It’s not always easy to tell whether someone is right for you. But if you’re attempting to flee a dispute, and your partner clings to the roof of your vehicle and punches you through the window, it’s best to assume you aren’t going to make beautiful music together. Over the weekend, this awful situation actually played out between William Kremer and Stacey Sperrazza, and culminated when Sperrazza hit Kremer with the car. Unfortunately, Kremer received only minor injuries. Stacey, please DTMFA. Here’s the news:

• Ford has been mum about the whole thing, but it looks like it’s official: Tata is going to buy Jaguar and Land Rover. Expect an announcement in early March—but don’t expect the new XF to sell for 2000 bucks. Automotive News
• Early this morning, there was an explosion at the Porsche factory in Stuttgard. Two workers we injured, but both have been treated and released. Production of the 911 is expected to be suspended for two to three days. Detroit News
• Ma Mopar had a real hit on their hands with the 300C, and now it looks like they’re aiming for the same success on across the pond. A diesel version has just been announced for customers in the UK. CarScoop
• Fewer kids are getting their drivers license at 16. It’s official: there’s just something really wrong with kids today. New York Times

Nissan and Chrysler are talking about cooperating to make cars. If I were Nissan, I might wait for Chrysler to sort out its turnaround a little better first:

• I’m all about making cars run on biofuels. It makes sense. I’m not sure I can get behind racing a biofueled boat around the world. Don’t they have sails for that? I also don’t care that it is also a great way to lose weight (you really just have to read the whole article): Autoblog Green 
• Jaguar and Land Rover will soon be owned by the company that also makes the $2,500 car. Now I just need to find a Tata emblem to affix to John’s Jag: Motor Authority 
• I know the EPA doesn’t think it can just rule that California can’t set its own emissions standards and expect that the freakin’ Terminator isn’t going to come after them: Leftlane News

I posted a link to the Suzuki Sidekick jump video over in the Grassroots Motorsports OT forum yesterday and then someone posted a link to this MySpace video of a bunch of cheerleaders jumping their mom’s Land Rover. So are they high or stupid or both?

Land rover barbie

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Sorry this is a little late. Today I’ve been alternating between hanging out in the break room and sleeping in my car. Hopefully, this is the only work I’ll do today. Here’s the news:

• The New York Times car blog is great. There aren’t many places that would spend 600 words on explaining the appeal of a car that goes 0-60 in 13 seconds: NYT Wheels
• Al Gore must have gotten to me, I’m all over the EV scene this week. This just in: The Volt is just the beginning, GM is going to have a whole design studio for electrics: Wired
• The Cadillac CTS may have tv commercials that I hate, but the LA Times is calling it a triumph of American engineering: LA Times 
• The sale of Jaguar and Land Rover is nearly done, but with little time left before execs jet off to Aspen, or wherever, for Christmas, the sale probably won’t go final until 2008: Auto Week 

Hmmmm. Seems to be a slow day for news… Or a slow day for my brain. Gotta love cold & allergy meds! Here’s the news:

• We first reported about VW’s up! concept a few weeks ago.  Now VW reveals they might expand the concept to include a minivan, the Space up! Looks to me like a a new car-class though: the mini-minivan. And calling it the "space" kind of seems like stretching the truth, but then "cramped up!" doesn’t have the same marketing ring. (Tuning News)
• Remember the SAAB Performance Team Jen posted a few days ago? Well now you can be just like those guys! Well, almost like those guys. OK, so not really, but they will teach how to drive your car to its limits with proper technique! SAAB’s Aero Academy is open to regular Joes just like me and you! Well, mostly you. I’m pretty much an expert at anything I do, just ask my mom. (Autoblog)
• The absolutely best car tv program on the earth, UK’s Top Gear, is coming to a PS3 near you thanks to the best car racing video game, Gran Turismo. The 5th gen of the game will offer the famous Top Gear test track and you’ll be able to download episodes of the hit show. Sha-zam, that’s cool as hell. (AllAbouttheGames)
• Looks like Land Rover has an all new R version of the Range running around the ‘Ring, powered by a 5.0L supercharged V8. So that should be good for 0-60 in about one tank of gas. (LeftLaneNews)

In our latest Face Off battle, Bri’s badass Rover pummeled Bobby’s burly H2 by a margin of 5-to-1.  Congrats to Bri, who will be receiving a new set of rubber bands from Discount Tire to wrap around his 24" DUBS!

Blacked-out wheels or blacked-out interior? Land Rover or H2? For this week’s Face Off, we’ve got two tricked-out monster SUV’s on the block. Since only one of these hulks will come away with a super-huge set of low-pros from Discount Tire, be sure to get your votes in now!