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Bankruptcy Brings This EV’s Range To Zero

We’re all passionate about saving the world, but the amount of enthusiasm we each have is different for everybody. What’s your passion level? Let’s turn the question into a sliding scale; on one end sits, say, BP, while on the other end, we find Ed Begley Jr. It’s a big scale. If you find yourself edging close to the Begley side of the spectrum, you’re no doubt paying attention to the fresh crop of all-electric cars on the market.

Electric automaker Think hopes you’ve been paying attention.

At least, it did up until last week when the company filed for bankruptcy a second time. Clearly, attempting to bring a relatively affordable electric vehicle to the masses is difficult without federal funding (Tesla Motors) or the bank account of a major automotive manufacturer (Nissan Leaf). Think has been down this road before, and it’s possible that a group of investors could arrive to save the day. But for the company to be successful, the cost of its car, called the City, would need to come down and marketing dollars would need to go up, both of which are easier said than done. Is Think’s machine even worth saving?

Continue reading 2011 Think City

2011 Think City

Back in the day, there were two automakers responsible for the famed Silver Arrows of pre-war Germany. One was Mercedes-Benz, the other Auto Union. The former has been known to revive the honorific from time to time, but with Horch, DKW and Wanderer all long gone, the only one of the four Auto Union brands that’s still around is Audi.

The Ingolstadt-based automaker has, as much as it Stuttgart-based rival, become a favorite among modifiers who chrome-dip every panel of their cars. Even the automaker itself showed off a chromed R8 5.2 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, and has now created a special chrome R8 Spyder for no less glitzy a celebrity than Elton John.

In fact, Audi made two of these R8s, both donated for auction to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation at its annual White Tie & Tiara benefit at Sir Elton’s home. The first was sold for £250,000 (about $400,000). The second was sold for a similar amount, then donated back to the foundation and re-sold again, the two cars raising a total of £620,000 between them – that’s nearly a cool million in American greenbacks.

Check out the bling in the high-res image gallery and the pair of press releases after the jump.

Continue reading Audi donates two chrome R8 Spyders to raise $1 million for Elton John AIDS Foundation

Audi donates two chrome R8 Spyders to raise $1 million for Elton John AIDS Foundation

The third round of the Autobacs Super GT series wrapped up last weekend at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, and while the race was plenty entertaining, the on-track action got started long before the green flag waved. Event organizers got bunch of exotic cars together for a special pre-race parade lap. Unfortunately, it looks like not everyone was paying attention when traffic bowed up. The driver of a Porsche Cayman S managed to punt the Ferrari 360 Modena ahead of him into a Ferrari California (the fan reaction is great). We can imagine that the Ferrari owners had a few words for the wayward Porsche driver.

There aren’t too many details available on the incident, but we’d have a hard time imagining that anyone was injured from such a low-speed impact. If only the same could be said for the Porsche pilot’s ego. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Porsche Cayman causes three-car pileup in parade of exotics

Porsche Cayman causes three-car pileup in parade of exotics

Jacques Villeneuve ticks off Max Papis – Click above to watch video after the jump

Yesterday’s Bucyrus 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America finished ugly, with wrecked cars and angry drivers highlighting a conclusion that took a lot longer than it probably should have. The race was set for a green-white-checkered finish, and as it went back to green, Jacques Villeneuve, driving the #22 Dodge Challenger, tried to make a move to the outside to gain position on the leaders.

Villeneuve quickly ran out of road, however, and as he dove in to stay off the grass, he bumped Brian Scott’s #11 Toyota, sending it into the gravel, and then cut off Max Papis, driving the #33 Chevrolet. Papis went hard into Villeneuve’s Dodge, then slid off the track into the wall. Thanks to the ubiquitous in-car radio feeds in NASCAR coverage, we got to hear Papis react with a disgusted, “Thank you, Jacques. Good job,” followed by, “I knew the 22 was going to do something stupid.”

As everyone pitted, Villeneuve caught plenty of flack. Scott was first in line, riding up behind Villeneuve and bumping his Dodge as it entered the pits. Then, a ticked-off Papis pulled alongside and parked to give Villeneuve a piece of his mind.

As for the race itself, two more green-white-checkered attempts were needed to being it to an end. Reed Sorenson was awarded the win as the race ended under yellow, taking first after race officials ruled that Ron Fellows, who appeared to be the victor, had gained position on Sorenson after the yellow flag had come out. As for Jacques Villeneuve? He podiumed, finishing third. Hit the jump to watch the Villeneuve mishap.

Continue reading Max Papis is unhappy with Jacques Villeneuve

Max Papis is unhappy with Jacques Villeneuve

Remember five years ago, when cellulosic ethanol was going to fill our tanks without eating into food crops? The Environmental Protection Agency does, because it’s had to keep rolling back the minimum renewable fuel standards put into place by the passage of the 2005 Energy Policy Act (H.R. 6). 2012 will be no different than the last two years, when the EPA backed off cellulosic ethanol targets of 100 million gallons in tanks for 2010 and 250 million gallons in 2011, reducing those figures to just 6.5 million gallons for both years. The EPA has proposed setting the 2012 requirement at 12.9 million gallons.

Part of the problem, the EPA says, is that suppliers have not created the biorefineries and thus not generated the production volume that was projected in 2005 when H.R. 6 was signed by then-president George W. Bush. “What’s the hold up?” asked Nebraska representative Lee Terry. “I would have expected mass production by now,” he commented during a hearing in May. In March, President Obama indicated a desire to get four new cellulosic ethanol refineries up and running by 2013.

Under the original plan laid out in H.R. 6, the U.S. should be using 1 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol in 2013, a number also likely to be rolled back due to the lack of fuel available on the market, though the EPA says it will continue to evaluate the market and remains optimistic that celluloic ethanol will play a larger role in the nation’s fuel mix.

EPA reduces its cellulosic ethanol mandate again for 2012

The green flag at 2011 24 hours of Nürburgring dropped this afternoon with a field of 198 qualifying cars racing down a damp front straight. After qualifying under a variety of weather conditions (it hailed at one point yesterday) and a light drizzle falling on the grid during staging, the teams scrambled to mount slicks as the track started to dry moments before the race – many teams sliced grooves by hand for an extra bit of grip on the still-drying surface.

The starting grid was led by a Ferrari 458 Italia with a pair of Mercedes-Benz SLSs in slot two and three. After a little more than seven hours of running, the skies remain overcast but the track is dry (the sun went down nearly two hours ago). The current standings:

1. 30 Mame/Hahn/Kaff 47 8:56.368
2. 18 Lieb/Luhr/Bern/Duma 47 8:44.778
3. 32 Arno/Marg/Brü/Fran 47 9:02.314
4. 1 Mül/Farf/Alze/Lamy 47 8:50.258
5. 16 Ekst/Sche/Wern/Abt 47 8:49.383
6. 22 Heye/Jäg/Blee/Seyf 46 9:19.983
7. 76 Sand/Miln/Lars/Hür 46 9:00.403
8. 15 Stip/Henn/Haas/Wink 46 8:48.825
9. 14 Bass/Fäs/Picc/Stip 46 8:47.645
10. 8 West/Menz/Stur/Rieg 46 8:59.736

We’ll be adding more pictures to the gallery throughout the event. To watch the race streaming live online, try these links: Link 1 / Link 2

2011 24 hours of Nürburgring: Off to a wet, make that dry, let’s just say moist start

Nothing punishes quite like the Nürburgring. Drive anything around its twisting, undulating ribbon of tarmac and you know the suspension is working overtime. But it’s quite another matter to see it. Unfortunately, the suspensions on most cars are hidden beneath their bodywork – but not on a Caterham Seven.

The classic lightweight roadster has its wheels placed outboard, so when the suspension is in motion, you can see the whole car working, its cycle fenders bobbing up and down. And that’s just what you’ll see in the video after the jump.

The boys over at Bridge to Gantry – those lovers of everything Nordschleife – headed home to the Green Hell in an R300 Superlight. Not the most powerful car Caterham has ever made (in fact you’ll see its 178hp engine maxing out around 125 mph flat-out) but its low, low curb weight, coupled to the expertise of the driver behind the wheel, more than makes up for it, as he passes hot hatches, a Porsche, a motorbike and even a Chevrolet Corvette – along with one car that got spit out the top of the second Karousel. Follow the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading Caterham R300 Superlight tackles the Nürburgring

Caterham R300 Superlight tackles the Nürburgring

Earlier today, General Motors showcased a battery-powered version of the Chevrolet Beat in New Delhi, India. The electrified Beat is part of an ongoing demonstration project focused on studying the feasibility of electric vehicles in major metropolitan areas.

Let’s have a look at the electric Beat’s specs. The battery-powered minicar boasts a range of 130 kilometers (81 miles) and takes approximately eight hours using a 240-volt outlet to recharge from empty. The Beat makes use of a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack that tips the scales at 595 pounds and is rated at 20 kWh. The electric motor cranks out 45 kW (60 horsepower), which is directed to the wheels via a single-speed drive unit.

Currently, GM has no definitive plans to launch the electric Beat anywhere, but with its battery pack a modified version of the unit found in the Chevrolet Volt, we’d like to think that this vehicle – unlike the electric Chevy Spark that never entered production – will, at some later date, become more than just a prototype. Hat tip to Shrawan!

Continue reading General Motors shows off electric Chevrolet Beat in India

General Motors shows off electric Chevrolet Beat in India

Sure, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato may have won top honors upon its unveiling at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. But it’s not just a pretty face. Aston Martin is keen to highlight that point, taking the V12 Zagato straight from the shores of Lake Como to the tarmac of the Nürburgring.

The racing version of the show car has already had two outings on the Ring in the past month or so, but those campaigns were merely in preparation for what’s in store this weekend, when a pair of Zagatos – dubbed “Zig” and “Zag” – will take on the grueling ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours.

A red example (Zag) will be piloted by the company’s CEO and Nürburgring test center director along with a pair of European automotive journalists, joining the previously-seen green car (Zig) driven by one of Aston’s top engineers, a pair of experienced race car drivers and another British fourth-estatesman. Both can be seen in the video after the jump.

We’re not clear on where that leaves the rather more attractive white and red livery depicted in the high-resolution photographs, then, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking it out in the gallery, along with the full press release after the jump.

Continue reading Aston Martin V12 Zagato returns for ultimate showdown at the Nürburgring [w/video]

Aston Martin V12 Zagato returns for ultimate showdown at the Nürburgring [w/video]

The Papal motorcade is packed with new cars, but the most famous of them is the Popemobile. Typically based on a Mercedes-Benz sport-ute, most recent examples have been modified versions of the G-Wagen or M-Class (like the one pictured above).

His Holiness has vocalized his desire for an all-electric vehicle, even a solar-powered one. But while moving all that bulletproof glass around on battery power alone might require no less a feat than an act of God, he may be about to get the next best thing.

Reports indicate that, at Benededict XVI’s request, Mercedes-Benz is preparing a hybrid Popemobile based on the new M-Class. The vehicle would allow the pontiff to be chauffeured around on electric power at parade speed for up to 16 miles before the gasoline engine would need to kick in, a benefit similar to that enjoyed by neighboring head of state Prince Albert II of Monaco in his Lexus LS 600h L.

President Obama may not have gotten his wish with a hybrid Cadillac One, but we could be looking at a new trend in parade transportation for the wealthiest of public figures.

Mercedes-Benz working on M-Class Hybrid Popemobile

The day is almost upon us when Volkswagen will unleash the ferocious Golf24 on the Green Hell. The hatchback endurance racer, which helps celebrate the GTI’s 35 anniversary, was first revealed back in February, and is finally set to take on the Nürburgring race this weekend.

As you may recall, the Golf24 packs the turbocharged five-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive of the Audi TT RS, but tuned up to 450 horsepower and nearly 400 pound-feet of torque with a six-speed sequential gearbox, all mounted underneath some heavily revised competition-spec sheetmetal.

Volkswagen has lined up a star-studded roster of drivers to pilot the three cars around the clock, including former F1 drivers Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell, as well as Ringmeisters Peter Terting and Patrick Simon. The company’s three-time Dakar winners Nasser Al-Attiyah, Carlos Sainz and Giniel de Villiers will also be making their Nürburgring debut, piloting one of two CNG-fueled 330-hp Sciroccos at the event.

Follow the jump for the latest press release, and scope out the images in the thoroughly updated high-res gallery for a closer look.

Continue reading Volkswagen Golf24 gears up for race debut at the Nürburgring

Volkswagen Golf24 gears up for race debut at the Nürburgring

Most of us are aware of Bill Ford, Jr.’s obsession with green technology that will help conserve fossil fuels while at the same time preserving the environment, but what you may not know that the Ford family scion is also very much interested in the future of gridlock.

Ford spoke at the Technology Entertainment and Design 2011 conference (better known as TED) to discuss the growing problem, and it appears the traffic buildup has just begun. The Ford Motor Company Chairman said in the post-jump video that the population of the planet is expected to jump from 6.8 billion people to about nine billion by mid-century. And with other countries around the world continuing to prosper, we could see cars and trucks on the road grow from today’s 800 million vehicles to between two and four billion by 2050. That’s a big jump, and when you consider that the typical commute in Shanghai is now about five hours, you can see how big a problem gridlock can become.

Hit the jump to read Ford Motor’s TED conference press release, then feel free to watch video of Ford’s speech. Towards the end of the video, Ford shows that some solutions to gridlock are beginning to present themselves, including smart vehicles that can communicate traffic information to one another in real-time, but there is still a lot of work to do.

Continue reading Bill Ford is worried about traffic, talks to TED about it

Bill Ford is worried about traffic, talks to TED about it

When Ener1 abruptly ended its four-year-long deal with Think Global, saying that its investment was “impaired,” we had reason to worry. Now comes word that the struggles continue to mount at Think Global and that the automaker has filed for bankruptcy. Again.

According to a statement released by Ener1, Think Global will liquidate its assets in an attempt to pay back its creditors. Apparently, Ener1 has stepped in and is currently in charge of recovering some $32 million in unpaid loans and accounts receivable from Think Global.

Ener1 spokesman Brian Sinderson, told the Indiana Business Journal that “the amount [Ener1 is owed] could change based on the extent to which funds are recovered as a result of the liquidation of Think Global.”

The IBJ could not reach Think spokesman Brendan Prebo for comment on this developing story.

Think Global files for bankruptcy

Chinese automaker BYD raised a less-than-stellar 1.42 billion yuan ($219 million U.S. at the current exchange rate) in its initial public offering in Shenzhen, China late last week. Analysts say that BYD’s IPO was weighed down by weak investor sentiment and worries over the automaker’s poor performance.

In a statement released to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Sunday, BYD announced that it had priced its IPO at 18 yuan ($2.78 USD) per share and had initially set its sights on raising 2.19 billion yuan ($338 million USD). BYD sold 79 million shares in its IPO and will use proceeds from the sale to fund its lithium-ion battery project, add to research and development and expand its automotive unit.

Over the past three years, Shenzhen-based BYD tried to return to the stock market and finally received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission in May. The automaker has struggled as of late, with sales declining since the second half of 2010.

BYD raises $219 million in China IPO

Most mega yachts come in white. Some cut a different path through the water with dark blue, forest green or even dark red hulls. But this, this is something else entirely.

The proud new owner of the 37-meter (121-foot) motor yacht you see here is evidently a certifiable car nut. He named his vessel Aurelia after the iconic Lancia coupe, and the guest cabins below decks after famous coachbuilders Bertone, Pininfarina and Zagato, whose designs influenced the cabins’ decor.

And there’s something else here… what are we forgetting? Oh yeah, the owner had the aluminum hull painted baby blue and orange in tribute to the classic livery of so many famous racing cars, with a big number 10 on the side in reference to her hull number. Even the tender – a 14-foot Castoldi water-jet-powered runabout – has reportedly been decked in matching livery.

The tenth of its type to be launched by Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts, Aurelia has been fitted with four spacious bedrooms, each with en-suite head (that’s bathroom to you landlubbers) instead of five smaller ones. It also has a salon with dining table and lounge space with bio-ethanol fireplace, and plenty of exterior lounging space.

A pair of gyroscopic stabilizers keep Aurelia steady in rough waters for the comfort of all aboard, but you’re not interested in stability, are you? Of course not. You want to know what she’s got in the engine room, so we’ll tell you: a pair of MTU 65-liter V16 turbo-diesels, each producing – wait for it – 3,648 horsepower, for a grand total of 7,296 horsepower. That’s sufficient to propel her up to 30 knots (34.5 miles per hour). Which may not sound very fast, but keep in mind this floating mansion weighs 155 metric tons.

We’ve got the full press release for you after the jump and a full gallery of high-resolution images, so wipe off the old Sperrys and climb aboard.

Continue reading 121-foot megayacht en-Gulfed by classic racing livery

121-foot megayacht en-Gulfed by classic racing livery

Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Gran Turismo franchise, has jumped back into real-world racing. The mastermind behind one of the most popular racing video game series on the planet recently campaigned a Nissan GT-R in the four-hour Nurburgring VLR alongside Tobias and Michael Shulze and the founder of Opera Performance, Yasuyoshi Yamamoto. The team’s car is reportedly the spitting image of the GT500 Stealth GT-R from Gran Turismo 5, and word has it that the four-man team is out to compete in this year’s Nurburgring 24 Hours.

Last year, Yamauchi raced a specially-prepared Lexus IS-F in a number of VLN races. His efforts netted his team a class victory in a four-hour race, and GTPlanet reports that the gaming mastermind took home fourth in his class at the 2010 Nuburgring 24 Hours. Look for Yamauchi and his crew in the #71 car when the green flag drops.

That is, so long as the team isn’t delayed from arriving until Christmas 2015…

Gran Turismo 5 creator competing in 24 Hours of Nurburgring

In the annals of Batmobile history, we’re not sure where to peg this latest version. The good: It’s dark, it’s carbon fiber and it spits flames from a carbon-ceramic afterburner. The bad: It’s just really freaking dull. But because it’s been designed by Gordon Murray of McLaren F1 fame (not to mention the strange-but-somehow-cool T.27 city car), we want to love it. But can’t.

Unlike the jet-engined powered Batmobiles of yore, Murray’s design is an odd attempt at the Dark Knight going green, with a hydrogen fuel cell and a brace of lithium-ion batteries. The carbon fiber body supposedly “breathes” and the “virtual wheels” are ringed in LEDs. How either of those features help the caped crusader fight crime is beyond us, but then again, so is the idea of the Batman Live World Arena Tour it’s been built for.

You can check out Murray’s original sketch in the gallery below and watch a duo of videos after the jump. We’re going to weep quietly as yet another childhood dream vehicles succumbs to the PC overlords.

Continue reading Gordon Murray’s Batmobile unveiled [w/video]

Gordon Murray’s Batmobile unveiled [w/video]

Sit back, relax and enjoy the blissful whine emanating from this spinning electric motor.

What we have here is a sitcom-length video of the battery-powered Nissan Leaf Nismo RC lapping the famed Circuit de la Sarthe prior to the running of the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans. Behind the wheel is none other than Nissan’s number two in command, Carlos Tavares.

Recorded on June 11th during the “Le Mans vers le futur” – a demonstration event designed to showcase some potential vehicles of the future – the onboard cam puts you in the middle of the on-track action. It’s 22-plus minutes of electrifying driving… literally. So, hit the jump to find out what it’s like to drive electrified.

FYI, the pace picks up about three minutes in, though we wish Tavares had taken an all-put lap instead of following the slower BMW ahead. Maybe next time…

Continue reading Nissan Leaf Nismo RC whines ’round the track at Le Mans

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC whines ’round the track at Le Mans

Turns out, you can spin the whole “cashed up greenie” bit into a few minutes of enjoyable parody rap. Don’t believe us? Check out “Whole Foods Parking Lot,” the first project from the Fog and Smog collaborative, which pokes fun at the entire ecosystem of hybrids, Smart cars and overpriced vegetables. Oh, and those little shopping carts.

Fog and Smog is based in both the San Francisco Bay Area (fog) and Los Angeles (smog) and these fun-loving artists (they have day jobs as composers, film editors, producers, designers, deejays, animators and photographers) are either regular customers – or maybe they just date some.

Check out the Toyota Prius-driving video (a bit NSFW) after the jump, and if you’re looking for more, check out similar classics *ahem* by Casual Mafia (”In My Prius“), Grynch (”My Volvo“), J Brave (”Dipping In My Tesla“), and of course, Toyota and its own “Swagger Wagon” spot. There, you’ll find plenty of proof that comedy rap videos starring unlikely vehicles are nothing new; and that they’re not always a good thing.

Continue reading New Prius rap video takes to cruising Whole Foods parking lot

New Prius rap video takes to cruising Whole Foods parking lot

Just days ago, we reported that the United States Senate rejected an amendment that would have put an end to the the $6 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for producers of corn-based ethanol. Now, we’re here to convey the message that the Senate actually approved the amendment. Was our initial report inaccurate? Um, no.

On Thursday, the Senate approved an amendment that could wipe out billions of dollars earmarked for the ethanol industry by voting 73-in-favor, 27-against. The amendment, if passed into law, will eliminate the 45-cent-a-gallon subsidy that the U.S. government hands out to producers of the corn-based fuel. The ethanol-related amendment that passed on Thursday will be tacked on to an economic development bill, which will likely face a tough battle in the Senate.

Turning our attention back to that failed amendment on Tuesday, though similar, it’s not identical to amendment that passed through the Senate on Thursday.

On a related note, the House of Representatives voted 283-in favor, 128-against to ban the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from dishing out funds to support the installation of E85 pumps at gas stations across the U.S.

Senate approves amendment to end ethanol subsidies