The week in auto news is certainly music to the ears of anybody who drives Range Rovers as well as those who's an active breast cancer research advocate. However, if you're afraid of germs you may not be so happy.
• Being recognized by Motor Trend magazine is often seen as a significant milestone for most manufacturers, which is good news for Land Rover. The 2012 Range Rover Evoque earned the distinction of being named the 2012 SUV of the Year this week by the publication.
If you look at the specifics of the new car, its not hard to see why it was chosen. The Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced by the company while still maintaining the luxury and class the popular SUVs have become known for.
"It is a significant achievement for the Range Rover Evoque to be deemed the best new SUV on the market by Motor Trend, one of the pre-eminent brands in automotive publishing," said Andy Goss, president of Jaguar Land Rover North America.
Motor Trend reaches its rankings through rigorous performance testing under certain conditions to simulate the real-world driving experience.
• In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, numerous communities across the country have been holding events and fundraisers, and that includes the automotive community. Symbolic Motors in San Diego, California, recently unveiled a Bentley Continental GT Coupe – painted entirely in pink. A portion of the proceeds from the $250,000 sale will go to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
"While this car is stunning, it is going to save lives with the money that is raised and there is nothing more beautiful than that," said Laura Farmer Sherman, a breast cancer survivor and executive director of the organization.
• Next time you fill up your car you might want to make extra sure you wash your hands as soon as possible. Results of a new study show that the gas pump handle is the dirtiest thing that Americans encounter on their way to and from the office, Retuers reports.
The research was conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional, which discovered that other top offenders were public mailbox handles, parking meters and ATM buttons. But it was gas pumps that took the cake.
"It comes down to the fact that nobody cleans the things that you're going to touch on a daily basis," program leader Dr. Kelly Arehart told the news agency.