Will SEMA go hybrid?

Damn right a CR-Z hybrid is better than a Mustang, right?!?

Only one hybrid is up for this year’s “Hottest Vehicle” award at SEMA. The Honda CR-Z hybrid will challenge the Chevy Camaro, the Ford Mustang and a number of other conventional vehicles at this year’s show, set for November 2 – 5 in Las Vegas.

Along with the CR-Z, Camaro, and Mustang the hottest car list includes the Dodge Challenger, Audi A4, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Soul, Lexus IS, Mazda 2, Scion tC and Subaru Impreza.

As for the hottest truck, the Chevy Silverado hybrid isn’t specifically on the list, but its conventional Silverado sister is, and since the Silverado hybrid is easily the most important vehicle GM makes – maybe that any automaker makes – then we have to give it a shout-out.

Silverado hybrid baby!

Too bad neither consumers nor the government – let alone GM – understand that fact, but it is what it is; nevertheless, we’re still writing in the Silverado hybrid on our ballet.

Anyway, GM will be on the list next year with the Chevy Volt, as might a few other hybrid cars and plug-in vehicles. Maybe the past is ready to fully ebb in favor of a new flow of ideas.

Utterly senseless?

Will fuel economy ever be cool?

MotorTrend is salivating over the new ABT-Sportsline modified Audi TT-RS today. With specs like 0 – 62 in 4 seconds and a top speed of 181 mph, what gear head wouldn’t act as if his bell had just been wrung?

Yet, if all the effort put into achieving such power had been put into achieving fuel economy, 60 mpg would already be an after-thought.

What is it about power – mostly useless power – that is so Pavlovianly-enticing?

Unfortunately, it isn’t just 0 – 60 times that so compel. For instance, what percent of pickup truck drivers need a truck that can fly up a mountain towing 12,000 pounds? What percent of pickup truck owners ever tow anything? Would the average American contractor go out of business without the ability to drag-race 12,000 pounds up a mountain?

I don’t know, but the Ford F-Series recently topped 50,000 units sold in one month – the first time in over 2 years – while averaging well under 20 mpg. On the other hand, the 50 mpg Toyota Prius sold about 12,000 units.

How can that be acceptable in today’s world? Such poor fuel economy has done more good for America than harm? Seriously? Honestly, I don’t know, but I very much doubt that such an argument can be made. Yet, the government provides an unlimited amount of small business tax credits for such vehicles as it doles tens of billions in loans, grants and tax credits for more fuel efficient vehicles, particularly plug-in vehicles the size of a Prius.

But, can you really play it both ways?

More important, while a 70 mpg plug-in Prius sounds great, as does a Nissan Leaf with 100 miles of EV range, a 40 mpg F 150 would have far more impact reducing foreign oil dependence. Forget $7500 tax credits for the Chevy Volt. $7500 for a Chevy Silverado hybrid could actually achieve real change this decade.

Nevertheless, will it ever be cooler to average 60 mpg versus hitting 62 mph in 4 seconds?

Stagnating fuel eonomy.

Time for a big increase in CAFE?

There has been much talk in the blogosphere regarding CAFE and future fuel economy requirements with some hoping that a huge increase in CAFE is forthcoming. Others claim such an increase will mean many consumers will hold onto older gas guzzlers much longer as automaker profits turn into red ink due to declining profit margins.

Recently a few studies have claimed that much higher fuel economy can be cost-effectively achieved with today’s technologies at a much faster pace than automakers appear ready to embrace.

So how crazy is the idea of 60 mpg by 2025?

According to recent analysis, the current uptick in CAFE standards is “very modest”. Instead of 34 mpg by 2016, 38 mpg “would have delivered additional benefits of $140 billion over the life of the vehicles covered.”

Likewise, moving to 60 mpg by 2025, “will add hundreds of billions of consumer savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by hundreds of millions of tonnes.” More important, the costs of the technologies to achieve such standards provide enough savings in fuel costs to more than pay for themselves according the Consumer Federation of America (CFA).

So, 60 mpg by 2025 would be good for consumers, but would it be good for US automakers?

A study by the University of Michigan also claims such fuel economy standards could be achieved without consumers losing any “creature comforts” they are used to today. It’s just that over time, engineering needs to focus on making current engines more fuel efficient not more powerful. Similar to the CFA study, the Michigan study also concludes, this “revolution by evolution” pays for itself over time.

Still, does it mean less profits for automakers?

While the extra technologies might pay for themselves over time, that doesn’t mean such technologies will be as profitable as sticking closer to the status quo as long as possible, and that means automakers will balk. Thus, 60 mpg by 2025 is certainly crazy talk, at least in America.

Other places in the world, however, might embrace this crazy talk, especially emerging markets – and the future of the world’s auto industry. The wheel doesn’t have to be reinvented to make huge gains in fuel economy. It’s NOT all about plug-in vehicles and super grids. Today’s technologies, if not for crazy American consumer demands, could be far, far more efficient.

Emerging markets, however, might find much more sanity in their consumers. And, why not keep it as simple, efficient and cost-effective as possible instead of trying to reinvent transportation through the plug and/or hydrogen? Wouldn’t that be the more crazy path in economies with less money to spend on transportation?

Emerging markets don’t have to immediately leapfrog today’s technologies to succeed in the auto markets of the future, they just have to be more reasonable and responsible than America. That’s not really so crazy, is it?

Audi A8L: Explained by Sven Stockmar, Chief of Product Marketing Audi AG was originally published on The German Car Blog on Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

1. Audi: Talking Super Bowl with Scott Keogh, Audi’s chief marketing officer
2. Audi RS5: quattro system explained
3. Audi: Interview with Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG Marketing and Sales

Audi S5 Sportback: Reviewed was originally published on The German Car Blog on Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

1. Audi S3 Sportback: Reviewed
2. Audi A7 Sportback: New spy shots!
3. Audi A5 Sportback: Nice illustration

Bentley Continental GT: Officially revealed, comes with new design and optional V8 was originally published on The German Car Blog on Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

1. Bentley Continental Supersports: Extreme Bentley revealed
2. Bentley Continental GT: New spy shots, a few days before official unveil!
3. Bentley Continental GTC Speed: Officially released!

Porsche 911 Turbo: Great road trip report was originally published on The German Car Blog on Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

1. Porsche 911 Turbo: Across the USA, trip report
2. Porsche 911 Turbo: Road test report
3. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S: Road test report