Citroen to restyle its Xsara van

AS part of Citroen's ongoing commercial vehicle developmentprocess, the firm's popular Dispatch range has now been restyled andre-equipped to deliver what the company claims is even better valuefor money, greater safety and improved comfort.

With the introduction of the revised Dispatch, Citroen has - injust two years - updated all three of its commercial vehicle rangesand added a new model, the Xsara Enterprise.

Citroen's Dispatch retains the core values of the previous model,which included competitive pricing, versatility, compact size, three-way load accessibility, driveability and low cost of operation.

With recommended retail prices starting …

1999 engine trends

Hollywood could not have written a better script for this year's Engine Trends feature. Politics, cheap gasoline, truck lust and environmental imagery drive the 1999 story as much as combustion science and catalyst chemistry.

It's the next round of U.S. auto emissions regulations, called Tier II, and the outcome will determine the industry's light vehicle engine strategies for the 2004 model year and beyond.

"This is going to be a very, very tough tug-of-war for us," predicts an automaker lobbyist based in Washington, D.C. "We aren't going into this looking like we've got our act together."

Recent episodes suggest that's true. Last November, automakers lost big …

Bush signs housing bill to provide mortgage relief

President Bush on Wednesday signed a massive housing bill intended to provide mortgage relief for 400,000 struggling homeowners and stabilize financial markets.

Bush signed the bill without any fanfare or signing ceremony, affixing his signature to the measure he once threatened to veto, in the Oval Office in the early morning hours. He was surrounded by top administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Housing Secretary Steve Preston.

"We look forward to put in place new authorities to improve confidence and stability in markets," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said. He said that the Federal Housing Administration would …

Congress postpones digital TV transition: ; Some worried people not ready for deadline

WASHINGTON - Congress is giving consumers four more months toprepare for the upcoming transition from analog to digitaltelevision broadcasting.

The House on Wednesday voted 264-158 to postpone the shutdown ofanalog TV signals to June 12, to address growing concerns that toomany Americans won't be ready in time for the Feb. 17 deadline thatCongress had set three years ago. The Senate passed the measureunanimously last week and the bill now heads to President BarackObama for his signature.

The change is being required because digital signals are moreefficient than analog, and ending analog will free up valuable spacein the nation's airwaves.

The delay is a …

OTHER OPTIONS

Here's a peek at some other presidential suites around thecountry: Boston: The venerable Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Arlington Street inBack Bay has its suite on the seventh floor overlooking the PublicGarden. The suite has been host to everyone from Prince Charles toRin Tin Tin. It's $2,000 a night; $2,325 for two bedrooms. Alsoavailable, a junior presidential suite ($600 a night), whichaccommodates two children and is sold with an adjoining masterbedroom for guardians. Call (617) 536-5700.

Chicago: The Four Seasons Chicago boasts a two-bedroom, 46th-floorpresidential suite that lives up to the standards of this hotel,named No. 1 in America by Conde Nast Traveler and Andrew …

Mexico suspends Vela, Juarez for 6 months

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez were suspended for six months by the Mexican federation and 11 other footballers were fined for partying after a friendly in September.

The players threw a party at the team hotel in Monterrey after a friendly against Colombia on Sept. 7. The Mexican federation offered few details, but local media said family members, friends and unidentified women attended the party, which lasted until dawn.

The players fined were Rafael Marquez, Javier Hernandez, Giovanni dos Santos, Guillermo Ochoa, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado, Gerardo Torrado, Pablo Barrera, Hector Esqueda and Hector Moreno.

The sanctions were …

Flyers title chase at 35 years, and counting

In the end, the Flyers were more stunned than saddened.

They expected a Game 7.

Now, it's over.

In a season in which they seemingly mastered the art of the comeback, the Philadelphia Flyers are dealing with falling one rally short.

The Chicago Blackhawks put a sudden end to the Flyers' unlikely playoff run Wednesday in overtime of Game 6 for their first Stanley Cup title since 1961.

Make it 35 years and counting for the Flyers in their pursuit of a third championship.

The Flyers' stirring postseason run started weeks ago, on the last day of the regular season, when a shootout win secured the seventh seed in the …