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Clean car rally in San Francisco tomorrow

Bay Area residents concerned about the climate crisis are joining with thousands across America in the largest ever National Day of Climate Action tomorrow, according to a Automotive.com. The Step It Up "Lighten Up Your Ride" clean car rally -- part expo, part action fair -- will be showcasing the cutting edge of clean car technology and calling on Congress to step it up: cut CO2 emissions 80% by 2050.
The clean car rally will feature the latest in green vehicle technology with demonstrations of plug-in hybrid cars, 100% electric cars, bio-diesel conversions and solar buses. The day will end with a Clean Car Caravan of vehicles and bikes to the GM dealership in Marin, calling on the company to "Step It Up GM: Plug In Hybrids not Hummers, Now!"
When: Saturday, April 14, 2007, 11 am - 3 pm
Where: 610 Mason Street, The Presidio, San Francisco. (There are two Mason Streets in San Francisco, and this event is located in The Presidio, adjacent to Sports Basement facing Crissy Field, not in the Financial District.)

Posted by   at 10:30 AM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

GM mulling options to shed $64 billion in retiree health benefits

General Motors is considering at least three proposals to shed most of its $64 billion in costs for retiree health-care benefits in an attempt to return to profitability, according to people with knowledge of the plans, according to bloomberg.com
GM, the world's largest automaker and biggest private provider of medical coverage, is developing the options even as union leaders suggest any comprehensive health-care fix will be rejected, the Web site says. Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said in January the automaker must reduce health-care obligations for U.S. retirees after losing more than $12 billion the last two years.

Posted by   at 10:24 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Car thieves go hi-tech and police have to keep up

Participating in a recent operation in San Diego to bust street racing were officers from 10 Southern California police agencies and one civilian: Mike Bender, one of the country’s foremost authorities on auto theft, according to the New York Times.
He accompanied the mission, as he has many others over the last decade, to help the police identify stolen car parts and to train officers to recognize the connections among street racing, auto theft and insurance fraud.
Mr. Bender, 51, a former special agent for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, acts as a consultant to police departments and conducts auto-theft seminars around the country. His message is that thieves have gone high-tech, so the police need to go high-tech, too. To prove the point and destroy the myth that advanced antitheft systems are impenetrable, Mr. Bender often heads out to his garage to get his hands dirty and crack security systems himself.

Posted by   at 10:19 AM to Police | Permalink | Comments 0

German bank ups stake in Chrysler to 14%

DaimlerChrysler AG said German bank WestLB “temporarily” boosted its stake in the company to 14%, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The paper's Web site says the world’s fifth-largest automaker and parent company of the embattled Auburn Hills-based Chrysler Group, announced this morning that WestLB increased its stake on April 4, the same day as the DaimlerChrysler annual shareholder meeting in Berlin. DaimlerChrysler also said WestLB’s holdings will be cut to less than 3% “in the foreseeable future.”
WestLB, the third-largest state bank in Germany, is now the largest share owner of DaimlerChrysler stock,

Posted by   at 12:54 PM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Iacocca tears into the Bush and U.S. auto industry

Former Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca tears into the Bush administration and the U.S. auto industry in a new book, saying America's political leaders have failed the nation and urging voters to pick more carefully in 2008, according the Detroit Free Press.
The 82-year-old Iacocca -- who was urged to run for president in the 1980s after turning around Chrysler -- also says in "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?" that he's for higher federal fuel-economy standards, warns that Chrysler could become a "shattered remnant" if sold and offers suggestions for Detroit's automakers to turn their businesses around, the paper says.

Posted by   at 12:43 PM to Auto industry | Permalink | Comments 0

Yeah! Combining diesel and hybrid technologies

At last someone is combining two of the most promising alternative fuel technologies, according to leftlanenews.com. BMW is considering offering hybrid versions of its 5-Series sedan and X5 crossover in 2010, according to a new report by Britain's Autocar citing a BMW engineering source, leftlanenews.com says. Unlike most hybrids, the vehicles would run on a combination of diesel and electricity, rather than the typical gasoline-electric configuration.

Posted by   at 12:29 PM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

10 concept cars that should have been built

Looking back, dozens of concept cars could rightfully be considered significant, but thecarconnection.com has selected 10 that it says should have been built starting with the1938 Buick Y-Job which was built under the direction of Genera Motors' first design czar, Harley Earl. It says the car foreshadowed styling and engineering cues that would pop up on future GM vehicles. The Y-Job's stubby tail fins found their way onto the iconic 1948 Cadillacs, while the grille design still influences Buicks today.

Posted by   at 12:19 PM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Top ten sexiest luxury cars

Check out Forbes.com's tally of the 10 sexiest luxury cars.
Forbes.com ranks them by ideal driver/owners, including Hip-Hop Moguls
(Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan), Miami Beach plastic surgeons (Lamborghini Murciélago convertible) or Newly Divorced Moms (Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG).

Posted by   at 12:12 PM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Is that car gay?

While cars are no more straight or gay than cellphones, office chairs or weed whackers, that truism has not stopped a perception among some motorists that certain cars can, in the right context, might be statements about a driver’s sexual orientation, according to the New York Times.
At a time when car makers are marketing aggressively to gay consumers and mainstream culture has become more literate about stereotypically gay tastes, it may not be surprising that some people make such assumptions about motorists based on their cars, the paper reports.

Posted by   at 11:43 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Hybrid technology spreading beyond cars

Hybrid cars and trucks, which use gas-electric technology, have become the poster children for energy savings in the automobile world, but industry has been paying attention, and hybrids are quietly starting to show up in other transportation uses, from locomotives to construction equipment, according to USA Today.
After looking over several hybrid and other "green" commercial vehicles recently, President Bush said they will play a role in meeting his administration's goal of reducing gasoline usage by 20% over 10 years.

Posted by   at 11:22 AM to Alternative fuels | Permalink | Comments 0

Sales of small cars soar

Fast-growing sales of the smallest cars are siphoning market share from compact sedans, according to USA Today. Citing auto industry experts, the paper says sub-subcompacts "are the new hot darlings of the market."
Sales of the minis doubled in the first quarter compared with a year ago, when some of the smallest models hadn't yet gone on sale.

Posted by   at 11:19 AM to Sales | Permalink | Comments 0

Ford recalling 2001-2004 Escape SUVs for brake work

Ford said it was recalling 527,000 Escape sport utility vehicles after receiving reports of engine fires linked to the anti-lock brake connectors, according to Reuters.
The vehicles involved in the recall were from the model years 2001 to 2004, Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley said. The automaker is recalling 444,000 in the United States. The rest of the SUVs were sold in Europe, Mexico and Canada.
The recall does not affect hybrid versions of the SUV, Kinley said

Posted by   at 12:15 PM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil prices jump on cut in gasoline stocks

Oil prices jumped today after U.S. gasoline stocks fell far more than expected ahead of the busy summer months in the world's top consumer, according to Reuters.
U.S. crude was up 64 cents at $62.54 a barrel in morning trade. Gasoline stocks fell 5.5 million barrels last week compared to 1.4 million barrels predicted in a Reuters poll. Crude stocks climbed 700,000 barrels against a forecast 1.5 million barrel rise, the Energy Information Administration data showed.

Posted by   at 12:10 PM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0

Odds and Ends from N.Y. Auto Show

Here are some thoughts from the N.Y. Auto Show which I visited on Saturday.

Scale:
Living in the provinces, one forgets just how many people live in the New York area. The show was not only enormous, taking up two floors of the imposing Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on the west side of Manhattan's midtown, but absolutely crowded. And the variety of people - every culture and race, with a different language at every turn.
Trying to get close to see some of the hot exhibits (themselves works of art, with special flooring, loud music, videos on massive screens, turntables) such as the Ferraris, the various concept cars, the high-end German marques - Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz - was all-but-impossible.
As for the Lamborghinis, forget about it - but more about that later.
Just remember, if you ever go, start on the top floor - where all the cars and especially the exotics are located - and then go downstairs for mostly trucks and minivans (although some key marques such as VW, Subaru and Mitsubishi were downstairs too). It takes a good 3 hours to see it all and it's better to be fresh for the truly exciting stuff upstairs.
I started on the lower level, partly because Ithe media center is downstairs and I naturally drifted into the lower show area and partly because I am an idiot, and I was truly tired by the end of my visit 3-1/2 hours later.

Hybrids
Maybe it was because I hit the VW display first, but I found myself getting very interested in which companies are really going for alternative energy - whether hybrid. clean diesel, hydrogen fuel cell electric ethanol. Most of the German manufacturers - Audi, Merecedes-Benz and VW - are all pushing clean diesel and will be bringing in a range of models next year. VW, for example, will introduce diesel Beetles, Jettas and Rabbits and I for one find the Jetta Sportswagen , which was introduced at the show, very tasty indeed.
Anyway, while Honda and Toyota are off to races with the alternative fuel thing - they both have well-known hybrids and are also experimenting with various other technologies, other companies are clearly playing wait and see. Subaru, for example, has nothing in the pipeline; nor does Mitsubishi or Suzuki. Mazda has a hybrid version of its Tribute SUV coming out in the fall and Lexus was making much of its new hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h, which gets 31/27 mpg. Saab seems to be chasing the ethanol line and had a bioethanol vehicle at the show.
With global warming and the environment becoming an ever more serious issue - highlighted by the Supreme Court's recent ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency can regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases - the move to alternative fuels is going to explode.

Overheard
"I can see you tooling around in that thing. It has to be an obnoxious color, though."
- One woman to another as they looked at the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

"It's the Batmobile."
- Heavyset African-American in Hawaiin shirt, fur coat and straw hat, about the Mosler MT 900S Corvette-powered super car.

"The flared fenders put people on notice that this is a rear-wheel driving machine."
- Model on turntable describing the Dodge Demon roadster.

"It's the new concept car coming out next year."
"Yeah, it's called the Frame."
- Teenagers looking at Volvo's display of the frame of a sedan color coded to indicated the various grades of steel used.

"Inside, the Nitro is both people and cargo friendly."
- Model on turntable describing the Dodge Nitro

Concepts and Debuts
Auto shows are famous for the concept cars and New York did not disappoint. Among the more exotic was the Infiniti EX 3.5, a small crossover, the Lexus LX 570, $60,000 monster luxury SUV, Chevrolet's tiny trio - the Beat, the Groove and the Trax - which were all designed in Korea and are very small indeed, the Kia Soul which is a small SUV and the Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept. Apart from the far out designs, many come in brilliant white with white interiors, blue and orange lighting and open or glassed roofs giving them an even more exotic air.
Less exotic were a number of vehicles from Ford, including the Airstream, which was introduced in Detroit and is truly far out with its nods to Airstream trailers and futuristic visions from the 1960s. The vehicle which opens fully on one side to reveal a seating area straight out of StarTrek, is powered by a hydrogen fuel-cell electric engine. Other Ford notables included two trucks designed by current favorites, the Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition by DJ Funkmaster Flex, and an F-150 designed by Chip Foose. And then there was the 540 horsepower, V8 Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang modifed by Carroll Shelby.
And talking about StarTrek, the concept with the most far out lines was Mazda's Hazake which had been introduced at the Geneva Auto Show and looked like a bar of soap that had been left in a sandstorm - all raked lines and angles.

Lamborghinis
Of all the displays, Lamborghini was the most exotic. The company exhibited all three of its current models, a white Murcielago LP640, a white Murcielago LP640 Roadster and an orange Gallardo SE. They were accompanied by four of the tallest models wearing fairly skimpy evening dresses who stood around occasionally opening or closing doors.
The crowd was divided into two section - those on an inside track who had been "invited," and the rest of use relegated to the outside where we could see nothing but the roofs of the cars and the models.

Posted by   at 3:30 PM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

Are we ready for Jeremy Clarkson?

The BBC is considering producing a version of its "Top Gear" program for the U.S., according to leftlanenews.com which cited the Sun newspaper of Britain for the news. Clarkson is a larger-than-life character who writes about cars for the London Times as was as hosting "Top Gear," a loud show with a live audience that indulges in everything from serious critiques to insane tests and commentary.

Posted by   at 11:33 AM to People in the News | Permalink | Comments 0

Boch Toyota sues Bob's Discount

Norwood, Mass.-based Boch Toyota is suing Bob's Discount Store for using its catch phrase "Come on down," according to Boston Business Journal.
But hang on a second - wasn't that Bob Barker's catch phrase on CBS hit "The Price is Right?" Indeed it was. The show with Barker as host hit the airwaves in 1972 and is still running although Barker retires this year. The 35-year run makes it one of the longest-running games shows in history.
President Ernie Boch Jr. told me he does not want to comment on the lawsuit other than to say that he is negotiating with Robert "Bob" Kaufman and hopes to work it out. But if he can't, he said he is prepared to go ahead with the case.
A spokeswoman with Bob's Discount was not immediately available to comment.

Posted by   at 10:59 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Take that, Al Gore

Judging from the media in recent months, the debate over global warming is now over, writes Richard S. Lindzen, Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Newsweek.
There has been a net warming of the earth over the last century and a half, and our greenhouse gas emissions are contributing at some level. Both of these statements are almost certainly true. What of it? Recently many people have said that the earth is facing a crisis requiring urgent action. This statement has nothing to do with science. There is no compelling evidence that the warming trend we've seen will amount to anything close to catastrophe. What most commentators—and many scientists—seem to miss is that the only thing we can say with certainly about climate is that it changes.
Lindzen is a controversial figure who claims his research has always been funded exclusively by the U.S. government and that he receives no funding from any energy companies. Newsweek appears to have trotted him out as the contrarian, flat-earth viewpoint as his article appears in the context of the issue being devoted to political leadership and the environment titled: Save the Planet or Else. See the lead article and related news and analysis.

Posted by   at 10:35 AM to Environment | Permalink | Comments 0

Audi RS8 goes for broke

Check out a video of Audi's RS8 tearing round the test track in Germany looking and sounding very unroad legal on thecarconnection.com. The car later caught fire and was largely destroyed but the driver got out safely.

Posted by   at 10:15 AM to Marques | Permalink | Comments 0

Gas prices continue upward trend

The national average price for gasoline rose for the 10th straight week, according to USA Today. Based on figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the paper said drivers paid an average of $2.802 a gallon for regular gasoline in the week ended April 9, up from $2.707 the previous week.
AAA, which also tracks gasoline prices, said the national average was $2.792 a gallon Tuesday. Retail gasoline prices are up 11.9 cents from a year ago at this time. Prices have risen 54.2 cents over the past 10 weeks, following a previous five-week decline.

Posted by   at 10:13 AM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 2

Vermont's bid to curb emissions heads to court

A week after the U.S. Supreme Court said vehicle carbon dioxide emissions can be regulated like other pollutants, an effort by several states to do that is about to get its first court test, according to the Associated Press.
California long has been the pacesetter in regulating car emissions, setting tougher limits than those imposed by the federal government. To avoid having cars built to meet 50 different sets of state rules, federal law allows other states to choose between the federal and the California rules. Vermont and nine other states follow California.
But the focus shifts to Vermont tomorrow, where a trial begins over new rules - adopted by California in 2005 and soon after by the other states - designed to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Posted by   at 10:43 AM to Environment | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil prices decline following Iran's release of British sailors

Oil prices fell Monday following last week's release of British sailors detained by Iran, but concerns over the tight U.S. demand-supply balance and other geopolitical issues supported prices, according to the Associated Press. Volume was light with much of Europe celebrating an extended Easter holiday.
Light, sweet crude for May delivery fell 44 cents to $63.84 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at midday in Europe.

Posted by   at 10:36 AM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0

Supreme Court rulings cast pall over NY Auto Show

Just as automakers prepared to parade their signature V-8 models with 300, 400 and even 500-plus horsepower last week at the opening of the New York International Auto Show, the New York Times noted yesterday, a landmark Supreme Court ruling on greenhouse gas emissions wafted a message to the petrol-fueled party in Manhattan: enjoy the fun while it lasts.

Posted by   at 10:31 AM to Alternative fuels , Environment , Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

In Pictures: Best Of 2007 New York Auto Show

Check out photos of Forbes.com's favorite debuts from the New York Auto Show - although the slide show does not include one of my favorites - the Kia Soul.

Posted by   at 10:14 AM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

More than 4,000 Chrysler workers take buyout

More than 4,300 hourly employees of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group have accepted early retirement and buyout packages offered as part of the automaker's recovery plan, the company said last week, according to USA Today.
In the United States and Canada, 4,312 hourly workers have accepted the packages offered as part of the company's plans to reduce its workforce by 13,000 people in three years. The goal for 2007 is 5,875 hourly employees; some employees are still eligible to accept the offers.

Posted by   at 9:24 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Crossovers remain hot at NY Auto Show

Automakers are showing plenty of crossover SUVs at the New York International Auto Show as well as a small car or three, according to USA Today's James R. Healey.
Included in his list are the 2009 Ford Flex, 2008 Volvo XC70, 2008 Jeep Liberty, VW Jetta SportWagon, 2008 Subaru Tribeca, 2008 Infiniti EX 3.5 and 2008 Lexus LX 570.

Posted by   at 9:16 AM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

Kerkorian bid for Chrysler seen getting cold shoulder

The $4.5 billion bid for DaimlerChrysler by Los Angeles billionaire Kirk Kerkorian is likely to get a very chilly reception in Germany, according to thecarconnection.com
Even without the standard German aversion to meddlesome corporate raiders, DaimlerChrysler's directors have a deep-seated mistrust of Kerkorian and his automotive adviser, Jerry York, because of the litigation that followed the original merger that created DaimlerChrysler in 1998, the Web site says.

Posted by   at 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments 0