As if poisoned pet food wasn't enough, Chinese tires failing now.

In recent years, products made in China have gained more renown for being cheap than for the quality control behind them. Up until now, inexpensive sneakers that fall apart after a few weeks or DVD players that work erratically have been more of an annoyance and an economic threat as opposed to a physical one. Recent headlines would suggest that might be changing, however. The contaminated pet food that killed dozens of cats not long ago and the video of a Chinese car collapsing in on itself during a European crash test bring the issue of potentially hazardous Chinese imports to a whole new level.
Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. of Union, NJ is suing China's Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. over a series of catastrophic failures of tires they manufactured that resulted in a fatal car crash in Pennsylvania. Hangzhou has been manufacturing tires sold by FTS and other distributors that left out an extra layer of rubber between the steel belts, causing them to overheat and have tread separation similar to the Firestone tires that failed on Ford Explorers several years ago. The tires may need to be recalled and FTS doesn't have the financial resources to deal with something like that, so it's suing the Chinese company to cover the expenses since they built the tires in a way that differed from what was specified. The Wall Street Journal's report on the matter contains additional details, and is well worth a read.

Audi RS4 Cabriolet pricing announced.

The Audi RS4 is one of the meaner machines you can plunk your hard-earned money down on. 420 horses out of Audi's high-revving 4.2L FSI V8 will do that (especially when combined with the car's particularly muscular aural signature). As we already reported, US residents finally get their shot at the droptop version of the RS4, and Audi of America has come clean with the pricing. If you want the RS4 Cabriolet, you'll need to part with $81,900 plus a $775 destination charge and a to-be-determined gas-guzzler tax. Oh, and that V8 doing the guzzling is only available mated to a 6-speed manual and the quattro AWD system.
In return for that not-insignificant sum, you get an RS4 minus two doors and a roof (all the better to appreciate the raucous goings-on at the car's exhaust tips), plus loads of standard convenience/luxury equipment like the (excellent) Audi Music Interface, which provides full iPod integration via the car's nav screen and MMI controller. 81 grand represents a hefty premium over the RS4 sedan's $66K price, but it comes with exclusivity -- Audi's only planning to import 300 or so to the US -- and for some of the car's buyers, the open-air experience alone might justify the cost. No worries for Audi, regardless. They'll sell 'em all.

RUF gives Carrera GT owners a lift.

When you're ridin' dirty a couple of inches off the ground, you'll swerve to avoid anything more than a few microns thick sitting on the road in front of you. When it comes to driveways and speedbumps, that's when the lowest of riders crank the wheel back and forth, trying to sort out the right angle-of-attack to prevent that horrific scraping sound. If that's you and you're a Carrera GT owner, it's Ruf to the rescue. The Porsche tuner has created a driver-controlled, pushbutton-operated, hydraulic, height-adjustable front suspension that raises the front bumper two inches, at speeds up to 40 mph. You can get yourself out of a crunch for just 14,800 euros plus tax.

Saab talks up its forthcoming products.

There's plenty in store for Saab in the coming years, with a substantial revision of a current model, a new crossover, and a new entry range all in the works. Saab USA's GM, Steve Shannon, chatted up the editors at Inside Line to spill some of the beans. The 9-5 is slated for a complete redesign sometime between 2009 and 2012, where the car will get updated styling and a selection of new powertrains.
That same general time period will also see the introduction of a new crossover dubbed the 9-4X and a new entry model named the 9-1, the latter of which IL believes will target the Volvo C30. The look of all the new Saabs will be penned at GM's European design center, which spawned the awesome Aero X concept (above) whose influence has already been felt in the redesigned 9-3 range. Expect more Aero X-tinged goodness in terms of styling as new Saabs make their debuts in the coming years. Head over to Inside Line for additional details and speculation.

foreign exchange trading, largest MT/forex broker. Moscow museums and hotels. 2007 Music and music downloads; music service.. lisinopril