Shark Attack II: The Sequel

Mercedes Benz released last November 25 photos of another ASMA-designed Mercedes CLS Shark, a tuning package of the all-new 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS-class. It's dubbed as the Mercedes Benz CLS Shark II. The pictures tell it all. Its luxurious, packed with power, and drives with style.

Greatly noticeable in the Mercedes Benz CLS Shark II is its newly designed huge Mercedes Benz grille; however more of the styling of the second edition of the Mercedes Benz CLS Shark resembled that of the first edition's. You would see familiar side vents, rear apron and side skirts.

Mercedes Benz CLS Shark I appeared with distinguishing parts such as the front Mercedes Benz spoiler lip and the Mercedes Benz bumper with air intakes. High-grade steel final Mercedes Benz exhaust with angular final pipes on the left and right side of the car.

The first ASMA-designed editions elicited varied responses. According to an article from eMercedesBenz, an unofficial Mercedes Benz web blog, "some of you thought they'd be perfect for Glock-totin' hip-hop moguls everywhere; some of you though they'd be better suited for a Honda; and some of you actually liked the way ASMA re-styled the Mercedes."

For more info and photos of the special Mercedes Benz CLS Shark I and II editions, you may go to ASMA-Design's official site. Meanwhile, if you are working on a restyling project on your old Mercedes Benz car, you can go to Auto Parts Inner for various replacement auto parts. The store also offers great variety of Toyota parts, Ford parts, Honda parts, Chevrolet parts, Jeep parts, BMW parts and so much more.

Car Theft: Is Your Car Next?

Are you in the habit of leaving your valuables (your laptop perhaps) in your car? Are you one of those people who think nothing of leaving your Honda Civic idling outside the grocery just so you can pick up some snacks for "just a few seconds"?

Well, how about digesting some of these facts?

Every 26 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States. The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 190 in 2003 (latest data available). The odds are highest in urban areas.

According to a

National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) study released in August 2005, seven of the top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas for vehicle theft in 2004 are in California.

The National Crime Insurance Bureau (NICB) says that the 1995 Honda Civic was the most stolen vehicle in 2004. Motor vehicle thieves continue to target imports over domestic brands. Many vehicles on the top ten list shown below are 10 to 17 model years old. These cars have been consistent top sellers for many years and some of their parts are interchangeable.

10 Most Stolen Vehicles: 1.1995 Honda Civic 2.1989 Toyota Camry 3.1991 Honda Accord 4.1994 Dodge Caravan 5.1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup 6.1997 Ford F150 Series 7.2003 Dodge Ram Pickup 8.1990 Acura Integra 9.1988 Toyota Pickup 10.1991 Nissan Sentra

Car theft is big business here in the U.S. So unless you take the bull by the horns and do everything you can to prevent your vehicle from being stolen, you might just come back to an empty parking space the next time you make a quick run inside the grocery and leave your car idling outside. Common sense - it's the first step. Always lock your vehicle, close windows, the sunroof and take your keys (don't think that car thieves won't be able to figure out where you hid the keys). Leaving your valuables inside your car is a sure way to attract car thieves. Don't be foolish - never leave valuables (including personal documents, car registration, etc.) in plain, open sight. Always park in well-lit areas with plenty of pedestrian traffic. Never leave your car unattended, even if it's "just for a few seconds".

There are devices like car alarm systems, steering wheel locks and more that you can use to protect your car, but it's no guarantee that a determined thief will not try to steal it. Make sure that your vehicle’s doors and door locks are working properly. A simple problematic door handle can easily aid a thief in driving away in your Nissan Sentra, or in your Ford F150. A quick visit to

Auto Parts Inner should solve this problem – but to truly protect your car, vigilance is the key.

Backing Up Safely

Most of us don’t think too much about backing our vehicles out of a parking lot or driveway. Unfortunately, thousands of children pay the price of this kind of thinking by being killed or seriously injured by drivers (who, more often than not are their parents or close relatives) who “just didn’t see” them come up behind the vehicle to wave goodbye or pick up a toy. These children still do not understand the concept of personal safety – not comprehending that the big black thing their mommy just got into could run them over.

A neighbor of mine almost ran over his three year old while backing his Ford Explorer in his driveway. If his wife hadn’t screamed for him to stop they would have easily lost their son. And “just didn’t see him” would have never consoled such tragic loss.

An easy way to prevent such catastrophe is doing a quick walk around your vehicle before getting in and backing up. Even after a walk-around, double check all three of your Ford’s mirrors before you put your vehicle in reverse. If your Ford’s mirrors are cracked or damaged, try not to put off replacing them too long. Reliable online auto parts stores like Auto Parts Inner are just a click away for your replacement auto parts needs. During inclement weather, be extra cautious as small children can slip on ice and snow, becoming lodged underneath a vehicle's tire. Take extreme caution in parking lots, residential neighborhoods, and especially near schools and playgrounds. Just because you don’t think it will happen to you means it won’t.