're going to miss him. He gives 100 percent every time he gets on the mat. Hopefully, he can be a two-timer (state champ). He's put in the work.
Photos: Suzuki Debuts All-New Equator Midsize Pickup Truck at 2008 ...
Photos: Suzuki Debuts All-New Equator Midsize Pickup Truck at 2008 Chicago Auto Show - 2009 Suzuki Equator makes global debut in Windy City CHICAGO, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- To bolster its versatile and dynamic product line, enhance the company's bold and adventurous brand identity and further expand the growing line of products marketed by approximately 500 Suzuki dealers nationwide, American Suzuki Motor Corp. debuts its all-new 2009 Equator midsize pickup truck at this year's Chicago Auto Show. The introduction of the Equator marks Suzuki's first entry into the midsize pickup truck market and expands the company's offering of activity-oriented cars and trucks. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/suzuki/31731/ Leveraging Suzuki's credibility as a maker of lifestyle-oriented, fun-to-use products, the Equator offers the perfect blend of style, utility and off-road capability that truck buyers -- many of whom are current Suzuki motorcycle, ATV and marine product owners, loyalists and ambassadors -- demand and enjoy.
Boy hurt after Ferrari horror crash in Balsall Common
A YOUNG boy was last night fighting for his life in hospital after being seriously injured when the car he was in smashed into a tree and killed the driver. The nine-year-old was a passenger in a Ferrari which burst into flames after the crash in Balsall Common on Saturday. He is said to be in a critical but stable condition at Birmingham Children's Hospital with a fractured skull and chest injuries, The boy was pulled from the passenger seat and dragged clear of the burning wreckage by two heroic bystanders. The driver, who is believed to be a 27-year-old local man, was killed when the yellow sports car smashed into a tree at a notorious accident blackspot. .
Press Box
Galleries on that side of the fairway had best watch the heck out or an errant golf ball just might land on their head. GRANTED, IT would be unfair to expect Wie to walk off the Stanford campus and swing with Paula Creamer from Day 1. She is not in tournament shape, as her final two rounds at the Fields Open clearly suggest. And you'd expect it to be that way. But the reason why Wie was able to cash a $20 million check in the first place several years back, was her ability to compete without the benefit of daily competition on the two major tours. Almost making the cut at the Sony Open as a 14-year-old led to a whirlwind tour toward disaster. Of course, it's easy to say that now, but many have been all along. A child prodigy who once filled the concert halls is now banging on the piano like a first-year student.
Shake up in the desert
We have had three terrific Grands Prix this year, with the pendulum swinging backwards and forwards between McLaren and Ferrari. In Melbourne it was Raikkonen who was on top; in Malaysia it was Alonso. And then in Bahrain suddenly Felipe Massa was the man on the top step of the podium. But actually the star turn of the season is the man who has not yet won a race and yet is equal on points to the big guns in the World Championship: Carl Lewis Hamilton. The first rookie in the history of the sport to score three consecutive podium finishes at the start of his career. The man who shows us a new facet of his ability with each passing race. In Melbourne he was a surprise; in Malaysia, as he defended like a tiger, he was a revelation; and in Bahrain we saw Lewis the Hunter, chasing down Felipe Massa in the closing laps of the race and leaving Alonso, double World Champion and former wunderkind, in the dust.
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