Lotus Has Added Lightness with the Exige Sport 350

Lotus Exige Sport 350. All images courtesy of Lotus.

Anyone who knows Lotus is aware that the British Automaker doesn't make its cars fast by dropping a huge V-8 engine under the hood. Instead, the philosophy Lotus has prescribed to is adding lightness to a car to increase speed, not just pouring more horsepower and torque at the situation. The latest example of this idea in action is the new Lotus Exige Sport 350.

There definitely is a replacement for displacement.

The Exige s is already a pretty lightweight car, but Lotus took things further by shedding another 112 pounds. That makes the curb weight for the Exige Sport 350 just under 2,500 pounds. To drop that much weight, Lotus combed through the car for anything that could be ditched or made with lighter materials. Some of the design changes involve an exposed gearshift mechanism and a louvred engine cover.

Power comes from a supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine sourced from none other than Toyota. It generates 345 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, which both peak at 4,500 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is blistering at a mere 3.7 seconds. Top speed is limited to 170 mph.

Lotus also retuned the suspension, which is supposed to help improve steering response.

See the car in action and hear the roar of that force-fed V-6 in the video below:

6 Ways You Are Prematurely Killing Your Car without Realizing

2013 Dodge Journey. Image courtesy of Dodge.

For most people, a car is their second biggest investment. It is a reliable form of transportation that takes them anywhere they want. And yet, many treat their car as any other regular appliance. Sure, the elements can be tough on your car, but your bad habits might be making things worse than bad weather.

Not caring about your car until something is wrong is an awful habit. Since the cost of replacing certain parts can be extremely expensive, it is important to keep your car alive as long as possible, so you don’t end up back at the dealership. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you will be able to tell when something is wrong with your car. Sometimes, problems can go unnoticed, and coupled with bad maintenance and usage practices, you might be on the verge of prematurely killing your car.

Here are six ways you are hurting your car without realizing.

1.      You Never Check or Change Your Car’s Oil

According to AutoMD, cited by abcnews.com, one of the most common and most costly problems car owners face is related to oil. Although car engines today don’t burn oils as they used to, a lot of issues can still arise. By simply checking the oil level every couple of weeks, you will be able to catch most problems on time.

Oil level isn’t the only problem that is prematurely killing your car. As the old oil passes through your engine, it can have a huge impact on is integrity. If you don’t change your car’s oil regularly, your engine will wear out, and your vehicle will suffer.

2.       You Don’t Change Your Car’s Air Filter

Another common problem that can affect your car is neglecting to change your car’s air filter. Just like a person, a car needs to breathe to survive.

The air filter is your car’s respiratory system. If not enough clean air passes through, the performance will drop significantly. Since bad news loves company, guess what else will suffer damages if the airflow is restricted? The heart of the car itself, the engine, which will overheat and cost you a lot of money.

3.      You Don’t Change Your Car’s Fluids

Cars need proper maintenance to run smoothly. Neglecting to change the steering fluid, coolant or transmission fluid is a surefire way to get your car sick. Anyone can lift a hood and check the fluid levels, so you don’t have to schedule an appointment with a mechanic every other week. Doing this on a regular basis will keep your car running well and your maintenance costs down.

Consider adding a transmission oil filter and a bypass engine. They screen the fluid to 3 microns, and they do that using a small amount of oil. Also, a coolant filter prevents overheated parts, so do your car and yourself a favor and invest a bit in this.

Image courtesy of Lotus. 

4.      How About the Brake Pads?

If every time you hit the brakes, you hear a screeching noise, then that’s your car telling that it’s time to change your disc-brake pads. The pads that stay between the rotor and the metal caliper wear down at some point because of the friction. Neglecting to change the pads will not only affect the effectiveness of the brakes, but it will also damage the rotor. As a rule of thumb, you should change the brake pads every 20,000-25,000 miles.

5.      Your Shock Absorbers Are Shockingly Worn

Well, not so shockingly, but since they perform a lot of duties of great importance to your car’s suspension, handles and rides, you should expect them to wear fast. They basically “decide” how your car takes the corners regarding comfort and handling, and they’re the difference between comfort and discomfort when it comes to potholes and bumps. Your car suspension elements will wear extremely fast, especially if you live in a place with a cold climate.

Image courtesy of Chevrolet.

6.      Let Your Car Warm Up

Cold oil won’t get your car very far. You don’t go out in the cold immediately after you wake up, or do you? The same scenario applies to your car.

You just fire your engine. Let it purr for a while and warm up before going about your day to day business.

As you can see from this list, a large part of your car’s maintenance is preventative. Checking your car on a regular basis and going for scheduling regular professional check-ups is the perfect way to make sure that your car stays healthy.

How Popular Will Autonomous Motorcycles Be?

Image courtesy of Harley Davidson

Most people likely aren't aware that Google and a handful of others are testing out using autonomous drive technology for motorcycles. While that might sound crazy, it would mean a whole host of innovations that bring up some exciting possibilities, as well as some drawbacks.

First off, the technology would mean that a motorcycle could ride around without anyone on it. That might sound like a great trick, but it could have practical applications, like  sending a motorcycle to pick up a rider, or letting someone who isn't experienced enough on two wheels make it through city streets safely.

I'm all for technology, but I'm skeptical about how well autonomous drive will really catch on with motorcycle owners. Think about it: while the safety technologies for cars have advanced in crazy ways during the past few decades, the same can't be said about motorcycles. Some might think that has to do with the relatively sparse layout of bikes, and while it's a factor that's only part of the story.

Despite plenty of studies and common sense telling everyone that wearing a helmet saves lives, plenty of motorcycle owners don't wear them. In fact, they fight legislation that would require it in some areas.

Since at least the 1940s, motorcycles have been associated with rebels, people who want to flout the law and live on the edge. That might sound like some cheesy motorcycle website copy, but it's true. The last thing a guy who wants to be a rebel wants to do is get a bike that's loaded with nanny software, that will keep him from popping wheelies.

As an increasing number of cars are outfitted with autonomous drive technology, I predict that motorcycles will at least continue to be the choice of rebels, and might even become more popular as a result. Sure, some will purchase autonomous motorcycles, but they likely will be a minority.

It's Back to the Future Day!

Few movies have affected popular culture and generated so much interest in what would otherwise have been an obscure vehicle quite like the Back to the Future trilogy. A lot of people are celebrating the movie today, from a town in California holding a festival to Toyota releasing some special videos based on the movie.

The whole reason for the celebrations today is that it's the date that Doc and Marty McFly arrive in the future in the second movie. Plenty of Photoshop scam screen captures have tried to claim that many other dates were displayed on the DeLorean's display, but in reality it was October 21, 2015.

Trying to predict the future of technology is difficult. The people who made Back to the Future tried to do just that, even if it was in a lighthearted manner. Other movies have tried to do the same thing as well, guessing at what kinds of vehicles, communication devices and other innovations will be available. Some things they get right, other things not so much.

Today, we do have hoverboard technology, even if it's limited to prototype examples only. Lexus created a functioning hoverboard that works with magnets and uses liquid nitrogen cooling:

While technically there are flying cars today, they're nothing like how the DeLorean in Back to the Future flies around. The simple truth is that flying cars are problematic, because they're far more dangerous in the hands of too many untrained people. Likely flying cars will never be commonplace, but it's difficult to predict the future, so who knows?

We still have fax machines today, but outside of some government agencies it seems that hardly anyone actually uses them. Instead, email is the popular way to communicate in written form. There's also social media. Back to the Future didn't portray people walking around, typing on their phone instead of paying attention to what's going on around them. That would have been far more accurate.

What will the future of cars bring? Purely guessing (even though they're educated guesses) I'm going to say the death of the internal combustion engine will happen, at least some cars will be fully autonomous (meaning nobody will even have to be in them to operate) and projected guides on the windows and other surfaces (like heads-up displays) will be commonplace. We'll have fewer accidents, but likely motorcycles will be even more the choice of rebels who want to get around the autonomous and other "nanny" technologies.

What a Mysterious Car Fire Reveals About Electric Vehicle Technology

Tesla Model S. Photo courtesy of Tesla Motors.

Just over the weekend, a car at a Ken Garff dealership in Orem, Utah mysterious caught fire. It was given a little mention on the news here, with people wondering if someone was trying to vandalize vehicles on the lot. According to the news, the local police don't think it was a case of arson, and that's where the whole issue gets interesting.

Most people have probably forgotten how a few years ago when the Tesla Model S first launched, people were freaking out because a few of them caught fire. The electric cars were called unsafe and there was a witch hunt to "take down" Tesla Motors over the whole issue.

In case you can't tell, I'm of the opinion the whole thing was ridiculous, because it was. While I don't think that Tesla's shit doesn't stink, (there are too many out there who do) I also don't have an irrational fear or hatred of the company or its technology.

Had this car that mysteriously combusted been an electric vehicle, the news would have been splashing it everywhere and the public would've been in an uproar. Here in Utah, and in a lot of places, (unfortunately) too many people are still highly suspicious of electric cars. Sure, they'll plug in their own electric clothes dryer without a second thought -- they'll even swap out the plug without calling an electrician. But suggest that driving a car that's propelled by electric motors and you're obviously a communist.

What most people have become far too comfortable with is driving around in a vehicle that carries 20 gallons of highly combustible fluid. We humans can be a highly irrational bunch, and many of us fear change for illogical reasons. But this is human nature and it's creating an obstacle to shifting the automotive industry away from internal combustion engines. That shift is and will continue to happen, it's just a question of how quickly it will take place.

Acura Releases Amazing Safety-Centric Commercial

Image courtesy of Acura.

I'll be honest, even as a "car guy" I find most car commercials to be... well, boring. How many times do I have to see a vehicle power around the turns on a sweeping California coastal highway? Why do I care what a luxury SUV looks like powering down a somehow-empty Manhattan street? When will I ever be using a pickup truck to round up wild horses in the Texas desert?

Then I saw the latest commercial from Acura, and it really got to me.


If you haven't seen it, I've embedded it below. Basically, the whole thing is touting Acura's safety record, which is impressive. According to Acura (and I'm pretty sure this is true), it's the first and only brand so far to be awarded a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from NHTSA and the Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS for its entire model line. That's impressive, to say the least, because believe it or not there are automakers that still don't emphasize safety as much as they should.

This commercial got to me because I'm a father and a husband, and I constantly am concerned about protecting my family. I make vehicle choices with this is mind, and of course I'm more critical than most in this respect. It really speaks for itself, so just watch it and I'll shut up now:

Check Out the New BMW M2!

2016 BMW M2. Photos courtesy of BMW.

Lately a lot of people have been down on BMW, from weird designs to bloated and heavy cars and even the deletion of manual transmissions from certain models. Quite a few accusations have been flying around that The Ultimate Driving Machine is becoming a misnomer.

Instead of taking all of this lying down, BMW has been hitting back, and I couldn't be happier. Just yesterday, it revealed the all-new M2, which looks impressive, to say the least.

If you read nothing else about this car and just drool over the pictures, know this: It produces more torque than any M3 in history, it comes with a manual transmission and rev-matching, there's a fully-variable Active M Differential and it has an aluminum suspension.

Nestled under the hood is a potent 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine (yay!). The thing pumps out 365 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, with a redline of 7,000 rpm. The big takeaway is it packs more of a punch than the 1 M Coupe, which was a great performance car. When it comes to torque, there's 343 lb.-ft. available, which is plenty of twisting force to snap you back in the seats, plus that peak amount is available from a low 1,400 rpm all the way to 5,560 rpm. As has been the practice lately with BMW and other automakers, there's an overboost function that will temporarily increase torque output to 369 lb.-ft. of torque, but it's only available 1,450 to 4,750 rpm.

For those who are really into engine design, they should know this is an all-new design. It's made entirely of aluminum, which lends itself to better performance and efficiency. Engineers worked to optimize its thermodynamics. The closed-deck design is highly rigid, which allows for higher cylinder pressure and obviously better horsepower/torque figures. The configuration also means the water jacket for the cylinders is closed up top.

Some components were sourced from the M3 and M4, such as the crankshaft main bearing shells, the pistons, etc. You can find the turbo integrated into the exhaust manifold, all in the name of efficiency. Other efficient designs include the electric power steering drawing zero electricity when the car's traveling straight, brake energy regeneration, the oil pump being map-controlled and the coolant pump only running as needed.

BMW says that with the optional M Double Clutch Transmission (DCT) and launch control turned on, the 2016 M2 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. If you want to row the gears yourself with the manual transmission, that time increases to 4.4 seconds, which is still great. You can go up to 155 in the car, thanks to electronic limits.

The M2 is definitely made for track days. Engineers used a second oil sump cover, plus a special suction system to ensure no oil starvation happens during hard braking or the car whipping around turns. An electrically controlled flap in the exhaust system helps maintain optimal back-pressure.

Another great piece of news is that the electronic helps don't take away all of the fun, when you want it. More specifically, the dynamic stability control works with M Dynamic Mode. Drivers can select Sport+ mode for track driving, which means electronic interventions come later and allow for more wheel slip, so you can drift it around corners on a track. At the same time, there are still the electronic helpers to prevent the car from careening out of control. You won't get monster drifts out of the M2, but you can do moderate drifts. This might not satisfy everyone, but it's better than the tech taking away all of the fun.

One of the best parts of the 2016 BMW M2 is that it looks great. This is a positive sign for BMW, and hopefully it's a taste of things to come.

Why Honda Has Lost My Business

2012 Honda Odyssey. Image courtesy of Honda.

My first car was a Honda, way back when I was in high school and a new driver. It wasn't a glamorous thing, but despite having been totaled twice and being three different colors, it ran like a champion. Sure, the dash lights no longer came on, I had to insert the turn signal stalk into the steering column just so for the signals to even work and it shook like a leaf when going over 50 mph. Despite all those problems, the car was actually fairly fun to drive and never left me stranded.

Since then I've owned several more Hondas. While a lot of car guys throughout the years have felt extreme hatred towards the brand, I wasn't one of them. Even though having a high-powered muscle car is a lot of fun, when I was in college I appreciated that my vehicle sipped fuel and took little maintenance. Later in life, I've moved on to a minivan that also runs well and is light on the gas, and is even more entertaining to drive than other minivans out there (which, believe me, isn't saying too much).

After all that, I can genuinely say I have zero interest in purchasing another Honda.

Many people who have decided to buy a low-mileage, slightly used Honda learn pretty quickly that it's a completely stupid plan. Thanks to a very strategic plan that involves essentially no fleet sales, Honda has been successful at its vehicles' values high, which means that buying a two to three year-old Honda will cost almost as much as getting one that's brand new.

When I was contemplating swapping my current Honda for a new one, I knew to just go to the dealer and begin the negotiations. The only thing was, I went to several in my area, and each one engaged in the usual car salesman games. I've been to a lot of dealerships in my day, have worked with many, and know the difference between a dealer driving a hard deal and one that's trying to work you over. For example, I had one that was trying to jack my interest rate by three percent, then bald-faced lied to me about it when I caught them. At another Honda dealer, the sales guy only wanted to talk to me about the hardcore performance characteristics of the vehicle in question, which was a three-row family model.

After putting up with the greasy sales tactics at pretty much every Honda dealer even somewhat close to me, I gave up. I even tried going to an Acura dealer, where they acted completely snooty (I've been treated far better at Mercedes and BMW dealers, which are far nicer brands).

I've concluded that Honda's dealers must think people want the cars so badly they'll put up with just about anything. I know people like that, who literally believe that there's something magical that makes Hondas automatically better than all other brands on the face of the earth. Knowing too much about cars, I simply don't believe that.

The next time I actually buy a car, it won't be a Honda. No brand is good enough to put up with the offensive and abusive games of car dealers. Times are changing and more consumers feel the same way.

London-Sydney Marathon Porsche 911 S

All photos courtesy of  Porsche.

Back in 1968 Porsche did something really gutsy. These days, we all know that the company can go a little nuts with its vehicles, especially when it comes to motorsports, making them undeniably awesome. But back in the day Porsche was small and its crazy side wasn't well-known. Then the London-Sydney Marathon rally was held.

Porsche entered one factory car - a 911 S. There were two other Porsche 911s in the field of 98 starters. To get the vehicle ready for the unusual and incredibly arduous race, it was outfitted with a cage that looks similar to an American football player's face mask. Up front was a roo bar that was made for exactly what it sounds like - smacking marsupials out of the way in the land Down Under.

The roof carried all sorts of supplies necessary for the long journey. At the rear, the Porsche 911 S rally car had an exhaust system that would make an elephant jealous.

To some people, rally racing a 911 S against a field of impressive sedans was pure lunacy. Most teams had three drivers to deal with the grueling task of driving day and night, which was probably necessary considering that the cars had to traverse a dangerous and war-torn landscape through areas such as Iran and Afghanistan. One team even had four drivers. Anyone who's ever ridden in a vintage 911 knows they aren't exactly spacious, which I'm sure made for quite the challenge.

Some of the borders the racers crossed had been closed up for years, thanks to wars that raged between nations. The competition was being hailed as a bringer of peace in a region of unrest, and people would flock to the course in some areas to cheer on the drivers (sometimes throwing celebratory rocks in a kind of revelry I'll never understand).

The race was truly grueling, testing the limits of the machines and humans alike. Sand would clog up the various air intakes, bogging down the engine and brakes. Flying rocks presented an unfortunate chance for damage. Cars would get stuck, but cars weren't allowed to tow each other.

This is a real slice of Porsche history, and fortunately there's work underway to fully restore the original factory car. Once finished, I think the most appropriate spot for it would be in the impressive Porsche Museum, which of course is located it Stuttgart.

The 2012 Volkswagen GTI

2012 VW GTI. Photo courtesy of Volkswagen.

The 2012 Volkswagen GTI is the German automaker’s hot hatchback vehicle, providing aggressive looks and sound along with performance thrills. Based on the Golf platform, the GTI comes with large 18-inch alloy wheels and either two or four doors. The car provides a smooth and quiet ride, with road noise levels matching those found in some luxury vehicles. Volkswagen provides a fun car that is still practical to drive on a daily basis, commuting in comfort down both highways and city streets.

Making the 2012 GTI a fun-to-drive car is a turbocharged 2.0 liter inline four cylinder engine that produces a peak 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission comes as standard equipment on the car, but buyers can option for a six-speed automatic transmission with a dual clutch and manual mode that allows the driver to select the gears. A VW GTI with an automatic transmission achieves an estimated 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, according to the EPA. Buyers can opt for a partial-zero-emissions-vehicle or PZEV version of the GTI.

Since it is built for driving fun, Volkswagen loaded the GTI with several performance-oriented features. A launch control system helps rocket the car forward when it is sitting still. The GTI also comes with a sport-tuned suspension, shifter paddles mounted to the steering wheel and four-wheel antilock disc brakes. The car’s front seats come with large side bolsters to keep the driver and front passenger firmly in place during hard cornering

Standard interior features in the GTI include power door locks and windows, an eight-speaker sound system, cruise control and heated front seats. The GTI also has the ability to connect to cell phones via a Bluetooth connection, allowing for hands-free talking while driving. The sound system comes with a jack that allows passengers to plug in an MP3 player. The top-of-the-line models come with a keyless entry and ignition system that works when the driver simply has the key in his pocket.

The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban

2012 Chevrolet Suburban. Images courtesy of Chevrolet. 

The 2012 Chevy Suburban offers a cavernous interior that can seat up to nine people, if outfitted with the optional bench seat in the front row. All three rows of seating come with plenty of shoulder, hip and legroom that can accommodate even tall adults. LTZ models come with bucket seats for the first two rows, meaning the Suburban can only seat seven occupants. The rear cargo area is humongous with 137 total cubic feet that can hold even larger pieces of furniture, outclassing other full-size SUVs.

Chevrolet loads the Suburban with standard feature such as steering wheel mounted controls, power door locks and windows, Bluetooth for hands-free phone connectivity, headphone jacks in the rear two rows and an eight-speaker sound system. LT models come with additional standard features like fog lights, rear parking sensors, leather seats, heated front seats and power-adjusting brake and gas pedals. LTZ models come with a power lift gate, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a Bose branded ten-speaker sound system and heated second row seats.

Buyers can choose between two different engines for the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban. The smaller of the two engines, a 5.3 liter V8 that produces 320 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque, comes in the 1500 trim level. The 2500 trim level comes with a 6.0 liter V8 that puts out 352 horsepower and 382 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission available is a six-speed automatic. Power can go to either the Suburban’s rear wheels, or all four if equipped with the optional four-wheel-drive. 2500 models can tow up to 9,600 pounds when outfitted with proper equipment. The EPA estimates gas mileage for 1500 models to be 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, while 2500 models achieve 10 mpg in city driving and 15 mpg on the highway.

As far as safety, the 2012 Suburban comes with General Motor’s OnStar service, which allows drivers to call for roadside assistance and also automatically calls for help after a collision. Frontal and side airbags protect the driver and front passenger, while curtain airbags extend down the sides of the vehicle to protect all three rows. Helping drivers avoid accidents are standard features such as a system that warns the driver when another vehicle is in the Suburban’s blind spots, traction control, antilock brakes on all four wheels and stability control.

If you're in the market for an SUV, likely the Suburban is too much truck. It's not the smoothest ride out there and can be difficult to maneuver in parking areas, especially without cameras or parking sensors. At the same time, if you need plenty of space on all three rows, plus a lot of cargo space and the ability to tow heavy trailers/boats/whatever, then the Suburban is a perfect fit. 

The 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. Images courtesy of Chevrolet.

The 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe is a traditional full-size SUV, complete with a box-frame construction like Chevy’s Silverado pickup truck. Because of its design, the Tahoe is just as comfortable ambling down freeways or city streets as it is trudging through muddy or snow off-road trails. Occupants enjoy a taller ride-height than in crossover vehicles or minivans. Still, the Tahoe offers a very smooth ride and plenty of comforts that will make occupants forget they are riding in a truck.

Seating inside the 2012 Tahoe can accommodate up to nine passengers if outfitted with the split bench front seat. The front seats can be both heated and cooled, while the second seats can be heated and also power-fold into the vehicle’s floor to increase cargo capacity. Cargo capacity can reach 109 cubic feet with the second and third rows of seats folded down.

Buyers have only one engine choice with the Tahoe, a 5.3 liter V8 that puts out 320 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. The engine works with a six-speed automatic transmission to provide power to either just the rear wheels, or to all four for models with the optional four-wheel-drive. Chevy makes four-wheel-drive models with either a two-speed transfer case or a single-speed transfer case that eliminates the low-gear option.

Chevrolet loaded the 2012 Tahoe SUV with a number of technological systems to aid with operating the vehicle. Owners can download an application to their smart phone, which allows them to connect with the Tahoe to check up on the status of the vehicle, schedule maintenance with a local dealer and even contact roadside assistance. An optional rear-view camera helps drivers see obstacles of all sizes when traveling in reverse. Everyone in the Tahoe can enjoy music using the vehicle’s USB, allowing occupants to play music on MP3 players and flash drivers. Also, a Bluetooth connection allows drivers to place phone calls using steering wheel mounted controls, allowing them to stay focused on the task of driving.

 If you're in the market for a used SUV, the 2012 Tahoe isn't a bad option. Just keep in mind that if you need to use the third row on a regular basis, cargo space is pretty tight. Also, it won't handle as smoothly as the Traverse or other unibody crossover options. The tradeoff is excellent towing ability, four-wheel drive and the ability to tackle some fairly rough terrain in the great outdoors. 

Toyota Hinting That the C-HR Will See Production

Toyota C-HR Concept. Photos courtesy of Toyota.

Toyota lately has been getting pretty bold with its designs, which are gravitating more and more toward what one would expect only from concept vehicles. Nissan's been doing something similar, but for the most part automakers have been avoiding this kind of a strategy, choosing instead to play follow the leader.

Not that long ago, Toyota was falling in line with everyone else, hence why the Avalon right now looks like it could easily be a Hyundai. While I'm not a huge fan of the edgy, geometric look of new Toyotas, nobody can accuse the company of not pushing the envelope. Personally, the huge spindle grilles on Lexus models and other angular features remind me too much of what Cadillac started doing in the early 2000s, which I hated as well.

In any case, Toyota is going to be pushing even further into uncharted waters with the possibility of the C-HR concept getting the green light to production. The design was polarizing when it was revealed at last year's Paris Motor Show.

If it does make it to market, the Toyota C-HR (or whatever the production name might be) would be a hybrid crossover that would compete in the C-segment market. Supposedly, it's designed to look like a hardened gemstone that's been cut with the greatest precision.

Will car shoppers warm to this ugly face? I have no idea, because I still can't figure out why the Nissan Juke is so popular.

Volkswagen Is Working On a New Image

2016 Volkswagen e-Golf. Images courtesy of VW.

Volkswagen's public image is a bloodied, disgusting mess as it should be. After all, it's not everyday that an automaker has systematically gamed governments around the globe, putting everyone's health at risk in the process. It will be living the whole Dieselgate scandal down for years to come, which is exactly why VW needs to work extra hard on creating a new image.

The company is already working on a plan, and it could look something like the commercial down below. Plenty of people have suggested that governments should require Volkswagen to make a certain number of electric vehicles to reverse at least some of the damage done by its TDI engines.

While that might sound like a funny punishment, there's a strong message behind this initiative. The fact is that VW can remake its public image in a hurry by transforming into a champion of electric car technology. Instead of trying to convince everyone that TDIs are great, the company can do some good and convince the public it's trying to do what's right by cranking out electric cars.

For bonus points, Volkswagen could also partner up with different solar energy providers and push renewable electricity big time. I'm not joking the least, and I sincerely hope that management is already working on this kind of a plan.

Jaguar Land Rover Working On Several Electric Vehicles

Photos courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover

While everyone's raving about the new Tesla Model X, few people took note of another important announcement in the quest to electrify SUVs: Jaguar Land Rover is working on several concept models that could one day lead to an electric off-road machine.

It's a smart and necessary move as more consumers begin to demand partially- or fully-electric vehicles, particularly in the luxury segments. German automakers are toying with similar ideas, which has spurred Jaguar Land Rover further even more as it quests to be taken more seriously in the grand scheme of things.

One concept has a mild hybrid powertrain. It uses brake energy to charge up a battery, which then supplies electricity for ancillary functions like the air conditioning, not moving the vehicle forward in any way. The hybrid module is located between the engine and transmission, making it a fairly compact design. Some are questioning why the automaker is even playing with a half measure, but they're forgetting it's a step in the right direction.

The second concept is a plug-in hybrid which actually uses electricity to turn the wheels. The electric motor is still placed between the engine and transmission, but the vehicle can drive using either a mixture of the gasoline engine and electric motor, or on only electricity for limited distances. This is a setup that's become increasingly common, such as the plug-in hybrid version of the new Volvo XC90.

Looking more toward the future is the third concept, which has a fully-electric powertrain. It's designed for the company's lightweight aluminum vehicle platform, which is being used successfully in several new models like the Jaguar XE. An electric motor is mated to each of the axles, meaning the vehicle is by default all-wheel drive.

Jaguar Land Rover is also playing with some other cool tech that would make better use of energy, including infrared panels strategically placed inside vehicles to help keep people warm and seats that can draw warm air through them to help everyone cool off during the summer.