My personal two favorites to pull ahead are algae-based biodiesel and hydrogen.

Why, you might ask? Because those two will both clean up the environment, add jobs to a struggling economy trying to find its way through an identity crisis and most importantly, they will work with our existing infrastructure and driving habits. I don’t especially think we need a mountain of batteries from expired Prius(es), nor do I really want to wait four hours for my electric car (which would get electricity from burning coal, by the way) to be able to move after leaving me stranded somewhere.

Formidable obstacles stand in the way of biodiesel and hydrogen, though. Biodiesel only makes sense if you can actually buy a diesel car to use it, which is much more a problem in America than you’d think. Hydrogen is not really a net energy gain, since it takes a fair bit of energy to get the most abundant element in the known universe from breaking apart from the other elements in your average hydrogen-containing molecule. That last bit though, might be made immensely easier to accomplish thanks to the new hope of hydrogen-heads everywhere: animal pee.

You read that right. Yay pee. According to GreenCarReports.com, animal pee could be the next big thing to help us get our car-fix.

Read on!

(you’ll note the shameless segue…)

The Cozy Coupe, from Little Tykes.

Check the link for more…
more info

2009 Nissan Cube

Franklin, TN - May 10, 2009: The all-new 2009 Nissan CUBE went on sale last week at Nissan dealers nationwide, sporting an engaging asymmetrical exterior design, socially oriented lounge-style interior, a powerful and fuel-efficient 1.8-liter engine, six standard air bags, a full catalog of innovative accessories, a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)* of $13,990 and one other thing – an innovative marketing campaign centered around a downloadable-content-rich “cube® Mobile Hub.”

“A vehicle as unique as the new Nissan cube® deserves an equally breakthrough launch,” said Christian Meunier, vice president, Nissan Marketing, NNA. “We envision owners using their cubes® as one of their essential mobile devices, connecting with friends, sharing music and sharing fun. It’s a natural extension to have our marketing be just as involving – giving owners and prospective buyers alike a variety of ways to interact with and learn more about this unique new vehicle.”

Access to the “cube® Mobile Hub” will be available (beginning May 15) through a shortcode or “text to” number incorporated into the traditional marketing media mix, including television, print, direct mail and interactive. Once at the Mobile Hub, users will have the opportunity to download unique content, such as wallpapers, videos, music, ringtones and a link to the nissanusa.com mobile site.

The iPhone® app, “cube® Party Roundup,” is scheduled to go live on June 15 and will be available for play in single-player and multi-player modes (up to eight friends). The personalizable, mission-based driving app sends the player around a city picking up friends, ice, music and other items before a party.

Additional levels allow the player to pick up dates, go to concerts and other activities, all the while navigating around various obstacles to complete the mission. A Facebook version of “cube Party Roundup,” where users will be able to share their progress with friends, will go live in early July.

In addition to the “cube® Mobile Hub,” customers can research information on the new cube®, read product reviews, locate local Nissan dealers and even order custom cube? t-shirts at www.NissanUSA.com/cube.

2009 Nissan cube Pricing The dramatically styled Nissan cube® has a starting MSRP of $13,990 for the cube® 1.8 equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. Three other models are also offered: cube® 1.8 S, priced at $14,690 with the 6-speed manual and $15,690 with the Xtronic CVT® (Continuously Variable Transmission); cube® 1.8 SL, priced at $16,790; and the cube® 1.8 Kr?m specialty vehicle, priced at $19,370. Both the cube® 1.8 SL and cube® 1.8 Kr?m come with standard Xtronic CVT®.

In addition, cube® is available with more than 40 individual accessories, ranging from a unique 20-color interior illumination kit and “shag dash topper” to aerodynamic body kits and custom 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels – allowing cube® owners to personalize their vehicles to reflect their own tastes and personalities.

About the 2009 Nissan cube® The 2009 Nissan cube® is designed to meet the practical needs of today’s active, environmentally aware drivers, providing a small footprint with a large interior space. The front-wheel drive cube® is built on Nissan’s proven B-platform and is available with a standard 1.8-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine and a choice of Nissan’s advanced, smooth shifting Xtronic CVT® (Continuously Variable Transmission) or 6-speed manual transmission.

Cube®’s long list of standard safety features includes the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS), seat-mounted driver and front-passenger side-impact supplemental air bags, and roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection.

Cube® also offers standard front-seat Active Head Restraints, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS), along with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).

Along with the long list of standard features on the cube® 1.8, the cube® 1.8 S adds body-colored outside mirrors, premium grade fabric, cruise control, cargo area cover and more. The cube® 1.8 SL adds standard CVT, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, auto on/off headlights, Automatic Temperature Control, Interface System for iPod?, six speakers and more. The uniquely equipped cube® 1.8 Kr?m includes an exclusive integrated body design, Kr?m 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, sporty interior treatment, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer, Xtronic CVT® and much more.

Available cube® technology includes the Nissan Intelligent Key™ with Push Button Ignition, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer with six upgraded speakers, XM? Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and Interface System for iPod®.

Some NSFW (not safe for work) language, so turn down your speakers if the need warrants.

Who knew?

As automakers are now finding out, it’s hard for someone to justify spending (at least) $20K for a car to save gas. Makes about as much sense as fighting for peace, or fucking for virginity.

Not exactly revolutionary thought, is it? Somehow, I manage to find an article written every day that seems to be written as if the author is shocked (shocked, I tell you) at the revelation that consumers aren’t willing to spend a lot of money to save gas money.

Here’s the latest, from AutoRemarketing.com:

Since high prices and long waiting lists may be prohibitive for some to purchase the most popular fuel-efficient rides, many shoppers looking to conserve gas have gone retro, instead. Cars.com pointed to a surge in popularity on its site for economy cars built in the mid- to late-1990s, many of which have been discontinued. For instance, cars like the Metro and Prizm from the now-defunct Geo brand have experienced a more 200% rise in consumer searches in the last year. As such, this uncharacteristic jump in popularity has caused the prices of these discontinued to increase, as well.

Just like how there is new interest in Vespas and other things small yet stylish, I think you’re going to be seeing more Geo Metros. Plus, they make for funny loser commercials, as seen below:

F-R-E-E that spells free, credit report dot com, bay bee!

An article on Tennesseean.com a few minutes ago said that Volkswagen had chosen the TVA supersite outside of Chattanooga, TN.

“This is a significant step forward in achieving our goals in the U.S. market and a clear sign of the Volkswagen Group’s commitment to the North American consumer,” said Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America in a news release. “Chattanooga is an excellent fit for the Volkswagen culture, having an exceptional quality of life and a long manufacturing tradition.”

Last night was a re-run, but it was an episode I’d never seen. In addition to testing a crazy Mercedes “saloon car” (sedan in American terms), they had a feature on the Toyota Aygo. Citizens of the United States know this car as the Toyota Yaris.

The Yaris is an especially subcompact car. It’s inexpensive (not cheap, but rather inexpensive) and well-made and right up the alley of this blog’s subject material. Needless to say, I was very interested. Richard Hammond was the host tasked with the review of the car. Just as the Yaris has won over many testers in this country, the Aygo was a hit with Top Gear.

As such a thing was expected of the Toyota, that wasn’t the interesting portion of the segment. The most interesting part of the show for me was when they decided to take a two teams of five Aygos and play a game of car soccer. The drivers were professionals in some sense of the word, so the action was fantastic. Without further pause, here’s video of the coolest soccer game I’ve ever seen:

Has Volkswagen finally made a choice about where to put their new plant? Word was that VW was going to choose a plant location in Tennessee, Alabama, or Georgia. Has the site been chosen already?

From Automotive News:

Volkswagen’s management favors Huntsville in northern Alabama as the site for its new U.S. car plant, Automobilwoche, Automotive News’ sister publication, reported today. The magazine said Chattanooga, Tenn., which is 102 miles north of Huntsville, is the second choice.

Someone needs to take a look at Google Maps. Chattanooga is actually east of Huntsville. That’s all I have to say about that.

Word around the campfire is that GM is considering bringing the South Korean-built Chevrolet Beat to dealers in the United States in the near future. The Beat’s been making rounds at Auto Shows around the country for the past year or so; and to be honest, I’m pretty excited. It’s a cool looking little car.

Check out pictures and the word from GM below

GENERAL MOTORS MAY BRING NEW MINI CAR TO U.S.:General Motors Corp. is considering a new Chevrolet mini car for the United States as it reworks its product lineup to cope with a dramatic shift from trucks to cars linked to high gas prices, a spokesman said this week. GM spokesman Dee Allen said bringing the Chevrolet Beat, which is about the size of a Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris mini car, to the U.S. is among the options the company is studying.

Click for bigger pics: