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The Automotive Intelligentia blog is now officially a part of Forbes.com.

You can find us under the Lifestyle/Autos section, or log on directly to our latest posts here.

We'll be posting weekly new-car road tests and features, as well as late-breaking updates and the occasional rants.

And be on the lookout for the long-awaited update of the original eBook new car guide, the "Automotive Intelligentsia 2011-2012 Sports Car Guide," coming for multiple electronic platforms and a print edition in June.

Fiat 500 Spied in Chicago

Okay, maybe it's not much of a spy shot when the name of the car is plastered all over the side of it, but we caught this Fiat 500 right after a photo shoot for the perky retro-styled coupe along Chicago's lakefront. Hopefully the production versions will come in more tasteful paint schemes when the "Cinquecento," as it's called in Italy, launches via a new network of dealerships by year's end. (Photo by Jim Gorzelany)

New Crash Tests Coming

Back in the 1980’s, government crash tests were heralded as the key for consumers to pick a safer car. Beginning with frontal collision tests and eventually branching out to side-impact and rollover tests, automakers soon learned how to engineer their cars specifically to garner top five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s assessments. Today it’s difficult to find a model that gets less than four stars in any regard, which tends to make true comparisons of various models’ crashworthiness difficult.

And it’s made only more so by the fact that comparisons of frontal crash tests results are only relevant within specific size and weight classes. This means that a subcompact car that gets a five star ratings isn’t necessarily safer than a full-size model that gets only four stars for occupant protection in a head-on collision. The ratings also don’t take into consideration technology that can help motorists avoid getting into a crash in the first place.

Helping to correct these deficiencies, NHTSA is implementing a revamped five-star rating system beginning this fall with 55 of the most popular 2011 models across all car and truck classes. As before, low-volume luxury and sports cars will fall under the radar of the new ratings systems. In addition to tougher crash tests that will likely result in the agency issuing fewer stars for many models, cars will be rated according to a single overall safety score and will be rated against each other rather than against a standard performance level. It will also provide consumers with information about new advanced crash avoidance technologies, such as lane departure and forward collision warning systems.

While further details are as-yet unavailable, we applaud NHTSA for helping to bring its new car assessment program into the 21^st Century. There may be some surprises in the first round of test results, with some former five-star-rated cars now getting as few as two stars, NHTSA says, so stay tuned.

When Silence Isn't Golden

When can a car run too quietly? Ironically when it makes no sound at all.

Electric and hybrid-powered cars, which run silently in urban passage, can be dangerous to blind pedestrians, who must otherwise rely on their hearing to determine the speed and proximity of traffic. The same can also be said for cyclists, runners, senior citizens and small children who may not otherwise be aware that cars are approaching. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, hybrid and electric vehicles are nearly twice as likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians as vehicles with conventional engines.

Thus, both advocates for the blind and automakers have teamed up to draft proposed legislation, as part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 that would require hybrid and electric vehicles to emit a specified level of sound at lower speeds. "Good policy is a collaborative effort, and this is a good approach for pedestrians and automakers," says Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

While this sound could take the form of a “chirp,” or perhaps some futuristic humming ala George Jetson's flying car, exotic car-builder Lotus recently unveiled a more-creative alternative in a concept electric-powered version of its Evora sports coupe. Here, the driver can choose from four artificial engine “sounds” that play through the audio system’s speakers.

While that may sound futuristic, a recently released product called the Soundracer does essentially the same thing, making even an old beater at least sound like a lusty Lotus, and it does so for only $40. Offered in V8 and V10-engine versions, the device plugs into a 12-volt power point and replicates a sports car engine’s roar through the car’s audio system via a built in FM transmitter. And it does so in perfect sync with the vehicle’s actual accelerations and decelerations (we've tested it and it really works). It also doubles as an audio adapter for MP3 players. (www.soundracer.se)

If to you this all sounds like a high-tech approach to the bygone practice of pinning baseball cards to a bicycle so they flap against the spokes to simulate an engine sound, well, you’re not alone.

Help Build a 'Vette

In an unprecedented move, Chevrolet is letting purchasers of either the ZO6 or ZR1 versions of the venerable Chevrolet Corvette actually help assemble their cars' engines at General Motors’ Performance Build Center (PBC) in Wixom, Mich.

Fortunately this is performed under the supervision of and support from skilled technicians. When the engine is assembled, a personalized nameplate is added to the engine next to the builder’s name. It is then sent to the Corvette assembly plant for installation in the customer’s car.

“Corvette owners are some of the most passionate – and most involved – enthusiasts in the industry,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The Corvette Engine Build Experience offers customers an unprecedented opportunity to participate, hands on, in creating the car.”

While you'd typically get a discount for putting in your own labor to partially assemble something you're buying, the Engine Build Experience, as it's officially called, is a $5,800 MSRP option. And on top of that, hotel accommodations and travel arrangements are extra.

Driving off Into the Sunset

Sales are winding down on two long-running retro-styled models that once turned heads like few other cars. Both the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Volkswagen New Beetle will be discontinued this fall.

Introduced in 2000, the PT Cruiser quickly became Chrysler’s top seller. The compact wagon looked like a hot rod, but featured flexible minivan-like seating that could accommodate various cargo configurations. Selling over 1.3 million units with a line that once encompassed turbocharged and convertible versions, the PT Cruiser languished in recent years and will fade away in only a single “Classic” model.

The New Beetle, which updated the memorable “Bug” from the 1960’s and ‘70s, likewise had buyers packing VW showrooms when it debuted in 1998. Including turbocharged and convertible variants (and, briefly, a diesel-powered model), it struck a decidedly emotional chord with its owners. The iconic car celebrates its departure with limited “Final Edition” models that sport unique paint treatments.

In truth, VW had nowhere to go with the New Beetle other than making minor updates. If they changed the look too much it wouldn't be a Bug any more. We'd like to see the company revive its plans to build a modern-day Microbus to keep the nostalgia ball rolling, but those plans were nixed years ago. VW has since taken the path of least resistance by selling an only nominally revised version of Chrysler's minivan, the Routan.

Chrysler, meanwhile had a lot more latitude with the PT Cruiser--the same basic idea of a small, stylish and utilitarian wagon with minivan-like features could have been recast any number of ways. Alas, while the company may have had ideas on the drawing board, a lack of cash was the obvious culprit, and the car's aging mechanicals demanded Chrysler make more than just cosmetic changes.

Limited Time Only -- 50% Off!

Just in time to make your summer reading list! The Automotive Intellgentsia 2009-2010 Sports Car Guide eBook edition for multiple platforms (including PC and Mac) is available at 50% off the $5.99 retail price through July 31, but only via this link at Smashwords.com. Be sure to enter the code SWS50 at checkout to receive the half-off discount.

Hello Again

Back from an extended hiatus to recover from hip surgery and complete assorted projects, hoping to post regularly again. First up is a big announcement about a new AI-branded eBook (See below).

--Jim Gorzelany

NEW: Automotive Intelligentsia Money-Saving New-Car Guide

Finally comes the second book in the Automotive Intelligentsia series, and it's one that's sure to be many times more valuable than its cover price.

The Automotive Intelligentsia Money-Saving New-Car Guide is aimed at helping motorists maximize one of the largest capital outlays they’ll ever make. The book takes an engaging step-by-step approach to acquiring a new car or truck, keeping a sharp eye on the bottom line at every turn. Readers will discover how to choose a vehicle that best meets their needs and budgets, and has the lowest long-term ownership costs; they'll learn how to take a test-drive, get the most money for their trade-ins and negotiate a rock-bottom price, among other topics.

The Automotive Intelligentsia Money-Saving New-Car Guide also details what buyers can expect to find among each of 11 separate new-vehicle categories, from subcompacts to electric cars, including capsule reviews of all available makes and models to help jump-start their research. That's 254 cars and trucks in all.

By following the time-tested techniques presented in the Automotive Intelligentsia Money-Saving New-Car Guide readers can keep thousands of dollars in their pockets over a typical ownership period.

Now available for the Amazon Kindle eBook reader for $6.99 via this link and for other formats via this link. Coming soon for Apple, Sony and Barnes and Noble and in a paperback edition.

AI 2009-2010 Sports Car Guide Now Available at B&N, Sony and Apple

The electronic version of the Automotive Intelligentsia 2009-2010 Sports Car Guide is now available at Barnes and Noble online for multiple platforms, including PC and Mac. It's only $5.99 and is available via this link. It's also now offered for the Sony eBook readers and via Apple's iBooks store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, also for $5.99