Wheels

In the late 1940s, Enzo Ferrari reluctantly agreed to build road cars as a way to finance his racing outfit. One has to wonder, though, whether he would have signed his name to today's Ferrari FF, a four-seat, all-wheel-drive hatchback intended to broaden the brand and boost global sales. Designed to lure a new kind of customer, the FF comfortably totes four passengers and their luggage without worrying mortal drivers about landing wheels up in a ditch. Ferrari calls the body a shooting-brake design, which probably plays better than "hatchback" on the lot in Beverly Hills.

The first question my well-meaning acquaintances ask is, "Do you take that thing on the freeway?" Since that thing is a 1.2-liter engine on two wheels and a 600-pound body, that's actually a rather silly question. But I know it's only a warm-up for what's really on their minds: "Are you one of those who cut in between cars?" Yes, I am. And I'm aware - even without the disapproving tone of the question - of the emotions I raise when you see me in the rear view mirror, or worse, become aware of my presence as I cross the plane of your windshield: momentary panic, then relief, and last, outrage.

DETROIT -- Maserati may be the only Italian automaker at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, but the company made up for the void with an all-new sedan heavy on machismo and power. The 2014 Maserati Quattroporte made its North American debut on Monday. Meaning literally "four-doors," this sixth-generation sedan battles the likes of Porsche's Panamera, BMW's M6 Gran Coupe, Audi's S7 and S8 and the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG. The big change for 2014 is the addition of a smaller, V-6 engine option, to which buyers will also be able to add all-wheel drive for the first time.

LAS VEGAS -- We've seen a lot of random stuff at CES, but one of the things that made me do a double take as I roamed the massive show floor was the Solowheel , an "auto balance one-wheel vehicle. " Really, it looked more like a tiny unicycle without handles, and I was baffled as to how Solowheel reps were zooming around their booth in circles like human hamsters. The small wheel didn't even have pedals per se -- just two silver foot rests -- and riders appeared to not be exerting any effort.  Shane Chen, president of Solowheel maker Inventist, said the electric Solowheel, which reaches a max speed of 10 mph, takes about half an hour to learn.

Young drivers are the most likely to drive while drowsy, according to a AAA safety study. One in seven licensed drivers age 16-24 admitted to having nodded off at least once while driving in the past year as compared with one in 10 of all licensed drivers who confessed to falling asleep during the same period, the auto club said. “Research shows that fatigue impairs safe driving, with many symptoms causing drivers to behave in ways similar to those who are intoxicated,” said Robert Darbelnet, AAA's chief executive.

Ventura County prosecutors said Tuesday that they will not pursue a criminal case against a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who killed a man when he drove his SUV into a Fillmore Starbucks. The deputy, Michael Cedarland, suffered a seizure at the wheel and lost consciousness before crashing into the coffee shop on Dec. 13, 2011, said Kim Gibbons, the deputy district attorney handling the case. His blackout would "mandate an acquittal," Gibbons said, because it stemmed from a sudden illness rather than from a voluntary action such as excessive drinking.

Trying to retire from his dark trade, a very polite hit man is dogged by a bunch of scheming nut jobs in the imitation noir "Dead in France. " Writer-director Kris McManus puts a jokey spin on a cartload of crime-movie conventions and Guy Ritchie cockney types in the low-budget, Cannes-set black comedy. Beyond broad swipes at obvious targets, the payoff is small. Brian Levine, who co-wrote the screenplay, provides the calm center of the splatter-happy storm as soft-spoken assassin Charles, a 43-year-old germophobe who wants to lie low, go straight and find a good woman, after completing that One Last Job. Charles is a cultivated, if socially awkward, Brit.

Cries of  “Mush, you huskies!” will ring out this winter in northern Saskatchewan, where a local outfitter offers guests a chance to drive their own teams on dog sled adventures. Trips of varying lengths are offered through March 15, so note that these aren't short rides for tourists through a snow-covered park. Quincy Miller and Miriam Korner, the owners of Paws & Paddles Wilderness Tours , take visitors on treks along old fur trading routes through pristine forests and across frozen lakes.

When my dad's driving deteriorated, I called the California Department of Motor Vehicles and asked about the procedure for having his license revoked. I could fill out a form, I was told, and my dad would be called in to have his driving ability reevaluated. I thought about it, but did nothing. My brother said we should remove the carburetor and tell our father the car was kaput, but we never did that either. If you've been in this situation, you know the dance. My dad insisted he was driving just fine, but the evidence was not on his side.

I've been following the beautiful kitchenware made by the father-daughter team of Herriott Grace   practically since they started working together four years ago. Lance Herriott is a woodworker and lives in Victoria, Canada. His daughter Nikole has her studio in Toronto, where she styles and photographs the wood pieces he makes from salvaged, chemical-free wood. I covet just about everything in their online shop. If you're looking for a special gift for a passionate baker, consider their pastry cutter with a large 2.5-inch stainless-steel blade with  a slight crimp and a hand-turned handle in ebony, black walnut or mahogany ($72)