About Jo Borras

I'm an obsessive car-geek and two-wheel enthusiast who's worked in motorsports and tuning since 1997, with some the biggest names in the business. In 2008, the work we were doing on a hybrid/EV raly car attracted the attention of Gas 2 editors, and when they invited me to join the team, I couldn't resist.

Is This the Best Green Car Commercial? (w/ video)

mazda_skyactiv

This is the latest commercial spot for Mazda’s new line of Skyactiv cars and SUVs … and, with its great music, thrilling visuals, and a surprisingly non-preachy green/sustainability message, it’s pretty awesome. I didn’t see this ad on TV, though. Or on Hulu. Instead, I caught it on Jalopnik, where Matt Hardigree said it better [...]

Stuff I Want: Scion Pit Boss Cartel iQ

Scion iQ Pit Boss Concept Car

As you may recall from my thrilling and engrossing commentary a year ago, the then-new Scion iQ was my favorite car of the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. After spending several hours listening to GM flaks, checking out new Hyundais and Dodge Darts, and driving around in a Fiat 500, however, it looked like the year-old [...]

Army Serves up the CERVs at Chicago

US Army electric Hummer

The US’ military has been pushing for more energy-efficient and oil-free ways to kill people protect America’s oil-supply freedom for several years now, introducing “super-efficient” HUMVEEs, diesel-electric hybrids, and this: the US Army CERV. First shown at last year’s Detroit Auto Show and again at the Indianapolis 500 as part of that event’s Memorial Day [...]

Chicago Isn’t Good Enough for an NSX (w/ video)

2013 Acura Honda NSX

A few days ago, I said something about making sweet love to Acura’s NSX while everyone else at the auto show was paying attention to Hyundai’s new Elantra coupe (note: I actually yawned while typing the words “Hyundai’s new Elantra coupe”). The NSX, with its curves and stance and its promise of blistering trackday performance, [...]

CNG, Chevrolet, and The Ghost of Auto Shows Past

CNG Commercial Fleet Van

Before we get on into what’s new at Chicago, let’s take a few minutes to talk about what’s not new. To do that, we’ll need to think back to February, 2011. “New” GM had been under the protectful umbrella of the Obama administration since the ’09 bankruptcy, spending all manner of taxpayer dollars in preparation [...]

2012 Chicago Auto Show

chicago2012_main

2012′s Chicago auto show was, in many ways, very similar to 2011′s Chicago auto show. For instance, GM is still pushing CNG commercial vans, the boys and girls at Scion found just the right mix of clever and whimsy to steal my heart, there was a new (boring) Honda that got upstaged by its super-slick [...]

Jo Borras: The World’s Fastest Hybrids are Back (and So Am I)

rb8

This is the first week of Formula 1 winter testing, and we are under way in Jerez, Spain – and make no mistake: the world’s fastest hybrids are back! Since my very early childhood, the end of the Formula 1 season has been a dark and dismal affair. There are no more early European and [...]

Plug in, Hit the Road: Toyota Prius Camper

priuscamper_main

There are little Prii, big Prii, plug-in Prii, racing Prii, and now – just revealed at this weekend’s Tokyo Auto Salon – there are full-fledged, fully-equipped, and very Real Toyota Prius camper vans. Starting with a new, 3rd-gen Prius, the conversion company adds a streamlined, fiber-reinforced plastic shell that expands the Prius’ interior into something [...]