• Acura RL tapes into technology
For 2009, Acura's flagship RL sedan gains enhanced performance, more athletic styling, and an amazing array of electronic features that will impress anyone seeking cutting-edge technology.

• Years of work bring back Bristish history
Kim Singmaster wanted to recreate history. The Vancouver British-car enthusiast wanted a roadster that would look and feel like the racing specials he fell in love with as a youngster. And it would have to remain true to its British birthright.

• 2009 ACURA RL
Engine: 3.7-liter, SOHC, 24-valve V-6 with variable valve timing; horsepower: 300 at 6,300 rpm; torque: 271 ft-lbs. at 5,000 rpm

• BMW F800ST uses engine design made popular by the British
To create a lightweight,compact engine for the F800ST motorcycle, BMW introduced the first parallel twin sengine in its history.

• 2008 BMW F800ST
Price$10,520

• PEOPLE & PRODUCTS: Volt could break 100-mpg ceiling
General Motors is asking the EPA to declare the Chevrolet Volt an electric vehicle for regulatory purposes, according to Automotive News.

• Calendar
Mopar Summit car show (10/4): 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Timberline Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep showroom, 2406 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Original Canby Harvest Swap Meet (10/5): 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Clackamas County Fairgrounds; admission: $4, parking: $3 Vintage Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet (10/11-12); part of the Northwest Car Collector's Show at the Portland Expo Center; information: 503-638-1746 Seminar on history of Bugatti Brescia (10/18): 10 a.m.; museum gas station at Antique Powerland, Brooks; sponsor: Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum; information: Tom Ruttan, 503-638-1746 See Classification 685 inside for more event information. If you have an automotive event for this calendar, fax it to 503-294-5185. Deadline is Monday prior to publication.

• Making history -- one part at a time
The two vintage motorcycles are barely on the ground when a crowd of admirers begins to gather around. The bikes have the classic lines of the early days of motorcycling, when the frames were light, the tires thin and the engines tiny.

• Mercedes C63 melds power, speed, performance with luxury is all performance on either road or racetrack
The Mercedes-Benz name instantly brings to mind the image of a large, conservatively styled, elegant sedan, perfect for cruising to the stock brokerage, country club or luxury boutique.

• 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG
Engine: 6.3-liter, hand-built, 32-valve V-8; horsepower: 451 at 6,800 rpm; torque: 443 ft-lbs. at 5,000 rpm

• Going green pays off big for Eugene Toyota dealer
Paul Skillern says he is not an electrical engineer, so he is "not into the complex details, but I have seen the meter go backwards, and I like it."

• Calendar
Mopar Summit car show (10/4): 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Timberline Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep showroom, 2406 N.E. Sandy Blvd.,; registration: $20; information: Larry Cole, 503-380-4832

• People & Products: Chrysler reveals electric plans
Chrysler this week unveiled three electric-drive vehicles and said it plans to have one go on sale by 2010.

• Sunday Driver: Saab's fun-in-the-sun 9-3 convertible is a stylish cruiser
Model tested: 2008 Saab Aero convertible

• Sunday Driver Vital Statistics
Wheelbase: 105.3 inches

• Scion's new xD adds features but keeps the great gas mileage
You could call it a hatchback, or you could call the little subcompact a wagonette. What you won't call it is a gas guzzler.

• Time stands still in this dune buggy
Don't tell Don Nothwang you can't use a car to drive back in time.

• 2008 SCION xD
Engine: 1.8-liter, DOHC, 16-valve 4-cylinder with variable valve timing; horsepower: 128 at 6,000 rpm; torque: 125 ft-lbs. at 4,400 rpm

• GM 100-year celebration charged with electricity
Most companies that reach their 100th anniversary would trumpet their past accomplishments. General Motors, which celebrated its centennial on Sept. 16, focused on a future car, the electric-powered Chevrolet Volt, which could lead to huge changes in this country's automotive industry.

• Top GM vehicles
Below is a list of the top 10 best-selling GM vehicles in its 100-year history.

• MOST SIGNIFICANT VEHICLES
As part of its centennial, General Motors listed the 10 production vehicles that had the biggest effect on the company, regardless of sales: 1. EV1 (1996): the modern industry's first electric production vehicle 2. Pontiac GTO (1964): first muscle car 3. Chevrolet Bel Air (1955): symbol of the "Golden Era" of styling 4. Chevrolet Corvette (1953): first fiberglass-body sports car 5. Saab 9-2 (1950): A leap in functional design, it applied aeronautical design to cars 6. Opel Olympia (1936): first car built with unibody assembly (body and frame as a single unit) 7. Cadillac V-16 (1930): The first production car with a 16-cylinder engine, it helped establish the Cadillac brand as a luxury icon. 8. LaSalle (1927): first production car by a professional designer 9. Cadillac (7 models) (1912): the first cars with electric self-starters, an innovation that made cars appealing to a much broader group of buyers who couldn't use a hand crank 10. Cadillac Model 30 (1910): first mass-produced closed-body car

• GM: A century of historic innovations worldwide
In its 100th year, General Motors remains the world's largest automaker, although Toyota almost overtook it in total sales last year and is likely to do so this year.

• People & Products: Fisher Volvo hosts pet safety day
Today, Jim Fisher Volvo is hosting a Northwest Pet Safety Day event to help educate pet owners and demonstrate how to effectively use approved pet restraints.

• Calendar
21st Annual Garage Sale and Swedish Beauty Contest (Sept. 20): 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Jim Fisher Volvo, 2108 W. Burnside

• Sunday Driver: Stealthy Saab 9-3 has styling that draws attention
Model tested: 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X SportCombi

• Sunday Driver Vital Statistics
Wheelbase: 105.3 inches

• His Jeep is the real thing, a veteran of the World War II era
Gary Oswald didn't want a restoration project. He didn't want something that was going to suck up a lot of time or money to build and maintain. He didn't want a classic that was so perfect he'd be afraid to take it out and have fun.

• Test Drive: Challenger -- an awesome car, officer
Attention drug dealers: If you are trying to maintain a low profile with local law enforcement, my advice is, don't buy a Dodge Challenger.

• Ford executive describes Ford's plans for fuel-saving engines
Ford is embarked on a program to bring out what one top executive calls "great taste, less filling powertrain technology" in the next few years.

• Vital Stats: 2008 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT8 LIMITED EDITION
Engine: 6.1-liter, 16-valve, Hemi V-8; horsepower: 425 at 6,200 rpm; torque: 420 ft-lbs. at 4,800 rpm

• Calendar
Car Show (9/13): 1-3 p.m.; The Marquis Car and Vintage Suites at Hope Village, 1589 S. Ivy, Canby; information: 503-266-2444

• People & Products: Beach Boys, classic cars set for shows
Classic cars, music and bands will be featured at the Surf City event at Chinook Winds Casino, Sept. 19-21, in Lincoln City. There will be three days of car shows, a car auction and two concerts by the Beach Boys.