Thursday, 1/14/21 (copy 01)

Howdy,

I've come to think of mid-January as the ooh-aah season.  Because of three letters - CES.

The Consumer Electronics Show features the latest tech gadgets and gizmos.  And mobility tech has become a big influence of the show.  Why?  Because it creates headlines that capture the imagination.  (Which also sales ad space.)

Headlines like: "Flying Cars: Coming Soon!"  Or, "Air Taxi Network On The Way!"  And, "Good-Bye Traffic - Hello Sky!"

I'm not English - but, it's all rubbish.  And I really wish that weren't the case.  Because I still get super-excited every time I think of flying cars.  (Ironically, I'm petrified of heights so it will probably never work for me anyway.)

But here's the thing.  And I heard this from a panelist during a talk covering this very topic at CES last year.  Flying cars in cities aren't likely to work for a very long time.  Because of sound.  They're going to be too darn loud.

Moving the amount of air necessary for a 'flying car' or VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) vehicle to operate is not doable.  Not in an urban setting.  The noise is only one factor.  There are others too. 

Like all the wind generated from the thrust.  There's another big problem.  Plus dust and debris that would get kicked up by the thrust created wind (storms).

So, in the end, 'flying cars' or VTOLs are really going to be our new helicopters - maybe, someday.  A handful of them taking off and landing atop tall buildings where noise and wind pollution do the least amount of harm.

But until then they'll sell a lot of ad space.

Ooh-aah,

-T

Around The Water-Cooler

FUTURE VEHICLES & ELECTRIC

• Los Angeles Will Be the Next Major City To Launch An Air Taxi Network - SURE!

• GM's CES Keynote includes flying-cars but lots EV announcements too.

• Ford's Mustang Mach-E electric range seems solid - but I wish 'Mustang' wasn't in the name.

• Ever hear of Lordstown Motors or Nio?  Both EV companies coming to life.

• Sony too, yup, testing an electric vehicle.

• And don't forget this giant toaster EV.

• Tesla's got a lower-priced EV Model Y

• Here's some irony: carmakers are cutting production due to a chip shortage!

BACK TO THE BASICS

• Hyundai's got a nearly 500k vehicle recall.

• Jeep's getting in the 3-row game.

• Ford's killing one of it's coolest rides - that never came to the US.

• They call it a truck-house - and it makes sense for this Tacoma-camper.

QUICK FLY-BY

• Spirit Airlines is struggling - #BooHoo #WorstFlightOfMyLife #NeverFlySpiritAgain

• US Space Command picks "Rocket City" for its new HQ

ROAD TRIPS

• CA Pea Soup Landmark Is Up For Sale

• It's a new world record!  For scooter sidecar miles.  (These guys need a job.)

SOCAL AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUMS

Hopefully, it won't be too much longer until these guys reopen!

EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

It was recently announced that the Detroit Auto Show canceled again this year.  But what does that have to do with SoCal?  Well, it's not a good sign for the LA Auto Show which was rescheduled from last fall/winter to this spring.So, let's get out and support our local cars and coffee events for sure.  Because these might be all we have for a while longer.Saturday: Newport Beach, Crystal CoveSunday:  Malibu, Wheels & Waves 

Complete events list HERE.

ONE BAD HONDA CIVIC!

2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition

Rock Honda

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