The temperature is dropping, but I’m prepared. The gluttony of Thanksgiving left me with a nice layer of insulation for the winter:

• A fuel cell car for only $80! That’s too good to be true! Oh, that makes sense now: Autoblog Green
• A bill to increase fuel efficiency standards stalled in the Senate. Fortunately, I’ve still got a few years to get in bike-riding shape before all the oil runs out: DetNews
• This article is pretty dry, but it includes a fun fact near the end—Mexico is the biggest market for armored cars in the world: Market Watch
• There are more cars in India than ever and they are going faster than ever. Unfortunately, this means that more of these cars are running into people at high speeds: Wheels

My anti-robot paranoia was given another boost this morning. You can read about it below, I’m going to get back to work on my subterranean shelter:

• I may be crazy, but I think the idea of a scooter made out of garbage is awesome. Not as awesome as a DeLorean time machine that runs on garbage, but close…and, well, real: Winding Road
• The ad sales guys here gave me a hot tip: Don’t tell someone you’re trying to sell them something because you’re involved in a murder: Jalopnik
• It’s pretty clear  how far the new management group at Chrysler has to go. They’re going to lose $1.6 BEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLION dollars this year. And I got upset because I lost a coupon for a free Frosty at Wendy’s (I was going to give it to my girlfriend for Christmas): Leftlane News
• You heard it here first: Toyota’s robot-based growth plan will lead to our eventual enslavement at the hands of very reliable Toyota-bots: DetNews

If you’re tired of getting moderately better mpg in your Prius, it may be time to upgrade to this Audi. More newsings below:

• When a former traffic cop gets banned from driving, part of his or her punishment should be a full page ad in a local paper inviting anyone that got a ticket to come to the public square and taunt them: Motor Authority
• I’m not sure there’s a more fitting word to describe Pope Benedict than "Baller." Check out his new whip: Jalopnik
• Holy Michael Schumacher! Ferrari has put together a sweet prize package for the 200,000th visitor to the Galleria Ferrari: Winding Road
• English Russia has more evidence that you really need to be careful when choosing a cab in Russia: English Russia

GM is in a buying mood, making a big play for Russian car maker AvtoVaz, which came as a big surprise to me. Who knew the Russians made stuff other than AKs and vodka? Here’s the rest of the news:

• Thanks to the miracle of TiVo, I will soon watch Lewis Hamilton’s appearance on Top Gear. In the meantime, their write up is doggone entertaining (and now the race is on to give me crap about using the word ‘doggone’): Top Gear
• The New York Times gives a loving and cautionary eulogy to the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the Ford Ranger, the Chrysler PT Cruiser and the Dodge Magnum: NYT
• Britain may go to a zero tolerance policy on drinking and driving and I, for one, think that’s not a bad idea: Winding Road
• A bad economic outlook is going to have big consequences for those who try to sell cars. My inner optimist says, "Sounds like it’ll be a buyers market next year!": Freep

The California Fuel Cell Partnership welcomed Chrysler into the fold, giving it a total of 34 organizations and nine car makers. It looks like things are going well for fuel cell technology, in Cali at least. Now for the news:

• Bad news hits GM again. The new K.I.T.T is going to be a Ford: Winding Road
• On the brighter side, the General is still doing big things in India, opening its first design shop there: DetNews
• OnStar is coming to China. Does that mean the government doesn’t think enough of the technology behind it to slap an export restriction on it? Jalopnik
• Tesla looks to be focused on getting their stuff together, begining with a new CEO: Motor Authority

I’m preparing for Thanksgiving by practicing my post-dinner nap at work. When I am conscious, here’s what I’m reading:

• While other car makers are working on building electric cars, Chrysler is drawing them. Sounds like somebody has some catchup work ahead of them: DetNews
• Apparently, GM and Toyota were letting cars roll off the line in California with faulty seat belts and brakes. I consider those parts of the car pretty important: Leftlane News
• Looking for a bimmer that’s inexpensive because it needs some cosmetic work? Jalopnik found your next car on craigslist: Jalopnik
• The F1 season is over and now we can follow some brilliant off season bickering between teams. NASCAR, I hope you’re taking notes: Top Gear
• Are Parisians nervous when they see a German amphibious vehicle on the Seine? This article doesn’t say, but I bet they are: Wheels

I don’t know if I have the energy to write today. Thankfully, it’s not every day you get your flying car dreams crushed:

• Yay! Fiat has new, limited edition, tiny cars! Buy a truck, and you could even park your Fiat Panda inside! Automotive Express
• Terrific early results for GM. The new Malibu is performing well in the unsexy car market and putting unsexy rivals Accord and Camry on notice. DetNews
• Anyone ready to backseat drive from the driver’s seat? Robot drivers are now a reality, marking the first step towards safer roads—and our ultimate doom (John Connor, we need you NOW): Freep
• If you have the money and want a blazing fast muscle car, go out an buy an ’08 Viper. Just do me a favor and don’t get the green one, it’s just not right: DetNews

Our LA Auto Show photos are on the way. If you just can’t wait, check out the LA Auto show stuff on NYT.com. Here’s the news:

• So, the buzz out of LA is that the best looking car from the LA car show rolled off the line in 1972…in Czechoslovakia. I’m not going to say the car isn’t attractive, but I’d like to think we can do better than the early ’70s in the Soviet bloc: LA Times
• Toyota’s F1 team will be packing a Glock next season. Wow, that was a terrible pun. I feel horrible: BBC Sport
• Automotive Traveler has a useful primer from anyone considering the trip to Dakar for the 2008 race: Automotive Traveler

GM said it wants to be the first to sell one meeeelllion hydrogen cars. Of course, they’d already be there if they hadn’t got gas-drunk on $0.89 a gallon in the 1990s. Here’s the news:

• Lewis Hamilton choked at the end of the F1 season, but McLaren is trying to get him the title anyway. Even if they win their appeal of the Brazilian GP, where do you celebrate when you win the title in court? BBC Sport
• Lexus just topped a JD Power survey on owner satisfaction. I gotta think a fair amount of that is the smug satisfaction of telling people you drive a Lexus: DetNews
• Motor City is seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s not tying its fortunes to car making: Freep
• John McCormick of Detroit News is letting people know what he thinks of speed traps. It’s a brave stand, and I’d hate to be in the car with him when he gets pulled over for doing 35 in a 30: DetNews

Happy belated Halloween. I know it’s November 13th, but I’ve only recently gotten over my hangover enough to operate a keyboard. Here’s the news:

• This is horrible. Somebody stole the wheels from a Meals-On-Wheels truck in Clark County Washington: Jalopnik
• God Bless Globalization! Two Indian companies are in the final three bidders for Jaguar and Land Rover: Leftlane News
• Articles on how to inspect used cars before buying pop up every month or so. How come none of them discuss what you’re looking for when you kick the tires? Washington Post
• I’ve got beef with Starbucks. First, their CEO sold my beloved basketball team to Oklahoma City. Now, they’re distracting the good folks at BMW Design Works by having them build espresso machines. Is it too much to ask that car makers focus on making cars? Winding Road