You Can’t See the Forest. . .

Sometimes, we’re all too close to what we know and consequently don’t look beyond our own issues.  Or said another way: Those of us in the auto industry are, at this point in time, really concerned with what has been happening and what may happen.

Which lead me to look elsewhere, to see what is going on in other fields.  And it may be encouraging—perhaps in a slightly twisted way, but encouraging nonetheless—to know that auto isn’t the only industry in this mess.  What’s more, it is, compared to others, actually in good shape.  Not fit, perhaps, but at least getting stronger.

Although you are looking at this on a screen, as you undoubtedly know, Automotive Design and Production magazine is still one of those things that is ink-on-paper.  So let me say up front that I rather like paper. – Read More

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track

2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe AWD

2009 Mazda6i Touring Sedan

2009 Volkswagen Passat CC Luxury

2009 Mercedes C63 AMG

Driven Archives

Northern Exposure
Although the U.S. now has the “Cash for Clunkers” program in place, a.k.a., the Car Allowance Rebate System (check the acronym), the Canadians have far better names for their programs. Among them are “Retire Your Ride” and “Bye Bye Beaters.” – Read More

Brad Pitt Joins Russian Police Force
Officials in Omsk, Serbia, have come up with an ingenious way to force people to slow down in their municipality: they are using cardboard cutouts of actor Brad Pitt dressed as a police officer and positioning him at key speeding sites in the city. – Read More

Stupid Criminal #3,487
An attempted armed car theft turned into a successful arrest when an Illinois woman forced the robber to follow her to the local sheriff’s office. The woman was at a traffic light when the man pointed a gun at her and demanded her car. She bolted and called 911. – Read More

Flags For the Taking
Police in Lemoyne, PA, are trying to combat a rise in complaints of near-collisions with pedestrians at one busy intersection by distributing orange safety flags to crossers. The town has placed two bins at each side of the intersection, one for people to pick up the flags and another to deposit them after they cross. – Read More

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut. . .
Although there are various biodiesel fuels being concocted—everything from something offered by Willie Nelson (we have a notion of what plant is used for that—at least the stems) to people who essentially go dumpster diving behind fast-food joints—Evonik Degussa has come up with a new biodiesel source: nuts. – Read More

Upcoming Industry Events:

Management Briefing Seminars
Aug 4-7

CompositesWorld Expo
Sept 28-30

Greenbacks for Going Green
“So unnecessary.” That’s how a colleague summed up the consuming industry/political angst late last year, as GM and Chrysler sweated a decision from then-President George W. Bush on whether to bail them out, at least for the first time. Weeks earlier, the feds had approved $25-billion in low-interest loans for OEMs to retool plants to build ...Read More