Microsoft and Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt is doing some great integration work with Microsoft.

Users will be able to take a virtual test drive through Kinect Joy Ride, Microsoft's controller-free racing game. The game works with Microsoft's forthcoming motion-control gaming hardware, the Kinect.

It's pretty slick stuff and good to see Volt doing innovative marketing efforts.

And the beat goes on with MINI vs. Porsche

We're loving the MINI vs. Porsche effort. Don't really know what to call it. Challenge? Stunt? Either way it's got the Mini fans crazy (guess they were before?) and has to attract a few Boxter fans to peek at the MINI or perhaps even some GTI or other more direct competitors. The track for the race has been posted and it looks as good as it can be for MINI except that there are a couple straightaways that are going to trouble and maybe spell doom.

If you read the fine print on the track details MINI just published you'll see that the cars are starting out facing in the opposite direction and will race for one lap. First one around wins. They will race 4 times.

We're hoping it's close. Just like we always root for 7 game series in the Finals. I'd wager it being closer than expected with Porsche edging them out by a bit each time.

Since MINI gets significantly better mileage we've got to be rooting for them.

Free Charging Stations for Volts

News today that the first 4,400 Chevy Volt owners will be eligible to receive the much faster 240-volt home-charging stations . Every owner receives the basic 120-volt speed cable but the 240-volt will drastically improve charging time.

Some nice incentive to buy early.

The MINI vs. Porsche Toy Story

MINI is using a toy set to attract journalists to their big showdown race at Road Atlanta on June 21st. This clever little toy set is being sent to invitees (how come we didn't get one?).

Nice!

GM gets its Leaf-ON

GM making a splash in China. More sales in China than US?

Also, how do they get away with calling the car the Leaf? figure Nissan owns that.

Regardless you'd have to say GM looks pretty good in this case.

The map of the race

Here's the Road Atlanta track where Mini challenged Porsche to race. Plenty of esses as they say. will examine as we get closer where they'll probably race. those far turns look good but how does Mini avoid getting into the straightaways with Porsche?

MINI barks at Porsche

The Rumble on the Racetrack

If you haven't seen the news about mini taking on porsche it's worth a look. David vs. Goliath? Terrier barking at Mountain Lion. Buster Douglas v. Tyson. All apt comparisons. marketing stunt extraordinaire most likely.

anyway, i like seeing Auto companies taking risks with a sense of humor. Particularly since we went through GM Chrysler fiascos and more recently Toyota troubles. Frankly I miss Mini and VW and the others doing more interesting ads etc.

Check out the thing on Facebook at facebook.com/usa and in particular watch the video of the head of Mini USA challenge Dieter (sp?) of Porsche to the race. Very funny stuff:

The Launches

In 2010 we're looking a variety of new options for people. Some in the electric category like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, some in the ultra-high mileage category like the Chevy Cruz, and then a variety of new hybrid models including a high-end model coming out from Lexus in the next year.

How are we going to judge what our best choice is? It will have to be based on situation. Some combination of how far do you drive every day. How much is price important to you relative to gas savings or environmental concerns. How much do you care about styling vs. economy or fun!

I chose a MINI because I thought mileage was important. I live in the city and don't drive much so I didn't think I needed to get the absolute most fuel efficient vehicle on the market regardless of styling (I wanted to have some fun) and I wanted to be able to park where others couldn't.

If you don't care about styling or have different driving habits then Prius might be a good choice, or the VW Diesel or the new Chevy Cruz. We're going to craft some kind of tool that helps people evaluate.

BP and the green car choice

We were already headed toward a green car world before the BP oil spill but I can only hope that out of this disaster that people never make a choice that unnecessarily causes us to use more gasoline than we need. Without getting preachy this blog is an attempt to talk through the amazing choices we're going to have in autos in the coming months and years.



I'm a MINI cooper driver and love it more than I can say. But we also have a couple of electric/hybrid options coming out this year from Nissan, Chevy and of course perennial favorite of the bay area: The Prius. It's going to be a great year with lots of choices and I'm going to tackle some of the technical sides of the choices we have to sift through. Hope you enjoy.