If Japan had regained its internal energy--say, through remarkable technologies in resource recovery and efficiency, beyond the celebrated hybrid auto engines--the world's number two economy could be zigging while so many others are zagging.

FORBES: Karachi to Tokyo

Only one of those economic engines, auto sales, seems to be functioning well so far, with the housing industry still mired in the mud.

FORBES: Jobs Number Is Nothing, Bullish Market Trend And Tide Of Positive Data Matter More

Computer modeling allows today's auto engineers to precisely design vehicles, engines and transmissions, down to the smallest detail, for maximum strength without having to repeatedly build and test actual components over and over along the way, said Quinnell.

CNN: Fat and fast: High-performance gets big

For gas prices to get this high on a sustained basis, you have to assume that either (a) shale gas will prove a colossal, over-hyped, mega-bust (something the Right is most definitely not in the usual business of positing) or (b) the U.S. auto-fleet will quickly transition to natural gas powered engines, driving up the demand for natural gas and, thus, the price.

FORBES: President Obama's Alleged "War On Coal" - Climate Change Edition

Lori Johnson, a longtime auto mechanic, teaches car-owners the basics at Ladies Start Your Engines.

FORBES: Cars

Another auto executive in China shared with me statistics demonstrating why the tax breaks went to cars with engines of 1.6 liters or less.

FORBES: Will China Subsidize Electric Vehicles?