Daily Edition: Dec. 27, 2005

TheCarConnection.com is on holiday sabbatical this week. But the news doesn't stop: stay tuned to our blog for breaking news - and catch up on the Year in Reverse, Toyota's new FJ Cruiser, and the week's racing news by clicking below.

TCC returns on Jan. 3, 2006. On behalf of all of us, have a happy and safe New Year.

2005: The Year in Reverse

Some analysts say the auto industry has been in tumult ever since production resumed after World War II. But it's hard to imagine any retrospective since then topping the events of 2005.

In the past year, the industry has seen its Big Two pushed to the precipice; has seen the cost of fuel skyrocket as worldwide demand zoomed, particularly in China and India; and has watched as the Korean carmakers aimed for the heights reached by some Japanese brands, only to see the Chinese automakers in their rearview mirror.

As TCC gets ready for another year of news, reviews, and opinion, we've selected these at the ten most important auto stories of the past year. Stay with us next week as we begin 2006 from the floor of the Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows.

2005: The Year In Reverse (12/26/2005)
Physics 101: The biggest auto stories of the year come down to energy and momentum.

TCC Drives: 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Do you remember when you saw your first Honda Element out on the streets? You might think that the Toyota FJ Cruiser looks a little bit goofy in that same, oddly proportioned way. To the uninitiated, the FJ might look a little bit like the Element crossed with a HUMMER H3, but take another long look at it and the FJ's shape makes a lot of sense - it's distinctive, fashionable, and functional at the same time, with just enough retro so that, if you squint hard enough, you might see the old 1960s-era Land Cruiser FJ40.

While Toyota of course made and imported cars as well through the '60s, the automaker really built its name in the U.S. and other overseas markets with the FJ40. The early SUV model found fans throughout the world because of its simplicity, off-road ability, and decent (at least then) on-road ability. That, and it was more reliable than anything else at the time that could boast that level of off-road prowess.

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser (12/26/2005)
A retro-cool concept makes the scene with some established connections.

Racing News and Notes, Dec. 26, 2005 (12/26/2005)

Name	Symbol	Last	Change
Autobytel, Inc.	ABTL	4.84	-0.11 (-2.22%)
Autoliv Inc.	ALV	45.41	+0.18 (+0.40%)
AutoNation Inc.	AN	21.82	-0.26 (-1.18%)
ArvinMeritor Inc.	ARM	14.65	-0.19 (-1.28%)
American Axle & Mfr. Holdings Inc.	AXL	18.36	-0.04 (-0.22%)
Ballard Power Systems Inc.	BLDP	4.12	-0.18 (-4.19%)
BorgWarner Inc.	BWA	59.41	-0.54 (-0.90%)
Cummins Inc.	CMI	90.42	-0.61 (-0.67%)
Dana Corporation	DCN	6.79	+0.17 (+2.57%)
DaimlerChrysler AG (ADR)	DCX	50.48	-0.22 (-0.43%)
Dura Automotive Systems	DRRA	2.36	+0.11 (+4.89%)
Eaton Corporation	ETN	66.79	-1.03 (-1.52%)
Ford Motor Company	F	7.89	-0.01 (-0.13%)
General Motors Corporation	GM	18.99	+0.16 (+0.85%)
Gentex Corporation	GNTX	19.50	-0.33 (-1.66%)
Goodyear Tire & Rubber	GT	17.66	-0.24 (-1.34%)
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	HMC	28.98	-0.46 (-1.56%)
Johnson Controls Inc.	JCI	71.84	-1.09 (-1.49%)
Lear Corporation	LEA	28.16	-0.37 (-1.30%)
Magna International Inc.	MGA	70.40	+0.10 (+0.14%)
Motorola Inc.	MOT	22.95	-0.54 (-2.30%)
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	NSANY	20.19	-0.31 (-1.51%)
Sonic Automotive Inc.	SAH	22.55	-0.26 (-1.14%)
Siemens AG	SI	85.77	+0.30 (+0.35%)
Sirius Satellite Radio	SIRI	6.99	+0.16 (+2.34%)
Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR)	TM	102.00	-1.68 (-1.62%)
TRW Automotive Holdings	TRW	25.80	+0.26 (+1.02%)
Tower Automotive Inc.	TWRAQ.PK	0.073	-0.002 (-2.67%)
United Auto Group Inc.	UAG	37.42	-0.80 (-2.09%)
Visteon Corporation	VC	6.86	-0.06 (-0.87%)
XM Satellite Radio Hold.	XMSR	28.99	-0.11 (-0.38%)