Chevy prices the -- --
More details on living with belief. That -- first drive -- the new VW --
-- Mitsubishi I need electric car.
Places to put the James Bond car museum.
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-- -- --
Hello welcome to the last July 14 at the -- -- your live audio or video -- -- do it here at cnet.com.
Or car tech dot cnet.com for the replay it for show notes Brian -- Wayne Cunningham Antuan Goodwin is out today -- example. He's in Georgia always back a little vacation.
Yet taken allowed time to see family and friends that wasn't kidding when I -- -- drunk.
I think it started last minute isn't -- in Georgia peach whiskey.
Alright so I -- -- this -- back with us next -- go -- and I'll hold this thing -- just -- big story of the week for many people was.
Finally a firm price.
On the Chevy volts which is you know the second coming of GM it's their savior or it's not. 41000. Dollars is the MS RP -- when you first heard this what was -- initial reaction that it didn't surprise me because I'd heard.
You know following the news on the ball like got a -- was gonna be -- there yeah --
They always talk about tax credits to you which is gonna change that equation of the very next thing out of their mouth every time for federal tax credits right so run it down to about -- in the thirties or seven -- and also some other.
Tax -- state tax credits it's -- -- gonna we get down to depending on where you -- interesting story here so forty about a whole -- I thought we torturers going to be around forty authority -- -- they always do 39 and 99 now they want blew right past it to forty ones that -- that's gonna -- major relief need to get that extra thousand. 41000.
7500 dollar is the federal tax credit that you mentioned at the big one.
And that goes to any car that has the sixteen kilowatt hour or larger battery -- this guy --
There's the state tax credit that you mention which interestingly I don't think applies in California at the full 5000 dollar level is this is not be zero emissions car.
And because it's little gas engine generates electricity most of its time if you drive it's a lot.
And therefore it's not a user emissions vehicle in California is getting pretty stringent so I think -- -- -- -- 500 dollars in California.
But not the full 5000 other states might offer for it or that California we'll give you for a Nissan leaf.
-- has better bounty in California Georgia Colorado Illinois a are among the states it will give you some degree of credit on this car.
There's -- -- the federal tax credit also is it is a credit not a -- -- it does completely by down your tax liability dollar for dollar so it takes.
That much right off the amount -- -- first of all the have to -- that much federal tax in the year.
If you don't end up paying seven that -- 500 dollars or more typically when you file your federal return.
This is gonna leave something on the table that you can't get a refund based on that credit which you probably get a port of -- -- 1000 dollar kind of if if you're getting that -- who don't yet.
-- -- --
It's probably just theoretical.
Blood FYI feature gonna they're -- complicated stuff -- your tax -- you're already buying your tax -- down with other other investments in losses and things.
Background it may not do you much good anyway till April again seized -- by the car for 41000.
I the big question is what are they gonna really sell it for the dealers well. Yeah and the -- if you mean a limited supply initially -- -- -- -- and making -- -- and ultimately.
Also I think -- scene is going to be big actor here today -- -- in three and -- dollars a month releases.
-- and I think that's gonna be where they're most cars are gonna go -- Dealer floor that's the accident talking about the -- like you say.
Is this available for sale or just --
-- we'd I'm sure it is available for sale okay.
-- so anyway that's the complicated picture on the price we will see what happens is they rule this out to the firstly there's.
-- a handful of states to get it first California new York New Jersey Connecticut Washington DC. Washington State Michigan and Texas.
The other car became a big electric music by way I would love this came -- because the plug in conference in Silicon Valley.
Is a little more details on the -- not anything quite so concrete.
But.
We hear about this we heard little more about real world -- range and such.
And about what this car you know is really gonna cost to drive. To make is that -- 62 miles range on a cold day with the heat on.
Yeah they've been slowly growing out news I'm only because. It pizzas.
Long term marketing thing and and then but it is very close to being in dealers I guess December December read you an -- route with the -- folks yesterday with -- -- radicalism -- -- to me about that well the price. Impact.
Which is get away and -- comfortable yet 32780. Same 7500 dollar tax credit but in California and some of the states you get a better state credit because it's pure zero emissions of -- and leave you 5000 off.
More mobile -- -- of -- already taking off what does that 125.
Comes off -- just those two credits plus you get hov lane access with -- -- I don't think you do with Apple in California and -- -- -- in California.
And you know cost of charging if you play the game right you're gonna be going -- off peak charging.
Which is a big discount over on peak I think they're talking about.
Third or less of the price of -- gasoline -- that's the estimate of third to a ninth depending on what a utility region you're in and how smart you are about charging.
Only during off --
And we were driving around last night with folks -- on the we -- the car for about an hour aren't -- they're showing us some things on the screen that showed you know.
It will give you an instantaneous read out of the way you're driving how much -- you'll get an I was driving at what it -- would give me 240 miles of range tooling around the city.
I wasn't.
In which stepping but it wasn't exactly crawl that's an order of the specification. It's just forty it would just out of business of they can do that.
But again that's based on a momentary your driving it whatever it was it was like.
I for -- it was ten something and out of the battery having.
Six. -- 24 kilowatt hours in it it projected you can get.
You know hundreds of miles out of -- -- of course and in long term it might not work out.
That together -- shown it journalists to which.
And that's what you think -- between except that that you've you've got extra batteries he has got twice as many batteries oh look programs are doing maybe that was meters not a mile because they have every there's -- in there is wrong.
Anyway with a 11 of the big stories you'll be what real users have when this targets in the market in December -- 171000 pre orders again thirty.
33000 base but knock off 125 with state credits in several states.
And they're gonna -- guy in Oregon which the volt will not and organs one of the states I think gives us five or 6000 dollar credit.
So a lot of this is a money story is much it is a story about cars we'll keep on top of those of course now be one that didn't get much coverage -- -- got snowed by the -- in the -- news.
Is this him Khazei hybrid now what do they do with a price on that -- while they're keep.
And at the same as the standard Lincoln and -- so we're use exactly is it the res two and hybrid comes out that has an equivalent gasoline car.
You pay a premium you pay about 2500 almost in a summons up to 5000 more than -- standard gasoline car.
This then we can just set -- -- forges said that we're gonna price if you wanna buy a link in and Khazei with a 2.5 B six over the same price.
As the Lincoln and -- hybrid with the and I used to point four liter engine with.
The hybrid system on a case of 35180. Hybrids rated at let's see -- it -- a 41 MPG city nice number.
-- -- -- HS by six miles per gallon.
The -- 7500 dollar tax credit doesn't apply to this car it's not advanced technology and up you know hybrids are kind of old school in both the eyes of the -- these days.
And California a lot of other states -- used have very aggressive programs for -- so just FYI.
Hybrids are coming down in -- this is like the first receipt of this.
Pricing parity.
But you're gonna get a lot less support no hov lane access any more for new hybrids in California.
Now that this is the same cars the -- fusion hybrid is well liked a lot he had great current -- -- -- system now playing a power.
-- mileage yeah and I start just.
You know realize that you're gonna get your pennies now from Ford and not much from the government more than -- gonna pay you by this -- -- -- so it's -- the price -- -- -- to -- part of the reason they're -- this.
-- they realize incentives are going away at the municipal level.
Little -- little okay not a hybrid not electric but they sell home by the -- aliens we got a first look at the 2011 Jeddah.
What do you think I -- -- car for an extended drive with the a Volkswagen people a lot of other journalists.
Nice direction to take the Jenna.
-- --
Really improve the cabin and -- I've gotta.
They haven't been that impressed with the VW cabins in the last ten years and -- is great but everything else just feels cuts in.
It's just gonna simple avenues that the -- -- -- a lot better lomb are quality of care they redesigned the cards actually a little bit bigger than the previous Jenna.
Although I think it I actress -- looks a little bit smaller.
It's a very modern design -- size.
More substantial -- to go back to that full -- mention of the gonna get to the side of the three quarter because that's one that I think.
The jet is always sold by being the cute sister of the posts.
Okay the term -- -- chick doesn't come out of nowhere.
Girls love -- I nurture girls don't like this car my girls I mean you know young women who buy a lot of these jet as it looks a little Mormon image to be honest.
Yeah a could be a little more masculine McKean deeper skirts on the side more substantial. Although what I really think his -- -- was a very boring.
That's that's I was gonna play the cute factor -- away yeah -- it looks like every other car on the road in out.
I think they add a they got rid of that the distinctive Volkswagen grill which had a big Chrome surround on the previous version.
There's now uses that animate dual grills separated by the bumper who have back in that is straight up Sonata.
Yeah yeah you could -- -- -- violence and -- that it's a bad thing but it's a lookalike.
It just you know it --
Real and Volkswagen really aggressively wants to get more market share in the US because right now they only have about two and a half percent if they're tiny they're known as a giant brand of people realize that very small US markets here and -- biggest in Europe smallest in the air Berry's home US now.
And as they wanna increase -- -- 10% so they designed to title looks like other cars because they think that will make it more acceptable it just lost the jet at six.
I would -- statement or what they did you know as the base model is gonna be 161000.
That's good that's great that's very good that's that's that's almost you know that's me it's mid Ford Fiesta.
This is their entry level card now 161000 for the -- -- two leader ports owner engines so a huge engine.
You go to the two -- five leader. Five cylinder engine and you more power tonight's motorists out now yeah and that's when I drove I drove with a manual transmission.
Really liked being a transmission it was just easily winning the each deet on smaller motors I always like the manual.
You give each three more out of it that's never changed you know are yet it was -- I had a great time programming not a hugely powerful engine nothing about a diesel coming out I know there is a diesel -- PDI will come out data said by the end of the year.
Andy more interest in there's gonna be hybrid.
In 2000 well okay.
So full range -- 2025.
Diesel and hyper yet that's good -- -- so there there there bolstering there I just got a bad feeling about losing that kind of core I think it's -- cute VW buyer.
You know they're gonna lose the entire marina here in San Francisco to deliver and their business Cisco you know what I mean they just lost -- zip code.
-- -- --
New guard of -- -- -- new car Thursday here 2011 Ford Explorer this is a completely different looking and explore.
Yeah I didn't -- -- -- is actually dribbled out information slowly Imus in the years and I'm actually I would've been excited about the launch except the fact even so secretive about it.
And then last Monday.
They showed off the the the final -- -- areas -- it's actually it says upward the radically redesigned explorer it's no longer a truck based.
-- -- -- --
If you're on -- audio show we can describe it to you to some degree it looks up.
Quite a bit like a Land Rover in the front with a -- the headlights into the offenders and what that looks like a lot of sculpting on the body there's a lot of very broad sculpting but not lots this won't be.
Flame curve stuff like BMW has been doing in the last few years as much more straight line sculpting -- -- -- a real macho look to it I would get high trim one here of course -- north of the take the photos out.
The interior -- been doing this really well.
And of course this Carter's showing my Ford touch because it's coming on just as much for touches hitting the edge -- the -- -- -- -- have the instrument clusters did you base where are.
-- base where you connect to on the side and you can change it to what you wanted to show is the one it also has to give us in our coverage on this it has two controllers on the wheel one for each screen so you got left and right screen alongside the speed --
And a left and right control pad for each of those screens dedicated which is more -- aircraft stuff.
And then the -- screen is a redone central stack and of course this also brings in -- mobile apps and some other good stuff.
Yeah like that Alec look at this -- actually good from the side yeah I think it has presidency because they're gonna have.
-- four liter. Four cylinder turbocharged engines one option really probably the best mileage of any -- Sony eco boost for the -- aren't direct injection and all that.
Britain V6 probably do but I don't think -- -- is gonna be available.
Not popular anymore now now and yet they wanna -- and -- show great fuel economy yet they may lot of talk about this from the a lot of statements -- heard about it is.
This is in the old explore.
This is a new more responsible less conspicuous they really were hammering that home as much as they were talking about the specs -- -- features and they will apparently have good off road capabilities because it has -- that terrain response system.
Very similar to the one you find in the land rovers that big hobby turned to whatever conditions aren't yet set up for mater routes -- Sanders or whatever in the -- System to respond to that and and I put the right in my -- to the wheels and they see it's gonna -- -- of the first avenue curve control which we are pretty much sure is just stability. It yet realize the little that sounds cool but that's another occur all caps looks great restaurants.
Okay -- you go the new cars Audi a seven this one.
I blanked I was thinking -- PA -- -- seven -- to remind me this is a new model below the eight obviously but.
Four door -- is what I'm seeing in here.
Yeah this car actually it has a lot in common with the a eight less in common with a six -- number -- the talks between the two but.
Really it's it's a lot like the -- it's a -- -- the aspect design has a lot of the same technology is is in the -- --
They and they -- actually pioneer in some new cool stuff in there like gas they're sending the GPS speed or GPS data will go to the headlights in the transmission in the cruise control.
So if you're a part of the car will know when you're approaching a corner.
And oh yeah VA has started offer that right it'll -- the headlights -- -- the corner because it knows that there's a corner coming up irrespective of how you're turning the wheel.
That's a trip and that's okay that's cool I couldn't go wanted to GPS data is accurate.
Let the manager we -- doing this you know like like Marty Feldman you know -- over the place -- on straight.
Previously was a look at the -- three quarter here is that the other view we don't have this one -- large but.
That's the more controversial and the front looks you know like -- -- saudis in the front in the rear it's like okay what what what what's going on here.
I'm seeing a trunk not a hatch rights.
Actually they're the pats on the back causing it to port you can do the -- or lift the whole hatch up.
Yeah and this is castle -- and we see in this trend in a lot of luxury cars Aston Martin repeat portion pan am air yeah.
You know there's a number of cars coming up and have this kind of look in the ideas it's more practical you can put more.
Cargo back there when you're driving what looks like a -- instead of Adobe look and select data part of the part -- designed to you it's like -- I'm -- now I'm Brad and I expect that's -- as opposed to a big old -- -- and that -- -- like we've seen on the I think the BMW five green -- -- -- has the of the whole little lift up or you can just live truck with the -- -- that yeah.
It's just easier access to the whole thing is you know it's going to be heavy thing to move up and analysts motorized -- is an option.
So -- this guy is some what's the prognosis on this coming to market soon. Yet they showed that apparently lasted for about a giant prime -- -- to concept or something that's where but yes and this is the official version they just launched.
-- has had. You -- Ford engine choices two diesels you gasoline -- six's.
I think it's gonna come out in Europe very -- they announced a European Christ.
I'm not sure of the US launch I'm sure there is gonna be a version here area with fewer engines -- -- a problem always the case may be gasoline -- be and -- diesel.
And that your whole get a good look at at the Paris show which is and of September the end of September he had been in October we all over there -- -- -- have lots of full details and maybe some US plans will be announced there if like in which -- see if you're watching her video version.
Or like what you hear let's talk about luxury McCarthy and into the guts of the cars now Denzel was a big company that makes a lot of head units in cars especially for -- --
They're not known so much as they mark as electronics brand in the US -- -- not at all.
They are more so -- in Asia but anyway they have just done a deal across deal with Microsoft.
Where they are going to pay Microsoft a license fee to get some patents from Microsoft.
-- -- -- index navigation but they're also going to license back some -- patents over to Microsoft.
We're talking about this yesterday and it's interesting how these guys are.
Kind of going in partnership and kind of going off alone because they're not joining just about everybody else.
In the that the Genovese the -- -- Genevieve -- of the hell they call that consortium is trying to get together and share one automotive platforms.
That's at the dvd alliances TV you have a bunch of back our companies and and electronics suppliers.
Intel even some big names and come up -- -- -- to work on this infotainment standardize entertainment system.
And their very -- Unix based you know they're looking at the open platform open source you have ideas carmakers are -- -- -- they would like.
A standard platform to a degree is to speed -- roll out of new -- and lower their cost but they don't want to be so open that it's the same as everyone else -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Appearing through Denzel -- in Toyota and Lexus cars.
And lots of folks to get there snickering Microsoft -- the -- -- sync is Microsoft has been a home run it's very stable runs very well.
Blue and me on alpha isn't the arts in Europe as Microsoft and you'll -- Kia and Hyundai.
Is Microsoft so it's -- Microsoft's trying to make a lot of alliances and this might be.
You know.
The next big hit for them they have had a big hit since the Xbox to be on next.
Zune went nowhere their phones are a must that is a good late this year going nowhere you know it's been a long dry spell for them to really crack a new business and kinda -- it.
And -- least lining up like they might have a run at that what do you think it's good enough.
But Microsoft in dad's looking up on map. This one is called me at the last minute we've been talking about kits to put iPad -- cars.
Scotia which is a company that makes one of those -- showing -- video that a video of it before but a class action lawsuit went up this week.
Say that the -- -- is virtually unusable if you use it in the sun.
Or have any kind of direct sunlight or even a warm outdoors day because it heats up and does its own thermal shut down.
-- northern California -- doesn't get that iPod ever and I've not had that happen.
I had read the screen go almost invisible I was using it in the sun wants.
Having you know having lunch outdoors was sensible glare or was that was like it got really low contrast almost -- -- -- -- that -- thermal shut down or what I got kind of -- I turned it off.
The -- out of adjusted contrast based on light as well.
But the speech you go right it's possible it's like you would think this agreement on the like nothing's I think I might have one of these thermal shut down in his lawsuit says.
It's they're trying to class action on it saying and I pads don't work in conditions like.
Under your -- she gonna get lots that he on all the time from the sun.
Which is an interesting impact on these companies that are developing iPad market -- saying we've had no problems yet.
The folks that are you're complaining saying well. If you were on the air conditioning keep out of -- -- -- gonna have an iPad shut down so -- that while -- Europe there.
-- remake your own iPad car kit.
-- we know our audience you'll get this done before anybody else will.
That might be us temperature sensitive product is this going to be the next -- -- and a rusty and this actually reflect rid -- it is it true or not.
Going the other way keeping -- cool.
You know a long time ago they moved from -- -- in cars and in most -- conditioning to -- 134 which is a whole lot more environmentally friendly.
A lot of folks converted their car packs some state laws -- -- required that you do that deepening public was being sold -- resold.
Now they've got the next refrigerator has been a long time you had a new one.
It has the M -- notable name of HFO 1234. --
This has been developed by Honeywell -- companies and the idea is that unlike.
Current 134 which lingers out there and does nasty stuff to the ozone layer I believe.
For years this only last in the wild for 411 days so even if they escaped a refrigeration system it dissipates pretty quickly and really reduces the risk of refrigerate harming the environment that's the big push here.
It's going to be coming out on some GM Carson 2013. Accident.
Chevy Buick GMC cadillacs. Apparently -- all have this a chip -- 1234 Y apt name.
And that eleven days next compared to thirteen years and how long it is yes that's basically forever the previous canyon so this is a dramatic and huge -- -- huge numbers of all only or all for that of the first things that I can in my mind is okay wedeman is some lawmakers some -- gonna say let's mandate everybody -- part of a certain age.
Retrofit to this.
Snooped around in -- and found a really good article on this at of all places an auto parts site but.
This is an exhaustive right up by someone who obviously knows -- -- systems well and they indicate that no it's performed very expensive this new coolant.
It's. Ten times or more the cost so that's gonna be a cost -- General Motors to step one guy.
And to retrofitted its pretty much in compatible with every part of your current cooling systems so.
That gives lots of good pushed back gamble against any lawmakers units and what's required personal old cars so.
I think all of us were driving older cars are going to be okay on that but.
And -- -- just a cartridge change -- more than that it sounds like feared the stuff that's in there is gonna completely screw with the parts of -- current system I -- get this -- sheet and now.
It's that this search dash auto parts dot com which I'd never heard of it sounds like one of those are areas.
This guy here who is writing about this I don't know exactly where he's from.
But he indicates here retrofit know the SAE society of automotive engineers is not recommending retrofitting older systems to HFO.
For obvious reasons first the safety issue of adding this gas to a system it's not designed --
Second the oils that lubricate current cooling systems are not compatible with -- in any amount it would -- reliability and safety issues.
And third the cost of the -- would make such a conversion a poor choice for consumers and forth he says most --
I can barely handle 134 retro -- let -- the stuff which apparently.
There's a lot trickier to work with any says the cost here -- -- 134 -- ten dollars -- -- this stuff -- hundred dollars.
So it's ten times the price now able to immediately use this is a marketing hook when they -- -- continuity well you know of it -- -- -- work well this tip because unless your cooling system blows up this is gonna escape.
The cooling systems are really reliable they don't leak and seat might be used to be -- recharged all the time.
-- the W recharged very often don't need to.
Now let's go let's go for a flight. I hate slash love this story.
We talked about the terror -- -- the flying car these people.
Refused to give up.
Well that's what it's a flying cars though.
They've unveiled their newest design we have a good piece here from Caroline McCarthy up on her cutting edge blog so there's the new that'll -- -- -- -- from the incredible.
There's the terror fugitive flying car -- -- -- shot of this this is their newest design.
-- hear from you guys this coming week on email and voicemail.
If flying cars make.
Any sense to you whatsoever. And we talked about. We talked about lot of things -- a lot of people going AM radio.
But. You have Richard on the -- pull this one up here's what this -- looks like -- driving it looks to me what the world's worst. Camping experience when you fold -- the wings.
And you got what the -- dragon behind you will look will now dual routers. Is a dual routers this -- hideous horrible at that.
And what looks like I don't know it does -- room -- her car in front.
It looks kinda like it's like --
-- an airplane with an airplane cabin mid folded up its -- it doesn't fool anybody and you got your brain out or -- -- it aborted landing gear and everything.
So what that's the terror fugitive is the newest look so practicality you have about twenty miles out -- him to -- yeah when of these wired -- though buyback on the I can't imagine skip that traffic on the bridge they never gonna happen at that.
To their it is the candidates lying on the -- -- -- CNET there are about to land it doesn't even -- did. You know the wings -- I think it -- complain it's it's -- -- pusher -- in the back -- wondering -- the -- behind the -- there obviously would run driver on a -- and running on the street.
Dragon and everything well I don't get -- will stay on top of this one -- with a mobile will prove -- goofy speaking of goofy.
You know I love this -- the James Bond vehicle museum I didn't know this is even happening.
-- of the -- foundation has a lot of you'll bond -- in the movies but they're opening a museum.
There's a nice rendering we have been here good -- but apparently that building from the sky is a seven like -- -- double O seven logo so that's cool.
And and the glass they're also forms -- -- as you can see with the double those.
They have a bunch of cars but not like the original Aston Martin -- don't have that they got a bunch of like second second tier cars like.
The Aston Martin from living daylights people -- to.
And they've got the red mustang from diamonds are forever and that's surrendering they do not have the DB five they got me going there for minute.
But they're gonna put this museum. In where is this town it's in moments. Illinois.
South of Chicago. -- I'd never heard it.
Never heard of it don't know why they would do it James Bond museum in Illinois and opening -- Illinois home.
Suddenly gets moments -- that's what's pronouncement let's see here's the map with go to Google map.
Let's see here's moments I've got that on the screen that's in the middle of nowhere.
Let's cut about ten blocks and streets as far as like Intel yep that's the town you can spit across it -- -- a partisan Chicago's zooming out.
Zooming out.
-- -- --
That it is that there -- -- there it is it's actually. It's a long way -- there it is right there.
I mean the drive to -- is about as far as I'd be willing to go which is you know wanna get about an hour and a half by the Chicago -- -- Chicago and split.
That's another hour -- I think.
And moments though I hear they're trying to build up the town of moments of a satellite there's -- satellite shot at.
Beautiful place the -- -- airplanes apparently in this as an aircraft in this museum as well. Those are the -- of one from unlock the -- probably others in a Lockheed Martin and gold finger over the -- -- and it as impressive -- bomber from thunder ball that's very graphical that would be neat that's immigrants now you have an excuse to go.
-- -- and I'm -- moments like.
Now they can of course we have the rickshaw from octopus he so they're reaching -- most -- the -- Mondale FF up at NASA right now.
-- is correct one of those.
-- go to a museum to see that I like those Lotus submarine -- not that school yes it does is it had a list here.
The C the CD three -- -- run from -- arise only button -- Caroline Munro.
The can worth truck from license to kill that abomination. Some motorcycle from gold mine and remember.
On the speed -- one of the speed boats from the moment and the board Monday.
Nice at this video lot of broken up stuff here meter did you movie cars what you see him in real life -- in a few of these missed all broken and their -- they've been you know have been tossed around doing stunts -- -- not.
Not that glamorous -- kind of killed the magic to be honest but.
If you wanna go to the public -- by the way Google says an hour and eleven minutes -- -- close okay theories Gary's on as far as I thought.
-- my apologies to this is -- in our Chicago listeners.
Or unfortunately Gary's on as far from you as I thought well it's I think is got to the between Chicago and Gary -- -- -- -- -- -- right now okay.
Let's go to -- emails and voicemails now this one comes in on the email to -- attack at cnet.com this is from.
Chris he says vivid GMC envoy did -- -- it's been good to us so far restaurant have some problems though.
He doesn't see what year it is we've met Peterson looking to a new car he likes the room in that excelled and -- three rows of seats -- -- room in the back to big dogs he has.
What would you suggest for a similar type SUV -- better gas mileage good reliability.
We wanna have good tech we do not need rear seat entertainment. We do not want a -- --
What are our options. He says escalade made even --
-- media -- We send this guy too well I kind of went.
Away from the standard as -- B -- because.
Suvs are -- passe and and yeah break we don't get a -- -- make over.
We don't get a lot of them here either in the in CNET deck garage. Much the ones we do get -- -- luxury models.
But I suggested. One possibility.
And it's a little polarizing the Ford Flex I liked the flat Alex flex two apparently there is you know static.
Kind of retro 1950s look via iTunes and iTunes. Here's the flex here give -- his --
Below a loose long sort of a deal here we got a little video that runs on it -- -- the stuff so this'll show you.
If you're watching the video version its low it's very straight lines -- stylized like Wayne says what kind of -- retro look to it but this is three rows right Amber's her have a lot of room in line and lot of room left -- right tip Ansonia three rows -- seat seven and there.
It says yeah lot of cargo room you can get with the eco boost motors -- call yeah that's a great -- -- power trio I love that injured in that platform in the Lincoln also.
-- and really move the current get decent mileage now the problem here is of course is if Chris here's -- -- and boy.
He might be stuck in that you know need to big SUV look and thing.
You there is more rumored full size SUV especially vertically -- -- taller roofs.
Although this you know one thing about the bikes -- and it's closer to the ground Nanette traditionalists UV.
Which makes access he's year.
Yeah it's a much more livable vehicle -- 1724. Is the MBG on this guy I believe that's of the eco was motor.
Pricing pricing -- just a basic rights here on -- a limited which is a good.
They get the limited in -- identically start from around -- be high very high one means.
Probably go all the way up to. You know just about forty -- -- in options and and whatnot you know let's see here S limited is gonna -- --
It's 49 is the least -- for Nancy's the right and then up to 38 is your base for a limited.
Which -- believe includes the eco -- -- eco boost is more on top of that 44. For a limited with the eco boost.
If you went mid grade got -- SCO with the eco boost forty.
We're looking at a 40000. And a little more vehicle and but cheaper than an ethical which is that -- marks mentioned and the other -- is in my wanna point and back to that that explore that we talked about are out there when explore comes out that.
Could very well be a possibility that the three row it's got some of the DNA of the flax.
Macs be coming out soon as I believe that at some point eleven models yeah they can wait forever and it's gonna be in showrooms by the end of year are at this -- ideas come Norma for whatever reason there are those -- dropped out -- head let's take a look at the next -- we've got here the best. -- is a -- we actually got from one of our listeners last week we -- a guy with a CE OK 63.
Who wanted to add more entertainment options to it.
And that's a Mercedes -- Unita want to take that out it's gotta most boss which is the technology they use to connect in the car.
And Mac it's in -- Barbara help the sounds that you know the best company.
To upgrade a modern Mercedes -- neck and head unit for Bluetooth an iPod and all that.
Would be from -- rich.
Thank you -- the factory unit is fiber optic and most -- based so swapping to after market would be a bit expensive not to mention I don't think it would make me kick at the moment.
So we went over and looked at this company -- -- you're up you wanna go there we got a Mercedes -- you wanna add some more modern stuff to its mobile -- -- so what's MO.
Bridge INC.
Dot com and you'll find they have a lot of stuff particularly for German cars because that's I think the most who use the most bus as opposed to that can bust.
Which -- the other big -- so many stupid they're BMW.
So Mercedes Audi -- BMW good source to go from our tickets and as you can see they have they can add Bluetooth iPod and -- Bluetooth iPod and --
XM radio or on -- canvas -- -- advocate for Bluetooth alone so a nice focused concentrated set of stuff.
For yeah for for you guys there which actually hopes is that what our next voicemail which is a question about upgrading an Audi Q seven a scan this one --
Any Mike I recently but it seven -- seventy point six days.
It doesn't have any -- options but just for single CD -- and they have -- -- actual public to let Canada PD.
Ever have an aux Jack Black iPod adapter I just wanna know I can -- my iPod in the --
I don't wanna mess with them on my system and it's -- -- the controls more than just thought -- system. Okay.
So you know our listen to this -- thing women know -- yeah I'd.
-- and I think the card comes standard -- it doesn't it check your review.
And I don't entity called it the discarded box that okay apnea a 2007 that -- just like the last or in the world that didn't have an aux Jack.
Yeah -- did you ever -- your shocked by that the review.
And and so there it is like below last.
Pricey -- also in the world that didn't have an aux Jack at surprising the out of the Apple put in an image here of the interior so -- take a look at what he's got going here because this is a vehicle that it nice car.
You don't wanna screw with the Nationalists who really -- doing the best shot we have of it you're one of our video viewers is right there Mitch.
In the policies which is the -- of the -- that might use this like to make it bigger.
Which that idea anyway that's it's a very very customized -- again go to -- bridge on this -- they have a -- we found the company we just talked about.
It's called the 82010 but don't be confused not just between -- and that will -- -- 2006. To 2009. Q seven.
-- MMI head -- like you've got an Apple -- iPod and aux.
If you wanna add Bluetooth they have another kit that will also add the streaming Bluetooth and the Bluetooth hands -- completion of Bluetooth hands free already in that car.
This -- -- allow you to add streaming Bluetooth.
And iPod in --
And -- a price on that which you -- gonna wanna have that installed to be honest.
So you can get that price down by your local mobile shop in the nice thing about these companies -- that makes specialty equipment for.
Now he's union and we do more expensive European cars is usually they'll have the look will also match the interior yeah -- -- that that this brings it up in the MMI interface and repopulates a new choices on the screen that looks -- factory at the nice thing about I don't get the cheap part.
But is gonna break the bank either let's go to wasting come we had about electric cars this one comes in from --
So what the guy's name your eyes as that is what's your latest show number 178 you mention -- electric Z then Nissan might make it's gonna speculative.
He says well I'm forty got electric city.
Well turns out he is part of a group.
Of some mechanics or he is the guy who makes electric disease and he's an operation Z dot net will pull this up and take a look here so here's a shot.
Of what looks like a 280 Z.
That he's got an electric -- bunch of batteries under the front hood.
Right there.
And he's got electric motor right over the front.
Axle line the keys on front wheel drive with this that's kind of -- but -- like the idea of electric electric got 280 -- that's pretty cool it's writing real high.
-- -- at all that's not pretty at probable that way to the front would be download via to reach boring.
Com but there yeah aces -- you can do records the already we've -- -- -- my automotive repair shop here in north rich operations Z they did it back in 2006. What is up.
Famous. -- car I think it's called the ghost or something like that at the Dotson old. Datsun 210 I think that's cool yeah they've got that would batteries and they win dragster races all the time you hit.
-- love it.
I'll love it oh dear readers more pictures of injured is it is plugged in -- -- -- -- of that there.
And -- go right into the existing fuel port -- here in the back is reports more battery you know -- global battery so it's a home -- -- -- -- -- -- authority got.
And electric disease of their -- on your -- something else.
Let's see HD radio the coming from Larry -- -- the big benefit of HD radio -- the sound we're gonna scratching our heads of HD radio last week and week -- that chip it's the metadata.
The stuff you can stream along with the two muscular who are talking -- The fact that NPR's gonna do HD radio.
Four people who can't hear they'll be able to see a constant full text read out of what's being broadcast on a screen in the car.
And -- there were taught that metadata being pretty robust.
All agree that metadata is the big thing -- he radio it is for that project -- are doing but most people I think the most impressed by.
The -- better fidelity.
And the other stations that stations can offer right and there's also as a radio -- RTS already Samsung yeah meta data through this does -- and as there was much bandwidth but -- -- how badly stations -- that already -- the into the song titles wrong there are they gonna do it any better with -- -- metadata exactly because they -- put effort into it and they haven't -- minority yes it's been out for 1015 years RTS was a total -- that there -- radio stations totally.
Blue that they don't most of them don't use it use it well when it is run their radio station name all the time think I know that.
So yeah I'm not sure of metadata is the big idea but I here -- coming from where.
We talked about -- last week if they're a good idea to save gas you can put too much wear on parts it's not worth it TV rights in from Melbourne Australia said.
You know -- today.
Some cars at least have an automatic fuel shut off so when -- decelerating your coasting they're already gonna cut off the gas and you don't need to do a bunch of aggressive down shifts to try and save well first of all break -- but to try and reduce the car's speed.
In some way that you may think is saving gas and -- if it does anyway.
But some cars hapless not a ton.
Yeah Ford it was one of Ford's new out port as much a little technologies -- -- the -- fuel like electronic powers during. You a little things here and there that just a little bit each banana and add.
And yeah I don't know what other companies -- employment sports certainly use you know talked about the slot I thought Honda did on their cars that have its partial cylinder the activation and -- there'd -- six -- that have that I'm not sure but it's not -- -- -- right on the US -- is different -- in Australia and now what I don't understand about this is a taker put optics -- -- coasting.
It shuts off the fuel if you objectors -- shut down -- excellent and so at a regional level this pumping laws already opened the valves two on those I and -- does actually -- because I was pretty huge compression all right thanks much of friction the engine as possible okay.
But -- compression braking which can be jarring I like to have that compression braking which when he opened the valves.
Yet none it is is freeware apps I use the brakes -- that that -- the particular.
But the problem here of course it is what I don't understand actually is so out as the engine keep running -- and of gas.
Because obviously you wanna be able yes he's gas pedal and it's a distillery fire that's all I can think is that you know the engines are able to -- far -- directors of a split second restart the spark I mean that's the nature of the electronic engines today.
That's why auto stop at red lights work so well usually --
Yeah when it works what.
So I guess and the engines that still turning debate when you're coasting is an easy hot really -- easy -- -- -- -- -- and and the engine being -- is still small part of that because let's -- to the world with technology it got today on engine.
Fire is a lot more -- article one excellent okay let's move on now. And by the way keep the calls -- the voice calls coming in the emails good stuff this week it's our -- at cnet.com.
And the phone number is 866401. -- at 866401.
263.
Eight are on the road segment this week is one that you can't buy yet so don't get too excited about this car but that's why it's cool.
Really cutting edge stuff we got from Mitsubishi they sent us and -- me.
-- stands for Mitsubishi in real electric vehicle.
And this is their way to go after the -- directly the volt sort.
Tesla slightly it's their entry in this really hot sector let's go check out the I mean as women and -- -- on the road.
-- -- -- -- -- --
I -- prototype small electric car and it is really small.
And I gotta say that.
You're in the normal driving -- but I'm driving.
Yeah but has.
This is I guess.
From their Japanese market so the the steering wheels on the right hand side instead of the traditional laughs it's a little bit of a sneak peek of what will be getting when the car actually come to America and it.
Not exactly everything's been sorted out this being an electric car means that the engine doesn't really -- much more than a little bit of work.
You get some some wind noise little the road noise but for the most part it's.
Especially when -- -- really low speeds. Almost deceptively silent.
As the Japanese -- are actually looking at right now our range of sixty kilometers.
And -- we started out.
A couple of enemy expects fifteen minutes -- that -- one -- for you to be really.
Easy on the throttle to to keep that arranged or to actually reached via the range this -- can I can achieve.
There's also interest -- instead of a thing to open them fuel filler cap and -- -- available tab there.
Plastic get do you -- -- down here that's -- plug on it.
Matt opens up a slot for -- the plug.
And this is new FZ. -- -- 1770. To use -- plugged it.
Not only puts juice -- -- the battery.
Monitors charge leveling and does have a smart charging. Style.
Yeah if you look in there they're like a lot of difference that's connectors go -- guy and on the other end in our case -- will be charging over regular 110120. Bull.
Outlived its gonna take about twelve hours.
To get a full charge.
Yeah because we only have seven miles range on this thing it officially and that's gonna change of course -- bad handwriting style.
So. Dad but it isn't it it's -- to -- -- -- -- -- interest in -- -- in and around there's.
The suspension is its its economy cars styles a little bit.
Property are they're like we're --
I do like it actually I enjoyed driving that car -- -- an interesting couple whole life that that well the problem with its current course it's nowhere near the final thing that we will see this is right.
Not even a first take on this car because.
It do do US version is gonna be -- a little bit wider.
-- -- will go back yeah and and it's -- had no cabin tech of course it was just something in that you know -- division is really trying to get out in front of this electric car thing and and because they're gonna be a year and change late right you know they're they're commuting to me sounds of it.
You -- units like a card to play around to talk about.
But it's nowhere near US production version yet it's a very small it's -- it's very narrow body or they're gonna be -- for the US does that.
It was just weird to seat on the street well it's a wider track it's honestly a wider -- it's still based on EM to the CI card.
-- which is what this is they make it as a gas caucus 600 CC gas -- thing in Japan.
Additionally charged yet and I I didn't have to -- I got home with -- final 40% left on the battery charge --
But I thought on charges that works -- we won ten cable that came with that I don't have to twenty outlet did not back to -- point.
So looked around found -- 110 outlet evidence -- the breaker aren't I guess is we'll go lot of stuff on it found another one by the -- snap.
I didn't happen right away waited like ten minutes before they hit the for the load built up which means over the -- cycles it's hard to draw more and draw more and -- -- battery.
And -- -- breaker -- said well that's the stereo in the living room.
Read to you recent lot of clocks that -- microwaves. You know the Rogue code now bridge everything kept going out and realize what you know what you need to put this thing on almost a bare naked fifteen amp circuit.
Which most homes don't have.
Things are distributed across your different circuits those breakers are powering lots of different things so.
You need to find what circuit in your house are you gonna kind of dedicate to charging the -- -- and not put anything else on it was my experience.
So you're -- you're you're about twenty miles away for adolescents wanna get hands emirates has commit an almost equal mix of hills and flat freeway in -- -- -- test yet how do you think you could have driven back and forth every day I think I would have had your recharged every like.
222 and a half days if I didn't do anything but -- that's not bad actually not bad but -- -- have both found the thing disagree with itself the battery gauge how much charge -- has left.
Was kind of optimistic for me.
And the range of driving left said I don't know we've only got like old forty kilometers when the battery gauge that you've got 80%.
-- in the united misses again.
I don't know much to rely and that's because this is a new wave pre production a Japanese current Colin metric -- I am drives kilometers yeah -- --
We we gotta convert that but it's still -- with the ratios were way off this -- supposed to have a 130 kilometer full charge ring which is about a hundred miles point 62 major factor to convert.
So never showed that in any way shape or form after -- fully charged it overnight -- showed eighty kilometers range.
I -- site actually -- -- -- looking around that lets you do a radius map on on Google Maps like the -- has built it.
Red tide and a forty mile radius around certain downtown area San Francisco element in good bars it gets you to New York -- it exactly.
Forty miles is pretty far in within -- metro area and forty miles should be you know Daryn back.
And in their promises for yeah if they've been really holds up -- -- that's.
840 miles eighty miles totally use optimistic you know he gets doctor. It's a perfectly good regional -- and it's this is it does exactly what GM is gonna hammer and say that's the -- you gotta worry about get a -- drive cross country if you want.
Right army and -- to worry about -- the gas stations.
Now what I like about I need a lot driving around town is well for one thing.
Mean Sam -- -- seven miles by seven miles so I never saw that go any further you get wet I never saw the battery level go below --
Right and driving around town is because as a city car -- I'm.
Have plenty of room in these lanes.
I'm no good you're given up about a foot compared anything else oh yeah I mean suvs are kind of right at the white line just like Khamenei to not even getting the line music exactly and you'll find parking spaces so easy -- I discourage short.
If it's short but it's it's bigger than us that us that a smart people looking and it's like.
Thirty or forty inches longer than a smart which -- in -- much taken it to people's -- of my -- at -- but still.
For people and it that's more than you used to more than two with asthma are exactly and there's actually some cargo area to -- cargo -- in the back about two feet deep by three feet high groceries the engine of the motor the controller.
And the little -- speed reduction gearbox and the output shafts at the rear wheel drive or motor parts all of the back underneath the cargo -- so -- kind of high.
More on the rear cargo bay which takes some of the space away but not that did you have this experience that would I was driving and up until instruments the skin.
And had to really push down on accelerator get you know to get up there.
Did you smell like an ozone kind of that's never a good side I had -- -- I would said that featured AM evening at BCI know.
Baghdad -- temporary weird sort of smell like the batteries discharging las inhabitants. -- -- comes with the territory.
Political we have here that's why they feel discards different cities -- we will punish a car with the older -- McCain for that.
What I did find his or three -- positions there's the drive there's -- and there's beat.
Drive gives you full power and discuss standard recharge.
When you read when your coast your breaking eco really restrains -- -- -- power you're really hammered parent and it gives you maximum recharge.
And then break -- mix I like that when the best he gives you full access to the power.
But also high regeneration so it has a lot to drag when you lift off right now does have that regeneration and -- I don't think this car has true.
A regenerative braking.
Oh it's just coast right and I noticed when has -- -- -- -- the retired or charging mode yeah but hitting the brakes didn't affect that and -- interest and I noticed that no matter what is I have some very long -- on my drive.
You never seem to add to the battery all you do is gonna keep it from going lower but I never saw the bars go up which you do on hybrids.
That's your -- on the range --
Uninteresting but that's predicted rain -- yet not actual Jews -- the battery so much of -- -- -- add.
Net power back into its battery which -- -- can just keep from using it when your region maybe that was just our experience but.
It's not -- market until what late 2011 yet next year leader yet point eleven and the limits and as he told me.
The US -- is gonna be snazzy here I was as please don't do that --
Guys we senior cards at that don't do snazzy got a couple of cars and a whole lot that are like Microsoft. We don't rule -- -- style from you get that from Apple.
We just need you to do a good solid car and don't -- -- and now please our -- -- -- -- in the CNET car tech.
Garage.
Shelby GT 500 review is.
Pretty fresh if you haven't seen it go check it out we have a lot of with a car and we also have just close to the Ford Fiesta of death -- -- -- went up this week great.
That's what a nice little color yes nice little car and with a lot to say about that the -- going up shortly and -- review is up and it's getting it on their hands in -- -- drive in the BM WZ 435.
I answer SI. I guess I test which is why my face is -- -- because I was driving that with the top down -- -- you -- look.
I got this nice and we have another retractable hard to -- in right now the Miata --
These are retractable hardtop with that -- face.
What is that that's the face from the Chevron cards -- -- -- now.
-- the hat on meet the baseball after the baseball hat and a good -- to make an editor and go away.
And coming in next we're gonna have the outlander GT speaking -- -- of and we're also have 740 -- we have -- 750s. -- -- ms. Newsom forty is actually -- and -- -- a smaller engine in the sentence here it's like to see that that's the inline six Trudeau -- it's okay that's interesting -- nice blend of big car with not to -- -- a motor.
So lottery cars are coming in that's our show for today thanks for joining us you know the email works -- -- at cnet.com.
Give us a call your thoughts questions comments for the show 866401. CNET. Show notes and feeds and all that.
Podcast up -- tech dot cnet.com. And follow me away were on Twitter Wayne is wait and see underscore SF.
And I'm Brian Cooley BR -- NC OO LEY we'll see you next week.
