GM Hy-Wire

Although the global warming scare is much more a matter of manipulation of the media for political ends than anything to do with scientific fact, the desire to find a more environment-friendly power source than the internal combustion engine is nothing new. As long ago as the late sixties, there was recognition that such a change would have to come and various alternatives were suggested.

The electric motor appeared then as the most likely solution and this sparked a hunt for lighter and more efficient batteries. The range of new and rechargeable batteries we can buy these days is a result of that but no truly practicable solution for the automobile has been found as yet - in fact, all seems to have gone quiet on the new battery front in recent years and I suspect the researchers may have given up on the idea.

So it was with joy that I discovered that GM have found a better answer than anything we envisaged in my youth. Forget the hybrids that still depend on gasoline for their primary power source, throw your weird batteries away and feast your eyes on the GM Hy-Wire!

This is the car of the future, the answer that makes all the alternatives look silly. In designing and building this car, General Motors’ engineers have shown that they can still think clearly and logically towards an elegant and practical solution to a problem. Be proud, America!

But you don’t have to take me at my word - I am an instant convert and we know how over-enthusiastic one of those can be. See for yourself by clicking on this link. But be prepared to be as besotted with the machine as I am - it is a truly beautiful concept and it works.

While most of the world’s car manufacturers plan smaller, more fuel-efficient and hybrid models in their bid to “save the planet”, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo refuses to consider that route. He assured journalists at the Geneva Motor Show that Ferrari would never build a smaller car.

This follows the success of the GTB Fiorano model which has a two year waiting list for buyers. And the next Ferrari will be based upon its highest seller, the F430, which is powered by a V8.

Clearly there is a market for such cars, with Ferrari enjoying good sales and big profits over the last year and buyers lining up to spend their money. It seems that the rich don’t take too much notice of the global warming scare.

Or could it be that they know the whole business is a politically-motivated scare story without scientific foundation…?