In Clarksons latest rant in the Times Online, he sets his sights on the new 64.2mpg Honda Insight. For those who are fans of Honda' flag ship Hybrid it doesnt bode well. Mr Clarkson reports "It’s terrible. Biblically terrible. Possibly the worst new car money can buy. It’s the first car I’ve ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn’t have to drive it any more."

In hard times for all car manufactures quotes like this will not be sitting well when coming from a highly respected motoring journalist. I just wonder if the new Prius will get such a warm welcome from Jezza.

When the UK government decided to introduce the "Cash for Clunkers program" it was aimed at not only kick starting plummeting new car sales but also to help us into todays new eco friendly and "green" offerings from manufactures. According to Autotrader, two of the first new vehicles purchased under the UK's new scrapping scheme were Nissan GT-Rs. Not quite the eco-friendly car of choice. Most other countries have written in legislation to ensure the program ensures people are opting for a more fuel efficent model rather than help funding a £50,000 pound supercar! 

Behold the World's Smallest Street-Legal Ca, Standing just 39 inches tall and 26 inches wide, The ridiculously tiny vehicle owes its new-found fame to Perry Watkins, 47 from the UK. The mini automobile was adapted from a Postman Pat car, Perry then added a steel frame to the fiberglass shell and propped it all up with the chassis from a quad. The small-displacement engine reportedly returns 70 miles per gallon and manages to push the diminutive flame-painted flyer to a top speed of 40 miles per hour. It seems like a high price to pay for such economy but we very much doubt it was built with MPG in mind!

The new creation will sell for £2,000 and comes in two models - one for the lazy commuter who prefers not to pedal at all and another which gives an added motorised boost as the rider pedals. With more torque and greater acceleration than any other electric bicycle,  the creators of the A2B Metro and the A2B Hybrid believe the machines can convert commuters to a "greener" mode of transport.

The "God father" of Hypermiling Wayne Gerdes joined NASCAR driver Carl Edwards and a team of Ford engineers in pushing a bone-stock 2010 Fusion Hybrid to 81.5 MPG (US) - effectively doubling the car’s claimed range of 700 miles - during a three-day hypermiling publicity stunt dubbed “The 1,000 Mile Challenge.” They almost broke a hypermiling distance record set in 2002.

Even the boffins at Ford were doubtful the Fusion would pass 1,000 mies on a tank, it goes to show that Hypermiling Techniques really do work.

Motorists face paying an extra £1 for a tank of petrol as higher fuel duty kicks in today. Unleaded petrol is to go up by 2.12p a litre including VAT. That will send average pump prices towards 95p a litre the highest since November. The rise in Fuel Duty was due to come into force in October last year, but thanks to the high crude oil prices, the Treasury backed down and delayed to increase petrol prices at the pumps.

The latest Daily Mail Cost of Living Index reveals prices paid at the pumps are lagging behind the 55 per cent fall in the value of crude oil. Oil giants are artificially inflating the cost of living for millions, figures suggest.

The European Commission has launched an inquiry, following an official complaint from the European umbrella organisation for motoring groups, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile.Brent crude is currently trading at $44.55 a barrel, down from $100.3 in March last year - which should mean significantly lower prices across the economy. This means motorists filling up with the average 85 litres over a month are missing out on £12.91 monthly saving - or just under £155 a year.

Source: Daily Mail