My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on July 28, 2007

I’m not sure how much I’ll be using another image manipulation program written for the Apple Macintosh computer platform, but Picturesque from Acqualia is an impressive $20 program. Its set of image enhancement features allows one to quickly drag and drop Photoshop-like features to images. I’ve found it very easy to use, but it is only available on the Mac. (according to the developers, they will continue to add features in upcoming releases … a good reason to consider the $9.00 lifetime upgrade?)

Original Logo – Picturesque version at top

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Posted By RichC on July 27, 2007

Five of us went to the Jeff Dunham comedy show last night and it was terrific. I highly recommend it if you enjoy laughing. The place was packed which surprised me for a Thursday night in Newport Kentucky — the Funnybone on the levee. Jeff Dunham, Achmed the Suicide Bomber, Peanut, the Jose Jalapeňo (’on a stick’) and good ol’ Walter were there to entertain us … a very enjoyable time was had by all. A particularly enjoyable theme in his recent show were his “light blue Toyota Prius” comments … my VW TDI and biodiesel friends will surely laugh at them; funny stuff. People living in an around Cincinnati are enjoying his show so much that the club has added an additional show at 4 PM on Sunday. If you enjoy comedy and ventriloquists, or have never seen Jeff, you should check it out.

Jeff Dunham’s new DVD will be released on September 18th or you can pre-order at most places now. His old stuff is also on Comedy Central, if you have cable or satellite TV Or do a search on YouTube and you’ll be able to check him out.

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Tags: comedy, dunham, ventriloquist

Posted By RichC on July 26, 2007

Those who know my daily routine see me nosing around in the stock market — sort of a hobby. Yes it is a relatively risky business, but if managed wisely one’s investments can mature at a significantly better rate than many ‘pay for’ advice organizations in selecting mutual funds, bonds, CDs, etc. Before talking ‘stocks, ‘ my first recommendation is to buy a home first. Younger readers should consider a home as an investment in your future — one that you can enjoy today. Traditionally homes are the best investments average Americans make in securing their future and the downside usually is minimal. Not only have most homes increased in value over a persons lifetime, but they offer a significant way to ‘use other people’s money’ (a home mortgage) in helping to finance and the buyer will receive an income tax deduction to boot. Another current tax boon for most home owners, that they don’t think about until later in life, is that the ‘capital gains’ exemption from the sale of their primary residence. This can significantly add dollars to their retirement porfolio. A home investment is hard to beat considering people need a roof over their heads anyway.

The above is not really the purpose of this post since most people realized that home ownership is not enough to secure their future; we must also save elsewhere. That second savings vehicle should be a 401-K if it is available … its a no-brainer if your company offers to contribute too. Do what you can to maximize your companies contribution as this is your second best tax savings retirement vehicle. Unfortunately not all of use have this option and have to shift to SEP, Keogh or IRAs. Individual Retirement Accounts are something available to all that earn and income as a way to save for retirement. They are currently available in a couple popular ‘flavors:’ Roth and Traditional. The Roth is attractive as the money earned in the account is promised to be tax free when withdrawn. The traditional shelters dollars going in and growing, but taxes will have to be paid on the back end when you withdraw — often at a non-working rate if you are fully retired.

IRAs can be self managed or broker managed … suffice to say I appreciate the freedom of being in control of this choice (my many mistakes and all). Personally I believe in a conservative philosophy in directing these investments; balanced investing is the key. I recommend picking leading companies in each market sector, corporate and municipal bonds (or bond funds – my choice) and try to keep them there for the longer haul … at least for the ‘less’ risky component of your IRA. I also like a chunk of cash free to trade in and out of the market. Call it the calculated risk chunk of my IRA and non-IRA ‘cash’ trading account. This is the cash used to make trades that are not intended to be long haul investments, but are ones which statistically offer a good chance of returning market beating numbers.

Here’s a trade that I currently like: WhenRAD (Rite Aid) RSI drops and the stock price heads lower (selling pressure), there comes a point when buyers start to outnumber the sellers. When this selling trend reverses and becomes a buying trend, the stock price heads back up. In each case in the technical chart when the RSI indicated a significant oversold situation this past year, buyers were back and the stock price has risen. (and when this happens to a $5-$6 stock it doesn’t take as many dollars to participant and offset trading commission cost.)

What to do? If you are aggressive and can’t help but want the bottom … you’ll start buying now and adding to your position over the next several days. If you are conservative, you’ll wait for a reversal of the downtrend … my rule of thumb is to wait 3 days for ‘the trend’ before buying. That said, I’m not very patient and I generally can’t pick a bottom and almost always get out too soon settling for a ‘fair’ gain in a short trade (often just daily moves). BTW … I’ve kicked myself many times in buying and selling trendy stocks like — Crocs – CROX. (See post) WARNING: Their is always risk … the market might continue to tumble and defy the statistics, so set your risk tolerance. (mine is a 10% … if the signal is wrong and things continue to deteriorate then you must bail with a 10% loss realizing that its going to take 2 good trades to get you back into the positive again.)

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Posted By RichC on July 25, 2007

It’s an interesting concept … building an all-electric experimental airplane. This year at the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh Wisconsin, Sonex Aircraft LLC (the folks behind the set of plans I’m using to build my experimental airplane – N43SX reserved) are introducing an electric power driven experimental plane. In a press release, preparing for the unveiling at Airventure, they introduced the Sonex derivative, know as the Waiex, with a 270 volt DC electric motor and tail number N270DC. As battery technology, efficient and light electric motor and charging systems continue to improve, the idea of an electric airplane starts to become a reality. Sonex in particular is ideally suited to take this new concept to market particularly in the Sport Light Aircraft market which are designed for aviation enthusiasts who will be flying for enjoyment, not necessarily for distance or crosscountry flights. The current version has target flight durations of 25 minutes to 45 minutes, but Sonex anticipates production systems that will allow one-hour flights. Light weight batteries and charging systems will be key to this eventual market.

Sonex Aircraft is also embracing clean alternatively powered engine designs and have partnered with Wisconsin-based Renew Fuel Stations which supplies them with E85 ethanol. The development continues around Sonex AircraftAeroconversions, Inc. division’s AeroVee engine. This engine in its 2.0 development and the E85 option will allow use of a cleaner and renewable domestic fuel for aviation. (The AeroVee is basically a 2180cc 4 cylinder Volkswagen conversion beefed up for aircraft use)

Sonex Aircraft, LLC and AeroConversions Unveil E-Flight Initiative for Sport Aircraft Alternative Energy Research & Development

At a press conference held today on AeroShell Square at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, Sonex Aircraft, LLC and AeroConversions Products made the official unveiling of the E-Flight Initiative, pioneering alternative energy research & development for sport aircraft, with an informational forum to follow tomorrow, July 25 at 11:30 am in AirVenture forum building 11. The unveiling included a proof-of-concept prototype electric powerplant installed in a Waiex airframe and the event was kicked-off with opening remarks by EAA President Tom Poberezny.
In 2006 Sonex Aircraft, LLC’s research and development team began work on what is now called the “E-Flight Initiative.” E-Flight is a push to explore viable alternative energies for powering sport aircraft and improve the efficiency and performance of current products and technologies to keep aviation affordable for the average pilot, and to keep recreational aviation available to future generations of pilots.

The E-Flight Initiative has three major areas of focus, taking a diverse approach to the problems of rising energy costs and an ailing environment to provide near, intermediate and long-term green powerplant solutions:

• Electric Power: Development of a proof-of-concept electric motor powerplant, controller, battery pack and charging system with the goal of determining the feasibility of a marketable line of Sonex and AeroConversions products. This project represents the most significant portion of E-Flight, in terms of investment, risks, challenges, and possible gains.

• Ethanol Fuel: Investigation of converting the AeroConversions AeroVee 2.0 powerplant for use of ethanol-based fuels in order to accommodate ethanol-blend auto fuel and/or pure ethanol to both increase performance and efficiency and to ensure that Sonex and AeroConversions products are prepared for the possible discontinuation of 100LL or similar aviation fuels.

• Efficiency Enhancement: Development of other enhancements to the existing AeroVee 2.0 and other existing and future AeroConversions products to increase fuel efficiency and performance for the sport pilot. These enhancements will be built upon an already strong foundation, as an AeroCarb equipped AeroVee powered Sonex aircraft already boasts a fuel economy of over 42 miles per gallon when cruising at 150 mph TAS.

Although E-Flight has been shrouded in strict secrecy to ensure intellectual property protection of its more cutting-edge components, public unveiling of E-Flight at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 has been a vital key to the Initiative since it’s inception. E-Flight is not only intended as a “push” for the Sonex R&D team, but also to help push the rest of the recreational aviation industry toward similar goals in the interest of preserving the future of our sport. Additionally, the public AeroShell Square unveiling and subsequent forum are intended to attract potential sponsors to help secure Sonex Aircraft, LLC and AeroConversions’ ability to continue E-Flight Initiative research and development.

“Our Initiative will broaden and refine our vision of what efficient, low cost sport aviation will be for the generations to come. It should serve as a beacon to attract serious sponsors for this important effort,” remarked Sonex Aircraft, LLC founder and President John Monnett.

• Electric Power; project history: Conceptualization of an electric powerplant project actually pre-dates the 1997 founding of Sonex Aircraft. In 1994, John Monnett and Pete Buck devised the concept to design, build, and fly a small electric powered and manned aircraft that would be capable of a short duration flight in order to set or establish speed records for this new class of aircraft. Pete Buck prepared a detailed feasibility study for the project dubbed “Flash Flight”. Buck, who works full time as an engineer at Lockheed Advanced Development Company “Skunk Works” and is Sonex Aircraft’s Chief Engineer, also spent two semesters of his engineering degree analyzing and building the battery/power system for a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) sponsored by Ford Motor Company.

Buck’s study concluded that Flash Flight was feasible using many “off the shelf” components at relatively little risk. The aircraft would fulfill it’s record-attempt mission, however, it would only have an endurance of approximately 10 minutes. Other tasks associated with the founding of Sonex Aircraft, LLC took priority, and Flash Flight never came to fruition.

Since 1994 and Flash Flight’s feasibility study, the popularity of radio controlled electric powered toy vehicles, gas-electric hybrid cars, and the boom in wireless electronic devices such as cell phones and PDA’s have pushed the state-of-the-art in battery, electric motor and controller technology. Brushless DC cobalt motors are now lighter and more efficient. Advances in microprocessors have allowed motor controllers to be smaller, lighter and more efficient. Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymer battery technology has pushed the endurance, efficiency and power output of electronic devices, while shrinking in physical size and weight. The Sonex R&D team concluded that the time for this endeavor had arrived.

• Electric Power; a new mission: The contemporary E-Flight electric project will benefit greatly by the maturation of technology since our initial studies. Using a purpose-built AeroConversions brushless DC cobalt motor, controller, and highly efficient battery and charging system, the E-Flight electric systems will be able to power a larger aircraft to higher top speeds with greatly increased endurance. E-Flight’s proof-of-concept prototype will use the flight proven Waiex airframe, flown single pilot only, so that the emphasis can be placed solely on powerplant research and development. Initial top speeds will reach approximately 130 mph, and endurance is expected to range between 25-45 minutes or longer, depending upon power usage on each individual flight.

The initial emphasis for the E-Flight proof-of concept aircraft has been shifted away from immediate pursuit of FAI speed records, although the possibility remains that those records could be obtained in short-order after successful first flight. With the advanced state of the technologies concerned, the goal of the project is to develop and prove the application of the technology and pave the way for near-term electric powerplant Sonex and AeroConversions products for sale to the sport aviation marketplace and beyond.

The current state and growing popularity of electric powered model RC aircraft leads the layman to assume that an electric powered aircraft of this type is simply a matter of hooking a bigger battery to a bigger motor, charging it up in an hour or two and taking-off. While that is essentially true in raw principle, the reality of this project is that scaling-up these technologies in a viable manner presents significant challenges.

• Electric Power; AeroConversions Electric Motor: Brushless DC cobalt motor technology has advanced significantly since 1994’s Flash Flight study, allowing the design team to now consider their use, however, just like before, a suitable brushless DC cobalt motor of this level of power output with an acceptable size and weight does not exist and can not be built and provided by a third party vendor without incurring unacceptable costs. As a result, the design team, in collaboration with Bob Boucher of Astro Flight, Inc., has designed and built a completely new AeroConversions motor.

This motor is the most powerful, lightest-weight, and efficient unit of this type ever produced. It is a 3 phase, 270 volt, 200 amp motor that will be over 90 percent efficient. It uses elegantly designed CNC machined anodized aluminum and nickel-plated steel parts in combination with “off the shelf” bearings, races, snap rings, magnets, etc.

The prototype AeroConversions motor is slightly larger than a 35 ounce coffee can and weighs approximately 50 pounds. The motor is a modular, scalable unit. The motor core’s design has modular sections that can be reduced to a lower-output, smaller motor (shortened in length), or added upon to make a larger motor with a higher power output.

• Electric Power; AeroConversions Electronic Motor Controller: Electronic motor controllers for brushless electric motors are quite commonplace today, mostly used in the electric RC market. A suitable controller for a 270 volt, 200 amp motor does not exist. Running such high current requires much larger components. Although there are a handful of third party vendors who could design and build the appropriate controller for this project, it would take 6-7 months lead time and cost 20-50 Thousand Dollars. The time and cost associated with acquiring such a controller was deemed unacceptable and the research and development team, in cooperation with a key electronics expert, began designing a proprietary AeroConversions electronic motor controller.

The controller can commutate the motor in two different ways: using Hall effect sensors to determine the magnet core’s position in relation to the coils, or using the motor’s back-EMF to sense rotor position, eliminating the need for Hall sensors. The AeroConversions controller will initially employ a Hall effect sensor-equipped motor, but back-EMF controlling will also be explored to potentially further simplify the AeroConversions motor design. The AeroConversions controller will also provide in-cockpit monitoring of battery power levels to the pilot.

• Electric Power; AeroConversions Battery System: Most contemporary electric powerplants for gas-electric and pure electric cars and previous generations of RC electric vehicles utilize Lithium Ion battery technology. While much improved in power density and discharge rate over lead-acid and NiCad batteries, Li-Ion batteries still do not offer enough power discharge-to-weight ratio to support an electric powerplant for an aircraft that is based on battery power alone and has a market-viable endurance. Newer RC electric vehicles, cell phone, laptop computers and other mobile devices have been moving toward Lithium Polymer cells. Li-Poly battery cells can safely discharge at a rate of 25 times their capacity, or “25c.”

With all the extra energy of a Li-Poly cell, however, comes extra volatility. The E-Flight design team has engineered and constructed 10 battery “safe boxes” intended to contain 8 Li-Poly battery packs per box and consolidate their charge/discharge and balancing wiring into two sets of multi-pin connectors. The Boxes will accommodate natural cell expansion and contraction while safely securing each cell pack and facilitating cell cooling with “cooling foam” padding. Cooling will further be aided by heat sink surfaces on each box that will have cooling inlet air directed over them. Additionally, the boxes are designed to contain and safely direct fire or explosion within the box through a “blow hole” in the box that will be connected to a small exhaust manifold.

For the proof-of-concept aircraft, the battery boxes will be removed from the aircraft and charged individually. The charging units need to be configured to safely keep all cells balanced during charging. Lessons learned from the proof-of-concept systems will lead to the design of more advanced charging and balancing systems allowing safer battery handling by consumers, including a single-plug charging system that may remain in the aircraft at all times, featuring easy exchange of battery boxes to enable consecutive back-to-back flights in a short period of time by pilots who wish to invest in spare batteries.

Future generations of safer, more powerful Li-Poly batteries show the near-term possibility of further extended flight duration while personal electronics and transportation will undoubtedly continue to push improvement of the technology in years to come.

“By developing a viable electric motor and controller system for this proof-of-concept aircraft, we will open a door to future flight that we have only been able to dream of,” comments Monnett. “Self-launching electric powered gliders already exist. The potential of electric power goes beyond that single use and relates directly to sport flying, aerobatics and high altitude flight in purpose-built airframes. It is essential that our proof-of-concept vehicle is a conventional aircraft that the majority of aviation enthusiasts can relate to.”

One remarkable reality about the E-Flight electric aircraft project is that, by necessity, the entire R&D project for the proof-of-concept stage of the project will cost less than the price of the average ready-to-fly LSA aircraft available today. This project undeniably highlights the spirit of EAA in that it is truly a grass-roots effort to push technology for advancement of our sport and improvement of our planet’s ecosystem and it has been accomplished, not by a large aerospace firm or government agency, but by EAA members on an extraordinarily cost-effective budget.

• Ethanol Fuel: Ethanol Blended Fuels have become increasingly popular as most auto makers are now producing “Flex Fuel” cars and trucks. This has led to higher supplies of ethanol in the United States making this fuel easier to find at a rapidly expanding number of locations.

Sonex Aircraft has begun its own scientific testing to optimize the AeroConversions AeroVee 2.0 for the use of ethanol-based fuels to take advantage of the lower emissions, affordable cost, and greater horsepower. As part of the testing, Sonex Aircraft has partnered with Renew Fuel Stations, an Oshkosh-based company that markets and distributes ethanol-blended vehicle fuel such as E85 – a blend of up to 85% ethanol with 15% gasoline. Renew currently operates 11 fueling stations across Wisconsin that feature renewable-based fuels for all gasoline engines and is an industry leader in the expanding retail market for these fuels.

The AeroVee 2.0 is equipped with the versatile AeroCarb and an ignition system that allows the engine to be configured with higher compression ratios to optimize the performance potential of ethanol-based fuels. Testing has already begun with an AeroVee engine run at a higher compression ratio for E85 and other blends. This testing will be expanding as the Sonex research and development team explores a range of engine and fuel variables to determine the optimum combination to both maximize fuel economy and power output.

• Efficiency Enhancement: The Efficiency Enhancement component of the E-Flight Initiative represents the continuation of the Sonex and AeroConversions commitment to providing the Best Performance Per Dollar to the Sport Pilot. As fuel prices increase, performance and efficiency are becoming more critical in allowing average-income pilots to continue to afford flying. Driven by the E-Flight Initiative, consumers will see a new generation of exciting AeroConversions products targeted at optimizing performance and efficiency in a wide range of aircraft. More details about the progress of E-Flight Initiative projects will be released in the months and years ahead. Sonex Aircraft, LLC invites all interested potential sponsors to contact us with information about how your company or organization can help the E-Flight Initiative research & development team take a leadership role in pioneering technologies to secure the future of recreational aviation. All available project information and updates will be posted to the E-Flight Initiative home page: http://www.AeroConversions.com/E-Flight

Sonex Aircraft, LLC is a rising star in the experimental kit aircraft industry, providing a series of Sport Pilot eligible kit aircraft along with the AeroConversions line of products which include the AeroVee engine, AeroCarb and ancillary aviation products. Sonex Aircraft’s Sonex and Waiex sport planes, and the Xenos sport motorglider offer outstanding performance in an easy to build, easy to fly kit package that can be purchased and completed with full technical support at an unrivaled price. Sonex and AeroConversions continue to invest heavily in developing new products. Our team is committed to providing simple, elegant and low-cost solutions for sport flying. Simply put, Sonex Aircraft and AeroConversions products provide the best performance per dollar. Check us out at www.SonexAircraft.com

EDIT: John Monnett talks with AVWeb about the prototype in this video clip below.

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Posted By RichC on July 24, 2007

In January I mentioned reading Daniel Tammet’s book “Born on a Blue Day,” and a follow-up post about a 60-Minutes TV broadcast. I was intrigued to learn a little bit about how this relatively normal autistic savant thinks. In Daniel’s book, he tries to explain how he sees numbers and the challenges he faced growing up ‘different.’

I’ve loaned my copy of the book several times to people interested in reading it, and received several emails from people who have found my comments. One reader sent me a Google Video link from a program produced in the UK that I thought I would include here: The Boy With The Incredible Brain (47 min. 30 sec).

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Posted By RichC on July 23, 2007

The Ford Escape SUV has been a popular vehicle from the Ford Motor Company for several years now and with fuel prices rising the hybrid version stands to gain considerably. The current Hybrid Escape model is considered ‘so-so’ … but the new 2008 model is moving closer to what most hybrid buyers want. Both the 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive versions of the new Escape use the improve Toyota based computer controls for its 70KW electric drive and are able to run the vehicle on either just electric or both gasoline and electric; current numbers are 34 city/30 highway for the 2 wheel drive and 29 city/27 highway for the 4 wheel drive 2008 Escape Hybrid. Besides being the most fuel efficient SUV being sold in America, it is also E85 Ethanol capable … but where’s the biodiesel/hybrid version?
😉

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Posted By RichC on July 22, 2007

Along with the three Volkswagen V-10 Touareg diesels, Jon Hamilton and his RallyVW team climbed to the clouds again this year at Pike’s Peak. (course map) His unofficial 14:03 time is a record for him and a tribute to the kind of power that can come from our little 1.9L turbocharged diesels. (particularly in skilled hands) One of the results to notice is that Jon even beat one of the TDI Touaregs!

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the world”s highest auto race and one of the most grueling events in all of motor racing. The start line at 9,400 feet is high enough to leave anyone short of breath. And the climb to the towering 14,110 foot finish punishes drivers and their vehicles. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength – plus it robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit. So competitors and vehicles must be in top shape simply to finish, let alone win.

Mile for mile, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the toughest race in the world.

The official information will be posted on the PPIHC website, but a congratulation is in line to all at team RallyVW. Way to go guys!

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Posted By RichC on July 21, 2007

About a decade and a half ago I remember “Big Bang” or OS 7 and it was a big change for Apple Macintosh users, but this particular “7” is from a different player — Microsoft. Although Microsoft has only recently released its Vista operating system, it looks as if the software giant is wasting little time in preparing the a new 32 and 64-bit OS. According to CNET, the next version of Microsoft Windows, internally codenamed “Vienna,” will now be known as “7.” It is scheduled to be developed over the next 3 years according to a blog post on Engadget.

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Posted By RichC on July 20, 2007

I purchased four tickets last night to the Cincinnati Funnybone comedy club to see my favorite ventriloquist, Jeff Dunham. Dunham and his cast of puppets are in town attending a puppeteer convention this week and will be performing next week and weekend in Newport, Kentucky (just over the Ohio River). For those never seeing Mr. Dunham, he is as Jay Leno says “the best there is” at entertaining Edgar Bergen style, but be prepare for a few naughty words … especially from crusty ol’ Walter. (Walter on marrage: 6 MB WMV clip -thanks Hank)

Jeff Dunham will also have everybody’s favorite, Peanut, as well at his left hand veggie, Jose Jalapeňo (‘on a stick’); he also makes an appearance in the movie Delta Farce I’ve been told. If we are lucky, we might even meet Achmed, the Suicide Bomber … a skeleton looking puppet resembling Osama Bin Laden. If you are in the mood to laugh, I highly recommend attending one of his shows. (tickets purchased online are $22 plus a $2 service charge)

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Tags: comedy, dunham, ventriloquist

Posted By RichC on July 19, 2007

Frank Giovinazzi, Publisher of Car Buyer’s Notebook produced a short YouTube review about the summer fun AND four season Volkswagen EOS. The EOS was Motorweek’s Convertible of the Year for 2007 and Autobytel’s best convertible under $75,000 — its the only retractable hardtop convertible with a panoramic sunroof.

Too bad I’ll never personally own one … my wife eyed it as her next car back in 2006. I’m unsure whether she’ll opt for automatic or the manual transmission, but I’d personally save the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG transmission) for the TDI diesels. After test driving, I found the six speed manual and 2.0L turbo the best match for the EOS, although if price and economy are of little concern the 3.2 liter 250HP six cylinder might be nice. The turbo charged four cylinder is the same used in the hot little GTI and is very responsive, while still remaining reasonably economical … especially on the highway. (32 mpg with premium fuel) Sure I’d prefer the 140HP TDI version, but the wait in North America might be too long even if I had the patience of Job — I’m sensing we may see a 2008 VW EOS in our garage next year?

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