Tag Archives: automobiles

The New Jersey Advance reports: A bipartisan collection of legislators introduced a bill Monday called the “Motorist Fueling Choice and Convenience Act,” which would allow stations in New Jersey to have self-service pumps and end its status as the only state left in America where self-serve gasoline is illegal statewide. It comes at a time when gas station owners say …

The Associated Press reports: The new year will bring new charges for some owners of electric vehicles, as an increasing number of states seek to plug in to fresh revenue sources to offset forgone gas taxes. In Hawaii, the charge will be $50. In Kansas, $100. In Alabama and Ohio, $200. For the first time, a majority of U.S. states …

Many of the most expensive luxury cars have failed a new crash test sponsored by the Insurance Institute. The new test examines the results of front-corner crashes, one of the most common angles of crashes in two-way traffic. Most midsize luxury cars — including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class — performed poorly in a new frontal crash test developed by the Insurance …

After a year-long contest to pick a replacement for the discontinued Ford Crown Victoria, New York City has selected a boring-ass Nissan minivan as its new “taxi of tomorrow.” Passed over was the much cooler futuristic entry from Turkey’s Karsan, which had pledged to manufacture its taxis in Brooklyn. Nissan now gets a ten-year exclusive contract to provide taxis to …

According to a study of stolen cars, painting your ride pink is more effective than just about any theft-deterrent system. “A study in the Netherlands illustrates car thieves’ preferences. From 2004-2008, the most commonly colored vehicle stolen was black. This may be because black vehicles look more luxurious. Following close behind black were gray/silver automobiles. Of the 109 pink cars …

When you invite a bunch of journalists to witness your new automatic collision prevention braking system, you should probably have the bugs worked out first.

And man, is it ugly. Is it a car? Is it a plane? Actually, it’s both. The first flying car, equally at home in the sky or on the road, is scheduled to take to the air next month. If it survives its first test flight, the Terrafugia Transition, which can transform itself from a two-seater car to a plane …

The auto industry bailout fell apart late last night. A bailout-weary Congress killed a $14 billion package to aid struggling U.S. automakers Thursday night after a partisan dispute over union wage cuts derailed a last-ditch effort to revive the emergency aid before year’s end. Republicans, breaking sharply with President George W. Bush as his term draws to a close, refused …

Has Ford once again capitulated to the demands of the wingnuts? The American Family Association is claiming that Ford has bowed to their boycott. From WingNutDaily: In the face of plummeting car sales, Ford Motor Company has taken steps to reduce its aggressive pro-homosexual policies, thus prompting a family-rights group to call off its boycott of the carmaker. …AFA Chairman …

According to the wingnuts, The Gays are responsible for current woes of Ford Motor Company. Maybe Ford Motor Company management can be forgiven for not taking seriously the American Family Association (AFA’s) call for its members to boycott the automaker in May 2005. The conservative Christian group launched the crusade against the second-largest U.S. automaker for giving money to gay …

The Smart Car finally goes on sale in U.S. dealerships in a few weeks. Father Tony has had the convertible model on order for months, he plans on using it to zip between the gay bars of Hells Kitchen and the East Village, I imagine. Designed by Mercedes, it seems the perfect vehicle for Manhattan, but I’m not sure I’d …

Gay consumer site GayWheels.com has posted its latest list of the top ten vehicles searched on their site, where the Toyota Yaris continues to reign at #1. 1. Toyota Yaris2. Saab 9-3 (sedan and convertible)3. Mazda MX-54. Volkswagen Jetta5. VW EOS6. Dodge Caliber7. Toyota Camry8. Audi A39. VW Rabbit10. Infiniti FX The Yaris? Really?

Today’s NY Times has a feature story about automotive marketers’ attempts to reach out to gay consumers and the perception in the market that some cars are “gayer” than others. Old news to us gay folks, of course, who have always known that the Mazda Miata, for example, is just about as gay as gay can be. Sadly, there is …