Welcome to Must Read, where we single out the best stories from around the automotive universe and beyond. Today we've got reports from National Geographic, Forbes, Curbside Classic, and 8W.
Electrofuels: Charged Microbes May "Poop Out" a Gasoline Alternative — National Geographic
That alternative fuel may be different than we thought. It might also be more hilarious since it involved the word poop.
What if you could make biofuels without using plants? Or oil without extracting anything from the ground?
That's been the goal of the U.S. Department of Energy's "electrofuels" program, a $48 million research effort involving 14 separate projects that is wrapping up this year.
5 Lessons in Luxury Car Design From the Guys Who Park Them — Forbes
As a former valet, I got to drive a lot of high-powered rides very slowly. It gives you a chance to concentrate on the details.
Valets have probably driven more performance cars than any racing driver, and more luxury cars than any chauffeur or financier. They just don’t drive them very fast, or very far. But that’s what makes them interesting; when you take away pure performance, you’re left with the experiences that designers and marketers can actually control. If you’re in the luxe auto business, the guys at the valet stand could be your most important muses.
Lincoln Week: An Illustrated History Of Lincoln Up To 1958 — Curbside Classic
Ah, when Lincoln was, umm, what's the word? Oh, that's right, great.
Cadillac and Lincoln shared an almost identical early biography. Both were founded by “Master of Precision” Henry Leland. And both were eventually sold off to their current corporate owners. Caddilac was first, having been founded in 1902, and quickly establishing itself as the “Standard of the World”, which actually reflected Leland’s obsession with standardized precision parts that could be interchanged rather than some inflated PR claim. Caddy went to GM in 1909, and after WW I, Leland started Lincoln.
Ferrari At Indianapolis: Mutual Love Unanswered — 8W
Ferrari only ever participated at Indy in the F1 race (pictured above), but never in the Indy 500. Why not? This is 10 chapters of world class racing history. It's a little older, but worth a read. Check it out.
There are very few categories and venues of worldwide importance for which Ferrari was eligible that have remained unwon by the marque. For instance, NASCAR rules will secure that Ferrari will never win a Daytona 500. What about the real Big One? The Indianapolis 500 is the one event in which Ferrari had the opportunity to participate, but failed to convert the opportunity into victory. Granted: they never tried that often, even when rules enabled them to take part. A few attempts were made but less is known about the secret projects, the plans that never materialized.