Diesel’s near-term prospects in America took a huge hit with the revelation that nine diesel-powered 2010 models are on hold. Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have put the kibosh on rolling out more oil burners due to cost and perception issues. Toyota’s obviously on a hybrid run and doesn’t want to expelnd the effort or expense of investing in diesel for the American market - and having to overcome America’s dirty diesel perceptions. The others, as mass market manufacturers, simply need more justification for the cost and complexity of oil burners in order to make the case for consumers to spend more. Additionally, diesel’s benefits are weighted differently according to EPA or CAFE standards. The EPA mileage numbers present diesels well, but CAFE’s differing fuel mileage equation makes gas-hybrids look better than diesels, and CAFE is something all automakers are looking at. However, you’ll notice that German brands aren’t mentioned - their price premium and European diesel volumes make a worthwhile case for diesels, so those diesel Jetta Sportwagons won’t be going away any time soon. Gallery: 2008 VW Jetta CleanTDI [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] Filed under: Diesel , MPG Dead Diesels: Six automakers reportedly kill plans for oil burners originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

The Japanese market has never been particularly fond of diesel cars, but Subaru is getting ready to try anyway. Subaru launched its first diesel boxer engine in Europe in 2008 and so far has sold over 30,000 examples. The diesel accounts for 54.1 percent of Legacy sales in Europe right now. With new emissions regulations set to take effect in Japan in 2010, Subaru is working on improving its diesel before offering it in the home market. At the New York Auto Show we spoke to Subaru spokesman Dominic Infante who re-affirmed that Subaru still has plans to offer its diesel in the U.S. sometime in the next decade. Subaru also plans to start leasing of its electric Stella mini car this summer in Japan for commercial fleet customers. At some point in the coming decade, Subaru also plans to offer hybrid vehicles based on Toyota technology. [Source: Nikkei via Green Car Congress ] Filed under: Diesel , Subaru , Japan REPORT: Subaru to launch diesel cars in Japan in 2011 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 31 May 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Filed under: Spy Photos , Crossovers/CUVs , Honda A forum user named “Puttz” at the Temple of VTEC took a picture of a manufacturer-plated CR-V in Dublin, Ohio near Honda’s Marysville plant. In addition to a set of wheels that Puttz said were reminiscent of those on an RDX sketch , the grille is bigger and wearing a lot more chrome work. On the left is the spy shot, on the right is the 2009 CR-V. As another forum user noted, the 2-piece center section is somewhat of a return to the previous generation CR-V . Beyond that, the bumper gets reshaped with a different profile leading into the lower front fascia, and the fog light housings look to be more integrated. If this is the 2010 CR-V, it appears Honda is only making minor changes to its popular cute-ute. Hat tip to Edison [Source: Temple of VTEC ] Spy Shots: 2010 Honda CR-V spotted? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 May 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Tesla Roadster recalled for faulty steering mounts, blames lotus. [ Fresnobee ]

Fat ‘70s Elvis haunts Nice Price or Crack Pipe this week and today we’ve got his ‘74 Fleetwood Brougham to slick back your hair and empty your wallet. What really got Elvis Presley’s hips a swiveling (we mean other than Tiparillos and barbituates) was his hunka hunka burnin’ love afair with his cars. Two days ago, we had a Stutz Blackhawk, a car that the King liked so much, he bought a new one every year until he answered God’s throne call. Yesterday, we had an Olds Cutlass that 71% of you took to like Elvis on velvet. Undoubtedly, Presley got busy with some groupies in the back seat of a Cutlass at some point in their parallel careers- top selling artist, top selling car- coincidence? I think not. And now today, we have a car that isn’t like Elvis‘ car , it was Elvis‘ car! In fact, this triple white 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was claimed to be one of the King’s favorite rides in which to cruise South Memphis while munching on fried peanut butter & banana sandwiches, and popping bennies. This particular car is no stranger to eBay, having had a less-than SRO show there back in January 2000 at $1.2 million a ticket, an encore performance in February of that year at a Vegas Impersonator-worthy $750,000, and then a reunion tour that March for a scalper-friendly $500,000. Now it’s back, for one-month only , at the King-sized price of $599,000. That extra $99,000 apparently buys you such memorabilia as bills of sale, registration in Elvis’ name, pictures of Presley and his family, and perhaps most morbidly, a half-smoked cuban in the ashtray. Thank god they cleaned up the goofballs and yellow jackets from the glovebox, and the Coney Island White Fish from under the seats before making the car available for public viewings. So what would you do with this rock legend behemoth? It’s optioned out with every piece of kit and technology 1970s Cadillac had available, and with only 17,000 Elvis-driven miles, you probably shouldn’t be planning on a rock n’ roll roadtrip. Perhaps that cigar holds a clue? It may contain a trace of the Memphis resident’s genetic mojo. Or maybe there is still some hair, or perhaps a gnawed and spat fingernail trapped in the carpet? From that careless cast-off you could build yourself your own clone Elvis. It’d be better than any impersonator, catapulting you into a career of Colonel Tom proportions, and making you millions. Of course, inevitably, the Elvis clone would use his sloe-eye’d good looks and hip-swiveling prowess for evil, instead of good, and you’d have to get rid of him. You’d take him to the top of a tall building and, when he’s not looking, push him off. He’d curse you a blue streak the entire way down, and later you’d get arrested for making an obscene clone fall. So do you think six hundred thousand for this Caddy of the King is number one with a bullet? Or does that price make you think the seller’s got himself more crack pipe than Elvis had white jumpsuits? You decide! Nice Price or Crack Pipe: Elvis’ 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham for $599,000. ( online poll ) eBay or go here if the ad gets lonely tonight. Hat tip to PHIL Help me out with NPOCP. Click here to send a me a tip.

GM plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, then sell most of its assets to a new company. The bankruptcy should last 60-90 days and be financed with $50 billion of Treasury money. [ Bloomberg ]

The Detroit Red Wings will be facing off against Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup . We think we know who these guys are pulling for. DETROIT - MAY 17: A Detroit Red Wings themed car drives down the street outside the arena prior to Game One of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks on May 17, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Electric Brammo Enertia TTR motorcycle to race Isle Of Man TT [ Hell for Leather ]

A petard is not, as often thought, part of a ship. Rather, the petard is a small bomb, usually on the end of a stick, used to blow a hole into a wall or door. To be “hoisted by your own petard” means to be “hoisted” or thrown into the air, by your own bomb. The term gained notoriety from Shakespeare’s Hamlet , which includes the line “Hoist with his own petar” in a letter from his pals Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. There’s actually a fart joke in here, because petard is derived from the french word peter , which means to pass gas. When we mentioned how to protect your gas we certainly weren’t talking about that kind of gas, but it did inspire this story of being hoisted by Velocitré . The gas station I worked at in the early 70’s sold these coil spring things that you were supposed to insert into your filler neck to prevent the hose from reaching the gas. Several people came in complaining that the thieves had just shoved them into the tank, and now they have to listen to them rolling around in the bottom of the tank around every corner. The boss said he’d only refund their money if they returned the item. A couple of days later his Jeep started making noise and we determined that there was about 5 pounds of assorted hardware in his gas tank. What a coincidence. Photo Credit: DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images

A developer in Tarpon Springs, Florida was annoyed by people parking around a popular restaurant, so he installed fake ” No Parking ” signs. Unfortunately, people got ticketed by real police and now everyone’s furious. Seems local douche developer Mike Bronson didn’t like the number of people parking around the Tarpon Turtle Grill and Marina, so he installed 22 fake “No Parking” signs to discourage patrons from street parking. As a result, over the course of two years police wrote some 200 parking tickets which were essentially bogus. Local officials are working to return the phony fines to those who were ticketed, but in the mean time perhaps those of you in the area should let Mr. Bronson know how you feel about his shenanigans. Did we mention the Tarpon Turtle is a popular bar and grille right on the water with a fun atmosphere, flowing beverages and an extensive menu. It’s located at 1513 Lake Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs, Florida and we’re betting they’d be more than happy to let you park streetside rather than in their parking lot. Here ’s their website. We’re sure Bronson would love to see you there. [ TBO ]