@Ash78: It's a conspiracy. 5252 is the new 23.

@beercheck: No kidding. Talk about linear power.

@Buckster: Before you purchase that Harley I'm going to need a copy of your CPA license and a 401k statement showing at least $100k in diversified, conservative mutual funds.

@Maymar the technophobe: DOH! You're right, according to Wikipedia.

So, basically the most expensive part of the Volt is going to be even bigger in these? I like the Minivan but you're talking about $60k if the $40k Volt price is true.

@cgarison: According to the book they were electric and ran on an electrified track, no batteries required. Although according to the book they were Land Rover defender 110s, not explorers.

@graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives: I wouldn't want in-wheel electric motors in an off-road vehicle. You'd be limited to 1/4th of torque and power when only one wheel has traction. In a fully-locked 4wd setup with locking center/front/rear differentials/axles/transfer cases/whatever, you can get 100% of…

@badco/LoJ: I guess the rumors of Chrysler putting all or most of their development resources into EVs were true.

@WheatKing: Picture 3 shows the engine still up front. I don't imagine they would 1: split the battery pack in two, for packaging reasons, and 2: care too much about weight distribution in a minivan. The batteries are probably under the floor in the middle or all of them in the rear.

@TR3-A: The particulate emissions standards are measured in absolute terms, not as a percentage of exhaust volume or fuel consumed, so larger cars with the same or bigger engines will need additional treatment as they're going through more fuel per mile.

@layabout: Well I'm glad to see that you now agree on the value of reviews and the opinions of others. And who said this was the only review I read?

@acarr260: Agreed, only on Jalopnik would everyone (including myself) see "Barbus" and instead of thinking "mobile intoxication", think "Mercedes tuner"

@layabout: "Maybe drive one & form your own opinion based on experience." But then why would I ever need to read a review? Or an article in a newspaper, or watch a television program, or talk to another human being.

What I find funny is that Subaru and Mitsubishi both came close to ruining their fanboi cars by making them more BMW-like in ride comfort and interior quality, only to have BMW upstage them and make an even more isolated, less interesting douchemobile. I want so badly to love this car, to defend it's swollen…

@Dearthair the Totally Uncreative: Nothing is more quixotic than a Grammar Nazi on the internets.

@meng_mao: Absolutely FR is a better layout for racing than FF. My point is just that there are other constraints on whether a car is going to be fast, and unless you have an unlimited amount of money, you're going to run into those constraints. Front wheel drive is inferior to rear wheel drive, but that doesn't make…

155mph (indicated, speedo was a little fast, more on that in a minute) on a slight downhill grade between Baker and Shoshone in the Mojave desert in a lowered/cat-backed but otherwise stock Integra GSR. The speedo goes to 150, but I was as near as I could tell to 5mph past the last tick. I hit 135mph (indicated) going…

@buckymarino: @SethyT: Yeah after I wrote that I remembered a bunch of merc manuals. Didn't know the current C300 was offered in a manual though. Good to know.

@racerx: True in theory, but like the OHC/OHV argument, it all falls out the window when you get to the track. I'm sure this car is going to have plenty of FWD "characteristics", but if the last RS was any indication, it will still be fast as snot.

@Unregular: Or a Jetta TDI wagon and a se7en.