In the blink of an eye, summer disappeared, the school busses appeared, and we’re about a week away from turkey, pumpkin pie, and a food coma on the couch with a football game on the TV in the background. Wow, has time flown. So much time has passed, in fact, that we don’t remember the last time we served up our special dish for you! Thanksgiving might be about being thankful for what you have, but it’s also all about leftovers, and that’s what we bring to you, roasted, toasted and re-hashed for your enjoyment!

1. The Ultimate On-Road Adventurer!

The rumor mill had it right again: The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is a go, with confirmation coming from FCA officials for a debut at the New York Auto Show. Hell yes. That means there’s only two questions left about the upcoming badass brick: what will it look like, especially in the nose, and will the Hellcat Hemi be de-tuned to give the all-wheel-drive system a fighting chance at life? We will see soon…

2. The Buick Cascada now comes in red?!

Front wheel drive rental-spec droptop nobody really wants. Who cares. Buick, call us when you’re ready to quit screwing around and decide to build the Avista coupe, will ya?

3. Say it with me: “Echo-Sport”.

Ever look at a Ford Fiesta and bemoan it’s size and inability to handle mild off-roading? Well, here’s your answer: the Ford EcoSport, a micro machine sold elsewhere that will be coming to the North American market. We’ve taken a look at the tiny crossover before, and while it looks like a micro-ute here, Ford has tried to give it off-road chops in the past. Think of it in the same vein as a GEO Tracker or Suzuki Samurai and you’ll start to see some potential. Maybe.

4. Cadillac produces yet another high-grade tease we won’t ever see in production.

At the L.A. Auto Show, the Cadillac Escala, a concept we first laid eyes on back in August, re-appeared untouched and with the same kind of air that a lot of GM concept cars are bringing: a whiff of “JUST FREAKING BUILD THE DAMN THING ALREADY!” Cadillac and Buick, listen to us: Just do it. Live a little.

5. $3.4 Billion, and not one “unintended acceleration” note. Ouch.

Toyota has finally come to a formal settlement with the lawsuit over rusty frames in Tacomas, Tundras and Sequoias. $3.4 billion will take care of frame replacements and inspection costs for trucks still on the road, and will reimburse owners who have already paid out of pocket for frame repairs or replacements. The inspections will occur on those models for twelve years from the date they were first sold or leased.