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The Puzzler

This Week's Puzzler: A Most Curious Rule Change

RAY: Honda and GM couldn't comply because they are two of the manufacturers that sell —

TOM: Hybrids!

RAY: Right. And hybrids' engines get started all the time when the vehicle is stopped at a light or in motion, and the car is in gear. For example, when you're going along at 25 miles an hour in your Toyota Prius, and you're running on just the electric motors.

TOM: And all of a sudden the engine starts up-and it's in gear!

RAY: Right. And the rule that needed to change said a car had had to be designed so it could not be started while it was in gear — so you didn't accidently lurch forward and run over your neighbor's prize petunia plants. Or worse.

Pretty cute, huh? I stole that from Automotive News actually. Do we have a winner?

TOM: Yeah, we have a winner. It's Betty Moore from Bradenton, Florida, and for having her answer selected at random from among the thousands of correct answers that we got, Betty's going to get a 25-dollar gift certificate to the Shameless Commerce Division at cartalk.com where she can get a Car Talk women's T-shirt. This is a 100 percent cotton pre-shrunk long sleeved T-shirt with a Car Talk logo, and it's specifically designed for women.


[ Car Talk Puzzler ]

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