Author: Tabitha
The Sleuth has learned that Chevrolet’s second-generation compact sedan that arrives this fall for the 2016 model year will be joined a few months later by a hatchback model. Actually, this particular body style isn’t new to the Cruze since the European version is currently available in hatchback, wagon and sedan formats. The Spy Guy has also overheard that Chevrolet is seriously considering turning the Cruze into a hot hatch that could compete with the 2016 Focus ST, Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf GTI. The plan would be to install a full suite of performance hardware, including a…
Purging the air from your brake lines to improve stopping effectiveness usually requires one person to pump the brake pedal and another to open and close the individual valves on the brake calipers. Phoenix Systems has created the MaxPro Reverse Brake Bleeder. Just one-person can now pump the hydraulic brake fluid from each wheel cylinder or caliper up to the master brake cylinder reservoir, removing the trapped air bubbles in the process. The basic kit sells for $195, but you should also order the Brake Strip brake tester (starting at $10 for two strips) that, when dipped in your vehicles…
If you were the kind of student who enjoyed doodling automobiles in study hall, this is the book for you. “I DRAW CARS” contains all of the instructional elements necessary to properly sketch just about any conveyance imaginable. A major portion of this tome includes more than 100 pages devoted to templates and other reference materials to help you practise the necessary form and proportion skills. You also get a rundown of various automotive brands, a compendium of design schools for serious instruction and even a list of worldwide auto shows and dates. I DRAW CARS sells for $25 and…
General Motors is finding new ways to “repurpose” used batteries from its first-generation Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car, one of which includes using five of them to help keep the lights on at GM’s Enterprise Data Center in Michigan. “Even after the battery has reached the end of its useful (mobile) life . . . up to 80 percent of its storage capacity remains,” an official said. “This secondary use application extends its life, while delivering waste reduction and economic benefits on an industrial scale.” The batteries can also provide back-up power to the building for four hours in the…
The world’s first purpose-built pure electric double-decker bus will enter passenger service in London, England, in October. London mayor Boris Johnsons says it will be the first of many to come. And other cities are getting on the clean-bus bandwagon, too. At an international “clean bus summit” hosted by himself, Johnson announced that 24 world cities have committed to rolling out more than 40,000 ultra-low emission buses by 2020. London bought its first hybrid bus in 2009, and today has more than 1,300 in service. “The iconic red double-decker bus is about to become greener than ever,” said the mayor.…
California electric-car automaker Tesla says drivers of its Model S sedan have now accumulated one billion real-world road miles around the globe. To put that distance into perspective, Tesla equates it to “4,186 trips to the moon” or “a 2,000-year road trip.” Covering those miles electrically, it adds, prevented 570,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being added to the atmosphere, and displaced “ten years of pumping gas.” Although it has built a handful of other cars, Tesla’s Model S has become one of the highest selling electric cars in history, with only Nissan’s much more affordable plug-in electric Leaf selling…
Ford is getting into the car-sharing and electric-bike business as part of CEO Mark Fields’ effort to transform the automaker into a more holistic provider of transportation options, reports industry watchdog, Automotive News. The company has announced a pilot car-sharing program that invites 26,000 Ford Motor Credit Co. customers in six U.S. cities and London, England, to offer their vehicles for short-term rentals. It also unveiled a new battery-powered bike aimed at urban commuters that folds and can be recharged while being stored inside any Ford vehicle. The Peer-2-Peer Car Sharing Program and MoDe:Flex bike represent the next phase of…
The Sleuth gets slightly giddy as the fall new-car season approaches and this one is no exception. The launch of the 10th-generation Civic lineup should prove especially exciting, with rumors of not one, but two turbocharged four-cylinder engines available as well as a non-turbo four-cylinder base engine for price-leader models. The 1.5-liter turbo will produce about 145-150 horsepower and is expected to be the fuel-economy champ. The 2.0-liter version is expected to spool out in excess of 300 horses in the Type R four-door hatchback. That car will be vying for attention alongside the 320-plus horsepower Ford Focus RS and…
The last of the automaker’s 918-car run of the 918 (sounds like double-speak, but that’s how many of the 875-horsepower super hybrids Porsche intended to produce) recently rolled out of the assembly hall in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany. Given the unquenchable demand these days for outrageously quick sports cars with equally outrageous prices – $850,000-plus for the 918 – it’s no wonder, exclaims The Sleuth, that Porsche has another one on the drawing board. That model is as yet unnamed, but the 919 handle has apparently been bandied about since that’s what Porsche’s race-winning car (also a hybrid) is called. Whatever it…
You are what you wear, as the saying goes. If you’re a car lover, you can display your passion with ties and scarves from Cyberoptix TieLab. The company produces a variety of neckties and bowties that display a variety of interests, including automotive. For example, this gearshift motif lets everyone know you’re into manual transmissions. Other tie styles depict racetrack layouts, racing stripes, vintage auto brands, auto parts, etc. Prices vary depending on the product and material. For example, gearshift ties sell for $30 for the micro-fiber version, up to $56 for one made from fair-trade silk. You can also…