You sir, have a healthy balance between appreciating the past and openness to chance. What’s your secret?

I will take whichever vehicle I can get running to the...

Happy birthday, David. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag. Ois Guade zu Deim Geburdstog

Happens with surprisingly frequency in San Francisco at the Duboce and Church MUNI stop.

Drove a prototype PHEV Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 crew cab back in ~2012. Work got to demo one. It was awesome. Did truck things: traversed fire roads, hauled fire wood, took us camping, commuting, got groceries...

And the “footprint” loophole in the regs will let them.

Yeah true. I should have been more clear. 2nd-gen PHEV.

It’s platform-mate the Escape has a PHEV version. Is one coming here? That sweet electric torque would be awesome.

Well, the S is for super, and the U is for unique...

1. Is it a danger to manifold?

Yup, the Big 3 opened up a market gap big enough to drive a Toyota, Honda, and Nissan through.

Uhh.. maybe that electric motors are awesome, especially in a Wrangler?

You’re spot on. I love the Consumer Reports test of the Wrangler where the author grouses about the noise, rough ride, loose steering, yadayadayada. I would say there is a solution for someone who wants the opposite of those things - buy a Toyota Avalon - but yikes - the Avalon has been discontinued.

So much this. Where are the plug-in hybrids?

They are the utes gone wild.

The Pacifica PHEV is one of the best machines out there for its role. 31+ miles of electric range. A huge, classy interior. Seats for seven or eight. What’s not to love?

Yeah, there is a push now in regulatory circles to focus on “strong plug-in hybrids,” which have a strong enough electric motor to accelerate to highway speeds on electric power alone and then have 50+ miles of electric range.

Yeah, there is a push now in regulatory circles to focus on “strong plug-in hybrids,” which have a strong enough electric motor to accelerate to highway speeds on electric power alone and then have 50+ miles of electric range.

1st gear: “52 MPG in five years is a nice dream. If history is any indication, that’s all it will ever be.”

This.