Wards: Volt is a symbol of headwinds against U.S. innovation

via green.autoblog.com

I own a volt and could not agree more. The volt is the most advanced vehicle on the road right now, bar none. And it is 100% American. It costs less to operate by a factor of two than anything else on the road. This is how America can win, and should be, it is a shame that people are trying to score cheap political points by attacking one the best new things people here have created and made.

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Volkswagen Formula XL1 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Well, what do you know? When Volkswagen decided to show off the latest version of its so-called one-liter car, the Formula XL1, at the Qatar Motor Show, we wondered out loud whether or not the German automaker would actually manage to put it into production. As it turns out, that's the plan, albeit at a very small scale.

via autoblog.com

yet another car that will be impossible for me to get my hands on.. oh well..

Report: Mazda rotary reportedly at least a year behind schedule, but work continues — Autoblog

that doesn't mean there aren't problems in World of Wankel.

Apparently, the so-called 16X engine, which is the latest take on the pony-keg-sized engine that spins into the stratosphere, is failing to meet emissions requirements set by the engineering team at Mazda, despite the fact that it is 30 percent more fuel efficient than the previous Renesis rotary. Impressively, Hitomi stated that the 1.6-liter 16X is slightly more fuel efficient than the automaker's standard 2.0-liter gas engine.

via autoblog.com

After the news earlier that the upcoming SKY-G engines would propel the next gen Mazda 2 around at a 70 MPG clip, the news that the Rotary enhancement program is behind schedule is a bummer.

I have owned several rotary powered vehicles, and love the sounds and sensations that come with it. So I say keep at it Mazda, and I will keep saving my pennies for the reborn RX-7 in 2013.