Hybrid Cars

The recent high gas prices have spawned new development into Hybri Cars. Toyota, currently on the forefront plans to sell 300,000 hybrid cars before the end of 2006. Currently they have two massed produced models available for sale. The Toyato Prius is a compact sedan with a gas and electric engine estimated to average around 50-60mpg. They also have the Lexus RX400h (hybrid powered with gas/electric motors) as their SUV/Crossover available in this energy saving format. By 2010 Toyota has two goals. 1) have a hybrid choice for every model line they sell, and 2) to have sold more than 1million hybrid vehicles. This seems ambitios, yet attainable, as Toyota spends billions a year on reserach in this field

Gas Prices Sky High??

Many people and industries are complaining of high gas prices. However, as anyone looks at the prices of a good, it must be adjusted for inflation. Using simple calculations, the price of gas has not risen as fast as many other goods and services. Everyone knows about their parents talking about a slice of pizza and a coke cosing 35cents. Do we complain that the average price of one slice of pizza is now $1.75?? Generally, we dont. The issue arises because as Americans, we have been spoiled with comparatively low gas prices. Europe has been paying over $3-$4 per liter for years already. America has just basically caught up to rising gas prices world wide. Comparatively speaking, gas prices are no higher than they were in the 1980's (after adjusting for inflation) and are relatively lower than the gas prices in the 70's when we went through a gas crisis. All this however does not mean people shouldn't care about these prices. Hummer H2 sales are off 17% from last year ( a SUV that gets approx 9mpg on a good day). SUV sales overall are down, and comsumers are switching towards 'crossover' vehicles. Be careful not to call them station wagons, because some PR guy from Mercedes or Cadillac will jump down your throat to clear up the differences. Bascially, they are raised stationwagons with lots of features. Some examples are the new Mercedes M-Class, the Cadillac SRX and the Audi Allroad. As gas prices continue to rise and travel becomes more expensive, people will switch to more economical cars. I do remember one thing that my grandfather told me years go. "If you cannot afford the gas, then you can't buy the cadillac." That makes me wonder why people who can spend $60,000 on the Escalade or Hummer are complaining??

'Black box'

As I'm sure many of you know, airplanes carry a virtually indistructable 'black box' that captures data throughout the entire flight. In the event of a crash, it is often the FAA's only source of data as to what occurred during the flight. Now automakers, especially GM are using similar devices in cars. GM cars equipped with the Onstar service all have such black boxes. The device measures speed, traction, max g's (observed through wheel contact) and other variables. However, it does not constantly record. At certain triggers of speed or wheel slippage the 'black box' starts to record and will continue recording until either a crash, or the car is back on track. GM claims the data is used for making cars safer and how to identify the causes of most crashes, however there is a big privacy issue involved. Mainly, insurance companies and law enforcement are trying to gain access to this data. Insurance companies could use the data to help rank drivers into more efficient groups of high risk people. Their rates would increase (or would be denied coverage altogether) while those drivers demonstrating safer driving habits would have their rates lower. As of now, GM has not divulged any of the information it captures from these boxes. The worry still remains whether or not this information will be used against us as consumers, or for our own safety as companies currently claim. As this technology becomes cheaper and more efficient, expect a greater debate in the future as to its uses.

Toyota Fj40

There is another newcomer to the SUV game. It is the Toyota FJ40. This truck captures the look and appeal of the ORIGINAL land cruiser and FJ from the 70's and 80's. These are the open back (kind of look like a Jeep Wrangler) that you see in many African Safari documentaries and such. Many are still in service worldwide although they are at least 20 years old. The new FJ40 is powered by a 245hp 6cyl and is a rugged off road vehicle while capturing the safety and comfort features that today's buyers require. Personally, I feel it will be hugely successful. It has the rugged sex appeal of the Nissan Xterra, while the heritage of the landcruiser that made them famous (and could appeal to older buyers who can now enjoy the best of both worlds). Arriving in dealerships this fall, expect the base price to be around 25,000. As more information comes out I will keep you posted. www.autoweek.com does have some spy pictures of the FJ though. Check them out!

Horsepower Wars

After considering the performance cars of the day it is amazing to me how far along they have come. Only a few years ago, like 1995-1998 ERA, 250 hp was considered good and fast. Corvettes had 300 with the LT1 engine, Porsche had 296 with their inline six, Ferrari had 355 in the F355. Now its gone to a whole new level. The stock corvette has 400hp, the 2002 Camaro SS had 325 (in a car that cost 25Grand brand new. The Nissan Maxima has 280 HP and the Toyota Avalon has 280HP. The level of performance has been raised to the highest standard ever in automotive history. Cars are now fast, safer and more practical than ever before. One of my personal favorite in this area is the Subaru WRX STi. It has a 2.5L 300hp turbocharged 4-cyl. I have driven the base WRX and was unimpressed. The engine was whiny, and needed tons of revvs to get the turbo spooled. The STi that my cousin just got is a whole new ball game. THe bigger engine has loads more low end tourqe. The car hits 60mph in 4.7 seconds. That is the same as the Ferrari F355 of a decade ago. Unreal. The car cost 32G, has four doors, all-wheel drive, and is blazingly fast. One can only wonder what the future will hold for cars. Already 500 and 600 hp+ is common on supercars. The future is here, with power and poise in many of today's entry level sports cars.

Buyers Market

I hope when anyone is looking for a new car they do more than look at a few dealers and go online to check the blue book price. Right now, unless you are looking for a super-rare car, it is a completel buyers market out there. Ebay is one of the largest venues out there, and you can sort my model, year, mileage and price. Autotrader.com is also a fantastic way to find cars by model within a mileage radius the buyer selects. From my own experience, cars on ebay sell for many thousands less than the dealers, and still a few thousand less than advertised in the local papers. On a more local note, there is an auto auction in Wilmington, DE open to the public every Thursday. If you want to see something interesting, I would highly suggest you go check it out. Please check out the link on the side for more info on good places to buy and search for cars online

NY Car Show

Over spring break I managed to go to the NY International Auto Show. It was held at the Jacob Javitz convention center. Most automotive writing this year concerning the main international car shows (Geneva, Detroit, NY) has been that they were boring with very few concepts. Personally, I can not disagree more. Having been to previous year car shows where they had million dollar concepts with virtually zero chance of ever seeing production, I felt that this year the auto industry brought vehicles that were 90% production ready. It was very nice to see a SRT8 Chrysler 300C with 425 HP, or the STS-v (caddy's high performance sedan). Also, one of my personal favs was the new Z06 Vette with 500hp and 500 lb/ft tourqe. That puts this monster in Viper Category, and a sub 4 second 0-60 sprint. Overall favorites were the Ferrari F430 Spyder. That could quite literally be the most beautiful peace of automotive machinery ever conceived. It was edgy, yet soft on the eyes. Another big hit at the auto show was the Pontiac Solstice. It is a 2seat roadster powered by a 227hp inline 4. Priced in the low 20's, on 18" wheels it will surely be a hit that GM badly needs. Overall, the show was an excellent opportunity to view upcoming models from many automakers, and I greatly enjoyed the day there.