Posted on 07/10/2007 12:38:07 PM PDT by hardback
As yet another tale of celebrity spawn gone wild, the arrest Wednesday of Albert Gore III -- son of the former vice president -- on suspicion of drug possession was routine except for one, rather mind-blowing detail:
Gore was clocked in a blue Toyota Prius hybrid traveling on the southbound Golden State Freeway in Orange County, Calif., in excess of 100 m.p.h.
"One hundred and five, actually," said Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino. "I think it's slightly downhill there."
The former vice president Thursday declared his love for his son, said Albert III was receiving treatment and added that the family was "going to leave it as a private matter."
Gore's cruel caning of Toyota's greener-than-thou hybrid -- powered by a small four-cylinder engine and electric motor that together produce about 125 horsepower -- rippled through talk radio and the blogosphere Thursday. Many were simply amazed.
"How in the world do you get a Prius to go 100 m.p.h. without a cliff to go over?" asked Rush Limbaugh.
Others wondered if the episode represented some kind of viral marketing coup for Toyota.
"Everybody must realize the incredible serendipity effect the Al Gore Jr. [III, actually] in-a-Toyota-Prius-going-100-m.p.h. story will have on this car?" said one of dozens of posters on a heavily trafficked Priuschat.com Web site. "If Toyota is smart, they'll have a specially prepared Prius Pace Car for the next Indy 500."
Actually, the Prius -- unofficial merit badge of environmentally conscious Californians and officially the most fuel-efficient car on the road -- is capable of going even faster, according to Mike Michels, spokesman for Toyota.
But the car, which uses an electric booster, is speed-limited to 103 m.p.h. to avoid depleting the battery.
"It can go 103 m.p.h. indefinitely," he said. At least until the gas runs out.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
It will go 100 mph if you add nitrous oxide!!
2 freaking MPH?
We were discussing this last Friday at work, all of us here are pretty much in agreement that there isn’t a Prius on the road that will do 100mph.
Are they sure he wasn’t borrowing his sister’s Mazerati?
Sounds like Albert Arnold Algore III and the odious Kennedy spawn have lots in common - speeding, drugs, alcohol... Can sex with a minor be far off for Algore III? He just has to follow the Kennedy lead. What is it about the children of the wealthy and powerful that makes them such nitwits?
According to the spokesman for Toyota, it will.
I’m wondering how much power the actual engine in the Prius puts out - apparently that’s the limiting factor in its top speed. It’s a fairly aerodynamic car, so I’m guessing it probably only needs about 70-80 HP to do 100 mph.
Oh, I’m sure it can do 100.. but how long does it take to get there?
Certainly not the ones around here. Downhill, tailwind, driver a skin and bones junkie would make no difference.
I think the 0-60 is measured in degrees of latitude.
I asked the mechanic who works on my Jeeps what he thinks of the Prius. He stated if they’re middle aged men, they’re probably a “fag”. I had to think about this deep concept, but at the end had to concede that he’s probably correct.
It was a joke and a comment about The Gore Family hypocrisy.
Have you driven a Prius to comment on those “around here?”
My first experience with a prius was my Acura Integra being passed on the right by a Prius while doing 80+ up hill on I 81. He literally blew my doors off.
I don’t doubt it at all.
radar speed one night= 108 MPH.
ROFLMAO
what about a married couple (she in her 70s he in his 80s)? But be careful, they’re my parents. I think I clocked them at 17mph going up the hill from my house.
Not very long at all. I test drove the original 2003 version when I lived in the DC area. When I merged onto I66 in Fairfax, it had no problem getting out in front of 10:00 am late for work crowd going 90 and staying out in front of them. When it comes to performance vs fuel efficiency, there is no better car on the road.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.