Whenever we talk about alternative powertrains in development, some people (this writer included) inevitably say: gasoline and to a lesser extent diesel are past, present, and medium-term future. But a number of sources claim Mercedes Benz is thinking otherwise; they're dumping the need for petroleum-based fuels in their future products in favor of electric, fuel cell, and (yuck) biofuels. Apparently Benz has spent billions of Euros on a "sustainable mobility" plan. According to the UK's Sun, Mercedes plans to spend another $14b or so in the next seven years to further develop the petroleum-free lineup. Will Mercedes give up sales in all the parts of the world in which there is no infrastructure for electric or fuel cell cars? The hedging response: their cars would still be capable of running on gasoline or diesel– meaning that biofuel flex fuel cars would satisfy this wild claim from the British tabloid. Even still, huh?
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We hear reports that Mazda is fueling its growth by stocking American rental companies with product. Normally, this sales strategy is a sure way to run a brand into the ground; to ensure that factories build The Least Objectionable Automobile rather than something inherently worthwhile. Not in this case. In fact, you could say that Ford's Japanese partner has created the world largest, perhaps best demo fleet for the four-cylinder Mazda6i. If you have a choice, make it your default option.
I was shocked the first time I saw the Ferrari 599. Such a sculptural and athletic body with a… Hyundai behind. Why? Why would they drop the iconic rear quad lamps that scream: "Ferrrrarrri!" even more than the exhausts?! Were they bored with it? Or just trying to differentiate those Italian bottoms once and for all from 'Vettes that can reach similar levels of performance these days? Whatever the reason, the only new Ferrari where the single circles seem actually justified is the P4/5, a hardcore racer with minimum elements for road use. Unfortunately the new California also uses the new single rounds lamps; even worse, they also removed the signals and rear white lights from the middle of the block (those are now underneath). I'm not the only one who feels this way; James2 contacted us with a request: "I do wish though that Ferrari (or is it Pininfarina?) would return to quad taillamps. TTAC's Andrei should do a photochop to see the difference an extra pair would make." Well, James, here you go. In addition to the 599, I also did the California with the top down and with the top up to show them how it should look.
A federal district judge has dismissed an auto-industry request to delay implementation of California's new emissions standards. The LA Times reports that the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers' request to delay the 30 percent reduction by 2016 time line was slapped down by Judge Anthony W. Ishii. He ruled the petition was "without support in law, logic, or grammar." (Apparently the grammar police have a grammar court in California.) The shellacking extends the industry's losing streak to three, having already lost battles against California standards in Vermont and Massachusets. But don't count your carbon footprint just yet; California still has to win a lawsuit against the EPA before implementing the new standards. Except that the waiver was denied against "the unanimous recommendation of the (EPA's) legal and technical staffs." That's right, the EPA's own lawyers think they'll be forced to grant California the waiver. In other words, do start counting your carbon footprint. Meanwhile one of the best things about California: you don't have to live there.
Earlier today, GM CEO Rick Wagoner told the world that the automaker has “adequate liquidity” until the end of the year. So I guess no one believed him the first time. Ipso facto. Wagoner’s reassurance came on the same day GM’s stock price sank to a forty-year low. The same day Goldman Sachs recommended that investors run for the hills. No surprise, then, that Wagoner felt compelled to go beyond his previous “we’re good” guarantee. "We have a lot of options to fund beyond that," Wagoner soothed. Unless they don’t. In which case, it’s fork sticking time.
Consumer Reports have a brand-spankety new survey out, and it says that Americans can tell that gas is expensive. Oh yeah, and that they might do something about it. Survey says that four-dollar gas™ has 79 percent of us car-shopping Yanks wanting a "car with better fuel economy," and 74 percent driving less to keep costs down. Even though the respondent-identified $4.32 per gallon "tipping point when drivers would further drastically curtail driving" is only upon those of us on the left coast, a full 80 percent of prospective buyers are considering a "diesel, flex-fuel, or hybrid vehicle." Too bad those numbers aren't broken down between those three very different options. So America has taken notice of pricey gas, but the real question is who do Americans blame? And the answers are as unimaginative as you might expect, with the federal government (77 percent), oil companies (75 percent), foreign oil producers (70 percent), and Middle East conflict (68 percent), taking the rap for pain at the pump. When asked what the feds should do to fix the mess, 90 percent say "increase support for alternative energy development", 84 percent say "negotiate lower prices with oil-exporting nations", 83 percent say "encourage conservation through tax incentives for alternative transportation", while 81 percent want to "allow more drilling in the U.S. and offshore." Interestingly, "Putin-style nationalization of oil firms" and "wholesale invasion of the middle east" weren't polled, suggesting there might not be convenient solutions to scapegoats number two, three and four.
CTVNews.com reports that, starting in 2012, any production overflow of Porsche's Boxster and Cayman models will be handled by Magna-Steyr's automotive plant in Graz, Austria. Porsche AG chose Magna "because it submitted the most financially attractive offer, and because it is in a position to take on development tasks for Porsche sports cars." Porsche will continue to build the engines that go into these cars, but Magna will chip in where possible synergies can be found. CTV notes that Ontario-based Magna is already a major supplier to Porsche. Before you worry about Boxsters not feeling German, Porsche already has an agreement in place with Finnish company Valmet for Boxster/Cayman capacity (which expires in 2012). At least they speak German in Austria, right?
Our own Jonathan Locker has wondered aloud whether big brother-like aspects of remotely-monitored telematics systems make them worthwhile. But even the Gadsen Flag crowd might be tempted to allow a spy in the trunk if it means saving up to 60 percent on car insurance. The Wall Street Journal documents how insurance companies like Progressive and GMAC Insurance are using telematics to determine customers driving styles– and offer discounts or surcharges accordingly. The Progressive self-reported (non-GPS) mileage program is currently offered in Michigan, Minnesota and Oregon. A staggering 34 percent of customers in those markets have been using the system to save money since 2004. GMAC's program is tied to GM's OnStar system; it costs $199 to $299 after a 12 month free introductory period. But with up to 54 percent in "good driver" discounts available, GMAC reports a 200 percent rise in subscriptions since last year. But these discounts are only available if telematics tell your insurance company that you use your gas and brake pedals within their "safe use" parameters. Brake too hard, drive to many miles, or drag race someone at a stop light and you could be looking at up to nine percent surcharges.
Does it sound like a good idea to advertise the new Lancia Delta in the U.K. by showing Richard Gere frolicking with some Buddhist monks from Tibet? Odd? Certainly. Cute? Maybe. Problematic? Well yes, if you dislike the kind of lefty vegetarian sanctimonious Hollywood type Gere represents (which I don't). But could this spot really be a reason to apologize? Just-Auto [sub] reports that upon hearing of cockamamie protests from Beijing, Fiat kowtowed to the dictators in the People's Republic. "Fiat Group reiterates its neutrality in connection with any political matter, be it on a national or international basis. To the extent that the Lancia Delta advertising may give rise to misinterpretations of its well established position of neutrality, Fiat Group extends its apologies to the Government of the People's Republic of China and to the Chinese people." Yes, it hurts the Chinese Government's feelings that the pro-Tibet Gere is shown in some vaguely positive way in Tibet, or something. And it dismays us that Fiat, a car maker on the ascent, apparently didn't know what it was doing when it OK'd this ad, and obviously doesn't have a pair.
Yes folks, it's Ford-GM merger rumor time again! This time, Business Week reports that GM execs recently mused aloud about the prospects of a merger with FoMoCo. According to "sources briefed on one of the meetings," the idea never made it past the "banter" stage. Dismissing mental images of executives "bantering" while their company burns, it's obvious that this idea is as wrong as you can possibly be without being even slightly right. Sure, Ford and GM's cratering market share means they'd have no problem dealing with antitrust regulators. Sure a Ford-GM Axis of Angst might prompt some generous federal handouts. But they'll get those anyway. And these two companies' combined debt is larger than Mexico's national debt. Literally. So, this bone-headed idea isn't going to go any farther than it did back in 2006 , when GM's Fritz Henderson met with Ford's Don LeClair to discuss a possible merger. So… will the GM executive/board member who suggested this idea please stand up? We have an award for which you will be nominated.
TTAC has finally broken through the 600k unique visitors per month barrier again (606,569 as of today). Our page views are also looking healthy: 2,018,749 per month. And visitors are spending an average of 4:58 hereabouts. This is a most gratifying result– especially after the huge dip incurred during our most recent site instability issues (a.k.a. daily crashes). My thanks to the technical team for sorting that shit out, and, of course, to TTAC's ME and writers for slogging away through thick and thin. With a bit of luck and the wind in the right direction, we'll keep building from here. (We might even have a photo gallery before Christmas.) At the moment, we're still ironing-out a few kinks. Your patience is most appreciated. And it may be required again; the prospect of our switch to the new WordPress platform leaves me as nervous as a Gloucester teen during her first pregnancy test. High five! Anyway, we've had a nice, slow, steady growth of new registrations lately. So I want to welcome the newbies to TTAC. You couldn't have come at a better time (said the actress to the Bishop). It's gonna be a wild time in the industry for the forseable future. I'm honored to share it with you. Thanks.
Fresh from their closed door meeting– which included Ford CEO Alan Mulally– presidential hopeful Barack Obama and GM CEO Rick Wagoner took the stage at Carnegie Mellon University to discuss federal handouts. As reported by The Detroit News, Barack set 'em up. "How do we shape our energy future in a way that allows GM to remain competitive, keeps some of the best workers in the world on their jobs [some?] and generates profits for the company and shareholders?" GM's jeffe knocked 'em down. "Wagoner sounded a note of optimism," the DeN notes. "Noting GM's plan to introduce the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt by 2010 and more advanced research on hydrogen fuel-cells. But he said the researchers developing batteries for hybrids and taking hydrogen power from the lab to the highway need federal research money. And he asked for government help to offset the high costs of newer technologies for consumers — aid that traditionally has come in the form of tax credits." "We need to provide some support to make sure these new technologies are affordable to consumers," Wagoner said. Anything else? "Wagoner suggested that the carmakers' 'relatively weak balance sheets' make it difficult for them to make the large capital investments needed to shift production lines to new vehicles." So that "we" is "we the people." As in you. And your tax dollars. To GM. To pay for them to make better cars. In case you hadn't figured that out.
The day is here. TTAC is hosting its first ever meet-up event. Farago can't make it down from RI due to his beloved Sam's dental work, but I'll be there with Road Test Editor Captain Mike Solowiow, along with two Bentleys for you to peruse (cruise?). We're getting started around 7pm. As I'm studying for the NY bar exam is my alternative, I'll be there for quite a while. (If you're unsure of our appearance, I'll be holding a Sunday Times under my left arm drinking a vodka gimlet. Mike will be wearing a G-suit and spats.) Yes, there will be other events held around the country, with greater advance notification. Meanwhile, for those who make it tonight, Mike and I will be able to answer all your questions about the website, including:
-What was the story about TTAC writers, the giraffe, and the Ferrari Enzo in the South of France?
-Did Sajeev Mehta really tune a Lincoln Continental to make 1200 horsepower?
-What is it like working in such a large office building?
-The time Justin was the victim of an assault and battery by Honda employees (that one is real)
Date and Time: Thursday, June 26, 7PM to whenever.
Where: Peter McManus Cafe, 152 7th Ave at 19th st. Close to subways: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, F, V, L Google maps link.
As part of its Great Five Year Plan For Great Leap Beyond Carbon Economy, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will require "Environmental Performance" labeling for all new cars sold in the state, starting in 2009. "Consumer choice is an especially powerful tool in our fight against climate change," CARB chair Mary Nichols insists. We'll gladly concede labels are a far less draconian approach than what one might otherwise expect from an unelected environmental agency with a broad mandate and an $800m budget. But if CARB really wants to give its labels a fighting chance, they should ditch the laissez-faire and mandate permanent labels. That must be visible from twenty yards. Then they could decriminalize keying vehicles which score below a four on "Smog" and "Global Warming." And casual observers wouldn't have to look up your eco-friendly car's EP score at driveclean.ca.gov. Especially when that website is "temporarily down for maintenance," as it was at the time of writing.
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