Begin forwarded message:

> *From: *Automotive X PRIZE Team <autoprize@xprize.org
> *Subject: **Automotive X PRIZE Website & Blog Launched!*

> Hi Reeves,
> > This letter goes out to all those we have spoken to over the last six
> months or so about the Automotive X PRIZE (AXP). We have used this time
> to get and incorporate your feedback on our thinking, plans, and
> guidelines. We have also been trying to convince you and others to join
> our quest to ignite real market-reaching innovations in the largest and
> most important industry in the world.
> > Please take a look at our new website <http://auto.xprize.org> and blog
> <http://autoblog.xprize.org/> recently launched to communicate our
> mission, goals, and discoveries. The content will evolve as we refine and
> release the AXP rules and structure and as we add educational material.
> The site will be the launching point of our aggressive strategy to use
> the web and all its associated technologies and methods of communication
> to further the Automotive X PRIZE. We will succeed if we focus attention
> on the issues at hand and convince people to engage with their
> assumptions, many of which we need to challenge in order to move to a new
> world of highly efficient vehicles.
> > This is the new site: http://auto.xprize.org
> > We really would like your feedback and suggestions. We have put a lot of
> work into making the site reflect our positions, and hope you find it
> useful and informative!
> > Thank you very much,
> > Mark Goodstein <mailto:mark@xprize.org> and the rest of the AXP Team
> (John Shore <mailto:js@xprize.org>, Cristin Lindsay
> <mailto:cristin@xprize.org>, and Neal Anderson <mailto:neal@xprize.org>)
>


I forward this as an invitation to the list to think about the very
difficult challenge of constructing a set of rules for this contest.
This is the same organization that offered the XPrize to encourage
competition in sub-orbital space flight, and they may be onto something
here in the automotive arena. And since this list is a good cross
section of both interests,  I am taking the liberty of posting it.

The problem is of course the rules:  cleverly done, this will be a
well-respected contest, and draw on the best minds and best technology.
Poorly thought out, it will become a joke.  Now is the time to
contribute what you know.  Monday morning quarterbacks will be drawn and
quartered,  even if we do have to wait till 2009.

-Reeves Callaway

Here are my rules. Any fuel is allowed. Must have a top
speed of over 120 MPH to insure good acceleration at 80 MPH
and hill climbing ability.
Must pull over one G lateral on the skid pad. Must do 0-60 in less
than 7 seconds with just the driver on board. Must hold four
200 pound people. Must stop from 60 MPH in less than 160 feet.
Must have effective air conditioning and an automatic
transmission. Must have a range of over 350 miles.

There are no other rules other than meeting
federal crash and emissions requirements.

Paul Lamar