| ’s Mark Perry responds to Leaf price gouging, says problem is easily averted You just need to have options. |
A meme for the ages. |
||
| loses latest bid to dismiss hybrid patent infringement case against Paice The target, though, is 2,757.1 mpg. |
Other news:
|
||
Since the mid-90s, the the luxury SUV segment has become an increasingly crowded field with almost every brand trying to get a piece of the pie (and in many cases several slices of various sizes). Way back in 1970, though, there was only one. Forty years ago this month the very first Range Rover rolled out of a UK factory and its continued rolling ever since.
Unlike the , International Scouts and of the day, the Range Rover managed to combine the luxury amenities and on-the-road ride qualities of a with the rock crawling prowess of those other brands. Range Rover built such a reputation that at one time Jaguar even considered building its own competitor. Fortunately, Land Rover came into the family before that happened and now both brands have passed into Indian hands. The realities of the modern world mean that future Range Rovers will undoubtedly change, getting lighter and perhaps adopting hybrid technology. For now at least, the badge still represents the epitome of British luxury blended with jungle crawling capability.
Gallery:
[Source: Land Rover]
Ford Fixes Powertrains – But Faces Platform Challenges
is betting big on batteries. During a news conference at its Rawsonville assembly plant, the automaker updated plans to put at least five electric vehicles into production over the next couple years, including both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models.
But there’s a yin to the yang of Ford’s push into green technology, as it’s demonstrating with the return of the new . At 412 horsepower, the eight-banger is pushing into what was, not all that long ago, supercar territory. Perhaps even more impressive is the , especially when you consider it’s rated at over .
Add the array of EcoBoost powertrains – from the up to the – and it’s not out of line to say Ford is in the midst of a serious powertrain renaissance.
That’s all the more significant when you consider where the automaker was, just a few years ago. Says one senior technical executive, “We were building crap.” Long-time auto analyst Maryann Keller was only a bit more polite – even though she sounded almost like Chicken Little, endlessly warning that the sky would fall if Ford didn’t start upgrading its engine line-up.
The old V6 was a great example why: it was slow, not very fuel efficient and sounded like it needed an industrial-size asthma inhaler whenever you tried to goose it into action.
Is Ford’s new powertrain line-up the best in the industry? Probably not. It’s hard to beat the offerings of makers like , , and . But Ford is finally competitive, and here we don’t mean that as faint praise. By the end of 2011, when all its new engine offerings are on the road, Ford will have little to apologize for.
You’d think a term like “all new” would be fairly absolute. But not when it comes to new cars. Take the new Citroën C4, for example. The French automaker calls it “all new”. But it’s still based on the platform of the outgoing model. That said, the sheetmetal is fresh, the dimensions have grown some and the hatch is packed with all manner of gizmos, solidifying the chevron brand’s place as a technological powerhouse.
What sort of tech are we talking about? How about adaptive headlights, lane departure and blind-spot warning systems, user-changeable backlighting in the cabin (along with ringtone-style chimes and alerts) and a new system called eTouch which monitors driving patterns and offers suggestions on how to improve fuel economy. Engine options will likely remain the same, with the addition of the new e-HDi hybrid diesel/electric drivetrain, and we’ll be looking for the new C4 to debut in Paris this Fall before sales begin overseas early next year.
The three-door model isn’t expected to continue into the new generation, leaving the five-door to go it alone against the likes of the and . The is expected to be based on this model, but as a crossover it’ll be further differentiated than the narrow gap between the smaller and hatchbacks. Details in the press release after the jump, with initial images in the gallery below.
Gallery:
[Source: Citroën]
While the recent demonstrated that an electromechanical flywheel hybrid system could boost both efficiency and performance, the Ferdinand relies on ultra-light construction to optimize efficiency. Everything non-essential was removed and what was left was stripped to the bare essentials. The revolutionary foil over (PCV) tube-frame construction yields a total mass of just 220 pounds, making the Lotus Elise look like a total porker. The slim tires feature exceptionally low rolling resistance and the simplified controls let the driver stay focused on the task at hand. The Ferdinand is not quite as swift as the hybrid, but sometimes thats the price you have to pay for zero emissions. Check out its maiden voyage at the Salzburgring in Austria . A tip of the hat to Raphael!
[Source: ]
| CEO Carlos Ghosn is still really, really bullish about the Leaf electric car The EV advocate just doesn’t stop. |
But the researchers still can’t make a fair comparison to gas vehicles. |
||
| – but range might be minuscule Tradeoffs are a reality. |
Other news:
|
||
has confirmed to Autoblog that the won’t remain the only efficiency-minded member of the S-Class family for long. The S350 Bluetec will be coming to the U.S. market for 2011 as the first diesel S-Class since the mid-1990s. The S350 will use the same 3.5-liter turbodiesel V6 already used in Mercedes’ ML, GL and R-Class SUVs. That engine is rated at 210 horsepower and 400 pound-feet and includes a urea injection system to treat the NOx emissions in the exhaust.
We expect the S350 to at least match – if not beat – the we achieved with the S400 gas-electric earlier this year, and it will probably have similar performance thanks to its exceptional torque. There is no word on pricing, but we anticipate it will sticker at or below the S400’s $87,950 base price for 2010.
Gallery:
[Source: ]
Gordon Murray has long been considered one of the most innovative engineers and designers in the automotive world. The latest project from the mind that created the is the new T.27 electric city car. The T.27 is the battery powered variant of the T.25, a model that will debut shortly with a gas engine. Both models use the same basic architecture, and like the seminal supercar, they feature a three seat layout. That’s largely where the similarities end, however.
Murray’s firm is collaborating on the T.27 project with Zytek Automotive, a UK-based engineering consultancy with vast experience in electric and hybrid powertrains. The 7.9-foot long car has a 12 kilowatt-hour battery pack mounted under the seats and a 25 kilowatt electric motor driving the rear wheels. Zytek has managed to package the motor, single-speed transmission and power electronics into one tidy little unit. The system is claimed to give the car a range of 80-100 miles and with the current UK electricity generation mix (mostly coal) the CO2 emissions are a combined 48 grams / kilometer.
The T.27 is claimed to have a turning circle of just 19.7 feet and with its width of 4.3 feet, three of them can fit into a single parking space perpendicular to the curb. The program started in November of 2009 and the first running prototype is due to be completed in April 2011. Official press release after the jump.
Gallery:
[Source: Gordon Murray Designs]
Even though we won’t be seeing the next-generation U.S.-spec until , we must remember that the European model is a wholly different vehicle. Our spies have just captured these photos of a Euro Civic test mule, showing that is making good progress with updating its best-selling compact in other markets.
Our spies indicate that the new front bumper is already in place under the camouflage on this jimmied-up Civic, giving it a larger stance, though the wheelbase looks about the same as the current car, meaning the overall size probably won’t change too much. Out back, slightly wider rear fenders mimic the larger proportions up front. As for what’s under the hood, we assume that the standard range of both gas and diesel engines four-cylinder engines will be offered in Europe, and the hybrid setup from the CR-Z hatch could possibly find a home in the redesigned Civic, as well.
No word has been given as to when the new Euro Civic will make its debut, but we’re willing to bet that the Honda hatch will hit the streets before the . See the full set of spy shots for yourself in the gallery below.
Gallery:
[Source: CarPix]
Things aren’t looking good for in a legal battle over whether or not the Japanese automaker has infringed on a Florida-based company’s hybrid drivetrain patents. A U.S. International Trade Commission judge recently ruled to deny Toyota’s request to end the lawsuit brought by Paice LLC. Toyota’s initial argument was that the plaintiff’s was invalid, but so far, the courts have sided with the smaller of the two companies time and time again. Earlier in the legal battle, a judge ruled that Toyota must pay Paice LLC a royalty for every , Hybrid and Lexus model sold. Paice originally wanted Toyota to halt sales of those vehicles entirely.
In response, Toyota has begun the process of arguing against the royalty amount per vehicle, while Paice has filed a new complaint over the technology present in the third-generation Prius, Hybrid , and .
Paice’s base complaint is over how the manufacturer is supplying torque from both the electric motor and the internal combustion engine to the drive wheels on those vehicles at the same time. The company has also gone after for the design of its and models.
[Source: ]
Like anyone in their 30s, the new GTI is a bit larger and a lot heavier, but does it still have a swing in its step?
BMW finally releases all the details on the M3 GTS, and if you can manage the $170k entry-fee then your track-day dreams are sure to come true.
Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed
Back in 2006 when the was , its powertrain was originally dubbed E-Flex as its configuration was designed to be flexible. The only part of the system that was constant was the electric drive and the presence of a battery. The architecture was designed so any type of powerplant could be used as a range extender, and over the last three years concepts have been shown with flex-fuel three-cylinder turbos, and .
Ultimately, powertrain chief engineer Larry Nitz and his team opted for a normally aspirated 1.4-liter inline-four for the first generation Volt because it offered the best combination of cost and efficiency. However, while working on the first generation Volt, work on the second-gen. model has been happening in parallel. Way back in May 2007 about using an HCCI engine for the Volt since it could be optimized to operate at steady state speeds and he agreed that was certainly one possible direction.
Right now the top priority for the second-generation Volt is driving down the cost of the powertrain, including the battery. Although automakers are always reluctant to talk about parts pricing, GM’s project management VP, Jon Laukner, has hinted on more than one occasion that the Volt pack costs somewhere in the for the 16 kWh unit. The goal is to get that cost down below $400 per kWh in the next few years and a combination of increased volumes and LG Chem launching cell production in western Michigan will certainly help to achieve that.
Reducing the cost of the range extender will also play a part. GM’s VP of global vehicle engineering, that smaller range extenders in the 15-18 kilowatt range are part of the strategy and either a two-cylinder piston engine or a single rotor Wankel are possibilities to replace the current inline-four. Volt communications manager Rob Peterson confirmed to Autoblog that a number of different variants are being evaluated, but he wouldn’t say if any particular direction has been selected yet.
Powertrain engineering consultant FEV has recently been showing off an . While Wankels are not known for fuel efficiency (quite the opposite actually), a modern direct injected unit for this type of application could be highly optimized to provide acceptable performance and consumption. A Wankel also has the advantage of being both very compact for its output and vibration-free, making it well suited for this type of application. With the first generation Volt only expected to have about a three-year life-span, a final decision will likely be made very soon.
Gallery:
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: , General Motors]
The clearest images yet of the 2011 have turned up ahead of the compact sedan’s launch this fall. Like the latest MK VI , the Jetta is expected to be built on an updated version of the MK V platform, although the sedan is believed to be slightly longer and wider. This will allow it to be more competitive against the and next generation .
Under the hood, the 2.0-liter TDI diesel will carry over, but the unloved 2.5-liter inline-five will probably be replaced by a 1.4-liter TSI inline-four. The TSI is a direct injected and turbocharged gasoline engine already available in Europe with several versions from 120 to 180 horsepower being offered.
A hybrid version of the Jetta will join the lineup in 2012 with a full electric version rumored in 2013. The current Jetta Sportwagen, sold as the Golf Variant in Europe, will continue unchanged for at least several more years after getting the MK VI Golf nose and interior for 2010.
[Source: ]
If a report from Japan’s Best Car is to be believed, will delay the release of the FT-86 from 2011 to 2013.
The reasons behind the delay are varied, and include a different design direction, the and possibly a revised powertrain strategy that could include some kind of hybrid motivation.
As , the original FT-86 concept was just that – a design study – and Toyota is apparently second-guessing the styling of the coupe before it reaches production. Additionally, ToMoCo is reportedly gauging the success of the Honda CR-Z, which could influence the final drivetrain specs of the FT-86. If that means a hybrid powerplant is in the cards, we’re not totally heartbroken, but if Toyota decides to remake the coupe as a front-driver, consider our dreams officially dashed. Regardless, the next iteration of the FT-86 is slated to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of 2011.
Gallery:
[Source: Best Car via ]
Like most of the motoring world, our automotive lives really got off the ground at age 13. We suddenly realized that in just three short years, we would be legally allowed to drive our very own cars, and that revelation started a chain reaction of magazines, posters and models that eventually led to our first set of keys. We may have even been known to sketch a barely recognizable dream car or two. We weren’t, however, cranking out professional-grade renderings of a version of the .
Here’s the deal: Team Speed forum user PorscheCarreraGTMay6 has been so kind as to share his vision of what a genuine hybrid racer might look like. That’s all fine and good. After all, the internet is awash with plenty of Photoshopped what-ifs, but what makes these really special is that A) the person claims to be 13 years-old and B) the renders are drop-dead gorgeous and C) there’s a good chance we’re going to see a 918 Spyder racer within the next few years. The user even cranked out a YouTube video and a solid description of the reasoning behind the model.
You can check out the full forum thread , and be sure to to see the video for yourself. Keep your eyes out. If this kid is actually 13 years-old, they’re going to set the auto world on fire.
Gallery:
[Source: ]
When gets around to expanding its line-up next year, the first model to benefit from the badge will be a compact MPV reportedly badged the Alpha. The small van will apparently be based on a stretched version of the current Prius platform, will add a third row of seats and should be the first production Toyota hybrid with a lithium ion battery pack. Toyota is currently testing a fleet of plug-in Prius hybrids with lithium batteries, but those aren’t slated for production until 2012.
The seven-seat Alpha is expected to be about one foot longer than the current Prius hatchback, while a shorter, five-seat version of the Alpha that may look similar to the from 2007 and could retain the nickel-metal hydride batteries of the current Prius to keep costs down. If all goes according to plan, expect the Prius Alpha to launch around March of next year.
Gallery:
[Source: ]
| /Toyota to hire union workers at former NUMMI plant Will the Model S be a union car? |
Don’t get in crash with one of these, dummy. |
||
| i-MiEV on sale in Hong Kong, priced at $50,000 U.S. Mitsubishi is only looking for 50 buyers, though. |
Other news:
|
||
For John Hennessey, too much is never enough. How else can you explain a 1,000 hp Camaro?
Pininfarina wants to set the tone for the future of electric vehicles, and its new Nido prototype is the yet another step towards a marketable electric city car.
Spies snag shots of the 2011 CLS before its big reveal at this year’s Paris Motor Show.
Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed
In the Eighties, you wanted your MTV. Now that you’re a little older and a lot richer, you want your naturally aspirated V12 Italian cars, and both and plan to deliver. The raging bulls at Sant’ Agata are incorporating more lightweight materials into their cars in order to get over emissions hurdles, but Ferrari has different plans, likely including a road-going iteration of its kinetic energy recovery system, as seen fitted to its concept car at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.
According to Autocar’s quote from Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, “Hybrid means we can protect the V12,” suggesting Ferrari believes its unassisted 12-cylinder will live on. Autocar’s theory is that the next Enzo could see its V12 paired with an electric motor to keep the government watchdogs happy. Of course, this contradicts when, after speaking with Felisa, it wrote, “Felisa also hinted that the new Ferrari Enzo will be powered by a direct-injection twin-turbo V8 when it is launched in 2012.”
It could be that Ferrari will use a naturally aspirated V12, only not in the Enzo – the F40 was a V8 while the Testarossa/512 received the big-engine treatment. Frankly, we’re all for a hybrid Enzo, though. Provided they can keep the weight down, a silent supercar at low speeds with 600-plus horses that could bolt at a half-second’s notice would make the most awesome getaway car ever.
Gallery:
Live Photos: Noah Joseph / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: ]
Car & Driver has begun assembling pieces of fact and hypothesis to come up with a picture of the next-generation MkVII . Word is that a larger, edgier, lower and wider evolution of the bread-and-butter hatch will show up earlier than planned in order to make a better case for itself against an up-market Polo and to take advantage of cost savings.
The savings will come from the use of Group’s new modular platform, which could eventually be a workhorse for 60 different models throughout the company’s various brands. That would eliminate 16 of the current platforms it needs to use. Sixty might seem like a large number at first, but the new Golf is being prepped to fit new powerplants including electric and , and that will quickly add branches to the family tree.
The interior will be replete with tech as well, with “higher-quality materials” joining an eight-inch touchscreen with iPad-like operability that controls navigation, audio, and Internet access. We’ve seen a prototype of VW’s GLORIA touchscreen system and it should be impressive. A note of caution, though: C/D starts the piece off with the note that VW CEO Martin Winterkorn wants to make VW bigger than Toyota. All we’ll say is we know what happened when Toyota wanted the top spot, so please, VW be careful.
[Source: ]
 |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||