Psychologists tell us it's important to vent, so every so often I have to clear the air and discuss what really grizzles my gristle. I can't take it anymore, and it's possible– even likely– that I'm not alone on this. So, without further ado, you know what really grinds my gears?

There isn't a whole lot to say here. Daihatsu has just revealed a special trim edition of its "Move" Kei car, calling it the Move Conte. To this writer at least, it sounds like something that a rapper would yell at other cars out the window of his Escalade. Or, in the words of one forum commenter, "What cupid stunt thought this was a good name?"

Sean Connery's Bond, James Bond, would punch you in the face while kissing your girlfriend. His Aston Martin DB5 was beyond cool. By the 1990s, Bond drove a range of product placement-mobiles, and Astons looked like Jaguars (and vice versa). While devastatingly quick, Astons handled like trains. And then the Vanquish, DB9 and V8 Vantage restored a sense of dignity. But– the Vantage's 4.3-liter V8 stumped-up "only" 380 hp. When critics questioned, Aston did the English version of flipping them off: nodded their collective head and shrugged their shoulders. But now, finally, Aston unleashes the 2009 Vantage with a 4.7-liter V8. Power jumps from 380 to 420. Torque is up, and the dashboard is new. I recently exercised the convertible version, the Vantage Roadster, for a few hours on a sun-drenched day to see if Bond's whip is suitably… nasty.

Larry Webster at Car and Driver (C&D) noticed a marked performance difference between some of the five Nissan GT-Rs the mags' reviewers had driven (in case you were wondering, Berkowitz' GT-R count is zero). Suspecting "a ringer," the eds decided to stick the uber-Nissan on a dyno. The Godzilla press car was making 420 horsepower at the wheels. Using an estimate of 20 percent loss, the buff book reckoned the GT-R produced 519 horsepower at the crank. This is, of course, based on that assumption (despite Nissan's claims) that the GT-R has unusually low crank-to-wheel power loss. The carmaker attributed the difference between published and actual hp to "early build" cars' varying computer software programming. Translation: Nissan sent out ringers so that C&D, Edmunds, and the other buff books could trumpet "GT-R DOES 0-60 IN 1.1 SECONDS!" As most of us won't be driving a GT-R, the car's PR importance vastly outstrips the importance of honesty, consistency and integrity. Obviously. And this renews questions (raised at the time by TTAC and others) about the validity of the "production" GT-R's Nürburgring record-setting lap time.

Back in March at the New York Auto Show, Brian Shipman of Pontiac told me that the G8 ST (Sport Truck) – a direct import of the Australian Holden Ute – would not offer a V6. It made sense, as this was a glamour truck rather than a work vehicle. Since they figured 40 – 50-year-old guys would just buy them fully loaded (the car, not the middle-aged buyers), it didn't make sense to offer cheaper, lower-spec versions. They'd never be as cheap as a two-wheel drive, four-cylinder compact truck. So a done deal – V8 only? Nope. GM confirmed today that they WILL be building a V6 version of the G8 ST for the American market, because of the whole gas price thing. Except that in the sedan, the V6 returns essentially the same mileage as the V8. So, uh… The good news: the V6 for both the ST and G8 sedan will be the 3.6-liter direct injection V6 with 304 horsepower from the Cadillac CTS and upcoming Camaro. That's really nice and all, but c'mon, I still want the V8. At least we know GM is still interested in driving any of its credibility into the ground by faking-out their remaining customers.

Thanks to Kia-World.net (those fellas are supremely on top of their Kia game), we can have a good look at the interior of the new Forte sedan. The Forte, you might recall, is Kia's upcoming entry into what used to be called the compact class, alongside cars like the Civic, Corolla, and Mazda3. The Forte's exterior design is sharp, albeit derivative. And now we can see a nice, clean interior (at least until the kids get inside). None of this is especially groundbreaking, but that's now how Kia operates. Now, so, why does Hyundai– the mainstream luxury brand– get the rear wheel-drive sedans and coupes while Kia– the youthful sporty brand– has front wheel drivers like this? Answers on a post card below.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) is serving-up some more PC for your PC. The just-launched www.EcoDrivingUSA.com tells you how to drive your car like an old man. "Drivers don't have to wait to buy a new, fuel-efficient vehicle to start reducing fuel costs and CO2," AAM CEO Dave McCurdy insists. "Though I do encourage everyone to buy one of our new fuel-efficient vehicles immediately." But seriously folks, this is a classic deflection strategy. Or, if you prefer, it's blaming the victim. The Governator is the site's plastic surgery-intensive spokesman for the politically shape-shifting carmakers. Ahnold speaks from experience when he says we "can't wait for the politicians to take action." Yup, it's up to you (that's you) to properly pressurize your damn tires already, and hypermile yourself to a 15 percent savings on your gas bills. In fact, if we all eco-drove, we could save enough energy to power Skynet for 1000 years. Or something like that. 

Ford's been talking about Ecoboost since around the time of the Crimean War. And now, finally, we can bring you some definitive information. First, it's going to be a $700 option – which is paltry as automotive options go, to say nothing of engine options that run into the thousands. Second, the first FoMoCo forray in Eco-Boostland will deliver a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. The blown powerplant should make well over 300 horsepower in vehicles like the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS. Both could use a serious dose of tire-shredding power. Ford is also planning to Eco-Boost the F-150. Automotive News reports the variant will make more than 340 horsepower, 340 ft lbs of torque. The savings in gas is approximately 20 percent versus a V8 engine – keeping in mind that Ford's V8 engines actually makes less than 340 horsepower. Speaking of which, where does this leave Ford's V8 engine program? I'm not sure, but I can tell you with certainty that (1) a 340 horsepower twin-turbo V6 Mustang would be pretty phenomenal and (2) Ford is still going to need some V8 engines for image if nothing else. Especially in the 'Stang.

Infiniti has tried to play Terminix to BMW's Bavarian Cockroach 3-Series. For the most part, the Japanese automaker's done a fine job. To keep up with the Bimmer's new turbocharged engine (that makes some unknown amount of horsepower over 300), Infiniti is kicking-up the power and displacement of their VQ V6. The G sedan now gets the same 3.7-liter V6 as the coupe, pounding out some 330 horsepower. The optional automatic (don't fret – 3rd pedal is standard) now jumps to seven forward gears. And an all wheel-drive version will also be available. In other Infiniti news, there's an official photo of the upcoming G37 convertible as well. It seems that they were peeved at how nasty most of the amateur photochops looked, so they put out a picture of the real deal. Just on the basis of the one picture, I think it looks fine, if a little too Solara convertible. The G unit's got the classic four-seat convertible big caboose, and the rear deck isn't as flat as the convertible 3-Series. The folding hardtop G37 will be revealed at the LA Auto Show in September.

Toyota put out a press release today, in the form of a Detroit News article, declaring their intention to conquer the globe's luxury car sales. In Europe, where Lexus is fighting uphill, sales have grown. And in Japan, where Lexus is also not-so-very-popular, sales have not. Nevertheless, the Toyota luxo brand is going to keep up the fight. And how are they going to accomplish this lofty goal of global domination? With Pebble Beach special editions, of course! For the first time EVER, Lexus will offer an LS600h L "with a Truffle Mica exterior paint combined with an exclusive two-tone Alabaster and Black leather trim interior with Dark Grey Bird's-eye maple wood trim." Sounds like a kitchen. Lexus is also doing a sixth annual Pebble Beach edition SC430 coupe. Having spent the day driving one yesterday, all I can say is that it needs a lot more than fancy paint. This coming year was supposed to be the end of the road for the SC430; Lexus was going to "replace" it with the LF-A sports car (don't ask – I know they are 100 percent different). But with the LF-A program being canceled or at least indefinitely paused, the SC430 may soldier on. The horror.

I'm not a fan of the Ferrari California. I think it's a concession to the brand's "image buyers." And while valet parking poseurs are the bread and butter for all exotic car crafters, the California is a folding tin roof too far. That said, the California V8's audio clips are pure gold. But the "Virtual Test Drive" posted on the Ferrari California mini-site is a joke. As a collaboration with Gran Turismo, it's a less-than-merely-adequate preview of both car and game. The production values are game industry low (tail wag my ass). There is no car sound, no engine sound, and the actual clips are too short and obscure the California's actual appearance. Worst of all, the soundtrack was lifted straight from some God awful presentation at a 1999 computer software convention. This car just gets more disappointing by the day. Until, of course, I drive it.

In the past five years, Volkswagen has had its pants around its ankles. Gas tripled in price, Al Gore invented the environment and the brand once known for frugality didn't have U.S. products that could compete on fuel economy. Volkswagen’s diesel-powered Jetta and Passat weren't even legal in VW-friendly California, NY and Massachusetts. After miles of regulatory legwork, VW brought one of its new generation European diesels up to fifty-state compliance. The Jetta 2.0 TDI hits dealers this fall. So is it The One?

Memo to car manufacturers: naming contests don't work, except to grind my gears. It didn't work for Alfa Romeo, who had to ignore contest results for the car we now know as the MiTo (fan chosen name was Furiosa). And now General Motors has revealed that the production name of the Pontiac G8 ST concept – a "sport pickup" version of the Australian Pontiac G8 – will be the Pontiac G8 ST. Jalopnik's Jalops went so far as to hand out buttons calling for an El Camino revival. While that moniker might not have been GM's best call– it's a Chevy name– neither is G8 ST. Then again, with the G8 ST being a niche within a niche, big diff (no LSD implied). The name choice really does show, however, GM's incredible ability to minimize the impact of a car when it comes to market– especially one they've been talking up for the last twenty-some years. This really smacks of the Astra: an overseas product that car lovers craved that GM eventually pushed it into the corner. Same with the Commodore-cum-G8 (at least that one got a few TV commercials). And when it goes on sale in late 2009 (another year wait? are they kidding?), the G8 ST sport truck is likely to be yet another victim of GM's monumental ADD.

Actually, we're not sure what number Tesla Roadster is chronicled here. But a private and likely very well off citizen in California has procured one and put a video of himself driving it on Ye Olde YouTube. What we can see from the video is: (1) The carbon fiber hood is very light and (2) mother of god, it's quick. A confidential source confirms that the customer paid sticker ($120k) for his lithium-ion-powered automotive trinket. No word on recharge time or range in the video. (As this guy's stable probably includes a fleet of slick cars, I doubt it's of very much consequence.) Now, if Tesla can just amp-up production, not "fad out," keep costs under control (have you seen that showroom?), raise more money, build a more profitable product and fend off competitors, we can take them off the Death Watch. [hat tip to Jonny Lieberman]