The big three auto CEOs Bob “Big Bob” Nardelli, Alan “Leavin’ On A Jet Plane” Mulally, and our personal favorite Rick “The Station” Wagoner are apparently going to drive to Washington to beg for your money. Previously, they all flew on private jets.
Consumer Reports gives us the lowdown on what kind of cars the CEOs will be driving:
Mulally is driving a Ford Escape Hybrid, according to Automotive News. We’re currently in the process of testing a similar 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The 2005 Escape Hybrid we tested got 26 mpg overall in our testing—very good for an SUV. Other options for Mulally’s interstate drive included the Focus sedan with a manual (29 mpg) or automatic transmission (26 mpg). Or the upcoming Fusion Hybrid.
Wagoner is taking a Chevrolet Malibu hybrid (27 mpg), a comfortable road-trip-ready car featured in the family sedan test group in our latest issue. We found the fuel economy gains to be mild for a hybrid. (In the same group, the higher-scoring Hyundai Sonata four-cylinder got 26 mpg overall, and it cost thousands less.) Another option would have been the Chevrolet Aveo; we have tested three and the best overall mpg was 28 on a manual version, notably less than several competitors. As a long-distance cruiser, the Aveo leaves much to be desired, which arguably is a good reason for Wagoner to savor the experience. Shame he couldn’t pilot a Chevrolet Volt prototype to Capitol Hill.
Nardelli has the toughest choice to make. The company recently canceled its only hybrid products, Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango, just weeks after production began. Scanning the product line, there isn’t much there that promises good fuel economy or touts leading-edge “green” technologies.
We suggest that they all take the Wagon Queen Family Truckster. Together.
Automakers head to Washington – What should they drive? [Consumer Reports]
(Photo: AdamL212 )
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@econobiker: Seriously! They aren’t innovating becasue people in America haven’t given a damn for the past 50 some years and are only now clamoring for it because they can’t afford the gas.
It isn’t going to change anything until we get this behemoth mentality out of our country and start living in our means – including sustainability for our energy sources.
@econobiker: I bet that “hack” Focus is MUCH safer AND has better emission ratings then your 13 year old Neon.
Back in 1995, there were different tests for fuel economy and something that may have been rated at a 30 then is more like a 22-24 now (if you’re getting your mileage ratings online).
Also, cars weren’t as safe back in ’95 as they didn’t have all the safety equipment cars today do, so before you start bashing a car trying to compare it to some older relic you own, I suggest you take how things were done back then compared to how they are now.
I hope Nardelli takes a Challenger SRT8. They don’t have to drive (or sell) eco-cruisers to profit.
FAMILY TRUCKSTER! YES!
Maybe they could ask Elon Musk to pick them up in a Roadster. It is a two-seater, however.
Tesla Motors is setting up shop in California. I’m sure they’ll be looking for unemployed people who have experience manufacturing cars.
It would have been particularly brilliant PR if one of them had thought to do it the first time, and the other two had done the corporate-jet thing.
Now, though, after being scolded for the jet thing, it rings a bit hollow.
@Oranges w/ Cheese: Give me a double-piece of double-chocolate death-cake smothered in chocolate syrup and whipped cream..oh, but I’ll take a diet Coke with that because I don’t want to get fat. Same idea.
so, who is actually driving the cars?
i can’t believe these CEOs are going to be behind the wheels themselves. riding, sure. but driving? do they KNOW the quality of the cars they make?