Don Hammonds: Good afternoon! I'm online and ready to chat! Don

BBend: I noticed that some carmakers have changed the horsepower on some of their models. How is horsepower calculated for cars, and is there a standard used?

Don Hammonds: The horsepower figures were changed recently because of new standards on how car horsepower is calculated -- and I'm afraid they're too complicated to get into right now; I've tried to understand it myself to no avail. I can tell you that as a result of the changes, a handful of cars jumped in horsepower, but the vast majority lost two or three horsepower in the bargain.

dm: Heard anything on GM's plans for the new Camaro? Any idea when it will hit showrooms? Any info on pricing?

Don Hammonds: This has to be one of the most awaited cars in history based on the number of questions I'm getting. I look for the new Camaro to be on the market for the start of 2009 model year, which would be September 2008. Motor Trend, in its latest edition, reports that GM has now approved a convertible Camaro for production, too. The biggest issue is the business case; Bob Lutz at GM says the company must sell 100,000 or so of them to make it profitable. I look for a V-6 model to start somewhere in the low to mid-20s, and go from there up to a Corvette powered model that will sell for close to $40,000.

LackOfCash: Was the purpose of the horsepower standards to make them uniform across the industry? Or does each manufacturer have its own method of listing horsepower?

Don Hammonds: My understanding is that the horsepower is calculated to uniform standards across the industry.

LackOfCash: Don, the U.S. market seems to be so fickle. If gasoline prices drop, I wonder if interest in hybrids also will decline and so will available models. You think that will happen? Or is the industry committed to giving us more hybrids?

Don Hammonds:Looking at the mid- to long-range plans of the manufacturers that I'm familiar with, hybrids are here to stay. Lexus, GMC, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda and countless others have hybrid models going into the lineup probably close to the end of this decade. I agree with you about the fickleness of American consumers, but I don't think we will see prices come down as fast as they have done in the past.

LackOfCash:Is the new Camaro a totally redesigned car on a new platform? Have you had a chance to drive the new Mustang? Ford seems to have done a good job with this model.

Don Hammonds: It is indeed a new platform, and a rear-wheel-drive one at that. Look for a whole slew of rear-wheel-drive cars coming out from the General, in fact. Pontiac's supposed to get a bunch, Buick's getting a couple and Saturn may get them, too. I have driven the new Mustang, and found it to be a lovely car, though I'm not a big Mustang guy. This car is a marvelous re-creation of the all-American driving experience, and I think that's why Mustangs are selling so well.

Don Hammonds: Thanks so much, everyone, for stopping by and chatting with me. See you next Thursday at the same time -- noon to 1 p.m. Take care! Don