AUTOSMARTS Summer 2007

*LeaseTrader.com, the company that helps consumers transfer in and out of their car lease reports that the Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Sedan continues to remain very popular among customers. Car enthusiasts are beginning to realize they can transfer out of their lease, even with many more months remaining on their contract. Benefiting the auto industry, this service expedites the car shopping experience for millions of consumers nationwide. The top ten most popular transferred lease vehicles in America during June 2007 were: Mercedes C230 Sport Sedan, BMW 325 Convertible, BMW X3, Mercedes E-350, BMW Z4 Convertible, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Lexus GS350, BMW 530i Sedan, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Toyota Tundra. For more information on LeaseTrader.com go to www.leasetrader.com or call 800-770-0207.

*MyCarPage launches new corporate website so consumers can personalize their garage. Consumers can now create a personalized online vehicle garage that manages all their automotive needs in a single location. The site allows for tracking vehicle history, maintenance, and for consumers to access free personalized services such as automatic vehicle resale values, localized traffic reports, gasoline prices, etc. MyCarPage also has a list of participating automobile dealerships and after-market service providers who provide the online garage to consumers. For more information go to www.mycarpage.com.

*BringFido.com announces top pet friendly summer vacations. Twenty of the most popular travel destination for dogs (and their people) announced by BringFido.com include Kissimmee, FL, San Diego, CA, Las Vegas, NV, New York, NY, Myrtle Beach, SC, San Francisco, CA, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, Nashville, TN, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Los Angeles, CA, Virginia Beach, VA, Seattle, WA, Asheville, NC, Savannah, GA, Key West, FL, San Antonio, TX, and Washington, DC. A lot of people consider their pets as family, says Kendall, founder and president of BringFido.com, and 41 percent of all dog owners will travel with their pooch this summer. To get the scoop on pet friendly hotels, dog beaches, off-leash parks, and other animal attractions, visit BringFido.com

*The Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY will celebrate its 13^th Anniversary during the annual Corvette Celebrations and Corvette Hall of Fame, August 30-September 1, 2007. Held every Labor Day weekend, this three-day event offes unique and exclusive activities available only at the Museum. Featured activities of this year's event include a display of "lucky 7" Corvettes, the Corvette Hall of Fame Induction, road tour excursions, seminars, Corvette raffle drawings and much more. Non-members registering for the anniversary celebration will receive a complimentary individual membership as part of their registration. Registration can be done at www.corvettemuseum.com.

*In a dispatch from Saudi Arabia where women are not permitted to drive, the AP reported on a recently opened Riyadh car showroom with an all-female sales staff. Saudi women are allowed to own a car as long as a male relative or chauffeur drives it. Nearly half the cars in the country are owned by women. Test drives are not an option at the dealership.

*Racingjunk.com is the best classified sight for anything racing related. One can buy and sell items on the site, find out when the next race will be run

*If you're going to this year's Ohio State Fair you can pick up a deck of souvenir cards featuring unique images and information about the history of the Ohio State Fair over the past 150-plus years. For $7.50 the deck features a drawing of the old block "OHIO" entrance that was built in 1966 and torn down in 2002. On each card is a fun image and an educational fact so that users can learn about the fair and its history. You can get your souvenir cards at www.statefaircards.com or at the publisher's (NEWTsCards) site www.RealSouvenirPlayingCards.com.

*Michelin Wiper Blades. New from Michelin are its all-weather wiper blades with advanced frameless design and EZ-Lok Connector System. Available in select Sears stores, the new blades offer smooth, quiet operation in all weather conditions. The high-performance wiper blade and all-weather Michelin wipers feature patented M-Guard Advanced Rubber Technology. A permanent part of the rubber compound, the M-Guard Technology allows for smooth, streak-free wiping action while reducing friction and resisting wear to help maintain the wiping edge. I installed a pair on my Miata in 10 minutes and have enjoyed them since. Gone is the rubbing across the windshield, vibration and noise of the old wipers. For more information, visit www.michelinblade.com or call 1.866.499.0572.

*FirestoneLegendaryDrives.com offers something for all travelers. An interactive web site FLD offers scenic drives to explore the highways and back roads. A photo gallery is also on the site and evolves as travelers contribute photos taken along the road. Also included on the site is a history of the interstates, list of automotive museums and suggested restaurants, favorites of area "locals." So read up on a favorite road trip route and remember to "Inflate, Rotate and Evaluate."

*CARFAX recently announced its online database vehicle history information now exceeds five billion records. Information provided when checking VIN numbers may include branded titles, accident records, mileage or maintenance information. Buyers and sellers can access this valuable information when thinking about obtaining a used vehicle. More than 200,000 data sources provide information for Carfax Vehicle History Reports through partnerships. www.Carfax.com.

*Ford Chief Alan Mulally will open the Los Angeles Auto Show Press Days as Keynote Speaker on November 14, 2007. The 2007 LA Show will be held in the fall for the second consecutive year; dates are Nov. 14-15 for Press and Nov. 16-25 for the public. Last year LA hosted a record 36 world and North American vehicle debuts and record media attendance and news coverage.

*Reliability issues, aging designs and supplies that exceed demands are the main culprits for low U.S. resale values among some luxury cars, according to Forbes Magazine. Chronicling the10 luxury cars with the worst resale values, Forbes listed Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis at the top of the list, followed by Cadillac SRX V8, Ford Expedition V8 4WD, Cadillac DTS V8, Cadillac STS V6, Lincoln MKZ AWD, Mercedes-Benz E550, Jaguar S-Type V6 and Jaguar X-Type.

*U.S. Telematics, Inc. has created a technology to keep drivers connected to their message and their steering wheel by making it possible to receive emails while driving. Vivee (Voice Interactive Voice Enhanced Email) is a new service that reas your email or text to you. Vivee actually talks and an animated character, or avatar appears on the screen to speak incoming messages to you. Today an alarming 1 in 5 people text while driving making driving very dangerous. Insurance shows that distracted drivers cause 80 percent of all traffic crashes. Several states now have laws banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving. When you have incoming emails or texts Vivee alerts you so that you can listen to your messages rather than reading them. Vivee connects to the Internet through the Verizon Wireless EVDO high speed network. The device is installed into laptops and U.S. Telematics Multimedia Car PC's and brings full wireless internet connectivitiy with it at DSL speed. For more information, contact Rachel Damien at DMSI, 727-443-7115, ext. 206 or www.emsincorporated.com.

*Volkswagen might build a new North American factory if the U.S. dollar stays weak. The euro is at an all-time high against the U.S. currency and Japanese yen, making it harder for European-made cars to compete with those produced in the U.S. and Japan. VW has only one factory in North America-Puebla, Mexico which produces the Beetle, Jetta, buses and trucks.