pow

Lately I've really been loving Stonyfield Farm's full-fat "vanilla truffle" organic yogurt. It's so rich and creamy, almost like Coldstone ice cream, with decadent swirls of chocolate and vanilla... at the same time it's kinda tart, so it's not too heavy or overpowering.

Hm, didn't the Solstice at one time start at $19,995? It didn't come with anything - no ABS, no power windows, no air conditioning - and subsequently after the buzz, it went up $3K. Maybe it'll be a similar story with the Camaro.

Another quality control story, in addition to the mismatched headlights... some Routans are arriving at dealerships with "Stow-N-Go" badging on the door B-pillars, while some have upside down window switches in the second row.

It's less expensive (MSRP) than the cheapest Grand Caravan with the 3.8 liter engine.

Hybrids beat diesels around town, but on the highway, it's a different story. And the Jetta TDI is just a normal Jetta SE with a diesel engine. Imagine a dedicated TDI BlueMotion with all the eco tricks - compromised final drive ratio, low-grip overinflated tires, cheesy aerodynamic trim, and non-existent sound deadening.

Chrysler's EVs are for real When Chrysler rolled out three electric vehicle prototypes a couple of weeks ago most EV experts were skeptical. They were even more skeptical when the company claimed that it would have an EV on sale by 2010. Wait a minute, everyone wondered, how could Chrysler have caught up with GM, Nissan and other automakers who have been working on EV's for a lot longer? Well, to hear Chrysler tell it, it's not behind at all. It is the first major automaker to actually allow members of the media and dealers to drive its production-intent EV's. The company claims it's been working on EV's for at least two and a half years-or about the same time as the other major OEM's. Its effort came out of the fuel cell program it was working on with Mercedes, back in the good 'ole DCX days. They merely pulled the fuel cell out and dropped in a battery pack. John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to continue reading this week's editorial. Chrysler is relying heavily on suppliers to provide it with the latest technology. And it believes it may be onto a new, lower-cost way of doing EV batteries thanks to a program it has going with General Electric. Most people are unaware of this, but Chrysler is already the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, as long as you count NEV's, or neighborhood electric vehicles. Thanks to its GEM subsidiary, Chrysler already has over 40,000 NEV's on the road. While these 25-mph neighborhood vehicles can't be taken on roads with speed limits over 35 mph, the company claims it's learned some important features about how to engineer electric cars. When it comes to battery charging technology, and developing the algorithms for state-of-charge and distance remaining, GEM has provided Chrysler with a head start. Some of the power electronics can be shared, and possibly, if I understand this correctly, a battery module for accessories. Moreover, the company is developing a family of electric motors that can be scaled up or down to be used on everything from an electric scooter to a full-size SUV. That could prove critically important because OEM's need high-volume production to spread out their investment costs. If Chrysler can come up with a family of motors to fit a variety of vehicles and build those motors in one or two plants, that could give it tremendous volume. Chrysler's goal is not to come out with one electric car. It wants to manufacture a full family of electric vehicles, both pure EV models, and range-extending EV's with an engine on board. In C and D-class cars, it plans to use a two- or three-cylinder turbocharged engine that is smaller than 1.0-liters of displacement. It will provide 35 kilowatts of continuous power and hit peaks of 55 kilowatts. In bigger cars and SUV's it plans to use a 1.4- or 1.6-liter engine that will run constantly between 3,000 or 3,500 rpm. These will be purpose-built engines, not something that's already on the shelf. Since they'll be running in a very limited rev-range, the idea is to de-content them to get the cost down. For example, they will not have alternators, starters or turbo wastegates. And in what could turn out to be the ace up its sleeve, Chrysler is working with GE on a new kind of battery pack, one that combines both lithium-ion and sodium chemistries. Li-on batteries are well suited to provide big jolts of power, while sodium batteries are better suited for providing continuous power over longer distances. But the key is that sodium batteries are significantly cheaper than lithium ones. By combining the two together GE and Chrysler hope to bring down the cost of electric vehicles. We should know pretty soon how well this all works. The company says it will put out a test fleet of cars with all this technology next year, and have a vehicle in its showrooms by 2010. I'm sure the skeptics are still skeptical, but if Chrysler can pull this off, it's going to change a lot of people's perceptions about the future of the company. Autoline Detroit Airs every Sunday at 10:30AM on Detroit Public Television.

Hm, it's $1.90/share now. Maybe I'll get 250 or so when it hits $1.50.

There's a Chevron station near by grandma's house where diesel is $3.69/gal. Makes getting a Jetta TDI a no brainer. But then of course, the station near my house charges $4.49/gal.

Here's Aston's Morning Frost White... it's a tri-coat with blue pearl]specks:

The Veracruz was last, behind the Traverse and Flex. CX-9 was second.

The previous-generation Fit had an "acceptable" structure rating (overall "good" rating) in the IIHS side crash test (3300 lb, SUV-height barrier, 31 mph). The Cobalt has a "marginal" structure rating and an overall "acceptable" rating. And the 2009 Fit is even safer than the old one. http://www.hondacarforum.com/honda-fit/523...html#post254691

This, apparently, must be it... there's a silver Sebring convertible (and a silver TrailBlazer), I guess as their camera car. http://www.autoblog.com/photos/top-gear-uk...he-u-s/1046387/ The vehicles they're filming in are the ZR1 (Clarkson), Challenger SRT-8 (Hammond), and CTS-V (May).

I'd keep driving the Mazda until the wheels fall off. If you want more mpg, change your driving style.

It's gotta be about job creation, too.

Yes, but only in base (Sport) trim: 17" Phoenix alloy wheels with 235/45 R17 self-sealing "Nailguard" All-Season tires; Sport suspension; Climatic manual air conditioning; Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter; "Comfort" heatable 12-way adjustable power drivers' seat and 8-way power adjustable passenger seat; 3 Power Outlets; Multi-function steering wheel with Aluminum trim; 2-DIN 8-speaker Premium VII AM/FM stereo with in-dash 6-disc CD changer, MP3 compatible, Aux-in located in armrest; ABS with front and rear disc brakes;ASR; ESP; TPMS; Airbags (dual front, front side thorax, front and rear head curtain). Unfortunately you can't get Xenons, panoramic roof, bigger alloys, navigation, or rear camera with the manual trans.

You know, actually, I have no idea which people hauler I like best. I've had lots of experience with the Odyssey. It's packaged extraordinarily well, and I happen to like the way it drives. The powertrain is done very well - always in the right gear, responsive when you floor it, smooth throttle-tip in, no jerks, no jolts. The Quest looks like no other minivan, and even though the third row is useless and the second row uncomfortable, I like the avant garde interior design. It has friggin' skylights and lounge chairs! The Flex has really cool styling - it's Americana, it's the quintessential road trip vehicle. There are some compromises made from the styling, but who cares? And finally there's this Crouton. Parked next to the Flex, especially, it really isn't a pinnacle of design. But I'm a VW-whore, so I already like it, even if it's a Chrysler underneath. I look forward to trying one out.

What do you recommend there? I like Jitlada (nearby, Sunset & Harvard), but it's kinda pricey on a student's budget and their lunch chef is inconsistent. Ruen Pair seems more affordable.

really screwed up on the constitution's VP powers thing... and palin says she's "tolerant" and doesn't "discriminate", but fears that giving equal rights to both hetero and homosexual couples will lead to marriage, which she is against. yet nearing the conclusion she touts her embrace of equal rights...? biden, while against gay marriage, at least says that hetero and homosexual couples should have no distinction in terms of civil rights, and that marriage ceremonies should be left for religious institutions to decide.

I went to Amici Miei, also an Italian restaurant, in Rockville... GROSS. Should have went to That's Amore instead.

:rotflmao:

As far as chain fast food... I like Quiznos, Panda Express, In-N-Out, Carl's Jr, and Rubio's. Taco trucks are great, too, and now that L.A. has overturned the ordinance that banned them, I can, uh, do homework comfortably though a Friday night knowing I can always grab tacos de carnitas or lengua from Rambo's, or tacos de asada or "veggie" from Leo's, should I ever get hungry...

The Cruze will be "premium" for GM - meaning that it will priced in line with normal Civics and Corollas - not below, like the Cobalt is after incentives.

Saab is a brand with so much potential, as evidenced by their stunner concepts... it's a shame they don't have the financial resources to turn that into reality. People will overlook the fact the next 9-3 or whatever can't match the 3-series in driving dynamics, if Saab succeeds in making a car that looks like nothing else. Design sells, it creates buzz, and it can cover up technical shortcomings. In these times especially, people tend to like Saab's "brand values" of responsible luxury, sustainability, and so on, but what do we get instead? A 12-mpg rebadged TrailBlazer SS and a 15-mpg 9-3 2.8T.

An awesome Winding Road film of the R32... lots of sound:

A few more Regal pics... it looks good... hope we're getting it: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-buick-...in-red/1065183/