Drive a smart fortwo in NYC and you can instantly achieve rock star status. Sounds like an advertisement? But it's true. Everywhere I went people gave me the thumbs up for 'driving green', let me pass if I wanted (unheard of in the city), asked me for a ride or asked me where to get one. In other words, I got respect!

Who would ever think that a smart fortwo could garner as much praise as other flashier, more upscale and expensive models I've driven in the city.

All the right ingredients:
It's great looking, eco-conscious, inexpensive and new to the US. And it's tiny-tiny enough to create it's own lane, to park anywhere and skittle between cars like a bicycle. But deceptively enough, the interior is very spacious with cargo space big enough to contain 10 bags of groceries with room to spare! Upfront there's plenty of head and elbow room. My 6' teen was comfortable enough to ask me if I'd buy one for him!

Driving the smart fortwo is a blast:
In the city, the car was so quiet that everyone was asking if it was electric. And it's so nimble that I was able to skirt around pot holes, tuck into half parking spaces and hustle down narrow streets.

The engine:
The 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder engine puts out 70 hp, 33/40 miles to the gallon and was given the ULEV for low exhaust emissions.

When you try to get some juice in automatic the gearing is jumpy  but once you get it up to speed on a highway this guy rocks. I found that driving in manual (with paddles or the shifter)is much smoother and more responsive than in automatic.  If  you're not manual savvy an arrow in the console lets you know which direction to shift.

As safe as a brick:
The smart fortwo was designed by the Mercedes engineer of the S-class, who confirms that this is just as safe. For instance, the metal body is reinforced at strategic points with high-strength steel, the high-seating position gives the passenger and driver advantages in frontal and side impact crashes, the engine and starter battery are housed in impact protection zones. The smart fortwo also comes standard with two head/neck side airbags, a seat occupancy sensor and kneepads, ESP and ABS.

The price:
The smart car comes in three versions; Fortwopure starts at $11,590; Fortwopassioncoupe starts at $13,590 and the Passion cabriolet starts at $16,590.

Each year the Automotive News Pace Awards reward innovation in the automotive supply chain.

This year, three of the 12 awards focused on parking and backing up. 

While I have used a lot of the new technology for parking, I have yet to see anything this comprehensive. But, I admit, I feel a bit worried about the future of my teenagers. With all this hi-tech stuff will they be able to park in a pinch, I asked Dr. Bill Sharfman, Director of Judging for the Pace Awards.

 “There is no substitute for learning how to operate your car properly,” he stressed. 
However, he explained that these innovations will lead to a safer, less anxiety provoking and more confident driving experience.

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A few weeks ago, racing and sport seat specialist, Recaro, sent us two of its latest child safety seats to try. While Bryn's toddler has been spending time in the Como Convertible toddler seat, my 45-pound, seven-year-old daughter is the perfect size to road-test Recaro's Vivo high-back booster.

The Vivo, designed for children 3-12 years, 30-100 lbs, retails for $99.99, and provides ultra-thick side bolstering and head protection wings, as well as a height-adjustable back and washable micro-fiber and velveteen cover.

We plan to try the Recaro Vivo in a variety of test cars and monitor its ease of installation, along with comfort commentary from the Peanut Gallery.

It appears Emma is looking forward to the test. Maybe next time she'll actually allow us to install the seat in the car before she hops in.

"I believe that automotive recycling is one of the greenest industries in the world," noted Sandy Blalock, president of the Automotive Recyclers Association tomorrow, at a recent IMPA (International Motor Press Association) meeting in Manhattan.

"Every minute 26 vehicles are recycled in the US," she said.

Actually, I never thought about recycling autos. Jeans, paper, trash-sure...but my big understanding of recycling cars was the junk yards that I've seen in multitudes of scary movies. The dog snarling at the gate, the toothless guy that lives in a hut...you know what I'm talking about.
 
But this is 2008 after all. The auto salvage business that started over 75 years ago, has gotten way a lot more sophisticated. And more ecological.

In a typical recycling plant, inoperative motor vehicles are brought into a facility where the hazardous and recyclable fluids are properly drained. Undamaged parts are then disassembled and cleaned, tested and inventoried for storage until sold. The remaining vehicle hulk is then prepared for scrapping.

Something I never considered is the fact that automotive recycling helps to preserve natural resources and reduce the demand for scarce landfill space. For example, the industry recycles over 4 million motor vehicles annually (in the U.S. and Canada alone), saving an estimated 11 million gallons of oil that would otherwise be used to manufacture new replacement parts.

Some other interesting data:

Recycling vehicles provides enough steel to produce almost 13 million new vehicles.

Automotive recyclers provide wholesale and retail customers quality parts that sell for up to 50% less than the comparable new parts.

Automotive recycling keeps highways and roads clear of abandoned and disabled vehicles by providing a place to deposit them.


And forget that scary movie stuff. Automotive recycling has evolved into an advanced technology-driven industry. Professional recyclers use computer and satellite communication systems for fast inventory assessment and to locate parts across town or across the continent.
   
   

Earth Day is approaching fast (it’s next Tuesday, in case you didn’t already know), and if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, it’s the perfect time to consider buying a car that gets the best fuel economy in its class. (Truthfully, every day is a great time to do this, but I needed a hook, didn’t I?)

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India's Tata Nano is not even for sale yet, but the $2,500 car is already changing the rules on how to develop low-cost vehicles.



When the Tata Nano hit the Geneva auto show this year, the buzz was skeptical. People were predicting that it would be nothing more than a shell on wheels. Not so. The vehicle proved significant enough to give automakers pause for thought.

It looks like Toyota, General Motors, Fiat, Suzuki, Renault and Nissan have jumped on the bandwagon to develop super-low-cost vehicles.

It's what the public wants.

A.T. Kearney consultancy predicts that the global market for vehicles priced below $5,000 will grow to 15.7 million units annually by 2020 from 1.9 million this year, forecasts.

Tata Motors says that it will initially produce 250,000 units a year. However, it is alerting its suppliers to prepare for an eventual 1 million units annually.

How did Tata do it? Their approach is novel and that's why manufacturers are studying the company's methodology.

Tata's focus was on lowering the weight and the cost of parts and production. (But, considering that they are producing it in India, where the cost of labor is cheaper, this was not such a big factor.)

To keep the weight low (580kg) they lightened the engine to two cylinders vs. three to four, they installed only one windshield wiper and they mounted 12-inch tires and wheels that use three lug nuts instead of four or five.

As far as amenities go, keeping it simple means no radio, power steering, power windows or air conditioning. The instrument panel only has the basics-speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge. Oh, and there's no glove box either.

But then again, Tata isn't coming here anytime soon... unless they find a way to pass US emission and safety standards. And that's gonna' add some pounds and some dollars to this lightweight. 

It will be interesting to see what the other manufacturers come up with.

(sourced from Automotive News Europe April 14, 2008)

My job keeps me so concerned with the practical aspects of buying and owning a car that sometimes I forget how much fun it is to fantasize about cars I wish I could have. But we've got a couple of new road tests that have reactviated my salivary glands. First and foremost, the 2008 BMW X6. Nothing I could hope to drive soon, due to family and budget constraints, but I can dream, can't I? The hybrid version of this, when it arrives, will also be very exciting.

The 2009 Honda Pilot. Not exactly a "dream car," but for those with families, it's more butch and more practical, with increased off-road ability. Lots of great cargo space and towing ability. Still a winner. Of course, there are really great deals now on the outgoing Pilot, if you're interested.

Then there's the 2009 Audi A4 Avant. Holly has written about the A4 (she loved it, of course). I'll be attending an all-women A4 event at Audi's Infineon Raceway near San Francisco in the beginning of May, where I'll talk with the female design team from Audi's Santa Monica Design Center. I'll report back on it then. I did drive the 2008 Audi A6 for about 10 minutes the other day, and I was really impressed -- even driving around the parking lot at 15 MPG was a pleasure. So I'm looking forward to learning more about all things Audi.

What do you think about these -- or other -- new vehicles? What makes it onto your wish list?

One of my friends told me that I always describe cars as "feminine". Well, I am correcting that. The 2008 Cadillac CTS that I test drove last weekend is not feminine, it is not masculine, it actually doesn't call either sex to mind!

But, is it sexy? Well, yes...and that's why I chose it to drive my son upstate to check out colleges. I know that he ranks this among the "cool wheels". Especially, I might add in black raven with an ebony interior. Lovely.

I hadn't driven the CTS in years but I have been watching it mature into a sedan that notes BM3 and 5-series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus G5, Infiniti G35 and Audi A4 as competitors.

The CTS is in a class of its own. Noted as Motor Trend's 2008 Car of the Year, the Cadillac CTS takes its namesake into a trendier dimension with a cut-up profile and buffed up 17 or 18" painted  aluminum wheels. The 3.6L Direct Injection  that I tested came with Sapele wood trim on the inside, heated and cooled  8-way stitched leather seats, an excellent 10-speaker Bose sound system and a pop-up info screen that was placed at just the right angle for the driver to see the controls.

GM tuned the CTS on Germany's Nuerurgring track and despite this being a large sedan, it's V6 Direct inject puts out 304 hp with 25% lower hydrocarbon emissions. The speed was sure and steady, the handling crisp-despite the fact that I have been spoiled with some over-the top European cars lately-the CTS was a delight. As well it should be. The price, as tested was $48,240.00 including destination.

The Spanish-owned Ibiza, part of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, was the chosen setting to preview the 2009 Audi A4 Avant, their fourth-generation wagon. 

I think it only fitting that I give you a short understanding of Ibiza before I launch into a description of the Audi A4 Avant.

The Audi A4 Avant is all about lovely lines and superior technology. Ibiza is all about the senses.

Founded by Phoenician’s in 654 BC, the early settlers believed Ibiza to be a magic isle blessed by the Gods because of its fertile red soil that supposedly wards off all manner of harmful reptiles, animals, insects or plants.

Mellow is the mood here. Ibiza was a huge hippie hang-out in the 60’s and since has given birth to a renowned club scene. But, people are drawn to this fertile island for its sandy beaches and laid-back Mediterranean life.  Staggering cliffs with feverish views of seas, pine forests, olive groves and small centuries-old towns are just some of the perks.

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I’ve been suffering from public radio-based Clinton/Obama Fatigue these days, so I recently rediscovered the ‘80s stations on satellite radio. And maybe it’s all the “Listen to Your Heart,”  “Funky Cold Medina” and “Janie’s Got a Gun,” but my mind’s been drifting to my first car a lot lately. My first car, a 1989 Ford Tempo GL sedan in Wild Strawberry with gray cloth interior. I actually really liked that car. I’ll wait until you stop laughing and can read again before I continue.

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