Recent Comments:
Richard Parry-Jones: 180 MPG hatch by 2050 {Autoblog}
Jul 26th 2008 4:17PM Neither this guy or any of you guy's is making a damn bit of sense.
Try harder...
Chrysler selling Pacifica Design Studio to Mercedes-Benz {Autoblog}
May 20th 2008 8:02PM I can hit the Pacifica design studio from my desk right now. Not sure what MB's buying here. It's just an ordinary building like all the others.
True, Carlsbad is a hub of activity, but there's definitely nothing "special" going on here that would warrant purchasing this dated looking studio.
People that work there are snobby to boot.
Rendered Speculation: Way out there Mazda RX-9 {Autoblog}
May 20th 2008 7:50PM Flagrant badassery!
If the rims were gunmetal it'd be perfect.
Some of us like the fact that the rotary revs to a billion RPMS without vibration.
VIDEO: Volvo wants to eliminate in-car injuries and death by 2020 {Autoblog}
Apr 30th 2008 6:15PM Haha.
So, when we get into a bumpercar, and purposely ram each other repeatedly without injury it's all dandy. But if Volvo tries the same thing with vehicles it brings out all the naysayers.
Heres an 8th grade science project for you guys.
Take an egg, rubberbands, and toothpicks, and drop it from a building without breaking the egg.
Many of you are missing the fact that all cars will be networked in the very near future, and if you try to make them collide they will resist you. Why is this such a crazy concept?
Ever hear of proximity sensors, lasers, infrared, GPS???
U.S. Transportation Secretary drives new blog {Autoblog}
Apr 30th 2008 4:54PM Just sent them this, let's see if they allow it to be posted.
If you agree, please do likewise.
If you disagree, let's try to have a constructive debate where we reach a consensus.
"I'm very concerned about light-synchronization.
I hope you have plans to address this extremely pressing issue.
It is the single biggest drain on this nations resources.
To explain, when heading down a main thoroughfare the lights are purposely timed to cause "stop and go" traffic.
This wastes oil, lives, time, brakes, tires, GDP, etc...
Every morning while heading to work it's the same thing.
I'm sitting at a red light. The light turns green. All of the SUVs accelerate aggressively to get up to speed, and just as the school of cars begins to cruise and settle into a pace - a green light suddenly turns to red causing everyone to hastily apply their brakes.
Some people try to go through the light at great speed because they want to break free of this timing cycle. Otherwise, they will spend the next several minutes waiting at a red light. Idling, wasting fuel, time, etc...
They either end up with a staggering ticket in the mail from a private company shorting yellow lights on purpose to increase revenues, or they change their mind suddenly- sliding to a stop in the intersection, and the poor fool who thought they were going to go through the light ends up rear-ending them.
No comment about what happens in tragic accidents. Hope none of you have ever had to rush to the hospital because a loved one has been rear-ended.
Fix the lights. "
Thanks for taking the time to read and think.
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS {Autoblog}
Apr 16th 2008 6:57PM "no replacement for displacement"
This is an old adage that used to seem true.
There are in fact better ways to wring more power from a given engine than simply increasing it's displacement as I've alluded to.
Forced induction has been there all along. Might give these cars the balls to actually overcome the biggest problem they face-having to overrev and waste fuel to get up an incline.
"If you think it is too big for a Corolla, just look at how many people are commenting on how big the Corolla has gotten."
Err... boring out the block slightly isn't going to affect the size of the vehicle.
"Mazda uses a 2.5 in the Mazda3"
I believe it's a 2.3, but who knows?
"The Jetta and Golf come with 2.5s and optional V6s,"
Precisely, take a great even cylinder engine such as the Gallardo V10 - chop it in half, and create an odd-cylinder engine such as this-strap on some power robbing balance shafts so the thing doesn't wobble itself to death, and voila! An engine that's inferior to the VR6 from 1991.
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS {Autoblog}
Apr 16th 2008 4:37PM Hopefully Toyo's not stupid enough to do as you suggest.
We all know that a 2.7L 4banger is a bad idea. Great for pulling up tree-stumps though.
Any extra power created will be soaked up by balance shafts so it makes it past the warranty:)
Makes about as much sense as an odd-cylinder count engine.
They need to lower their displacement to 2.2L and start utilizing technology.
Molybdenum, direct injection, extrude honing, a decent ground, etc...
Cam phasing on intake and exhaust should be standard by now.
Honda's had VTEC for how long?
They behave as if they're creating the corolla from scratch every year.
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS {Autoblog}
Apr 16th 2008 3:50PM Riddle me this:
How is it that manufacturers like to pimp the same engines on us for over a decade with quantities totaling in the millions, and yet this "economy of scale" seems to have no tangible benefits to the consumer?
I'm looking at you GM 3.8 seriesII V6.
Hasn't Toyota been producing this very same engine for the camry since time immemorial?
What does it cost them to make one of these little guy's internally? 200$ -300$ ?
They could offer this vehicle for 16K, and they'd still be making a healthy profit.
Monsieur Scion Tc;
Yes, those ground effects make your car faster-you don't have to rub it in.
We're all sorry that you knew so little about automobiles that you were suckered into buying a gussied up Toyota Echo, but there's nothing we can do to save you.
Blame Toyo for pulling a fast one on you.
Six cities busted for shortening yellow light {Autoblog}
Apr 14th 2008 5:08PM Having an interesting discussion about this over here.
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=174096756&m=470008561931&r=470008561931
Lets show our representives that this isn't going to stand.
Updated Mazda RX-8 now on sale in Japan {Autoblog}
Mar 10th 2008 4:14PM There's a reason Mazda's been spending so much $ to keep the rotary alive.
In 2012 you'll be able to buy one that runs on Hydrogen w/styling cues from the Furai.
After that comes the hybrid.
Then Mazda will begin licensing it to other companies.
Then we'll all walk into the sun.
