According to Consumer Reports, Chairman Ed Whitacre has said that the will go on sale this October. Of course, we’ve , and each time GM says that the original target date is not moving. Last year, for example, Jon Lauckner, ’s vice president for global product planning, said, “Our date with destiny is November of 2010.” Given the intense scrutiny GM is under with this particular vehicle program, we wanted to hear form the source if anything has changed. Dave Darovitz, who handles corporate communications for the Volt
and the fuel cell , told Autoblog:
As you can expect, we’re pretty excited about the market potential for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle. Our plans and focus have not changed – we continue to drive toward a flawless consumer experience when we launch in the fourth quarter this year in California, Michigan and Washington D.C.
Kind of cryptic. Darovitz doesn’t say it won’t be October, but also makes it clear that GM’s plans remain what they have always been. Guess we’ll have to keep waiting, for the Volt and to learn about the real release date.
Toyota FT-86 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
touts its hotly anticipated as a quick, light and attractive sports car for the masses. One of its strongest selling points is a price tag that reportedly hovering somewhere around $20,000 in base form, making the rear-drive coupe an affordable option for cash-strapped enthusiasts.
However, a report from Autocar claims that higher than expected development costs could derail any dreams of a good looking, inexpensive FT-86. The British site sites unnamed Toyota sources as saying that the base price of the little coupe has shot from £13,000 ($20,000 in U.S. funds) to £15,000 ($23,000 U.S.), with a range-topper coming in at £17,000 ($26,000 U.S.). Further, Autocar reports that Toyota sports vehicle department head Tetsuya Tada says that the company has increased the targeted FT-86 age group has been bumped by a full 10 years from the 30s to the 40s.
If the report turns out to be true, we’re sure there will be more than a few disappointed enthusiasts out there. But if Toyota still delivers on the attractive, lightweight, rear driver, we’re sure we can find it in our hearts to forgive an extra few thousand green-backs.
robot for International Space Station, mankind
cowers in fear on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/20/gm-develops-robot-for-international-space-station-mankind-cower/">GM develops robot for International Space Station, mankind cowers in fear
Volkswagen unveils electric Milano Taxi concept on Autoblog
Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/volkswagen-unveils-electric-milano-taxi-concept/">Volkswagen unveils electric Milano Taxi concept
It’s got a 186-mile range and will probably be here sooner rather than later.
Other news:
Renault signs with Electronic Arts for its Twizy Z.E. to
appear in Sims 3 on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/renault-signs-with-electronic-arts-for-its-twizy-z-e-to-appear/">Renault signs with Electronic Arts for its Twizy Z.E. to appear in Sims 3
Chevrolet Voltec CUV design patent – Click above for high-res image gallery
The media previews for the 2010 Beijing Motor Show are happening at the end of this week, and assuming a certain Icelandic volcano doesn’t upset the atmosphere any further, we expect to be on hand. One of the many possible debuts is a new -badged MPV concept. What may make this vehicle particularly interesting is that it is said to be propelled by the same Voltec extended-range EV powertrain used in the .
How might one reach this conclusion? Well, the that was issued last week for the vehicle indicates that one of the credits is given to Bob Boniface, the design manager that led the development of the original Volt concept as well as the production Volt and Opel Ampera. The association with Boniface as well as some of the design details imply that this new vehicle will be an ER-EV. It’s also worth noting that the shape of the headlamps and taillamps as well as other elements of the front fascia seem to be lifted directly from the Volt. A very similar looking vehicle alongside the forthcoming production Chevrolet Orlando and featured the same blocked-off grille used on the Volt. This vehicle appears to be smaller than the Orlando and would likely be a roomier five-seat alternative to the Volt.
My friend, Sam, is your classic Texan. Big home, big pool, big personality and, of course, a big car, a pickup that he uses a couple times a year to haul lumber and yard supplies from the local mega-mart. But most of the time he’s sitting in Dallas traffic, running up big gas bills.
And that’s got Sam thinking about whether he really needs all that much of a truck. The last couple weeks he’s been stopping by the local mega-auto mall – where, as you’d expect, they carry just about every brand of car – looking at a number of alternatives, all of them a lot smaller. A classic Chevy truck fan, he’s leaning towards the new , though he could easily afford something more lavish.
When even Texans are starting to downsize, one has to ask what’s going on in the American automotive market. “There is an opportunity in small cars,” that hopes to exploit, says CEO Ed Whitacre, with an assortment of new products such as the pint-sized . His counterpart at , Alan Mulally, echoes that view, and has ordered up a variety of new models, including the subcompact and the .
Import brands are already invested in the small car segments, with models like the and . Even highline makers are downsizing, with offerings such as the and the BMW .
In a nation that has long felt that big is better, why is small suddenly beautiful? The first sign that things might be shifting came in mid-2008, when U.S. fuel prices soared to record level triggering, in turn, a collapse in sales of pickups and sport-utility vehicles. The trend was short-lived, however. Even before pump prices started slipping back, small car sales began to wane.
So, why is the industry betting so big on small cars now? For one thing, most expect gasoline prices to reach $4 a gallon in the long-term. Meanwhile, tough new federal fuel economy standards also press the industry to downsize.
Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of , and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.
2009 Ford Focus RS – Click above for high-res image gallery
committed an outright insult to humanity when it only produced 101 examples of the RS500. Even at over $54,000 at current conversion rates, the cars sold out licked-split in the UK, leaving plenty of diehard Blue Oval fans without the hottest of the company’s hatches. In an attempt to right that wrong, Ford has released an upgrade kit that will give the standard 305 horsepower RS the teeth it needs to run with the big-daddy .
The engineers at Ford have managed to pull an extra 45 horsepower from the turbo I5 by swapping out the stock intercooler and air box for trick Ford Racing pieces, bolting on a higher volume fuel pump and remapping the stock ECU. The whole kit will set you back around $3,000, which means you could be in an RS500 clone for nearly $10k less than what the real deal would cost you. We’ll take ours in Frozen White, please. for the press release.
Go to church on Sunday, sell on Monday? Well, not exactly, but will bring along the cream of its crop this Sunday, April 18, to the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church near Detroit, Michigan. For those interested in seeing the next wave of green technology, the procession will include the .
The event is being sponsored by GM Minority Suppliers and Dealers, and the automaker says the purpose of the shindig is “to build new relationships in the community and highlight the contribution of minority suppliers and dealers to the community and local economy.”
We’re not sure how common this sort of thing is with GM, let alone with other automakers, but we have to wonder if some won’t find the event just a wee bit distasteful. That said, Reverend Dr. Charles G. Adams, pastor of the 10,000-member Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, says, “This is a wonderful opportunity to do something really special for Hartford church members. Something that has never been done at a church in Detroit.”
Any who wants to know more or who are thinking of attending can find all the official details in the press release pasted after the break.
General Motors investigating battery electric
urban commuter for 2015 and beyond on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/sae-2010-general-motors-investigating-battery-electric-urban-co/">SAE 2010: General Motors investigating battery electric urban commuter for 2015 and beyond Megacities need love, too.
Honda unveils EV-neo, promises Japanese sales in 2010 on
Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/honda-unveils-ev-neo-promises-japanese-sales-in-2010/">Honda unveils EV-neo, promises Japanese sales in 2010
We wish it were the instead, but nobody asked us for our opinion.
Plug-in Prius prototype is just like your
mother's Prius, but better on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/13/quick-spin-2010-plug-in-prius-prototype-just-like-your-mother/">Quick Spin: 2010 Plug-in Prius prototype is just like your mother’s Prius, but better
The first wave is here.
Chevrolet Volt's battery and
powertrain development on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/13/gm-updates-us-on-the-chevrolet-volts-battery-and-powertrain-dev/">GM updates us on the Chevrolet Volt’s battery and powertrain development
Toyota announces first details of U.S. plug-in Prius test
program on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/13/toyota-announces-first-details-of-u-s-plug-in-prius-test-progra/">Toyota announces first details of U.S. plug-in Prius test program
2011 Volkswagen Touareg – Click above for high-res image gallery
Rumor has it is mulling a two-wheel drive version of the . Whispers are buzzing around the francophone site L’Automobile that the company is considering dropping power to the front wheels in order to create a Touareg 2Motion. Why? If our Google translator is to be believed, Volkswagen is hoping to trim some weight and cost from its SUV while upping the vehicle’s fuel efficiency at the same time.
The site quotes an unnamed member of the truck’s development team as saying it would be relatively easy to make the Touareg a rear-wheel drive vehicle. What’s more, a less-expensive VW SUV would likely appeal to the American masses. The Touareg currently carries a base MSRP of around $40,850, so some reduction in price for the two-wheel drive variant is all but assured.
L’Automobile doesn’t make mention of when the Touareg 2Motion will come to market, though the current feeling is that it won’t be until well past 2012, if at all. It would make sense to see VW offer a RWD version, though, especially when equipped with the upcoming drivetrain.
2010 Plug-in Prius Prototypes – Click above for high-res image gallery
It’s been two-and-a-half years since . The name is the same, but today’s plug-in Prius is a totally different vehicle, and it was high time to see what changes Toyota has made to their plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in its ongoing effort to slowly get the car ready for the U.S. market.
Back in late 2007, the prototype had a NiMH battery pack and the converted vehicle was based on the second-generation model. The new fleet of PHEV Priuses in San Diego this week as part of Toyota’s Sustainable Mobility Seminar are converted 2010 third-generation models, featuring upgraded lithium-ion packs.
Toyota has brought the PHEV Prius fleet to the U.S. to begin a two-year test and monitoring period. The vehicles are equipped with transmitters from Qualcomm that record not only driver behavior, but also how often the car is plugged in. We’ll have more information soon with technical details about the mules and an explanation of Toyota’s plans to test and sell the long-awaited plug-in hatchback for 2012. But before then, we wanted to grab some seat time.
The short version is that driving a plug-in Prius is almost exactly like driving a standard one, except that it remains quieter for a longer period as the engine is off more often (during short distances) thanks to a larger battery pack and improved all-electric performance. Acceleration, handling, braking – everything feels awfully familiar. Make the jump to find out more, including how you can now go up to 64 mph without using a single drop of fuel.
Gallery:
Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Click above to view episodes 1.1 and 1.2 of Translogic
Our brethren over at AOL Autos have just launched a new video series called . Hosted by the always-effervescent Bradley Hasemeyer, who we’re convinced is somehow related to , and the equally bubbly Caitlin Thompson, Translogic’s goal is to introduce viewers to the cool, techy side of transportation in four weekly installments that add up to one mondo episode per month. You’ll also be able to subscribe to the larger monthly episodes in iTunes once they complete the first four installments.
They’ve already released episodes 1.1 and 1.2, which you can view over at the . In the duo’s first two outings, Bradley and Caitlin visit , get a ride in an Ariel Atom (we know what ), talk to the man behind the turbine-powered greensupercar, and explore one of our all-time favorite topics: jet packs.
Head on over to check them out and let us know what you think in the comments. The AOL Autos team reads Autoblog everyday just like you and would appreciate some thoughtful suggestions from the community on how to keep improving Translogic.
Mini E Race – Click above for high-res image gallery
The 13-mile long Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of the most treacherous race tracks in the world, even on the best of days. Taking it on in the fog seems like a recipe for disaster. Nonetheless, that’s exactly what a engineering team did recently with a very special edition of the Mini E. The team took one of the battery-powered models and applies some weight reduction measures to the body and then installed the usual array of racing bits. The latter included new tires, brakes and a roll-cage.
The electric powertrain underwent some recalibration, likely to tone down the overly aggressive regenerative braking before ex-DTM race driver Thomas Jäger took to the ‘Ring. Jäger managed to set a reasonably respectable lap time of 9 minutes, 51.45 seconds with a maximum speed of 116.2 miles per hour. No word from BMW on how much juice remained in the battery at the end of the lap. .
India later in 2010 on
Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/report-chevy-e-spark-coming-to-india-later-in-2010/">Report: Chevy e-Spark coming to India later in 2010
Design students imagine lightweight, aerodynamic wheels...
of steel? on Autoblog Green" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/12/design-students-imagine-lightweight-aerodynamic-wheels-of-st/">Design students imagine lightweight, aerodynamic wheels… of steel?
Green Calgary takes on unneccsary idling – Click above to watch the video
Flannel, Mounties, hockey, public urination – all these things that come to mind when we think of . Okay, maybe not all of them. But the latter comes courtesy of a new spot developed by Joe Media Group for Green Calgary. The ad urges the city’s drivers to stop all unnecessary idling as it’s not doing the planet any favors. How do you turn that into a striking visual? By comparing it to taking a leak on Mother Earth.
We’ve never exactly drawn a link between relieving ourselves and sitting in traffic, but hey, we aren’t exactly ad execs, either. One thing’s for sure – we won’t be able to look at our neighbors to the north in quite the same way ever again. to see the spot for yourself.
Charles Barkley waves the green flag to start the 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama – Click above for high-res image gallery
Round three of the 2010 IndyCar season had the teams visiting Barber Motosports Park in Birmingham, Alabama for the first time. Well, technically the IZOD IndyCar Series was already here, as the track hosted the pre-season test sessions for the series. The 2010 Grand Prix of Alabama presented by Legacy Credit Union, however, was to be the first Indycar race held at the track.
Seeking to pick up where he left off in St. Petersburg, championship points leader, Will Power, was also aiming to set IndyCar history with the first ever three-for-three start to the season. If he managed to grab the checkered flag at the end of the race, Power would be the first to accomplish such a feat and would tie three other drivers for the most wins in a row in series history as well.
Power had already shown he could hold his own at Barber, claiming the fastest overall laps in testing and practice leading up to the race, so it didn’t look good for the competition. But would Power be able to claim the pole? Would he capture that third win in three races and set IndyCar history? Follow the jump to see how the race unfolded in Birmingham.
Gallery:
[Photo Source: Ron McQueeney, Dan Helrigel / IndyCar.com]
first ever commercial battery swap later this month Here goes nothing…
.autoblog.com/2010/04/09/crazy-idea-of-the-day-power-electric-cars-using-prisoner-power/" title="View It's Friday: Prisoners forced to pedal to watch TV, could we charge-up electric cars this way? [w/video] on Autoblog Green" target="_blank">It’s Friday: Prisoners forced to pedal to watch TV, could we charge-up electric cars this way? [w/video]
We think this is real.
new is making rapid progress in the Nürburgring Endurance Series. After finishing outing two weeks ago, it moved up to third place this weekend. Porsche factory drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Wolf Henzler praised the new flywheel hybrid car as they ran a trouble-free four-hour race.
The drivers were pleased with the extra 120 kilowatts of electric power available, especially as they accelerated out of corners. The electro-mechanical drive system also cut the car’s fuel consumption considerably, with the hybrid requiring one fewer pit stop than all the other 911s. Hopefully if the car keeps running this well, we’ll indeed see it run in the American Le Mans Series later this year.
M-Org Custom MotorcycleConcept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Honestly, we don’t know what it means to have a “frame, suspension and steering grown from organic substances,” but whatever it is, you can see it in the image above. Looks kinda cool, no? Designer Michael Smolyanov describes a process of using fluorine to “destruct the organics and process the carbon” of the frame, leaving a strong and lightweight structure. Whatever that means.
In any case, this concept motorcycle is supposed to be eco-friendly, though it’s powered by what appears to be an air-cooled V-twin engine. Perhaps it would run on alcohol fuel? Looking over the design, the M-Org concept also appears to have some sort of mashup between a Cannondale Lefty and a Telelever fork design.
Finally, the John Deer-esque color scheme is complemented by a saddle that you might expect to see on a very old and well-used tractor. Practical, or even possible? No, most likely not. But if you’re gonna go way out there for a concept, might as well go all the way. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below, and .
