Starting in 2025, the fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks in the United States will change from 35.5 mpg (6.6 L/100km) to 54.5 mpg (4.3 L/100km), the White House announced yesterday.
Automakers will need to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles for the North American market as Canada is expected to follow suit by upgrading its standards as well.
"These fuel standards represent the single most important step we've ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,'' President Barack Obama said in the midst of his campaign.
The new standards will reportedly cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light-duty trucks in half by 2025.
The National Motorists Association has recently analyzed data and comments from thousands of car drivers in order to reveal the worst speed traps in Canada and the United States.
Among cities with a population greater than 50,000, Windsor (3rd), Hamilton (4th) and Mississauga (5th) all wound up in the top five.
As for states and provinces, Ontario and Nova Scotia came in 1-2, with the former well ahead of the pack. Quebec ranked 52nd out of 53.
Reminiscing is fun. I do it, and I'm 36 years old. I often think back to a time when the roads were littered with K-Cars, Chevettes and Escorts, and life seemed better then. OK, not good examples... How about thinking back to a period in my life when late '70s Monte Carlos, Cordobas and Thunderbirds were all the rage?
Those were the good ol' days... Not!
I just read an article in the local paper about Baby Boomers complaining that today's cars are boring and look like toasters. Talk about being stuck in the past! Memories and personal experiences certainly have played tricks on these people's minds.
The old line, "they don't build 'em like they used to" is another example of being disillusioned and totally out of touch with the present. It's understandable, as technology and design have never progressed at such a rapid rate. Losing track of the times is easy to do...
I would invite those who think that modern cars all look the same to step into a Ford, Hyundai or Volkswagen dealership. If these people walk out still thinking that there's no hope for the future of car design, I might be inclined to say that age has affected their vision.
Let me put it this way: How many out there can make out the dissimilarities between a 1965 Ford Fairlane, Chrysler Newport and Chevrolet Impala? Bingo. Unless you were in your late teens or twenties then (and into cars), you'd never know.
Fast-forward to the present and consider the 2013 Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda3. Exactly. Unless you pay attention to cars today, or are in the market, it is tough to make out the real differences.
The point then is that evolution has taken place. Look-alike, yacht-sized muscle cars have been replaced with look-alike, compact, nimble, efficient and safe cars.
The mass produced, cookie-cutter car has always been. It's only a question of perception. Luckily for me, I'm a car enthusiast as opposed to an old guy who's got nothing better to do than complain about nothing.
The day will come when I'll complain about not being able to figure out how the telepathic remote control for the television works, or about not being able to unlock my front door without a key because it was so much easier with a key (when I didn't lose the key)!
I'm all about opinions, but when they are given by people who were "current" 30, 40 or 50 years ago, especially in the 21st Century, I say keep them to yourself or share with those from the same generation.
Former race car driver Alessandro Zanardi will be representing his country, Italy, during the Paralympic Games held in London.
Zanardi, now 45 has been entered in three competitions in road cycling.
Ironically, all road cycling competitions will be held on the road circuit of Brands Hatch! Zanardi drove at Brands Hatch in 1989 and 1991 when he was competing in the International Formula 3000 Championship.
Road cycling at Brands Hatch. (Photo: London Paralympics)
Zanardi, a member of the GSC Giambenini club of Verona will be competing in:
Men's Individual H 4 Time Trial (held Wednesday September 5 at 15:10 at Brands Hatch)
Men's Individual H 4 Road Race (held Friday September 7 at 16:30)
Mixed H 1-4 Team Relay (held Saturday September 8 at 17:45)
Jenson Button has admitted he thinks Lewis Hamilton will still be his teammate in 2013.
McLaren chiefs including Martin Whitmarsh have insisted they are "close" to signing a new deal with the 2008 world champion, but rumours suggest the two sides are at odds over Hamilton's right to keep his original trophies, and money.
Fellow Briton Button, who is already signed up for 2013, reportedly 'laughed' when Brazil's Totalrace asked him if he thinks Hamilton will ultimately follow suit.
"Yeah, I think so," he is quoted as saying.
"I don't know what options he has, but Lewis entered F1 with a team that gave him opportunities to win races and fight for championships.
"He might not have the chance to be champion every year, but the team gives him the conditions to fight for victories every year, and when you have that, it's very difficult to go somewhere else and try to build a winning team.
"Some drivers, like myself, needed to do this (move teams), but once you're in a team like this you don't want to look back.
"I don't know what his options are," Button continued, "but I don't think it's Ferrari and nobody knows if Michael is going to be at Mercedes or not (next year).
"It would be a big change for him (Hamilton), but sometimes you do need a change."
For Button, it has been an up-and-down 2012 season, who after winning the opening Australian grand prix is now 6 places and 88 points behind Fernando Alonso in the drivers' standings.
"The first races were good," he said, "and then I had a hard time when we tried new things for the car which I don't think were ideal.
"After some races we decided to go back to where we were. The reasons we did what we did was to try to understand the behaviour of the tyres.
"In some ways it was my fault for not going back earlier. I insisted on following this path. From Germany onwards things got better for us," said Button.
As for Alonso's 40-point lead in the world championship, Button said the Spaniard has done a "phenomenal job" in 2012, but warned that the situation can quickly change.
"Each of the coming races will be difficult," said Button. "He could easily lose 10, 15 points to someone each time."
In a recent week with one Dodge Challenger SRT8, I lived and breathed the top-line, two-door, attention-grabbing powerhouse.
The big, grey beast from Michigan saw 7-year-olds stop dead in their tracks, Tim Horton's drive-thru staff congregate at the pickup window, and no fewer than a dozen campers stop in to check it out at my weekend campsite.
The neighbors stopped by, too. All of them. And cruise night at Costco saw a monstrous crowd form -- all with questions and comments. Many more flooded in via Twitter, Facebook and text message. Good thing I like talking cars.
So, forget the standard review. Here are your writer's responses to the most commonly posed questions on the street about the recently revamped 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8.
Q1: How's she ride? Answer (A): Not bad, but not perfect. Challenger's new dual-mode suspension absorbs even larger bumps well, but on the rougher roads and highways, I found the "standard" suspension setting to be a bit too loose and soft, and the "SPORT" setting to be a bit too tight.
That standard setting is good for cruising on smooth roads and is very comfortable, albeit often too soft for the Challenger SRT8's quick steering. So, sometimes you feel as though you've "startled" the car when steering at speed.
In the SPORT setting, Challenger's body is kept sprung very tightly against its wheels, resulting in a ride similar to an inflatable Bouncy Castle on undulating pavement.
Q2: What's under the hood? A: Chrysler's new 6.4L HEMI SRT V8. It's got one camshaft, 16 pushrods and an idle like a stock car. It puts the displacement of a 12-pack of tall-boys, six gears, three pedals and 470 horses to work attacking the rear wheels. Rev the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 up, and it torques the whole body to the side as if it's got a sloppy motor mount.
The engine is the new 6.4L HEMI SRT V8. It's got one camshaft, 16 pushrods and an idle like a stock car. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)
Q3: Can you get an automatic? A: Yes -- but you'll lose your man card. Using the pistol grip shifter to bang through the gears is an experience unparalleled in its manliness.
Q4: How's she go? A: Very, very well indeed. You can feel the extra 45 ponies and increased low-end torque from the new, larger SRT engine. The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 isn't small or light, but it rips like nobody's business when you give it the boots. You'll get 0-100 clicks in under 5 seconds, and run the quarter in well under 13.
And, if your radar detector goes off, Brembo brakes with rotors the size of pizzas stop it in a jiff, too.
Note that the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is considerably less fun to drive in reverse, because you can see virtually nothing behind you.
You'll get 0-100 clicks in under 5 seconds, and run the quarter in well under 13. (Photo: Dodge)
Q5: Is it good on fuel? A: Compared to a transport freighter, yes -- but romp on it, and it'll burn through its fuel supply faster than an orbit-bound rocket thruster. Mileage on my watch ranged between 12 and 22L / 100km, with the average landing around 16. Drive like you've got a trunkfull of potted pansies, and you'll probably do better. But that's no fun.
Q6: Does the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 emit a lot of carbon dioxide? A: Who cares.
Q7: Is it easy to live with? A: Sure -- there's a good sized trunk, plenty of storage inside, very comfortable seats and even room for grown-ups in the back. It's not even hard to get into or out of.
Q8: Will it lay a dirty patch? A: Obviously. The 20" Eagle F1 Supercar tires hook up remarkably well at full throttle, but the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will vaporize them on command if you dump the clutch on them. Note that your writer doesn't condone deactivating the traction control and engaging sport mode at any time.
The 20" Eagle F1 Supercar tires hook up remarkably well at full throttle. (Photo: Dodge)
Q9: Does it have a full sized spare, in case I get a flat? A: No, since the spare tire well is full of subwoofers. There is a compact-tire-inflator gizmo, though.
Q10: That front air-dam looks like it'd get easily ripped off by a curb. A: It would. So, park your 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 carefully unless you want to give it a pricey nose job.
Q11: Big American muscle cars don't handle very well, right? A: Incorrect. As spiritedly as you could push this machine on a public road, it's got heaps of grip and stays mostly flat and composed. Big suspension revisions this year make the Challenger feel lighter and more nimble than ever before, and it hides its size and weight very well.
It's not what you'd call razor-sharp, however, it'll definitely hold its own when the going gets twisty.
Q12: What does it sound like? A: Imagine the sound of a NASCAR with roof-mounted chainguns at full throttle, played through a 7,000-watt subwoofer and you're in the right ballpark.
Q13: How much? A: With an interior upgrade package, manual transmission, high-end infotainment system, big stereo and performance tire add-on, the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 tester stickered around $53 grand.
That's a great deal to spend on obnoxious, all-American velocity -- and access to one of the manliest cars on the road today.
Vitaly Petrov's manager has warned she will find another pursuit for the Russian driver if they cannot make money in formula one.
Since 2010, when the now 27-year-old made his debut for Renault (now Lotus) before switching to Caterham this season, Petrov has funded his race seats through private backing and sponsorship.
But his manager Oksana Kosachenko warned that they may change direction for 2013.
Vitaly Petrov and Oksana Kosachenko (Photo: WRi2)
"If the presence of a Russian driver in formula one will be interesting to no one else but Vitaly Petrov and Oksana Kosachenko, we'll find what to do outside the grand prix," she told Sport-Express.
"Formula one is great and very prestigious, but for Vitaly it's a job that brings no money. Why? There are many reasons.
"In Russia, it's difficult to sell an athlete, but to sell a formula one driver is almost impossible," added Kosachenko.
According to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2012 Japan Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI), 29% of hybrid vehicle/electric vehicle (HV/EV) buyers indicate that their fuel economy is lower than expected. Yet 48% of new car owners mention efficiency as a deciding factor.
"HV and EV buyers show a strong tendency of dissatisfaction, based on the gap between expected fuel efficiency and actual fuel efficiency," said Taku Kimoto, executive director of the automotive division at J.D. Power Asia Pacific. "Automakers and dealers need to carefully manage buyer expectations regarding fuel efficiency from their new HV or EV, which may vary greatly depending on driving conditions."
Overall, customer satisfaction with the new-vehicle sales process at automotive dealerships in Japan has declined during the past year, the study reports.
A day after U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed higher fuel economy standards by 2025, his Republican opponent in the presidential race spoke against excessive regulation in the auto industry - even though automakers representing 90% of American sales have previously agreed to these new standards.
Rather than forcing them to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles, Mitt Romney said that he prefers market-based solutions such as tax incentives.
He also believes that the government, which still has a 26.5% stake in General Motors, shouldn't be owning the manufacturer's shares at all. Should he be elected to the White House on November 6th, GM would have to find a new major shareholder.
Romney didn't stop there, labelling electric vehicles as "a technology that people aren't interested in." He pointed out that the Chevrolet Volt has suffered from weak sales so far in the U.S.
Ex-Formula One racer Patrick Friesacher took the wheel of a NASCAR to give the crowd at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland a little extra to cheer for.
Friesacher performed doughnuts and what not on Trier's 4.37-kilometre Circus Maxima Power Stage under the watchful eyes of spectators, last Sunday afternoon.
The car also also featured at the Messepark permanent service area.
Marussia will use a KERS system supplied by rivals Williams in 2013.
Technical consultant Pat Symonds also revealed on Wednesday that Marussia, the former Virgin team he joined after bowing out of F1 amid the 'crashgate' affair, will remain with Cosworth power next season.
The former Renault veteran said next year's Marussia, to be called the MR02, will be an evolution of the single seater currently raced by Timo Glock and Charles Pic.
"We will continue with the Cosworth engine. We are concentrating on improving the driveability of the engine and enhancing its performance as a unit with the car," said Symonds.
But the most surprising news is Marussia's decision to link up with Williams for KERS, having not used the energy-recovery technology since debuting in 2010.
Marussia already has a technical collaboration in place with another British team, McLaren.
"We will be using KERS next year," Symonds announced. "We plan to adopt the system that has been developed by Williams, which was used by them with the Cosworth engine last year and is currently with their Renault-engine car.
"Our 2013 unit is a development of this. We've been very impressed with the engineering, the efficiency and the weight. Williams are also a pleasure to work with both technically and commercially."
Several web sites wrote earlier this week that Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica -- who's still recovering from the horrible rally accident in February 2010 in Italy - tested a Ford Fiesta RS WRC car on a road course in France.
No one, including Ford, M-Sport or Kubica's agent confirmed the news.
But the Pole has always been a big fan of rallying and contested several rallies in the past few years, including the Rallye Monte-Carlo in 2010, driving a Renault Clio R3.
If the very serious injuries to his right arm and hand do not allow his to return to Formula 1 one day, Kubica may consider a switch to the World Rally Championship.
Driving a World Rally Car is not physically as demanding as driving an F1 car. Maybe Kubica, now 27 wanted to check how he felt driving a purebred WRC car on tarmac.
Malcolm Wilson, Ford team principal revealed nothing about the test. “As you know, we had a four-day development test at a circuit in France, that's all there is to it. It was a private test and I'm not prepared to comment further,” Wilson declared.
Lada Sport works team continued the testing programme in preparation of their full season comeback to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2013.
Last week the Russian team completed a six-day test at Magny-Cours, France, with James Thompson at the wheel of the Granta Sport car.
During the test the team focused on setting up suspension, steering and engine parameters.
"I was very happy with the way the testing went, and the team can be very proud of what they have achieved in such a short time. We have worked through a very long test plan, which culminated in a big step forward both in drivability and performance, » Thompson said.
"Our two outings in Hungary and Portugal earlier this year, enabled us to collect a lot of information about the car,” team principal Victor Shapovalov said.
"Our engineers have analyzed all the issues we had, and during the summer we prepared a lot of new parts that we have tested in Magny-Cours. This test was very useful for the team and I'm very satisfied with the results. The car's reliability is very good, as we didn't meet with any technical issues over the six days. The car has been hugely improved, but will keep on developing it according to the plans," he added.
In September the Lada Sport Team will return to Russia to start working on the 2013 car. The name of the driver who will team up with James Thompson will be announced later.
Nico Hulkenberg's manager has denied reports the German driver has gone without pay so far in 2012.
Austria's Sportwoche mentioned speculation Hulkenberg, 25, and his teammate Paul di Resta might have been the latest victims of Force India team owner Vijay Mallya's struggling Indian airline Kingfisher.
The report cited "several" paddock sources who believe the duo have not yet been paid anything this season.
Nico Hulkenberg (Photo: WRi2)
"These are rumours," Hulkenberg's manager Timo Gans is quoted by Germany's Sport1.
"I really wonder where this information comes from -- maybe people know more than we do," he added.
When asked specifically if Hulkenberg has been paid in 2012, Gans answered: "Yes."
Honda, which last year complained that a proposed fuel-economy rule was unfair to automakers not based in the United States, got a boost when the final version added extra credits for sellers of natural gas-powered vehicles.
Mahle is expanding is business in Asia to meet demand from vehicle makers in the region. It will expand its R&D centre in China, build a new production plant in Japan and enlarge two factories in Thailand.
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