(ARA) – As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, it’s time to prepare your vehicle for the unfavorable road conditions to come. Addressing a few key issues before winter arrives can save you significant hassle and cost. To protect one of your most valuable investments, follow these tips to shield your vehicle from the elements and avoid winter-related damages.

Protect your paint

The majority of drivers are aware of at least one scratch or chip in their vehicles’ paint. Unfortunately, many will not repair these small damages before they rust and become serious issues. A scratch can rust in just 30 days, and snow, ice and freezing temperatures can accelerate and intensify the damage.

Luckily, you can easily avoid a costly repair and restore your vehicle to its original finish with Dupli-Color’s Scratch Fix 2in1. This affordable, easy-to-use touch-up paint offers two applicators – a roller ball for small scratches and a taper brush for larger scratches. As simple as painting your nails, you can repair and protect any exposed metal in minutes, and Dupli-Color’s exact-match colors guarantee a seamless finish. Right now, for each person who finds their vehicle’s color code and enters it online, Dupli-Color will donate $1 to Meals On Wheels for their “Find Your Color, Help Another” initiative.

Vision

Winter weather can reduce visibility, so a clear windshield is extremely important to prevent accident damage. To make certain you have an unobstructed view of the road at all times, examine the defroster system and windshield wipers. Replace any old or cracked blades, and don’t forget your rear wiper. If you live in an area that sees heavy winter precipitation, consider rubber winter blades to avoid ice build-up and provide optimal clearing. Stock up on winter windshield fluid and keep a bottle of de-icing spray in your car to reduce the need to scrape. Check all vehicle lights to make sure your night vision is equally clear, and replace any dim or dead bulbs.

Tires

One of the most essential aspects of vehicle winterization is making sure you have a safe grip on the road. Quality tires help keep your vehicle secure, especially in slippery rain or snow conditions, and inadequate tires will not be effective. Inspect your tire tread and pressure (an auto shop can do this for you) and replace worn tires for optimal traction in snow and ice. If you’ve not done so recently, make sure to rotate your tires and have your brakes checked. If you live in a snow-prone or rural area, you might consider purchasing snow tires and/or chains to get through the tough conditions.

Emergency kit

In the case that something does go wrong this winter and you are stranded, make sure to keep an emergency roadside kit in your vehicle at all times. Include a flashlight and batteries, road flares, a heavy blanket, jumper cables, bottled water and nutrition bars. Keep a charged cell phone with you at all times and check weather conditions before traveling extended distances or into rural areas. You may also benefit from roadside service, particularly if you are traveling alone or long distances.

With a little preparation, your vehicle will be ready for winter and you can avoid any unnecessary issues. Use these tips to make sure your travels are safe, comfortable and without issue this season.

High development costs, implementation hurdles -- and competition from electric and hybrid-electric vehicles -- have kept hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) out of the mainstream for now, but FCVs aren't dead in the water yet and research and development continues in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. Pictured: The Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car. (Media credit/Raymond Chen via Flickr)

It is true that just a few years ago everyone was talking hydrogen fuel cells as the future of petroleum-free automotive transport. Fuel cell cars can run on infinitely renewable hydrogen gas and emit no harmful tailpipe emissions whatsoever. A 2005 Scientific American article bullishly reported that car company executives “foresee no better option to the hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle in the long run.” Likewise, the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggested, also in 2005, that some 30 percent of the global stock of vehicles—700 million cars and trucks—could be powered by hydrogen fuel cells by 2050.

But high development costs and implementation hurdles have kept fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) out of the mainstream for now. And in the face of competition from a new crop of all-electric and hybrid-electric vehicles lately, some analysts wonder whether the fuel cell’s future is as bright as once thought.

That’s not to say the technology isn’t impressive, and still potentially very promising. The concept was first developed by NASA some five decades ago for use in space travel and has since been implemented in a wide range of other mobile and stationary power applications. In an FCV, a stack of fuel cells under the hood converts hydrogen stored on-board with oxygen in the air to make electricity that propels the drive train. While automakers have been able to make fuel cells small enough to fit in and power a conventional size car or truck, the price per unit is high due to the need to incorporate expensive, cutting edge components. And the lack of widespread demand precludes cost-saving mass production. Also, the lack of hydrogen refueling stations around the country limits the practicality of driving a fuel cell vehicle.

According to Richard Gilbert, co-author of the book, Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight without Oil, another big issue for hydrogen-powered fuel cells is their energy inefficiency. Creating hydrogen gas by splitting water molecules via electrolysis ends up using up about half of the energy it creates. Another half of the resulting energy is taken up by the conversion of hydrogen back into electricity within fuel cells. “This means that only a quarter of the initially available energy reaches the electric motor,” reports Gilbert. (Making hydrogen by reforming natural gas is also highly inefficient and relies on a fossil fuel from the get-go.) Such losses in conversion don’t stack up well against, for instance, recharging an electric vehicle (EV) like the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt from a wall socket—especially if the electricity can be initially generated from a renewable source like wind or solar.

But FCVs aren’t dead in the water yet. A few dozen Californians are already driving one of Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel cell cars. A $600/month lease payment entitles qualifying drivers to not only collision coverage, maintenance and roadside assistance but also hydrogen fuel, available via a handful of “fast-fill” hydrogen refueling stations. General Motors is part of an effort to test FCVs and implement a viable hydrogen refueling infrastructure in Hawaii, currently one of the most fossil fuel dependent states in the U.S. The Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative aims to bring upwards of 20 hydrogen refueling stations to Hawaii by 2015. Other efforts are underway in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere.

CONTACTS: IEA, www.iea.org; Honda FCX Clarity, www.automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E – The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

Will Barack Obama's call for one million electric vehicles on American roads by 2015 be realized? Some predict there could be as many as 14 million on the road by 2020. Either way we should soon be seeing many more signs like this one. (Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr)

“We can break our dependence on oil … and become the first country to have one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015,” President Obama said in his January 2011 State of the Union address. “The future is ours to win.”

It’s difficult to say how likely such an arbitrary goal might be, but green leaders and others are optimistic. The waiting list for the new electric Nissan Leaf, rolling off the factory floor as we speak, is some 20,000 Americans long. The auto industry expects similar demand for other new electric and plug-in hybrid cars hitting U.S. roads this year and next from General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi and others.

Of course, the Obama administration realizes that attaining such a goal will be impossible without help from the federal government. To that end, consumers and businesses can get tax credits worth up to $7,500 on the purchase of each new electric vehicle (EV). The feds have also committed $2.4 billion for research and development into improving EV batteries, and another $115 million for the installation of EV charging infrastructure in 16 different metro areas around the country—not to mention some $300 million in clean cities grants to dozens of American communities working to reduce petroleum use, and the $25 billion being doled out to help U.S. automakers retool. So much federal involvement has helped spur state governments and private industry to make significant investments in the EV sector as well.

But even with all this funding, a million EVs on the road by 2015 may still be just a pipe dream. James Sweeney of Stanford University’s Precourt Energy Efficiency Center calls the plan “very aggressive.” He reasons that it took over a decade for hybrids—which “did not require any difference in infrastructure and had as great a range as conventional vehicles, neither of which is likely to be the case with electric vehicles”—to capture three percent of the U.S. passenger car and light truck market. EVs would have to achieve the same market share in just four years if Obama’s goal is to be realized. “Even with a large subsidy, it would be very hard to move to such a large market share that quickly,” Sweeney concludes.

The Electrification Coalition, an organization of pro-EV business leaders from companies including Nissan, Federal Express, Coda Automotive and Coulomb Technologies, would take issue with that conclusion, however. The group’s November 2009 study, dubbed the Electrification Roadmap, predicted that as many as 14 million EVs could be on American roads by 2020 if lawmakers create “electrification ecosystems” in several major U.S. cities simultaneously. If the group is anywhere near the mark, reaching Obama’s goal of a million EVs by 2015 should be a no-brainer. The group also says that EVs could account for as many as 75 percent of all miles driven by light duty vehicles in the U.S. by 2040.

Now if only we could clean up our supply of electricity too, then we really might be onto something good for the planet…

Wondering what to get your favorite motor head this year or have a new driver in the house that won’t be close to home for your help? Here are a couple products that stood out this year as gifts that can be suited for anyone who drives or loves their automobile.

Joby: Gorillatorch Blade $59.95

The Gorillatorch Blade is the perfect flashlight to carry in your trunk for those roadside emergencies. The Blade comes equipped with a 130-Lumen high-efficiency long-lasting CREE LED, lithium-ion battery, that is recharged by either USB or AC with both adapters included, provide hours of productive, uninterrupted work. Spot and flood settings make Blade perfect for detailed tasks or illuminating a large space with a smooth 360-degree pan and 180-degree tilt allows precise illumination of the most tough-to-reach spaces. The Modular flashlight is removable from the stand to accommodate more tactical applications. Flexible, legs enable users to secure the Blade to any surface which is perfect when you don’t have an extra pair of hands around to assist in any situation.

Lemur Monitors: EconoDriver $69.95

Driving feedback accessory displays real-time fuel consumption to help you drive greener and save money. Program in the current cost of gas and it will indicate how much money you are wasting by accelerating and braking too quickly or idling too often. Installs within minutes and requires no additional tools or computer connection by simply plugging the sensor into your vehicle’s Data Port which then wirelessly relays the pertinent info to the display on the pocket-sized key fob.

PLX Devices: Kiwi Bluetooth $99.95 ($149.95 for iPhone/iPad)

Kiwi Bluetooth turns your mobile device into a powerful automotive monitoring tool. Works with your Droid, iPhone, iPad, or iTouch via the Wi-Fi Signal. Features include: Check Engine scan tool, MPG Gauges, Engine Sensors, Real time Dyno, Data Log-ging, GPS Tracking and Skid Pad. Easily installs via your car’s OBDII plug located underneath your steering column. Downloadable apps available on iTunes include Rev, Dash Command and Fuzzy Car.

AAA 121-Piece Road Trip First Aid Kit $29.99

Accidents do happen while in the car, from slamming your nail in the door, bumping your head on the way out of the backseat or stepping on a green army man left over from one of your delightful little people. The AAA road trip first aid kit has a durable hard shell design. Included in the kit are 121 pieces from Band-Aids to alcohol prep pads. A clear pocket design that is light weight and compact perfect for car, home or outdoors.

Michelin 12279 Digital Programmable Tire Gauge $29.95

The Michelin Digital Programmable Tire Gauge just might be idiot proof. It can be programmed to remember your front and rear tire pressure on its easy to read digital screen. The 0.1 PSI resolution provides accurate inflation. Easy to hold with a rubberized soft grip and die cast rugged housing for in case you drop it and a storage pouch to stash in your trunk or glove compartment.

Campbell Hausfeld 12 Volt Digital Tire Inflation System $94.99

Flat tires are just about as much fun as pulling gum out of your hair. If you haven’t splurged on never flat’s or lack the muscle to change your own tire, never fear. By keeping this trusty device in your trunk the days of being stranded or climbing under your SUV to retrieve a filthy tire are over. This inflator is ideal for inflating car, minivan, motorcycle and bike tires, as well as sports balls. Just connect it to your tire stem, dial in your desired pressure and push to start inflating. Unit automatically shuts off when it reaches your desired pressure. Plus, it comes with the accessories you need to get started. The bright digital gauge is easy to read, and you can monitor progress as the unit reaches your desired tire pressure all with a handy light for those night time fiascos.

3M Headlight Lens Restoration System $19.99

What do 2.8 million accidents, 23,000 fatal crashes and 2,300 pedestrian deaths each year, according to the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council have in common? A driver’s limited visibility. Compared to having headlight lenses commercially repaired for approximately $75-$150 or replaced for up to $1,500, the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System costs a fraction of that price, and the entire process takes under an hour, depending on the extent of the damage by removing hazy, dull appearances. Utilize the extra muscle from a common household drill to attach to the polishing pads and you have the ability to restore two headlight lenses in your own garage.

The Absorber Synthetic Drying Chamois $14.99

Not a leather chamois nor a terry cloth towel but the Absorber just may be the best drying tool you have ever owned that is machine washable too. Made of a unique material called PVA (poly vinyl alcohol) nothing dries faster or easier. The Absorber’s one of a kind lint free, chemical resistant, sponge-like structure give the Absorber its super drying ability.

Schumacher SpeedCharge Battery Charger $63.99

Nothing is more of an inconvenience than a dead battery even with roadside assistance on your side. Carry one of these around in your trunk, and occasionally charge to prevent things like this from happening. The Schumacher SC-600A SpeedCharge is a fully automatic battery charger that uses advanced technology to charge up to twice as fast as conventional chargers. It offers 6-, 4-, and 2-amp charging modes to efficiently charge and maintain connected batteries. The 50-amp clamps are compatible with both top and side-mounted battery posts. It has an easy-to-read LED indicators show battery charge status at a glance. 50 amp clamps for top and side-mounted battery posts. The fully automatic system is able to charge motorcycles, ATV’s, snowmobiles, lawn tractors, trucks, and cars. Random acts of kindness just might follow from owning this device.

Mothers 07240 California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System $24.99

Mothers California Gold Clay Bar system is created to remove the particulate debris such as embedded grains of metal, tree sap, airborne environmental deposits (such as the acid rain spots), paint overspray and contaminants that washing and polishing can’t remove. Regular use provides a long last benefit to your cars paint when used before waxing. The kit includes 2 clay bars, Showtime Instant Detailer, and Microfiber towel.

Whenever I see either:

BMW Gran Turismo

or

Honda Accord Crosstour

I always think….

AMC  Wagon

Just saying….

Cadillac announced that it will be recalling more than 20,000 CTS and CTS-V models due to replace a glove compartment box that could lead to leg injuries to the passenger in a crash. GM states that recall involves nearly 5,000 all-wheel drive 2009 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V models, and more than 15,000 vehicles from the 2010 model year.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that passengers not wearing their seatbelt could strike the glove box door and suffer leg injuries in a crash. Dealers will replace the glove compartment assembly at no charge.

 Owners can contact Cadillac directly or make an appointment at their local dealer to have the issue resolved.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Last year appears to have been the stumble that forced a slice of humble pie to Chrysler.  It has been 16 months since emerging from Chapter 11, and Chrysler has been so quiet that you might have thought they had all but given up. 

At a recent Chrysler dealer show attended by more than 75 percent of the 2,314 U.S. dealers, Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler LLC, spoke of the future, of the past and of lessons learned at the first show since 2007.

"What is ultimately needed is a reconnection to the heart of the market, of the brands to their customers" Said Marchionne. He graciously thanked Chrysler dealers who have "endured the hardship and uncertainty of the last 18 months" without the aid of forecasts or lengthy power point presentations that paint an unknown future.

Sergio Marchionne, unbeknown to many other than a hot head in the business world, declares himself a man of the industry in his black pants and sweaters, engaged with a team of gifted individuals in the rebuilding of Chrysler who seeks to restore credibility and confidence in a company whose past economic failures are still too fresh in the public mind and who does not have all the answers but is "trying to reverse what appeared to be an inevitable fatal tailspin". Some have said that Chrysler probably wishes to pretend that 2009 never happened but they would not have been able to recognize the past as misses, failures and their inability to be fair. "Chrysler needs to embrace the challenge of the new and see the future as a huge opportunity as Fiat did six years ago."

Ah yes, Fiat. The nominated manufacture President Obama deemed as the acceptable group to remake Chrysler. "Fiat has the privilege of collaborating in the rebirth of the U. S. auto industry, and we are particularly proud of this" said Marchionne. Fiat was saved when everyone had an opinion as to what should become of the brand. With no government bailouts accepted, Fiat managed to deliver $5 billion in trading profit in 2008; the highest ever their history.

So what does a 111-year Old Italian company have that Chrysler needs? Let’s start with the fact that by 2014 more than half of the Chryslers’ will be built on Fiat derived platforms and over 40% will be fitted with power trains that are either Fiat power trains or benefit from Fiat technology that will save Chrysler significant time in development, testing not to mention billions of dollars in investment. Fiat also promises by 2014 combined with Chrysler to ability to produce 6 million vehicles, which is critical as a global player. Joining of the two organizations will allow them to optimize the allocation of capital, leverage potential distribution networks, and utilize technical know-how that will allow for a full product range in both small and large segments. This joint effort will allow Chrysler to stay ahead with Fiat’s advanced fuel-saving technologies which will in turn provide a significant advantage in meeting future regulatory requirements.

As with any restructuring, the new Chrysler is built on Fiat’s five core principles:

• Merit above mere knowledge or rank.
• Leadership of change and of people above position.
• The search for excellence above mediocrity.
• A desire to engage in competition above egocentricity and insularity.
• Reliability and accountability above idle promises.

What do those cardinal rules that Fiat and now Chrysler live by mean to you? It means everything at Chrysler has changed. Everything.

The acknowledgment of their customer complaints over the years have finally been addressed, shoddy workmanship will no longer been tolerated. Chrysler made their case with the totally redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee which they promise addresses every single complaint ever made about a Chrysler product, braking, steering, noise levels, interiors, right down to the transmission. Chrysler did not restrict any capital when designing these competitive products. An 8-speed-rear-wheel-drive transmission will be available mid 2011 followed by a 9-speed-front-wheel-drive transmission both of which are all-wheel drive and hybrid capable. 16 all-new or refreshed vehicles that make up 75% of Chrysler including the 2011 Chrysler 200, Chrysler Town & Country, the North America-bound Fiat 500 Sport and Jeep Patriot have been changed to present an exciting future all within the past 16 months that do not dwell on their not so fabulous past.

Chrysler promises to deliver the products the dealers were shown, to execute plans at competitive quality levels with adequate marketing support in exchange for commitment to deliver grown objectives, to comply to dealer standards, to invest in our brands, to adopt commercial practices that treat our products and customers with the dignity they deserve. This plan is "simple, straight and uncomplicated" says Marchionne.

Surprisingly Chrysler is in great financial shape. They will break even in 2010, increase operating profit to $5 billion by 2014 to double global sales to 2.8 million total units and generate revenues of $65-70 billion. They intend to pay back every single penny borrowed.

This crisis has been a learning experience to say the least for Chrysler with three major lessons learned. The first, problems denied and solutions delayed will result in a painful, costly day of reckoning. Second, every crisis provides an opportunity to change and improve. Last, the right people count more than the right process. Maybe we could all apply those lessons to our own personal crisis and not just an automotive one?

As describing the rebirth of Fiat, Marchionne stated the point of the story was success is never permanent and that you must earn it every day.

Come on Chrysler, you know we’re waiting.

In order to satisfy the American sports car enthusiast, Audi announced that the 360-horsepower TT RS coupe is scheduled to arrive in U.S. dealerships by the third quarter of 2011.

The introduction of the Audi TT RS to the U.S. market has been under consideration for several months. To gauge consumer passion for the high-performance car, Audi launched an innovative survey on its Facebook tab. After more than 11,500 fans expressed their enthusiasm for the Audi TT RS in just one month, and the American automotive media praised its dynamics, Audi executives concluded the car’s time had come.

"With performance and agility rooted in Audi motorsports success, the TT RS is truly an emotional sports car," explained Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "That emotion became abundantly clear as we explored interest across the country."

Only the coupe version will be available with Audi yet to determine pricing for the TT RS headed for America as they continue to define features and options only available to U.S consumers. The American version will share the same key performance attributes of the models sold in Europe and elsewhere. The car will be equipped with the same 2.5 liter TFSI 5-cylinder engine that produces 360-horsepower with 333 lb-ft of torque. The TT RS is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, quattro all-wheel drive for an impressive 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds.

(ARA) – It’s that time of year – summer car-buying season is in full swing. Many dealers are offering great incentives to move cars off their lots to make room for the arrival of new models in the fall. Since buying a car is one of the biggest investments many of us make, it is important to be prepared so you can drive off the lot confident in the purchasing decision you’ve made.

Despite the economic hardships the auto industry has faced, financing a vehicle is still possible. Once you’ve researched reviews and valuations, and decided on the vehicle you want to buy, consider these four tips from Experian Automotive:

1. Check your credit score

Knowing where your credit history falls in the range of risk is more important now than ever before. Auto lenders use scoring models to help predict whether or not you could become delinquent on your auto loan payments. An auto lender typically receives a credit score that emphasizes your current and previous vehicle payment history. While they may use different credit scores for potential buyers than traditional lenders do, that simply means you shouldn’t focus on the number, but on your level of risk and what in your credit history most influenced that risk. Knowing where your credit history falls in the range of risk can help you anticipate the interest rates you may qualify for and the amount of the down payment you will need to make. Consequently, knowing where you stand may give you the leverage you need to negotiate for better rates.

2. Know how much you can afford to spend on a down payment

It’s important to know how much you can afford to spend on a down payment before you go to the dealer and ask for the keys. If you are able to offer a solid down payment on a car, you will be in a better position to negotiate the final sale price of the vehicle as well as the terms of your loan. And the lower your credit score, the larger the down payment you may be required to make. Being aware of how much cash you have to put down on a car can empower you to secure an even better deal and it can also help you realize what type of car you can truly afford.

3. Research loan options on your own

It’s a good idea to get pre-qualified for an auto loan before visiting an auto dealer. Knowing what loan options you have may influence the dealer to beat an offer from your bank with a better interest rate and lower monthly payments. Before heading to the dealership, check with your bank or credit union to see what loan rates are available.

4. Request your vehicle history report

If you decide to buy a used car or truck, you should always have a licensed mechanic physically inspect the vehicle. You should also conduct your own inspection of the vehicle’s past by requesting a vehicle history report from your dealer or pulling a report yourself at AutoCheck.com. The report will provide you with all reported events for that vehicle (odometer readings, vehicle registrations, title transfers, accident damage, emissions inspections) in addition to any issues with the vehicle’s title, any unexpected odometer readings, whether the vehicle was ever a rental or used as a service vehicle, and your AutoCheck score. This score is a tool that enables you to understand a vehicle’s past quickly and easily, compare it to other vehicles, and lower the risk of buying a vehicle with undetected problems.

Buying a car is an exciting time in everyone’s life, so before you rush out to the dealership, make sure you are properly prepared to get the most bang for your buck. Educating yourself on your financial standing as well as the current auto loan market and the history of the car you want to buy will help you drive off the lot with the knowledge that you made a sound investment.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

When Test Drive Unlimited 2 cruises into stores this fall, gamers and hardcore car nerds will be able to get behind the virtual wheel of one of many of the world’s finest automobiles. And now, there’s news today from Atari that they’ve also added one of the rarest, most coveted cars on the planet to the game’s already stocked roster.

The Aston Martin One-77!

Scheduled for a limited run of just 77, Aston Martin’s One-77 exists at the intersection between a limited edition artwork and pure technological innovation. The 77 (no doubt filthy rich) customers who will be lucky enough to purchase one of these cars will be treated to a culmination of Aston Martin’s modern era; V12 power, lightweight construction, modern materials, craft skills, design excellence, raw beauty, and pretty much a guarantee to get laid anytime they drive it.

Considering that you’re more than likely not one of these aforementioned 77 (and if you are, why the hell aren’t you reading Forbes or some shit like that?) you’ll just have to settle for fake driving one in Test Drive Unlimited 2, when it’s released on September 21.

For more on the game, check out www.testdriveunlimited2.com

The ability to articulate automobiles to sound fresh, exciting and not reworded has been a real struggle lately. But stumbling across a new automobile that I know nothing about turned into a blessing in disguise that is best described with the simplest of adjectives. With no pre-formed opinion, an honest look at Suzuki’s new Kizashi came easy.

If you think of Suzuki, you would think of their motorcycles being present contenders, basing this idea on what they produced in the 1980s. Suzuki was fully responsible for the concept, design and execution of the Kizashi after a joint effort on the former Verona didn’t go over well. Suzuki, like most manufacturers, is trying to reinvent their brand by taking the on the challenge without any assistance. Years of knowledge and dare I say failed attempts at actually making it in the American auto market, Suzuki realized this is the time to improve quality with the entire brand. Looking cheap does not fit into the equation.

The exterior of the Kizashi had me saying that it resembled a little of one car or another but really it’s just itself. The styling is nonchalant with hey-look-at-me-if-you-want-because-I-don’t-stand-out-but-yet-I-don’t-blend-in-either-approach. A large open grill with the massive Suzuki S placed in the center, wide headlights, sporty stance, surprisingly large fenders and a sleek rear with the chrome trim exhaust pieces molded nicely into the rear bumper and the Kizashi becomes quite the sassy sedan.

Suzuki’s ultimate focus on safety has not been pushed to the side either. Five star ratings in all 4 crash categories, a total of eight airbags that wrap the car in protection, a rigid body structure with enforcements where they need to be to ensure the car properly absorbs energy of any accident, ABS with Akebono brakes that "can stop a 14-car 170mph train", EPS and ESC make the Kizashi in the running with these standard safety features. Add an optional AWD and track tuned suspension that has the Kizashi handling more like a car that cost several thousand dollars more and the bits not visible to the eye become more of an incentive.

The Kizashi is available in 3 trim levels with 11 different combinations tailored to suit any buyer. The base "S" with a MSRP $18,999 plus a $735 destination fee includes a 6-speed manual transmission, push button start, dual zone climate control, 9-speaker audio, projector beam headlights, power windows/doors/mirrors and ambient foot lighting all come standard. Add the optional CVT transmission the base price jumps to $20,499 or the AWD for an additional $1,250(AWD is only available with the CVT and the added bonus of with a flick of a switch you can turn it off) and you have an AWD mid-size car for under $22,000. A FWD "S" is an additional $2500 but with the upgraded package comes upgraded "17 inch wheels, 10 way power driver seat, 3 position memory, leather wrapped parking brake and steering wheel with cruise control.

For those wanting more of a sportier version, the "GTS" is available with either the 6-speed or CVT with paddle shifters starting at $22,499. All of the standard options available on the "S" but a 425-watt Rockford Fosgate 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, hands free calling upgraded P235/45R18 wheels and tires, fog lights and power moon roof compete the package. Those who truly like to have all the creature comforts the "SLS" is your chance to get it all. MSRP at $24,399 has extras such as leather seating, power passenger seat, heated seating, and automatic dimming rear view mirror, universal garage door opener, heated outside mirrors, rain sensing wipers, auto headlights, and rear proximity sensors with audio warnings. Add the CVT and the AWD and you have an exceptional buy that comes in under $28,000.

The only thing the Kizashi does not offer an option on is the engine. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 185-hp with the 6-speed or 180-hp with the optional CVT transmission. Some might think that the one engine option limits the Kizashi’s possible mass interest but with a majority of the cars in its same class coming similarly equipped engine wise, there isn’t much room to discuss. There are talks of a possible V6 or a turbo-charged 4-cylinder in the future but at the moment the Kizashi is doing fine with just the one. With the average across the board with the 11 different combinations, the fuel averages remain 21/30mpg which can be determined differently of course based on your driving styles.

Our "S" model came equipped with the CVT transmission that made for a rather ho-hum driving experience until I took matters into my own hands. The standard "put the car in gear and go" to the ability to switch to manually shifting made a world of difference with the high revving 4 banger. The Kizashi performed like an entirely different car, it became quite fun to drive! The added zip of winding the car out matched with its ability to handle like a stealthy sports car made driving the Kizashi both in the city and on the highway more than entertaining. Only at quick dead stop accelerations was the typical 4-cylinder whine heard and the tire nose was minimal. For the most part the interior cabin provided a relatively quiet ride.

The Kizashi interior impressed me the most. For a car at this price point you would have to sometimes let go of interior quality but not here. Because of the low stance of the car, you sit lower in the Kizashi as the cabin wraps around you. Space for both driver and passengers is not an issue even though you really feel as if you are riding in a coupe verses a sedan. The all black interior our tester came with looked high end with softer plastics and not so harsh hard pieces that seem to mass produced in many cars these days. The entire dash was lit brightly with red backed gauges and tasteful silver plated trim pieces. A constant shade of black made the entire interior cohesive. I found the front seats to be well made, providing body hugging support. The overall fabric seemed to resemble corduroy which we all know is durable yet soft to the touch gave an interesting visual texture to the interior. Where space isn’t an issue on the interior, the trunk provides a mere 13.3 cubic feet of cargo space paired with a narrow trunk opening make anything more than groceries or small items about all that it can contain. The ability to lay the rear seat down to make room for longer objects does compensate the lack of space but with a little creativity a long trip with several luggage pieces could be successful.

Overall, the Kizashi is a breath of fresh air. It’s new, fun and sassy! Not only can Kizashi play the role of a budget friendly under $20,000 sedan but completely gilded it still comes in under $30,000. In a redefining moment of the Suzuki brand, it just may be the turning point for everyone else to take notice of the one car that is getting overlooked by even the best of us.

What has shag carpet, dance club lights and colored accessories? No, not Studio 54 … the Cube.

Not one for super trendy cars that lose their appeal within a few years, I was skeptical to even think that driving this around for a week would be enjoyable. Was I ever wrong. The Cube has won Automobile’s Design of the Year, a Top Safety pick by IIHS and KBB finds it in their top 10 Coolest Cars Under $18k Category, so why wouldn’t I develop a slight liking to this car?

The Nissan Cube has a starting price of $13,990. With the fully loaded Krom edition topping out at under $22,000, the consumer has plenty of options to flex. Our Cube SL came with a MSRP of $17,130 and with options came in just over the $20,000 mark. The 1.8 liter DOHC only provides a measly 122 horsepower and, as my oldest son determined, sounds like a boat launching when floored. And the Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) took me longer than a week to get accustomed to. Am I the only one who thinks they are just a little weird?

Point is, there will be no speedy dashes to the finish line in the Cube. It beats walking and has more zip on the bottom end then from a dead stop, but you can’t hold much to such a small engine — but it tries hard, I will give it that. Less zip does mean there will be fewer trips to the gas station. In my week of driving all over creation I managed to put over 500 miles on the Cube on one tank of gas. With a 13.2 tank, that means I averaged right under 40mpg. For the girl who likes to wait until empty no longer flashes a number, I was thoroughly pleased when I didn’t have to stop once.

It could aldo stop on a dime and handled rather well considering it really does resemble a box on wheels. A minor near-death experience brought on by an elderly man who clearly didn’t see our black mass as it moved stealthily down the road quickly avoided disaster, but had me laughing in tears at the sound of the horn. Seriously, it’s a MEEP at best.

From the outside, there really isn’t much visual space taken up by this small station wagon. A turning radius that would put a go-kart to shame and able to fit into half a parking spot, the Cube brings the itty to the bitty. A friendly front end sporting automatic on/off halogen headlights and a somewhat seamless rear with minimal make up for a cute little car. At just a little over 13 feet in length and 5.5 feet wide, you question just how comfortable the interior could possibly be with such limited space. Side, front and roof air bags, front seat active head restraints, 3-point ELR/ALR seat belts for all 5 passengers, front and rear crumple zones earned the Cube 4 and 5 star crash ratings. A list of acronyms includes TCS, VDC, TPMS, EBD, BA, and ABS. Just like a book, you shouldn’t judge the Cube by its cover.

With the expansive amount of glass providing a clear view from every possibly angle, more than generous leg room for all passengers and quite the amount of headroom, the Cube manages to convince you that you are not riding in a clown car. Cargo space was another story. Our test model came equipped with the rear cargo organizer ($180), which provided two locking compartments that can store items normally kept in the car while still leaving the small space above for whatever you may decide to squish back there. Not even a foot deep, storage could pose a problem, but with the seats flat you managed to find yourself with just short of 5 feet of space. However, the seats do not lay flat for some reason, so though the Cube appears made to deliver goods, it’s just not going to happen.

Even with no center console, compartments and cup holders were a-plenty, with a total of six cup and five water bottle holders to give you endless places to store your keys, phone and mp3 player. A 6-way driver side seat with height adjuster and 4-way passenger seat allow for you to get comfy. The only weird option I couldn’t figure out was that the driver side seat had an armrest but the passenger did not, leaving their left arm to just dangle the distance between the seat and floor. Rear seating provided enough support for adults to ride comfortably and the head room remained ample.

The interior does not appear cheap or thrown together, but made just for the Cube. Premium grade seat fabric, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and mounted controls, Bluetooth hands-free system, speed sensitive volume control, automatic temperature control conditioner, power windows and door locks are just a few of the standard features in the Cube.

The dash has a curvy stance, but in a simple, organized fashion. No faux carbon fiber or abundance of the trendy nickel accents, Nissan got it just right when it came to matching the interior to the exterior. The oval gauge display mimics the oval shapes embossed in the headliner, rectangular radio, and round air condition controls make up all there is to the dash.

The SL preferred package ($1600) includes the Nissan Intelligent Key that replaces the remote keyless entry, push button ignition, fog lights, premium AM/FM/CD audio system with a 4.3″ color display, XM satellite radio, USB audio connectivity, rear view monitor and 6 upgraded speakers with Rockford Fosgate subwoofer that provided the umph through the speakers. The optional interior illumination package ($490) provided stainless steel illuminated kick plates and 20-color interior accent lighting that depending on your mood or music could change with just a twist of a knob. My favorite was green but the options were endless. The interior designer package ($230) included plush floor mats, a cargo area mat, front door bungees and a random shag dash topper. I wasn’t quite sure what purpose it served, but it was a conversation piece none the less with each person who took a look inside. Same for the door bungees that came in a combination of colors that you could switch to your liking. With the changing lights and colored bungees, it was appropriate that there was plenty of techno playing during my travels, putting me back in that Raver mode as the Cube was seemingly geared towards. Or was it people who like to accessorize their cars in odd ways? Either way, it didn’t bother me, since there was no purpose served for either.

Overall, I appreciated what the Cube has to offer. It led me to think inside a box but I won’t ever call one my own.

Leasetrader.com conducted a survey polled over 2,500 men and women asking “what’s the honeymoon period on a car.” The survey revealed that the honeymoon stage lasts three-times longer for women than for men. Men only averaging 4 months before caution went out the window. I fall somewhere between the 4 month and 2 year mark. I can’t say if I could ever love a car longer than 2 years because I’ve never owned the same one for that long but it could happen. Maybe.

I am guilty of most occurrences mentioned in the survey:

Parking around other cars – at two weeks old my car was backed into while in a parking garage. After that, front row at the grocery store not even flinching when a cart was rammed against the car.

Transporting sporting equipment – or in my case boogie and skim boards, bikes, scooters, and sand covered beach toys not limited to shovels and buckets.

Less frequent car cleaning – Murphy’s law, it rains after I wash so why bother? If I recall, the last time my car was washed was back in January. I think…

High-payment starts to bother – I knew it sucked before I even left the dealership but when a C-Class commercial comes on and is offered for less then what I pay now, a feeling of disgust forms in my stomach.

No more fights over who drives on long trips – I take full advantage of the fact my boyfriend has a new vehicle which he loves to drive. You’ll never hear me complain pulling up to valet on the passenger side, I’m a sucker for having my door opened.

Letting spouse drive the car – With my last car, the timing of letting my then boyfriend drive the truck and my lack of love ironically did occur at the same time. Sadly, no one has drove the current car that I can recall nor would I even care if they did.

Starts car-pooling other kids – What is a faster way to destroy the interior of any car? Two kids under the age of 5 add to the mix another and you can forget ever driving a crumb free car. Not long after taking my car in for service the first time, started the car-pooling started. Hmmm.

Eating in the car – not ever realizing this was a sign of lack of love but not eating the car lasts just about as long as me telling my children they can only eat on the tile floors because they will ruin the carpet but as we know silence is golden and while eating at the dinner table, in their bedrooms or the backseat of the car, we appreciate it regardless of the mess that will without a doubt occur.

Putting make-up on while driving – I am not quite sure how this means I no longer like my car but I appreciate cars with visors that include lights that allow for last minute touch-ups. Are you listening Nissan?!

Leaves clothes in the car – currently there are at least three pairs of shoes, a couple shirtrior of the car not including whatever has overflowed into the trunk. Often the shoes get removed to drive (heels and manual transmissions are not really compatible) and depending on everything else I have to carry upstairs get left behind. Plus, who knows when I just might need to do a shoe switch. It’s not about being lazy and not cleaning my car out, it’s about staying prepared! Much like the center console full of peanut butter crackers and raisins…

Starts smoking in the car – I love the new car smell. Nothing will take that quicker then smoke. It permeates the headliner, the seats, the carpet, no matter how many windows are down and the roof open; it lingers. Let’s be honest, smoker or not, getting into a car that reeks is not appealing. I am guilty of the occasional obviously when I am not driving the gang around in the backseat but since that is next to never, I avoid doing it.

Other – My own personal honeymoon period always comes to an end the moment the car needs to go in for service. My current car no exception, less than a two months old it had been in twice for the same issue. The disgust then formed and now I regrettably hate being behind the wheel of the car at any point. Brand new should not equal frequent trips to the dealership within the first two years. FOR ANYTHING.

The people that drive the same car for 10+ years are strange breed to me that I am almost certain I could not possibly ever have anything in common with. "Generally drivers living a leasing lifestyle have a shorter honeymoon period with their car," said Sergio Stiberman, CEO and Founder of LeaseTrader.com.

Guess who will be leasing her next car? ‘Tis me!

When I think of an affordable compact SUV, images of a Suzuki are not what first comes to mind. With an already full class of contenders, what could the Grand Vitara do to stand out?

The exterior of the Grand Vitara is appealing, I will give it that. Our Limited model came with 18″ wheels that provided an aggressive stance on the smaller size but the road noise associated with the larger tires provided that a not-so-grand roaring sound as a majority of driving does in fact occur in the city. The Grand Vitara offers a great view of the highway with limited visibility issues. The typical stiff ride one comes to find in an SUV wasn’t horrible but don’t expect cushiness when crossing a set of railroad tracks or a rough patch on the highway. It does alright, but nothing more.

The 3.2L V6 was responsive but for something this size, the fuel economy wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for. The initial estimated until empty flashed 275 miles but it came up short after less than a week of long highway driving. When pennies are being pinched and cheap gas is at the $3 mark, the consumer wants a compact SUV that is fuel efficient but the Grand Vitara doesn’t measure up. Suzuki estimates 17mpg in the city and 23mpg on the highway and with a 17.4 gallon tank, you do the math.

The Grand Vitara offers the safety and security that is typical. Front and side impact air bags, 100,000 mile/7-year powertrain limited warranty that is fully transferable, tire pressure monitoring, ABS, Electronic Stability, Homelink, Smartpass keyless entry and ignition. There are not many options as most come with the trim package associated, ours being the Limited. The dash is simple and easy, not over the top with all black finishes and silver accents. The tacky faux black marble used sparingly could be left out completely though. The pop-up removable Garmin navigation had it’s own place to rest in the center of the dash providing a clear view while driving.

The ability to remove the GPS device to enter data is nice and easy to use. The leather seating is included but the seats are not as comfortable as they could be. Stiff and somewhat cheap, the idea of remaining in them for a long road trip doesn’t leave me excited. The heated seat feature only allows for one temperature and it seems to trickle off the longer it is left on to the point you don’t even realize the heat is even on. Leg room was ample in both front and rear seating surprisingly. A power tilt and slide sunroof, cruise control, tilt leather steering wheel, power windows/doors/locks, heated mirrors, CD/AM/FM 7-speaker audio wrap up the comfort and convenience associated with the Grand Vitara. Additional features (the all season cargo mat, floor mats, premium metallic paint and Bluetooth) brought the Suzuki to $27,653. Though the radio is XM capable, it is not included nor was there a iPod adaptor for the USB port. The quality of the audio wasn’t anything worth bragging about either. The rear cargo isn’t spectacular – it lacks in actual floor space, is compensated with height for those motivated enough to stack and arrange their belongings in order to shove them all in without laying the rear seats down.

There wasn’t anything that made the Grand Vitara scream “HEY LOOK AT ME!” It was just simply OK. Not great, not bad, just OK. Can any manufacturer afford to just be OK? If Suzuki really wanted to gain interest, I feel a lowered price instead of remaining so close to their competition would give them a better edge. The interest would spark if the Limited came in under about $5000 less but for this price, I just don’t see the Grand Vitara at the top of any list.

AutoMD.com estimates that American consumers are overpaying by more than $20 Billion on auto repairs. The investigation not only revealed repair shops giving overblown estimates, but also multiple instances of shops recommending unnecessary work.

Nothing chaps my ass more then being ripped off. Ripping my sister off who fits the typical female stereotype who doesn’t know the difference between a spark plug wire and where the windshield washer fluid goes, really chaps my ass. I’ve never had a bad experience when it comes to automotive repairs because knock on wood, I haven’t had a car that has ever required the maintenance one needs after a certain age. I have dealt with typical maintenance not covered under warranty that most shops still try to up sale you on though. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I use my mom voice when telling them exactly what it is that they be will repairing on my car or the fact that I know what I talking about, no one has ever had the nerve to try an rip me off…yet.

A little over a month ago my younger sister, who religiously takes her car in to have the oil changed and tires rotated at a respectable Jacksonville dealer, gave her the once over, and then proceeded to give her a list of things that needed to be replaced immediately as if there were going to cause major consequences. One must admire a service adviser for simply doing their job but no one sticks it to you quite like a dealer when it comes to the cost of repairs. Not exactly being automotive savvy but experiencing a little bit of sticker shock as a poor college student, she took the list, paid for her oil change and proceeded to call our father who said “I think not”.

Let’s break it down what the dealer’s quoted $2000 bill was going to cover:

• Windshield wipers
• Transmission service
• Spark plugs and wires
• Water pump
• Timing belt
• Labor

The water pump and timing belt, really? Generally, when the the timing belt is replaced you must remove the water pump. It just makes sense at that time to replace them both. My sister bought her car with an extended warranty that heaven forbid, her car overheat or the timing belt break while she was driving down the road causing any major issues, a simple deductible would in fact cover the repairs and replacement. If the engine happened to seize up due to these issues, well then a new engine would be placed in the car for the same deductible. My father, who has owned more than his fair share of automobiles since he started driving in 1975, wasn’t too worried about the water pump or the timing belt so he prioritized the important items on the list. My sister only paid $5000 for the car less than two years ago, dumping $2000 in it now really wasn’t an option or even worth it. At that time she had bought the car it had just gone under a full service including new brakes and tires. The car receiving a clean bill of health from that Dodge dealer all less than 20,000 miles ago too.

My father took 20 minutes out of his day to walk into an automobile supply store where he purchased the windshield wiper blades, quality spark plugs, and transmission service kit, for less than $40. A mechanic and family friend for years was not able to accommodate my sister’s schedule so my father made a quick call to another shop that he had visited on and off for years as he knew the owners. A simple conversation over what repairs were needed and that 75% of the parts had already been purchased, came to a verbal agreement of no more than $100 for labor and miscellaneous parts. Had my father been able to take the time off from work, he would have done all of this himself with a few simple tools. A socket wrench (to fit both the plugs and for the transmission), a ratchet, and a feeler gauge used to set the gap on the plugs. But time being of the essence and not really having a location to put a car on ramps to complete the transmission service, my sister did what a majority of automobile owners do, she took it to have it done.

When my sister dropped her car off, she was given a 4 hour window for all of the repairs to be completed. At the fifth hour, the mechanic called to inform her that both her rear wheel cylinders were leaking and he would not be able to legally let her drive the car away from his shop with such a safety issue. My sister would have to pay for a tow truck and sign a release form in order to get her car back. Feeling pressured and concerned, she agreed without even consulting my father. So how would you even know if there was in fact a problem with the wheel cylinders? The obvious would be that your brake pedal would be soft and require being pushed all the way to the floor, your brake fluid light would come on because there was in fact a leak, and brake fluid would be noticeable on your rear wheels. My sister had experienced NONE of these issues.

At the eighth hour, my sister finally went to pick her car up. $299 later, she reluctantly swiped her card thinking of all the pb & jelly sandwiches she would have to consume for the next month in order to receive her keys back. Not once receiving an invoice stating exactly what had been done or the cost of the parts in order to complete the repair, she was handed a measly statement from the credit card machine stating the amount, date and shop name. There was no offering to view the old parts. Once hitting the road, she called my father to tell him the good news. Needless to say, my family has a tendency to have a bit of a short fuse when it comes to situations like these. No one likes to be taken advantage of and my father had purposely sent my sister there because he was comfortable with the amount quoted and he trusted the shop!

My father immediately came to my house where my sister was to investigate these so-called repairs. The first thing he checked was the spark plugs, she had been charged $10 per plug to change them and guess what? They were the same nasty old spark plugs that had been in there that morning. My father had purchased Autolites that are black, the silver ones from who knows how long ago sat in their place. Had my father had the tools, the entire process to change 4 spark plugs would have taken 15-20 minutes. The transmission was overfilled and we had to get a turkey baster to remove the excess. When he checked the brake fluid, it was dirty. What color is dirty brake fluid? It appears black. New fluid is the color of weak tea. The fact that her car was filthy and there were no hand prints on the rear tires from them being removed along with nothing shiny and new poking out to see it was obvious that the repair on the wheel cylinders had not been made. When my sister told him she didn’t even get an invoice or any old parts back, as one would say, he blew his stack.

With a phone call, the mechanic tried to justify his $10 per spark plug charge and that he had switched them, the fee for cleaning the transmission pan with a can of carb cleaner, that his dinky shop specifically had the wheel cylinders for that exact model car in stock, the entire tube of RTV to seal the transmission pan was justified much like the can of brake cleaner but hey! No charge to bleed the brakes because it wasn’t needed! There is no way you can get out of bleeding the brakes (which means to get all of the air out of the system once new fluid has been placed in the lines) – you have to do it. There was no charge, nor getting out of it because it had not been done. Had it not been 15 minutes from closing or a 45 minute drive away, I can assure you that my father would have been more than willing to settle this face to face as a few choice words over the phone really were not getting his point across as to what he thought about that days events. There was no explanation as to where the parts were, why the spark plugs had not been replaced or any negotiation on the services.

After an hour of ranting about the entire situation, being mad was not solving the issue so my sister got even. She called her bank and explained the situation who stated that since it was a pending transaction to call back once it had posted and they would assist her. That Tuesday, she called her bank back and since the previous person she had spoke to made excellent notes on her account, the charge was refunded and in return paper work was being sent for her to take the car to another repair shop to validate that in fact none of these repairs had been made. When she did in fact take the car for a second opinion recently, the spark plugs and wheel cylinders had not been replaced. No big surprise there. Luckily Visa stays true to it’s word. Unfortunately, not everyone is this lucky at finding such quick resolution in situations like these.

So what can you do to avoid this happening to you?

First, know exactly what needs to be repaired on your car. Second, shop around; don’t settle for one answer. AutoMd has a neat tool that allows you to estimate what you can expect to pay for repairs. Third, always get a written estimate with an agreed charge. Fourth, once you have decided on the shop, be firm with what services are going to be performed on your car – do not let any shop force you into repairs that you did not request. At this time negotiate a price based on what you have found. Fifth, if additional parts are bought during the repair make sure they provide you with proof and that you always receive all of the old parts back. Yes, you will just end up throwing them away but you will see in fact that the repairs had been made on what you were charged for. And lastly, if for some reason you feel as if you did not receive quality service or that repairs made were not to your liking, do not pay or leave the shop until you feel comfortable. You have the right to refuse any service. If you still do not feel comfortable in searching for a repair shop alone or taking your car in for service, take someone with you to reaffirm what you are requesting that is more knowledgeable.

The bitter taste left from a bad automotive repair experience is not one that will soon go away.

Dear EarthTalk: Isn’t the interest in electric cars and plug-in hybrids going to spur increased reliance on coal as a power source? And is that really any better than gasoline/oil in terms of environmental impact? — Graham Rankin, via e-mail

It’s true that the advent of electric cars is not necessarily a boon for the environment if it means simply trading our reliance on one fossil fuel—oil, from which gasoline is distilled—for an even dirtier one: coal, which is burned to create electricity.

The mining of coal is an ugly and environmentally destructive process. And, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) burning the substance in power plants sends some 48 tons of mercury—a known neurotoxin—into Americans’ air and water every year (1999 figures, the latest year for which data are available). Furthermore, coal burning contributes some 40 percent of total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) estimates that coal mining and burning cause a whopping $62 billion worth of environmental damage every year in the U.S. alone, not to mention its profound impact on our health.

Upwards of half of all the electricity in the U.S. is derived from coal, while the figure is estimated to be around 70 percent in China. As for Europe, the United Kingdom gets more than a third of its electricity from coal, while Italy plans to double its consumption of coal for electricity production within five years to account for some 33 percent of its own electricity needs. Several other countries in Europe, where green sentiment runs deep but economics still rule the roost, are also stockpiling coal and building more power plants to burn it in the face of an ever-increasing thirst for cheap and abundant electricity.

On top of this trend, dozens of electric and plug-in hybrid cars are in the works from the world’s carmakers. It stands to reason that, unless we start to source significant amounts of electricity from renewables (solar, wind, etc.), coal-fired plants will not only continue but may actually increase their discharges of mercury, carbon dioxide and other toxins due to greater numbers of electric cars on the road.

Some analysts expect that existing electricity capacity in the U.S. may be enough to power America’s electric cars in the near future, but don’t rule out the possibility of new coal plants (or new nuclear power plants) coming on line to fill the gap if we don’t make haste in developing alternate sources for generating electrical energy. And while proponents of energy efficiency believe we can go a long way by making our electric grids "smarter" through the use of monitoring technologies that can dole out power when it is most plentiful and cheap (usually the middle of the night), others doubt that existing capacity will be able to handle the load placed on even an intelligent "smart grid" distribution network.

Environmentalists—as well as many politicians and policymakers—maintain that the only viable, long-term solution is to spur on the development of renewable energy sources. Not long ago, the concept of an all-electric car charged up by solar power or some other form of clean renewable energy was nothing but a pipe dream. Today, though, such a scenario is within the realm of the possible, but only if everyone does their part to demand that our utilities bring more green power on line.

CONTACTS: EPA/mercury emissions; www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/utility/hgwhitepaperfinal.pdf.

Dear EarthTalk: Are there any health hazards associated with the use of the new silicone bakeware and cooking utensils? I have found information associated with the hazards/benefits of Teflon and other cookware but nothing on the use of silicone. — Jean McCarthy, Sebastian, FL

With all the negative press about Teflon and about metals leaching out of pots and pans, consumers are on the lookout for cookware that’s easy-to-clean and doesn’t pose health concerns. Silicone, a synthetic rubber made of bonded silicon (a natural element abundant in sand and rock) and oxygen, is increasingly filling this niche. The flexible yet strong material, which has proven popular in muffin pans, cupcake liners, spatulas and other utensils, can go from freezer to oven (up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit), is non-stick and stain-resistant, and unlike conventional cookware, comes in a range of bright and cheery colors.

But some wonder if there is dark side to silicone cookware. Anecdotal reports of dyes or silicone oil oozing out of overheated silicone cookware pop up on Internet posts, as do reports of odors lingering after repeated washings. Also, silicone’s image may be forever tainted by problems associated with silicone gel breast implants—some women with earlier generations of these implants experienced capsular contracture, an abnormal immune system response to foreign materials. And while theories about silicone implants’ link to breast cancer have since been debunked, the damage to silicone’s reputation lives on.

It’s sad to say, but since the use of silicone in cookware is fairly new, there has not been much research into its safety for use with food. Back in 1979 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that silicon dioxides—the basic elements in silicone cookware—were generally recognized as safe to use even in food-grade contexts. But the first silicone cookware (silicone spatulas) didn’t start to show up on store shelves until a decade later, and the FDA hasn’t conducted any follow-up studies to determine whether silicone can leach out of cookware and potentially contaminate food. For its part, Canada’s health agency, Health Canada, maintains that food-grade silicone does not react with food or beverages or produce any hazardous fumes, and as such is safe to use up to recommended temperatures.

Consumer advocate Debra Lynn Dadd, who steers clear of Teflon due to health concerns, is bullish on silicone cookware after investigating potential toxicity. "I tried to find some information on the health effects of silicone rubber, but it was not listed in any of the toxic chemical databases I use," she reports, adding that she also sampled material safety data on several silicone rubbers manufactured by Dow Corning (which makes some 700 variations). "All descriptions I read of silicone rubber describe it as chemically inert and stable, so it is unlikely to react with or leach into food, nor outgas vapors." She adds that silicone "is not toxic to aquatic or soil organisms, it is not hazardous waste, and while it is not biodegradable, it can be recycled after a lifetime of use."

So while most of us will probably not have a problem with silicone cookware, those with chemical sensitivities might want to stay away until more definitive research has been conducted. In the meantime, cast iron and anodized aluminum cookware remain top choices for those concerned about harmful elements leaching into their cooked foods.

CONTACTS: FDA, www.fda.gov; Health Canada, www.hc-sc.gc.ca; Debra Lynn Dadd, www.dld123.com; Dow Corning, www.dowcorning.com.

NASCAR had their 2010 overview today which means it’s just about that time of year. The abundance of fresh air, sunshine and our beaches attract NASCAR fans from all over as they converge on Central Florida to watch the season opener, The Daytona 500 that falls on Valentine weekend this year. A true lover’s paradise, I’m sure. Now, I’ve never been one to actually enjoy NASCAR because the idea of driving 500 laps in a circle is ridiculous and somewhat asinine to me but a majority of people beg to differ. Add to the manual of rules that are placed on each team and the point is driven home that everyone really is driving the same car. I hear it’s about the car, no, it’s about the driver that wins the race but how does one actually win in NASCAR? Luck, I would think and drafting. It’s all about drafting….and rubbin’. No wait that was only in allowed in Days of Thunder or was it? NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said today that “NASCAR is a contact sport — our history is based on banging fenders.” So it really is then about rubbin’, right Harry?

The new list of improvements for the sport lacked the most import thing; lack of any serious fun being placed into the sport of racing once again. The 2010 season should include these new rules to reintroduce the love of NASCAR to every possible fan including myself. With the help of my dear old Dad we compiled these:

1. One Grandstand at every track must be reserved exclusively for alcoholics and persons wearing electronic ankle monitors. Do not take offense to this but if you have ever attended a NASCAR function you know EXACTLY what is being referred to.
2. All cars will be required to have ABS.
3. No speed limits on Pit Road just hope the ABS works.
4. Speed sells so there is no limit on engine size and nitrous oxide will be permitted.

Brian France said fans want excitement so with the elimination of restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega by God they will have excitement. With unlimited cubic inches and nitrous oxide the speed limit would exceed 250 mph. So who needs the new spoiler or roof flaps? That was so last season.

What am I implying? Maybe NASCAR needs to allow one to two races a year that are without all these ridiculous rules that have overtaken the actual process of racing and made this too much of a business and less of a sport. Those few races would generate new interest and exceed revenue expectations wherever the races were held. Hell, have everyone sign a waiver and I bet they would sell even more tickets!

"Rubbin’ is racing Harry, so let’s go racing!"

The Diva prefers NHRA but cannot resist making NASCAR joke when given the chance.

With the ever growing trend to "Go Green," auto manufactures have stepped up to the plate this year introducing several new electric concepts, realities and an vast array of new Hybrids set to launch into the market within the next several years. As the price of oil continues to fluctuate with the facts leaning to over the next few years’ gasoline being sold at record prices, want and need to start using other resources has been on the consumer’s constant mind. Hybrid sales rose 42 percent alone in December compared to the previous year providing actual proof that Hybrids are just not for the crunchy. Ten years ago there was only one option, now the road is slowly filling up with Hybrids that range from compact to luxury as drivers look for ways to not only ease the burden on their wallets but on their carbon footprint too.

This year GM will release the Chevrolet Volt. Comparable in size to the now Colbalt, the electric battery can provide 40 miles of variable driving then resorting to a gasoline engine once it has exhausted its resources. The four door, five passenger car is what GM hopes to break into this every growing area. GM currently has several Hybrid vehicles but this will be its first electric car into production coming out late this spring. Cadillac Converj, a sporty luxury plug-in hybrid coupe is set to go into production around 2013. Even though GM will no longer produce the Hybrid Malibu, the Silverado, Sierra, Yukon, Tahoe and Escalade will still be available for the 2010 year.

Toyota will double their Hybrid production to 1 million by 2011. It took the company 10 years to sell its first 1 million Hybrids globally. Toyota will boost production of existing plus launch several new subcompacts, minivans and luxury cars including the FT-CH concept released last week at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. The FT-CH would become the company’s most affordable and highest mpg car so far. Currently Toyota with Lexus combined offers over 10 Hybrid choices ranging from the Camery to the Lexus LS600H.

Honda plans to launch the CR-Z late this summer. The two seater hatchback reminiscent of the CRX with ratings of 31-38 mph on average depending on the transmission selected will be the third car Honda offers in a Hybrid. The current Insight competes with the Prius and the ever popular Civic remain their strong sells. Word that Acura will soon have its own Hybrid lineup is in the works.

Ford continues to stay strong in the Hybrid market with the green car of the year, Fusion. The Mercury twin Milan also continues to receive strong accolades as well as rating high in customer satisfaction. The Ford Escape/Mercury Mainer along with Mazda Tribute, also continue to stay in the edgy small SUV market by providing the only Hybrids in their class. Ford continues to unveil newer, more fuel efficient cars with the release of the new long awaited, Ford Focus set for 2011 launch.

As Volkswagen has demonstrated its abilities to provide consumers with favorable clean burning diesels, they have also finally created the New Compact Coupe (NCC) with a hybrid powertrain to the TSI gasoline engine with a lithium battery and turbocharged direct inject engine. Volkswagen promises 45 mph combined city and highway with an 8.1 0-60 response too. With their ability to reintroduce the diesel back into our lives, this Hybrid should have no problem finding its niche in the always loyal Volkswagen owners heart as well as the new ones it will pick up along the way with the good looks and respectable reputation the brand is known for.

Luxury hasn’t always been associated with Hybrid but BMW has taken notice and launched the Active Hybrid X6 this December. A two mode Hybrid full electric operation up to 37mph for 1.6 miles increasing fuel economy 15-20 percent. The Active Hybrid 7 is considered a mild Hybrid that uses electric motors to boost the operation of a gasoline engine and recaptures energy in a lithium-ion battery. The 7 is set to go on sale sometime this year.

The Audi e-tron electric sports car offers just what it the title states, a two seater sports car. With 204 hp, 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 124mph, this isn’t the golf cart commuter so many others have set out to be. Lithium-ion batteries offer realistic operating range of 155 miles possible. With a standard volt charge, it takes 11 hours to fully charge the batteries or two with a heavy current. Batter is constantly being charged not only when stationary but while in motion thanks to the electronic-mechanical brake system that enables further exploitation of the potential of electric motors for energy recovery.

Nissan’s LEAF set to go into to production this year is the first truly electric vehicle to be sold to consumers. It burns zero gas, has zero emissions and can travel up to 100 miles per charge with a top speed of 90 MPH. The batteries are fully charged within 8 hours. The five seater, five door is set to be priced around $30k. AeroVironment charging stations will be sold additional at the time of sale that way the consumer can charge their LEAF while it’s parked in their garage or wherever the vehicle will be used. Nissan hopes to have 20k reservations once it begins excepting them this Spring. More than 70 percent of the people who have contacted Nissan regarding LEAF reside in the markets where the car will be launched first. The strongest responses have been from San Diego, Tucson, Portland and Los Angeles. Ninety percent who contacted drive less than 100 miles per day while 75 percent indicate they are a two car family and this would make the ideal commuter car.

While we continue to purchase the standard more fuel efficient vehicles over the trendier Hybrids it doesn’t seem like it will be that far off to come to expect one day that all vehicles on the road will either be in a Hybrid or electric state as we move forward to the future and those possible bubble cars we once thought we would drive by now.

December closed out the year well for most

This week U.S auto manufactures reported their December sales and Annual numbers which just may spark a little notice with the fact people are in fact buying despite the tough economy.

Audi

Audi reports December U.S. sales of 9,030 luxury performance cars and SUVs, a result that ensured Audi will show the biggest 2009 U.S. market share gain of any imported luxury car brand. December 2009 ranked as the sixth-best month and the third-best December for the Audi brand in the U.S. The December 2009 sales represent a 17.1% increase from year-earlier December sales of 7,712 vehicles. "Audi clearly showed that it is the luxury brand on the move in 2009," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. December proved to be the best sales month ever for the Q5 and A5, best month of year for A3, A4, A6 and Q7 with the Clean diesel TDI models make up 53% of A3 sales, 43% of Q7 sales. Audi sold a total of 82,716 units for the entire 2009 year, 5.7% lower than the previous year.

BMW

Sales for BMW increased 11.5% in December for a total of 20,128 vehicles compared to 18,060 vehicles reported in the same month a year ago. For the year, BMW brand sales were down 21.1 percent to 196,502 vehicles compared to 249,113 vehicles sold in 2008. The top sellers were the X5 up 22.3 percent compared to December 2008. The BMW X6 was up 30.1 percent. The 5 Series gained 5.8 percent vs. December 2008 just prior to the introduction of an all-new 5 Series in the second quarter of 2010. The all-new BMW 7 Series and Z4 Roadster also had significant increases compared to last December, partially due to model cycle updates and limited inventory a year ago. “The numbers show a good month for us, but more importantly is the fact we saw traffic, shopping and sales evenly distributed throughout December,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC.

Chrysler

Chrysler Group today reported December sales increased 36 percent compared with November 2009 and 20 of 24 vehicles posted sales increases for the same time period. Inventory is down 55 percent compared with December 2008, with 178,538 units in inventory, representing a 58-day supply. Chrysler’s annual sales fell to 931,402 vehicles down from the 1.5 million sold the 2008 year. “As we kick off the new year, Chrysler Group continues to build momentum with some of the best products in the marketplace, and we are enthusiastic about the new products coming this year,” said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer-Ram Brand and Lead Executive for the Sales Organization, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our great Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram products are being recognized by opinion leaders in the industry, and consumers are responding in a positive way. In 2010 the company will continue to earn the trust of consumers with exciting, high-quality vehicles that are priced right.”

Ford

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury December sales up 33 percent versus a year ago; highest sales month since May 2008. 2009 marked the first time since 1995 that Ford announced full-year market share gain. Ford’s F-Series trucks has been the best selling truck for the past 33 years with a 16% increase this December. Ford also credits the ever so popular Fusion which had an increase of 83% for the month of December alone marking a new full-year sales record of units sold with the Escape having its second best ever sales year with an increase of 75% in December. December marks the 14th time in the last 15 months that Ford increased retail market share. Full-year sales totaled 1.62 million units still down 15% from the previous year. "People increasingly are discovering that the Ford difference is the strength of our products, particularly our leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart technologies and value," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service.

General Motors

GM dealers in the U.S. reported 160,996 retail deliveries in December — a 7 percent increase compared to last year, and a 50 percent increase over last month. Retail sales of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands were 146,419 — up 13 percent for the month. "The fact that our retail market share has increased two full points from the third to fourth quarters demonstrates that we are strengthening our brands," said Susan Docherty, vice president, Sales, Service and Marketing. December also marked the lowest dealer inventory at 385,000 units nationwide on record. Chevrolet retail sales were up 14 percent — driven by strong sales of Camaro, Traverse, Malibu and Equinox. Buick retail sales were up 32 percent compared with a year ago on the continued strength of LaCrosse and Enclave. GMC retail sales were up 4 percent vs. December 2008 on strong Acadia sales. Cadillac retail sales were up 7 percent, led by the 2010 SRX, with sales 357 percent higher than a year ago. GM estimated that total vehicle sales would fall to 10.6 million in 2009, the lowest since 1982 and down from 13.2 million in 2008 and 16.1 in 2007.

Honda

American Honda Motor Co. Inc. said Tuesday its U.S. sales jumped 24 percent in the last month of the year, but fell 19.5 percent for all of 2009. Sales in the Honda division rose 18.9 percent in December compared with 2008. But the company’s Acura division reported an 8.1 decline. Accord and CR-V increased to hit a new December record. Sales increased to 107,143 vehicles from 86,085 in December of 2008. For all of 2009, sales fell to 1,150,784 from 1,428,765.

Hyundai

Hyundai Motor America today announced December sales of 33,797, up more than 40 percent versus December 2008. For the full year, Hyundai reported 435,064 sales, up eight percent over the prior year total. Car of the Year Genesis set the tone for the month, recording an all-time, any-time, sales record in December. “We are looking forward to 2010 and have reason to be optimistic,” added Zuchowski. “Led by our strongest product lineup ever, highlighted by the all-new Tucson and all-new Sonata — and more great products in the pipeline — the ranking by the EPA as the most fuel-efficient car company in America, and the enhanced Hyundai Assurance program, it’s clear that we’re already off to a great start in 2010.” Hyundai recently announced an extension of their popular Hyundai Assurance program that permits Hyundai customers to return their new vehicle if they become unemployed. The program also adds in five years of roadside assistance and a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty.

Kia

Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced December sales of 21,048 units, a 43.7-percent increase over the same month last year, and total 2009 sales of 300,063 units, a 9.8-percent increase over the same period last year. Kia small cars, including Rio, Forte, Forte Koup and Soul led the way in monthly sales volume. “In the midst of our largest commitment to the U.S. market ever, we have once again prevailed against difficult economic times and a down automotive industry by increasing our market share for the 15th consecutive year,” said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. “Our new and appealing design evolution paired with our core principles of quality, safety, value and technology will continue to boost our brand into the next decade.”

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported December sales of 20,025 vehicles, its highest monthly volume of the year, bringing the company’s total 2009 volume to 190,604 and narrowing the gap versus last year to 15.3 percent. An increase of 8.2 percent compared to December 2008. Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of MBUSA said: “The strong finish to a year marked by challenges on every front, underscores the customer confidence in the Mercedes-Benz brand and the unstinting efforts we have undertaken in partnership with our retail network to provide an unparalleled ownership experience.”

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors North America said Tuesday its 2009 annual sales fell 44.5 percent, while sales for December dropped 4.7 percent even with the 49 percent increase over the month of November. Sales fell to 53,986 vehicles from 97,257 in 2008. In December, sales slid to 4,355 vehicles from 4,570 in December 2008. The Galant proved to be the top seller with 1,600 sold in December. “The improvement in December sales validates our renewed strategies and tactics,” said Shinichi Kurihara, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America. “The input provided by our dealers’ National Advisory Board has been instrumental in guiding our revised sales plans and actions, and will continue to do so as we collaborate to extend this sales momentum.”

Nissan

Nissan Division posted sales of 64,296 units in December compared with 53,829 units sold in December 2008, a 19.4 percent increase. Nissan Versa set a record month as well as huge double digit increases in the sales of Maxima, Z, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder and Armada. For calendar year 2009, combined Nissan and Infiniti sales totaled 770,103 vehicles, compared with 951,350 vehicles sold in 2008, a 19.1 percent decline. "The industry is coming out of a very tough year; it’s good to see 2009 behind us,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. “Despite the huge challenges and uncertainties of last year, combined Nissan and Infiniti market share set a record in 2009. And looking ahead, we’re encouraged by some signs of economic improvement. Showroom traffic is building and consumer confidence is rising."

Subaru

Subaru of America, Inc announced a record breaking sales year as the company sold 216,652 units in 2009, an increase of 15-percent. This breaks the previous sales record of 200,703 units sold in 2006. This also marks a record sales month for December 2009 as the company sold 23,074 units – an increase of 33-percent – versus 17,287 units sold in December 2008. December represented yet another record month for the Japanese manufacture. “We really owe this tremendous success to both our retailers and employees, who executed the business plans we set in place,” said Thomas J. Doll, EVP and COO of Subaru of America, Inc. “Along with our vision and their belief in the Subaru brand, they helped make that vision a reality,” Doll continued.

Suzuki

American Suzuki reported Tuesday that the automaker’s 2009 sales dropped 54 percent as December sales fell 48 percent. December sales dropped to 1,885, compared to 3,650 in 2008. For all of 2009, sales fell to 38,689 from 84,862 in 2008. The SX4 was the company’s top-selling model with 1,116 sold in December. Sales fell to 1,885 in December from 3,650 a year earlier. For all of 2009, sales fell to 38,689 from 84,862 in 2008.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen of America, Inc. reported December 2009 sales of 20,387 total units, representing a 16 percent increase over December 2008. December marks Volkswagen’s sixth consecutive sales month above last year. The Jetta, Volkswagen of America’s top selling nameplate, posted strong December results with 10,233 units, a 26.9 percent increase over December 2008. Volkswagen’s clean diesel TDI models continue to perform especially well and accounted for over 20 percent of the brands total December sales. Volkswagen sold 213,454 total units for 2009, a decrease of 4.3 percent of the 223,128 units sold in 2008. “December’s performance was encouraging, as was the six consecutive months of sales growth that we have experienced. During those six months, Volkswagen sales increased 8.2 percent over the same period of last year,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “2009 proved to be another extremely challenging year for the Automotive Industry. We are encouraged by the fact that we were able to continue to grow our market share throughout 2009 despite the extremely challenging market conditions,” added Barnes.

Volvo

Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (VCNA) December sales were up 13.8 percent in the United States, marking the seventh straight month of a year-over-year increase. In the United States, VCNA sold a total of 5,638 vehicles in December. Another major contributor to Volvo’s recent sales success Safe + Sound coverage plan which provides best-in-class coverage, provides the lowest cost of luxury ownership (according to IntelliChoice). Overall in North America (United States and Canada), Volvo has sold 67,975 units in 2009, which represents a 14.6 percent decrease for the same period of 2008.

You know what they say about opinions, and we all know that we are entitled to them.

The media gets a bad rap for publishing incriminating information on certain celebrities, politicians and manufacturers when unexpected events come about. We speak highly of underdogs and stories of struggle that rise above circumstances to make a glorious victory but there always seems to be someone on the other side who has to rain on the parade. I think back to all the corny quotes we came up with in middle school about envy, jealousy and ignorant people and like a Dr. Seuss book they can be applied to our adult lives too.

In 1903, Henry Ford incorporated Ford Motor Company which has gone on to be one of the largest and most profitable companies as well as being one to survive the Great Depression. Fast forward to late 2008 when all three of our domestic automobile manufactures were asking Congress for bailout money who took it upon themselves to repair their own financial problem and not ask for a hand out? Ford. Who reported earnings this year? Ford. I’m no analyst but those are facts that cannot be argued with.

That public recognition alone was enough to prove that they do have a solid global business plan that has them venturing into areas that reflect the future of Ford, profits are expected to continue to grow due to a conservative approach of their spending and that they understand the reason why consumers were not purchasing new automobiles during the our countries recession instead pointing fingers elsewhere.

I have been privileged enough to see many Ford model changes over the years with right now in my opinion, their most attractive line up in their history. Ford quality has continuously improved over the last 8 years which has been noticed each time by J.D Power & Associates. In one year alone their score went up 10 points over last year’s study. "Ford brand’s quality continues to improve faster than the overall industry.” Add up all the other awards given and it’s pretty obvious that they have earned their right to say Ford quality is exactly that.

Recent manufacture inventory numbers reflect a higher for Ford then GM. Could it be that GM has a lower inventory for the simple fact that they stopped producing at several plants back in May? Recent drives past local GM dealers reflect low inventory and poor selection. Several new models were launched this year from GM such as the Buick LaCrosse which has only been in production since June and it’s a hot car at the moment for the simple fact it’s new. Add to the overly hyped 2010 Camaro which had only sold a whopping 9,320 in the first half of the year since release verses the Mustang which did get minimal redesign this year but has been continuously in production while GM had no V8 pot to pee in since 2003. According to Rick Roberts at Greenway Ford, their amount of what the industry considers "aged" inventory has drastically been reduced due to positive marketing. Ford can credit their loyal customers as well as newly impressed, first time Ford buyers with their ability to keep their head above the water — which is equivalent to a good handshake in times like these.

So before the media decides to have their daily dose of hater-aid, consider the Ford facts.

Unlike Boston’s famous World of Wheels auto show that allows car owners and aftermarket suppliers to showcase their own fire breathing, custom painted, tricked out rides, The New England International Auto Show is more focused on the world’s major automakers and their new vehicle lineups for the upcoming year. This year, 30 manufacturers were represented from December 2-6 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Just about every major production vehicle for the 2010 model year rolled its way onto the carpeted floor of the massive convention center. With the Ferrari booth sandwiched between those of Acura and Hyundai, the collection of vehicles spanned a wide array of price brackets and purposes. In typical fashion, the exotics dropped jaws of all passers by, but the showstopper was undoubtedly Chevrolet’s engine testing exhibit. Every half hour, a GM engineer (clad in a full-length lab coat) ran a small block Chevy V8 through it’s paces on an industrial dynamometer. Large monitors displayed the engines horsepower, torque, and RPM’s while the non-existent muffler system drew everyone away from the subcompacts and hybrids that suddenly seemed a lot less cool.

After being so tactfully lured to the Chevrolet section of the exhibition floor, the emphasis on horsepower translated throughout the show. Camaros, Challengers, V10 powered Audi R8′s, and the new Corvette ZR1 — capable of speeds over 200 MPH — set a tone of raw, unadulterated speed. Despite high fuel prices and an ozone layer with the structural makeup of Swiss cheese, there is no denying that the muscle car is bigger than ever for 2010.

Electricity, though, was not to be outdone. The Tesla booth garnered more oohs and ahhs than the massage parlor your “friend” “read about” on Craigslist. Despite having to (ironically) shout over spine tingling V8 wales, the brand’s representative made a good case for the battery operated 2-seater, which is capable of out-accelerating most of its petrol-powered competitors. Show-goers were pleased to hear Tesla’s plans for a new dealership in the Boston area.

Hybrids, too, were well represented, with models like the new Escalade proving that there is a low(er) emissions vehicle for everyone.

The show was not limited to the observation of still-life. High-tech driving simulations gave even young enthusiasts the chance to get behind the wheel of a racing machine. Beyond simulations, Cadillac offered test drives on four of its new models: the CTS, CTS wagon, SRX and new Escalade Hybrid. I had the chance to pilot all four on the closed track set up around the convention center. While it is always fun strapping into a brand new drivers seat, I was a bit disappointed by the suggested speed limit of 20 MPH and confined testing area. While I am convinced that the new Cadillacs would do a fantastic job negotiating my driveway, it was hard to get a feel for how the cars performed in real world conditions. When GM decides to host a test drive at an airstrip, call me, but this didn’t really do it for me.

But overall, the 2009 New England International Auto Show was a huge success. It is an event that thousands of fellow enthusiasts mark on their calendars each winter, and now it’s just a matter of waiting 364 days until the next time the world’s leading auto manufacturers ride into Boston.

ORLANDO, Fla. — My annual attendance of The Central Florida Auto Show on Thanksgiving evening allows me to walk off the mass calories I consumed earlier in the day and to sniff leather interiors. This year proved to be smallest yet due to three large brands no longer available and a few who didn’t even bother to show because they obviously felt confident in their numbers. 2010 is yet another year when each car resembles one another from the subcompact to the full size truck. Where did the originality go with different models? There wasn’t much to drool over with most just having minor tweaks. A Ford Fiesta was the only test drive being offered to which I politely declined. The old Festiva reminded me so much of a Yugo that I just couldn’t seem to shake that feeling of disgust when I pictured myself behind the wheel. The following day it turns out the course was open with a Camaro which would have been fun to test the patience of the sales guy forced to ride along. There is always next year…

Ford’s Explorer America was one of the few concepts on display. It is visually appealing with a beefy yet futuristic stance that sits on 22-inch Michelin tires. The Explorer America has a unique 3-bar grill, dome shaped hood, a wrap around rear glass panel that should eliminate blind spots, a one piece glass roof to soak the view in and a single passenger side rear sliding door with pillar-less design that allows for easy access to the space efficient second and third rows of seating. This mid-sized SUV would be powered by the Ecoboost line that promises reduced emissions and 20 percent better fuel economy. Ford’s state of the art spin on a traditional compass provides real time GPS, destinations, urban and country terrains by way of projected holographic imagery and intelligent forecasting. As well as 3D landscaping, weather from live Doppler’s and traffic visualization for all occupants to view. Ford has no real plans to develop the America but it is one of the most realistic concepts that I’ve seen.

A fully loaded Mitsubishi Evolution sat perched along the walkway made a strong attempt to get me to lose my lunch with overpowering sticker shock. I read it three times to make sure in fact it did say $41,969. With so many other options in that same price point, I would much rather spend the money on something that provided more bang for my buck. That’s just me though.

Toyotas 5th generation 4Runner which appears to be a mixture of leftover FJ, Land Cruiser and Sequoia parts came across as the middle child everyone has forgot about. With only the exterior being the obvious changes to this long running SUV favorite, a complete overhaul seems appropriate for this 5th redesign instead of this half-ass attempt to provide a facelift. An optional V8 still isn’t offered.

The inconspicuous grocery getter otherwise known as a Cadillac CTS-V was tucked in the corner besides its v6 sibling. Who can’t help but love a midsize that houses a 6.2 liter V8 with 556 horsepower and can claim to be the fastest sedan in the world? 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, why yes it ca! Did you say coupe late next year? Sign me up! If sex came shaped in a car residing on a showroom floor, this would be it. By the looks of all the men surrounding it with their disapproving spouses, I wasn’t the only one who felt the same way.

2010 may not be most talked about year for model changes or surprises but let us have faith in next year.

Audi first showcased a futuristic appeal in the 2005 film “I, Robot” with the Audi RSQ based in the year 2035. Unlike The Jetsons, the RSQ brushed on autopilot capabilities while maintaining a believable road traveling quality. What once was just a car created in 10 weeks for a movie has been slowly becoming a reality with the combined efforts of Stanford University’s advanced automotive technology and Volkswagen Group Research Laboratory in Palo Alto, California. The research project of the Autonomous Audi TTS coupe is catching on as a worldwide sensation.

The Autonomous Audi TTS is a car that can safely operate without direct input from the driver though not aimed at removing the thrill of driving but to offer new possibilities of both today and future drivers. Burkhard Huhnke, executive director of the Electronics Research Laboratory, has noted that the technology found in the Autonomous Audi TTS could help drastically reduce the number of fatalities worldwide. The Autonomous Audi TTS will help ease road congestion and help the driver respond more effectively to safety hazards. Huhnke also noted that car would be able to return time to owners by performing routine chores such as parking itself in an assigned spot.

No release date as this is still clearly in testing stages but it doesn’t seem that too far off to think this will be considered the norm way before 2035.

It’s putting the key in the ignition after the day hasn’t gone as planned. It’s the urge that overcomes you to go somewhere other than where you are. It’s those cool Sunday afternoons that beg you to open the windows so your hair can blow in the wind. It’s the longest way down winding roads and interstate on-ramps with tight curves that have your car hugging the road while you sit back in your seat. It’s the thrill of merging quickly into rush hour traffic then slicing through it like a hot knife in butter and glancing in your rear view mirror at those left in your wake. It’s to your favorite music at the moment thumping through the speakers while rowing effortlessly through the gears. It’s to pressing down the gas pedal and watching the speedometer creep over the limit as your worries temporarily disappear. It’s one of my favorite ways to clear my head after all these years, it’s driving.

The Diva had her first and only speeding ticket 11 years ago and does not condone (excessive) speeding.

With the dip in the stock market last week, investors had to be thrilled with the news of 3rd quarter earnings for Ford. Their revamped approach and several fuel efficient vehicles have made more Americans choose Ford lately.

The only American made manufacture that did not a accept bail out or needed to file for debt reorganization successfully managed to generate nearly a cool billion in revenue by cutting material costs, higher sales prices and increased market share. They will continue to see red with over $26.9 billion in debt though they project to be “solidly profitable” by 2011.

Now Ford just needs to hammer out that UAW contract.

How do a majority of us end up with the vehicles we drive every day? We look at practicality, affordability and then the logical need to have some form of transportation. All of which translate into mundane reasons. Then there is status, trend and a reflection of who we are. I somehow missed out on the last 3 and now I am having serious buyer’s remorse.

This past July I needed a car after my divorce. I had been a loyal Chevrolet owner for the past eight years with 5 vehicles for proof. That loyalty soon went out the window after some shenanigans at a local dealer. I have absolutely no animosity towards General Motors , none. Especially after I received a letter from GMAC offering zero percent interest a month after the fact. Well, maybe not today but that day I saw red. Instead of going to another domestic dealer, I traveled up the road to Nissan with my dear old Dad.

What I went there for was not what I bought. Funny how that works, right? But a difference in a $100 a month says a lot for a car payment. Regardless of that savings I still curl my lip when I bill pay Nissan on the 15th of each month. Especially when the thought of the same car payment could be on a leftover Pontiac G8 GT found a short distance away that is begging for me to take her home. What was once going to be a $16,500 car turned into $21,000 after all the crap that gets added. The extended warranty, battery fee, tire fee, blah blah blah fee, dealer fee, state fee, and my favorite you’re going to walk out of here just happy that you only spent 4 hours at our dealership instead of 9 fee. The G8 can be bought for under $26k. What’s 5 grand more with zero percent anyways?

So what is it that I drive myself around in every day? A Sentra SE-R Spec V. La de dah! Don’t get me wrong, she is a fun car to drive. She is cute to look at and surprises me with her zip but I’m past owning the fun car and I just don’t want her. At all. Ten years ago, this car would have screamed me all over it but that was high school and I had a cool car in the same category back then. I know I should be grateful to own a brand new car but if it’s not something I want and I’m obligated to pay for it for the next X years; my feelings are completely valid. Not to mention the fact that I get approached at every red light by some punk in a riced out Civic with a fart pipe to race which lessens the enthusiasm to go anywhere. Add to the mix I’ve been to dealer for service 3 times since I bought it and my disgruntled customer attitude starts to seep out.

Oh G8, how I long for thee.

The Diva refers to all of the cars she has owned as “Her.”

Between watching Game 5 of the series, I caught a few Barrett-Jackson Super Saturday highlights.

1956 Ford Thunderbird VIN #5 — first released to public sold for $600,000

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda so clean you could eat off the under carriage of the car $125,000

1996 Buick Custom with a Stage 1 that runs in the 13′s- $475,000

Which got me thinking about past car related things that made me throw up a little in my mouth.

2003 Enzo Ferrari requires Shell Helix10W-60 synthetic oil, which costs around $60 a quart making $700 oil change.

A brake job for an Aston Martin 17, brake pads and rotors, $27,000

But my all time favorite is the cost of the first scheduled service on a Bugatti Veyron at a whopping $22,322, with the price going up each time thereafter. Tires need to be replaced approximately every 2,500 miles for $10,347 a set, and oh by the way, they can only be fitted by Bugatti.

I get upset over the fact my car requires premium gas and the idea of forking out the money to replace low profile tires sooner than expected due to the ridiculous miles I seem to be putting on my car (because I live in fucking nowhere!) makes me want to cry because it takes money out of my shoe allowance and that my friends is a scary thought. Granted, I’ve never once bought tires for a car because by that time I just trade it in. That’s not the point.

At what point is spending money on a car as an enthusiast is too much? At what point is the required maintenance over time ridiculous? Oh I forgot that if I had the money to buy any of those cars then I probably wouldn’t give a shit how much it cost. Silly me!

Not to say if I could own whatever I wanted that I still wouldn’t flinch just a little when it came time to pay those bills.

Just a little.

From an early age, the love for all things powered by horsepower pumped through my veins. I was the baby in stroller at the drags, the toddler at the car shows and the young girl with pigtails on a Saturday night surrounded by muscle cars at a local hang out. I could point out each car giving specific details and tell you that in my own personal opinion, nothing sounded quite like a 5.0 Mustang. For the record, the sound of a v8 Mustang with a Flow Master exhaust still makes me stop and listen until it’s out of range.

I admit to being overwhelmed with facts and what sometimes seemed trivial information as to how much horsepower a certain car produced or what a zero-to-sixty time was but somehow those facts were burned into my memory. Now those random facts flow in the most startling conversations I have with the male population to just to make them walk away scratching their heads.

Often referred to as the son my father never had, I can proudly say that when the hood is open I know exactly what everything is and what purpose it serves. I’ve changed my own oil, fixed my radiator, replaced hoses, I even helped put a center stand on a Honda CBX( my mother loves to refer to it as giving birth to a double breasted Yamaha), replaced sensors, and I’m sure other random maintenance that most people pay for. I like knowing that I can do it. Doesn’t mean I don’t pay someone to do it for me now though.

I am not limited to cars. I love big trucks with souped up Duramax Diesels, Semi’s with ridiculous Detroit Diesels, motorcycles, airplanes “" if it can get me to where I am going then I am pretty sure I know enough about it.

It’s an appreciation and I owe this to my Dad who delightfully instilled this fascination with all things performance and of course the inability own to a car for more than two years.

A 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge and a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda are the favorite muscle cars of the Diva of Driving.

Full disclosure: I’ve never been behind the wheel of anything more powerful than a bicycle, let alone one of the high-speed, high-performance beasts featured in Need for Sheed: Shift (unless you count the times when I was sitting on someone’s lap because my feet didn’t reach the pedals). So, suffice it to say that I wasn’t exactly the best representative of EA’s target demographic at the NFS Shift NYC Event which took place in downtown Manhattan late last week.

NFS Shift represents a conscious effort on EA’s part to cater to hardcore fans of the sim-based racing genre. Which doesn’t mean that the mega-developer/publisher has decided to neglect the arcade junkies who used to compose the franchise’s core audience”"EA’s also putting out Need for Speed: Nitro for Wii later this year, with Need for Speed: World Online to follow. EA’s Andrew Meakin represented this new direction for the series to me as an initiative akin to the foundation of EA Sports, a large umbrella under which gamers of all tastes and persuasions have been invited to shelter.

As Andrew explained, “The idea behind the game is all about the true driver’s experience”"it’s all about the g-forces, it’s about the crashes, it’s about the cockpit, it’s about being the driver. When you are at speed, you feel the speed. When you crash, you feel the concussion.”

My driving naivetƒ© prevents me from distinguishing between true and false driver’s experiences, and I can’t tell you whether the cars handled like they should (though the fact that I was more or less able to handle them after a brief period of smashing into every available obstacle bodes well). However, I can report that Andrew wasn’t kidding about feeling the concussion. Granted, I was standing mere inches away from a very large screen, so your mileage, as they say, may vary. But EA has done an excellent job at depicting a crash as something very much to be avoided”"and, perhaps, to be secretly and guiltily enjoyed.

The psychological impact of the faux-physical impact begins with the level of detail presented on-screen. Andrew assured me that in the unlikely event that I ever do find myself steering one of the game’s 67 playable vehicles (including the ’09 BMW M3 GT2 featured on the cover) in real life, I’d recognize every curve of the cockpit and light on the dashboard, since every detail has been painstakingly modeled in-game. Swiveling the joystick while playing from the in-car view doesn’t just move some disembodied camera; it shifts the driver’s head and perspective. Side and rear-view mirrors perform the functions for which they were intended, and various readouts alert the player to overheating engines and other motor-vehicle minutia.

When your inherent lack of coordination conquers these assorted aids (and the color-coded guide paths superimposed on the road’s surface) and you hurtle head-on into a thoughtfully placed barrier, another set of visual effects takes over. The screen assumes a reddish tinge, followed by a black-and-white vista drained of all color, and a blurry haze and careening camera make you want to rub your neck and blink a few times in sympathy.

The attention to detail apparent in the visuals also extends outside of the vehicles. Each course has been meticulously researched and rendered. Again, I can’t tell you how well they resemble their real-world counterparts, but they sure are pretty. Windmills turn, balloons float by, barely glimpsed spectators snap pictures, and very convincing clouds of dust accompany the squeal of tires. Velocity changes aren’t only reflected on the speedometer”"the motion blur and tunnel vision employed to suggest the effect of g-forces make glancing at your instruments only partially necessary.

As you drive through NFS Shift’s scenic environments, regardless of mode, race type, or success level, the game will constantly update your driver profile in response to your tendencies and achievements. The points you earn will allow you to fan the flames of your car fetish with abandon, but the game also classifies your style as “precision” or “aggression” depending on how you drive. Cutting corners cleanly is considered precise, while ramming opponents and knocking them off the track will result in your being labeled an aggressive driver. Fortunately, the game won’t force you to enroll in a remedial driving program if its sorting hat places you in the racing equivalent of Slytherin; these classifications are made purely for online matchmaking purposes, so you can always race how you want, and against whom you want. Even when you’re racing offline, your adversaries will show some personality; 20 different driver personalities have been included as an alternative to rubberband AI and a pack of opponents racing in unison.

Of course, every aspect of every car can be micromanaged, but EA has also included more simplistic sliders for the less seasoned automobilistas among us. In addition, the devs have inserted the option to take a test drive at the start of your experience, during which the game’s AI will determine, Left-4-Dead-director style, exactly how far it can push you before you break. Nice to know that EA’s still looking out for those of us who wouldn’t know a carburetor from a camshaft.

Be sure to check out the latest trailer and screens. Need for Speed Shift will be released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, PC, and a smartphone near you on September 15.

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that cars can be modified to run on water. How is this possible?

– Diane McMorris, Rockport, ME

There are a number of online marketing offers of kits that will convert your car to “run on water” but these should be viewed skeptically. These kits, which attach to the car’s engine, use electrolysis to split the water (H₂O) into its component molecules”"hydrogen and oxygen”"and then inject the resulting hydrogen into the engine’s combustion process to power the car along with the gasoline. Doing this, they say, makes the gasoline burn cleaner and more completely, thus making the engine more efficient.

But experts say the energy equation on this type of system is not, in reality, efficient at all. For one, the electrolysis process uses energy, such as electricity in the home or the on-board car battery, to operate. By the laws of nature, then, the system uses more energy making hydrogen than the resulting hydrogen itself can supply, according to Dr. Fabio Chiara, research scientist in alternative combustion at the Center for Automotive Research at Ohio State University.

Moreover, Chiara says, the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the vehicle “would be much larger, because two combustion processes [gasoline and hydrogen] are involved.” Finally, there is a safety consideration for consumers who add these devices to their cars. “H₂ is a highly flammable and explosive gas” he says, and would require special care in installation and use.

The electrolysis process could be viable in saving energy if a renewable, non-polluting energy source such as solar or wind could be harnessed to power it, although capturing enough of that energy source on board the car would be another hurdle.

Researchers today put more focus on using hydrogen to power fuel cells, which can replace internal combustion engines to power cars and emit only water from the tailpipe. And though hydrogen is combustible and can power an internal combustion engine, to use hydrogen in that way would squander its best potential: to power a fuel cell.

Hydrogen fuel cell cars are gaining traction, but commercialization of hydrogen fuel has not yet been accomplished. “The potential benefits of fuel cells are significant” say researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). “[H]owever, many challenges must be overcome before fuel cell systems will be a competitive alternative for consumers.”

The state of California operates a “Hydrogen Highway” program that supports development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and infrastructure. And many companies are working on ways to produce, store and dispense hydrogen. Cars powered by fuel cells are in prototype stages now, nearing production.

While we all wait to see how that shakes out, the best choice today for high mileage and low emissions is still the gasoline/electric hybrid car.

CONTACTS: Center for Automotive Research, http://car.eng.ohio-state.edu; NREL, www.nrel.gov; California Hydrogen Highway, www.hydrogenhighway.ca.gov.

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard so much about using Borax for green housecleaning.‚  But if this mineral has to be mined, doesn’t that negate some of its “green-ness?” – Elsa, Lincoln, Nebraska

Mining for minerals such as boron (the key ingredient in the “Borax” we use for cleaning, pest control and other household tasks) is an activity that typically leaves behind a big environmental footprint. Mining degrades the local landscape and destroys wildlife habitat, while polluting both air and water. It also usually consumes large amounts of water, which can be taxing in already arid regions, such as the Mojave Desert, one of two regions of the world (along with parts of Turkey) with large boron deposits.

Typically, boron is extracted in open-pit mines by drilling, blasting, crushing and hauling”"all activities fueled by petrochemicals. The refining process then uses a significant amount of water. Finally, the waste product”"known in the industry as “tailings””"is deposited in man-made ponds where further refining is done before the water is then discharged into the local watershed.

The mining industry has long been criticized as an environmental baddie, but the leading company that mines Borax, Rio Tinto, has actually been given high marks for environmental stewardship. Jared Diamond’s 2005 book, “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” called the British mining giant the exception in its industry. Due to “a strongly supportive CEO and British stockholders” he wrote, the company moved forward with the 2002 environmental recommendations of the mining industry’s Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development project that were for the most part ignored by the rest of the industry. “Rio Tinto foresaw business advantages to being seen as an industry leader in social responsibility” said Diamond. “Its Borax mine in Death Valley, California is now perhaps the most cleanly operated mine in the U.S.”

Boron, oxygen and sodium make up sodium tetraborate, which is sold as “20 Mule Team Borax” (the name comes from the teams of 18 mules and two horses that would haul large wagons of processed borax from mines in the late 1800s to the nearest railroad spur). The powdered detergent is considered a least-toxic recipe as a natural disinfectant and household cleaner. Beyond cleaning formulations, boron is also used in a wide variety of other products, including the manufacture of fiberglass and Pyrex.

Pest control is another use. One boron compound is used to treat wood to prevent fungal decay and repel carpenter ants, roaches and termites. Boric acid is included on the national list of allowed substances for structural pest control in organic food production (as long as there is no direct contact with food or crops). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that pesticide products containing boric acid and its salts are of low toxicity. (However, ingesting it or applying large amounts to the skin can cause acute poisoning, so parents should be vigilant about where they store and use products containing Borax.)

Emerging uses of boron, and new ways to recycle its waste, may make this mineral even more valuable. A Turkish researcher notes that borax waste added to red bricks and cement products increases strength and lifespan. And at the National Boron Research Institute in Turkey, it is being studied as an element to produce fuel cells and to aid in cancer treatment.

CONTACTS: Rio Tinto, www.riotinto.com, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov; Turkey’s National Boron Research Institute, www.boren.gov.tr/en.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

The Boston Globe had an interesting article yesterday about how young adults are growing more and more indifferent to cars, seeing them mostly just as a means. This is of course in contrast to these kids’ parents who grew up in a time when your car represented a lot of who you are. In response, car manufacturers are releasing lines like the Ford Fiesta which come in candy colors on the outside and with iPod docks on the inside, trying to attract younger buyers back.

If you keep reading “" or if you have a copy of the Sunday paper “" you might just see a quote and pictures of someone familliar.

A once-great affair stuck in park – Boston Globe, Sunday July 12

Tires are made mostly with gasoline. Let’s face it, vulcanized rubber, invented way back in 1844, is not good for the environment. That means even you Prius drivers out there have not been able to lower your carbon footprint where the rubber meets the road.

That might be about to change. Tire maker Yokohama announced their new dB Super E-spec line, the first tire made with orange-oil (yes, from oranges). It’s a fire made with 80 percent non-petroleum based materials.

“Yokohama Tire Corporation has effectively re-invented the tire,” the company said in a statement. What? Not going to say “re-invented the wheel?” Come-on. How often do you get to say that and mean it?

“The eco-focused dB Super E-spec mixes sustainable orange oil and natural rubber to drastically cut the use of petroleum, without compromising performance” said Dan King, Yokohama’s vice president of sales. “It also helps consumers save money at the gas pump by improving fuel efficiency via a 20-percent reduction in rolling resistance. With these innovations, the dB Super E-spec could very well be the most technologically-advanced tire ever produced.”

Oil from orange peels combined with rubber was originally a racing idea, Yokohama says. Their ADVAN ENV-R1TM racing tires for Porsche GT3 cup cars use orange oil to improve a tire’s grip on the road.

The tires will initially be available in four sizes: 185/65R15 88H, 195/65R15 91H, 195/55R16 86V and 215/60R16 95V – which fit popular hybrids and other vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid/Civic GX NGV, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid, Nissan Versa and VW Golf.

We think it fits the Corolla, too, yes?

Dear EarthTalk: I don’t understand why there are many European diesel cars with very high mileage ratings that are not available in the U.S. Can you enlighten? – John Healy, Fairfield, CT

Different countries do have differing standards in regard to how much pollution gasoline and diesel automobile engines are allowed to emit, but the reason you see so fewer diesel cars in the U.S. is more of a choice by automakers than the product of a decree by regulators on either side of the Atlantic.

Since the advent of the automobile age in the U.S., gasoline has been king of the road; today upwards of 95 percent of passenger cars and light trucks on American roads are gas-powered. And the federal government has done its part to keep it that way, taxing diesel at a rate about 25 percent higher than gasoline. A recent assessment by the American Petroleum Institute, an oil industry trade group, found that federal taxes accounted for 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel but only 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline.

In Europe, where in many regions about half of the cars on the road run on diesel, these tax incentives are flip-flopped, with diesel drivers reaping the economic benefits accordingly.

But according to Jonathan Welsh, who writes the “Me and My Car” Q&A column for The Wall Street Journal, interest in diesels-which typically offer better fuel efficiency than gas-powered cars-has gained significant momentum in the U.S. in recent years given the uptick in gasoline prices. The popularity of diesels also surged, albeit briefly, in the mid-1970s after the U.S. suffered its first “oil shock” that sent gas prices through the roof. But gas prices settled down and so did American fervor for diesels at that point.

Today, though, with so much emphasis on going green, diesel cars-some of which boast similar fuel efficiency numbers as hybrids-are on the comeback trail in the U.S. Recently passed regulations require diesel fuel sold in the U.S. today to have ultra low emissions, which appeals to those concerned about their carbon footprints and other environmental impacts. Also, the increased availability of carbon-neutral biodiesel-a form of diesel fuel made from agricultural wastes that can be used in place of regular diesel fuel without any engine modifications-is convincing a whole new generation of American drivers to consider diesel-powered cars. Right now only Volkswagen, Mercedes and Jeep sell diesel-powered cars in the U.S., but Ford, Nissan and others plan to launch American versions of diesel models already successful in Europe within the next year.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, a trade group that represents several automakers as well as parts and fuel suppliers, would like to see the U.S. government increase incentives for American drivers to choose diesel-powered engines by leveling the fuel taxation field-so gasoline and diesel could be competing fairly at the pump-and by boosting tax breaks on the purchase of new, more fuel efficient diesel vehicles. One hurdle is the relative lack of filling stations across the U.S. with diesel pumps, but as such vehicles become more popular, filling stations that don’t already offer them can relatively easily add a diesel pump or two.

CONTACTS: American Petroleum Institute, www.api.org; U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, www.cleandieseldelivers.com.

Dear EarthTalk: What does “carbon neutral” really mean? And is it really possible to live in such a manner without just resorting to buying carbon credits? –Vera Hoffman, Seattle, WA

Carbon neutral is a term that has sprouted many definitions, and how to achieve it has spawned numerous interpretations, too. According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, which made carbon neutral its 2006 “Word of the Year,” it involves “calculating your total climate-damaging carbon emissions, reducing them where possible, and then balancing your remaining emissions, often by purchasing a carbon offset.”

But the term is really so ’06. Today’s term, “climate neutral,” complicates the issue. Tracking carbon is great, but carbon dioxide (CO2) is only one of several greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, says the 2008 publication, Kick the Habit: A U.N. Guide to Climate Neutrality, by the United Nations Environment Program. CO2 makes up some 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, but five others-nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and methane-also contribute. Limits on all six gases were called for by the Kyoto Protocol international climate treaty.

Semantics aside, whether a person can live in a climate-neutral manner is a question of lifestyle choices and making improvements over time. Start your climate neutral quest by calculating your energy usage. Type “climate footprint” or “carbon footprint” into Google and try a couple of calculators that track use in different ways. One is Earthlab’s (https://www.earthlab.com/createprofile/reg.aspx); the University of California at Berkeley also offers one at: http://bie.berkeley.edu/files/ConsumerFootprintCalc.swf.

For a calculation, you’ll need information about your home energy use and your travel by car and public transit. Some calculators ask whether you’re vegetarian, how much you recycle and compost, and how much you spend buying goods and dining out. The equation can get involved. Record your information sources, and then revisit the calculator periodically with new numbers to see how you’re doing.

The final element involves a carbon offset, “an emission reduction credit from another organization’s project that results in less carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than would otherwise occur,” says the David Suzuki Foundation, which promotes “ways for society to live in balance with the natural world.” You can purchase credits from a renewable energy company, for instance, to offset the amount of carbon emissions you can’t eliminate through other measures.

Will your efforts make a difference? Kick the Habit says that, for individuals, “less than 50 percent are direct emissions (such as driving a car or using a heater).” About 20 percent are caused by the creation, use and disposal of products we use; 25 percent comes from powering workplaces; and 10 percent from maintaining public infrastructure. You can drive your car less and turn down the heat, but consider ways you can affect business and government policies that could tap into that other 50-plus percent.

“We are all part of the solution,” wrote U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the foreword to Kick the Habit. “Whether you are an individual, a business, an organization or a government, there are many steps you can take to reduce your climate footprint. It is a message we must all take to heart.”

CONTACT: Kick the Habit, www.unep.org/publications/ebooks/kick-the-habit.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

Check these out, five of the coolest concept cars of 2008 and 2009.‚  From a post-nuclear three-wheeled pod to a web-surfing globe, you won’t find anything cooler on the road.

The Porsche Panamera is one of my favorite concept cars this year; and I don’t even like Porsches all that much.‚  The Panamera is a four-door, four-seat powerhouse built in both V6 and V8 models and possibly a V10 if demand is high.‚  They haven’t debuted the car at any auto shows yet, but they have released a photo, the car on the road in classic Porsche silver.‚  The Panamera will debut at the 2009 motor show in Geneva and is expected to be strong competition against the BMW and Aston Martin.‚  Get that petition around for the V10.

This one looks like something straight out of I, Robot.‚  The Suzuki Kizashi 3 hasn’t been formally introduced to the public yet, but a few details are known.‚  It’s a 300-horsepower DOCH V6.‚  Judging by the build it’s seriously, seriously aerodynamic.‚  This is the first sport sedan in Suzuki’s line of Kizashis, the previous two were a wagon and a CUV.‚  This car is one that will inspire an actual release by Suzuki, they hope to release a sport sedan based on this Kizashi by 2010.

Another Suzuki.‚  I know it’s weird to have two Suzuki’s on this kind of list, but trust me on this.‚  The Suzuki Pixy is a three-wheeled pod built for use by a single person.‚  It’s meant to be used not on the roads, but on sidewalks and walkways, since its production is aimed for a time when our atmosphere is either toxic or post-nuclear.‚  Nice to know Suzuki is planning for that. Up to two pods can fit into what is referred to as the SSC (Suzuki Shared Coach).‚  The coach acts as a transporter (or car) and can travel much faster than the pods, so it is suitable for road use.‚  The pods are completely sealed and airtight.

The Mini SUV is nothing new on the outside.‚  It just looks like a bigger, better Mini.‚  The real wonder is the interior.‚  A built-in rail with an attachable tray allows passengers to pass objects from the front seat to the rear.‚  The best part of the car however is the Center Globe.‚  The globe sits on the dashboard between the driver and passenger, functioning as a navigation, speedometer and entertainment console.‚  While the driver is searching for directions on his/her side of the touch-sensitive globe, the passenger can surf the web.‚  Instead of using a key to ignite the engine, the driver places a Keyball into the upper edge of the globe, which then rolls down to start the car.‚  Remind you of Minority Report?‚  Production will most likely begin in 2010.

Buick Invicta, the most beautiful Buick ever built.‚  The name Invicta has been out of commission since 1959, and this concept is the perfect model with which to bring it back.‚  The car’s slick design leaves little to be desired, its sleek silver contour is like that of BMW’s GINA concept, the shape-shifting cloth car.‚  The 250-horsepower Invicta will inspire the design of the new Buick LaCrosse; so many consumers should be excited.‚  Buick takes a bold move here, straying away from its usual design to try to appeal to more auto consumers in China and the United States.‚  If the new LaCrosse looks anything like the Invicta, they should succeed.

(ARA) – Millions of Americans will hit the roads during the warm weather months. Whether they’re in the car on business or vacation, many drivers will likely share two major concerns: how they can reduce the impact their motoring has on the environment and on their wallets.

“Gas consumption – and prices – historically rise with the temperature as more people drive for work or pleasure during the warmer months,” says Sue Pinera, environmental programs director of the Hertz Corp., leaders in the rental car industry.”

But you can definitely drive green and save yourself some money without having to trade in your reliable, reasonably priced family vehicle for a new one that features the latest eco-friendly technology.”

Summer vacations often mean extra driving, either to your destination in your own vehicle or, if you fly, in a rental car once you’re there. “Of all summer driving, vacation driving can be the most costly and least green,” Pinera points out. “Whether it’s spending time stuck in traffic or driving in circles looking for an attraction site in an unfamiliar location, there are plenty of opportunities to waste gas.”

Car rental agents, who work in tourist areas across the country leasing a variety of vehicles, have seen everything that works – and doesn’t work – when it comes to conserving gas, saving money and preserving the environment while vacation driving. Here are some tips from agents at Hertz for smart vacation driving:

In Your Own Car

* Have your car thoroughly checked out before going on a long vacation road trip. Be sure tires are properly inflated, oil and oil and air filters are fresh, and the air-conditioning is working properly. “Just $100 in preventative maintenance can save you real dollars in terms of fuel efficiency and a great deal of aggravation if you happen to catch a potentially serious problem before you break down on the roadside,” Pinera says.

* Drive smoothly and considerately. Aggressive driving – fast starts, excessive speed, abrupt maneuvers and constant braking – is not only dangerous, it significantly increases your vehicle’s fuel consumption. “You’ll enjoy the ride more and spend less on gas if you just drive friendly,” Pinera says.

* Only use premium fuel if your car’s manufacturer specifically recommends it for your engine type. Regular fuel costs less and premium will not improve your fuel efficiency in anything but a high-performance engine.

* Look for gas stations that offer pumps with vapor-recovery nozzles. They look like black plastic accordions attached to the nozzle. These curb emissions. Likewise, never try to “top off” your tank with these nozzles. They’re designed to shut off when the gas tank is at its optimum fullness. Continuing to pump could lead to overfilling and spilling.

* Try to pack light and avoid putting anything on top of your vehicle. Rooftop storage may increase the risk of rollover in some types of vehicles, and increases drag, which lowers fuel efficiency in all kinds of autos.

In a Rental Car

* Whenever possible, choose a fuel-efficient model, such as a subcompact, compact or economy car. The good news is that these are usually the least expensive to rent from any company.

* Consider renting a hybrid. Hertz, for example, offers a “Green Collection” of rental cars that includes fuel-sipping hybrids like the Toyota Prius or other environmentally friendly vehicles like the Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata, which feature an average Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highway fuel efficiency rating of 31 miles per gallon.

* Paying the extra fee for a navigation system can go a long way towards saving you time (and money) driving around lost. “Navigation systems can help you find your way in unfamiliar territory, helping you reach your list of attractions with a minimum of time and gas lost,” Pinera says. “How you entertain the kids in the back seat, however, is entirely up to you.”

For more green driving tips, visit www.greencars.org or www.epa.gov/air/actions/drive_wise.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Need for Speed: ProStreet is the epitome of a solid racing game. Electronic Arts made some changes to the game from the a growing dried up style of racing game we’re starting to see.

While there are some dramatic changes made in the game, what really sells it, are the little things — the soundtrack, the comfort of the controls and the natural storyline.

The storyline puts us right in the life of Ryan Cooper, a former street racer who is trying to “go legit.” The plot isn’t the selling point of this game, which could be expected since this is a racing game. You have a rival named Ryo, who gets quite annoying with his messages about how much better he is than you, and how he could beat you in a race anytime.

The storyline is where we see the classic Need for Speed game where you start of with the crummy car, race against other people and make enough money to either improve your current car, or purchase a whole new one. Customizing your car is fun to do, whether adding a new paint job, or a new engine.

The Artificial Intelligence is realistic and much better than in previous Need for Speed games. In this game, if you fall behind, nobody is going to slow down for you so you can catch up. It’s now your responsibility to catch up. Likewise if you take the lead, the computer doesn’t speed up. This flies in the face of past games where the computer would always try and make it a close race.

One thing that gets rather annoying is the announcer guy who always repeats himself and has a bunch of cheesy lines, but that’s what volume control is for.

The different racing and gameplay styles deliver in their own ways. The tracks are challenging and well done graphically. There is also a drag racing mode which is getting popular with the online crowd.

The graphics are fantastic. The cars, the people and the environments all seem real. There are also tons advertisements on the track like in every Need for Speed game, but you learn to ignore them after awhile. Need for Speed Pro Street is a graphic dream come true, and a huge step forward from the previous Need for Speed games.

The audio is good. Not as much for the sound of the cars, but the soundtrack that Need for Speed is known for. The songs are like what you could expect to hear in racing movies, such as “The Fast and the Furious” series. Even if you don’t like the genre of music that the soundtrack includes, it just feels right with the game.

The multiplayer needs no explanation really. It’s good. You can race with your friends over Xbox Live, or you can find people at your personal level and compete against them. Drag Racing is a popular choice because it’s quick, fun, and competitive. Everyone tries to claim #1 Drag Racer on Live.

Overall, Need for Speed is a solid addition to the franchise. EA does an excellent job keeping it fresh and fun to play. The changes that needed to be made, were made, and Need for Speed: Pro Street is the best one to date.

Quick hits:

Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: EA Games
Platform: Xbox 360 (reviewed), Playstation 3, Wii, Playstation 2, Nintendo DS, PSP
Genre: Racing
Players: 1-2 (local) up to 8 online
Release date: November 15, 2007

Playability: 4 out of 5 stars
Learning Curve: 4 out of 5 stars
Sound: 5 out of 5 stars
Graphics: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars