Over at the OilDrum.com there is an interesting and potentially disturbing look at Saudi oil production in 2006. Looking at data from a number or different sources (where the exact numbers vary but the trend is definitely the same), crude oil production in Saudi Arabia dropped eight percent in the past year. Although this is not the first time their output has dipped, one interesting graph shows oil production and the number of drilling rigs operating since 2000. The amount of oil pumped has rem

Someone help us understand what's going on here. In the latest episode of Top Gear, Richard Hammon revisits the Ford Shelby GT500 that the British motoring show tested late last year. For comparison's sake, Hammond brings along his own clas

Porsche announced yesterday morning that as early as this year, the automaker's engines will come into compliance with Europe's EU5 guidelines on CO2 emissions,which don't officially go into effect until 2009. More interestingly, they stated that it doesn't end there, as Porsche will be compliant with the even more stringent EU6 requirements at the same time. EU6 isn't set to go live until 2014, putting Porsche well ahead of the curve.

Former Chrysler Group Chief Operating Officer Wolfgang Bernhard (shown above in 2002 with DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche) is apparently taking advantage of his inner circle knowledge of the Auburn Hills-based automaker. In order to keep busy since leaving his post as the head of Volkswagen, Bernhard is reportedly acting as an adviser to one or more of the groups that are contemplating acquiring Chrysler from Daimler. When talk of Magna International making a bid first surfaced a couple of we

UPDATE: Video from Popular Mechanics added after jump

Emily Horgan, Director of the Greaseball Challenge, ready for adventure!

Corn ethanol is largely a boondoggle for large agri-businesses like Archer-Daniels Midland, and aside from the fact that it is domestically produced, the environmental benefits are debatable at best. The question of food or fuel is a whole other question. Ethanol produced from cellulose has the potential produce far greater yields, and can use non-food biomass as feed-stocks. The key to breaking down the cellulose into individual sugar molecules seems to be enzymes.

click on above image to view high-res images of the 2008 Volvo XC70

Looks like the talks between Proton and Volkswagen aren't going as well as they could... again. Both companies have said that talks are continuing, but The Edge business newspaper is reporting that no agreement appears likely in the near future. They reported that VW has been "less keen" about the deal lately. The first round of deal breaking news came in December but things appeared to be back on track since then. Seems like there have been a lot of delays in the negotiations, fueling

click above image to get a closer view of this 1:87 scale 1981 Ford Escort