Her car is the one parked straight. Image: hildgrim/Flickr/CC BY-SA

My father used to tell me women couldn’t drive, and that was that. Dad doesn’t think in those black and white terms anymore, and probably most people don’t either. But if pressed, I bet most guys would still say they have an edge over the opposite sex behind the wheel. However, a new study shows they just may be wrong. At least in one area of driving.

Sexes compete in the parking lot

According to a recent study commissioned by British parking lot company National Car Park, women may take the prize away from the guys when it comes to parking. The study used a scoring system to gauge the duration, accuracy and technique of 2,500 drivers parking their vehicles in 700 different lots — or “car parks” — across Great Britain. In the end, the women scored 13.4 our of 20, while the men lagged behind with just 12.3.

[Women and men alike get a fair deal in Houston, BMW]

Preconceptions blown

The study was designed by Neil Beeson, a driving instructor featured in the documentary film “Last Chance Driving School.” Beeson was not too proud to admit that he had his preconceived notions dispelled.

“I was quite surprised by the results, because in my experience men have always been the best learners and usually performed better in lessons.”

Men are speedy

Men are faster but lack finesse, the study showed. Men take an average of 16 seconds to park, whereas women take about 21. But women, taking their time, end up well-aligned between the white lines about half of the time. Men do so only about a quarter of the time.

Psychological factors

Psychological factors were also at play. Men, more impatient and more easily frustrated, tended to miss seeing open parking spots that women found. Also, if a male driver has a female passenger, he will often “pose park,” or show off his prowess by squeezing into the tightest space available.

‘Give our partners more respect’

In the end, it seems that cooler heads prevail in the parking lot. Beeson agreed:

“It’s possible that women have retained the information better. The results also appear to dispel the myth that men have better spatial awareness than women. … It shows that us men need to give our partners more respect when it comes to parking. The facts don’t lie.”

Sources

AOL Autos
Sympatico
My Northwest

Emissions regulations are necessary, but possibly are misapplied on supercars. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Emissions requirements are a controversial matter. Though the need for people to be better stewards of the environment is definitive, the compromises that are required for car makers to achieve them aren’t as well received. However, some of the biggest targets of emissions standards, supercars, are kind of pointless to go after.

High power means dirty tailpipes

During the past few years, many nations have been tightening emissions requirements, forcing car makers to produce cars emitting much less carbon dioxide and other pollutants. High-performance cars emit more carbon dioxide than the typical family sedan; large, powerful engines burn more fuel and thus produce greater emissions.

For instance, according to FuelEconomy.gov, a 2012 Aston Martin DBS with an automatic transmission emits 635 grams of greenhouse gases per mile. A 2012 Ford Focus, on the other hand, with an automatic transmission, puts out 287 grams per mile of greenhouse gases.

[Plenty of Mazdas have low emissions and there is a great Mazda selection in Valpariso, IN]

Compromises must be made

Supercar makers thus have to engineer their cars to fit emissions standards. For instance, Aston Martin, according to Automobile magazine, released a mini-car in 2011, the Cygnet, claiming its customers need a car more practical for city driving. However, most believe its a way to drastically reduce the CO2 emissions across the brand and thus fit emissions regulations. Not that the Cygnet is a bad car in any fashion.

Ferrari has gotten into the spirit. According to the Telegraph, Ferrari pledged in 2007 to reduce emissions across its entire range by 40 percent within five years. In 2010, the venerable car maker unleashed the High Emotion Low Emission system, which adds start-stop technology and other means of reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiency, as an optional extra.

Little point in reality

Good stewardship of the environment is a definitive need; global warming is difficult to completely dismiss and the environmental damage done by many industries is atrocious. That said, it seems as though an exemption for supercars would be logical.

The reason is simple: so few “supercars” are sold. Aston Martin, according to BusinessWeek, sold 4,250 cars in 2010. Ferrari, according to AutoCar, sold 6,250 cars in that year. Pagani, according to CNN, sells about 20 cars per year. Even the domestic supercars don’t sell huge numbers, as Chevrolet, according to MotorTrend, sold 13,164 Corvettes in 2011.

Few can afford to buy them and few do. Thus, it makes little sense to have companies who make automotive engineering marvels to worry about fitting specifications. So few of them are on the road that it makes no difference.

Sources

Fuel Economy

Automobile

The Telegraph

BusinessWeek: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_24/b4232026115059.htm

AutoCar: http://www.autocar.co.uk/www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/247547/

CNN: http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/16/autos/italian_supercar_pagani_huayra/index.htm

MotorTrend: http://wot.motortrend.com/sending-off-the-c6-chevy-unveils-2013-corvette-427-convertible-157297.html

There are some great performance models of cars out there, but some give too little bang for the buck. Photo Credit: Toffguy/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA

There is a modern obsession with horsepower, as more powerful cars are considered more desirable. It’s great to have a fun car to drive, but that doesn’t mean one should go broke getting one.

Get pace at right price

For drivers looking at upgrading to a premium performance model car, there are some that cost too much in proportion to gains in performance. None of this is to say these aren’t great cars. It’s just that some upgrades seem to offer less bang as there should be for the bucks.

M’s the word

BMW’s M division puts jaw-dropping power in BMW’s luxury cars, though at a price. The cheapest model is the M1 Coupe, the M-tuned version of the 1 series. It comes with 335 horsepower and starts at $46,135.

The 135i coupe, though, has 300 horsepower, starts at $39,300 and is less than half a second slower getting from 0 to 60 miles per hour. The M1 only has 35 more horsepower, is only a little quicker and costs an extra $6,000.

[Check out Houston, TX for great BMW deals]

OMG AMG

Mercedes’ AMG division makes luxury cruisers with terrifying power, some of which are worth the price. However, the S65 AMG costs more than $50,000 more than the S600. It has 111 more horsepower, but can only get from 0 to 60 miles per hour 0.3 seconds faster.

Audi your mind

Just like its counterparts, Audi charges more for cars tuned by its S division. The TTS is a splendid and racy sports coupe. However, it would make more sense to buy the regular TT. The TTS has the same engine, Quattro all-wheel-drive, gets the same gas mileage, but is tuned up to get 265 horsepower, compared to the base TT’s 211. The difference in the 0 to 60 time is only 0.4 seconds, but the difference in price is $8,700.

Get my Tokyo drift

The Mistubishi Lancer EVO is one of the best sports cars for the price, period. It starts at $34,495 and to buy a car equal in handling ability, one has to look to Porsche or Lotus. However, for those that can’t quite afford the EVO, there is the Lancer Ralliart.

The Ralliart starts at $27,995, has all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged engine, just like the EVO. It is slightly less powerful, at 237 horsepower compared the 291 for the EVO. The car gets from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds, according to MotorTrend. The EVO, according to InsideLine, manages it in 5.2 seconds.

Sources

Mitsubishi

MotorTrend

Inside Line

BMW: http://www.bmwusa.com/default.aspx

Audi: http://www.audiusa.com/us/brand/en.html

Mercedes: http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/index

Newt Gingrich. (CC BY-SA/Gage Skidmore/Wikipedia)

Former Speaker of the House and current Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich may be liberal enough to garner the support of a few unions in his campaign, but he’s no fan of one of the nation’s largest unions, notes Automotive News. At a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa, Gingrich blasted the United Auto Workers union for “hindering U.S. manufacturing.”

UAW costs US manufacturing jobs, says Gingrich

At a Rotary Club breakfast meeting, Newt Gingrich responded to a question regarding the loss of manufacturing jobs to other nations like Mexico. In preparation for the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, Gingrich pointed the finger at the automotive industry in general, and UAW in particular.

“We have a very vibrant auto industry in places like BMW, which now manufactures in the U.S. and exports worldwide,” he said. Then he named a series of automakers with U.S. vehicle assembly plants that were non-union: “Mercedes, Honda, Nissan. Where it’s a real problem is the UAW.”

One of the largest labor unions in the country, UAW represents hourly workers for Detroit’s Big Three – General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC – but has driven jobs outside America’s borders, according to Gingrich.

“It’s a work-rules problem; it’s not an hourly cost problem,” he told the Rotary Club. “You can’t have continuous improvement if you’re not allowed to constantly modify and improve.”

All soapbox suds and little sense

UAW liaison Michele Martin did not respond to automotive media emails seeking response to the criticism. Autoblog comments that Gingrich displays a lack of understanding of the real reasons that the United States is struggling to maintain a base of manufacturing jobs, particularly since the formation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Yet Gingrich is not alone in his overly simplistic view, the publication suggests.

“While we wouldn’t expect Gingrich to behave any differently towards his political enemies in the union, we will say that the loss of manufacturing jobs is a far more complicated subject than this or any other soundbite can explain. And for all the attention that the auto industry continues to receive from politicians hoping to score points with voters, we remain appalled at how little those on both sides of the aisle actually know about the business.”

Ron Paul calls Newt Gingrich ‘part of the problem’

Sources

Autoblog

Automotive News

Bloomberg Businessweek

A concept electric car, the SIM-LEI, uses in-wheel electric motors to make an electric car as practical as it is fun. Photo Credit: Morio/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA

A concept from the Tokyo Motor Show, the SIM-LEI by boutique firm SIM Drive, has some interesting features for an electric car. It could be everything an electric car could really be.

Corvette fast with no gas needed

Electric cars are hampered by a few things. Firstly, the only models fast enough to be exciting to drive, like the Tesla Roadster and the Fisker Karma, are too expensive for most people to afford. Secondly, the cars that are affordable, such as the Nissan Leaf and other upcoming pure plug-in electrics, have such a limited range that it makes them impractical.

However, a concept car shown off at the Tokyo Motor Show claims to accomplish both speed and range. The SIM-LEI, by SIM Drive, according to CNN, boasts 260 kilowatts of electric power (or about 353.5 horsepower) and a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of about 4.8 seconds, which is about half a second slower than the base Chevrolet Corvette. It’s also rated to go 200 miles on a charge and cost about $32,000.

Motor-in-hub makes the difference

The difference between the SIM-LEI and other electrics is that instead of a single electric motor, it has four. Each motor is mounted in a wheel hub, which also gives the car four-wheel-drive. The name of the car, LEI, stands for Leading Efficiency In-wheel motor, according to the company’s website. Other concepts have toyed with the idea, such as Peugeot and Mitsubishi, according to CNN.

Jaguar, according to CNET, also used in-wheel electric motors in the C-X75 hybrid concept car that debuted in 2010. The C-X75 was impressive; a 195-horsepower motor powered each wheel, producing a total of 780 horsepower and a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of 3.4 seconds. Two gas-powered micro-turbines in the Jag acted as generators, similar to the Chevy Volt, when the batteries ran out after 68 miles. The total range with the 15.8 gallon tank was 560 miles, giving the Jag fuel efficiency of 31 miles per gallon.

Production not yet scheduled

Whether the SIM-LEI makes it into production and then to the United States is still to be determined. The company began as a startup out of Keio University, according to TechCrunch, and produced the LEI concept in conjunction with 34 businesses and municipalities after producing the Ellica concept car several years ago.

However, it did go through testing under typical Japanese traffic conditions and still achieved a range of 333 kilometers (about 207 miles) with its 24.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, which was sourced from Toshiba, according to Engadget. That’s the same size battery used in the Nissan Leaf.

The company states on its website that it will be in production by 2013 and, according to CNN, that the number of buyers will be a factor in cost; the more people buy one, the less it will cost.

Sources

CNN

SIM-Drive

CNET

TechCrunch

Engadget

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is what Edmunds calls a “true three-door” hatchback. (Photo Credit: Public Domain/IFCAR/Wikipedia)

A bold vision of the modern hatchback, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster brings sleek form and aggressive detail to its three-door layout. Both sporty in appearance and convenient with an oversized third door, the Elantra-based FWD Veloster’s engine performance hasn’t wowed all critics. The features and overall driving performance have combined to make it a Hyundai hit so far, however.

Under the hood and on the road

The base model of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is powered by a 1.6-liter, direct-injected, inline four-cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower. A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission with shift paddles are available. Edmunds trumpets the Veloster’s powertrain, lauding its “sprightly performance” and 40 mpg highway capability. Yet Automotive News feels that the Veloster is too slow and that it shifts harshly between gears.

Speed and comfort

Edmunds tested the Hyundai Veloster at eight seconds for zero to 60 mph. Clearly, while the standard engine in the Hyundai Veloster won’t blow you away in terms of acceleration, Edmunds found that the suspension is well-balanced and handles comfortably. The sense of stability extends to the anti-lock disc brakes and traction/stability control. In the event that traction control doesn’t get the job done, front-seat side airbags and full-length curtain airbags are there, as is Hyundai’s BlueLink computer system, which works in the same manner as GM’s OnStar service.

Hyundai estimates the fuel economy for the Veloster at 28 mpg city/40 mpg highway, good for 32 mpg combined for the manual transmission version of the car. Those with the dual-clutch transmission are rated at 29/38/32 mpg.

Veloster style options

The level of trim in this four-passenger, three-door hatchback includes 17-inch alloy wheels, plenty of LED accent lights, heated rear-view mirrors, a spoiler, air-conditioning, loads of power accessories, Bluetooth and more. The 7-inch dash touchscreen comes with Pandora connectivity, fuel economy coaching games and A/V playback capability. Optional Style and Tech packages add even more features that are sure to please the discerning automotive consumer.

The hatchback position

What Edmunds calls “youthful and modern,” Automotive News calls a parboil chamber. Rear passengers’ heads fall just under the hatchback glass, which can lead to rather warm passengers during the summer. Edmunds concurs but also highlights the ample legroom. It is possible that some rear passengers may have to duck down when the hatchback is closed, so the warning sign Hyundai puts inside the vehicle may just be worth heeding.

Veloster sells

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster looks like a Porsche 928 or 944 if you’re going by the roofline, says Automotive News. And despite what it considers hatchback issues, the publication still calls interior quality of the Veloster “excellent for a car of its price” – $22,500, with $4,000 in option packages.

Hyundai reportedly sold 2,538 Velosters in the U.S. last month, more than the Mini Countryman, Fiat 500, Nissan Cube, Scion xB or new VW Beetle.

Motor Trend First Test: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Sources

Automotive News

Edmunds

Hyundai USA: 2012 Veloster

Many car makers brag about innovations, but many of the best-selling cars of all time like the VW Beetle rarely change very much. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Anyone who regularly follows auto industry news, or any industry news for that matter, sees the word “innovation” a lot. However, many of the best cars of all time rarely go through any fundamental changes at all.

Hype versus reality

The word “innovation” is commonly bandied about when it comes to numerous consumer products. Cars, cellular phones, computers, whatever; there is a constant deluge about how “innovative” this, that or the other thing is. Every new car model is inexorably “boldly innovative” and so forth. However, some of the best cars of all time barely changed for decades. New gadgets and window dressing are added, but that’s about it.

The perfect driving machine

The BMW 3 Series is one of BMW’s most popular cars — for good reason. Since the model was introduced in 1977, the car has been roughly the same. It’s a compact performance sedan, somewhat pricey with a luxurious interior, decent power and great handling without guzzling too much gas.

In 1984, according to Edmunds, the inline-six engine was introduced to the 3 Series, which is currently the only engine one can get in a 3 Series today, according to BMW, except for the 4.4-liter V-8 in the scary-fast M3, which has been available in the U.S. since 1988.

There have been some upgrades, but the 3 Series is fundamentally the same. It’s still compact, still gets good mileage, still is powerful for its size and is still a fantastic driving machine. All-wheel-drive, an option since 1988, is still available, as are four-door sedan, two-door coupe, convertible and wagon configurations.

Meet the Beetles

According to Porsche’s history page, the Volkswagen Beetle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1934 at the behest of the Nazi regime for a “people’s car.” The evil regime that ordered it has been rightly damned for its atrocities, but perhaps one thing it got right was the “ur-Beetle” it commissioned.

The car was simple. A compact coupe with a small mid-mounted four-cylinder engine available for a modest price. It went on to be the unequivocally best-selling car of all time with more than 21.5 million of the original configuration being produced, according to the New York Times, the last in 2003 at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico.

The first major update to Volkswagen Beetle didn’t come until 1998, according to Edmunds. There were improvements to engines and other things over the years, but the car was barely changed for more than 60 years.

Many others

Numerous other best-selling vehicles have the same story. The domestic Ford Ranger, the Toyota Tacoma and its international cousin the Hilux, have barely changed during the lifespans of those models. Different styling and a few improvements are made, but it’s still essentially the same vehicle. It isn’t innovation that makes a great car, when one takes a critical look at the best sellers of all time. It’s making an automobile well and then adding new and improved bits.

Sources

Edmunds

BMW

Porsche

Edmunds

New York Times

There are a large number of companies selling kit or replica cars, and some like the Caterham Seven are good purchases. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

There are a large number of small companies that make replica or “kit” versions of classic cars and unique cars in their own right. Some can be dodgy, but some are actually worth looking at.

Rehash of classics to cottage-made originals

There are replica and kit cars for just about every type of need out there. There are legitimate road-worthy daily drivers, toys for the track, dune buggies and supercars.

A whiff of track

A very popular type of kit or replica car is one that replicates a vintage racing car. Usually they are light, small, low-slung coupes with an open roof, which are fantastic toys on the track.

One of the most famous cars along these lines is the Caterham Seven, which has been available since the 1970s, according to Automobile Magazine. The Caterham Seven is a near-identical copy of the Lotus Seven, a popular race car made by the legendary sports car firm. The Caterham may look to some like a glorified go-kart, but the R500 version, which costs $61,507 for the base package, will do 0 to 60 miles per hour almost fast as a $2 million Bugatti Veyron, the fastest road car in the world. All the customer needs supply is a 2-liter Ford Duratec engine and the transmission. The base model starts at about $29,000.

Numerous companies, such as Factory Five and Superformance, make replicas of Shelby Cobra race cars from the 1960s. An original Shelby is highly expensive. The replicas are often called a “Mark III” or a “427″ to identify it as a Shelby copy without incurring legal trouble from Carroll Shelby. They’re not great for daily driving, but they scream down the track.

Ferrari killer reborn

In 2009, Car and Driver reviewed a Superformance replica of the Ford GT40. The GT40 is a legend; the car was built in 1965 to embarrass Ferrari and did just that, winning the Le Mans Championship four years in a row. The replica comes without an engine or transmission. Car and Driver clocked a Superformance replica with a Ford 427 engine, the same as the original GT40 Mark II, going from 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds.

The replica costs $80,000, and the car in Car and Driver’s review cost $125,000 with all the parts, but one of the 100 original GT40s will easily cost 10 times that amount. The original also didn’t have air-conditioning, which Superformance’s GT does.

Back from the past to the future

Fans of the “Back to the Future” series and the iconic DMC-12 may have noticed that a new company called the DeLorean Motor Company, unrelated to John DeLorean or his company in any way, has been around for some time, making DeLoreans again. Like other replicas, it’s a licensed version of the original DMC-12, and the company manufactures parts to Original Equipment Manufacturer specification. A brand new DeLorean, according to the website, starts at about $57,500, with warranty.

Sources

Automobile Magazine

Caterham

Superformance

Factory Five

Car and Driver

DeLorean Motor Company

You don't want to drive this sporty Plymouth named Christine. Really. You don't. Image: ChazWags/Flickr/CC BY-ND

It’s Halloween, the day when haunted houses get all the attention. However, the ghosts who haunt cars are crying discrimination. Haunted houses are rooted to a foundation. If you can make it out the door, chances are you’ll be safe. But just try to escape a haunted car. A haunted house can’t go after you, chase you down, run you over and then back over you again. Here is a small sample of haunted car movies and TV shows car buffs may want to take a look at tonight for some thrills, chills and cool cars.

The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow (1959)

This swift and entertaining film delivers the cheesy goods with lots of laughs. In it, a group of drag racing kids are in danger of losing their local hangout. But an eccentric woman offers the kids the use of an old mansion she owns — if they can scare away the ghost who supposedly haunts the joint.

This lively little black and white number features a plethora of cars ranging from the early 1930s to the late 1950s. Among then are a 1932 Ford V8, a 1953 Buick Special, a 1953 Ford Crestline Victoria and two custom-built dragsters.

My Mother the Car (1965)

This infamous disaster of a sitcomfalls into the “what were they thinking?” department. In it, Dave Crabtree (Jerry Van Dyke) buys a 1928 Porter that talks back when he gets behind the wheel. In fact, it is the reincarnation of his overbearing mother, voiced by Anne Southern. Needless to say, the series was not renewed after its inaugural season. This car wreck has gone on, however, to develop a cult following.

The Car (1977)

James Brolin starred in this nifty, nearly-forgotten movie from the late 1970s. The titular Car — a black 1971 Lincoln Continental — was customized by legendary movie automaker Geroge Barris, who also designed the Munster Koach and the 1966 TV Batmobile. The mysterious car has no door handles, license plate or — oh, yeah — driver. The Car has the nasty habit of running people over just for the fun of it, but it can’t enter a hallowed cemetery.

Christine (1983)

This film, based on Stephen King’s early novel, is probably the most famous haunted car film ever made — and quite possibly the best. Directed by a young John Carpenter, this one tells of a particularly nasty (and hot) 1958 Plymouth Fury that starts killing right from its start on a Detroit assembly line. The sporty, cherry Christine falls into the hands of nerdy Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon), and his life is never the same again.

Sources

E 3 Sparks Plug News
Antique Automobile Club of America
DVD Drive-in

The original 2010 Fisker Karma sedan at the Chicago Auto Show. Image: Aaron & Alli/Flickr/CC BY

Tuesday Fisker unveiled its new Surf hybrid wagon, the latest addition to the Karma line, at the Frankfurt auto show. The car appeals to environmentally conscious drivers with families. It offers a stylish yet family-friendly design.

The company’s new flying brake

The Surf is the new “flying brake” incarnation of Fisker’s 2010 range-extended electric vehicle, the Karma. A flying brake is a style of vehicle that combines a sedan with a station wagon. The Surf is a two-door vehicle with a backseat, cargo space and a hatch-back door.

According to co-founder Henrik Fisker, the Surf is an “eco-friendly lifestyle vehicle that offers space, performance and luxury design for people who live an active, environmentally conscious lifestyle and like to drive beautiful cars.”

A green family dream

Car and Driver says the name of the vehicle is misleading because it does not resemble other vehicles associated with California surfers. However, the vehicle does sport a wave-like, fluid, stylish design. The company’s own press humbly calls it a “design masterpiece.” That may be a bit self-aggrandizing, but the car does combine luxury, utility, style, economy and ecological awareness into perhaps the most family-friendly package yet available.

Performance Car and Driver calls ‘quick and agile’

Beneath the new flying brake shell, the Surf has the same aluminum space frame, suspension and electric power-train as the Karma sedan. Despite its increased cargo space, the company says the Surf is only 66 pounds heavier than the original sedan. It uses two 150 kW electric motors, a turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 engine and a lithium-ion battery.

The battery pack will operate the car for up to 50 miles. At that point, the GM four-cylinder engine starts up, turning on a generator to extend the range by as much as 300 miles. Performance should be much the same as the Karma, which Car and Driver called “quick and agile.”

Hits market mid-2012

According to the auto maker, the Surf will reach the market in mid-2012 and will be sold as a 2013 model for a little more than $100,000.

Sources

Auto Blog
Car and Driver
NexGadget