*Michelin unveiled the company’s revolutionary "Tweel"-a tire that operates without air! In production and available as an enhancement for future iBOT mobility systems, the Tweel has the ability to climb stairs, navigate uneven terrain and offers mobility freedom impossible with traditional wheelchairs. Invented by Dean Kamen, this device is an integrated tire and wheel combination, sans air. A simple looking hub and spoke design, Tweel replaces the need for air pressure while delivering performance previously only available from pneumatic tires. The spokes are flexible with a flexible wheel that deforms to absorb shock and easily rebound. A long term vision for Michelin, Tweel represents the next step in industry-changing innovations. To learn more about Tweel go to www. Michelin.com.

*A bill designed to provide more accident information to used car buyers has reached the floor of the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 1839 sponsored by Sen. James Meeks, D-15th and backed by the Attorney General’s office would allow IDOT to provide police-reported accident information to dealers or consumers for a small fee. Such electronic data would be used by CarFax who estimate 700,000 cars were involved in police-reported accidents through the state in 2002.

*Singer Willy Nelson is helping to market an alternative fuel. Through Willie Nelson Biodiesel, Nelson is marketing this vegetable oil/soybean mix which is concocted by taking veggie oil and processing it slightly to remove the glycerin to come up with a ready-to-go fuel for diesel engines. This alternative fuel will run on any diesel engine without any modification to the engine. Nelson is working with truck stops and convenience stores to market the veggie-based fuel. Sold under the BioWillie brand, its average price is $1.79 a gallon. Mostly found in the Midwest, Nelson hopes to make it available across the country. For information, call 202-225-5871.

*Kia Motors fastest growing car maker in Taiwan. Kia sales are on the rise, up by 121 percent year-on-year in October 2004. Kia’s Picanto was the best-selling imported car in September in Taiwan. Sold here as the EuroStar, the Picanto has now surpassed sales of the Mercedes Benz E-Class in this country.

*The federal government has taken action to require all vehicles sold in the U.S. by October 2008 to have safer window switches to prevent child deaths. Wanting the law to kick in sooner, the legislation is currently in conference committee to try to get it to take effect no later than Sept. 1, 2006.

*Automakers pitched in to help victims of Hurricane Charley, including more than $1.1 million in cash to the American Red Cross and other relief efforts. The breakdown:

*Toyota: $1 to Red Cross, other outlets

*GM: $100, 000 in cash, three Hummer H2 sport utes, five generator-equipped Chevy Silverado hybrid pickup trucks to the Red Cross. The GM Foundation has pledged to match up to $100,000 in GM employee contributions to the American Red Cross.

*Ford: $50,000 to Red Cross’ Southeastern Michigan Chapter; offering $750 cash rebate, on top of other incentives, on purchase of new Ford, Lincoln, Mercury vehicle in counties that have been deemed eligible for disaster-relief funds.

*Kelley Blue Book names Cars of Summer 2004:

*Best Car for a Coastal Drive: Nissan 350Z Roadster

*Best Car for Country Road Drive: Subaru WRX STi

*Best Car for Going to the Beach, River or Lake: Honda Element

*Best Car to "Park" in Under the Stars: Audi A4 Cabriolet

*Best Car for Cruising the Blvd. with Friends: Scion tC

*THE Car to be Seen In: BMW 645 Ci

*Best Car for the Graduate: Mazda3

*Best Car for Off Road Fun in the Sun: Jeep Wrangler SE

*Best Car for Camping/Hiking: Subaru Forester

*Best Car for Towing Recreational Equipment: Ford F-150

*If you live in Chicago and your car’s been towed you can now track it by going on the Web. A list of towed vehicles will be posted on the city’s Web site (www.city of Chicago.org, click on "I Want To," section and then "Find Towed Vehicle Information" or select "Traffic and Transportation under "For Residents."), and updated every 15 minutes, complete with year, make and model. By entering the car’s license plate or VIN you can find out if it’s been towed. Also provided is a list of unclaimed vehicles that have been sold or destroyed, how much it will cost to redeem your car and what to do if your car is damaged. The city operates auto pounds at O’Hare Airport, 400 E. Wacker and the Chicago Police auto pound on West 83rd. United Road Services, Inc. operates pounds at 103rd and Doty, 127th and Butler and 701 N. Sacramento.

*Dealerships are starting to resist pressure from manufacturers to load up on poor-selling models. Retailers are pushing back on inventory, which may cause manufacturers to cut back on production, cutting revenue and profit. The average discount on new cars and trucks has reached nearly $3,000 this year, up 13 percent from 2003. As a result, dealers were left with a surplus of 446,000 vehicles at the end of October 04.

Updated: April 28, 2005