It’s no surprise that you may think that toilets sell themselves. However dig a little deeper and you’ll realize that creating a great porcelain throne takes time, money and a great marketing budget. Japanese toilet maker Toto understands this and has recently come up with a pretty unconventional plan to get the word out about their newest products. You see there’s thinking outside the box, and then there’s thinking OUTSIDE the box, and in Toto’s case their box has three wheels and is powered by bio-fuel. Toto figures that by making this trike run on poop-powered bio-gas that they’ll not only raise awareness for renewable energy, but in the process, sell some fancy new toilet bowls. Company spokesman Kenji Fujita stated, “Although the seat of the bike is indeed a toilet, it is not for actual use.”

The fuel is produced by breaking down and fermenting a combination of household and livestock waste into a gas form, which is then stored in twin tanks on the back of the bike. Fujita also stated that, “At first when I saw the bike, I was taken aback. But after riding it, I found it quite interesting,” she said. “It doesn’t hurt at all and is actually quite comfortable to sit on.”

Hmm… interesting.

Source: NBCNewYork.com

Ever since I moved out to the West Coast I’ve been noticing a trend amongst those who drive hybrids and electric cars. For one, they’re generally more aggressive behind the wheel and two, they seem to feel that because they drive an economy car that this gives them the right to act like complete assholes on the open road. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been known to fracture an occasional traffic law from time to time, but these hybrid drivers, especially those who pilot the Toyota Prius, are in a class by themselves. On the highway for instance it’s more often than not that I see Prius drivers motoring at 80-85 mph through traffic. I’ve been flashed by them, tailgated by them and even flicked off by a few. I’ve also been chastised by owners while getting coffee for driving what they consider to be gas guzzling automobiles.

Back in NYC the Prius driver used these cars as they were intended – to get great economy. They drove them in a normal fashion and simply enjoyed their little hybrids. Out here in California though it’s almost as if owners used them as a way to be passive aggressive on the open road – “Yes of course I’m speeding and driving erratically, but I drive a Prius, so it’s ok…” Now I suppose I could be imagining this, but I highly doubt it. What I’m curious to know is, has anyone out there experienced a similar occurrence or am I the only one?

Lexus' CT 200h, number 2 on the list. Image: Toyota

These days, gas prices are on everyone’s mind. Upheaval in the Middle East is likely to keep prices high for some time to come; given that prices always go up at Easter and again at Memorial Day, the only question is whether or not prices will come down significantly in between. If they do, perhaps the memories of $4 per gallon gas will fade in time. If they don’t, we could be longing for the good old days of cheap, $4 per gallon gas as soon as this summer. If you’re shopping for a new car, I can almost guarantee that fuel economy is one of the factors driving your new car purchase. TrueCar, a new car pricing website, wants to help. They’ve compiled a list of cars based on fuel efficiency, and unlike others that I’ve seen, it even projects operating cost based on 15,000 miles per year and $5.00 per gallon gas. Want to know what your best choices are? Read on.

As you’d guess, the list is heavily weighted with hybrid vehicles, and only one fermented-dinosaur-only car made the top 10. A tip of the hat goes to Hyundai’s Elantra, which we’ve already told you is a very good choice for a fuel efficient commuter. Here are the top 10 cars, along with TrueCar’s estimate on what it’ll cost to feed them $5.00 per gallon gas for the 15,000 miles per year:

1. Toyota Prius, 49.6 combined MPG, $1,512
2. Lexus CT 200h, 41.6 combined MPG, $1,803
3. Honda Insight, 41.3 combined MPG, $1,816
4. Honda Civic Hybrid, 41.3 combined MPG, $1,816
5. Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, 38.6 combined MPG, $1,944
6. Chevrolet Volt, 37.1 combined MPG, $2,022
7. Lexus HS 250h, 34.5 combined MPG, $2,171
8. Honda CR-Z, 33.4 combined MPG, $2,243
9. Hyundai Elantra, 33.2 combined MPG, $2,266
10. Toyota Camry Hybrid, 32.7 combined MPG, $2,295

Source: TrueCar Blog

I never thought I’d be doing this, but yesterday I found myself trying to hyper-mileage my 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8. There I was in a 425 hp, 170 mph hot rod wagon trying to shift before the tachometer reached 2500 rpm. It’s ridiculous I know, but after paying just over $60.00 for a premium tank of fuel just a few minutes earlier, my thought was that I wanted it to last. At the station by my house premium fuel was $4.01 per gallon, and I’ll be honest, it’s getting to the point where it’s starting to hurt. I’m also finding myself doing things that I’ve never done before. For instance, I just purchased new tires for my Maggie, but instead of going with a full-on max performance summer tire with a low tread rating, I instead opted for a max-performance all season, with a treadwear rating of 540AA or 50,000 miles. First off there’s less rolling resistance and secondly, they won’t be bologna skins after 15,000 miles.

When it comes to cars I was always the guy that said, “Screw it! I’ll pay what I need to pay!”, however that’s becoming harder and harder to do these days. Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be trading in my uber wagon just yet, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice the financial hit. I know we’ve talked about it, but some sources are saying that fuel may exceed $4.50 per gallon by the end of the summer. Honestly, if that happens, I’ll be running out to buy a used motorcycle and parking everything else. So… anyone got a used Kawasaki KLR 650 for sale?

For 2011 Chrysler is launching the new 200 sedan, a car that is set to go head to head with the likes of the Honda Accord, all new Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. It has fresh new styling, sufficient room for 5 adults and now, according to the EPA, even gets decent fuel economy. The base Chrysler 200 comes equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 173 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque. This 4-banger propels the 200 to a projected 20 mpg city/31 mpg hwy through a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Now while this isn’t bad, it still falls below its rivals, as the Hyundai Sonata is rated at 22 city/35 mpg, the Honda Accord at 22 city/34 mpg and finally the Toyota Camry at 22 city/32 mpg.

Keep in mind also that the new 200 is being touted as an “all new” vehicle, which means for customers to purchase it, that it really needs to shine. Thankfully that is where the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 comes in. Opt for the V6 and you’re treated to 280-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque with EPA ratings of 19/29 mpg, which is not too shabby. The V6 is a $1,795 option, but with mileage ratings so close to that of the 2.4-liter four, I can’t imagine that consumers will have a hard time checking off that box on the order sheet.

Source: KickingTires.com

Looking back on 2010, it was one hell of a roller coaster. Like any other year, it had it’s good times and bad times, but the good times seemed fewer and farther between than in years passed. On the automotive front, enthusiasts got some great new choices, greens got the first modern mass produced electric car (and the first serial hybrid) and everyone else got improved quality and reliability. Car sales were up, despite a down economy, and both Audi and Hyundai posted record years. GM proved that they’re well on the way back to financial health, and Ford continued their growth in market share. Even Chrysler rallied in 2010, introducing the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Fiat 500 and the revised 2011 Charger and Challenger.

If 2010 was a roller coaster, I’d expect more of the same in 2011. I’m not reading tea leaves here, and I’m not posting any predictions with political motivation. From where I sit, this is what I expect to happen in the next 12 months. I wouldn’t start building that Unimog for the zombie apocalypse just yet, but it would probably be a very good idea to make yourself a go bag and come up with an evacuation plan, just to be safe. In no particular order, here’s what I expect to happen in 2011.

Gas will top $4.00 per gallon. Maybe it’ll be tied to a natural disaster, or maybe it’ll be tied to increased demand from China or India, but whatever reason the oil companies give us, expect the price of gas to begin it’s migration upward. I’m not sure it will stay there long, but I’d expect $3.00 per gallon pricing to become the new norm. Plan accordingly.

The Fisker Karma and the Tesla Model S will both see “production delays”. In fact, I’d be surprised if the Fisker Karma ever sees production, and the Tesla Model S’ viability depends on the relationship between Toyota and Tesla. If Toyota decides an all-electric Camry is a top priority, expect the Tesla Model S to get put on the back burner.

Recalls: expect lots of them. The Toyota recall debacle has left everyone in the auto industry gun shy, and no one wants to be the next company to receive record fines. If you thought 2010 had a lot of recalls, just wait for 2011 and beyond.

Implementation of new CAFE standards will be delayed. We may see the jump from a 27.5 MPG requirement (for passenger cars) to a 30.3 MPG requirement in 2011, but I don’t expect that the current mandate of 39 MPG by 2016 will remain unchanged. A cost effective technology that’s applicable to everything ranging from commuter cars to sports cars simply doesn’t exist, and automakers will ramp up pressure on politicians in the coming year.

The downsizing of horsepower. I suspect that 2011, or maybe 2012, will be the end of the current horsepower race. Cars like the 556 horsepower Cadillac CTS-V can’t exist in a politically correct society, and Cadillac will need to sell an awful lot of ATS hybrids to offset a single CTS-V. Like it or not, the future belongs to hybrid drivetrains and small displacement turbocharged motors. If you want a Mustang GT or a Camaro SS, I wouldn’t wait beyond 2012 to buy one.

Am I right? Am I crazy? We’ll know for sure by the end of next year, but I’d love to have your thoughts on the above predictions.

Filling up my car with fuel is something that I would really prefer not to do. For one, it takes premium and two, I simply don’t like paying for gas. This morning for example I took a trip to the pump and paid $3.51 per gallon for just a tick over 17 gallons of fuel. My bill… just over $60.00. Now, in as much as I hate doing that, the truth is what alternatives do we really have? We either pay what we’re told, buy an expensive electric car, or go back to riding bicycles to work. Keep in mind that I know my car is a gas guzzling whore, but like the old saying goes, “if you want to play, you’ve got to pay.”

In the United States we bitch constantly about the cost of fuel, but compared to places like the UK, what we pay is a downright bargain. According to the BBC News, prices in the UK have just hit a record high at nearly $7.30 per gallon, a price that would cause American’s to go ballistic. That would mean that my $60.00 tank of fuel would now cost over $120.00 – oh hells NO! I remember last year when fuel prices were bouncing over $4.00 per gallon and people were going nuts. So the real question is, what would the price have to reach in order for you to find an alternate source of transportation?

Source: BBCNews via Autoblog

To absolutely no one’s surprise, the price of gasoline is on the rise again, just in time for the holidays. The driving factor is the current price of crude oil, which has now topped $90 per barrel. It doesn’t matter that the gasoline already in the system was refined when oil was less expensive; what matters is that people drive more at the holidays, so retailers can charge more for the product. In fairness, I’m sure gasoline suppliers are charging more to the retailers already, so feel free to pass the blame up the food chain. I know from first hand experience that the gasoline retail business is not for the faint of heart, and only casinos are more relentless in their pursuit of profit than oil companies.

Most of us can absorb a pretty significant increase in the cost of gasoline without any major re-budgeting. Still, there comes a point when you have to take a step back and ponder your options, which may include driving less (fat chance), taking public transportation (if available to you) or even buying a more fuel efficient vehicle. I used to drive around 45,000 miles per year, including 27,000 miles per year just for my commute. At $2.85 per gallon for premium unleaded (in 2007) and with a fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon, I was spending nearly $5,000 per year on gas. Had the price of gas risen by $0.50 per gallon, my costs would have increased by nearly $800 per year, or roughly $67 per month. That would have translated to one less dinner out, but really wouldn’t have changed my life much. At $5.00 per gallon, however, it would have been an entirely different story, and the car would have been parked for all but essential trips. I’d have been racking up miles on the motorcycle, which averages better than 40 mpg.

I suspect we haven’t reached the tipping point yet, at least not for most people. Historically, gas goes up in price, then it comes back down, so most people choose to wait it out and maybe drive a little less when gas is expensive. Here’s my question: what do you pay for gas in your area (regular or premium), and at what point would you start considering other options for transportation? At what price would you consider buying a more fuel efficient car, or even a hybrid? Is there a price at which you’d call gasoline “too expensive”?

With new fuel economy regulations of 35.5 mpg coming into effect in 2016 manufactures are scrambling to try and pull more miles out of their vehicles. One way of doing so is to alter the gearing of a cars final drive ratio and because of this Chrysler will soon be offering a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The new eight-speed automatic is said to offer a 14 percent increase in fuel economy over Chrysler’s current five-speed transmission. Developed by Germany’s ZF the new eight-speed is already in use by such luxury brands as BMW and Audi.

Even though the new ZF unit still uses a torque converter the performance is said to be right up there with new more advanced dual clutch units. Another feature is that the engineers have included in the design the compatibility for it to work with the new stop-start technology. This technology actually allows the engine to shut down when a vehicle comes to a full stop and then restart when the accelerator is pressed again. Chrysler has said that the new transmission will be featured throughout their line-up and will be offered in the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Truck lines. Expect the new eight-speed automatic transmission to make its first appearance on the next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300.

Source: GreenCarReports.com

I love fire-breathing, octane-swilling big blocks as much as any red-blooded car nut, but I know that dino juice won’t last forever. Ford knows it, too. That’s why they have their engineers slaving away to make the fleet more fuel efficient. The Start concept puts fuel economy above all else. The funky little jellybean rocks a 1-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that will soon appear in production vehicles. According to Ford, the engine will offer the same horsepower and torque of a larger four-cylinder, but will sip less fuel. The car itself is an experiment in creating a simple, endearing design. I like it. Hit the jump for more photos.