Ms. Peters' drivers combined earn about $128,000 per year; at $64,000 apiece, that's not too shabby work if you can get it. We still wonder why she needs two, though — perhaps it's a perk of being Transportation Secretary? On the other hand, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt employs a driver who earns about $90,000 a year. Add to that the cost of fuel, maintenance, and the purchase cost of what is almost certainly a black Suburban, and Mr. Leavitt is costing us about $150,000 per year for driving support staff for a glorified ribbon-cutter. Well, why shouldn't we — what with all the outstanding health and human services we get here. [Detroit News; Photo Credit: Toypost UK]

Included in the bill, at the behest of Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, is an additional $250 million for advanced battery funding, which seems to be the sexy thing to fund these days. On the opposite side of the presidential horse-race fence, Senator John McCain (R-Everybody's Friend) is backing large tax credits for consumers purchasing economical cars and an X-Prize-like $300-million contest for much-improved batteries. We just want this long national nightmare of endless election "news" to be over. One hundred and one days left. [Freep]

Donate that old Jalopy to charity
Seeing old cars go is sometimes a heart wrenching experience. You babied that old Dodge Monaco through thick and thin, and she did you right, but it's time for the relationship to end. Instead of going through the hassle of listing it in the want ads and inspecting potential buyers to make sure they'll take good care of her, why not just donate it to charity? It is after all just a car, and if you let them haul it away you'll get to claim 100% of the auction value the charity receives on the car against your taxes — if it goes for more than $500. Okay, so maybe half a grand isn't a lot and you can't use this one unless you exceed the standard deduction, but every little bit helps.

Buy a hybrid
In the zeal to encourage the population to buy into a technology both unproven and dubiously implemented for fuel economy, the Federal government offers a tax credit to those who buy hybrid cars like the Ford Escape. The credit varies based on number of manufacturers vehicles on the road and fuel economy so choose wisely.

Buy the opposite of a hybrid - a giant truck
Despite changes to the law in 2004, the tax break for businesses that purchase pickups with a GVW over 6000 lbs still exists, as well as the break for buyers of expensive SUVs. The only catch is the maxiumum value can't exceed $100k and the first year deduction has been reduced from almost 100% to somewhere around 75%, pity. Regardless, if you're a small business owner trying to make the balance sheet read zero, here's a good way to have your cake and eat it too.

Use your car for work - and claim it
If you're work sees you driving your personal car frequently, you can deduct a raft of expenses not covered by your employer. Mileage is normally reimbursed by the employer, but if it isn't that can be deducted, as well as a portion of maintenance, and upkeep.

Depreciate it as an asset
If you own a small business, you can claim your car as a business asset. Of course, this is subject to usage rules under the 179 exemption of 50% or greater usage for work, but as an asset, a car has a depreciation schedule just like anything else in a business. The only trick is to define the useful life of the vehicle properly so you don't end up with a rattly bucket of bolts you have to hang on to for tax purposes.

Unfortunately, to take advantage of those big breaks you'd have to complete transactions by December 31st of last year. Still, mileage and wear and tear deductions can be used — if you've kept you're receipts that is.
Read more at: WWLaw, GooGoBits, IRS.gov

*Always consult with a licensed tax professional. We're not licensed tax professionals. We're automotive journalists. We know you get confused.

"I can say 100 percent that Toyota received absolutely no support — no money, no grants — from the Japanese government for the development of the Prius..."

The early predictions show that the cameras in Dallas will fall $4.1 million short of the revenue goal of $14.8 million for the 2007-08 fiscal year.

So, does this mean that people aren't running enough red lights to justify these costly purchases? Or does this mean that having the cameras there deters individuals from running red lights? I'm leaning towards the latter but it seems Dallas intends to leave up the non-functional cameras at the busy intersections, so that will shed some light on the matter soon. [DMN]

These new lanes are for the millions of drivers who can't be bothered with speed limits, turn signal use, or not careening madly out into oncoming traffic. Whether hell-bent on putting themselves and everyone around them in danger or just drunk off their gourds and out for a simple joyride, America's reckless will no longer be forced to putter along with careful, conscientious, considerate citizens.

Rather than having a groundbreaking ceremony with a ribbon cutting, Peters sped through the first lane in a rusted 1984 Chevy Cavalier while holding coffee and slapping around her daughter in the backseat.

The lanes will be shaped like a bowl to keep drunk, asleep or make-up applying drivers steady in the lane. Click on over to see the full story. [The Onion]

That's right, you know — the common folk who drive "Band G" cars with CO2 emissions of 226 g/km or above — drivers of "everyman" cars like the Porsche Cayman S, 911 Carrera Coupe, 911 Targa 4, and — oh bloody hell — every car Porsche makes. OK, we're tweaking Porsche a bit, especially because somehow we feel like those who've bought a Porsche can probably afford the new charge. But we agree with Porsche — this type of legislation that only causes a minor reduction in CO2 emissions does more to stymie real efforts than encourage them by causing bureaucrats to spend more time defending their actions than making real changes. Example A would be the response from the Mayor's office — which we've helpfully included along with the Porsche judicial challenge below. (Hat tip to Kyle and Stoatmaster!)

PORSCHE PRESS RELEASE:

Porsche announces intention to start judicial review process against Mayor and Transport for London over unjust 3000% congestion charge increase

Porsche Cars Great Britain has announced its intention to make an application for judicial review of the proposed extension in the London congestion charge, which will see the cost of driving some cars in the capital rise from £8.00 a day, or just 80p if they are residents in the congestion zone, to £25.00 a day.

Porsche believes the proposed increase in the congestion charge for Band G cars is unfair, that the increase - 3025% for Central London residents - is 'disproportionate' and that it will do nothing to achieve the stated aim of decreasing emissions in central London.

Commenting on the Porsche action, Andy Goss, Managing Director of Porsche Cars GB, said, "A massive congestion charge increase is quite simply unjust. Thousands of car owners driving a huge range of cars will be hit by a disproportionate tax which is clear will have a very limited effect on CO2 emissions."

Porsche will be writing to the Mayor this week. The Mayor will then have 14 days to respond to Porsche. If the Mayor fails to respond to Porsche's letter or refuses to reconsider his plans, Porsche intends formally to submit its application for judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice summary of the judicial review process is given in a separate document to accompany this release).

Mr Goss added, "Not only is this rise completely unfair to many drivers, but it will also damage London based-businesses of all sizes, and successful people from across the world will start to think twice about basing themselves here if they think they are going to be used as cash cows for City Hall. The proposed increase will be bad for London as a whole and will send out the signal that it is not serious about establishing itself as the best place in the world to do business."

Statement on Porsche challenge to CO2 charge
19-2-2008 112
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "Porsche's threatened legal action is a double attack on Londoners. First Porsche are trying to deprive Londoners of their democratic right to decide in the Mayoral election on 1 May whether they want gas guzzling and polluting cars to drive in London when there is absolutely no need for them to do so. Second they are trying to impose on all Londoners unnecessary levels of pollution and greenhouse gases by a tiny minority. No one is allowed to throw their rubbish in the street and Porsche should not be allowed to impose gas guzzling polluting cars on Londoners who do not want them."

President's SOTU Remarks Relating To The Automotive Industry:

To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Our security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil. Last year, I asked you to pass legislation to reduce oil consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together we should take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power. Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride. The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more efficient technology.

To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, the Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge. So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth.

"We worked very closely with the states in terms of developing a plan that I think will be inexpensive, reasonable to implement and produce the results," he said. "This is a win-win. As long as people use driver's licenses to identify themselves for whatever reason there's no reason for those licenses to be easily counterfeited or tampered with."

—The traditional driver's license photograph would be taken at the beginning of the application instead of the end so that should someone be rejected for failure to prove identity and citizenship, the applicant's photo would be kept on file and checked in the future if that person attempted to con the system again.

—The cards will have three layers of security measures but will not contain microchips as some had expected. States will be able to choose from a menu which security measures they will put in their cards.

Part or the original ordinance required the city to place visible signs stating that talking on the phone while driving is illegal and the city has yet to do so, but has continued to ticket people, including Chris Yarusso, Horwitz's client.

Apparently, everything traffic-wise must be legal in Illinois, unless a sign says otherwise. So, go nuts! [CrunchGear] (Image)

Now, being Detroiters, we know that Mexican Town, home of marvelous authentic Mexican food, is but a few hundred feet from the bridge crossing, offering far superior fare to the suburban mediocrity of Mexican Fiesta which is over ten miles away. So, one must naturally question the border patrol on their choice of fare to begin with. However, we're all guilty of taking a long lunch in an exotic locale from time to time, so let's not go nuts on that.

The second thing we're going to mention is an easy one to miss if you aren't paying attention. As you can see from the map, Detroit and Canada share a really wet border. In fact, there isn't a bit of rocky terrain or desertous highlands, no steppes, no hogbacks, no Aa lava flows, indeed no dirt is shared at all. This realization raises two points now:

a) Does it make more sense to invest in an International MXT or, oh, I don't know, A BOAT?
b) Assuming that ground transit is needed between cargo inspections and busts of illegal shipments of The Red Green Show DVDs, wouldn't a more practical vehicle make sense? A Ford Expedition, a Dodge Cargo Van... hell, a crew cab Silverado would do EXACTLY what this thing does, at less than half the price to the taxpayer (starting price for an MXT, $89,500).

A wise man once told us that paying attention to the government will only give you ulcers. Where did our blinders go?

"When we're facing a future of global oil wars and economy-killing gasoline prices, perhaps having single commuters drive 5,000-pound SUVs is something we'll just have to learn to live without."

While we'd agree that a 5,000-pound SUV may be a bit much for most drivers, we're wondering how exactly a heavy-duty pickup for use on a job site's going to meet a 35 mpg requirement. Just askin'... (Hat tip to Eltonito!) [Detroit News]

Snagged! In a recent speech, John Edwards told Americans to sacrifice their inefficient cars, and specifically, to give up their SUVs. But the presidential hopeful is driven around in a Cadillac SRX Crossover, which guzzles gas at 15 miles per gallon. His spokesman says that he drives a hybrid SUV in North Carolina, but reports say the Edwards family has a regular SUV and a small truck as well.

1.) Why does NHTSA think the upper tether of the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system is so difficult for 40% of parents — causing them to rely on vehicles' seat belts?

2.) Why does Section 565.4c of Title 49 require a check digit to appear in position nine of a vehicle's VIN? What if I'm an OEM and I think it looks more visually appealing for it to be in position eight — will I go to jail if I change it on my vehicles or will I just get like, a million dollar fine?

3.) Can I sell regrooved or regroovable tires?

4.) I know I can use anthropomorphic test devices like a test dummy in my safety standard compliance testing. If anthropomorphic test dummies are too expensive am I allowed to use a chimp or gorilla if it looks kinda like a human but costs less — or will that hurt the test dummies feelings?

5.) A corollary to the above question. What if I have a six-year-old child who is smaller than the 6-year-old anthropomorphic test dummy that gets decapitated in the testing of the new Chery "Whatsis?" May I call it safe for use if I know my six-year-old child could make it through just fine because he (she) is "probably more representative than some stupid dummy?"

6.) Talk to me about Recall #07V209000 — how did this recall make you feel? Happy? Sad? Explain.

7.) Will you please demonstrate how an Interlock ignition system would have prevented George W. Bush from driving under the influence in Maine in 1976?

8.) Do you actually know anything about cars and trucks and stuff? Please elaborate.

Moller, better known for the yet-to-reach-production Skycar, have already started work on the 67 orders received so far. They envision uses including extreme off roading - the Volantor is unencumbered by any ground-based obstacles - or as a ferry between a yacht and the land. In the long run, they'd like to see the vehicle used as the ultimate congestion busting commuter. Maximum payload is 250 pounds, so you'll need to buy one for each adult member of the family.

The company is actively seeking military or government clients, who they suggest could use the vehicle for anything from skyscraper rescues to fire fighting.

MOLLER INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES PRODUCTION OF JETSONS-LIKE GROUND-EFFECT VEHICLE Davis, CA, [June 28, 2007]—Moller International (OTCBB: MLER) has completed tooling and has begun producing parts for its Jetsons-like M200G volantor, a small airborne two passenger saucer-shaped vehicle that is designed to take-off and land vertically (see www.moller.com).

The M200G is the size of a small automobile and is powered by eight of the Company's Rotapower® rotary engines. This vehicle is intended for operation continuously in "ground effect" up to approximately 10 feet altitude.

Dr. Moller calls the M200G, "the ultimate off-road vehicle" able to travel over any surface. "It's not a hovercraft, although its operation is just as easy. You can speed over rocks, swampland, fences, or log infested waterways with ease because you're not limited by the surface. The electronics keep the craft stabilized at no more than 10 feet altitude, which places the craft within ground effect where extra lift is obtained from operating near the ground. This lets you glide over terrain at 50 mph that would stop most other vehicles" he continued. While the Company does not foresee the requirement for significant training or licensing to operate the vehicle, it is prepared to offer demonstration sessions in Davis, California once the vehicle is ready for market.

Production on the initial six airframes started earlier this week using hard-tooled molds with the capability of producing one fuselage per day.

Depending upon engine production volume the M200G price could start as low as $90,000. The key component in determining the M200G production price is the cost of its Rotapower® engines. The Company is working with a strategic partner to produce this engine for a number of different applications in order to obtain the cost benefits of high volume production. Persons interested in purchasing a M200G volantor may reserve a delivery position by making a refundable escrowed deposit.

GM to Build Test Track at U.S. Army Proving Ground [Bloomberg]