Autobloggreen presented an interesting article on the recently opened Bangor Biodiesel plant in Michigan. The price of soy beans has reached the cost inhibitive point resulting in a cut-back in production and forcing them to put a portion of their employees on “hiatus”.

The concern should be as more and more biodiesel and ethanol plants are opened in the coming years will the supply of soy beans and corn be plentiful enough to supply both the fuel industry and the food industry. And there does not seem to be any discussion of what the contingencies are for providing soy beans or corn during drought plagued seasons.

We are absolutely at the point where alternative fuels are on the international main-stage and they have already sung some of their chart topping tunes: BioDiesel, Ethanol, Hydrogen, and Liquid Coal. Hopefully there is one more hit to come that can truly lead the alternative fuel market in the right direction.

Read more on the BioDiesel plant in Bangor, MI on AutoBlogGreen.

Was there this long running rivalry (like an East Coast/West Coast thing) about whose traffic congestion is the worst between California and New York? The new study funded by the Reason Foundation out of Los Angeles gives the current nod to California as the state that waits the longest in traffic, but also points out some other interesting tid-bits about traffic and about how effectively states are using our highway tax dollars.

The top 3 states for traffic congestion turned out to be California, Minnesota and New Jersey in that order. While New Jersey also topped out as the least efficient state in regards to state spending on roads. New Jersey spent $2,370,630 on improvements to their 2,321 highway miles; which comes to about $1021/mile. South Carolina on the other hand has a dollar-to-mile ratio of $.89. Although traffic patterns and driving tendencies do not always correlate across the board it still leads to some serious doubts over the effectiveness of New Jersey’s spending.
In all the report provided by the Foundation of Reason had 15 categories for rankings; including Total Highway Miles, Lane Miles,  Disbursements, Road Conditions, Congestion, Fatalities, etc. Of those 15 Categories New Jersey ranked in the bottom 5 states in 9 of them. So as Californian’s are sitting in their cars staring at the bumper in front of them for hours at a time they now have 9 more categorical reasons to rejoice in the fact that they do not live in New Jersey.

Ranking State Road Systems by Overall Performance

To read the full report issued by the Reason Foundation just go to their website.

 

The BMW X5 3.0 sd is one of, if not the top SUV on the market today, it blends the sporty styling and handling of the BMW saloons and coupes, crossed with the versatility of a off road vehicle which means only one thing, a big hit. Now BMW are going to increase performance and off the legendary M Sport trim across the complete X5 range.

For 2008 BMW are proposing to include in its engine line up probably one of the most powerful six cylinder diesel engines in the world, the twin turbo charged 3.0 liter diesel engine. Which will provide a massive 286 bhp, taking the car from zero to 62 mph in a mere seven seconds, but it does not stop there it will keep going until it reaches the top speed of around 146 mph. To cope with this additional performance the braking system has been updated with larger and thicker discs.

In the UK more than ninety per cent of all BMW X5’s sold are powered by the diesel version of the car, and so with the increased performance, sales will keep going up for the BMW X5 3.0 sd, especially as the M Sport trim is now available for all of the cars in the series, this offers 19 inch light alloy wheels, sports suspension, leather upholstery, M Sport - body styling, steering wheel, and other equipment.

Source [Top Speed]

While word of the impending release of the BMW 1-Series Coupe seemed to be clamored about in the blogasphere I remained rather mum on the topic. It seemed to be just another BMW at the time, but with an attempt to reach another class of driver: those that can’t afford a 3-Series. However, now that they have released some numbers for the version of the 1-Series being released in the UK there are some specs that have grabbed my attention.

 

The BMW 1-Series in the UK will be released in November with 3 different engine types: 120d, 123d, and 135i. That makes for 2 models with diesel engines and one gasoline. But that is no ordinary gasoline engine as it will be pumping out 306-hp in this lighter 1-Series package. And those Diesel models are not the sputtering diesels from the days of old, but all new aluminum, turbo-charged diesel that is not lacking in punch (numbers wise). The 120d is the fuel miser of the 3 yet still wields 177-hp beneath the bonnet. While the 123d rounds out at 204-hp and still looks to average a combined fuel mileage of 44mpg. Now those are some numbers worthy of excitement.
Ofcourse then the real question is whether or not these are the same cars that will be filtering into the US any time soon? Will they be sending across the pond some watered-down disappointments? Why don’t they do us all a favor and just send over what they have the the UK? …I will learn to shift with my left.

Check out the BMW official website for more on the 1-Series and check out Jalopnik for some of the official press release.

It is hard to imagine that the first experimental vehicles were being built and tested during the late 1880’s, both Daimler and Benz were both working on their models separately, while it would be another decade at least before the great Henry Ford built his first car.

But before all that in 1884 there was the De Dion-Bouton et Trepardoux, otherwise nicknamed “La Marquise” a steam powered vehicle that was fueled by anything that would burn, paper, wood and coal, and as anyone who has struggled to get an open fire going at home would know how temperamental that can be, in fact the vehicle would probably take up to half an hour to build up enough heat to create the steam.

The world’s oldest running car has had only two owners, but I suspect that the paperwork and mileage may be slightly out of date! If there is any at all.

The car will be going on sale at the Gooding and Company Auction House, in Pebble Beach, California on August 19th the estimated final sale price is believed to reach around the $1.5 to $2 million mark, but recent auctions have been a bit of a gamble with some cars selling and some not.

Source [Money]

The new Australian ad campaign to help curb speeding may be hitting a bit below the belt, but maybe that is just what it takes to get their attention. It is not a new concept to imply that someone with an over-sized, over-powered, over-the-top auto is making up for something that they are lacking elsewhere. Now those suspicions have reached the mainstream in Aussie land as those supposedly package deprived led-foot miscreants are publicly ridiculed on TV with the little wiggle of the pinky finger.

RTA – Speeding no one thinks big of you

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In this world where the evolution of ecological awareness and human impact on environments are working hard to break through the hardcore horsepower concepts that have been thoroughly embraced in America and other parts of the world maybe we have now reached the point where you have to grab the public by the… sensitives… in order to drive the point home.
It is a shame that so many people purchase a vehicle based on how others will perceive them to be, instead of focusing on how driving that car makes them feel and how that car better services their needs (be those needs comfort, economic, musical or all-terrain). But I guess in a Paris Hilton society Perception truly is the rule and amongst the My Sweet 16 crowd the perception of being “small” can be quite an effective tool.

Source[Road&TrafficAuthority, NSW]
Source[AutoBlog]

Using parking meters and pay as you go car parking lots, can be very stressful at times. You put the amount in that you think should be enough, and yet it never seems to be so, therefore you often find yourself having to rush back to the meter or parking lot in order to add a few more cents in order to prevent the inevitable parking ticket.

Never fear, there is a trail of a new type of parking meter being tried out in Vancouver, where technology has really taken over from the traffic cop or parking attendant, as this machine has a brain and a cell phone, what could possibly be worse than that? But in ways the meter is doing you a favor because it will alert you when your time is almost up, this will give you time to either get back to your car and leave or use your credit card to send an electronic payment.

Of course if you decide to ignore the alerts and take your chances on getting back, you can always pay the fine through the machine by using your credit card, all very civil and polite. What the hell has happened to the world is there nothing that us drivers can get away with at all?

Source [Auto Blog]

Does it seem possible that Ford India’s marketing department haven’t heard of Global Warming and the plight of the Polar Bear? Are the Big Three maybe seeking out ways to strike back at Al Gore and his Inconvenient campaign on big business? That seems to be the concern of Manu Sharma of Orange Hues as he questions the logic behind the Ford Endeavours ad campaign in India.

What is the message coming out of the above partial photo at the top of this article? Ford Endeavour: Habitat Wrecker… oh, and we’re Safe Too!

There was a time where such commercial humor was light-hearted and acceptable, but there are times where it is not. In 1964 there were not too many JFK jokes being bantered around. In September 2001 there were not that many terrorist jokes tossed about frivolously. In 2007 musing over the wrecking of a habitat which is leading to the loss of a species and may in less than a century alter the world as we know it… yeah, good time Ford.

Check out Orange Hues to Manu Sharma’s analysis of the ad.

A growing trend now days is for owners of specific cars to have a day, weekend or even longer, run by the car maker where they can get to grips with their new vehicle.

The latest is the Trail rides for the VW Touareg; these will take place in Moab, the state of Utah. This is a great opportunity to get those cars off road and see exactly what they can do and to see what the cars look like when they get a little bit dirty and possibly even get mud on the car.

The off road adventures will last for three days, a typical day would start with cocktails and gourmet food served at the Sorrel River Ranch, this would then be followed by some eight hours of trail driving, the courses have been designed to push the car and driver beyond the normal driving conditions that they are used to.

There is a guide for every two drivers, which is a pretty good ratio, so there is no excuse for missing something or hiding at the back of the pack, if you go here you can expect to get dirty along with your beloved car.

The cost of the experience is $2,000 per person, for the three days, but other members of the family can attend too for an extra $500 per person. Quite an expense, but also an experience to remember for all.

Source [Autoblog]

This Fall Dodge is finally ready to release its latest recipient of the SRT-4 treatment: the Caliber. This stout 4-door replaces the Neon as the smallest sibling in the SRT-4 family, but with 280-horsepower and 260-torque the Calber can sit unashamed  amongst its family members.  

While the styling of the Caliber may not appeal to everyone, it still follows the general design concept that is sweeping across all Dodge models. And with the SRT-4 treatment there may be just enough incentive under the bonnet to sway any of those on the fence over the Calibers curb appeal. However, if the horsepower and performance are not convincing enough to entice a buyer to purchase an SRT-4 maybe a starting price of just under $20,000 will do the trick?

Source[AutoWeek]