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38-Hour Willie Rally Completed, Powered Entirely By Willie Nelson BioFuel And Lots Of Cheetos

On Wednesday, Nik Bristow and Brian Pierce arrived in LA after successfully completing the course mapped by the Gumball Rally in a record 38 hours, 37 minutes, and 41 seconds. Dubbed “The Willie Run 2008″, Bristow and Pierce’s cross country trek was made in a VW Jetta TDI, powered entirely by Willie Nelson’s BioWillie brand biodiesel. “I know the trip sounds crazy, but it’s more important now than ever,” Bristow explained to Autopia before the trip, “We’re on the cusp of a very important election where oil and energy are universal top concerns, and biodiesel is one of the cleaner, more viable fuel alternatives out there. We need to get the word out.”

Initially, the guys had hoped to make the trip in 36 hours, but fuel miscalculations and their grand arrival during LA rush hour set them behind schedule. “We spent the last hour and a half in stop-and-go traffic,” Bristow told Wired.com, “It was a little anti-climactic after driving across the country.” Other than a brief stop in Phoenix to stock up on more BioWillie, however, Bristow and Pierce completed the trek non-stop as per their original goal, even going so far as to forward all of nature’s calls to a Stadium Pal condom catheter.

Next year, Bristow and Pierce hope to make it in under the 36-hr time limit, and are already preparing for Willie Run ‘09. “We’re gonna run it by Willie,” Bristow said, “We’ve gotta have the patron saint sign off on it, but we’ve had a ton of people say they want to take part.”

[News Source/Photo Cred: Autopia]

Chevy Plans To Reveal Production Volt Later This Month, I’m Too Excited To Be A Smartass

Production Simulation Based On Chevy Volt Spy Shot

According to Auto News, GM announced today that they will reveal a production model of the Chevy Volt later this month in celebration of their 100th birthday on September 16th. The Volt preview will be granted to GM employees at headquarters in Detroit, and has been confirmed by a source within GM to be a “true representation of what the production version looks like.” The source added, “[it will be] somewhat different from the concept versions.”

I admit I came down a little hard on Chevy when spy shots of the Volt on the set of Transformers 2 were leaked, but that was just the initial shock talking. Now that I’ve had time to digest reality, I’m once again excited about flaunting some American innovation under Japan’s nose. Now the biggest item on my agenda is begging and pleading for the privilege of eventually taking the Volt for a spin. As a matter of fact, at this point I think it’s safe to say I’d do just about anything to get behind the wheel of a Volt, and I do mean anything [ha ha! Just kidding Mom!] [No I'm not, GM]

Honda Sedan Attempts to Exact Video Game-Style “Justice”; Our Weekend Hijinks Pale In Comparison

This weekend in San Diego [Motto: "I Have A Kilo Of Cocaine In My Glove Box"], the driver of a silver Honda was arrested for driving like a bat out of hell. According to reports, witnesses became suspicious of the Honda’s activity when they witnessed the vehicle careen off California’s Interstate 805 exit ramp, skid into opposing lanes of traffic, and narrowly avoid sideswiping a police cruiser. After regaining [relative] control and with police now actively in pursuit, the Honda then proceeded to evade the authorities for several blocks before colliding head-on with an unoccupied police car parked on the side of the road.

Next, with the party just getting started, Catalan then sped a few blocks up and intentionally side-swiped a another police unit responding to the scene [the officer was unharmed]. Probably intending to wreak more havoc, the Honda’s Japanese jihad was cut abruptly short [and the driver taken into custody] when it flew balls-to-the-wall into a parked Dodge pick-up truck…the Detroit 3 “Comeback Trifecta” is now two-thirds complete.

[Source: San Diego Union-Tribune]

Chrysler Aims To Reduce Production Costs With 10-Hr Work Day

Already making headlines for its unorthodox decision to terminate its leasing program, Chrysler LLC is again making headlines, this time with labor unions. According to reports, Chrysler is currently negotiating with the UAW [International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America] to implement four, 10-hour workdays as opposed to the traditional 5-day workweek.

The ultimate goal of the schedule change is to reduce costs, a familiar theme with auto manufacturers these days, and is not a completely foreign concept. According to manufacturing chief Frank Ewasyshyn, there are similar practices already in place in other businesses that serve the common goal of trimming the cost of operation.

While negotiating with local labor union representatives, Chrysler is giving the plan a dry-run in a distribution center in Atlanta. If all goes well, Ewasyshn said that the new scheduling changes could reduce production costs by about $10 million annually.

[Source: Autmotive News]

The Detriot 3 Credit Crunch/Lease-Purchase Donkey Punch

Chrysler, ostracized earlier last week for its unorthodox decision to end its leasing program, has apparently started a maelstrom of similiar acitivty. Completing The Detroit 3 panic trifecta, both Ford and GM-controlled GMAC are planning to throw in the credit towel – sort of. Not quite willing to make the huge commitment made by Chrysler to completely eliminate leasing programs, both Ford and GMAC have announced plans to significantly distance themselves from the leasing industry.

GMAC, a financing company who owns controlling stock in both Chrysler and GM, has already ordered the end of its subsidized leasing program in Canada [effective Friday]. Although spokespeople for GMAC won’t disclose whether this initiative is U.S.-bound, GM dealers in the U.S. admit they have already been notified of the pending policy change.

Ford, adding to its growing list of unprecedented inter-company changes, has also made the decision to alter its leasing policy. According to Ford Motor Credit, in order to protect themselves from further financial loss, leasing prices on Ford vehicles will go up – way up. The theory behind Ford’s defensive action might prove to be the smartest one made by the Detroit 3. Said Ford retailer Group 1 Automotive Inc. CEO Earl Hesterberg, “They’re going to do some things to reduce their percentage of leasing, but I think Ford has understood more than anyone through thick and thin that there’s a leasing market there for certain types of vehicles.”

Also introducing plans to end auto leasing-programs are two auto-financing titans, Wells Fargo and Chase Bank. Cue total banking crisis in 5, 4…

[Source: Autmotive News]

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