pow

Innovation and technology cost money. Most people aren't willing to spend the extra $5-6K necessary just to get the fuel economy of many existing cars. It's much more feasible to compromise, as it's a quicker solution that doesn't rely entirely on uncertainty or faith. Who knows... maybe it'll be faster, more comfortable, more stylish, and cheaper, too... And the best-selling car in Europe, the Astra, is by no means a tiny tin-can car. Their third best-selling car, the Focus, is as roomy as some midsize sedans. What we need here are better small cars (as well as a greater marketing effort), so that consumers at least have a choice.

But they can learn a thing or two and improve on it. Do you really think we can sustain a lowly 24.6 mpg average indefinitely?

Good point. Complaining about gas-prices is shortsighted. There are much more important long-term global energy concerns.

Ford Escape Hybrid really is the official public official car... it's both fuel-efficient and American. Hillary, Obama, Richardson, Edwards, Dodd, and Romney all have one. Tancredo has a Prius, and Brownback has a Civic Hybrid. When the '09 Fusion Hybrid comes out, it'll replace the Escape as the most efficient domestic car.

The main reason why products from China are cheap is because they're crap. If you increase quality standards, the price difference will be much smaller. Economists are all speculating higher prices for goods in the near future.

In just a matter of weeks it went from $2.89/gal to $3.29/gal now. I know that's nothing compared to the rest of the world, but it's rather annoying to see my gas bills going into the $50s/week.

Bicycles with bells and baskets... My sister lived in Copenhagen and said that cars aren't really needed there. The Danish are very green.

This is basically compact material - in interior room, performance, equipment, and price - with the external dimensions and fuel economy of a subcompact. It's funny how the 1er is like the old 3er, the Fit like the old Civic...

A 328i weighs 3340 lbs, and I would imagine the 128i to be even lighter. A C6 coupe weighs 3217 lbs, and the MINI Cooper weighs 2546 lbs -- more than the Fit or Yaris, but still lighter than the '02-'06 models b/c of more aluminum components.

Is PA one of the NE states under CA standards? rant: All manufacturers are perfectly capable of producing CA-clean cars, but they'd rather save the $150 or so and not offer them everywhere. NOx is NOx, and it affects all regions, regardless of their current smog level. It's inexcusable for, say, a Prius in NV to emit 50% more NOx and 3x more HCHO than one in CA.

Priuses and Escape Hybrids make great taxis, considering all the stop-and-go traffic they encounter. I was toying with the Passat's trip computer, and I got about 6 MPG accelerating from a stop (~5 seconds), 25-99 MPG coasting to a halt (~5 seconds), and 0 MPG while idling (~10 seconds). It averages to about 11 MPG until traffic starts flowing again. In Austria I rode in a silver Alfa 159 diesel taxi, which was way cooler than all the other E-classes and Mondeos.

Its "pop can structure" is actually pretty strong. The B-pillar didn't deform much in the IIHS 31-mph SUV/truck side bash test, resulting in a "good" rating. The same can't be said for, say, a Cobalt.

You have to be 21+. Oddly that's not the case with, say, driving a C6 or TB SS at Rev-It-Up.

Not bad. Still recognizable as the Fit, but it's more mature looking, almost like an MPV. The Europeans still do supermini design classier/cooler/better, though.

Agreed. The new ones look like an Aurora or something! (runs and hides)

The new non-flowing console definitely sucks, and it's actually part of the entire dash, which makes me wonder if the materials quality were changed... you know, to keep it in line with the Patriots, Commanders, Sebrings, and Grand Caravans out there. I still think they should make a CLS-style 4-door "coupe" out of it. It will be a lot prettier than the Challenger. Anyone remember the swoopy 300M or Concorde??

That happens to all cars without shift-lock when you start it in gear...

Yeah, but 2010 - like most years - end in a December. In other words, they mean 2011 at the earliest, although another source quoted Lutz saying "for sale by 2010." To me it seems the Volt concept was cobbled together quickly to demands for a greener halo, and that actual engineering and development of it didn't start until after its reveal. I'm not doubting the Volt's production potential -- I believe GM is fully committed/obligated to making it after such positive public reaction -- and I applaud their efforts, but as far as actual, existing tech achievements, I don't believe there was much a lead at NAIAS '07. It was a styling concept with cool-sounding "E-flex" nomenclature. Could the concept even travel past 25 mph, or go 40 miles, for that matter? I hope it's release date is closer to 2010 than 2012, because the fourth-gen Prius may switch to li-ion batteries by then.

Will there be an auto version? I think a supercar Grand Tourer, like the SLR, would be kinda cool, by making ultra high performance more accessible and comfortable.

My mode of transport half the time is a minivan. They rock when done well (not the GC). They can be less expensive, lighter, more comfortable, roomier, easier to get into, more economical than a crossover SUV....

Bingo. The airy greenhouse and more vertical front end are very 2002ish. It's nice seeing modern retro classics like this and the C30 (P1800 ES).

It's rather generic looking, IMO. I prefer Ford Europe's design theme..

I prefer the five-door too. The three-door is a bit too Focus.

A lot of names here are in Spanish and are consequently butchered frequently.. Rancho Palos Verdes - "Rancho Palose Verdees" Malaga Cove - "Mal-aga Cove" Montemalaga - "Monty-mal-a-ga" Miraleste - "Mirra-lest" Calle Mayor - "Cally Mayer" If you pronounce it using the Spanish alphabet, no one knows what you're talking about.

That has the fuel economy of a midsize V-6 sedan.