A sad day in F1, another manufacture leaving F1. BMW has decided to call it quits. I’m not sure if it’s because of the poor performance showing this year or the economics of running a F1 team. However, with the new rules this year, and those following F1 knows, someone is going to get left behind and this year it was BMW. With the previous two years finishing 2 and 3 in the construction points, I’m sure they were ready to rebound for the 2010 season.

We will miss you BMW F1!

Source: pitpass.com

FedEx has expanded its hybrid fleet by 50 percent from 172 to 264 trucks, according to FedEx Corp. The delivery trucks of model years 2000 and 2001 with between 300,000 to 500,000 miles were fitted with a diesel Cummins engine and Eaton’s hybrid system from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation and Eaton Corporation. FedEx says the conversion will improve fuel economy by 44 percent and cut smog-causing NOx emissions by 75 percent.

I’m not the biggest fan of hybrid, mostly because of my driving I need better highway mileage, not town. However, delivery trucks are the perfect fit for a hybrid system, with the entire stop and go it has to make in town. Personally I’m for all delivery trucks (UPS, US Mail, DHL, etc.), including local flower delivery vans, should be hybrid of some sort. It just seems to make since if we want save gas. If you’re looking for proof, FedEx is claiming the hybrid fleet has reduced fuel use by 150,000 gallons since 2004.

Source: fedex.com

Someone might want to check into voting fraud on this one! According to autonews.com, J.D. Power and Associates released the top honors in vehicle ownership satisfaction among German car owners. Number 4 was BMW, which was four points ahead of Audi and Toyota, tied for 5th. Number 2 and 3 was a tie with Alfa Romeo and Mercedes-Benz. AND… the number 1 spot goes to… Daihatsu (WHO?). The small-car subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp. won the top spot. Other car manufacture of note, Honda finished 10th, Mazda, MINI and Skoda were tied for 7th. Just so know, toward the bottom of the list was Smart at 27 and Chevy at 26.

Just as a finial note, the 2008 study showed Daihatsu at 6th, while BMW was 2, Audi 4th and Honda was number 1.

Source:autonews.com (subscription required)

The automotive press is going against Ford orders of a July release date about the test drive of the Taurus SHO. So I feel I should give my option. Tho I haven’t driven one, just looking at it and looking at the specs, I’d guess I’d like it. The more aggressive front end to me is more attractive than the old five-hundred Taurus. However, it’s still missing something, I’d prefer the Ford Mondeo untouched to come to our shores.

But the SHO isn’t about the outside as much as what’s under the hood. With 365 hp and 350 ft-lb from a 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V6, it should push the car nicely (and yes, Ford can make turbocharged engines). The six-speed auto with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters are a nice touch. But what surprised me, was the power going through a standard Haldex all-wheel-drive system. Look for 0-60 times to be about 6.2 seconds, which isn’t bad for 4,368 lbs. I’d expect gas mileage to be in the 20 mpg range and base price to be close to $38,000. Look for it in August.

Later this year, BMW will come out with a 2010 M version of the X5 and X6. The X6 M will have 555 hp, which is good for 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds. It will also feature BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system with dynamic performance control. The xDrive also as a self-leveling suspension with adjustable dampers. But the interesting part about this rocket of a “Sport Activity Coupe” comes from the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. The turbos are positioned in the valley of the “V”, for better space efficiency, according to BMW.

If you want one, it’s only going to cost you about $90,000.

Source:Autolinedetroit.tv

GM is selling the brands it can’t afford to keep afloat. Earlier this week, Hummer was sold to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd. Now it seems that Saturn is being sold to Penske Automotive Group. For those wondering what racing team owner Roger Penske is going to do with Saturn and what does he know about manufacturing, don’t be too hard on him. Penske did buy Detroit Diesel from GM and turned the company around in a short four years and sold it to DaimlerChrysler. Things do tend to turn into gold when Roger Penske is around.

So now that Hummer and Saturn is out of the way, what’s going to happen to Saab? Pontiac is began closing shops and will be dead by year end.

I guess I need to get started updating my Automotive Family Tree!

Source:money.cnn.com

Oh how we can so easily forget! Just a year ago we were rapidly approaching $4.00 per gallon of gas at the pumps. May’s sales figure came in and I guess we forgot about the $4.00 gas. Here is the Top 20:
1. Ford F-Series
2. Chevrolet Silverado
3. Toyota Camry
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Honda Accord
6. Honda Civic
7. Ford Fusion
8. Chevrolet Impala
9. Nissan Altima
10. Ford Escape
11. Dodge Ram
12. Ford Focus
13. Honda CRV
14. Chevrolet Malibu
15. Chevrolet Cobalt
16. Toyota RAV4
17. Honda Odyssey
18. Hyundai Sonata
19. Volkswagen Jetta
20. GMC Sierra

I find it interesting that four trucks are in the Top 20, that the larger Camry/Accord outsold its smaller siblings Corolla/Civic. How did the aging Impala outsell the much improved and better looking Malibu? Chevy giving away Impala’s?

Source: freep.com

After a few problems, we hope we’ve got it all worked out!! I’ll be back blogging soon and sharing automotive news.

Thanks for sticking with me!!

Andy

Something for the odd-ball file, an amphibious touring bus. Yes, I’m talking about a bus that floats. Made by Amphicoach Amphibious Tourist Bus, this party-style bus seat 50 and includes LCD screens, DVD players and PA system. The amphibious bus complies with all E.U. legislations for passenger vehicles and is made to handle salt- or fresh-water. You have a choice of 250hp or 300hp diesel engines along with two- or four-wheel drive options. In the water, it’s being propelled by a jet drive specifically for the bus and can travel up to eight knots.

Pricing is on a need-to-know basis, so I’m guessing not cheap. Not sure how it will handle high waves in the ocean, but it is built from marine grade aluminum.

Source: autoblog.com

Just wanted to blog about the new Automotive Family Tree. Check it out: http://www.toomanycars.info/CarRelationship/Car_Rel-Image2.html

I’m sorry that the PDF or image file isn’t free anymore. Due to unforeseen problems, I’ve decided to change a small free for the PDF. It’s only $2 bucks! I’m also offering a printed version of the PDF that you can frame and hang on the wall.

This might be a good time to purchase the PDF, it could be a historical document of time. I’m predicting a year from now, this diagram will have to be completely redone with the break-up of GM and merger of Chrysler-Fiat.

Want to thank everyone for emailing updates and correcting me a few errors.

Andy