Busy As Ever, The World Of Autos

I’ve been buried in projects lately and have cut back on blogging at least as it pertains to adding fresh content to this site. I’d much rather blog on fewer days then to have to blog every day and in a rushed manner.

That being said, the news in the vital auto industry continues to be of big importance, including what the federal government has planned for General Motors and Chrysler, two companies who are asking for additional help from taxpayers.

Among the stories I’m following or have covered recently include:

• James E. Harbour’s Factory Man book is out, a book authored by someone who has a long history of working in the auto industry. After many years of working for Ford and Chrysler, Harbour became an automotive consultant and was credited with helping the U.S. car makers adopt Toyota manufacturing procedures beginning in the early 1980s. I read the book and posted my review on The Auto Writer yesterday.

• AT&T announced this week that the company would begin to replace as many as 15,000 vehicles over the next ten years with environmentally friendly models. Stating that the Ford Motor Company would be the chief beneficiary of its plans, AT&T says that Ford will build a number of vehicles that will run on compressed natural gas (CNG) as well as hybrid and pure electric models.

• Speaking of Ford, the automaker says that its recently revised labor deal with the United Auto Workers will save the company approximately $500 million annually beginning in 2010. Ford says that they’ll still manage to realize about three quarters of that amount saved for the remainder of 2009. Ford will also be allowed to pay up to half of its $6.5 billion health fund obligation in common stock.

• GM’s financial woes mean that the company has to decide which programs in the planning stages go forward, which ones are cut and which programs will be shelved. The automaker has decided that its 4.5L DURAMAX V-8 diesel, which was to go into production next fall, will have to wait.  GM may still build the engine, but they haven’t ruled out the option of selling patent rights to another manufacturer.

Next week, GM will be rolling out the Chevrolet Camaro, a Monday introduction the automaker needs to stimulate interest as well as to build brand support. These are tough times for the beleagured industry, but I aim to continue to focus as much as possible on what is positive.

Development Of Unique Police Vehicle Continues

The first purpose built police cruiser is the Carbon Motors E7, designed with input from law enforcement experts and comes fully equipped with a comprehensive suite of purpose-built, performance and safety features, utilizing the latest advancements in defense and law enforcement technology. It includes an ergonomically correct cockpit; a high-power, clean-diesel engine capable of running on biodiesel (providing 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency) that will accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds with a governed top speed of 155 mph; integrated external and internal surveillance capabilities, radar; LoJack; an automatic license plate recognition system; radiation and biological threat detectors; and 360-degree, built-in LED emergency lighting.

Ford Crown Victorias, Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet Impalas have been doing police duty, in some cases for many years, American built sedans that are used by law enforcement personnel across the United States. Inasmuch as these cars provide an essential service, a purpose built police cruiser is not available.

One company, Carbon Motors, is looking to change that by designing and building a car from the ground up for police duty. Dubbed the E7, the state of the art police cruiser will be powered by a 3.0L Forced Induction diesel engine paired with a six speed automatic transmission. With an aluminum spaceframe body structure being developed in cooperation with Hydro Aluminum, the rear wheel drive E7 is highly durable and will withstand rear crashes of up to 75 mph.

Top speed for the E7 is 155 mph and it has a projected 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds. The car will offer the following features to law enforcement agencies when it goes on sale in 2012:

• All-new purpose-built vehicle platform exclusively for law enforcement
• Meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements
• Designed to 250,000 mile durability specification
• Turn-key built-to-direct-order – 24/7/365 call center support
• Turn-key end-of-vehicle-life process
• Comprehensive warranty
• Aluminum spaceframe body structure
• 75 mph rear impact crash capability
• Cockpit with fully-integrated factory fitted law enforcement equipment
• Integrated emergency lights, spot lights, take down lights, and directional stick
• Segment exclusive coach rear doors for safer suspect ingress and egress
• Vehicle dynamic control
• Anti-lock brakes
• Optimized approach / departure angles and ground clearance
• NIJ Level III-A (or better) ballistic protection (front doors and dash panel)
• Purpose-designed seat for use with on-body equipment – Heated and ventilated seats
• Heads up display
• Reverse backup camera
• Remote start capability
• Driver specific intelligent key
• 360 degree exterior surveillance capability
• Automatic license plate recognition system
• Video and audio surveillance of rear passenger compartment
• 130hz – 350hz bass siren
• Nightvision compliant interior illumination
• Integrated forward looking infrared system (FLIR)
• Integrated shotgun mounts
• Optimized storage capability (compartment and cargo)
• Integrated front and rear passenger compartment partition
• Hoseable rear passenger compartment
• Integrated push bumpers and PIT capability

Auto Trends will keep our eyes open regarding further developments of this nifty looking cop car. We’ll be posting additional photographs in the near future and include related news updates at that time.

Source: Carbon Motors

Gas Prices – When Will They Bottom Out?

America is witnessing something they haven’t seen in quite some time: gas prices that have dropped below $2 a gallon in some areas, with the average price of gas down 40% from summer’s record high levels. Cheap gas has returned, giving real relief to tens of millions of drivers – but are these prices sustainable?

The drive to lower gas prices has come suddenly and forcefully. Just one month earlier gas was retailing for a dollar a gallon higher than current rates, however the trend toward lower prices was already being felt. Mid-season hurricanes slowed that process, but when previously cut gas lines were restored, prices quickly began to tumble.

Under Two Dollars A Gallon

The lowest prices currently can be found across America’s mid-section, from the Ohio Valley down through the plains and all throughout the oil producing state of Texas. Indeed, a recent survey of pump prices via GasBuddy.com has revealed that stations in Corpus Christi, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Des Moines, Dayton, and elsewhere are selling regular gas for under two dollars a gallon, the lowest prices some people have seen in three years.

Driving pump prices lower is the cost of a barrel of oil. Last summer, oil prices spiked, peaking at $147 a barrel, sending gas prices above $4 a gallon, even above the $5 level in some areas. Demand, speculators, and OPEC were all blamed for the rise, but it appears that the downturn in the global economy is the most significant force in driving lower gas prices today.

OPEC Cuts Production

Though OPEC recently met to cut production, oil prices dropped an additional ten percent despite the cartel’s desire to stabilize prices. This could mean one of two things: prices will continue to fall naturally, perhaps as low as $1.50 per gallon before stabilizing. Or, OPEC will make an emergency declaration and cut back production again which will quickly halt the slide. Regardless, the worldwide recession has curbed demand, sending prices downward.

Ultimately, no one knows where the bottom is with gas prices, but you can bet most drivers are glad to find some relief at the pump. With the economy going through its own gyrations, lower prices are being welcomed, giving consumers a much needed breather after a summer of painfully high prices.

Copyright 2008-2012 — Matthew C. Keegan is the owner of a successful writing and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several websites and is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport, a retailer of quality Chevrolet Beretta Lambo doors and Chevrolet Beretta mufflers.