Recent Comments:
Tesla Saga continues: When is production car #2 not? {Autoblog Green}
May 12th 2008 6:01PM Martin, I did indicate in the article that the car with VIN 3 was originally built as one of the pre-production cars. Looking at it may not have been entirely clear what the timing of the build was. It was indeed originally built well before your car was started and then retrofitted with an updated powertrain at some point after March 17.
Your tax dollars at work: Border guards hold up traffic to check out Challenger {Autoblog}
May 11th 2008 8:19PM It's built at Chrysler's Brampton Ontario plant along with the other LX platform vehicles. That's the CEO of Chrysler Canada was driving it
Ask Engadget: What's the best 40- to 50-inch HDTV with PC inputs? {Engadget}
May 8th 2008 9:15PM The 42" Vizio VS42L has a great picture, 1080p, 2 HDMI, 2 component, s--video, 2 composite and an VGA connector. I bought one at Costco a few weeks ago for $999, couldn't be happier. Hooked up laptop and updated the video driver and 1920x 1080 works great.
Fiat 500 billboard in Berlin talks back {Autoblog}
May 8th 2008 8:08PM It's possible the domain was hijacked
Are Hypermilers a menace on the road? {Autoblog Green}
May 8th 2008 10:12AM Roger, we are not advocating wasting energy. If you actually read past the headline (something far too few commenters seem to be willing to do) you would see that I was only commenting on the potential risks of such driving behavior especially in traffic. Trying to maximize fuel efficiency doesn't give a driver carte blanche to be a safety hazard. Just be aware of surroundings.
German transmission builder ZF producing hybrid motors for Mercedes {Autoblog Green}
May 7th 2008 9:20PM Actually Kevin they are doing both. Daimler and BMW are part of the group developing the two-mode hybrid system along with GM and Chrysler. Mercedes first two-mode application will be in the ML class and BMW will install it in the X6 both in 2009.
More information on GM's new light duty diesel V-8 {Autoblog Green}
May 6th 2008 7:20PM Ernest, it's highly unlikely any Hummer is going to get 60mpg no matter what kind of diesel you put in it. The horrible aerodynamics, and high weight just don't make that a realistic proposition. As for a diesel H3, that's probably at least two years away. The h2 will be first.
First new VW Jetta TDIs now in transit to U.S. dealers {Autoblog Green}
May 6th 2008 6:22PM I never meant to imply there was a problem with starting any hybrids in cold weather. They always started up with out issue. The problem was strictly with the hybrid functionality in those conditions. In cold weather, I've found diesels to be much more consistent in performance and fuel efficiency than hybrids.
First new VW Jetta TDIs now in transit to U.S. dealers {Autoblog Green}
May 6th 2008 1:34PM Karkus, my experience with two different Toyota hybrids and the Chevy Tahoe (all with batteries closer to 300lbs than 100) was that even trips of up to 20 miles were often not sufficient to get the hybrid system to even auto-stop much less drive in EV mode when temperatures were cold. If all heaters and accessories are turned off and the engine still doesn't shut down when the vehicle is stopped, that tells me the hybrid system is ineffective in these conditions. Regardless of whether the battery is the issue (which corresponds to what I've heard from automaker engineers) or something else in the system, it doesn't matter. The system still doesn't help.
First new VW Jetta TDIs now in transit to U.S. dealers {Autoblog Green}
May 6th 2008 1:07PM I drove several different diesels over the course of a very cold winter here in Michigan and all performed flawlessly even when parked outside overnight. Unfortunately the same could not be said for the hybrids I tried in similar conditions. When temps dipped below 40 degrees, the NiMH batteries became dead weight.
