It has been a long standing opinion and practice around the globe, but particularly in China, that duplication, adaptation, and down-right replication of designs and other intellectual properties should be expected and considered the sincerest form of flattery. In the 1980’s there was a common saying or belief that the Japanese took the ideas of others and made them better; improved upon them; applied thought and further advanced the technologies of that time. The biggest problem with the Chinese replication of the automobiles of others is that they do not seem to put any thought into it.

The only information provided for what the Beijing Automotive group is calling the B40 (thus the Jeep clone above) is that it has a gasoline fueled engine. Whether it carries the same off-road capabilities as its Trail Rated genetic source is another question.

Beijing Automotive, formerly known as Beijing Jeep, does have a partnership agreement with Chrysler, but the question of how far that partnership goes still lingers. Does their partnership license the replication of the Jeep brand or Wrangler design? With practically zero copyright protection for intellectual property in China there is little that Chrysler is going to do to stop it. Chrysler would more than likely opt to preserve their partnership link to the expanding automotive market that is China than to lose it over some silly copy-cat complaints.

Check out the photo gallery after the leap and see just how adept China has become at breaking out the clone-stamp and serving of a piece of someone else’s pie.

Chinese auto maker Geely has unveiled its sporty coupe concept the Tiger GT at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show going on in China as we speak, and the crowds around it have been rather constant. Geely is more known for producing the small, economy rides that the general Chinese population is buying. With the Tiger GT Geely is stepping up their aim as a builder of automobiles.

There are some things that appear familiar about the Geely Tiger GT. The vented from grill resembles the shield design on the Suzuki Kizashi, but has been commented by others to resemble a Chinese mask. By the general mold of the car it would appear that the Tiger GT is looking to challenge the likes of Maserati and Aston Martin. While such a challenge may be years (or generations) away it is nice to have such aggressive ambitions to provoke a response out of the rest of the auto industry.
…Explore the Large Gallery of Photos after the Leap…

The Mercedes-Benz GLK has received its fair share of press and promise of the many months. First it was spied at the Sex and the City Movie set and then it received its introduction in concept dressing at this years Detroit Auto Show in January. Now the official unveiling in Bejing is at our doorstep and Mercedes-Benz is preparing the viewing public with photos and information on how they see their GLK model fitting into the Mercedes-Benz brand, into their SUV line-up and a bit of how it will appeal to buyers. That last part, appealing to buyers, is the most important part.

The GLK entry-level sport utility is aimed at competing against the BMW X3 and the up-coming Audi Q5. Taking its styling cue from the Mercedes-Benz C-Class the GLK takes on the open grilled hungry appearance that makes the new C-Class stand out on the streets. The all new design will surely gain favor with the Mercedes-Benz dedicated shopper, but in some regards the new design taps into an SUV past in shape. There is something of a touch of a shrunken down Land Cruiser to the general mold of the GLK.

Here is how Mercedes-Benz Design Chief Prof. Peter Pfeiffer described the GLK’s design influence:  “With the G-Class we created a style icon that has been a benchmark in SUV design for the past 30 years. Combining this bold concept with the latest Mercedes-Benz design idiom makes the GLK a vehicle of genuine character.”

…Full Gallery and Video after on the following page…

The latest offense poised to join the list of cane-worthy crimes in Malaysia is second offense street racers. The law has yet to hit the legal books of Malaysia and is more directed toward the motorcycle gangs called the Mat Rempits than at what other countries recognize as Street Racers, but a broad interpretation of the new law could leave Raging-Ricers at risk.

The Mat Rempits are motorcycle gangs notorious in Malaysia for racing along country roads, vandalism, rape and other offenses. A first offense conviction for taking part in their high-speed racing is the equivalent of a $1,597 fine (5,000 ringgit), a maximum of 5-years in prison and a 3-year suspension of the guilty’s drivers license. As second offense conviction could result in a minimum 10-year sentence in prison, the US dollar equivalent of $3,178 fine (10,000 ringgit) and 3-strikes of the cane.

To anyone unfamiliar with caning we are not speaking of a this whip or principals paddle. This is an 8-ft cane of knotty bamboo that can cut flesh to the bone. Subjects of caning are sometimes reported to have passed out by the second swipe. The wounds from caning may heal, but the deep scarring of both the flesh and psyche are permanent. Caning as a deterrent, if and when enforced, could certain make breaking the law a far less appealing venture.

It has been some time since China had any good press, and recent protests over air quality by Olympic athlete’s and international protests for a free Tibet have done little to lighten the mood. Things for China did not improve in the slightest when a University of California study released their findings and named China the #1 polluter on the planet (…YES! High Five!).

Finding it easier to squash and ignore the Tibet issue Chinese authorities are focused on showcasing their Olympic host city. As a means of addressing air quality issues Bejing has issued a few directives that are aimed at resulting in more sunny days in the Capital city.

In an effort to curb carbon emissions from automobile traffic Bejing has issued the equivalent of Drive-Day rationing. Based on the last letter of your license plate cars are ordered to only drive every-other day. And in a well-mannered society such as China we are certain there will not form a Black Market for extra license plates.

In a recent news release from Solazyme and as reported at this years Worldwide Energy and Trade Show yesterday, their algae-derived biodiesel has passed its Department of Defense cold weather testing. To demonstrate the performance and readiness of their product an unmodified Ford F-450 diesel was driven by former Director of the CIA, James Woolsey, to the conference fueled by Solazyme’s biodiesel.

Testing of Solazyme’s biodiesel was ordered by the Department of Defense and performed by the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI). Their conclusion proved that Solazyme’s product performed much better than any other biodiesel that has been tested in cold climates. That is good news for a military force with bases all over the world in all climates who is under a directive to substantially decrease its own dependency on foreign petroleum. Not only is the Algae BioDiesel usable in the F-450, but also in all military diesel fueled engines and can also be converted into Jet Fuel.

…Check out Solazyme’s video after the leap…

The ugly face of progress hides well behind the soot and smog that roosts over China’s cities, big and small, like a Carbon chicken smothering her masked hatch-lings who are choking on their breathes. A recent study by the University of California has granted China the title of being the Number 1 Polluter in the world, a title the United States has carried for quite some time with a particular level of quiet distinction.

At China’s rate of growth any in-roads made by other developed nations to curb their Greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade will have no impact on the global gains of pollution streaming from China’s industrial expansion. Both China and the United Nations are declaring that aid and new technologies should be shared from the other developed nations on how to reduce their noxious emissions. However, to make any progress in the realm of pollution it begins with education.

In the 1970’s the US began to educate its masses, starting with the children, on the ills of littering and pollution. As the 1980’s were dominated by Trickle-Down Economics, so too was the domination of Trickle-Up Education as the young corrected their parents on the dangers and risks of littering and pollution to their future. Ofcourse that is a tough step in a nation like China who’s education comes straight from the top government officials for whom the recognition of negative facts are rarely admitted and never shared.

If you are in the UK walking near a race course and suddenly hear the stirring of giant bee’s do not be afraid. It just means that sales for the new Caterham Seven Superlight R500 are doing well and some UK racers are receiving a temporary facelift and a lot of thrills.

Caterham has upped the ante with their latest Seven series that builds off the earliest racing roadsters influence, but with more grunt, punch and far lighter materials. With the Superlight R500 they have added even more carbon fiber and Kevlar to shave off even more weight from the car. For the 2.0 Ford Durtec engine and its 263 horses and 177 ft lbs of torque that results in a 0-60 time of 2.88 seconds. With a horsepower to weight ratio of 520-hp to 1 (coming in at 516kg, or 1,116-lbs) the new Seven is the purpose driven open-cockpit track dragon many racers have been waiting for.
…Check out the Offical Press Release and gallery after the leap…

At the SAE World Congress in Ford product chief Derrick Kuzak made clear that the next generation Ford Focus in either 2010 or 2011 would receive one world design. Then he spoiled it by saying that it would be a joint effort between their North American and European design and engineering teams.

Part of Fords reorganization under President and CEO Allan Mulally has been to move toward this Global Platform procedure to cut down costs and duplication in worldwide designs. As with most things in the automotive industry (except for layoff’s) these types of changes take time and calculated planning.

The next generation Focus will be built upon Ford’s C1 platform and will hopefully provide North America a design that is on par with the Euro-spec Focus. How the North American designed current model Focus made it passed the drawing board is unfathomable and inexcusable.

As Kuzak stated, “Our business starts and stops with product.” If this globalization of design brings an RS and ST packaged Focus to the US then it might be a product worth starting with.

Source[AutoWeek]

The Environmental minds over at EcoGeekare running a series to encourage drivers and commuters to serious consider a Carectomy; or to at least study whether a Carectomy could fit into a part of their lives. …Not exactly a topic car aficionado’s discuss easily. In their series they discuss some of the savings and Environmental impacts of leaving your vehicle behind and seeking out cleaner ways to get to where we need to go. Alternative transportation such as mass transit, walking and biking are offered up in place of the four-wheeled means by which most Americans commute from their non-urban homes to their places of employment. They also envision a reclaiming of the Urban city by homes and families as a means to reduce the necessity of commuting.

Like many Americans who live in rural areas or cities that do not qualify as metropolis’s there are some difficulties to taking on the Carectomy. A lack of sidewalks and safe biking roads can be treacherous for pedestrians, and for many smaller areas there is a complete lack of Mass Transit. However, with that said, a Carectomy should be of some consideration. Maybe not a complete carectomy, but a partial one by many would at least be a start.

So we are asking you…  Are their areas in your life, whether it is the work commute or a trip to the store, where cleaner, alternative transportation’s can replace the need for your car or SUV? What is the state of Mass Transit in your community? Could you survive a Carectomy? And at what point would the price of gas force upon you a partial Carectomy?

Source[EcoGeek]