Drew Dowdell

Link to AutoChannel WASHINGTON, Jan 31, 2008; John Crawley writing for Reuters reported that General Motors Corp plans a strong production run for its plug-in Chevy Volt, according to a senior executive on Thursday who also urged Congress to approve tax incentives to help spark demand. Jon Lauckner, GM vice president for global program management, said the automaker is mindful of the current high costs of battery development but expects the per-vehicle price to drop as the technology improves. "As volume scales up, you will move down this curve to see better economics going forward. You can't get hung up on the economics of the first unit or the tenth unit," Lauckner told an energy forum at the Center for American Progress. Lauckner said GM still hopes to start production of the Volt by the end of 2010 and said the company is planning a healthy roll-out. "We're talking about large numbers -- in the tens of thousands," he said. "It's not a niche market." Plug-ins, viewed by the world's two biggest automakers as one answer to reducing U.S. gasoline use and meeting sharply higher U.S. fuel efficiency standards, are designed for short trips powered entirely by an electric motor and a battery charged through a common electrical outlet. A gasoline engine would kick in after 40 miles on electric power. GM hopes to be the first to mass production and snatch the lead on all-electric fuel-saving technology from Japan's Toyota Motor Corp Toyota also plans a plug-in hybrid by 2010. The biggest hurdle to success of electric vehicles is improving lithium ion battery power and storage capacity while making it small, safe and light enough to fit easily under the hood with other components. "Cost is the killer right now," said Jack Deppe, a U.S. Energy Department consultant. Current estimates show that every 10 miles of electric power adds about $1,500 in costs. But with gasoline/electric hybrids comprising just 2 percent of the U.S. auto market even with gasoline prices above $3 per gallon, some experts are skeptical about the rush to perfect plug-in technology. John German, a hybrid expert at Honda Motor Co, said the case has not been made for mass-market plug-ins, arguing there are too many questions about cost, efficiency and consumer interest. German said "plug-in hybrids are coming" but stressed that automakers have embraced and then abandoned other fuel-saving ideas before. He said industry should not try to "force feed" electric cars to consumers. Lauckner said GM is not betting that gasoline prices will remain stable or go down and that consumers globally will rally around the Volt. All executives recommended that Congress invest heavily in battery technology and offer tax incentives to consumers like they have for purchases of the popular Toyota Prius hybrid. "That's a helpful role government can play to speed the technology and bring these benefits forward," Lauckner said. Editing for Reuters by Richard Chang

That's who that is?!

I think a lot of the yay zeta/boo zeta might have driven some people away. that... and there really isn't much news going on. There were very few rockin concepts at the NAIAS this year. The big thing on Autoblog today was that there is going to be a totally redesigned 2009 Taurus..... ooooh woopie!

by using GM transmissions no doubt.....

I think gay people will define "manhood" quite differently if you asked the general population. Here on the other hand most of the gay guys seem to be of the more masculine type. I think being a "man" has definitely changed since the time of my father's and grandfather's coming of age. Today there is much less emphasis on gender roles. It's ok for a man to be a stay at home, work at home, dad while the wife goes to the office every day. In gay relationships, the typically masculine and feminine chores can be split up any which way. I highly doubt you'll find anyone able to put a single definition on what it is to be a man other than having a penis.

Please GM, you're already going to build the CTS with a diesel for Europe. Sell it here.

what are you doing on BON in the first place?!

eh, 10 years after the last Impala SS and the Chevy still pwned it. in fact, even a same year Accord V6 is faster.

93-95 Cutlass Supreme Convertible. It is the only convertible since probably the 85 Eldorado choptops that actually had a usable rear seat AND a usable trunk. With the top up, there was no intrusion into trunk space from the convertible mechanism... you had exactly the same amount of room as a hardtop Cutlass coupe would. In the back seat there was *gasp* legroom! The 3.4 DOHC V6 would run with the Mustang V8 of the day and would easily chirp 2nd gear when it wasn't eating alternators. Yes the timing belt was an issue, but as long as you were good about changing it every 60,000 miles you'd be fine. There hasn't since been a single convertible this side of the Arnage that has the room AND performance that the Cutty did.

details can be read at suddenbreakoutofcommonsense.com

Ford Mustang SVO Mercury Capri.... the last Australian built ones the '82 - '87 Lincoln Continental - What made them unique was the available 2.4 litre BMW I6. The extremely rare 5-speed, AWD, diesel Tempo that Ford apparently produced... the parents of one of my friends growing up had one.

A Wikipedia entry on the cast of characters in Cars

Chick Hicks is a Grand National? Stanley, Lizzie's dead husband is a Stanley Steamer?

I tend to like the earlier ones rather than the later ones.... oh... wait... not what you meant....

Saab 9-3 Aero 2.8l V6 manual = 3,175 Saab 9-5 Aero 2.0t I4 manual = 3,470 just sayin.... edit: 400lbs lighter than my CTS with the same engine performance numbers... the 9-3 must go like snot!

I was going to take some pics last night as I was going to go rip the last inner fender off. But a series of unfortunate events chewed up my whole evening. I may go tonight instead.

While I usually disagree with what you are saying, your motivation is not malicious, and as such I'll defend to the end your right to to say your piece.

Borderline on the twink status, but hottie none the less.

oh you cwushed his wittle heart

On the contrary, I think he realizes exactly the kind of effect he has on people here. Someone bringing bad news is fine. Someone bringing bad news while tap dancing at the front of a ticker taped marching band procession because he knows it will irritate the receivers of said bad news. completely different.

In 3/4 time.. [GUITEAU] What a wonder is a gun! What a versatile invention! First of all, when you've a gun- *click* Everybody pays attention. When you think what must be done, Think of all that it can do: Remove a scoundrel, Unite a party, Preserve the Union, Promote the sales of my book, Insure my future, My niche in history, And then the world will see That I am not a man to overlook! Ha-ha! [GUITEAU,BOOTH,CZOLGOSZ] And all you have to do Is squeeze your little finger. Ease your little finger back- You can change the world. Whatever else is true, You trust your little finger. Just a single little finger Can change the world.

It is far to easy to acquire a gun. If I should have to take weeks of classes, pass a written test, and pass a competency test in order to drive a car, I should have to do the same with a gun. Like cars, guns should have to be inspected yearly for proper maintenance. Historic guns not able to pass inspection should be disabled from firing. There should also be a yearly registration fee and gun owners should be required to carry additional liability insurance of a specified minimum amount. One should have to present a gun license to buy one... none of these under the table cash deals at the gun shows. Caught with a gun but without the above requirements. Go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Now... if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to welding my centrifuge.

Rather than buying a car, my friend Dominic is going to rent me his 1996 Roadmaster Estate that he bought at the Goodwill Auto Auction. It has about 60k miles on it and drives great. However, the previous owner ran it into a pole and the inner front fenders are completely rotted away. We have almost the entire front end ripped off with just the right side inner fender yet to come off. We have the front end from a Roadmaster sedan that will replace the wagon's front end. My car payments as of January 1: $900 My car payments as of February 1: $456 My car payments as of March 1: $50

Well that didn't take long.... :lol: and in under 5 minutes.

Coming soon! 19xx _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _