Autos
– Jeep has priced the 2007 Patriot from $14,985 for a two-wheel-drive Sport to $23,530 for a four-wheel-drive Limited. Prices include the $560 destination charge. The new sport-utility will start arriving in showrooms in the next few weeks. Patriot is the third vehicle to be built at Chrysler’s Belvidere assembly plant, where it joins the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass.
– After a two-week delay over production problems, Ford has begun shipping its new Edge crossover vehicle to dealers. The assembly line performance at the plant in Oakville, Ontario, was at issue, Ford says.
– Nissan plans to launch a next-generation fuel-cell vehicle in 2010 or so in Japan and North America as part of its environmental strategy. The vehicle will use an improved fuel stack, the main part of such vehicles, developed in-house that will offer performance on par with gasoline-powered automobiles. Fuel-cell vehicles run on power produced when oxygen in the air combines with hydrogen stored in the fuel tank, producing only water vapor.
Boating
– If Santa should drop new boating gear into your stocking, consider giving your old stuff to Nautical Donations. This non-profit will resell the gear, with proceeds benefiting local organizations such as the Sea Scouts, Chicago Maritime Society, and Judd Goldman Foundation (learn-to-sail programs for people with disabilities and inner-city children). Visit www.nauticaldonations.org or call 312-859-0091.
FYI
– A proposed toll road built with private funds could connect Interstate Highway 94 in northwestern Indiana with Interstate 57 in Illinois, easing congestion in an area traveled by about 300,000 vehicles a day. The Indiana Department of Transportation has signed an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for a three-year study of locations for the highway, dubbed the Illiana Expressway. The road would be 63 miles long, with about 50 miles in Indiana. Indiana and Illinois would share the cost.
– The Jeffersonville, Ind., city council is moving ahead with plans to turn an abandoned CSX Corp. railroad line and other property into a 14-mile bicycling and hiking trail. It has authorized its attorney to determine the cost of a title search on the CSX land, a step needed before the property can be appraised and offers made to the railroad. There’s hope the land could be acquired next year, with trail construction starting in 2008.
People
– Volkswagen’s board has approved the selection of Martin Winterkorn to be chief executive of Europe’s biggest automaker, beginning Jan. 1. He replaces Bernd Pischetsrieder, who analysts say was forced out.
– Mark Schulz, 54, an executive vice president responsible for Ford automotive operations outside of North and South America, will retire from the automaker early next year.
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Quick Trips are compiled from the notebooks of Jim Mateja, Rick Popely and Mike Esposito, and from Tribune news services.
