FUN IF NOT FUNNY There were so many news stories last month that skewed tragic or skewed weird that I was honestly just happy to make it through the month in one piece, journalism-wise. I still need to get busy and bring everyone who follows Sunshine up to date on all the news at Speedriven that hasn't made it to these pages (?) yet.
ALL DYNO DAYS SHOULD BE THIS PERVERSE This article marks my official return to the Gas 2.0 crew after nearly a year's absence (I've been busy), and was actually made possible by none other than Ray Wert, of Jalopnik/King-maker fame.
How much fun was it to strap a brand-new S400 hybrid to Switzer's Dynojet? Gas 2.0 readers don't want to hear about that, but I can tell you here: an electric hiss and thick smell of ozone filled the shop when this thing was running, and the twisted glee we took from putting the big Benz through the ringer is challenged only by the most fun thing we have ever tested, ever.
TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS You should learn to let go of the things you loved when you were five. I'm not telling you to forget those things and people that made some moments specialer than others, here. I'm just saying that holding on to these things can lead to unhealthy obsessions.
If you've been reading along for a while, it should come as no surprise that I've found yet another excuse to write about Lancia's impending return to US shores over on Gas 2.0.
THIS WOULD BE MORE FUN IF IT HAD MORE LIGHTS Bright Automotive is getting a second shot at a bright future, thanks to a $5 million investment from GM Ventures. The general thinking behind the loan is that investmenet and exposure will help Bright Automotive attract investors and, eventually, qualify for up to $450 million in federal "green energy" loans.
GM has a vested interest in Bright's success, of course, and provides a number of key components to the van. For its efforts, GM hopes to offer Bright's "Bright Idea" van as a smaller, CAFE-friendly alternative to its existing Chevrolet Express commercial vans.
Everyone who HAS seen it, though, can probably guess that Charlie's crazy-eye face down there sent me into such peels of laughter that writing just about anything seemed nigh impossible. Something, then, must have snapped me out of it - but what?
This. That, dear friends, is Angry Green Girl's "Shameless Hybrid Bikini Carwash", wherein several of LA's hottest greeniacs stripped away any excess coverings and lathered up any lucky hybrid car that happened by ...
and, brother, did they happen by! The story was picked up by Jalopnik, Autoblog, and others, but doesn't do much to really explain the Angry Green Girl cause. I've reached out with a few questions, however, and if I hear back you'll be the first to know.
Once again proving that they are the funniest automotive news site on the interwebs, Jalopnik has just posted the 12 best cars to help you survive 12 different kinds of coming apocalypses (apocalypsi?). At the top of the list (which Jalopnik claims to be "in no particular order") is the RENN's very own GLK 350 Spec.R hybrid rally-racer! Woo-hoo!
I've created quite a little sh*tstorm over at Greeonptions' Gas 2.0 blog (where yours truly is a contributor). This particular post seems to paint me as a psychotic, anti-CARB, right-wing conspiracy theorist (which, of course, I am) and has been linked to by over 300 other sites (as of last night, including NBCChicago).
CLICK HERE to go take a look, and feel free to join the comment melee.
Mercedes-Benz released its GLK SEMA build videos online today - RENNTECH episode 3 (of 3) is posted above.
Enjoy the clip, and remember that this is a competitive build-off, so don't forget to vote for RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R Hybrid Rally-Racer at MBUSA.com/GLK.
Mercedes-Benz released its GLK SEMA build videos online today - RENNTECH episode 2 (of 3) is posted above.
Enjoy the clip, and remember that this is a competitive build-off, so don't forget to vote for RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R Hybrid Rally-Racer at MBUSA.com/GLK.
Mercedes-Benz released its GLK SEMA build videos online today - RENNTECH episode 1 (of 3) is posted above.
Enjoy the clip, and remember that this is a competitive build-off, so don't forget to vote for RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R Hybrid Rally-Racer at MBUSA.com/GLK.
Just posting the digital version of our 4x6" SEMA handout to remind you all to head over to MBUSA.com/GLK and vote for the RENNTECH GLK 350 Spec.R hybrid!
As the happy little handout will tell you (do cards tell you things?), you can vote once from every computer you have access to - and, if you're a rabid RENNfan, you can even VOTE AGAIN! Simply text "Glk73" to the 5-digit number 48457 from your mobile phone.
It is the most important vote of our generation - a symbol of generational change and hope for a new era of American greatness.
I speak, of course, of the 2008 SEMA Mercedes-Benz tuner "build-off", where America's premier Euro-tuner RENNTECH plays David to take on the twin Goliaths of Brabus' thousand-man payroll and the marketing power of DuPont publishing.
RENNTECH's GLK 350 Spec.R hybrid rally racer features modifications to cams and heads, combined with full race exhaust and RENNTECH's new 350 composite airbox to produce 350 hp, while the 26KW electric motor adds 40 lb-ft of torque at 0 rpm to help this nimble Sport-utility vehicle get moving.
Visit MBUSA.com/GLK to vote now, and text GLK73 to 48457.
It might not be our big Hollywood break, but it's something!
You might recall a recent Mercedes press release announcing a tuner build-off at this year's SEMA show that would pit RENNTECH against 3 well-known tuning firms (read: victims). The winner of the build-off will be decided by popular vote on November 4, when the cars will be revealed to the industry at SEMA.
RENNTECH's entry has been covered HERE and HERE, but you have the chance to get a "sneak peak" at RENNTECH's rally dominator now - by visiting www.MBUSA.com/GLK. Click on the highlighted buttons (as shown, below) to make your way to the build videos.
CLICK HERE to jump to the site. Click "Watch the Videos" Click "Meet the Tuners" Expand "RENNTECH RALLY RACER"
I'm right there with him - and there is so much going on right now, I can't honestly put together a coherent post.
So, what else is new?
With only four (4) days left, Everyone here at the RENN is getting pretty fried - and it's all about the car you can barely even see behind the curtain wall in that picture up there. That car you can barely even see back there is well on its way to becoming the RENN's 2008 SEMA GLK Project:Rally hybrid show car, thanks to some crazy-long hours put in by Hartmut, David, Cliff, Steve, Pierre, Ratatouille (aka: "Napoleon, the mad intern"), Technicar, a bunch of people I'm forgetting at MBUSA, and the Swedes.
The Swedes! Holy crap - I can't believe I forgot to mention the Swedes!! That should be its own post, really - but, for now, enjoy this clip from Monster Garage (yes, these are THOSE Swedes).
This is one of my favorite episodes of Penn and Teller's Bullshit series, as it highlights the mythologies and not-so-hidden socio-political agendas of the environmental hysterics.
With all the talk of hybrid this and eco that these last few days (with more to come, I'm sure) I'd like to point out that I absolutely DO NOT believe in some impending global environemental crisis, the doomsday scenarios of the "peak oil" wingnuts, or any other chicken-little theory.
That said, I AM a strong supporter of increasing CAFE standards and firmly believe higher gas prices are good for America.
Without getting too far off track (this is a blog about cars, after all) I will also say this: more efficient vehicles are simply more fun.
If you deny that claim, then admit, at the very least, that efficient vehciles have the potential to be fun - consider the latest crop of electric cars from Tesla and Fisker. That Tesla thing looks like fun ... and putting around Key West on a 100 mpg scooter while you're blowing a 0.22 is a BLAST, I promise!
I mention this because we're building a hybrid now - and, while it will share many characteristics with its wussy green brethren (I'm looking at you, Prius!), it shares more (in spirit) with the Tesla Roadster and a nearly forgotten generation of Group B Audi Quattros and Lancia S4 Deltas. That is: instant torque.
An electric motor hits with all of its available torque at 0 rpm. The INSTANT you "flip the switch", as it were, you are on the move ... and if you have enough batteries on board, you are on the move Very quickly!
Does it save gas?
Sure, it does - but that's just gravy.
The point is to have fun, try new things, remain true to who you are, and not hurt anyone else in the process, you know? To have a car (in this case) that was good at everything you wanted it to be good at, and that didn't make you sacrifice anything you wanted to keep. If only there was some sort of corporate motto or catchphrase that could sum that up ...
I'll think of something. In the meantime, enjoy the Bullshit.
Modified Luxury and Exotics magazine let the hybrid cat out of the bag this morning when they posted the first "pics" of RENNTECH's upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 based concept car, "the Rally Dominator".
I have to give some special thanks to ML&E editor Colum Wood, though, for getting my early GLK 'chops international attention (Danke! You're the best.), even if I was trying to keep them under wraps until October!
That said, the GLK WILL have a hybrid power plant, as well as bodywork that can best be described as a bit more ... aggressive?
Yeah. More Aggressive.
CLICK HERE for the original ML&E article, and stay tuned ...
Today's news and jokes
-
Fucking terrifying
[image or embed]
— Steve Lieber RCCC table B-06 (@stevelieberart.bsky.social) September 7,
2026 at 1:51 AM
He LIVED with her???? ht...
Semaphore
-
[image: The speed of light in air is 50% faster than in fiber, but it's a
challenge to get the arms to move fast enough to realize the latency
advantage.]
플랫폼 비교
-
플랫폼 비교는 이렇게 하자 – 실전 평가 체크리스트로 끝내는 선택 가이드 1. 왜 직접 비교가 필요한가? 검색 상위 노출, 광고 배너,
지인의 추천은 플랫폼 품질을 보장하지 않는다. 직접 비교만이 실제 운영 구조, 데이터 신뢰성, 사용자 보호 체계를 객관적으로 드러낸다.
특...
Toyota Releases Thousands of Hybrid Patents
-
In a complete reversal of its longstanding policy, Toyota has decided to
stop suing every manufacturer that dares to offer
The post Toyota Releases Thous...
Menace
-
Power is intoxicating. Everyone loves having the ability to make their
decisions into reality — to think "this should be something that happens,"
and the...
Last LFMF Update
-
Sadly, today is LFMF's last update has come FAILers. Please enjoy these
last batch of embarrassing tips, and remember that all your previous
helpful LFMF...
Why I Don’t Love You All Anymore
-
As you may have noticed Legit Lifestyle has taken a bit of a reprieve over
the past few weeks (though the Repostitory keeps pounding onward daily!)
but it ...
A Farewell to the IRB
-
My friend just observed that I cannot write a single facetious document
without the inclusion of the word "Maffick," This is complete bullshit.
As I pre...
