The Beginning Of The End Of Personal Mobility?

Mark Tapscot is feeling down on the auto business, judging by his latest blog post, here.

In it he points out that the leftist technocrats sweeping in with Obama ultimately want to reduce our use of personal vehicles, and force us to live packed more densely together in cities, and to rely on mass transportation. Their strategy to do this is to make gasoline expensive, keep the road system under-developed, and perhaps down the road tax our mileage.

No, the people now deciding what kind of products will be made by Detroit are working in Congress, the U.S. Department of Transportation and, most crucially, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Virtually to a man, these people hate privately owned cars and the individual autonomy they symbolize.

That means it's not just the kind of cars and trucks produced by the manufacturers' skunk works that are in Washington's cross-hairs, it's the very notion that all individual Americans ought by right be able to buy and drive the vehicle of their choice anywhere and anytime they choose.

I have blogged on this topic before, and i generally agree with what Mark says. However, there are some big roadblocks in the way of the anti-car left.

First, Americans love cars, and even if they can't have fire breathing 300HP V8's, they will find a way to get fun fast cars. If people get the idea that the bureaucrats are trying to take away the great American right-to-drive-what-I-want, there will be some nasty electoral surprises.

Second, Obama is now caught between two opposing forces, which are going to grind up his campaign agenda: the economy and labor unions on one hand, and the green lobby on the other. To keep his promise of saving jobs, and particularly of helping "working families", Obama must prop up the domestic auto industry. If it fails, it takes his economic promises with it. Propping up the auto industry means getting people to buy lots of shiny new cars. The days of cheap V8's are over, but the days of shiny new cars in every other driveway won't be.

Also, as part of the economic stimulus plan, a ton of money is going to be spent on "infrastructure", and some of that is actually going to go to road repair and construction.

Obama's not dumb, he knows that economic fear is what got him elected, and at the end of the day, I expect that he will throw the greens under the bus.

The New Toyota Scion TC Coupe

Toyota is releasing an updated version of the popular Scion tC coupe, which will debut at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. The Scion tC Release Series 5.0 is a limited production tC, which has been outfitted with Toyota accessories from Toyota Racing Development (TRD). The New tC will hit Toyota dealer showrooms this March.

What makes the Scion tC RS 5.0 unique is Toyota's use of a gloss black paint on the exterior of the car. There are also the aforementioned TRD accessories. Among the sporty components are matte black alloy wheels with red trim. The 2009 tC RS 5.0 is also lower than the standard tC model, which one Westminster Toyota dealer believes should provide a more aggressive and sporty demeanor. Other components include a TRD sway bar, sport muffler, lip spoiler, and TRD exterior badge.

The Toyota Racing Development touches continue inside the Scion tC RS 5.0 as well. The aggressive TRD treatment includes black seats with red accents, TRD floor mats, cargo match, and the vehicle's number, indicating the limited availability of this tC.

Toyota will only be releasing a mere 2,000 Scion tC Release Series 5.0 will be available. The tC RS 5.0 will go on sale next month for about $2,300 over the standard tC, bringing the price tag to around $17K. With only 2,000 available, if you're interested in getting your hands on this limited release Scion, Toyota dealers Olympia reminds interested customers that you'll have to hurry.

About the Author

Joe Kent is a writer for TK Carsites, an automotive website design and marketing firm in Orange, CA, that specializes in working with car dealers nationwide.

The Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai has been making plenty of changes lately. While the Korean automaker has been here in the US since the late 1980s, it has recently gained plenty of momentum, and attention, from American consumers. With incredible value, modern styling, and robust warranties, Hyundai cars and SUVs are becoming increasingly popular. One model that's crucial to the lineup is the 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The Hyundai Sonata gets a modest update for this year, with interior and exterior changes, and even more power. So the question is, is it good enough to battle the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord?

The Hyundai Sonata's biggest advantage has always been its value, as with many of Hyundai's models according to a Cheyenne Hyundai dealer. The Sonata in particular features air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks, CD stereo, and much more as standard on the GLS. The Sporty SE model adds larger wheels and a sport suspension. The Limited is the top of the line model, and has heated leather seats, sunroof, universal garage door opener, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Additionally, a Boston Hyundai dealer points out that safety is a big component of what makes the Sonata a strong contender asa family hauler. The sedan offers dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbag, ABS brakes with brake assist, traction control, and electronic stability control, and active front head restraints.

The base engine that powers the Hyundai Sonata is a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine with continuously variable valve timing. The engine now produces 175 horsepower and 168 lb ft of torque for 2009. Mated to either a five speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting capabilities, the 2009 Sonata is capable of achieving strong fuel economy as well. Expect 22/32 mpg with the automatic transmission.

Many Illinois Hyundai Sonata buyers are also expected to opt for the larger Lambda 3.3 liter V6 engine, which features 249 horsepower and 229 lb ft of torque for 2009. The larger engine is only mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with the ability to shift manually. Additionally, fuel economy with the V6 is 19 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Inside the Hyundai Sonata's cabin, Hyundai Chicago drivers will find a really comfortable interior, with quality materials and a modern design. The dash, center console, and doors feature quality materials that have soft surfaces and provide a quality look and feel that adds surprising value.

The interior not only features quality materials, but Hyundai Philadelphia notes there's always plenty of room in the front and the rear. Although the Sonata competes with the midsize sedan segment, the EPA technically classifies it as a large car thanks to its vast interior space.

Driver and passengers at Hyundai Texarkana also have no complaints when it comes to the Hyundai Sonata's storage space. The center console, for example, features a large cubby for storage, while the doors and also offer cavernous pockets. There are even entertainment options, thanks to standard iPod connectivity, and even a USB port and auxiliary input jack to connect a variety of devices.

With ample trunk space, the Sonata can also haul a variety of cargo. The opening of the space is not terribly large, but coupled with a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat there should be enough room for longer objects. There are also genuine Hyundai parts available to help organize cargo and prevent it from moving while underway.

Riding in the new Hyundai Sonata is smooth and compliant. Kia dealers Denver points out that both Hyundai and Kia vehicles have managed to drastically improve their driving dynamics in recent years, making them fun to drive. Interior noise is also quiet, making the cabin a comfortable place even at highway speeds. Although it's not the sportiest vehicle in its segment, the steering, handling, and brake feel should be up to par with most drivers. The boost in power for 2009 also helps to make the latest Sonata a bit more fun to drive.

The 2009 Hyundai Sonata is priced several thousand dollars below its competition according to Hyundai Car Loans, which makes the Sonata a high value choice among buyers who are looking at popular models such as the Accord and Camry.

About the Author

Joe Kent is a writer for TK Carsites, an automotive website design and marketing firm in Orange, CA, that specializes in working with car dealers nationwide.

The Vehicle of the Future?

In a world seemingly obsessed with finding renewable energy sources, solar power has become a common feature in day-to-day life. Although the technology was initially released before it was fully tested, and therefore gained a poor reputation for reliability, since the turn of the Millennium it has grown in stature and promise. One can forgive the scientists behind the development for this over-eagerness in releasing what could one day be a primary resource for fuel and power in the modern world, especially as the majority of the kinks are now ironed out.

It is therefore natural that many are considering the possibility of solar powered vehicles. With the non-renewable fossil fuels being consumed by motorists at a rate that the planet will soon no longer be able to supply, the idea of having a car entirely powered by solar powers is an intriguing one.

It is not, however, a particularly new one. Almost since the invention of solar panels, pioneering developers have been trying to find a way to harness the technology for the car. The idea of being able to run a car with no emissions and no consumption of fossil fuels would indeed be arguably the biggest leap in engineering since the Wright brothers, but is it really possible?

The steps are beginning to be made. For example, Toyota - who market the worlds most popular hybrid vehicle, the Prius - are said to be considered installing solar panels on new versions of the Prius. However, the panels will only be used to power the air conditioning and electrical systems. While this is advancement in the general concept, it isn't the finished article.

In truth, solar powered cars do exist. Powering a vehicle by the force of the sun alone is possible, but the problems arise in the practicalities. Two annual races currently exist for solar powered vehicles only, the World Solar Challenge and North American Solar Challenge. However, many of the competitors are engineering under and post graduates, as well as technologically minded individuals. The notable absence in these races is in the big car manufacturers, the people who genuinely could make solar powered vehicles a reality for all.

The question is then, if a solar powered vehicle is possible, will it ever replace the standard combustion engine? The issue is open for debate, but it would seem unlikely. Toyota may have implemented the concept of solar panels to power electrics and air conditioning, but perhaps only after trying to power the entire vehicle with solar energy and failing.

The main flaw in solar powered vehicles is size. To get the most out of the suns rays, a lot of solar powers are needed, far more than can ever be fit onto an actual car. From the small space available, it is perfectly possible to generate the necessary power from the sun to power the electric engine of a car, but only for very short distances and in sunny conditions. The idea, it would seem, will remain a fun experiment for mechanical students, and the ever popular races will continue. However, under current ideas for solar vehicles, it is unlikely your family hatchback is going to come complete with solar panels any time in the future.

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How To Watch A Movie On Your PC, The Fun Way

I recently discovered VLC. VLC (www.videolan.org) is an open source media player application which can handle just about any kind of file you can throw at it, such as VOB (DVD), DivX, XVid. One of the neat things it knows how to do is to play movies at higher rates than normal, with sound.

So, take your average pompous over written Hollywood crap-fest. You want to get through the story but you don't want to waste 2 1/2 hours to do it. Throw the DVD (or DivX, or whatever) into your computer, fire up VLC, and watch it at 2x or 3x. Slow it down for the important parts, the ones that actually advance the plot, then speed it back up again for the filler. There's also comedic value in watching people deliver their lines sounding like chipmunks.

Dissecting The Stimulus Bill

I spent a few minutes combing through the final version of the economic stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress (the huge PDF files are availible here). Here are some highlights, with regards to automotive and transportation related spending.

Divisiion A, Title IV: Energy

• $2 billion for grants for manufacturing advanced batteries and components, to be produced in the U.S.
• $3.4 billion for "Fossel Energy Research and Development". This includes $800 million for "clean coal" research, $1.5 billion for carbon capture and efficiency improvements, and money for geology research for carbon sequestration.
  
• $10 million for administrative costs for the Advanced Technology Vehicle Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program.

Division A, Title XII: Transportation

• $27.5 billion for highway, rail, and port infrastructure spending\
• $105 million earmarked for Puerto Rico highway program
• $550 million earmarked for transportation improvements on Indian Reservations and Federal Lands: $310 million for Indian reservation roads, $170 million for park roads, $60 million for forest highways, $10 million for the Refuge Roads program
• $1.3 billion for Amtrak
• $100 million to fund high fuel economy vehicles for the federal fleet, including gasoline hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles

Division B, Title 1

• Sec. 1008: new vehicle sales tax deduction: sales taxes on new vehicles are federally deductible, for vehicles which cost less than $49,500 and for taxpayers with income below $125,000 ($250,000 married joint filers).
• Sec. 1141: tax credit for plug in hybrid vehicles, $2,500 plus $417 for each kWH of battery capacity in excess of 5 kWH, maximum of $5,000. Phases out after the first 200,000 such vehicles sold after December 2009.
  
• Sec. 1142: tax credit for plug-in electric (battery electric) vehicles, 10% of the cost of such a vehicle, capped at $2,500. Vehicle must have battery capacity of at least 4 kWH, less is allowed if 2 or 3 wheels. 2 and 3 wheel vehicles qualify for the tax credit.
• Sec. 1143: tax credit for plug-in conversion kits, 10% of the cost of a conversion, not to exceed a cost of $40,000 (credit capped at $4,000).
  

A few observations. First, lots of pork in the highway portion, with earmarks specifically for Indian reservations and park roads.

The federal tax deduction for a new vehicle purchase sales tax is nice, but not a huge incentive. Consider: $20,000 vehicle, sales tax of 6%, deduction is $1,200. And if you are leasing, your tax deduction might only be half of that, or less, depending on the value of the lease.

The tax credits for plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and plug-in conversions are mostly window dressing. In the next few years, there won't be very many plug-in hybrds on the market, and certainly there won't be very many battery electric vehicles, in any volume. Eventually, enough products may enter the market to make this tax credit useful to more people, but it will take years to happen. Plug-in conversions are silly, in terms of their economics, and a 10% discount isn't enough to fix it, I don't see them ever being a high-volume business.

The $2 billion for advanced battery manufacturing grants is a good idea, this should provide a badly needed boost for the domestic battery industry, and should recover some lost jobs. A123 systems has already proposed a battery plant to be built in Michigan, pending government funds.

The "clean coal" money, and carbon sequestration projects are not likely to produce much useful result. I'm not sure there is such a thing, really, as "clean coal", at least not by the standards of the green lobby. Scrubbing coal emissions of CO2, and pumping it underground to hide it may be so expensive that it makes coal non-competitive as a power source. This, of course, may be the whole point. I would have liked to see more money for nuclear power subsidies instead.

My New Gadget: WD TV

Up to this point, my favorite a/v gadget has been my Roku Soundbridge wireless MP3 player. But the other day, I got a Western Digital TV HD Media Player, which is one of the coolest gadgets I have ever owned.


What the WDTV does is play just about any type of media file, from all kinds of video formats (DivX, Xvid, AVI, MP4, MKV, DVD ISO, etc.) to photos and music. It will play to your TV through composite video (RCA) or HDMI, and will output in SD or HD. It uses USB for storage, USB flash drives or USB HDDs, and can mount two of them at once. It is cheap, around $100.

The goodness here is in the details, and the simplicity of the device. The user interface is attractive, and easy. The menu response is snappy. The remote is clean, attractive, and works at wide angles to the unit. To play video, you rip your DVDs, or download your webisodes to a USB drive. You carry it over to your TV, plug it in, and after short boot-up time where it indexes the new media, you are in business. It even worked with an old USB 1.1 flash drive. Fast forward/rewind is smooth and responsive. You can zoom in, pan, and zoom out the view during playback. WD has issued several firmware updates since the product launched, which fixed bugs and added features. Firmware updates are easy.


I thought I wanted something like a Popcorn Hour A110, which would allow streaming from my PC to my TV, but they are fairly expensive ($200) and you have to supply the HDD yourself. Also, my previous experience with streaming videos from my PC (Hauppauge MediaMPV) was not stellar, with significant network buffering and transcoding delays. By removing the network capabilities, Western Digital came up with something that is, for the money, more than good enough.

*I'm not a paid promoter or official reviewer, just a happy customer.