LEWIS, TUNDRA, SOLO MERCURY

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, last year's runner-up in Formula 1, was fined about €800 for driving over 120mph (190+km/h) in a 80mph (130km/h) zone. His Mercedes was confiscated and his license suspended.

He will be permitted to test his McLaren racer. In fact, Lewis can drive anywhere except France, where, for one month, Lewis isn't permitted behind the wheel.

Poor fella. Ironically, former F1 champion Michael Schumacher, a man widely considered to be a potential candidate for best driver ever, is under investigation for an exciting taxi ride through Munich last week. Schumi figured he could get his family to the airport faster than cab driver Tuncer Yilmax. So, that's what Schumi did, giving his family and Mr. Yilmax the ride of their lives. They made their flight, but German police don't like the fact that Michael broke the law. You're not allowed to commandeer taxicabs. Whatever.

MotorTrend has named the Toyota Tundra its truck of the year. Don't be too hard on MT for picking a truck that was just named in a recall (a recall that doesn't include any accidents or injuries). Afrer all, what truckmaker hasn't come under a recent recall?

Silly I know, but Mercury was, until recently, selling cars at Mercury-only dealerships. The last such store, Community Motor in Pennsylvania, just closed its doors. Community Motor sold new Mercury's for 57 years, but their best yearly total was way back in 1989.

Also, just minutes ago, the "35mpg by 2020" bill in the United States Congress passed and will head for the ballpoint pen of George W. Read this for more info on the bill.

CANADA'S ecoAUTO REBATE

The Government of Canada's initiative to put more people into fuel efficient vehicles by giving them money sees a rearranging of models for year 2008. The list, with the cashback value, is below.

$2000
Toyota Prius
Honda Civic Hybrid
smart fortwo (coupe and convertible)
Ford Escape Hybrid (front and all-wheel drive)
Saturn Vue Hybrid

$1500
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Nissan Altima Hybrid
Toyota Highlander Hybrid

$1000
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Yaris (hatch and sedan)
Mini Cooper (and Clubman)
Honda Civic (coupe and sedan)
Honda Fit
Lexus RX400h
Jeep Compass (2.0L w/CVT and 2.4L manual tranny)
Jeep Patriot (2.0L w/CVT and 2.4L manual-tranny)
Chevrolet HHR
Nissan Rogue

FLEX FUEL VEHICLES $1000
Chevrolet Impala
Dodge Avenger
Chrysler Sebring

$0.33 PER GALLON

586 gallons of fuel were bought at a Wisconsin gas station where the pump attendant accidentally set the price at ¢33. During the 105 minutes of the "BIG SALE", 42 people stopped in to swipe their cards at the pay-at-the-pump system.

The fuel was supposed to cost $3.299, but without that final 9, the price became $0.329. The kind owner let the offending employee off the hook. Knowing that gas station owners frequently cut back on the cheques of employees who suffered leave-without-paying customers, this Minocqua owner must be commended.

TESLA AND EBERHARD

First, Tesla Motors founder Martin Eberhard's titles have quickly downgraded from lofty heights. Co-founder and CEO; to President; to a member of the advisory board. It now appears that Mr. Eberhard was... shall we say, fired? His words at this forum make rather clear the circumstances.

I'm no businessman, nor am I stupid. Did Ford ever fire Henry? Did Chevrolet rid themselves of Louis? Was Mercedes-Benz ridded of Benz? Seriously, these are questions. I understand that partnerships break up and the Don must sometimes be moved to the back room to make way for Michael, but really, folks. Have some tact. You fired the founder?

Tesla's Roadster is, to put it in ultra-simple terms - an electric Lotus Elise. In reality, the vehicle is much more complicated than that and also happens to feature a thorough rebody. The price is high and the production debut has been long awaited. (We're still waiting.) The 47-year old Eberhard developed the concept with co-founder Marc Tarpenning. The car debuted in Santa Monica about midway thru 2006.

OTHER NUMBERS FROM CAR & DRIVER'S JANUARY ISSUE

The Good Car Guy already filled you in on Car & Driver's 0-60 testing of eleven cars in its January issue. Other important Numbers are viewable below.

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24 - miles per gallon observed by C/D editors in the Mini John Cooper Works Clubman, the best figure in a comparo where the Mini finished sixth. Its EPA city and highway figures were also the best-in-test.

18- miles per gallon observed by C/D editors in the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, the worst figure in a comparo where the Lancer Ralliart finished dead last. Its EPA city figure was worst-in-test and its EPA highway figure was tied for worst-in-test.

156- top speed, in mph, of the 260-bhp Chevrolet Cobalt SS, limited by aerodynamic drag, placing the Chevy tops in a seven-way comparo where it finished third overall

19- miles per gallon observed by C/D editors in the all-wheel drive Acura TL, better than what was managed by the aforementioned Mitsubishi with its 1.7L-smaller engine, 68 fewer horsepower, and 445 fewer pounds.

33- miles per gallon observed by C/D editors in a Volkswagen Jetta, which with a 140-bhp 2.0L turbodiesel, still had to propel 3353 pounds.

24- miles per gallon observed by C/D editors in a Hyundai Elantra wagon which posted identical acceleration figures to the Jetta TDI with one extra horsepower, 99 fewer lb-ft of torque, and 321 fewer pounds

0.61- roadholding, measured in g's, of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, as tested by C/D on a 200-ft skidpad.

1.08- roadholding, measured in g's, of the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, as tested by C/D on a 200-ft skidpad

18- difference in sound levels, measured in decibels by C/D, between the loudest car of the year, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, and the quietest cars of the year, the Ford Flex Limited and Dodge Journey R/T, both of which let out 65 dBA at 70mph 

BEST CONCEPTS/BEST HYBRIDS

CNNMoney, with help from AOL Autos and Edmunds.com has homed in the most cost-effective hybrids available to buyers today. Meanwhile, BusinessWeek named the best concept cars of 2007.

Edmunds.com chose vehicles with which to compare each hybrid vehicle. That meant the Toyota Prius ran up against a 4-cylinder Camry, but all other competitors were contrasted with their equivalent gasoline-fired model. After calculating the added cost of purchasing the hybrid, CNNMoney figured the fuel savings and the relationship between the two. In other words, how long will it take to recoup the loss? The lower the number, the higher you finish.

So, the Prius came first; followed by Chevy's Malibu, the Toyota Camry, Ford Escape, Saturn Vue, Mercury Mariner, Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Saturn Aura, Lexus GS450h, Lexus RX400h, Toyota Highlander, and Lexus LS600h L. Estimates for the Prius come in at 4.2 years, stretch to 5.8 years for the Vue Green Line, all the way to 3,771 years in the Lexus LS. You read that right. 3-7-7-1.

MotorTrend's findings in an Altima/Aura/Camry comparo do not mirror that of the CNNMoney study.

BusinessWeek chose the Audi Metroproject Quattro, Chevrolet Beat, Chevrolet Volt, Ford Verve, and Toyota FT-HS among others as the best concept vehicles of 2007.

FORD STOPS BUILDING TRUCKS IN WAYNE - PREPS TO BUILD SMALL CARS

Though still smarting from what wasn't the most successful arguing on their behalf at Congress last week, Ford Motor Company had already decided to "do things differently" before senators and congressmen kept asking them to do so. Yesterday the Wayne, Michigan plant that had been partly responsible for the hundreds of thousands of F-150s, Expeditions, and their offspring stopped building vehicles to ready it for small car production.

51 years ago the Wayne plant began building large vehicles for Ford and has gone through the F-Series, Broncos, Expeditions, and Navigators. Another plant that switched from trucks to small cars is the Cuautitlan, Mexico facility that will be building the Ford Fiesta (Scottish car of the year, yippee) by 2010. Ford will invest $75,000,000 in the Wayne plant just for a spectacular body shop. That cost is over and above the cost of basic re-tooling and reorganizing.

KIA SOUL EXTERIOR LOOKS BIGGER - KIA SOUL EXTERIOR IS SMALL

With a wheelbase of 100.4 inches, the height of a 5ft-3inch human, width similar to that of The Good Car Guy's height, and length of The Good Car Guy plus Yao Ming, the new Kia Soul sounds large. Put another way, the new Kia Soul has a wheelbase just 2.4 inches longer than that of the new Honda Fit. The Soul and the Fit are equally lengthy but the Soul is 3.4 inches taller and more than 3.6 inches wider. 

Thus, the new Kia Soul should be about as easy to park as Honda's small hatchback, a constant GoodCarBadCar.net favourite. More importantly, with a little extra height and a little extra width, the Soul should be able to find more space for people and their stuff inside. 

Why is this important? Well, the Kia Soul will offer more horsepower than the Honda Fit (probably not a direct or terribly indirect competitor, either) in both standard and optional trim but will more than likely weigh more than the Honda, too. Korean cars are typically a smidge heavier than their dimensions would lead us to believe while Hondas are usually a little lighter than their dimensions suggest. With excellent down-the-road dynamics, Honda's hatchback has made a name for itself as the enthusiast's choice in a segment auto enthusiasts avoid with passion. The Kia Soul has ignited some excitement from all parts of the consumer audience with attractive styling and a potentially awesome cargo/fuel economy ratio. 

It was because of this excitement that The Good Car Guy thought it necessary to bring to your attention that the Soul isn't a large vehicle - and that's a very good thing. Kia appears to have hit the proverbial sweet spot in North America right now. Automobile owners still want space but are fearful that gas prices will strike them in their gut again, right where their Ford F-150 resides. If people can have their space with fuel efficiency while looking cool, they'll be excited. 

That's not to say that the Honda Fit doesn't cut muster anymore. After all, The Good Car Guy likes the second-generation even better than the first, and the first generation was one of twelve cars labelled by GoodCarBadCar.net as the cars The Good Car Nation should drive in 2008. Kia seems to have taken the Fit's game up a notch, however. Expect fuel economy to come down slightly from the Fit's impressive 27/33mpg, but not so far as to wish you were back in your lumbering SUV.

LISTEN TO THE MINI E WHIR AND HUM OVER HILL AND DALE IN MOTION

As a pedestrian, few experiences are as strange as watching out of the corner of your eye as a car rolls toward you (or speeds toward you) without making sounds. You may hear a whir or a bit of tire roar, but the sounds aren't processed correctly.

Curious to understand my full meaning? Mini's new electric version of the Cooper makes some noise; but not much. Read more about the Mini E here, watch the clip below.

LINC-VOLT

Neil Young wants to drive a hybrid. Oh, but not just any hybrid - a '59 Lincoln Continental.
It's an interesting story, and rather than sum it up, I'll just send you on over to CNN.com for your reading pleasure.

2010 LEXUS RX350 AND RX450h - 42 PICTURES

'Space-age' was one term applied to the first generation Lexus RX. Indeed, the concept that many believed led up to the RX350 and RX450h you see below was space-age, as well. However, the RX has progressively grown more awkward. That's too bad, because in all honesty, the first luxury crossover is probably one of the best entry-luxury family vehicles available to North American buyers. It just happens to look a little dorky now. Lexus believes the stance of the RX has been improved along with a more powerful body. I'd suggest that they're wrong on both counts.

The popular hybrid version is now the RX450h, as you read above. This doesn't actually mean the engine is larger, but with more power (up 27-bhp) than before, Lexus has decided to bump its model nomenclature up a notch.

February should mark availability of the regular RX with the hybrid going on sale sometime in the spring. Buyers will be greeted by a few new features, one of which Lexus describes as a "Hard Disk Drive (HDD) navigation system has an all-new 'Remote Touch' controller that is both intuitive and ergonomic". New suspension design has opened up 5% more cargo space. For more reasons than just those two, owners can expect to enjoy their RX; even with its soft handling and its status as an obvious choice. 

Separate galleries for the RX350 and RX450h are embedded below.

GERMAN CAR NEWS

30,000 recent-model BMW's will be recalled because of stalling. X5's, 5-series', and 6-series' cars with BMW's 4.8L V8 from model year 2006 and 2007 are susceptible to interrupted fuel delivery. Cool and dry conditions are the lead-up to the problem. BMW dealers can fix the problem quickly and without charge, so if you think your car is a potential problem vehicle, contact your BMW store.

The hybrids at the LA Auto Show seem so large. Chevy's Tahoe Hybrid won the Green Car of the Year award, Mercedes hybrid debut is of its largest sedan, and Porsche showcased its Cayenne hybrid in America for the first time. Porsche wants to see a 26mpg rating from its Cayenne in addition to lower emissions. The big news relative to Porsche's first hybrid is its strong battery power.

Porsche believes that while cruising, the engine can be automatically shut off at speeds as high as 75mph, approximately 45mph higher than other hybrids. What Porsche fails to tell you is that other hybrids are often incapable of holding those speeds on battery power alone because of the "perfect storm necessities". Did your Prius just climb a steep hill with air-conditioning after a 3 hour drive with little braking? Then it won't hold 30mph using batteries alone.


Volkswagen's production Tiguan is handsome and not terrible expensive. To be truthful, I expected it to be ill-proportioned and overpriced. 2.0L and a turbo form the base engine, which, along with a 6-speed auto or manual, create a suitable GTI-inspired powertrain. The $22,490 USD base VW Tiguan won't include 4Motion all-wheel drive, but it will carry six airbags. RAV4's and CR-V's priced lower than $22,490 are also less powerful than the Tiguan.

TOYOTA TROUBLES

CNN reported on Toyota's LA Auto Shows problems and its assorted difficulties online today. Read about that here. Keep in mind, as CNN itself puts it at the end of the article, "And Toyota continues to have a lot in its favor...." and continues with ".....Toyota last week reported a hefty $4 billion profit in its fiscal second quarter....." and ends with ".....Toyota sold 7.05 million vehicles in the first nine months of this year." CNN Autos article is a must-read, nonetheless.

The video clip in question shot by the Rainforest Action Network (not a group of people too familiar with the purchasing of Sequoia) can be seen below. Assume or believe or think what you like about the practices of RAN, Toyota marketing, hybrids, law suits, or CAFE. But rest assured, Bob Carter will regret this day for a long time. If his goal was to come across as an arrogant; haughty; and condescending rich guy, then he met success today. The clip is ↓, with RAN's YouTube descriptor below that.



Rainforest Action Network stumps Toyota General Manager Bob Carter after his presentation at the 2007 LA Autoshow with a simple question: "Why not drop the lawsuit against California"

At a loss for words, Bob hits the camera out of my hands. Thanks Bob.

GM HYBRID SUV PRICING

It appears that a rear-wheel drive Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid will cost $50,490 in the States and a GMC Yukon Hybrid with all-wheel drive will cost $53,755 with the 4WD Tahoe and 2WD Yukon in the middle. This GMC page lets you select your build options for a Yukon while a separate page lets learn about the hybrid. Here is the Chevrolet link. Build for yourself and see the price differences, equipment, and potential savings you would live with.

Interested in hearing what The Good Car Guy thought of the Tahoe Hybrid when he drove it at GM's own Milford Proving Grounds? It's available right here.

MPG IN CAR & DRIVER DECEMBER

Under the right foot of numerous Car & Driver editors, efficiency is hard to come by. Nevertheless, some cars perform above all reasonable expectations.

For example, Chevrolet's basic Corvette - upgraded with the Z51 suspension package as well as dual-mode exhaust for 6 more horses - spent an afternoon lapping Gratton Raceway and sipped just a gallon of fuel for every 25 miles driven. True, it wasn't just hot laps. But still, this is a car with 436 horsepower, a top speed of 186 miles per hour, and a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds. 25 miles per gallon? That's just 1mpg less than the Vette's official EPA highway figure. 

Not much worse is the Corvette Z06 with 505 horsepower, an extra 12mph at the top end, and a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds. That Corvette travelled 20 miles on a gallon. Somewhat worse was the $117,750 Corvette ZR1. 638 horses need to fed. Apparently, they need to be fed a lot. Every 12 miles required a gallon.

That's still better than C/D's Bugatti Veyron tester. True, with over 1000 horsepower and almost 4500 pounds, the Bugatti is expected to guzzle. Indeed, smack dab in the middle of 8mpg and 14mpg (the Veyron's EPA city and highway figures, respectively) sits the 11 miles per gallon attained by Car and Driver. Not bad.

Others from C/D's December issue include:

- Honda's new Fit, in Sport trim with a 5-speed manual, at 31mpg.

- HKS's turbocharged first-gen Fit, at 24mpg.

- a Suzuki SX4 hatchback from Road Race Motorsports at 25mpg.

- C/D's long-term diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI, at 22mpg.

- Volkswagen's Tiguan SEL 4Motion at 22mpg

- and the rotary-driven Mazda RX-8 R3 at 15mpg.

BMW 3-SERIES & BMW X5 3.0L DIESELS READY FOR NORTH AMERICA

The 11th month of 2008 is upon us. Some of the best news you'll receive this month will soon be sitting outside your local BMW dealership. "Successfully meeting the strict exhaust emissions requirements of the North American automobile market, BMW Advanced Diesel - slated to hit US roadways in November 2008 - will be available in all 50 states," BMW's press release says. Wunderbar. BMW Canada will be importing the new diesels as well.

In both 3-Series and X5 form, the 3.0L twin-turbocharged diesel generates 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. That torque, available way down low at 1,750 rpm, will tell a story. The story will be very different from that of the 335i's twin-turbocharged gasoline 3.0L, but will manage to be similarly exciting. (That hi-po 3-Series engine has 35 more horsepower but 125 fewer lb-ft of torque.)

Twin-turbocharged isn't the most accurate definition. A small turbocharger helps out at low rpm; a larger turbocharger kicks in to really add thrust as revs rise. Expect the 335d BluePerformance to hit 62mph in slightly less than 6.2 seconds (BMW's claim) while the X5 xDrive35d should be about a second slower. Fuel economy sits in the range of 23/33mpg for the 3-Series and 19/25 for the X5.

And just how can BMW offer a dirty old diesel in 50 states? Well, let us escape the premise of your question which is all too faulty. BMW's release explains: "To ensure full compliance with the demanding emission standards in California and other US states, BMW uses SCR technology to reduce nitric oxides (NOX), enabling nationwide introduction of BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance as a 50-state model (BIN5).....Featuring precision-quality precise piezo-injectors to deliver the precise dosage of fuel into the combustion chambers with the smallest volume of pre-injection, the third generation system ensures a particularly clean injection process with optimized fuel consumption, emissions figures and running smoothness."

 A full BMW 335d BluePerformance gallery is below.

ALPHA MALE SUBURBAN

Goodness. Gracious, even. It ain't pretty or subtle but it is tough and full of sense. In this week where GoodCarBadCar and much of the auto press - mainstream or not - will pay attention to Toyota (read about GCBC's week of honouring Toyota here), many will pay too much attention to the overstated appearance of environmentalism.

Toyota can play the 'green' card and play it well, but they also make some fine sport-utility vehicles. With those Toyota and Lexus sport utes General Motors must compete. In the case of the Chevrolet Suburban 2500HD Z71 diesel (the name takes up half the article), GM has one-upped all competitors, including Toyota.

This SEMA debut showcases a new 4.5L diesel. Details on that powerplant are yet to be fully discovered and ironed out. The traditionally handsome brute has been marred somewhat by over-the-top fender flares and side-steps that are in direct conflict with a vehicle built to be capable off-road. However, this Suburban certainly grabs the attention of passers-by, onlookers, and The Good Car Guy. You can read The Good Car Guy's review of the Tahoe Hybrid that was showcased at a blogger's event at GM's Milford Proving Grounds, and while reading it you'll probably be able to hear the groans as the GCBC Nation wishes that Tahoe Hybrid was this Suburban diesel.


Chevrolet talks about a two-way remote start, trailer hitch close-out, concept-only roof rack, fuel filler door and wheels, as well as the heavy-dutiness of the vehicle. The 'burban's front end assembly and rear axle are built tougher. But most people are interested in the engine, what it can do; what it could save; and which vehicles might see fitment of the 4.5L.

GORDON BROWN TAKES A LOOK AT THE THINK

Fully homologated for European Union roads, the Think City is 100% electric and 100% ugly. That didn't stop Gordon Brown and his Minister for Business and Secretary of State for Transport from having a look-see at the Norwegian city car.

Think bodies are recycled plastic. 65 mph is possible, although the range is only 112 miles. Typical electrical sockets can restore full power to the battery. Airbags and anti-lock brakes are present and accounted for. Beauty, unfortunately, was left in the fjords.

One might wonder if the Think City stands a chance at upsetting typical parliamentary rides like the Jaguar XJ and Toyota Prius in London. Regardless, Monday's introduction of Prime Minister Brown with the Think City happened to time well with a summit on business where electric vehicles - as a means of mass transportation - was a topic of discussion. Think Citys will be on sale in the UK in 2009.

AUDI METROPROJECT QUATTRO

Audi decided to hide a very enviro/green/futuristic powertrain beneath the body of a car which should become the A1. Designed to compete against Mini, a company owned by Audi's cross-country rival BMW, the Metroproject Quattro features a 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine which sends its 150 bhp to the front wheels.

Power sent to the rear wheels is provided by a 41 horsepower electric motor. This Audi can be plugged in to an electrical outlet at your house, just like the future Chevrolet Volt. The lithium-ion battery is presumed capable of 100km without firing the 1.4L gasoline-fed engine.


All the mechanical stuff is out of sight, of course. On the exterior side of things, Mini Cooperesque cuteness is thrown to the wayside in favour of Audi's aggressive grille, wide tires on 18" wheels, and a high-class chrome treatment on the window surround. It's all very Audi; which is to say modern, unique, and sporting.

Watch a video of a slow Volt, or read about GM's plans for the Volt

Copying the Mini would have spelled disaster. Downsizing the A3 would have spelled bland. Whether you like it or not; whether you wish to plug your car into your garage or not - you must admit Audi styled a striking small car with a trick card up its sleeve. An environmentally-friendly solution in what must surely be a lightweight and 'clean' car to begin with scores big points in 2007. I doubt that fact will change by 2009 when A1's arrive in European showrooms.

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS REVEALED

With a vibrant new competitor ready to fight for every sale, the Toyota Prius plans to be all-new around the same time. More power, increased efficiency, and improved design will be part of the package. Official photos have been leaked and confirmation has arrived that what you see here is the next Toyota Prius; ready for battle with the Honda Insight.