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Dinner with Ford’s CEO, Alan Mulally

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On Sunday evening, I had the good fortune to have dinner with Ford’s CEO, Alan Mulally and a number of Ford executives. I was the lone wolf mad dog blogger at the table, surrounded by conventional journalists from America and the UK. Needless to say, I was nervous as could be, not having previously met a single person in the room. I compensated by throwing down three pineapple vodka infusions – the house specialty at the Capital Grille in Troy, Michigan (and for good reason, I must say) – in rapid succession while twittering and waiting at the bar.

All in my best attempt to summon inspiration from the late great Hunter S. Thompson.

As the outsider not knowing a soul, I felt a bit uneasy as I eased into my spot at the corner of the table. I was only guy not wearing a tie (although I did have a proper navy jacket). My non-corporate arrangement of facial hair du jour couldn’t have helped.

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Has the MINI E Missed its Mark?

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Much was made of the remarkable popularity of the MINI E electric car around the time of the LA Auto Show. Numerous news outlets repeated the line that “10,000 drivers have already applied to lease the cars, at $850 a month.” (hybridcars.com). Now it appears, with the recession barreling along, that the interested throng has … Read more

Ford Flex MPG Review

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Ford Flex MPG-o-Matic Ford Flex Review Summary: The 2009 Ford Flex nearly defies description. As a brilliant alternative to SUVs and minivans, the Flex represents a rebirth of the great American station wagon with the comforts of a spacious limousine.

Available in both all-wheel- (AWD) and front-wheel-drive (FWD) configurations, the Ford Flex breaks new ground in the seven-seat people mover category. It’s not an SUV, it’s not a minivan, and it’s not like any crossover you’ve ever seen before.


While the Ford Flex competes with a range of seven-seat crossovers and SUVs, there’s nothing currently on the market that provides direct competition. With the Flex, Ford has created an entirely new segment.

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Mitsubishi i MiEV

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What’s it like to drive the Mitsubishi i MiEV electric micro car? We had our chance to drive and ride in the little critter at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s (EDTA) ride and drive event in Washington, DC early last month. The i MiEV is smooth, quiet, and quite unlike a golf cart that some … Read more

2008 Hybrid

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In a historic year, automakers produced an array of 2008 hybrid models, from the trend-setting Toyota Prius through the stealthy Nissan Altima Hybrid and utilitarian Ford Escape Hybrid. Where the pickings were once slim, there’s now a bounty of choices.

MPGomatic had the good fortune to review most of the 2008 hybrid cars and SUVs over the course of the year, and we’ve come away with some interesting observations. There’s little doubt that 2008 set a high-water mark on an ever-rising tide, as hybrid technology clearly moves into the mainstream.

While it’s tough to pick a single favorite among the 2008 hybrids, a number of models stood out from the crowd. Although the Prius continued as the most fuel-efficient car sold in America, the Honda Civic Hybrid was close behind. The Toyota Synergy Drive technology in the Prius captured the top spot due to its ability to glide under pure electric propulsion at lower speeds.

Among the five-seat 2008 hybrid SUVs, the Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid took the honors for highest highway mileage, while the Ford Escape Hybrid grabbed the crown for city mileage. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was unchallenged as the most fuel-efficient seven-seat SUV.

All-in-all, a very good year that sets the stage for an even-higher level of hybridization in 2009.

Hybrid Reviews:

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