Monday, January 12, 2009

So the auto show starts next week


2010 New Shelby Mustang
Originally uploaded by stevenjude
which means that this week is full of people trying to grab the attention of the press with big announcements, lame stunts and women squeezed into jumpsuits (the politically correct bikini)

Went to the Ford event yesterday. Lots of talk about hybrids (the make a lot) about plug-in hybrids (they're about to make a lot) and about battery electric vehicles. Or BEVs as they're known.

Now there's something about BEV that makes me think busty barmaid. Maybe it's a Bev Callard Coronation Street thing - but I can't think BEV without thinking - probably a bit of a tart. Which would be great for a big white van.

"I'm taking the BEV down the boozer, Shirley"

"Try not to kill another of the twins in the driveway as you come back"

"Will do dahhhhrrrr-lin"

Seems to me that as we get to HEV. P-HEV and BEV cars in addition to PZEVs and ZEVs that we're in need of some new propulsion language.

Any suggestions?


FRIGIDITY WATCH : This week we can look forward to a HIGH temperature of -14c. GMTFOH!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Based on GM's "worst case scenario" that they came out with today*, I'm going with one of the following:

BAV: Bailout-Assisted Vehicle.

BEV: Bullshit-Engined Vehicle. "If the taxpayers can see their way clear to reaching a little deeper in their pockets, we might actually come up with a car that people want to drive."

NUV: Non-Union Vehicle. One made by people who realise that the UAW is the biggest bunch of shysters since the chap who sold London Bridge and who, for reasons best known to Ron Gettlefinger, are intent on driving the US auto industry into the shitpile where it can join every other carmaker that got screwed by militant unions who forgot that Job #1 is protecting the workers, not making usurious pay and benefit demands on the company that employs them. British Leyland, anyone?

CHAV: Clapped-out Hydrogen-Assisted Vehicle. Only available in Burberry colour-scheme, with hoodie-storage an optional extra.

* for those who missed this little gem from Fred "Fritz" Henderson - General Motors Corp.'s chief operating officer wouldn't say Monday whether GM will need all $18 billion in government loans it sought from Congress, but he said GM's worst-case scenario would require more than the $13.4 billion already allocated by the Treasury Department.
Now, call me a cynic, but perhaps Fritzy-boy might want to consider putting his hand in his pocket to help out his company. According to Forbes, Henderson's take-home last year was a cool $7.6m, including more than $1m in "Non-equity incentive plan compensation". Incentive to do what, exactly? Bilk me and Steve out of even more cash?
You know what they say, if you give a mouse a cookie...

Oh look, I've filled the comments section up again :D
Sorry Steve - this bailout thing really gets on my nipples. Get your arse to NYC and I'll make it up to you ;)