Recent Comments:
Beijing 2008: From Jeep clones to this? Beijing 700R concept {Autoblog}
Apr 22nd 2008 5:35PM Oh jeez, I was scared when I saw that first pic. At a glance I saw the A, B, and C pillars of the car behind it, and thought it was a giant 3-pillar spoiler. Thank God I was mistaken. That's one trend that I hope doesn't spread from Japan to China.
2009 Buick Lucerne adds the ability to use a fuel that it will likely never use {Autoblog Green}
Apr 21st 2008 9:10PM Whatever GM's intentions in E85-capable vehicles, it's good in the long run. The bigger the market for ethanol, the faster cellulosic ethanol will make it to market in significant quantities.
Subaru worried that RWD coupe could dilute brand {Autoblog}
Apr 21st 2008 8:38PM Subaru is going to be one of the first manufacturers with diesels in passenger cars (obviously behind VW and MB), so their fuel economy should be going up very soon. I see future Subarus utilizing an AWD system with various settings for different conditions: 2WD lock, AWD when slip is detected, and AWD lock. This would allow better fuel economy by reducing rotating mass and mechanical drag when AWD isn't needed. I would also like to see someone do a FWD-based AWD hybrid, with the electric in the rear only. Maybe not Subie, but someone.
McCain calls for summer holiday from federal gas tax {Autoblog Green}
Apr 16th 2008 5:32PM Damn, I'm generally conservative but that's the dumbest thing I've heard in a long time. We have huge national debt. We have 35 mpg CAFE coming up. We should be raising gas taxes and putting the funds into environmental causes. Develop more cheap, lightweight materials and subsidize cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel. Develop our mass-transit infrastructure. Look into that "energy island" idea to produce electricity and distilled water. Pave Michigan's roads with a material other than potholes! I think the best thing we could do would be to put part of the raised tax into fixing Social Security or even just paying it off and ending it. Whatever we do, we are going to have to pay for energy efficiency, and we might as well start now.
Video: Lindsay Campbell asks Hummer owner what the hell he was thinking...? {Autoblog Green}
Apr 16th 2008 5:20PM Too bad there wasn't a Lexus LS600H on there. That'd be funny. You drive a hybrid and get 1/4 the gas mileage of the lady with the 3 cylinder non-hybrid! How do you feel? The Lexus is truly just an image car. GM's full size hybrid SUVs are much more impressive. It's just a shame that you can't get a stripped-out Silverado hybrid on the cheap. Many companies that actually need capable full-size pickups could save tons of money if these were available. Unfortunately, GM is already eating some of the cost on the luxed-up versions. Hopefully the cost of the two-mode system will go down as it spreads throughout the model range. I can't wait to see the two-mode combined with a small diesel!
Also, anyone else think it's funny that they ripped on GM's Hummer when the thing was sponsored by GM's Saturn?
Subaru to stop making Kei Cars {Autoblog}
Apr 16th 2008 4:43PM Why is this such sad news? This move won't affect most consumers directly, since they can find another brand with a fun small car. The biggest problem is that it is a dilution of the Subaru brand, which injects a little STi into each of its cars. The big problem lies down the road, when they can start rationalizing Imprezas and Legacies without boxers and AWD. That is the Toyota way, and I don't want to see Subaru go down that cold, lonely path into high profits.
SPY VIDEOS: Aston Martin DBS on set for Quantum of Solace {Autoblog}
Apr 15th 2008 7:52PM This portrayal of Bond is going to appeal to a much more mature audience than any previous one. This audience has to be interested in the development of Bond's character, even as it takes its course through into traits that are directly opposite his typical self. An audience that can understand that Bond wasn't always a grown up, suave frat boy probably won't need an explanation of the title.
Rendered Speculation: Mazda6 coupe, convertible {Autoblog}
Apr 14th 2008 9:19PM It's a shame that not too many manufacturers are making affordable (20K-ish) coupes anymore...at least 2+2s. With the slowing economy I think more buyers are trying to be more practical with all their major purchases, even if that subconsciously pushes them from a small coupe to a sedan that they don't really need. Cheap 2-seaters will always be around because they are toys, and there will always be rich people who can afford them. 2+2's are more likely to be everyday transportation, so they suffer when the economy suffers.
Charting the changes: MY2009 sees big improvements by GM {Autoblog}
Apr 14th 2008 7:56PM Who really buys a product because they feel sorry for the company producing it? Sure, some people's brand loyalty led them to buy junk without first driving the competition. They got screwed. No one on this whole board has denied that. Chevy even has an ad campaign dissing older Malibus. All anyone has said is that GM is NOW offering very compelling products. No one has said that they expect everyone who got pissed at GM to go straight back to them like an ex girlfriend with self-esteem issues. The truth is that GM now has the quality and excitement to start earning back its old reputation. That's good for every consumer, even import-only buyers, since it means that every other automaker now has to try even harder to earn your buck.
Ford releases specs on new FPV Falcons {Autoblog}
Apr 14th 2008 1:37PM Dear Ford of Australia,
Please send us the Falcon. If you do, we might let you put our blown 5.4L under the hood. If Holden decides they still want to play rough and has Chevy send over an LS9, we might let you have that nice blown Hurricane 6.2 that's in the works. Everybody wins when we play together!
