Ponderings of a Scientist

Three comments:

1. A recent study found that some Honda and Toyota vehicles produced in the U.S. have more U.S. made parts in them than traditional American Companies, Ford, GM, and Daimler-Chrysler (not really American any more, but included in the article).

2. I hate car companies that try to appeal to both environmentally minded consumers and those wanting big, powerful, prestigous SUVs and trucks. This is one reason I chose a Honda hybrid over a Toyota hybrid; Honda makes more small cars and while they do have big cars those cars are more fuel efficient and less in number than the big Toyotas.

Recently I saw a commercial for Chevy vehicles that I found really funny, because Chevy can’t even dedicate a whole commercial to it’s environmentally conscious campaign. The first 20 seconds are spent trying to convince you that Chevy’s big cars get better fuel efficiency than you would expect and that many use 4 cylinder engines to do so. Then they say this, ” Four cylinders for fuel efficiency or eight cylinders for power….” What, were they afraid they would lose their big powerful truck desiring consumers if they didn’t remind us all that they make overpowered gas guzzlers? Come on! If they want to make large cars (which they say they only make because the market demands it and if the market wanted small cars they would make them) just do it, don’t try to pretend to be environmentally friendly too.

3. Speaking of environmentally friendly cars I’m intrigued by the Fit and Yaris. My only question is why does my Civic Hybrid get better gas mileage? You would think the hybrid technology could be place in any car at this point and why make a tiny car and try to sell it as fuel efficient and good for the environment while not makeing if available with an alternative technology option (hybrid, biodiesel, flex-fuel)?