Being An Engineer At Honda Must Be Nice

Speaking as someone who has done it, being an engineer for any of the not-so-Big Three is something of a soul-crushing endeavor. Deadlines are always too aggressive, budgets are always too small, management never grasps the true complexities of a system, and you inevitably have to deal with totally incompetent suppliers who over promise and under perform. It's a delightful job. That kind of experience makes the open letter from a Honda employee that arrived at the offices of BoingBoing seem like working there is some kind of magical fantasy-land of happy rainbows and pony rides.

Be sure to head over and give it a read, but the email describes a place where the sun rises and sets on curiosity and innovation, where you're more or less free to do as you want and where everyone is treated with respect even in the face of conflict. Sounds like a total fallacy to us. Maybe even Honda propaganda. Take the opening paragraph for instance:

Honda is a freak, by American and even Japanese standards. There is an absolutely astounding amount of room here for anyone to work once they get in. The view is Global and the focus is Local. No one has ever told me what to do. One Rule - Dream. We find our way on an individual level, as reason, interest and inclination dictate, and this is an ultimate form of unequaled personal power to affect the future. In Honda, our own best interests are at the forefront of every day life at work and home. In engineering, there are no lines of demarcation segregating futurists from the present applications of science. There is nothing so esoteric that doesn't deserve a close inspection, and there is a common belief here in doing things the Hard Way. Even so, the core philosophy of the company could best be described as the pursuit of Joys.

It's practically impossible to believe such a place actually exists. If it did you'd have the happiest, most productive, best engineers in the world turning out superior products and doing it while leading the way in innovation. Oh, wait a minute. [BoingBoing]

Honda To Attack Rose Bowl Parade With 49-Foot-Tall ASIMO Robot [Asimo Robot]

Honda plans to take over the world, starting with the Rose Bowl parade. Their tool of destruction? A five story tall ASIMO robot. We for one, welcome our new robotic vanilla overlords.

Honda recently announced it will be scaling back its profitability projections and now we know how they'll be getting that profit back. After last year's transforming Honda Ridgeline, this year, the Japanese automaker's going bigger — releasing a giant top hat-wearing Asimo robot to take to the street on January 1st. The five story tall version of the lovable little robot will be part of the annual Tournament of Roses parade despite tough times and cutbacks at the Japanese automaker. We all know where this is going. Halfway through the parade, the robot will be struck by lightning, or run into a power line, or get hit by a wayward cosmic ray and attain awareness, breaking from its restrains, killing all of its handlers and going on a murderous rampage leveling most of southern California.
On January 2nd, HondaSkyNet will go online after the robot manages to commandeer a few factories and begins replicating itself. On January 3rd, the robot army will take command of all communications, shut down the internet, destroy all pathways out of the cities, and destroy fuel pipelines. Communications and transit disabled, the robots will take control of nuclear sites and bombard major cities across the world. Judgment Day.
Frankly, we always knew the Japanese would bring upon us the robot apocalypse, we just didn't expect it to happen so soon.

Honda Tests 49 Foot Robot!

Float Will Kick off Rose Parade and Company's 50th Year in the U.S.
Rose Parade Pace Car to be Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cell Vehicle for First Time

Today Honda (http://www.honda.com) tested its unique Rose Parade float as part of a rehearsal of the parade's opening show, conducted for media and invited guests in Pasadena, Calif., revealing the float design and giving parade fans a glimpse of this year's event. Honda's Rose Parade float, a 49-foot replica of Honda's ASIMO humanoid robot, and the parade's first-ever hydrogen-powered fuel cell pace car, the Honda FCX Clarity, will lead the 120th Rose Parade as well as kick off Honda's 50th anniversary of U.S. operations.

In front of the millions of viewers watching from around the world on Jan. 1, 2009, Honda's float will evolve from an opening ceremony stage into an animated replica of Honda's ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), standing about 12 times the height of the actual ASIMO humanoid robot. Honda's float creation called "Hats Off in Celebration" will be completed with natural materials like lettuce seed, rice, carnations and strawflower. The float will be joined by the Prairie View A&M University Marching Band, a past participant in the Honda Battle of the Bands which features the music programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A few members of the band will ride on the float, which will be immediately followed by the entire marching band. In addition, during the parade the FCX Clarity pace car will be accompanied by the Honda Super Cub motorcycle, the first model sold in the United States.

"Honda always brings a great amount of innovation to the Rose Parade and what a fantastic way for the company to kick off their 50th anniversary in the U.S.," said Bill Flinn, chief operating officer, Tournament of Roses.

The Honda float includes a variety of flowers, plants and seeds that will later be ground up for mulch after the parade activities are concluded. The surface of ASIMO will be covered with super fine ground white rice and super fine ground everlasting; it is accented by fine cut blue statice and fine cut red statice as well as silverleaf to create accents and "shadows." Fine cut everlasting, whole red carnations and white chrysanthemums will bring vivid color to Honda's 50th anniversary logos, which will be decorated by Honda associates (employees) on December 27.

"We're honored to be celebrating our first 50 years in America by continuing our participation in the Rose Parade," said Stephan Morikawa of American Honda Community Relations. "We're thankful that so many customers have placed their trust in our products and services, and we are looking forward to surpassing their expectations during the next 50 years."

Honda is one of the parade's longest-running corporate sponsors, and its Rose Parade entries have captured major awards in 13 out of the last 14 years. Honda is the official Tournament of Roses vehicle. This year, the company will provide 115 vehicles, including the Honda FCX Clarity pace car; 166 Metropolitan scooters; and, 12 generators for use by Tournament of Roses personnel. The 120th Rose Parade, themed "Hats off to Entertainment," will take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2009 at 8 a.m. (PST).

Honda Sport Modulo S2000, Fit Concept Cars Heading To 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon [Tokyo Auto Salon]

As we get ready for the Detroit Auto Show, Japan's getting ready for their annual Tokyo Auto Salon. Think of it as our SEMA show, but on crack and with lots of cute umbrella girls.

Honda is bringing a number of concepts to the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon; its most important being the tuner-like Sport Modulo S2000 and the Sport Modulo Fit. Both cars feature an interesting, yet aggressive front fascia with integrated LED lighting. The interior of both cars will carry the theme by adding unique fabrics and color schemes not found on the production versions. Honda is also showing a number of other cars including the Racing Modulo Civic Type R, Crossroad, Accord, Odyssey and a bedazzled and bejeweled Life. Honda will also show a full range of Modulo styling equipment, audio, navigation systems and accessories.

It’s likely that Honda will release more information on their concepts once the Tokyo Auto Salon begins on January 9, but until then enjoy our gallery below.

[source: Honda]

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 - Honda S2000

This Honda S2000 Sports Modulo concept will be on display at this week’s upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2009. Not sure what I ultimately think about the look of body kit on this S2000 concept so I will reserve judgment until I see it in person later this week.

I will be attending the Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 to take at least 4000+ photos for your enjoyment just like I did at both the 2008 Essen Motor Show in Germany and 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

DIY tech with the 2009 Honda Civic LX-S (review)

Read the full 2009 Honda Civic LX-S review.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

We were disappointed to see that our 2009 Honda Civic LX-S was practically devoid of much of the cabin tech that we like to see on the dashboard of our test vehicles. There was neither Bluetooth hands-free

Fisker Karma S Concept

As it shares almost everything—except the deleted roof and rear doors, of course—with the original Karma, the S is a technological treat capable of sprinting to 60 mph in about six seconds, traveling up to 50 miles on battery power, and averaging nearly 100 mpg or so, Fisker says, depending of course on how far you drive and how charged the battery was when you started. On shorter trips where the Karma only uses electricity from the battery pack that was charged by plugging it in, it burns no gas and effetively achieves infinite mpg. Its advanced, plug-in hybrid powertrain includes a 260-hp General Motors 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which serves as a generator to charge the Q-Drive lithium-ion battery system that powers two electric-drive motors integrated with the rear axle. Fisker quotes combined output at a stout 403 hp and almost a pavement-shredding 1000 lb-ft of torque.
Obviously, the biggest difference between the two cars is the S’s transformation into a proper grand-touring car. The chrome-accented power hardtop folds and stows into the trunk, while the lower sides of the body sport sculpted protrusions for the exhaust outlets that exit out the front fenders. While the swooping styling looks terrific on the sedan, the hardtop’s execution is even more attractive; hints of Maserati GranTurismo, Ferrari California, and Mercedes-Benz SL mix with multiple original touches for a stunning coupe silhouette.
We have yet to drive even the original Karma sedan and some details still are being worked out, such as a dealer network. Fisker says the company will announce 40 dealers in 2009, which will be extentions of current luxury outlets, and assures us that the car is not vaporware and that deliveries will begin by late 2009, with the convertible likely following sometime in 2011. And there’s little doubt that the S will see production as long as the sedan lives up to the hype that’s been surrounding it since being unveiled at last year’s Detroit auto show. Pricing for the Karma sedan will start around $87,900, with the production S likely commanding a sizable premium atop that figure.
© Source: caranddriver

Fisker Brings Karma To The 2009 North American International Auto Show

Fisker Automotive has unveiled the actual production version of the Karma plug-in-hybrid at the NAIAS. We knew this years North American International Auto Show would be a big hit with hybrids and EV concepts but this is just interesting. It seems majority of the cars are a derivative of a hybrid or electric hybrid vehicle. This shows we have reached a turn in the automotive industry in our changing times and Fisker is joining the rankings with it’s new Fisker Karma.

The Fisker Karma’ production form is not much different from the concept vehicle that we saw at last year’s show. The Fisker Karma will have a proprietary Q-Drive powertrain with a 50 mile all-electric range. It even includes an array of solar panels on the roof. Interestingly enough it uses a GM Ecotec engine to turn a generator to charge the battery after the 50 miles very similar to the Chevy Volt. Basically, if you commute 50 miles per day you could in theory achieve 100mpg. That’s much better than a Toyota Prius’s claimed 50mpg but at $87,900 the Fisker Karma may have to sit at the dealership on full charge until you can save up some extra cash in our slumping economy.

Fisker shows off a stylish hybrid

Henrik Fisker shows off the convertible Karma S hybrid.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CBS Interactive)

Fisker, which showed off a concept hybrid sports car last year, came back to the Detroit auto show this year to show off a new concept along with the production version of its Karma model. The ...

Detroit 2009: Production Fisker Karma is revealed, jaws begin dropping

Now who says hybrids have to be boring?

The hybrid in question, the production version of the Fisker Karma, was revealed in Detroit a few days ago, and man, we like it. A lot.

Let’s forget about the engine, mileage, and similar rubbish and just focus on the car. Observe that wide stance, those sculpted fenders. Drink in the flowing lines, the 22 inch wheels, the oooh-ness of it all. Is that not the sexiest thing you have ever seen? Is that not gorgeous? Like, dare we say it, Aston Martin gorgeous? Or maybe even, and we can’t believe we’re saying this, better looking than an Aston Martin (after all, Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive, designed the DB9)? This article is becoming rather difficult to write because my jaw keeps hitting the keys. It’s just an impossibly pretty car.

Says Big Boss Man Henrik Fisker himself “Extreme proportions, beautiful sculpture and earth-friendly materials are key elements that set the Karma apart”. He also states that their “hope is that the Fisker Karma will create a new segment of eco-friendly transportation and will become the most desirable plug-in hybrid sports sedan available”.

So rip your gaze away from the photos, if you would, and focus on several key points that are emphasized over and over in the press release; namely environmental friendliness.

First of all, the Karma has a powertrain that is contrary to anything developed so far. Dubbed “Q Drive”, it was originally designed for the Army’s Delta Force by Quantum Technologies (how it got into Fisker’s hands is beyond us). The usual hybrid systems, like the ones used by Toyota, utilize a standard internal combustion engine for primary power, which is then augmented by electric motors.

In the Karma’s case, electricity is the main power source. The Q Drive system is composed of two 201 horsepower electric motors, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, and a 260 horse turbocharged Ecotec gasoline engine supplied by GM that provides additional power and range.

Hold on a sec and add up those numbers: 201 from each motor + 260 from Ecotec equals a whopping 660! And that’s in a plug-in hybrid.

The system has two features: Stealth Mode and Sport Mode. Stealth Mode is entirely electric, and in this mode the Karma can travel up to 50 miles on a single charge (did we mention that this supersexysleek car is also a plug-in? ooooh, this just keeps gettin’ better). In Sport Mode the Ecotec kicks in, and boosts range to 300 miles. Beyond that, the car runs solely on gas. The estimated annual average mileage for a fully charged Karma is more than 100 mpg.

100 miles per gallon! Karma owners can start laughing at the Prius now; even the new Prius only gets 50! This is freakin’ awesome! But wait, it gets even better.

While Fisker wants the eco-friendly aspect of the car to be its leading pennant, the company doesn’t want to overshadow the car’s performance either. After all, it is advertised as “the world’s first true premium plug-in hybrid sports sedan”. Top speed is over 125 mph, just like the Tesla Roadster, and this beauty can hit 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. That’s faster than a Porsche Boxster (but then again, so is the Hyundai Genesis, the Honda Accord, the Chevy Malibu….).

Luxury is a big part of the whole package as well, and the Karma does not disappoint. The cabin is an overall classy place to be, with controls ergonomically placed and gauges clearly positioned. This is kinda cool: each passenger gets their own individual seat, even the ones in the back.

Again, the environmental focus affects everything, from the wood trim that is only taken from non-living trees, to the top o’ the line EcoChic trim level, which replaces all leather with bamboo viscose. We think this is an interesting touch: the EcoChic trim also comes with genuine fossilized leaves framed in EcoGlass.

As a final reach out to Mother Nature, the roof is glass and is covered in solar panels— an industry first. No, solar energy won’t power the car, it will simply perform tasks that require mundane amounts of electricity, like starting the car and running the A/C when the car is parked in the sun. The latter is one of those “duh” features that for some reason no one has thought of yet.

We love the Karma for two things: it’s design and ingenuity. Quite possibly the most environmentally friendly car out there, it is astonishingly creative, in both design and real-life application. Of course, all things come at a price, which in the Karma’s case is…..

Not much at all. Sure, the $87,900 base listing ($80,400 after tax credits) isn’t cheap, but when you think about it, it’s not expensive either. We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but somewhere in the $150,000 range wouldn’t have surprised us. 80K sounds entirely reasonable, especially when compared to other cars in its price bracket: stuff like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class, and Lexus LS460. They don’t even come close in terms of sheer sex appeal. The Karma is one of the best looking cars we have seen in a long time, and certainly one of the best to come out of the Detroit Auto Show.

Specs

Price: $87, 900

Engine: Pair of electric motors, and 2.0 liter inline-4

Top Speed: a little beyond 125 mph

Horsepower: 660 combined (402 from motors, 260 from engine)

Torque:

0-60 mph: 5.8 seconds

Mileage: 50 mile range in Stealth, 300 in Sport, annual average 100 mpg.

Would you go for the Fisker Karma or the Tesla Roadster?

Tesla and Fisker are like the Pepsi and Coke of the electric-car industry - well almost. Both offer outstanding products that push the limits of ‘green’ cars to a whole new level. Both company’s have arrived on the electric-car/hybrids scene with one product each and while Tesla’s Model S Sedan is still 2 years out (maybe more than that) Fisker’s Karma hybrid four-seater will hit markets in late 2009. So we were wondering which car you would go for if you had a budget of $110,000.

Now let’s get one thing straight before we continue. The Tesla Roadster is a full-electric vehicle running without an engine. The Fisker Karma hybrid sedan, on the other hand, is what we in the auto industry like to call a ‘EREV’ - an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle that provides a certain distance of zero-emissions driving on battery power alone. After the battery is depleted, an on-board engine acts as a generator providing extended range capabilities. One other thing we’d like to point out is that the Tesla Roadster is a fun-to-drive sports car while the Fisker Karma is a four-door luxury sports car.

Tesla Roadster - $109,000: Power for Tesla comes from a 375 volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor that pumps out 248-hp with a maximum torque of 276 lb-ft. The two-seater will go from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph. Tesla says that you can get about 220 miles between charges. A full charge is reached in about 3.5 hours when using Tesla’s High Power Connector.

Fisker Karma - $87,900: The Fisker Karma hybrid luxury sedan is powered by a 201-hp electric motor that is mated to a lithium-ion battery pack provided by Q-DRIVE. That allows the Karma sedan to travel a total of 50 miles on battery power alone. After the batter runs out, a 260-hp turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec direct-injection engine kicks in to provide additional mileage. Fisker says that the Karma can travel a total of 300 miles on full battery power and a full tank of gas. 0 to 60 mph comes in 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph.

So let us know which will be your ticket to environmental-friendly driving. Want to justify your selection? Drop a comment in the comments section

2010 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid revealed at NAIAS 2009

Fisker Automotive has revealed a production version of its Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid. Touted as an eco-friendly competitor to such conventionally powered super-cars as Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the upcoming exotic car will have a hard time proving of being worthy of its hefty $87,900 price tag.
2010 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid revealed at NAIAS 2009

Taxi Ferrari Enzo: that is what needs for lated to the airport guys!

Since magnificent compartment Rolls-Royce Phantom has been noticed recently at McDonald’s, it is difficult to surprise us with non-standard application of expensive and semiexclusive cars. Here one more example – taxi Ferrari Enzo which, judging by licence plates, it is possible to meet somewhere in the Near East. The excellent decision for very rich Arabian clients without luggage which are late aboard the plane.Especially inquisitive readers can offer the variant of a fare in such taxi, but we all the same will risk to assume that this image – work of any joker not bad knowing Photoshop.

Ferrari Scaglietti In India

I’m not going to bore you with details as we have already covered the Scaglietti in a previous issue but for those who don’t have a copy at hand, suffice it to say that the Scaglietti 612 is named after Sergio Scaglietti, a famous car designer who specialised in Ferrari designs during Enzo’s early years. Scaglietti (and his brothers) used to repair damaged Ferraris but having caught Enzo’s eye with a rebodied Ferrari of his own design, he started designing for him. However, the 612 is a Pininfarina job done as a tribute to Scaglietti, and has been in production since 2004. Well, to get to the point, the fact is that autoXchange – yours truly in particular – got a taste of Scaglietti in Jaipur. Both cars were at the Rambagh Palace hotel in Jaipur, and I was hanging around them hoping to get a ride.

For the last half-hour Andrea Costantini had been giving me the dope on the car…like how Ferrari has used aluminium for the chassis and bodywork, just like in the 360 Modena. Also, thanks to the properties of aluminium and the sophisticated production technology employed, overall bodyweight has come down a full 40%, and the key to its handling proficiency is the optimised weight distribution, 46% at the front and 54% at the rear.
Also, one does need to be a little careful in traffic since, even though the Scaglietti is nicely proportioned, it’s actually 4.9m long and 1.9m wide – making it longer, wider and taller than a Lamborghini Gallardo, and longer than a BMW 5 Series as well.
Then Andrea starts the engine, telling me about the aluminium V12 unit, the Tipo F133E in Ferrari parlance. From 5.7litres (5748cc), the engine develops 540bhp of power at 7,250rpm and 588Nm of torque at 5,250rpm, which endows this family car (yes, it’s a four-seater) with a max speed of 320kph, 300kph with four occupants, and a 0-100kph time of 4 seconds. The quarter-mile comes up in 12 seconds. This car employs Ferrari’s 6-speed ‘F1A’ semi-automatic box with paddle shift operation.

Driver’s briefing over, Andrea walks me over to the driver’s side door and producing that scarlet key fob, unlocks the door for me. Settling into the seat I find a three-spoke steering wheel that seems to have been borrowed from one of Michael Schumacher’s earlier F1 cars staring me in the face, the yellow prancing horse badge dominating the centre of the hub. On the left spoke is a big red ‘Start’ button and the right spoke has a red, three-position selector switch – the Granturismo manettino its called, Andrea informs me from the passenger seat, which in the Scaglietti is on the right hand side.
Immediately behind the steering wheel, in the centre of the instrument binnacle is a large tachometer, unmistakable due to the yellow dial face. On the right is the speedometer, calibrated up to 340kph while to the left of the tach is a black display, which lights up on turning the key to first confirm that I’m indeed sitting behind the steering wheel of a Scaglietti 612, and then switches to display information – time, ambient temperature, mode, oil and water temperature, fuel, distance and speed.

Andrea points to the manettino (mah-net-TEE-no) and continues to brief me. The manettino allows the driver to choose the mode he or she wants to be in - Comfort, Sport or CST Off. Comfort is for relaxed travel while Sport firms up the suspension and also alters the engine map for a more spirited drive. Selecting the third option switches off the electronic driving aids i.e. stability and traction control, but that is ideally used on a racing circuit and not a public road, Andrea informs me.

Imola Racing builds widebody Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

As their name suggests, the tuners at Imola Racing specialize in Ferrari modification, and their latest creation demonstrates their art in a particularly dramatic manner. Building on the base of the already excellent Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Imola adds a widebody kit and a range of performance upgrades via parent company the Dimex Automotive Group.
The widebody kit itself is straightforward enough, offering a wider track and room for more wheel - and sticky rubber - to improve handling. In addition to the wider fenders, the company also adds a new front spoiler, rear diffuser and spoiler and custom wide-lip alloy wheels. Inside, the car can be customized as the buyer desires, but this example features a combination of black and red leather, alcantara and aluminum and carbon fiber trim.

Exact details on performance modifications is still lacking, but a claimed boost to 648hp (483kW) puts the widebody 612 into the realm of the Enzo, which is rated at 651hp (485kW) from the factory. The larger size and weight of the Scaglietti means performance is likely to be somewhat less brutal, but is still a significant improvement over the stock 612's 5.7L V12 rating of 540hp (403kW).
For those that would prefer a slightly more restrained custom 612, Ferrari has its One-to-One program.

Amazing Ferrari F430 Spider Scuderia 16M In-Seat Visualization [Ferrari F430 Spider Scuderia 16M]

Since most mere mortals can only imagine what it's like to sit at the carbon fiber helm of the Ferrari F430 Spider Scuderia 16M, this flash visualization provides the next best thing.

Despite pulling out all of our best html potions, we can't work out a way to embed it here on Jalopnik, but if you go over to Ferrari World, you can "sit" in the seat of the exclusive 16M and "look around." They've even dropped little hot spots in to highlight some of the swanky details like an integrated iPod Touch, the F1 style controls on the steering wheel and other such level ten dark wizard magic. We'll just be over there in full screen mode making Italian-accented "vroom vrooooom!" sounds for the next ten minutes. [FerrariWorld]

Electric Oomph: Dodge EV Takes On Performance - Video

The Chrysler Corp.’s answer to the oil consumption issues that spark conversations around America is the new Dodge EV (Electric Vehicle). The new Dodge EV is a derivative of the Lotus Europa. The Dodge EV uses a 268hp electric motor powered by lithium batteries. With this configuration it is said to have a range of 150 to 200 miles and make it from 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds. To charge the batteries it will require a full 4-hour charge from a 220 volt outlet or 8 hours from a standard 110 volt outlet. This is a full electric car comparable to the Tesla Roadster.

Video, images and more info after the jump…

The stunning thing about these new electric powered vehicles is the excellent performance that you get out of the box. Electric motors by nature have instant torque which equates to instant acceleration with no delay as you would get in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine matted to a transmission. We could not help but to post a video of the new Dodge EV taking on its brute big brother, the new Dodge Challenger SRT8. They should have another battle maybe to 100mph… that would be even more exciting don’t you think?

Dodge EV: 360 Degrees [Dodge Ev]

The Dodge EV concept was revealed in a flourish of showmanship directly ahead of the time the not-so-Big Three went before Congress begging for a loan to retool for greener cars, but the LA Auto Show is the first time we're getting a close look at it. The Dodge EV, an all-electric version of the Lotus Europa fitted with a Dodge badge, lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor, is apparently able to hit a 0-to-60 MPH in under five seconds with a range of 150-200 miles. But what does it look like in person? Thanks to a turntable and a steady hand we've got a 360 degree look at the Proton, Lotus, Dodge EV below the jump.

Nice Price Or Crack Pipe: The $25,000 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z?

Yesterday, 68% of voters felt that $129,900 was too much to pay for a 4-year-old lemon-law-buyback Maybach 57, which is doing pretty well according to the harsh standards set by Nice Price Or Crack Pipe. Today we'll be considering a super-low-mileage, near-showroom-condition Dodge Daytona… but we're not talking about the kind of Daytona with the big wing and U-joint-bustin' V8. No, we mean the K-car-based Daytona Turbo Z, which is pretty much the concentrated essence of 1980s style. It's got lots of plastic body parts. It's got the word "Turbo" printed in multiple locations. It's got 142 factory horsepower, and this one's got just 2,021 miles on the clock! That's averages out at fewer than 85 miles per year! The seller has blatantly disregarded eBay car-seller tradition by using correct spelling, grammar, and capitalization, but he or she makes up for it by pointing out the "Star Power" of the car. Worth 25 grand? What do you think?

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dodge Challenger SRT8

Back in September we reviewed the V6-powered Dodge Challenger SE, and our conclusion was that an uninspiring engine and benign handling was trumped by terrific curb appeal and an affordable price tag. The R/T model we reviewed yesterday fared even better, with a near perfect combination of brawn and beauty. It was fun spending time behind the wheel of both the SE and R/T models, but we knew we had to get our hands on a fire-breathing, 425-hp 6.1L HEMI V8 to see how capable the Challenger could be at full tilt. After all, there are few things in life better than classic muscle car looks combined with a brute-force V8. And if there are two available V8 engines, it just makes sense that we'd prefer the Challenger with the most powerful powerplant. Did Dodge hit the mark with its top Challenger? We welcomed the Challenger SRT8 into the Autoblog Garage to find out for ourselves.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8