Electric Car Blogging

Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers are taking high performance to a new level with the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, resulting in a car that has an all-new aluminum-block engine, even better driving dynamics and handling, improved fuel economy and more horsepower than ever.

David Hermance

The 2010 Chicago Auto Show, which kicks off later this week, is the location for the inaugural presentation of the Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award. The award recognizes the most efficient new car with the greatest consumer appeal. The award is given in honor of the late David Hermance, Toyota’s highly respected executive engineer of environmental engineering. Hermance was considered Toyota’s hybrid guru, and a spokesperson for efficient vehicle technologies for the entire auto industry.

The 2010 Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award will be presented this Wednesday, Feb.10, to the new vehicle that represents Hermance’s vision, described by the award committee as “practical efficient design, as well as affordability for consumers and profitability for car companies.” The organizers hope the award will help consumers better understand the importance of efficiency—and place a high value on it when purchasing their next vehicle. Only cars and trucks currently available in showrooms today are eligible for the award. All powertrain and fuel options were evaluated on an equal basis.

Can you say John Dingell?

Boy the media’s coverage of Toyota-gate has become almost laughable at times. Lately, the new angle is Toyota’s political friends in Washington.

“Some members of Congress have been such cheerleaders for Toyota that the public may wonder how they can act objectively as government watchdogs for auto safety and oversight.”

LOL! Wow. John Dingell anyone?

Has Michigan Congressman John Dingell ever acted objectively when it has come to the Big 3, especially when Dingell was the fricken Chairmen of the HUGELY important House Energy and Commerce Committee? Is the media kidding? I mean talk about subjective cheerleaders!

Those of us that have followed CAFE for the last several years, for instance, can only chuckle at the idea that somehow Toyota has more political friends in Washington than does Detroit. For decades DC power-brokers, such as Dingell, have ensured that Big 3 SUV profits were safe from CAFE regulations, despite an average of 10,000 deaths per year because of defective and inadequate designs, despite 9/11, and despite growing evidence that foreign oil dependence was becoming an ever greater threat to American national security.

I know, Toyota-gate has also caused almost 10,000 deaths in the last year. OK, at least a couple of deaths.

Toyota deserves a lot of criticism these days, but if the media really wants to make America safer, isn’t it time to start focusing on some real issues?

The Cadillac Escalade hybrid

A few weeks ago GM announced development plans for a new line of smaller, more efficient electric motors that will first be used in GM’s dual mode hybrids. Today, all of GM’s dual mode hybrids are large trucks and SUVs, however, thanks to this reduction in motor size, GM will be able to add its dual mode hybrid technology to smaller vehicles, including cars.

According to one report, two of the first cars to receive the dual mode hybrid powertrain will the Cadillac ATS and the Cadillac CTS.

Unfortunately, however, it does not appear that these new electric motors will result in any full hybrids the size of a Toyota Prius. Instead, it seems GM will use its mild hybrid powertrain for any Prius-sized hybrid cars.

A good time to find a Prius deal?

According to some recent consumer data, Toyota Prius interest is on the rise, despite a recently acknowledged glitch in the regenerative braking system.

All new Prius hybrids sold today already come with the new software patch for the braking issue, so many are speculating that potential Prius buyers are hoping that all the recent bad press is driving deals.

No word yet on whether Prius buyers are actually finding any deals.