Jim McGreen wanted to make some money in a green business. A craftsman-like mechanic, he had success making and selling electric bicycle kits out of his Alameda garage. Like so many others, he thought electric vehicles (EVs) were the obvious answer to pollution and expensive fossil fuels. In 1992, McGreen founded ZAP (Zero Air Pollution) Power Systems. But he needed more capital. 

Detroit News columnist Scott Burgess has picked-up the proverbial pom-poms on the Chevy Volt's behalf, cheerleading with Nietzschean abandon. "To the hundreds of people working double shifts around the world to make the Volt a reality, every disparaging comment is fodder for the bulletin board. It doesn't defeat them, it inspires them. Somehow, one of the world's largest automakers, facing declining market share, especially in the United States, has a new-found swagger." While it's nice to know that our Volt Birth Watch is doing its bit to help General Motors git 'er done, the word "swagger" sets off that big honking air-horn buzzer they use for basketball games. And if that doesn't do it, GM PR is pushing GM Car Czar Bob Lutz' "challenges of success" story line TTAC identified at its New York Auto Show infiltration: "Thousands more problems could creep up as one solution presents another obstacle. For example, in a car that may not run its gas engine for months at a time, how would GM design it to withstand long periods not running. That also means the gas tank would need special attention to handle fumes normally burnt off by running the engine. 'It's a good problem to have,' Gray said." Meanwhile… "'If I was preparing to produce this car by 2010, I'd be picking out the wood grain on the dashboard by now, not still working on the battery,'" Bill Reinert, national manager of Toyota Motor Corp.'s advanced technology group, told the Los Angeles Times."[thanks to RobKubler for the link]

Car thieves take note: your Grail has arrived. Motor Authority reports somewhere out there exists a platinum and diamond Spirit of Ecstasy. Where you ask? Dunno. See, the new Rollers feature a retractable hood ornament so as to spoil your pilfering plans. Of course we would guess that with a little ingenuity (and a crowbar) an enterprising and upwardly mobile thief could determine if a particular Rolls contained said ornament. Commissioned by Manhattan Motorcars as a, "tribute to the car itself," the dictionary definition of gaudy costs a cool $200,000 — about half the price of a Phantom. One way to think of such an expenditure is as an investment — precious metals are only getting more and more valuable. Another way is as a testament to the power of the capitalist system, and the shocking fact that the poor haven't strung the rich up by their own guts. Yet.

BMW expects the U.S. to be their largest market for the X6 whatever-it-is when it goes on sale at the end of May for $52.5k. What this says about the tastes of the American car-buying public isn't quite clear but they're predicting half of the 40k annual production will find a home here. The next-largest markets will be the UK and Germany, which combined will only total about 10% of production. So who do they think will buy this… thing? Customers with astigmatism "who want a high-ride vehicle like an SUV but also sporty, coupe-style looks," according to Automotive News [sub]. The last time anyone attempted combining the two, we got the AMC Eagle SX-4 . Of course, there are those who would buy a Tata Nano if they stuck a BMW badge on it, so they probably won't have any problem unloading every one of these sedan/coupe/hatchback/crossover/SUV mish-mashes they build.

I'll give TTAC's Canadian readers the bad news first: As the summer driving season approaches, gas prices in Canada are nearing record highs established in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The good news? CTV reports that a recent ruling in Ontario has reversed a ticket issued to a Montreal artist who was charged with driving in unsafe car through downtown Toronto. Michel De Broin took his 1986 Buick, removed the engine, suspension, gearing, electrical systems and floorboards and replaced it all with tea-candles for headlights and a "shared propulsion" pedalling system, where all passengers in the car can contribute to its advancement by pedalling (top speed is 15 km/h, or about 9 mph). Justice Patrick Marum ruled that the Crown had failed to prove the car was dangerous, and the charges of operating an unsafe motor vehicle that De Broin faced were summarily dropped. Take that, Tata! If this ruling sets a precendent, Canada has moved ahead in the race to bring legal, zero-emissions cars to North America.

The first time GM attempted to create a BMW 3-Series fighter, we got the Cadillac Cimarron. After 27 years of trying again (and again and again) to take on the rear-wheel drive driver's car, we've got a rebadged Australian import that goes by the name Pontiac G8. No question: the G8 is a far better automobile than the Cimarron (what modern car isn't?). But it's still no 3-Series. Frankly, it's not clear what it is.

In GM Death Watch 171, Mr. Farago contends that GM suffers from corporate-grade Attention Deficiency Disorder (ADD). He’s probably right. However, some ADD may be a good thing, if not a necessity, in an automobile company’s culture. Any carmaker operating in this period of uncertainty– recession, 25 percent higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, high fuel prices, CO2 emission concerns, and more– would be foolish NOT to invest the time and energy into developing as many alternative solutions as possible.

Speedtrapped.com and tripleblaze.com (among others) have offered maps of reported speedtrap locations for some time, but it seems the war on speeding tickets has gone mobile. A new "Speed Trap Sharing System," going by the uninspired name of "Trapster," offers live updates of local speed traps (as reported by users) sent to a free smartphone program as well as your Google MyMaps account.  You can report speedtraps anonymously, and receive mobile alerts when you drive near a reported trap, possibly giving you a drop on Johnny Law. The boys in blue don't even mind so much, creator Pete Tenereillo tells AP Wired News, because the mobile service "inevitably encourages drivers to slow down." No word from any actual cops yet. If this is all sounding a bit fawning, keep in mind that the system is still in beta testing. As of this writing, the Trapster front page has a notice reading "A message to our users: Service troubles, our most sincere apologies…" If they can fix the bugs though, and keep it free… this could be pretty cool. (Hat Tip: El Jalop)

There's an interesting discussion taking place below the 2011 Audi A3 post from earlier today. I mentioned that for the money (figure right near $40K), I'd take a Subaru STI as opposed to an up-kitted A3 even with the V6, the AWD and the DSG. One of the main reasons is that when you boil the small Audi down, you're left with a VW Golf. Er, Rabbit. However, many of you argue, "so what?" And, as there are no stupid questions, so what indeed? Who cares what underpins the car. The A3 is (somehow) more than a Golf with a nice interior. By that logic, what was wrong with the Cadillac Cimarron? I'm being serious. GM took their basic economy car (Chevy Cavalier), added some leather and slapped some gold badges on the back. Pretty much what Audi does when turning a Rabbit into an A3. Yet one works, and one doesn't. I wonder why? You?

GM is stuck in an HR revolving door, as it rehires previously laid-off workers to fill spots vacated by employees who are taking buyout packages. The Free Press reports that the latest switcheroo is taking place at Lansing's Delta Township plant, where workers who lost their jobs when the third shift was axed in January are being called back to work. The shift had been closed due to parts shortages for the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook crossovers, but workers who lost their jobs could be back at the plant by June. The number of rehires depends on the number of current employees who accept buyouts. "It's really hard to say how many that will be," says Doug Rademacher, president of plants UAW Local. "I've got to believe it could be a few hundred." Rehiring laid off workers is the right thing to do morally, but with the division of core/non-core jobs still under negotiation in the new two-tier wage scheme, it remains to be seen how much money all this three-card Monte actually saves GM.

Ferraristi of the subcontinent rejoice! Come 2010, Indians won't have to go to Singapore to put a prancing horse in their garage, says The Economic Times, as the Scuderia should be in-country by then. Earlier reports had Ferrari pegged to enter the market this year, but there's still work to do. So says Gabriele Lalli, head of Magic India Discover, Ferrari SpA, a curiously-named publicity tour of the subcontinent, which is currently showcasing Ferrari's exquisite 612 Scaglietti Grand Touring model. "(Ferrari) needs to set up a sales and marketing network in India," says Lalli. "For us, customer satisfaction is of prime importance. Hence, we will also have to take care of these aspects before we enter India." Currently only 36 'rrari's. all of which have been specially imported. regularly prowl India's roads.  Fiat, who owns the legendary brand, already has a presence in India, building the Fiat Palio in a joint venture with Tata Motors. Incidentally, India's purchasing-power-adjusted per-capita income of about $4,500/year means the average Indian will only have to save for about 45 years to afford a new "entry-level" Ferarri 430. Sounds worth it to us

Auto Motor Und Sport reports that Toyota boss Katsuaki Watanabe has told German TV that his company will decide by the end of the year whether or not to introduce an entry-level model for the developing world. Watanabe revealed that Toyota has been working for two years now on development of the entry-level model, but that more work has yet to take place. "Success in developing markets like Brazil, Russia, India and China are the keys to growth for the entire industry," says Watanabe-san. He sees developing markets as an issue of decisive importance to the industry on par with the environment, energy and safety. The "interplay of cost and quality" is the major unresolved issue in the proposed entry-level car, meaning we don't yet know if ToMoCo has the Tata Nano in its sights, or if it is aiming higher to protect the brand's reputation for quality. We'll be watching.

Legendary automotive atelier Bertone has fallen on hard times, having filed for for bankruptcy protection back in November. Now Automotive News [sub] tells us the gentlemen callers from the world over are lining up, hoping to buy the Bertone name, assets and cachet. Automotive News (sub) says that automakers FAW from China, and Mahindra from India, as well as Italian suppliers DR Motor, and German engineering firm PCL Group join former Bertone rival Italdesign in the bidding war. Bertone was responsible for some of the most influential designs in automotive history, having penned Lambo's Miura, Espada, Countach and Diablo,  the Ferrari 250 Lusso, the Lancia Stratos and many others. Just how much wedge (sorry) it will take to buy up the design firm remains to be seen. We will go out on a limb and say that of all the competing firms, FAW probably needs a little Bertone styling magic the most. Lets just hope ol' Giovanni Bertone's grave has been properly spin-proofed.

While Japanese automakers try desperately to get more consumers into cars, other businesses are teaming up with police to lure senior citizens out of their vehicles. Reuters (via Yahoo News) reports that businesses are offering everything from higher interest rates at banks to free deliveries and meal discounts to seniors who voluntarily renounce their driving privileges. The effort comes as Japanese police try to curb the 100k accidents caused last year alone by Japan's massive over-65 population. "Have the courage to give up your licence," the police say on their website. "If you have lost confidence in your driving … if your family says they are worried about you driving … please think about handing in your license." I wonder if it would work here. Anything to get another stuck-at-40mph LeBaron off the road, eh?

By now you might have heard from Autoblog or Edmunds' Inside Line the shocking, incredible news that Mercedes is developing a blown 4-banger in the C-Class for sale here in the U.S. I say good. Apparently some "other" blogs have forgotten that Mercedes has, until this latest generation, always offered a 4-cylinder engine in the C-Class in the U.S. The last generation had a supercharged 1.8 and a supercharged 2.3 at different times. Before that there was the C230 Kompressor in the first-generation C, as well as the C220 and C230. And of course the original baby Benz, the 190E was named for its little 4 pot, as well as the 190E 2.3. So now that we've got the history out of the way, is this a smart business idea? Hell yes. Buyers of entry luxury cars tend to be wary of running costs — that include fuel consumption — and then there's the importance of appeasing the CAFE gods. Not to mention,there's something nice about a luxury car focused on ride, rather than keeping up with the Joneses (and the Hondas). If/when it debuts, expect the blown 1.4 liter to make 150-170 horses and to come with Benz's 7-speed auto.