you'll go broke. This was my father's admonition to my mother whenever she returned from the sales, triumphantly proclaiming she'd saved vast quantities of cash. He was right, of course, the spoilsport. Comparing what you would have have spent with what you actually spent might make you feel better, but the real comparison lies between what you spent and what you can afford. My father's words returned to me as I read  "Lutz: Astra a Huge Cost Saver" [Automotive News, sub]. In this erstwhile piece of automotive journalism, GM Car Czar Maximum Bob Lutz claimed that importing the Opel Astra saved Saturn about $900m in development costs. Given that Lutz admits that GM spent $100m Americanizing the Astra (which didn't stretch to additional cupholders or a center armrest), does this mean it costs GM a billion dollars to develop a compact car? (Someone should tell Telsa.) Also, does the money that GM didn't spend on the Astra figure into the calculations that Maximum Bob uses to assert that the Belgium-built hatchback will generate a profit for his employer? We're talking about a product that will sticker stateside for $15,995 to $18,495 (absent discounts and incentives). Automotive News didn't say. Which is why TTAC has a place in this world. 

OK, so, I called up the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers to chase-up a few loose ends regarding the new Energy Bill headed for the President's John Hancock. Wayde Newton sent over a pdf. I'm bushed (so to speak), so if TTAC's best and brightest can give the Energy Bill the once-over and report their major and minor findings below, I'd consider it an important demonstration of the power of citizen journalism and a bloody great weight off my shoulders. Anyway and meanwhile, Wayde gave me some important insights. It seems the actual calculations that will determine what any given manufacturer's car or truck must achieve mpg-wise is STILL up in the air, headed over to The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) for their boffins to unravel (ravel?). Truth to tell, I was wrong about two key points. First, the bumper sticker– 35mpg by 2020– refers to the entire U.S. auto industry's annual output of both cars and trucks combined. No one manufacturer has to hit that target. They all have to do it together. Second, the new regs will NOT be footprint based. They'll be based on a range of potential "attributes" as determined by NHTSA, that could include engine size, torque, payload, four wheel-drive, towing ability, etc. In other words, the regs will vary by both manufacturer AND vehicle type. And that means that the Energy Bill fuel economy provisions are a nightmare for NHTSA's hard-working bureaucrats and a bit of a con for the average citizen. 

Pistonheads had a chuckle last week when we read that F1 legend Michael Schumacher took the helm of his cab so that he and his family wouldn’t miss their flight home. The retired racer dashed 30 kilometers to the aerodrome in Coburg mit wife and kids in a nine-seat Opel minivan. The exotically named cabbie involved, one Truncer Yilmaz, reported that the journey went pretty much as you'd expect. “He drove at full throttle around the corners and over-took in some unbelievable places.” Cool, eh? According to AFP, the Bavaria police aren't amused; they've begun an official inquest into Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. “That was an offense against the Personnel Transport Act,” the Coburg traffic authority told German tabloid, Bild. “We will have a hearing with the taxi driver to resolve the matter.” (Jackboots at dawn?) Meanwhile, Herr Yilmaz is looking to cash in on his passenger's infamous exploits. In addition to receiving a €100 tip, Yilmaz has put his“Schumi taxi” up for sale.  So far, he claims he has at least ten interested buyers, with one bid in excess of €63k. “I need the money,” the cabbie explained.  “Because of the Schumi-Ride I could be in big trouble with the police.” Stimmt?

I know it sounds like I'm being sensationalistic (perish the thought) and making this up (never!), but there's no other way to interpret NIKE's decision to feature "car jumper" Chris Bryant in a national TV ad set to air at 4pm today (Monday) on the Ellen Degeneres show. The ad, which can be seen HERE, shows Bryant, uh, jumping cars. After jumping cars in shoes of his own design, he says "You know what I'm going to say the next time someone asks me why I do what I do? Why don't you?" Now it should be said that the cars are stationary, but one of them is parked in the middle of a street. And what's the deal with glamorizing such a patently dangerous practice? (Anyone remember what a Lotus Esprit did to a car jumper's foot on Ye Olde That's Incredible!?) The Akron Beacon Journal reports that we're late to the Chris Bryant car jumping hoe-down, as today will mark the former busboy's third appearance on the show. Anyway, we've tried to reach NIKE's press office for comment, but they're out to lunch. And now… they're back. Podcast with Dean Stoyer, U.S. Media Relations Director for NIKE below.

I recently ran into Moose, the famous employee of fabricating-badass Troy Trepanier and his "Rides" show on TLC. After tossing me in their award winning, Ethanol burning, Blowfish Salt Flat race car, Moose clued me into a new toy in Troy's shop: an EPA-blessed, plug n' play E85 conversion kit from Flex Fuel US. The bad news? Its only kosher for Crown Vic enthusiasts (for now). The good news: Troy's shop frequently cranks-up engine timing for extra power (20+ horsies) and marginal fuel economy losses (one to two mpg less) with the corn-fed fuel's 100+ octane rating. Sounds great, provided the government subsidies never run dry.

About nine months ago, a BMW X5 went out drinking with a Scion tC. They had way too much Jose Cuervo and yada yada yada… And since BMW is a traditional Catholic, it didn't have a lot of options. Now after carrying their tequila inspired offspring to term, the X6 has been born. Pictures of this new BMW landed with a dull thud over the weekend as embargoes were broken- yet again- across the web. BMW calls the new arrival a "Sports Activity Coupe," which my Cray supercomputer tells me abbreviates to the unfortunate acronym SAC. Looking at the X6 pictures, it looks like a SAC, what with the SUV body and hideous sloping rear hatchback. There was a time when the term "coupe" meant something. I'm not being idealistic, I'm just confused. Because "coupe" now apparently means jacked-up four-door SUV with a low roofline. The silver lining to this charcoal cloud? The BMW SAC will debut a new engine: a twin turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 with 400 horsepower and 450 ft. lbs. of torque. Considering how heroinific the turbocharged 3.0 liter I6 is, and how fantastic BMW's V8s are, this engine alone will probably make this unfortunate SAC of worthwhile.

U.S.News & World Report believes in editorial transparency. So they've published the methodology they use to rate virtually every new car sold in America. As you'd expect from such a soberly-titled title, the recommendations are based on "hard data and analysis." First, they convert reviews by unnamed "respected auto critics" into a numeric score, using an undisclosed process. Then, they add information "such as safety and reliability data" that's scored and weighted according to an unspecified formula. After that, they combine all the scores and calculate them using a process "based on [unrevealed factors that] consumers say matters to them most in a car." The result? An overall score that allows their editors to compare cars, "ranking them against each other." They do admit that sometimes "the overall score is higher or lower than the component scores we display" because they also consider the "author's level of recommendation or overall impression about the car." OK, to sum up, they arbitrarily assign scores based on their assessment of someone else's assessment, add in their ranking of someone else's safety and reliability data, and out pops a number that may or may not be the final score, based on their author's arbitrary opinion of the vehicle. And that's the truth. [thanks to starlightmica for the link]

I find the current Mitsubishi Eclipse a pretty sharp-looking car– in an entirely swoopy, bulbous kind of way. But I wouldn't drive it again if you paid me. Other than the Chrysler PT Turbo, the 263hp front wheel-drive Eclipse is one of the most torque-steerific cars I've ever driven. I reckon the Eclipse WANTS to throw itself at a tree. Anyway, our man Avarvarii has caught wind of Mitsubishi's RA concept car, set for its world debut at the TTAC-denied North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). "I've seen sketches of that concept and I am confident it is a prelude for the future Eclipse. Therefore in my rendering I used some details from those sketches, blended with the rationalities of a production model. As you can see, the next Eclipse will have a fascia resembling to that of the EVO X, obviously, modified to suit a lower and wider coupe." If Mitsu's still planning on sending the power through the Eclipse's front wheels, I reckon they should make it Aztek ugly to stop luring young drivers to their doom. Just sayin'.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here.]

Automotive News [AN, sub] reports that The Big 2.8 are responding to the general downturn in the U.S. new car market by slashing first quarter production– and beyond! CSM Worldwide says Chrysler will cut factory output by 15 percent, GM will cut production by 10.6 percent and Ford will cut trim throughput by seven percent. Models set for cutbacks include GM's [supposedly] hot selling Lambda crossovers (including the vaunted Buick Enclave), Dodge pickups, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander. Once again, the spinmeisters are blaming the downsizing on their determination to wean themselves off fleet sales. Chrysler CEO Boot'em Bob Nardelli has promised to trim fleet sales from 30 (yes 30) percent down to (just) 20 percent. Meanwhile, the transplants are preparing plans to boost production. And that means Toyota and Honda are about to grab yet more market share from Detroit. "Toyota President Jim Lentz said the company expects to boost U.S. sales 3 percent next year. If industry sales reach 15.6 million units in 2008, Toyota's market share would rise to 17.4 percent… Honda continues to gain share, too. Last week, American Honda Motor Co. President Tetsuo Iwamura told reporters the company expects to boost U.S. vehicle sales 2.5 percent. Assuming industry sales of 15.6 million units, Honda's market share would rise to 10.2 percent." And so it goes.

The LA Times reports a growing rift between supporters of plug-in gas – electric hybrids and fuel cell fans. In fact, it looks like we're headed for pistols at dawn. "Proponents of the two most hyped technologies… are vying for publicity, manufacturer acceptance, favorable regulation and, especially, funding for research and investment in infrastructure and marketing. The battle has been simmering for several years, but with the technologies coming tantalizingly close to commercial reality, the stakes are higher than ever.' And from the Why Can't We Be Friends Department: "'It's just unfortunate that there has to be so much infighting,' said Patricia Monahan of the clean vehicles program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, which calls itself 'agnostic' on which technology holds more promise. 'Sometimes it seems almost personal.'" Seriously. Plug-in hybridistas have taken to calling their rival's technology "fool cells;" claiming the hydrogen production process makes the propulsion system inherently inefficient. Hydrogen hypers counter that batteries can't offer sufficient range, and they get their power from electricity plants that burn fossil fuel. So there, nuh.  

Ours is a global economy. Like water cascading downhill, carmaking naturally flows to those countries providing the optimal combination of exchange rates, natural resources, transportation infrastructure and, of course, inexpensive labor. As a result, the U.S. auto industry now stuffs its cars with Chinese parts and assembles them in South Korea, Mexico, Brussels, Australia and more. While pundits bemoan outsourcing’s effect on America’s blue collar jobs, this internationalization exacts a hidden toll near and dear to pistonheads’ hearts: it erases product personality.

If there's a silver lining to Britain's anti-democratic Oxbridge oligarchy, it's that the class-bound status quo allows the more enigmatic members of the elite to spout fabulously politically incorrect sentiments. To wit: the Torygraph reports that Professor Sir David King, the United Kingdom's outgoing Chief Scientific Adviser (how Mikado is that?), thinks "women must stop admiring men who drive sports cars." Translation: global warming (a theory to which Sir David wholeheartedly subscribes) requires that motorists stop burning petrochemicals for the sheer bloody Hell of it. To that end, babes must stop offering their eggs to carbon profligate males. No really. "I was asked at a lecture by a young woman about what she could do [to save the planet] and I told her to stop admiring young men in Ferraris," he said. Of course, Sir David's sexist castigation represents a fairly quaint not to say Victorian view of the world. Only the United Kingdom's sports car drivers don't quite see it that way. The secretary the Ferrari Owners Club is more than slightly miffed at the suggestion that his members may be melting the polar ice caps. "There are fewer than 5,600 cars made a year by Ferrari," Peter Everingham said. "To suggest Ferraris are a factor in climate change is unhelpful." For whom?

The profusion of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras amongst police forces has given privacy campaigners a tough "sell." How can you explain the possible abuse of a system that simply does a MUCH better job of what cops are supposed to be doing anyway (i.e. checking license plates for stolen vehicles and any outstanding warrants on the driver)? News10 reports that the privacy people may have an easier time fighting ANPR, now that Sacramento's Arden Fair Mall is using the system to scan vehicles entering and exiting its premises. Mall Security Supremo Steve Reed says chill, it's no biggie [paraphrase]. "The information from the cameras would only be shared with Sacramento Police and in those cases, only plate information would be passed on to law enforcement. Other personal information about shoppers, their vehicles or their purchases is not included." Whew! And guess who's footing the bill for these ANPR cameras with their self-enforced privacy limits? You are! "The cameras were paid for by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to help keep a close watch on all the comings and goings at the busy shopping hub." How many other malls have federally-funded ANPR cameras? Can the feds get the info too? TTAC's investigating.

The 2008 Subaru WRX is the U.S. pistonhead's cheap thrills with no frills poster child. Meanwhile, the Impreza. Yes, I know: a Subaru without a turbo is like a Mercedes without automatic climate control, but hey, normal people drive cars too. When you move away from turbo-nutter wastegate wonderland, the word “thrills” takes on a different meaning. Or does it? Sans blower, does the new entry level Impreza have what it takes to tickle the fancy of a wider audience?