CHEAP GAS—THE LATEST INFO
RARELY HAS gasoline in the U.S. been so cheap. So where are all those Congressional committees yammering about conspiracies? The fact is, if you seek a modern economic model of … Continue reading
YOU WANT CYLINDERS? WE GOT ‘EM!
THE VOLKSWAGEN W16 is a brilliant example of modular engineering. In this world of high mpg/low carbon footprint, this 8.0-liter 987-hp engine may smack of overkill. But, like a Buckshot … Continue reading
A “GOOD OLD DAYS” FERRARI ROAD TEST
AH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS! Fifty years ago a Ferrari 275 GTS could be bought for half the price of today’s average new car. In a September 1966 Road Test, … Continue reading
CHINA’S EV MARKET
WHAT WITH gasoline prices at historic lows, BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) and HEVs (Hybrid EVs) have been glued to U.S. showroom floors. Not so in China, though. A series of … Continue reading
WIDER TIRE = BIGGER FOOTPRINT?
NO, LET’S DISPEL that myth right off. To a large extent, a tire’s inflation pressure—not its width—determines the area of its contact with the tarmac. However, there are still lots … Continue reading
AUTOMOTIVE HEADLIGHTS, PART 2
THE BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE HANDBOOK devotes 37 pages of fine print to the subject of Lighting Equipment. Wikipedia’s Headlamp entry is also extensive, with 116 references. Here I offer highlights, with … Continue reading
AUTOMOTIVE HEADLIGHTS, PART 1
IN 1940, the Society of Automotive Engineers said, “Let there be standardized automotive lighting.” And the lighting was good. But not as good as Europe’s. Things evolved over the years. … Continue reading
AUTONOMOUS KILLS
SELF-DRIVING CARS programmed to kill? This is an ethical question inherent in autonomous vehicle design. And it’s a practical problem, not just a philosophical one. MIT Technology Review, October 22, … Continue reading
MIATA REDUX— A SPIRITUAL KINSHIP
I WAS delighted to sample the Mazda Miata’s fourth generation as part of a Ride-and-Drive at the Orange County, California, International Auto Show, just up the road at the Anaheim … Continue reading
THE DVLA, A BRIT’S DMV
PITY THE Brits enjoying vintage cars of one sort and another. In marked contrast to the U.S., there’s a single omnipotent Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the entire country. … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 