From the "We wants it" File
ORIGINAL(?) BATCYCLE FOR SALE ON EBAY

Per Autoblog, A motorcycle and sidecar that just could be the Batcycle from the 1966 Batman movie, driven by the one true Batman, Adam West, is for sale on eBay. The buy-it-now price is under $30,000! If I had $30,000, this puppy would be in my garage right now, and my car would be left in the cold.

My image of Batman withstood finding out that under the bat-fairing, the Batcycle is a little 250-cc Yamaha. (Yes, Batman rides a riceburner.)

Youtube Video of the Day:
Drew Carey & the Batmobile

The G-rated fantasy of every middle-aged man: owning the Batmobile. (Is this clip really 12 years old?)

Getting Clunkers off the Road - Oklahoma Style

The US Congress came up with its nearly useless CARS cash-for-clunkers program, designed to help auto sales by getting old junk heaps off the road. As it turns out, for years, Oklahoma has had a better idea, the Oklahoma Full Auto Shoot and Trade Show,or OFASTS. Here's a clip from Attack of the Show via G4TV.com via Autoblog.com. (For some reason, it wouldn't embed, sorry.)

GiMpy12 - Minivan Highway

"I'm not worthy"

Rumors that Toyota will License the Prius to GM




There are rumors (and denials) that GM and Toyota are working out a deal for GM to sell a version of the Toyota Prius. Keep in mind, as of yet there is no DEAL, much less a product. Though the 2010 Prius is on the road, it could be a couple years before a GM-sourced version would hit the road even if the two companies came to terms this summer. If they come to terms, I wouldn't be too surprised if a substantial government order sealed the deal.

It may be a long time (if ever) before we find out the inside deal with the Toyota/GM discussions. It would be sad if Toyota offered to let GM build a Prius but GM turned down the offer to concentrate on the Volt. The Volt has some potential, but it will cost twice what the Prius does. The Prius sells enough units to be a solid fixture in the top-10 list of all car models. The Volt will be a niche product at best.

No New NUMMI for GM
California Joint Venture goes to "Old GM"

Per Autoblog, GM's NUMMI Joint venture with Toyota will be assigned to the "old GM", that is, the group of operations that won't survive the bankruptcy. Apparently GM couldn't find a product to build in the plant in Fremont, California. (You know, "the city by the bay", "the city that never sleeps.") The plant built the Pontiac Vibe, that was just reworked for 2009. Being a Pontiac, the Vibe was destined to be cast upon the dung heap of history even though Chevrolet has nothing comparable to sell.

IF we can't have new NUMMI, we'll have to settle for new Numma. Sorry.

Keyboard Cat - You Just Got PONED

Meet Keyboard Otter.



(Youtube via Matrixsynth)

If You Think the World is Blowing Up Around You
Just Remember . . .



Cool guys don't look at explosions.

$1.92 Million Verdict for Sharing 24 Songs

From the Associated Press - A jury in Minnesota ruled that a Brainard woman, Jammie Thomas-Russert must pay $1.92 million for sharing 24 songs on Kazaa. That's $80,000 per song. Get this, it was her second trial. An earlier federal jury said she only had to pay $224,000 - a bargain, really.

The RIAA, realizing that this kind of case can cut both ways from a public relations standpoint, mentioned that she had the opportunity to settle for $3,000 to $5,000. Isn't that nice? (We have had people call in who have been sued or have been targeted for suit in similar download cases. They generally get similar offers. They freak out when the realization hits that they might actually have to pay that much.)

What cracks me up is that you can listen to just about any song you want on Youtube, and the record companies don't do squat about Youtube. Why? Because Google owns Youtube, and Google has more money than you-know-who. Secondly, Youtube-Google hides behind the Digital Millennium Copyright Act which says that a forum provider can hide behind ignorance as long as they take things down when asked by the copyright owner. Youtube is worth more than the entire US auto industry right now, and it exists now on the model of charging nothing for content that it doesn't pay for. A technical Businessweek article on the economics of Youtube is linked here.

Anyway, I'm sure this video of the opening theme to the movie Fargo was posted with the owner's permission. After all, Youtube requires it. Go buy or rent the movie or soundtrack, so they don't get mad at me for embedding the link.

Details on Prospective ChrysFiatsco Models
US Plants will See no C-Evo Platform until 2012

IHS Global Insight has laid out a product/production timeline for post-Fiat aquisition Chysler models. If this information is accurate, prospects for robust US-based auto production don't look good through 2012 and counting. The first thing to point out is that it looks like Chrysler Group dealers will have no new sheet metal until Early 2011 at best. (The only possible exception that I see is the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a model that isn't mentioned at all in this report.)

The first new Fiat-based models will be Fiat Panda (to be branded a Jeep) and the Fiat 500 (to be branded a Fiat), and these models will be built in Toluca, Mexico beginning July, 2011. Chrysler expects these models to account for more than 50,000 units per year between them. A picture of the Fiat Panda is above right. I'm not sure Jeep loyalists will go for this.

Roughly the same time, production is to begin, also in Toluca, for the replacement for the current-generation Dodge Journey. More controversial, the current Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring are currently built in the United States. The replacement for these cars will be built in Toluca starting July 2011.

If you are looking for new Chrysler product built in the United States, according to this plan, you'll be waiting at least three years. Global Insight lists three current Chrysler plants that will be retooled to build vehicles off of Fiat's new C-EVO platform. The C-EVO platform is currently being used for the stylish Alfa Romeo 149. See picture


Specifically, Belvidiere Illinois, Jefferson Avenue, and Toledo (North?). From this product plan, I could not see any potentially high-volume vehicles slated for assembly in the United States.

(Panda photo via fiat.com, alpha romeo 149 photo via Eurocarblog.com)