When new hybrids from Ford and Honda roll into showrooms this spring, drivers will find flashy dashboards that turn hypermiling into a videogame. Ford and Honda's next-gen instrument clusters feature trees (a vine in Ford's case) that grow more lush as drivers learn to hypermile the fine art of maximizing fuel economy. Leaves grow like crabgrass in springtime if you use a light touch on the accelerator and go easy on the brakes. Drive like Jimmie Johnson and they'll wither faster than General Motors stock. The idea, says Honda VP Dan Bonawitz, is "to help drivers improve their efficient driving skills by making the hybrid experience more fun and rewarding." It's easy to dismiss the LCD displays as gimmicks and some have but we're going see more of them. Auto designers, academics and industry watchers say it won't be long before everyone's offering green gauges in an effort to make us all greener drivers. Some automakers are even thinking about using emerging technology in in-car internet development to let people compare stats and compile "top score" leader boards to make green driving a social activity. "That kind of eye candy has huge appeal to consumers," says Eric Noble, president of The Car Lab, an auto industry consulting firm. "They'll provide huge amounts of information regarding fuel economy. There already are prototypes that are 3-D." With demand for fuel-sipping cars rising and consumers more aware of the impact they have on the environment, automakers see a chance to help drivers use less fuel. Small changes in driving style eliminating sudden acceleration, say, or minimizing the time spent idling can have a huge impact on fuel efficiency. And nothing will make you ease up on the gas like seeing exactly how much gas you're sucking down, so automakers are creating easy-to-use interfaces to teach leadfoots good hypermiling habits. With a glance, green gauges will offer everything from real-time driving economy to instant feedback on your driving style. They're a big step forward from the rudimentary fuel-efficiency gauges that Toyota's "eco-drive" updated a few years ago, and they're more engaging than the basic display found in the Prius. Ford and Honda are leading the green gadget charge in America, and Nissan offers a similar system only in Japan. Honda's display is part of the Ecological Drive Assist System featured in the Insight Hybrid that goes on sale in April. Eco Assist includes a driver-activated "econ mode" that adjusts the transmission and engine to deliver maximum fuel economy, and the background lighting of the speedometer changes from blue to green as driving efficiency increases. Ford's version is called SmartGauge with EcoGuide. It debuts in the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids available this spring. SmartGauge tells you everything from the amount of gas in the tank to the temperature of the coolant in the radiator, while EcoGuide tracks real-time fuel economy and keeps a running tally on your efficiency.  read more »

Executives from Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors are traveling to Washington, D.C., this week to appeal to lawmakers for federal assistance. On their last visit, the Detroit execs were chastised for indulging in corporate jets each in their ownwhile appealing for billions in tax-payer-funded assistance. to avoid repeating that public relations gaffe, these power brokers are driving to the Capitol. The auto industry is behind them, literally, with representatives from all 50 states heading to Washington to show their support Friday.  read more »

 read more »

The rapid rise in gas prices has caused many consumers to shift from buying large gas-guzzling SUVs to more fuel-efficient small cars. And this shift in the marketplace has forced the auto industry to drastic changes in realigning their model mix, reallocating production capacity, and adjusting future model plans. While consumers want instant relief to the economic challenges they face, the auto industry is grappling with production cycles measured in years, not months. Automakers are doing what they can, with many making bold moves to address the rapidly changing car market. Many companies are scrambling to move forward to create more compact cars, while others who already have a number of fuel-efficient vehicles are trying to keep up with the demand.  read more »

Kirk Kerkorian's automotive industry representative Jerry York has told Automotive News that he believes Ford should offload its Volvo and Mercury brands but hang on to Lincoln.

Clearly, our impending/new/ongoing recession is having an impact on the automotive industry (just ask GM and their $38 billion disappearing act). Consumers are having to ask questions they didn't have to ask in the carefree 1990's. And while small manufacturers like Maserati can aim for the extremely affluent profiting on our economic troubles, it's not as easy for others. Or is it?  read more »