Even if both the driver and passenger are hefty specimens of childhood, the Classic Corvette can support up to 330 pounds—though I’m sure traveling near or at max weight will affect the car’s performance somewhat. With a price of $32,000, the Classic Corvette is definitely beyond the reach of your average kid, and even your average adult, but within the wallet of over-indulgent wealthy parents or financial prodigies who’ve managed to create income streams at a tender age.

If only I was small enough to fit into this thing. Ah, but such toys are best left to the future of this world. As an educational tool, nothing like a fancy car teaches the attention—good or bad—notable possessions bring. Again, the Junior 35 MPH Corvette retails for $32,000, from hammacher.com.

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Visualization of Solar Road Panels. Courtesy Solar Roadways

The Solar Road Panel is simply the addition of glass, LED lights, and solar panels on top of standard road concrete. It’s meant to replace asphalt, currently used to smoothen out roads for ride comfort and noise reduction.

What makes Solar Roadways’ concept even more interesting are the embedded LED lights, which would allow the road to dynamically change lane markings, traffic flow instructions, and the like. And, given the low power consumption of LEDs, they can draw power from the solar panels itself. As each panel reportedly generates 7.6 kilowatts of power a day, enough juice will probably be left over.

Cross Section of Solar Road Panel. Courtesy Solar Roadways

Solar Roadways is pretty upfront about the cost: each 12-foot square solar road panel apparently costs around $6,900 to construct (and it’s not clear if that includes installation). But if a four-lane one-mile stretch of these panels can indeed produce enough electricity to power 500 homes—as promised by Solar Roadways—then that’s a worthy expense.

The reliance of solar power on constant sunshine notwithstanding, it’s also reasonable to assume that these road panels can generate enough power to drive electric vehicles, right?

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Courtesy General Motors

But Math-dude turned blogger Mark insists that “The method that GM used to produce that mileage figure is extremely dishonest and completely uninformative”. In other words, the figure publicized is technically true, but would turn out different in practical situations. That’s because GM apparently came up with figure by computing how long it would take for the car to actually start consuming gasoline, if the batteries were fully charged.

To be clear, the high battery capacity and chargeability of the Volt still allows for impressive, real-world mileage conditions. As Mark computes: “if you drive your car 100 miles a day, you’ll consume a bit over a gallon of gas.” Those who don’t have to travel far to get to work, such as Mark’s wife (24 miles total), will literally never have to load one drop of fuel.

Yet on longer trips, the Volt’s mileage would be very different—but still impressive. Mark’s friend, who travels 90 miles total a day, would get 90 miles to the gallon. There is no question about the Volt’s potential to cut down on fuel consumption, but simply a call for more accurate markted mileage figures.

Then again, try explaining all that to potential customers through a quick soundbite or one-sentence statement. GM does have its reasons after all, especially with mistaken assumptions like electric cars actually costing more money and consuming more power than it saves. The best we can hope for is that the manufacturer provides detailed mileage scenarios to those who are actually interested in purchasing the vehicle.

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I know Block just started participating in the World Rally Championship, but why only now? What, did he have to develop his skills at Rally America or something, before going to the big leagues? This driver has props, and the unsophisticated rally fan in me thinks he can give Sébastien Loeb a run for the money.

Courtesy Ken Block Racing

The course is actually within an operating airport in South California, the Inyokern airport. Fittingly, it used be a very old drag strip (second oldest until it was closed down apparently), until the killjoys at the FAA decided that racing cars beside planes went against some rules.

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Courtesy Sparkfun

Totally cool, the setup involves hooking up the iPod adapter to custom electronics, and pocketing the footpod. The full how-to is available at Sparkfun, and includes details on how author Nate had to actually weaken the radio receiver of his Mazda so that the car wouldn’t automatically unlock while he was walking around the office (he wrapped part of the assembly in foil).

Obviously, some experience tinkering around with electronics is a prerequisite. Anyone here got that? Custom component sold on Sparkfun—an iPod serial board—also required.

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As the underage and rebellious James T. Kirk drives down in an “antique” Corvette, he gets a call from the angry owner. And how did he know a call was coming in? Why, through the futuristic version of the Nokia ringtone of course! And who would’ve thought Nokia moved past the typical standalone phone, featuring products of more integrated form?

Unless earlier parts of the movie’s timeline have changed, it’s good to see that the world’s number cell phone manufacturer has survived World War III.

Oh and by the way, Star Trek is a blast! Watch it if you haven’t!

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Image courtesy of Tesla Motors

But there’s still a long way to go. No doubt, Tesla has made some pricing progress with the S. Yet 500 Benjamins is still way beyond the reach of the majority of the US auto market, which is where I’m assuming the S will make its debut once Tesla finalizes everything. Then again, the manufacturer is marketing this sedan as an “environmentally friendly luxury saloon”.

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Even even even better, you’ve got at least 4000 people who’ve actually paid for the car! So why can’t manufacture Aptera Motors rely on the government for some badly-needed cash to push its ideas further?

Here’s the thing: the US Department of Energy’s $25 billion loan-program for alternative-energy cars only covers cars that run on four wheels. This face-to-palm moment becomes more apt when you learn that bailout-hungry GM has managed to secure $8 billion from the same fund. Repeat after me: face-to-palm.

To be fair, that’s a reality that can be changed through some legislative-wrangling. Aptera should let all members of Congress take a ride in their creation. The absolutely cool electronic hum generated by a running 2e is sure to win converts.

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Key segment: the short explanation on the new KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), plus how it can add an almost video-game-like tactical dimension to an F1 race.

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