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Here's how the EcoCAR 3 teams are going to green up their Camaros

Plug-in hybrids were probably not what the Dead Milkmen had in mind when they wrote their 1985 alt-punk classic Bitchin' Camaro (OK, we're not really sure what they had in mind), but we're certainly fans of the effort. The 16 college teams competing in the third version of the EcoCAR green-vehicle contest have declared which powertrains they will attempt to build for maximum environmental friendliness. They'll be working with 2016 Chevrolet Camaros that General Motors is donating to the competition. The US Department of Energy is also helping to fund the competition. Out of the 16, all but one will go with a plug-in hybrid powertrain which switches over from electric power to an engine powered by E85 (i.e., an 85-percent ethanol blend) when the juice runs out. Those schools include the University of Alabama, Arizona State, Mississippi State, Ohio State and Penn State. The lone dissenter is the team from the University of Tennessee, which is going with a hybrid vehicle powered by E10. This past spring, Ohio State was named winner of Year One of EcoCAR3, winning $10,000 in the process. THE Ohio State University (as students and alumni like to call it) also won the overall competition for EcoCAR 2 last year. The vehicle used in that project was a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and OSU also used a plug-in hybrid/E85 combo to take the big prize. Take a look at the list of schools and their powertrains of choice for EcoCAR 3 here. Related Video:

Hoons off-road in a lowrider Monte Carlo in latest Roadkill video

Specialization keeps the automotive world interesting because it creates all sorts of fun niches. For example, if you like hot rods, you can dive deep into the world of rat rods or just focus on cars with a more traditional look. In some cases the myriad styles don't mix very well, of course, and the folks at Roadkill are proving that on video by attempting to take a lowrider Chevrolet Monte Carlo from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on dirt. As you might expect, forcing a lowrider off-road doesn't go well, but the stunt makes for a great chronicle of dumb, automotive fun. Other than some repairs to get the Monte Carlo roadworthy, the only modification here is a set of knobby tires to achieve at least a modicum of traction on the loose rocks. Although, no matter what they do, at the even lowest speeds the hosts inside are still bounced around like they're in an inflatable castle at a kid's birthday party. Still, the guys are clearly amused by it all.

GM recalls nearly 340,000 large SUVs to fix daytime running lights

General Motors has initiated a recall campaign for more than 338,000 of its large SUVs to address a potential defect in the onboard computer software that controls the daytime running lights. In some cases, the DRLs may remain on even when the headlights are enabled, which creates additional glare for oncoming drivers at night and fails to comply with federal regulations for headlight performance.  "GM determined that the body control module (BCM) software in these vehicles, under a combination of certain pre-conditions, may fail to deactivate the DRLs when the headlamps are on," GM's recall report said. "A regulatory assessment was conducted to evaluate whether the condition presented a potential noncompliance with the DRL activation requirements in S7.10.5, Table I-a. of FMVSS 108. On October 27, 2022, GM’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) decided to conduct a recall for potential noncompliance with this standard." GM says the recall covers the 2021 model year GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and 2021 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. The company says all models produced within that operating window include the improperly programmed body control module, meaning all vehicles within the recall population may exhibit the problem. The issue was discovered by a GM engineer during validation testing in August, prompting a deeper investigation and eventually leading to the recall itself.   The module's software can be updated by GM dealers, so it should be a quick fix for customers. Notifications will be mailed to owners in December.  Related video: Recalls Cadillac Chevrolet GMC Ownership Safety SUV Luxury