Best cars Europe gets that America doesn't

Ford Mondeo wagon/hatchback

For various reasons, the automotive powers that be keep many of the world's best cars from the American car buying public. Even Detroit is stiffing us on some of these models, and they're supposed to be on our side!

Now I know, people always argue that hatches, wagons, diesels and manuals won't sell in North America, but dammit, we're enthusiasts and we're American. Not only do we expect the best, we feel entitled to it, too. After all, we have some of the best stretches of uninterrupted driving road in the world, so it stands to reason that we should use them as creatively as possible.

Here are few cars that the Euros get that we should, too. I'm not sure how we'll go about getting them, but maybe if we complain enough, someone will listen. After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Unless that wheel hasn't been imported from Europe yet.


Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sportiva

This sweet little hatch comes with gasoline and diesel turbo motors, and would be great to drive in America's cities or on her highways. Add to that Alfa's awesome styling, and you'll rue the day the company left the U.S. market (in 1995 due to poor sales).

And no, the Dodge Dart doesn't count.



Audi S3 Hatchback

A small, sexy hot hatch — just what America needs more of. The 2013 Audi S3 could deliver the goods, if only Audi would send them over here.








Peugeot 208 GTI

Debuted at the Paris Motor Show, the 208 GTI owes its homage to the legendary 205 GTI. It's basically a souped-up, lowered version of the standard 208, and Peugeot says it will launch to 62 mph in less than 7 seconds. Depressed about American politics? That'll perk you up.





Mazda6 Diesel Wagon

The Mazda6 is really one of the sleeker cars that normal people can afford to buy. So why, in heaven's name, is that gorgeous wagon not going to be for sale at my neighborhood Mazda dealership?







Ford Mondeo Wagon/Hatchback

This is Europe's brilliant version of a Ford Fusion. The wagon is great — like the Mazda6 only better — but look at the four-door hatchback. Cars like that make me wonder why Americans have never warmed up to big hatches. It looks like a fastback for god's sake!





Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Wagon

As far as I'm concerned, the Chevy Cruze is one of the most fun small cars Detroit has made in a while (we'll forget about the recalls for the moment). And it seems to be doing well. So why don't we have the diesel wagon version of the Cruze? Better gas mileage, more space, sleek styling — what's not to like?




Lada Niva 4x4

I had no idea that these were even an option, but Lada actually still makes them. Not only that, but they even sell them in the U.K. (and did in Canada a few years back). Buy one of these and you'll have a really useful classic that's brand new. Oh, but only on the other side of the Atlantic.

Android phones vulnerable to remote data wipes

Cellphones using Google's Android operating system are at risk of being disabled or wiped clean of their data because of a security flaw that was discovered several months ago but went unnoticed until now.

WASHINGTON: Cellphones using Google's Android operating system are at risk of being disabled or wiped clean of their data, including contacts, music and photos, because of a security flaw that was discovered several months ago but went unnoticed until now.

Opening a link to a website or a mobile application embedded with malicious code can trigger an attack capable of destroying the memory card in Android-equipped handsetsmade by Samsung, HTC, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, rendering the devices useless, computer security researcher Ravi Borgaonkar wrote in a blog post Friday. Another code that can erase a user's data by performing a factory reset of the device appears to target only the newly released and top selling Galaxy S III and other Samsung phones, he wrote.

Borgaonkar informed Google of the vulnerability in June, he said. A fix was issued quickly, he said, but it wasn't publicized, leaving smartphone owners largely unaware that the problem existed and how they could fix it.

Google declined to comment. Android debuted in 2008 and now dominates the smartphone market. Nearly 198 million smartphones using Android were sold in the first six months of 2012, according to the research firm IDC. About 243 million Android-equipped phones were sold in 2011, IDC said.

Versions of Android that are vulnerable include Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, according to Borgaonkar. He said the Honeycomb version of Android, designed for tablets, needs to be tested to determine if it is at risk as well.

Samsung, which makes most of the Android phones, said only early production models of the Galaxy S III were affected and a software update has been issued for that model. The company said it is conducting an internal review to determine if other devices are affected and what, if any, action is needed. Samsung said it is advising customers to check for software updatesthrough the "Settings: About device: Software update'' menu available on Samsung phones.

Borgaonkar, a researcher at Germany's Technical University Berlin, said the bug works by taking advantage of functions in phones that allow them to dial a telephone number directly from a web browser. That convenience comes with risk, however. A hacker, or anyone with ill intent, can create a website or an app with codes that instruct the phones linking to those numbers to execute commands automatically, such as a full factory reset.

The phone's memory card, known as a subscriber identity module, or SIM, can be destroyed remotely in the same way, Borgaonkar said. "Vulnerability in Android can be exploited to kill the SIM card permanently by clicking a single click,'' he wrote. "After the successful attack, the end user has to go to the mobile network operator and buy a new SIM card.''

While Borgaonkar has drawn attention to the problem, it's unclear how useful the vulnerability would be to cybercriminals who are primarily interested in profits or gaining a competitive advantage, said Jimmy Shah, a mobile security researcher at McAfee. "There's no benefit to the attacker if they can't make money off it or they can't steal your data,'' Shah said. "It's really not that useful.''

But the technique could cause huge headaches if it were harnessed to issue outbound phone calls, said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure, a digital security company inHelsinki, Finland. "If that would be doable, we would quickly see real world attacks causing phones to automatically dial out to premium-rate numbers,'' he said.

Beauty splash–Turmeric, for glowing skin!

Beauty splash - TurmericTurmeric – curcuma longa has spiced up your curries and sometimes made way into your glass of milk when you caught a cold. This wonderful antiseptic spice is a favorite among grandmas when it comes to whipping up homemade beauty treatments. Read on to find out why.

Battling pigmentation

Turmeric has an old reputation of giving the skin a natural glow. And that’s exactly why traditional Indian weddings follow the custom of the ‘haldi’ ceremony before the wedding day, so that the bride and the groom really glow on the D day. A teaspoon of turmeric powder in your face pack, or with a couple of tablespoons of gram flour and lemon juice helps lighten your pigmentation wonderfully.

For the wow glow

Turmeric has been used in beauty treatments since ancient times. Being an excellent antiseptic, you can freely use it even if you discover a few breakouts on your skin. And believe it or not turmeric doesn’t stain your skin. For a healthy glow, add a pinch of turmeric to the pulp of tomato (if you have oily skin) or a tablespoon of curd (if you have dry skin). Leave it on your face like a mask for 15 minutes and rinse.

Anti-ageing spice

Turmeric is packed with anti-ageing properties. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and makes the skin soft and supple. This works best when a pinch of turmeric is mixed with cucumber pulp and applied to the skin. Do this regularly and you’re sure to get compliments.

De-tan

If fair skin is all you covet, here’s turmeric to your rescue. Lemon or tomato juice coupled with turmeric used twice a week reduces the tan and lightens the skin visibly, minus the cakey fairness of the fairness creams.

Acne treatment

If those zits and boils are all you can think about, try treating it the turmeric way. You can’t go wrong with this mixture of coconut oil, turmeric and a nice helping of sandalwood powder (if you want it to be a mask) or sea salt (if you want it to be a scrub). Tired of using the concealer every time to hide the spots left behind? Dab turmeric and lemon juice mixture directly on the spots and leave it for five minutes.

So opt for turmeric – the inexpensive and natural alternative care for your skin instead of the expensive chemical-filled store-bought treatments!

5 cars you won't see anymore in 2013

Discontinuing a car line isn't like closing a Broadway show or cancelling a television series. In addition to hundreds of millions of dollars in sunk cost, a lot of marginal profit is being sacrificed -- the profitability of a car line can actually increase as it ages because the development costs have been amortized.

But at some point, a mercy killing for the weak is required. Sales have fallen too low, another model has come along to replace it in the product lineup, or the car has simply become an embarrassment.

At least two of the three were the reasoning behind Daimler's decision to stop making all five Maybach models in June, six months ahead of schedule. Often compared to an airport executive lounge on wheels, the car never found an audience among either the established or nouveau rich. Its sales had sunk to a pitiable level. Through July, only seven Maybachs had found buyers this year vs. 224 for Rolls-Royce, according to numbers compiled by Automotive News.

Here are some other models that will be breathing their last at one point or another in 2013:


Chevrolet Avalanche

GM is getting ready to launch a new platform for its full-size pickups and decided not to make a reengineered Avalanche one of the spin-off models. Sales of the once-popular truck/SUV combo have been slipping for six years in the face of higher fuel prices and the greater availability of crew-cab trucks. In past years, GM might have kept the old vehicle in production as a "classic" -- its owners are exceptionally devoted -- but that doesn't appear to be in the cards this time.


Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler is starting the 2013 model year with two minivan brands, but it will likely end the year with just one. Badge engineering is a no-no for CEO Sergio Marchionne, who says customers are smart enough not to be fooled by minor cosmetic differences. It remains to be seen whether the Caravan or Town & Country gets the ax.




Mazda CX-7

A crossover unlike most others, the CX-7 was an outlier in the segment with its minivan-like interior packaged in an aerodynamic shell. It makes way for the smaller CX-5, which is already winning kudos for its efficient use of space and unusually sprightly handling.




Mitsubishi Eclipse

The Eclipse has struggled through the 2012 model year -- only 601 have found buyers since January -- and it will not make it to the starting blocks for 2013. The last one was built in August 2011. Those with long memories will recall that the Eclipse was introduced in 1990 as triplets. Two versions were marketed by Chrysler divisions now defunct: the Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon. Now a senior citizen by sporty car standards, the Eclipse outlived both of them.


Lexus HS 250h

Toyota stopped building this hybrid in January, though it waited until May to confirm that production was ending. Customers clearly objected to paying a $10,000 premium for what they viewed as an upgraded Prius, and only four HS's were sold in July. Its demise was hastened by the looming arrival of another Lexus hybrid, the ES 300h, which gets to dealers in August.