It’s often said that major beer companies spill more beer than micro-brewers make, and that’s probably true. Of course, since I’m not one to cry over spilled beer—or pay nine dollars for a six-pack—that statistic has never bothered me. But it’s good to hear that Coors is going to start using their wasted brew to make ethanol. The company has even pledged to be the official E85 Ethanol Producer for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Denver this August. Given the rancor currently raging among the Democrats, hopefully the Rock Mountain brewers will toss in a few kegs of non-waste beer. Maybe kicking back a few cold ones will help smooth over some of the bitterness of the primary season.   

Saab seems to make a habit of cooking up some real wowie-zowie concept cars, but it’s quite the feat to win Best Concept Car at the Geneva Motor Show for a display vehicle that reportedly showed up without its motor. I guess that’s why they call it a concept. The theoretical powerplant the award-winning 9-X BioHybrid would have been running was a solar-battery hybrid system mated to a 200hp, 1.4L ethanol-powered engine. But the one WorldCarFans spotted had no motor, and had to be pushed into its booth, making it a truly zero-emissions vehicle. Congrats, Saab!

Whatever octane you’re running, you’ll be able to carry a little more of it for those long, lonely stretches between fueling stations in this very concealable jerry-can flask. John figures that Fireball whiskey would make a great filler for this totally hot gearhead accessory, while Sean would opt for old-school moonshine on the grounds that it really was once carried in gas cans. We’re half in agreement with our dogs over at Jalopnik, who felt that the can would make a great occasional item, enabling those stuck at work to get a well-camouflaged jump on their Fat-Tuesday pregame. But let’s not forget that it’s always wise to keep your tank topped off, and anytime’s a good time for a splash. Get one for your Valentine at Home Wet Bar!

Sure, they won’t talk back, overfill your oil, or show up for work stoned. They probably won’t even expect a tip. But there’s something unavoidably creepy about a robotic arm that fills your tank for you. Maybe it’s just because I won’t even trust my cars to a human station attendant—they don’t know how to be gentle with old cars, and those zippers on their jackets make me nervous—but the idea of surrendering your ride to a robot that can only deal with cars "whose contours and dimensions have been recorded to avoid scratching" seems to me a recipe for disaster. Good thing that, so far, the robots are experimental technology confined to the Netherlands. But I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before they invade. I’m curious: do any of you ever use gas station attendants, or do you get out of the car and do the dirty work yourselves?

For the last couple of days, some other automotive blogs have been whining and crying about big, bad print magazines breaking photo embargoes. It’s not terribly becoming, and even worse, it’s boring. Didn’t they learn anything from Sissy Fight. Here’s the news:

• Interior shots of the Challenger RT8 have been released, and not everyone is stoked. Personally, I’m just stoked it’ll be available with a stick. Car Scoop
• Looks like it might take a while for Kia to become the next Hyundai. Profits for 2007 fell by a whopping 66 percent. Ouch. Detroit News
• A company in Illinois is promising ethanol at one dollar a gallon, and say they can make it from virtually anything. How far away is Mr Fusion? Wired
• Audi’s TDi racers proved that diesel cars don’t have to be slow. Now AMG is going to start offering  high-performance diesel engines. Auto Express

By Jen

Editor

This chopped and channeled 1934 Chevy might look like a fire-breathing beast, but it is in fact relatively easy on the atmosphere. Running a powerful but efficient turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec, the mean-looking hot rod pushes out 500 horsepower–and it does it all on E85 ethanol. While the green credentials of ethanol are a little iffy at this point, GM is to be commended for its gesture toward leaving more gas for the real hot rods. Even better, GM stated it a press release that it is thinking about producing an E85 conversion kit for existing engines. Those corn farmers better get busy.