17th
July
2008
Programs to buy back beaters have been implemented in California and Texas, pulling thousands of polluting vehicles of the road each year. Canada’s program to buy back old, polluting cars is set to roll out in January of next year. The Detroit News reports that the three-year Canadian program is targeting 50k buybacks, or about one percent of all cars on the road. While provincial governments have implemented similar programs, this will be North America’s first nationwide buyback program. The $92m program will offer drivers $300 per running beater, or discounts on bicycle purchases or a public transit pass. Busting-out the old calculator, it becomes obvious that buying 50k cars at $300 a pop would set back the Canucks $15m. Some $77m of the program will be going… somewhere else. But don’t expect opposition to the program. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spokesman Charles Territo says “we strongly support efforts to get older, less-efficient vehicles off the roads and help consumers.” Because they’d rather you buy new than drive your clunker till it breaks, of course. Which means the only people who won’t be thrilled by this program are people who care how their government spends money… and know how to use a calculator.Â
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17th
July
2008
Industrialinfo.com [sub] reports that China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved three biodiesel plants to convert tung tree nuts into fuel. For those in love with Google Earth, the plants will open in Nanchong (Sichuan province), Guizhou province and Beijing (Hainan province). The “demonstration projects” are set to yield just 50 - 60k tons of fuel per year apiece. To put that into perspective… “As a large diesel consumer, China’s annual diesel consumption is about 70 million metric tons per year. Of this, about one-third of the consumption is from import. Based on the estimate of the International Energy Agency, China is the second largest petroleum consumer in the world and has a growing reliance on imported petroleum.” Tung tree oil is a beloved sealant amongst kitchen remodelers and woodworkers. But don’t get to thinking the U.S. could go cuckoo for tung nuts. Florida’s experiment with the plants didn’t pan out; vernicia fordii is now considered an invasive species. Oh, and even the smell of tung oil is enough to give nut-aversive people a severe reaction. The stuff we learn on your behalf…
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17th
July
2008
Bright greys? Just come across a term that stuck while leafing through AM magazine. What does the Daihatsu brand say to you? An unfashionable marque that majors in dull but competitively priced small cars with Japanese kei-class roots (the Copen being a stylish exception to the dullards rule)? That’s maybe a little harsh when you consider the recently introduced Materia model - a funky looking car that is turning a few heads.
But who is Daihatsu aiming its products at? Answer: bright greys and I’m not talking ETs. ‘Bright greys’ are the term used by Daihatsu UK chief Paul Tunnicliffe when talking about Daihatsu’s relatively aged customer base. They are active and aspirational, he says. They shop at Waitrose (an upscale ‘middle class’ UK supermarket chain) and John Lewis (an also upscale department store) and holiday in Tuscany and France (not a caravan in Clacton). How does he know where they holiday? They write to him to explain where the trusty Sirion or Charade has been, apparently.
Tunnicliffe seems to know his customer though and stresses that for a niche brand like Daihatsu it’s important to target the marketing and not try to be all things to all people.
Anyway, seems to be working for Daihatsu in Britain along with some innovative incentives for mom and pop dealers.
But I like that term, ‘bright greys’. If you work in a car company perhaps consider throwing it in to a marketing discussion sometime. ‘Look guys, what are we doing to appeal to bright greys?’ And there’s also this thought. Who appeals to the ‘dull greys’ and which demographic group, the brights or the dulls are ultimately the most numerous and/or profitable to sell to? I guess the brights are growing as people who remember punk rock and still wear luminous socks enter their fifties. Oldies lead pretty active lifestyles these days that belie their clocked up years. Just ask Mick Jagger or eternal teenager Richard Branson. Â
Scary thought: am I, in fact, a bright grey myself? Certainly no spring chicken, but I would hope for bright rather than dull. I do like France for holidays - when I can afford it - and I do think the Daihatsu Materia is a car I like as a vehicular concept. I am mid-forties, so maybe that makes me a baby grey. I am certainly not short of grey hairs, that’s for sure. I’ll stop there.
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17th
July
2008
Via
Forbes.com
By Amory B. Lovins
Using smarter technologies, more brains and less money to wring more work from less delivered energy–what energy experts call “end-use efficiency”–is the largest, cheapest, safest, cleanest, fastest, most diverse, least visible, least understood and most neglected way to provide energy services.
How big is it? The 46% drop in U.S. energy intensity, a measure of energy consumption per dollar of real gross domestic product, during 1975-2005 represented, by 2005, the equivalent of a new energy “source.” This source was slightly larger than annual total European energy use, 2.1 times the size of U.S. oil consumption, 3.4 times bigger than U.S. net oil imports, six times domestic oil output or net oil imports from OPEC countries and 13 times net imports from Persian Gulf countries.
But because these savings came not from giant plants but in zillions of tiny pieces imperceptible to the untrained eye, energy efficiency gets little respect. It’s ironic, given that rising energy prices automatically make efficiency gains more valuable, and cheaper to attain. And we’ve barely scratched the surface. Fully exploiting wherever practical the best available efficiency techniques throughout the U.S. economy could save half our oil and gas use, and three-fourths of our electricity, at about an eighth of their current price. Innovative designs, technologies, policies and marketing methods are increasing that potential faster than we are using it up.
The three big efficiency stories–oil, gas and electricity–are all remarkable. As detailed in a Pentagon-co-sponsored 2004 study titled “Winning the Oil Endgame,” half of U.S. oil can be saved for the equivalent of $12 a barrel, mainly by tripling the efficiency of cars, trucks and planes–without sacrificing consumer-pleasing design.
Fantasy? Not really. Already, Boeing is beating Airbus with the 787 Dreamliner–a plane that’s 20% more efficient than rivals but costs about the same. Wal-Mart, nearly done boosting its trucks’ efficiency by 25%, is set to make billions more by doubling their efficiency by 2015. And the hottest strategic trend in automaking–led by Ford Motor, Nissan and China–is making lighter, safer and more fuel-efficient cars.
Complete Article
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17th
July
2008
As many of you may have guessed by the silence over the past few days, I’ve been traveling and away from the blog. Happily, reader Al Johnson was moved to request a car for Car Lust–and his request was so good that it stands on its own as a worthy post.
Al Johnson:
“You’re correct that the Brits managed to make an unreliable car out of a bulletproof one, though a lot of reviewers at the time thought the Sterling’s handling and ride were superior to the Legend. But can I nominate another car for Car Lust? I owned a first-generation Rover 2000 for several troubled years. Absolutely brilliant engineering, near-perfect ergonomics, phenomenal handling; it was the ultimate stealth car in a world where no one knew what a sports sedan was.
al”I recall a review in which the 90-horsepower Rover beat a 265-horsepower Jaguar XK-E for elapsed time on a winding road, it handled so well. But the build quality was not even third-world. Brakes and rotors replaced every 5-10k miles, half-shafts every 15-20. Positive ground electrical system. Pirelli Cinturato tires, with tubes, that disintegrated at speed or in cold weather. The aluminum head corroded through about two years in; the company declined to compensate me for it.
“Being young and impetuous, I decided to drive the car on a trip across the U.S. The dealer advised me not to try this, and then sold me what the company euphemistically called a “touring kit”–a large box with one of every hose, gasket and belt, points, plugs and wires, fuses, and so on. I also bought a service manual, which remains one of the best I’ve ever used: clear line drawings, lists of required tools for each job. By the time I completed the trip, the box was virtually empty, but thanks to that manual I had become a pretty good mechanic.
“It had lots of then-revolutionary innovations: radial tires, 4-wheel disc brakes (inboard at the rear), deDion rear axle, cup-shaped piston tops to make an effectively hemi-shaped combustion chamber, crumple zones, shoulder belts, “Icelert” freeze warning, and more.”
Chris here again. I’m not familiar with these cars, so thanks to Al for the heads-up and the great content. I was a little more familiar with the later SD1 Rovers, which I’ve vaguely planned for a future Car Lust, but these P6 Rovers are completely new to me.
These P6 Rovers were available with a engines of a few different displacements, which were reflected in their names—the 2000, the 2200, and the 3500 which used the ubiquitous Buick 3.5-liter V-6 that eventually wound up in, among other things, the Triumph TR-8. For the mid-1960s, this looked like a fun car, at least if you have the, um, touring kit. It’s a bit of a looker, too.
These photos were taken by our old friend Dave_7, whose images have also appeared in the Jaguar XJ and Ford Courier Car Lusts. The top image is a 2000; the next two are 3500s.
–Chris H.
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17th
July
2008
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This Subaru had gone through a rough spell that included a timing belt coming off that resulted in the need for a valve job.
Rather than spend money merely to repair the car back to stock this customer opted to try and enhance the performance of this very nice looking older Subaru Legacy GT.
Before the WRX craze hit, there really wasn’t much in the way of performance parts for the Subaru and even now that the market place is overflowing with performance parts for the WRX, STI and newer GT there really are not a lot of options for the Older Subies.
Here is what we did to this fine example of an Older Legacy Gt.
Delta Cams regrind of the camshafts to change the camshaft profile.
We also replaced the Header pipe with one from Borla. Because of a serious lack of desirable cat back exhaust systems we opted to let an exhaust shop that can still build an exhaust system take a crack at changing the tone of the GT.
The changes made a noticeable difference in the mid-range of the GT, but the idle quality did suffer a little as will happen when the camshaft profile is changed. Well worth the couple of hundred extra the whole thing cost on top of just a normal Valve job.
A good way to turn a bad car day, into a worthwhile repair and performance upgrade.
At All-Wheel Drive Auto you can always count on your mods to be professionally done
 
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17th
July
2008
DEATH VALLEY, California — Spy photographers today snapped the first shots of the 2010 Honda Hybrid, a hybrid-only model that Honda has developed to go head to head with the dominating Toyota Prius. Honda’s new prototype was caught running with a Toyota Prius and Honda’s redesigned 2009 Civic Hybrid.
Expected to be smaller than the current Honda Civic and Accord hybrids, the new Honda Hybrid will deliver greater fuel efficiency, and likely a lower price tag because of the more spartan content that is acceptable in the subcompact segment.
The shape and packaging of this prototype is clearly Prius-inspired, but spy shooters on the scene say the new Honda Hybrid’s overall size looks larger than Toyota’s popular Prius.
Expect to see the 2010 Honda Hybrid in showrooms by the end of next year.
What this means to you: Honda finally has the Prius squarely in its crosshairs. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor
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17th
July
2008
Base Price: 2008 SSC Ultimate Aero - $654,500
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17th
July
2008
posted in Car News Articles |
17th
July
2008
Bavarian carmaker share first official photos its facelifted 3-Series.
As you see, changes to the front end include new lights with LED indicators, revised bumpers, less chrome on the grille and a more distinctive creased bonnet. Fresh, larger mirrors grace the doors, while the restyled rear lamp clusters also include LEDs.
Inside, the 3 gains the latest, simplified iDrive cabin control system with a larger LCD monitor, and has sockets for connecting MP3 players to an 80GB hard drive. All engines get BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology, and a new 245bhp six-cylinder diesel debuts. Coupe and cabrio buyers can select as option the seven-speed dual-clutch box, too. The revised 3-Series arrives in dealerships in September.
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Programs to buy back beaters have been implemented in California and Texas, pulling thousands of polluting vehicles of the road each year. Canada’s program to buy back old, polluting cars is set to roll out in January of next year. The Detroit News reports that the three-year Canadian program is targeting 50k buybacks, or about one percent of all cars on the road. While provincial governments have implemented similar programs, this will be North America’s first nationwide buyback program. The $92m program will offer drivers $300 per running beater, or discounts on bicycle purchases or a public transit pass. Busting-out the old calculator, it becomes obvious that buying 50k cars at $300 a pop would set back the Canucks $15m. Some $77m of the program will be going… somewhere else. But don’t expect opposition to the program. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spokesman Charles Territo says “we strongly support efforts to get older, less-efficient vehicles off the roads and help consumers.” Because they’d rather you buy new than drive your clunker till it breaks, of course. Which means the only people who won’t be thrilled by this program are people who care how their government spends money… and know how to use a calculator. 
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