We here at CDf enjoy our beer; well most of us, so this was an interesting and motivating email I received.

A 2006 study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.

Another recent study found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer
a year.

That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles per gallon.

Not Bad.

Who says Americans are inefficient and wasteful?

-dshed

The old broken down automobile is not often thought of as being an eco-friendly product. Thuth be told it is not, but at least all those old cars are being put to some good use after their death. Not quite cradle to cradle, more like cradle to grave, with an afterlife.

The modern automobile is one of the most-recycled products in the world, with 95 percent of all scrapped vehicles reclaimed.
The recycling rate for cars and trucks is higher than most other consumer products, including newspapers (74 percent); aluminum cans (51 percent); and, glass (22 percent).
Much of the reclaimed material from old cars ends up in new cars. Old carpeting is turned into air-cleaner assemblies, and chewed-up tires become brake pedals and floor mats.
In the United States market, where nearly 17 million new cars are produced each year, the car-recycling industry reclaims about 750 million pounds of scrap monthly. The most valuable materials reclaimed from old vehicles are aluminum, brass, copper and zinc. (Popular Mechanics)

Where better to develop new standards then in a a developing country. America is already set in it’s ways, so China take it away.

China’s auto manufacturers, with prodding from
government, show alternative-fuel cars in Shanghai

Chinese automakers, under pressure from the country’s government to produce more fuel-efficient cars, unveiled a broad array of prototypes for fuel-cell cars, gasoline-electric hybrid cars and electric battery cars at the Shanghai auto show last week.
The variety and sophistication of the cars showed a significant improvement not just since the last Shanghai auto show two years ago, when Chinese automakers demonstrated limited technological innovation, but even in the months since the Beijing auto show in November 2006.
Universities and technical institutes across China have begun advanced vehicle propulsion research programs, combining strong government financial backing with the nation’s growing ranks of skilled engineers. China, worried about severe air pollution and rising dependence on imported oil, already has imposed more stringent fuel economy standards than the United States, but not as strict as the semi-voluntary standards in the European Union. It plans to tighten its standards considerably next year. China also has boosted its consumption tax to as much as 20 percent on gas guzzlers, while cutting it to 1 percent for fuel-efficient cars. Also, it is studying the possibility of tax incentives for buyers of hybrids.
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Reports are out that there will be a Hummer H4 in the future. With the H3T rumored to be out in 2009, my guess is that this will be sometime after that. Here is an article from Left lane News…..

“GM exec confirms plans for small Hummer H4

General Motors plans to offer a smaller Hummer model than the current entry-level H3, according to Hummer General Manager Martin Walsh. “It will be another GM platform that will allow us to build a smaller vehicle,” he told GoAuto.

Reports ahead of January’s Detroit auto show suggested GM would unveil a concept version of the H4 at the event, but the vehicle never materialized.

Walsh’s comments are the first official confirmation of a smaller Hummer model. Previously, GM’s Bob Lutz said Hummer “needs some more products,” but did not say what those would be. In early 2006, Lutz admitted Hummer was again considering a rival to the Jeep Wrangler — after scrapping the idea once — but at the time he would not confirm plans for production.

Walsh recently told Reuters the first new Hummer model will arrive in 2009. It’s not clear if he was referring to the H4, or an H3-based pickup.

He said the vehicle would “have unparalleled off-road capabilities […] like our current Hummers it would be recognizable from a distance.”

His comments to GoAuto about the H4 are very similar — Walsh says the vehicle must have “iconic design” and leading off-road ability.”

Lets hope they do this right by offering some unique features and styling to break away from Wrangler comparisons. Hummer has a lot they can work with so i am sure expectations will be high.

I love these artist interpretations!

Here is a spy photo of the up and coming H3T. Note the crew cab config with the short bed instead of the conept version showed a couple years ago.

New BMW “Sport Boxer”
Here are some of the first photos of the “Sport Boxer”, which is a super-lightweight Superbike based on the new R1200S (WBW feature article) it was raced by BMW at the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race on April 21, 2007. Here’s a translation of the German press release:

On April 21, 2007 the starting signal falls to the “24 Heures Moto”, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans Motorcycle Race in Le Mans, France. Everything will be as it was in the past. The last race was run with BMWs 50 years ago as a road race with a BMW motorcycle works team at the start.

BMW will use an R1200S for the Endurance World Championship race with the Sportboxer, due to the capacity limit of 1200cc for the motorcycle in the open class. The motorcycle will be ridden by BMW experienced professional racers. The team consists of Stéphane Mertens, Thomas Hinterreiter and Rico Penzkofer, as well as Marcus Barth as a spare racer.

In 2007 season, the team will be at four 24 hours races. Beside the “24 Heures Moto” in Le Mans, the team will race the 24 hour endurance race at Barcelona on July 7-8, Oschersleben on August 11-12 and Magny Cours (Bol d’Or) on September 15-16.

Us bike lovers can only hope it makes it to production. Here are the only results I found from the race ( I sadly was not ably to watch all 24 hours….) Top in Open Class is the proud German team BMW Motorrad Motorsport with their BMW… So if you really dig to find out the resluts please share them with me!

Photos courtesy of BMW AG

Scott Digital

So here it is. A 1999 BMW M Coupe……. I love her; this car embodies all that is to love about cars. Beautiful stance (can be improved with some coilovers though) great proportion, it has the soul of an Italian and the curves of a Brazilian. The motor pulls like butter and the gearbox is percise. It has limited slip dif, so this appeals to my American hillbilly drift it sideways need. The M Coupe is very ridgid and handles like it is on rails. Dollar for dollar there is no better car out there for my driving style.

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Judging by Buick’s latest vehicle released at the Shanghai Motor Show, this company’s got sauce. For those of you who are not in “The Know” Buick is one of the best selling cars in China, in fact it is #1 right now. Buick embodies all that is American, but not too excessive like a Cadillac ( Throw some D’s on that, just bought a Cad -i-lak ).

This design is very successful. Note the special lighting details on the center of the hood, and on the side sill..

Not a critique just some comments. Proportion is beautiful, the profile is very sexy. The detailing is very nice, building on what we have been seeing from design students for a few years. Audi capitalized on this look for the RS4, and now Buick really pushes it on the Riviera concept. The exterior lighting is great, very fresh, and Buick is building on some very “Asian” teckie influences. BELLA Buick, I am now proud to say AMERICAN DESIGN IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! even if penned by non Americans.

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Here is a new segment for Audi. Crossover, four door coupe, station wagon, AMC Eagle redesign, whatever you want to call it, looks pretty good. In three quarter views it has a nice stance showing its strong lines and wide shoulder, but when you get to the side view it is horrible.
They definitely didn’t start this design from the initial side view.
This vehicle has taken some good pieces from other Audi’s. The side view shoulder line takes on the new A5 character and the rear looks more like the new R8 (not a bad thing). The typical large front grill but with a new treatment of the lower intakes interfacing with the grill. This cross coupe also shows some signs of off road ability with an alternate material (plastic) for the rockers and a minimal skid plate in the front. For all those country club folks who may park in the grass from time to time.

The interior in clean and simple. There is nice execution with the IP in that they didn’t try and match it up with the doors. Instead left it its own entity and used a secondary sculptural line to tie things together. There is nice detailing with the wide HVAC vent stretching across the passenger side of the IP giving more of an all around air system rather than the in your face one we have today. Can’t forget the latest craze…open air experience. This one using the same as the next Jeep Liberty with a folding canvas roof.

Overall it is a pretty nice vehicle although the horrible side view leaves me having to see it in preson to give a real accurate opinion. If they were to build it (possible Q3 rumored) I am sure it would be a hit, especially in the 30k area competing with the X3. I guess we will have to wait and see.

There is a more formal design review at car body design.

All I can say is Bad Assss. It seems like the Germans are getting influenced by a little bit of Americana design. You know big, muscular, in your face presence. Even the side profile with the classic looking rear honches are echoing the current Dodge Charger/Avenger designs. Not that they didn’t copy it from years long ago. The interior is the best one I have ever seen from BMW.

This concept is a production preview meaning some form of this is going to make it in a name of an 8 Series or four door 6 Series. I can’t even imagine what this car would look like on the road. The proportions are huge measuring around 200″ long (suburban), 50″ high (sports car) and 78″ wide (Hummer H2). There is nothing like it on the road. We have never seen something with these measurements on the road except maybe Pamela Anderson. Very Nice!

Thanks to Left Lane News for the pics

You’ve demanded it, now we’ve implemented it… user galleries for your portfolio pieces, sketches, or photographs.

Simple to use (if you’re a registered member). Just click on the “gallery” link at the top of the page to go there.
Or, should you be in the forum, click on the “album” link at the top of the page.

The gallery includes:

There are a few minor bugs we are fixing, but those should be good to go within the day.

Enjoy!