BURBANK, CA—(Marketwire - November 17, 2007) - Neil Young will be interviewed on CNN's "American Morning" on Monday, November 19th. Young, in the middle of a North American tour, went to Wichita, Kansas to meet with John Goodwin, who is converting Young's 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV convertible to run on biodiesel and electricity. Young and Goodwin describe the new fuel-efficient life of the car and how it holds exciting possibilities for the future.

Neil Young is directing a movie about the experience, including the drive from Northern California to Kansas to deliver the vehicle. Titled "Linc-Volt," the film is scheduled for a 2008 release. Once the conversion is complete, Young will drive the Lincoln from Wichita to Detroit for meetings with the auto industry, and then return to Kansas to retrace the route back to Northern California, raising awareness of the feasibility of hybrid-powered cars within the mainstream consciousness. He describes the Lincoln's new form and function as the embodiment of "classic Americana from then, meeting the Americana from now." The Linc-Volt is expected to achieve up to 100 miles per gallon on the highway.

"American Morning" airs on the CNN television network 6-9 a.m. EST. Neil Young's interview will also be featured on www.cnn.com.[MarketWire h/t Tina Chow]

Our source, who we'll just call Deep Pelvis, hipped us that Lovecraft Biofuels is going nationwide. Details are sketchy, 'cause Deep Pelvis cares as much about cars as OJ does about finding the real killer. But here's what we know for certain; "They're opening up ten stores, one in Seattle, and Portland... uh, Houston. I'll tell you the rest tomorrow." Following that bombshell we learned, "The chick that opened up all the American Apparel stores — she's putting it all together." And there you have it. So, if you happen to live in one of the three cities mentioned (or, like, Chicago, possibly) dust off that M-B 300D Wagon filled with all your old high school junk that's rotting away peacefully in your folks' garage and covert it to run on french fry grease. Why the hell not? And yes, that's Donita Sparks from L7 and her Lovecraft Biofuel conversion. No, she's not Deep Pelvis. Remember Jalopniks, you read it here first. – Jonny LIeberman

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[Jay Leno's EcoJet Gallery]

Turbine-Powered EcoJet Concept Began With Meeting, Sketches On A Napkin

Jay Leno, GM Advanced Design Studio Collaborated on 650-Horsepower Supercar That Runs on Bio-Diesel

LAS VEGAS - What would keep a group of automotive designers up all night? "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, for starters, but not by his monologue or parade of Hollywood guests. This time it's because the late-night talk show host invited the General Motors Advanced Design Studio to help design a mid-engine, turbine-powered supercar called EcoJet. Leno and Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design, introduced the car today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show.

EcoJet's genesis goes back to a discussion between Leno, an avid car enthusiast and collector, and Bernard Juchli, the chief mechanic and caretaker of Leno's collection. Leno then turned to Welburn for design direction.

"A couple of paper napkins later, Ed had begun to capture the essence of the car," said Leno. "I've admired the work of GM's Design Studio in North Hollywood, Calif., and asked Ed if the studio's director, Frank Saucedo, and his guys could continue the design study,"

Welburn agreed, and a two-week sketching frenzy commenced as GM's designers began working after-hours with Leno's team on the project.

"EcoJet's esthetics were driven by aeronautical and jet-age influences," said Welburn. "It's a purpose-driven design that conveys power, capability and even danger, with a hint of Cadillac's sophisticated design vocabulary."

Borrowing design cues from jet aircraft and Formula One racecars, the supercar began to take shape under the watchful eyes of Leno and Welburn. A concurrent engineering program defined the vehicle's proportions and mechanics.

Leno relied on Juchli and the entire Big Dog team at his garage to turn the EcoJet vision into a reality.

"We thought we pushed the creative envelope with the '66 twin turbo Toronado project with GM, but this turbine-powered monster is a whole new level of complexity," said Juchli, who constructed the car at Leno's facility.

The 650-horsepower (400 lb.-ft. of torque) Leno original is powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The engine sits in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The vehicle's shell is an advanced construction of carbon fiber over Kevlar.

EcoJet project partners

* GM Advanced Design Studio, North Hollywood, Calif. - conceptual and build design, engineering, digital design and fabrication support
* Alcoa - chassis and wheel engineering
* Metalcrafters - body engineering and construction
* Honeywell - engine supplier
* Intermountain Turbine - engine builders
* Dana - chassis supplier
* BASF - paint and finishing supplies
* GE Plastics - Lexan windows
* Viper Technologies - wheel construction

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world's leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

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