truth about domestics

General Motors is working on a new heads up display technology that could be a real game changer.  It would allow engineers to display lines on the entire windshield to help point out things like road signs, pedestrians and even the lines on the edge of the road in low light or foggy conditions.  The video above gives a demonstration of how it works, look for this technology sometime in the next 5-10 years.

Ford Motor Company has another great story to tell about its One Ford transformation plan.  This chapter talks about the 2011 Mustang V6.  The 3.7L V6 will produce 305 horsepower while returning 31 mpg on the highway when equipped with an automatic.  This makes the 2011 Mustang V6 the first car to ever produce more than 300 hp and hit 30 mpg + in EPA testing.  Think about it, the first time ever a car has hit 300 + hp and 30 + mpg.  Kudos to the Mustang team for showing people that performance and fuel efficiency can go hand in hand.  It may not be as frugal as the boring and very homely Toyota Prius, but it wasn’t designed to be.  For the full press release, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Ford)

Wish you could drive a fully electric vehicle but don’t want to stick out among the regular gas vehicles around you?  Well Advanced Mechanical Products (AMP) has a solution for you!  Their first products were the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice.  Aren’t those vehicles GM products you might ask?  Of course they are, but AMP converts them into completely electric vehicles.  Now AMP has announced their newest product, a Chevrolet Equinox electric conversion.  The Equinox will have a top speed of 90 miles per hour and a range of around 150 miles.  The cost of the conversion?  Around $50,000 before tax credits.  For more details, head on over to AutoblogGreen.

(Image source: GM)

That’s right folks!  Ford Motor Company, and its SYNC system have done it again.  Not only does a new Ford pack more connectivity software and hardware than most of Mercedes lineup, but there are 1.5 million Ford vehicles on the road that agree with Fast Company magazine.  What did Fast Company have to say about Ford?  Well, they named Ford as one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Mobile Technology Companies for 2010.  All this before their next generation, MyFord Touch debuts this summer on the 2011 Ford Edge.  For more details, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Ford)

That’s right folks.  The Olympics may be in Canada this year, but the three Canadian-made electric Zambonis were not up to the task of caring for the 2010 Winter Games’ surfaces.  All three machines succumbed to mechanical and electrical issues, causing major delays to the games.  Finally, to avoid further embarassement, the Candians brought in a CNG powered Zamboni from California-based Zamboni.  For more details, head on over to Jalopnik.

(Image source: bcenergyblog.com)

According to Tony Posawatz, GM vehicle executive, the first Chevrolet Volts will not be E85 capable.  While this may not seem like a big issue, I feel that this is a poor decision on GM’s part.  They have been one of the biggest proponents of E85 capability and production, even going so far as to invest in a start-up that claims it can make E85 from switch grass.  To not include E85 capability initially on the Volt seems to me like a mistake.  The Volt has a chance to be one of (if not the most) fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles on the planet.  Adding E85 capability would have shown that the General cared even more about future technologies. 

The good news here is that it will be available later in 2011.  GM also says it would like more help from the government to push for more E85 stations.  Right now GM spends about $100 million a year to add E85 capability to its cars and trucks.  More stations might help encourage people to purchase E85 equipped vehicles.  For more details, head on over to GM-Volt.com.

What makes the newest NASA Mars rover, “Curiosity” so advanced?  Well how about the fact that it’s nuclear powered!  This rover is roughly the size of a Mini Cooper and weighs in just under 1 ton.  It is expected to be touching down on the martian surface in 2013.  For more details, head on over to Jalopnik!

At the Chicago Auto Show, General Motors decided to put up an exhibit to try and explain direct injection to people in terms they could easily understand.  They had a clear engine built so that you could see the different events of an engine taking place!  For more great photos, head on over to Autoblog!

(Image source: Autoblog)

These three “Drive One” ads from Ford show American Idol Kris Allen talking about the Ford Fusion hybrid and its SYNC technology!

Check out Ford NASCAR driver Carl Edwards as he talks about the Ford Fusion hybrid!