Recent Comments:
Bailout bill includes big earmark for race tracks {Autoblog}
Oct 3rd 2008 8:21PM I've read in an article that the Congress added $150bn to the already big $700bn bill; this additional money came in the form of a tax break to the industries that supported republican senators who initially voted against the bill. So they first helped themselves and their friends and, after that, they helped the fools who took that enormous ammount of risk, at the expenses of regular citizens.
Are the big 3 so near to bankruptcy or the $25bn loan a form of support for who supported the opinion-changing senators?
First Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial hits Korea, pricing revealed {Autoblog}
Sep 6th 2008 7:07AM I've heard they will sell it in Europe for about €40k. Lets do some maths: 2.0 stylish pakage, 24500$, means more or less 17000€. It's hard to believe that a European consumer will pay more than €23k in taxes and import fees for a €17k car. So, I guess, Hyunday has different pricing policies in different areas of the world. As a European consumer, I feel fooled by automakers every time I have to buy a car, because I know that someone with a different citizenship is getting the same car for less than half the price only because he was born in a different place.
Hyunday, would you please price this car honestly in Europe?? Please....
London 2008: Lightning GT EV in the flesh {Autoblog}
Jul 22nd 2008 6:14PM Since electric veichles companies produced a few veichles in the past, they were active also in other business like conversions and components to bring in sufficient cash. In the last couple of years electric veichles sales are skyrocketing and those companies who survived until now are experiencing huge cash flows never seen before. This money is invested almost entirely in R&D to survive to this initial moment for the industry. Check the sales of ZAP or Tesla or Vectrix to convince you.
First Lotus Eagle pic surfaces, along with details on the 2+2 {Autoblog}
Jul 15th 2008 4:47PM I agree, but this one is a little bit more sporty...
First Drive: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe {Autoblog}
Jul 1st 2008 5:33AM I agree with you. This is a nice RR, but the BMW ownership is visible: as in their parent company, in RR they began to offer only black steering wheel. Perhaps you can pay and have it of the same colour of the rest of interiors, but brands less prestigious like Porsche offer this combination directly. In a BMW it's not possible to have the steering wheel of another colour but black (exept some old 7 series). This manufacturing philosophy is contaminating RR, and because of this and a couple of other reasons I think that RR cars are now worse than the ones of 10 years ago. They're becoming cars for Russian or Arab parvenues that need to show off their money instead of cars for the landed gentry with some good taste.
German man burns BMW in protest of high gas prices {Autoblog}
Jun 29th 2008 3:53PM @ jv2k
-With "popular" I meant that there isn't a specific policy to avoid a wide diffusion of cars and trucks with a big engine, wich use lot of gas and increase pollution more than necessary. Taxes would be a possible solution, because through them it is possible to redistribute resources and regulate the demand through market mechanisms. Big engine should be available only to a few people, and (it's sad to admit) the only way to do this is to rise prices through taxes until only a few people can afford a gass-guzzler car.
-About worrying consumers, I think there is no other way. They're actually consuming more than they should, so a governative intervent would be impopular but necessary.
-Transports on wheels actually takes the bigger part of oil consumption.
-The gap between the big three and Japanese/European companies (not every company) in terms of fuel efficiency is quite relevant.
-The American public should become aware that it's privileged and this privilege doesn't have any reasonable economic explanation.
German man burns BMW in protest of high gas prices {Autoblog}
Jun 29th 2008 11:55AM It seems that Europeans manufacturer are doing all the possible efforts to produce cars with better mileage and to reduce the total gas consumption. This happens because in Europe fuel is extremely high-priced (almost the double than in USA), because of taxes.
In Europe only super-riches can afford a big-engined car, because of the high price of the car and of the fuel, but in the States almost everyone can afford a car with a V8 engine that uses more gas than a merchant ship. Does America really need to be that "popular"? What about producing less cheap V8 cars and trucks or charge higher taxes on fuel? It may worry some consumers, but for sure it would help to reduce the chronic oil addiction of the country; it would help to reduce the huge foreign commerce deficit (moreover, oil dollars finance terrorism); it would help to lower CO2 emissions; it would boost the efforts in R&D of American car manufacturers; it would give the nation some additional money (enough to pay an eventual public health service).
In a nutshell, it would help to have a more efficient allocation of scarce resources. But it comes at a cost: consumers would have to change their habits; it may be seen as a sacrifice, but compared to the eventual benefits, doesn't seem that hurting...
America, do you need prices to rise until 10$ per gallon to understand that?
Rendered Speculation: Cobra Venom {Autoblog}
Jun 26th 2008 4:42AM The original had oval lights, wich gave it a lot of personality. Now look at those lights: plain design.
Overall, it seems a re-dressed Viper.
Alfa MiTo GTA confirmed with 230hp {Autoblog}
Jun 24th 2008 7:15PM " Power will come from the company's 1750cc 230hp turbo four, with variable valve timing and direct injection."
Alfa's CEO said that in 80-120 km/h acceleration it will be as fast as the 8c, thanks to the torque available from just 2000 rpm.
in my opinion, this car is gonna be the Cooper S killer.
Details and images surface of new Maserati Quattroporte and Quattroporte S {Autoblog}
Jun 23rd 2008 6:43PM Lexus and BMW cannot be compared to Jaguar, Mercedes and Audi, because the former are stupidly stubborn in offering cars without the option to have steering wheel/dashboard of the same colour of the rest of interiors. Lexus and BMW are simply vulgar...
