Motor Trend magazine named the Chevy Volt its 2011 Car of the Year. This choice--not surprisingly--failed to sit well with conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. "Of all the cars in the world, the Chevrolet Volt is the Car of the Year?" scoffed Limbaugh on his show last week. "Motor Trend magazine, that’s the end of them. How in the world do they have any credibility? Not one has been sold."

If that's not enough to get the Dittoheads to switch to Car and Driver, surely Motor Trend's response to Limbaugh comments--posted on the magazine's website--will be. Writes Todd Lassa, the magazine's Detroit editor, in a scathing item addressed directly to Limbaugh:

Assuming you’ve been anywhere near the biggest automotive technological breakthrough since … I don’t know, maybe the self-starter, could you even find your way to the front seat? Or are you happy attacking a car that you’ve never even seen in person?

Last time you ranted about the Volt, you got confused about the “range,” and said on the air that the car could be driven no more than 40 miles at a time, period. At least you stayed away from that issue this time, but you continue to attack it as the car only a tree hugging, Obama-supporting Government Motors customer would want. As radio loudmouths like you would note, none of those potential customers were to be found after November 2.

Back to us for a moment, our credibility, Mr. Limbaugh, comes from actually driving and testing the car, and understanding its advanced technology. It comes from driving and testing virtually every new car sold, and from doing this once a year with all the all-new or significantly improved models all at the same time. We test, make judgments and write about things we understand.
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If you can stop shilling for your favorite political party long enough to go for a drive, you might really enjoy the Chevy Volt. I’m sure GM would be happy to lend you one for the weekend. Just remember: driving and Oxycontin don’t mix.

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Ray Gustini