I haven’t done a link round-up in quite awhile, so because it’s Friday, I thought we’d have a little fun and see what some of our friends have been up to the last few weeks.  Hopefully readers will find something interesting in today’s offerings.

The Detroit News announced earlier this week that it will be giving away a Harvey Coachworks BugE electric personal mobility vehicle in a promotion coinciding with the North American International Auto Show.  This offer is available only in The Detroit News and entries may be made by going to www.autosinsider.com.  Readers are directed to autosinsider.com to enter the contest, which began Saturday, January 9 and runs through 12:00 pm on Tuesday, January 19.  The winner will be contacted after 12:00 pm on January 19 and the prize will be delivered at a later date.  Let me know if you win!

Nissan has announced an immediate $30,000 cash donation to the Red Cross to assist with earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.  The cash donation is part of a multi-faceted relief program which totals over 100,000 by Nissan. 

The AutoWeek editorial staff named Ford’s next-generation Focus the “Most Significant” vehicle of the 2010 North American International Auto Show and they also chose Volkswagen’s new Compact Coupe Hybrid  as their pick for ‘Best Concept’ Editors’ Choice Award.  See the full list here.

Cars.com lays out their picks for Top 10 Worst Car Names and don’t miss their picks for 10 Cars That Could Save Detroit.

Don’t miss the 2010 Mother Proof Awards over at motherproof.com.

Kelley Blue Book editors ranked the Top 10 Hottest New Cars and Concepts from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. 

Autoblog Green reports that Ford will increase SUV production because of “low supplies,” increased demand.

Jalopnik asks if Chrysler can save 100 feral cats, why can’t it save their cars, employees or their company?

The Chevy Volt Dance, compliments of Car Lust.

Rapper Nelly will be featuring a customized 2011 Mustang as part of his new album artwork.

Starting January 12th thru January 18th, two lucky winners will be chosen at random each day to receive a copy of both Season 11 and Season 12 of Top Gear on DVD. For official rules, visit Top Gear Giveaway Official Rules.

The New York Times reports that the Grand Turismo 5 is delayed again, while a new design chief over at Ferrari could mean quite a few changes.

Have you ever wondered what kind of car your favorite celebrity drives? Find out over at Celebrity Cars Blog.

Are you a lover of cars, racing and art?  If so, check out Car-a-Day, where you’ll find awesome original paintings featuring Le Mans, Indy 500, the Monaco Grand Prix and lots more.  Some of the paintings may be for sale, but I’m not sure, so if you see something you like, email the contact on the blog.

Over at Horsepower and Heels, Erica Ortiz reveals she’s been featured in the book, AIM HIGH: Extraordinary Stories of Hispanic and Latino Women, where she shared her personal story about her racing career and what it means to follow her dreams. She says that currently the book is only available by reserve copy, however,  you can pre-order by visiting her website and requesting an autographed copy when the book goes in full distribution.

I hope everyone has a good weekend!

Zac Efron photo courtesy: Celebrity Cars Blog

Auto Repair for Dummies (Retail: about $20.00)

Chances are everyone has either heard about or read at least one “Dummy” book in their life, and this is a great book that explains the basics of car maintenance and repair, basic tune-ups like how to change the oil, how to replace the air filter, etc.,  It also offers chapters on the cooling and electrical systems, suspension, brakes, fuel systems and more, including diagrams and even a glossary of automotive terms, and step-by-step instructions on repairs and maintenance,  While it’s not a replacement for your owners’ manual, it’s a good supplement to have on the shelf.

Kelley Blue Book Used Car Guide: January to March 2010 (Retail:  about $10.00)

While the Kelley Blue Book Used Car Guides are only published quarterly, they make great stocking stuffers because of their small size and reasonable price – about $10.00.  These are also great to continue giving throughout the year – again because they are reasonably priced – and they make a fantastic collection to own.

Chapman’s Car Compendium: The Essential Book of Car Facts and Trivia (Retail:  about $15.00)

This book is great for those who love cars and are into automobile trivia.  Over 250 fun facts and questions on just about everything.

The Big Book of Car Culture: The Armchair Guide to Automotive Americana by Jim Hinckley (Retail: about $25.00)

One of my favorite books to give as a gift for almost any occasion, The Big Book of Car Culture offers readers over 300 pages which will surely satisfy those curious about all forms of car culture, from Route 66, GTO’s, vintage ads and maps, to quick facts, roadside attractions, nostalgia, the evolution of the modern ride – and so much more.  A few years ago, I bought a book called Hit The Road, which I absolutely love (and still highly recommend if you can find it; it’s currently out of print), and The Big Book of Car Culture is both comparable and just as good, and unlike Hit The Road, it’s available.

Amelia Hits the Road by Marissa Moss (Retail: about $10.00 new)

For the littlest cruisers (or at least those between the ages of 8-11), Amelia Hits the Road, written by Marissa Moss, is a terrific book which centers on ten-year-old Amelia as she, her mom and older sister Cleo embark on a car trip back to sunny California to see Amelia’s best friend, Nadia.   The book is written as a journal, and includes drawings, observations, and descriptions of sights along the way are such fun, even grown-ups will get a kick out of Amelia’s road trip antics.  When my daughter was young, she loved all of the Amelia books, but Amelia Hits the Road was one of her favorites, and when we would take car trips as a family, the book was never left at home!  Unfortunately, it’s out of print, but you can still find good used copies from authorized sellers at Barnes and Noble and/or Amazon for much less than the retail price.