Free Republic

General Motors has repeatedly claimed a sales target for 2011 of 10,000 units for the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt sedan. But, nine months into the year, they've only shipped 3,895 off the lot. In fact, in September sales numbers, released an hour ago, GM sold only 723 Volts. Will GM fail to meet its own sales predictions? (SNIP) To give you an idea of how few vehicles that is, here are just a few of the GM vehicles that sold better than the Chevy Volt this month: Cadillac Escalade - 1,527 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup - 2,171 Chevrolet Avalanche - 1,861...

Pricing for the Chevy Volt, that eagerly awaited savior of Government Motors, has been set at last: $41,000! That's $8,000 more than the Nissan Leaf will sell for, and the Leaf is a pure electric. The Volt is a hybrid, running only 40 miles on a charge, the rest on a gasoline generator. In one of the most deceptive lines in the WaPo article, the writer informs us that "Although the prices are high, enthusiasts say that electric cars can reach a large, untapped market for vehicles with little or no tailpipe emissions." Oh the clever journalists, parsing their words...

"The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belong to one category," hitler said. More photos at link. Obama calls for new beginning between U.S. and Muslims. "I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect," he said. "America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition."

Caption: Adolf Hitler tours the 1939 International Auto Exhibition in Berlin. Three years before, at another Berlin auto show, Hitler announced that Porsche would design the "People's Car," or Volkswagen, an affordable, practical vehicle for the working German family.Photo: Hugo Jaeger./Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Feb 17, 1939

And other unintended consequences of strict fuel-economy standards. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Such is the case with President Barack Obama's proposed national fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks and a new tailpipe standard for C02 emissions. The national press has uncritically reported that the new standards will make cars "cleaner." In fact, the rules could impose substantial costs in terms of urban air pollution and human life. The standards are designed to reduce C02 emissions from cars, with the twin goals of addressing climate change and reducing dependence on imported energy. Carbon...

I wonder how many people Obama killed yesterday. Arguably, it was in the tens of thousands. With one stroke of the presidential pen, surrounded by lackeys on short leashes, he designed the automobile of the future. No more will Detroit make cars according to people’s tastes, needs and market demand. Now, we will have Obama cars. And why not. Hitler designed cars, why should our Fuehrer be denied the pleasure? Without congressional approval, without explaining it to the people, without trying to build public support, Caesar has declared that vehicles will get more gas mileage and give off less carbon...