Would you believe that there’s a connection between owning a carand having to foreclose on your home? A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (read the PDF) found that yes, indeed, there is. At least, a relationship was found in the three areas that the study looked at: San Francisco, CA, Chicago, IL andJacksonville, FL. The correlation wasn’t giant, it does seem that there’s something to the idea of “location-efficient neighborhood design” being good for housing stability.
Location-efficiency is “a measure of the transportation costs in a given area,” and so includes not just car ownership but also if the area has reasonable public transportation. Basically, if an area is a “compact” neighborhood with good bus or rail service – and so having a car is not required – then the foreclosure rate was probably lower. One possibility is that the money saved by not owning your own car (more details here) can mean more money to spend on housing. AsAutopia points out, there could be a lot of other reasons for this connection, but for the car-sharing crowd, this is another reason to think about staying away from owning a vehicle when other options are available.
Would you believe that there’s a connection between owning a carand having to foreclose on your home? A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (read the PDF) found that yes, indeed, there is. At least, a relationship was found in the three areas that the study looked at: San Francisco, CA, Chicago, IL andJacksonville, FL. The correlation wasn’t giant, it does seem that there’s something to the idea of “location-efficient neighborhood design” being good for housing stability.
Location-efficiency is “a measure of the transportation costs in a given area,” and so includes not just car ownership but also if the area has reasonable public transportation. Basically, if an area is a “compact” neighborhood with good bus or rail service – and so having a car is not required – then the foreclosure rate was probably lower. One possibility is that the money saved by not owning your own car (more details here) can mean more money to spend on housing. AsAutopia points out, there could be a lot of other reasons for this connection, but for the car-sharing crowd, this is another reason to think about staying away from owning a vehicle when other options are available.
The Mustang is not just an iconic pony car or a retro-modern throw-back to simpler times. It’s a fan-favorite performance vehicle that has a rabid and enthusiastic base of drivers, tuners andmanufacturers behind it. So news of the return of the ‘5.0′ badge to the front fender of the 2011 Ford Mustang is likely to be met with a roar of approval to most muscle car fans, old and new. Earlier this month at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford unveiled its 2011 Mustang, but only the base V-6 model, which itself has been upgraded with a new 3.7-liter mill churning out 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. At next months 2010 Detroit Auto Show, however, the Blue Oval will pull the wraps off the new V-8powered GT, which will pack a 5.0-liter V-8 with 412 horsepower and 390 pounds-feet of torque on tap–just 14 horsepower shy of the output of the Chevrolet Camaro SS. Furthermore, fuel economy is claimed to be as high as 25 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg in the city for the 6-speed automatic, while the 6-speed manual should return 24 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in the city. Key elements of the new 5.0-liter mill is Fords Ti-VCT cam-torque-actuated variable camshaft timing system and all-aluminum four-valve-per-cylinder engine design, plus specially designed tubular exhaust headers. Other changes for the 2011 Ford Mustang GT include specially tuned electric power steering, 11.5-inch front and 11.8-inch rear vented disc brakes, and an enhanced suspension featuring an improved rear lower control arm and stiffened rear stabilizer bushings For the more hardcore enthusiast, a Brembo brake package with larger rotors and calipers from the Ford ShelbyGT500 Mustang, unique 19-inch wheels and summer performance tires will also be offered. In the handling department, Ford engineers have added an enhanced rear lower control arm to add stiffness and improve powertrain harshness control while also sharpening the handling. A stiffened rear stabilizer bar for better on-center steering is also included. www.youtube.com
Kia Ray concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
There won’t be a lot of action at next week’s Chicago Auto Show, so Kia is trying to amp up the energy level. The highlight of Kia’s Chicago display will be a new plug-in hybrid concept called the Ray. We don’t really know anything else about the car, but we’re guessing it’s based on the same hardware as the Hyundai Blue-Will concept we saw in Detroit a few weeks ago. Until we get to Chicago, you’ll just have to be satisfied with the second teaser image Kia sent out this afternoon.
Right-hand-drive Tesla Roadster – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you consider yourself a right proper gent or madame in Britain or Ireland who has the means and desire to possess a Tesla Roadster, not being able to pop down to the London dealershipand pick one out with right-hand-drive is no longer a reason to put off this pleasurable purchase. As you can see in the photo above, the Lotus-built bodies are now available with the steering wheel located on the appropriate side, and if you happen to be nigh to Knightsbridge, you can take one for a test-drive.
If you are seriously serious about it, we suggest you don’t dawdle. Considering this configuration also allows them to be sold in Japan, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong may mean they’ll all be snapped up sooner than might be suspected. They aren’t going to make them forever, you know, andit may be a long wait before an electric sports car with similar range or performance comes along. Go on, check out the gallery below and tell us what other green machine shines so bright on a cloudy London day. Press release after the break.
