TheCarConnection.com

DETROIT, Aug. 5 -- His great-grandfather carved his name onto the building, but now it's William Clay Ford, Jr. commanding the troops at Ford Motor Co. You've seen him waxing on about the glory days of his family firm in some nostalgic TV commercials. But if you're wondering who Bill Ford is and how he plans to run FMC tomorrow, get a close-up look as TheCarConnection goes face-to-face with the reluctant CEO.

The Honda Accord has built a business proving millions of Americans love the taste of plain vanilla. So how will U.S. car buyers react when the Japanese automaker spices up the nation's best-selling sedan?

Is it the beauty or the beast? TCC reviews the fastest car Mercedes-Benz has ever built -- and discovers the new SL55 AMG is a bit of both.

The SL is the latest in a Teutonic line-up of performance cars -- and trucks. See what the engineers from AMG have in store for the rest of the Mercedes-Benz line-up.

There's something missing on the new BMW M3. Like the clutch pedal. The Bavarian automaker's road rocket is back in new form and breaking ground with its sequential manual transmission. TheCarConnection runs through the gears.

Then see why General Motors is sticking with sticks, hawking manual transmissions in its new compact pickups, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon.

It would have made the perfect getaway car; that is, if Al Capone ever got to drive it. Wonder what it's doing in England? TheCarConnection decided to find out.

In business news, TCC tabulates July's new car sales. Forget double-dip recessions; it could be a second boom, at least for the auto industry.

TheCarConnection's spies recently set out on a grand quest and made a grand Discovery, the 2005 Land Rover Disco, that is.

Looking for answers to your automotive service and maintenance questions? TCC's On-Site Mechanic, Bob Weber, is likely to have a good answer.

And keep current on the latest motor sports results every Monday on ThCarConnection.com .

Web browsers also can access TheCarConnection directly through the PR Newswire site, at www.prnewswire.com .