Links for the Morning (080905): Hybrid Cars, Used Cars, and Car Blogs
Oh, those evil car companies!
Hybrids with horsepower (link requires registration; HT Scrivener)? The New York Times does not approve:
Speaking of which, isn’t that what hybrids are all about: conservation, improved fuel economy, weaning the nation off its oil habit? Perhaps not any longer.
The hybrid version of the Lexus sport utility wagon follows in the tracks of the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid by offering more horsepower than the conventional version of the same vehicle, a markedly different approach than that of economy-focused hybrids like Toyota’s own Prius or Honda’s Civic Hybrid. In this case we’re talking 268 horsepower for the RX 400h, versus 230 for the gasoline-only RX 330.
True, Toyota is not marketing the RX 400h as being environmentally friendly, focusing instead on its performance and typical Lexus luxuriousness. While this may provide the company some absolution, the RX 400h’s failure to deliver, in my experience, even a nominal improvement in gas mileage still seems like a sin of omission. It has been fundamental to the understanding and acceptance of hybrids that they offer better fuel economy than vehicles powered by conventional gasoline engines.
Even at $2.50 - $3.00 per gallon, at least some consumers want power first, environmentalism second. How dare Toyota, Honda, and Lexus meet their wishes?
Instead of the intended fuel economy subsidy Scrivener points out that the $2,000 tax credit a consumer receives for buying a hybrid vehicle amounts to a federal horsepower subsidy.
Maybe it’s time to buy “someone else’s problem”
As might be expected when all new cars from General Motors and Ford have been sold at the employee discount price for the last 60 days or so, USA Today reports a glut of used cars, and that good deals can be had.
GM Ahead of Ford in Blogs
Not that it will be the cause of a complete corporation turnaround, but General Motors’ blog is pretty impressive.
The GM Fastlane Blog is apparently the logical outgrowth of what Bob Lutz started earlier this year. Now there are six categories and posting takes place five days a week. But the awful green background has got to go.
Ford is lagging in blogdom, with no blog presence indicated anywhere on its media home page, and only a few isolated and short-duration blogs elsewhere.
