Renault Zoe Z.E. concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Any marketing person will tell you that coming up with the right name is one of the most difficult aspects of launching a new product. Big companies will spend millions of dollars researching names to make sure that they aren’t already trademarked or have strange or offensive meanings in other countries.
, however, has a slightly different problem with the name of one its upcoming electric vehicles. The Zoe Z.E. is a compact, urban commuter due to be launched in 2012. Renault is not an uncommon name in France, wit its namesake, Louis Renault having begun building cars in the late 19th century. Unfortunately for a certain Parisian woman, having both her first and last names associated with a new car is apparently just too much. Thus, according to Autocar, Zoe Renault is threatening to sue Automaker Renault unless it changes the name of its forthcoming EV.
While we can certainly sympathize with Ms. Renault, her complaint here seems to be a bit of a stretch. The automaker apparently chose the name Zoe because it means “life” in Greek. Unless automakers start using nothing but made up or alphanumeric names, there is bound to be someone, somewhere that will have an issue with just about every name. It’s time to get over it.
After spending a week circumnavigating the country in a pair of sedans on a couple of weeks back, you might think that the drive home to Detroit from South Bend would’ve been a bit of a disappointment. On the contrary, we were glad to see our long-term , and have been so every day since then. Not that we didn’t enjoy the 550i (2010 model) or remember why we absolutely love the , but there’s a lot to be said for simplicity over unnecessary complication.
For one, the cruise control switchgear on the steering wheel spoke in the Subie is infinitely easier to use than the hidden stalk on the Bimmers. The Legacy’s arrangement is a model of ergonomic excellence, whereas the BMW necessitated that we give step-by-step how-to directions to our co-drivers from the back seat. Repeatedly.
And don’t even get us started on the differences in navigation systems. While the 2.5GT’s is far from perfect, its touchscreen is still much easier to negotiate than either of the two generations of iDrive we experienced in the BMWs – much improved though they are. We do wish that higher functions (address entry, etc.) could be accessed on the move – at least when there is more than one person in the car. Why can’t automakers learn that this safety ‘feature’ should have an automatic override tied to the passenger seat weight sensor that’s already there to govern airbag deployment?
Did we mention how much we like the ? Crisp display, a couple of rockers and a handful of buttons – it’s simplicity itself.
One area where our Subaru is arguably oversimplified is with its : It has two single-function switches – one for tilt, and one for slide open/close. Unless it’s a small cost win, we can’t see why there isn’t a unified dual function switch as on most other cars. At least they are differentiated in look and feel for less fumbling about.
More Long-Term Updates:
Gallery:
Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Last week, we heard rumors that had finally decided to produce the but no official announcement came from General Motors headquarters.
This morning as U.S. media gathered to drive the Regal in California, the GS officially became a reality. And while our man Michael Harley is on the launch, we also just received an email from Dayna Hart in GM communications proclaiming:
“At wave 1 of our drive program for Regal we just confirmed that the Regal GS will be added to the Buick portfolio. We are not providing any additional details at this point.”
As the quote notes, Buick isn’t sharing any other details about the GS such as timing, or what engine will be in the car. We’re expecting that Buick will stick with the 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected Ecotec inline-four that was listed on the spec sheet for the shown at the Detroit Auto Show last January. However, now that has announced the with 276 horsepower, we’re expecting that Buick will try to ensure that the Regal GS will have more than the 255 hp announced back in January.
Gallery:
Live photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.
2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo – Click above for high-res image gallery
It appears that may have overestimated the U.S. market appeal for high-end versions of the , and executives now acknowledge that the six-cylinder 535i probably should have been available at launch. It’s not unusual for an automaker to launch an all-new model by shipping mostly loaded, top-level versions in order to absorb the maximum number of dollars from early adopters, but sometimes that approach backfires if the market isn’t ready for the new vehicle.
Case in point is the 5GT, of which BMW has apparently sold fewer than 1,200 units in the U.S. since the launch of the polarizing people mover late last year. Interestingly, BMW has found that more women than expected have bought the model, while its less-than-stellar fuel consumption has hurt sales in a still-weak U.S. economy. Gran Turismo sales are apparently ahead of projections elsewhere, but those other markets launched with both gasoline and diesel inline-six engine choices.
Given that the 5GT is best suited as a road trip machine, it might make sense for BMW to install the 3.0-liter diesel from the and as an alternative to the twin-turbo V8. So far BMW has not indicated any plans to offer a diesel GT in America, but the less costly 535i GT is still slated to arrive in the Fall.
2011 BMW X3 teaser shots – Click above for high-res image gallery
The 2010 Paris Motor Show may be five months out at this point, but that isn’t stopping manufacturers like from getting the ball rolling on the long, slow, aggravating striptease of new models. The German manufacturer has just dropped a few sneaky shots of the all-new 2011 X3 for the motoring world to start speculating over. So what do we see? A hood, a taillight, a few body lines and not much else.
It’s clear that the hood now wears similar styling to what you’ll find on the and thanks to a few more contours than the previous piece. Beyond that, we don’t know too much about the new Bavarian high-rider other than it can whip up a in a hurry.
Judging from the we’ve come across thus far, we aren’t expecting particularly dramatic changes to the X3’s exterior. A reworked fascia is likely to join the new hood and taillights, and there is some talk of a four-cylinder engine making its way under the hood for the first time.
When based on the Taurus, it said it had another vehicle in the works that “would share most parts with the and be available in a utility version.” Speculation was that it would be a based on the component spec, but according to The Detroit News, it turns out the as-yet-unseen 2011 Ford Explorer has got the nod.
Ford won’t say much about it at the moment as it hasn’t been announced officially, but it is understood that the model will be pursuit-rated and pack all-wheel-drive. The latter distinction arguably puts it atop the category: there is a pursuit-rated that many police forces already use, but it’s only two-wheel-drive. The four-wheel-drive Tahoe, also already employed by rural and urban forces, isn’t pursuit-rated.
Ford hasn’t given a timeframe for when the police-spec unibody Explorer will be here, but in addition to its arrival giving units like K9 and SWAT a better mobile command post, it ought to help Ford’s efforts to maintain its 70-percent share of the police market after the current Crown Victoria-based PI goes out to pasture. Hat tip to Matthew.
To the German government authorities who think is financially sound enough to pay for Opel’s restructuring without loan-guarantee assistance, Opel CEO Nick Reilly says that’s not the case. “You need to remember that GM is first of all founded by U.S. taxpayers,” Reilly was quoted as saying. “Frankly, GM needs the money it has got.”
Not surprisingly, GM has found an ally in Opel’s German workers. The General has come to an agreement with the local labor heads who have agreed to forgo €1.26 billion ($1.586B U.S.) in earnings over the next four years. The deal requires that the money ’saved’ be committed to developing Opel products, and if it isn’t, then GM has to pay it back.
To help everyone keep track of the money and perhaps make financial assistance a more attractive option, Adam Opel AG will become a listed company. Germany hasn’t given any indication of when it will declare its position on giving aid, but with 24,000 workers added to the plea and everyone unsure of how long GM can wait before it needs to take other measures, Germany will probably want to close this chapter out rather soon.
A year ago, the White House led the effort to get automakers’ Corporate Average Fuel Economy to . Although the number was eventually , it will actually be slightly lower because of other non-automotive credits that will be applied. One might have thought automakers would still be grousing the work that needs to be done, but in fact they encouraged the federal government to go further, and so it has: the White House began working this week on setting CAFE standards through 2025.
The reason for this? The Golden State. Just after last year’s 2016 CAFE numbers were announced, on “a much more stringent standard” for 2017 and afterward. Automakers urged the feds to head the California Air Resources Board off at the pass in order to stay ahead of state initiatives, thereby quashing the chance that different laws would hit the books.
The EPA and DOT have just gotten to work on crafting new standards, so it will probably be another year before new numbers come out. For you folks with large-capacity, high-horsepower engines, you might want to take this chance to rev ‘em if ya got ‘em.
2011 Audi A8 – Click above for high-res image gallery
One day, we’ll be able to have wireless internet access from nearly every point on the globe. And while many cities and towns are making efforts to offer free wireless service across a broad range, automakers are now looking to bring WiFi connectivity to cars. is on board, and it has just announced that the will be available with factory-installed in-car wireless hotspot.
The WLAN hotspot is located within the rooftop antenna, and passengers can connect to the internet via any laptop, netbook or new-age tablet, like the Apple iPad. Audi says that the network is capable of speeds up to 7.2 Mbit/sec and that WAP2 encryption is on hand in order to securely transfer data. Audi claims that this is the first such factory-installed system, although other automakers offer WiFi connectivity with dealer installed accessories.
The new A8 is already packed to the brim with the latest and greatest in automotive technological achievements. Things like the automaker’s second-generation MMI control interface, the and an impressive LED lighting system up front set it apart from other vehicles in the class, and the addition of wireless internet will only strengthen the appeal to prospective buyers. The full details are available in Audi’s press release, after the jump.
has developed social media initiatives aimed at “digital natives,” folks 16-to-33 that have grown up with the web, that don’t stop at posting photos and blasting a few characters at a time. One is a community called Gen-Benz, with 580 members who provide Mercedes comments and commentary on the brand.
The other forum for feedback comes via a group of 1,800 M-B Advisers who provide feedback on the marque’s advertising and branding. Interestingly, Mercedes has used the group to get input on marketing the , not just the models you might think more appropriate for the 16-to-33 demographic.
The results being promoted do raise an eyebrow. In one instance, some Gen-Benz members were dispatched to dealers as mystery shoppers and they reported that dealers didn’t treat them well, a verdict that Mercedes’ VP of marketing described as “a truth we wouldn’t have known about for a couple of years.” In another case the M-B Advisers told Mercedes to stick with an emotional pitch for its SLS AMG, yet we aren’t sure how many other ways there are to advertise a nearly $200,000 car. Still, a fairly conservative company going this far to interact with current and new buyers is a smart move.
Rule number one of the Internet should be to always read past the headline before hitting the keyboard to comment. A prime example comes from the latest press release from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The statement’s headline implies that PA state troopers will be enforcing seatbelt use from aircraft flying overhead. Frankly, given the budget constraints of most states, we suspect that aerial traffic enforcement is enormously wasteful at best. But the idea of even detecting seatbelt use from the sky seems absurd on its face.
As it turns out, Pennsylvania’s belt law only only allows for secondary enforcement anyway. That means if you drive unbelted past a trooper while still observing all other traffic edicts, you can’t get pulled over. Hence, the Air, Land and Speed campaign that the Pennsylvania state police is undertaking this summer will be primarily focused on catching speeders and then giving them secondary tickets if they insist on being truly foolish by driving unrestrained.
[Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Image: Wikimedia Commons]
A day on a Dubai highway – Click above to watch video
If Dubai ever needed a theme song, C&CMusic Factory’s “Things That Make You Go Hmmm” would fit the bill. Perhaps the only country in the world where you’re driving down the highway, in traffic, and this happens. If you want to know what this is, for the video – as with so many other things that come out of Dubai, ya just gotta see it.
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.
Also of interest:
means we can protect the V12“
Golf MkVII to get ‘Net-connected 8-inch touchscreen
According to Mibz.com, the Suzuki SX4 won’t be pimped to just Fiat anymore (see: ), is getting in on the act. Going after the small end of the market, VW is reportedly set to take advantage of its of and swiping the lovable little SX4 as the basis of a new model tentatively dubbed Rocktan.
Positioned as a city-sized crossover, the Rocktan theoretically slots in between the similarly tiny and , though this is all unconfirmed at this point. Power will apparently not be from Suzuki, but rather from VW, likely the 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine and 1.6- and 2.0-liter TDI diesels. This could be mere grist for the rumormill, or we could soon see a -sized VolkZuki. For now, all we’ve got are dreams of another flavor of the friendly SX4.
There’s no denying that has made our lives easier. There’s always a difference between knowing where something is on a map and seeing the surrounding landmarks with your own virtual eyes, and Google Maps has gone a long way toward bringing the world to our living room. Of course, has also helped to remind us of just how entertaining the human race can be. Creative souls the world over have staged pranks – both elaborate and otherwise – to have themselves immortalized in the annals of Googledom.
While we’ve seen our fair share of superheroes, unique vehicles and the like, our hats have to go off to the crew in the animated GIF seen . There is no elaborate set up or costume, just two guys who really wanted to be on Google StreetView. Go ahead – see it for yourself.
Alpina B3S goes on sale in the UK – Click above for high-res image gallery
The twin-turbo, 400-horsepower Alpina B3S has been let loose on the UK market. With just about 400 pound-feet to get you off the line you’ll get from 0-to-60 in 4.7 seconds. That might not sound too impressive for an Alpina, but you’ll be able to hang with Porsche Carrera S’s, and that’s not bad for a 3 Series. Staying away from hard going will get you another impressive number, though: 24.2 combined miles per gallon (29.1 Imperial).
The Alpina B3S is offered in Saloon, Touring, Coupe and Convertible, with deliveries beginning in July. Follow the jump for the full press release and have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Pininfarina Nido EV – Click above for high-res image gallery
Italian design house Pininfarina unveiled its Nido EV prototype today as the starting point for a new modular platform for electric and hybrid vehicles. The Nido EV is an update of the design of the 2004 Nido city car concept with proportions very similar to that of the . The Nido platform has been developed entirely in-house at Pininfarina’s Style and Engineering Centre of Cambiano with the intent of being able to affordably produce different bodystyles, including both two- and four-seat cars, as well as pickup and van models. Although the prototype uses a steel tube frame chassis, production versions will apparently migrate to a lighter aluminum space frame.
This particular Nido uses a 30 kilowatt permanent magnet electric motor driving the rear wheels, while future variants may include a small engine at the front for a hybrid configuration, or a front mounted electric motor. Unlike pretty much every other EV currently under development, Pininfarina has elected to use a nickel-salt Zebra battery that has good energy density but high operating temperatures. Despite the 21.2 kilowatt-hour capacity, the battery weighs only 400 pounds. Zebra batteries are also fully recyclable and contain no toxic materials (assuming you discount the issues with mining nickel). The Nido is claimed to have a range of 87 miles and 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds.
No production timetable has been given for the Nido, so Pininfarina is likely looking for a partner or someone to license the design to. Check out the high-res gallery below and official press-release after the jump.
2010 Hennessey HPE800 Twin-Turbo Camaro – Click above to watch the video
How much horsepower is enough? Many would say that the 725 horsepower in the should have enough oomph to quell just about anyone’s desires for straight line speed, especially for a street car. Then again, we’re talking about a car built by John Hennessey, who surely spends every waking minute concocting ideas on how to get every last horsepower out of cars. His latest creation, the HPE800 Twin-Turbo Camaro, puts out an amazing 815 horsepower and 788 pound-feet of torque thanks to twin turbochargers strapped to a 415ci stroker motor and a host of other upgrades.
Not enough for you? Hennessey will build you an HPE1000 version complete with a twin-turbo 427ci LSX block and just about their entire catalog of go-fast parts for Chevy’s musclecar. They recently strapped one down to a dyno, and the resulting numbers are just plain ridiculous: 847 horsepower and 801 lb-ft torque at the rear wheels. Watch the video to see for yourself.
American touring motorcycles, including the Road King from or the , are built for the kind of vast stretches of wide-open roadways America is known for, and such machines are perfect to watching the miles roll by in open-air comfort. For those looking to add some additional sport to their touring rides, though, Triumph has cooked up something that may very well be of interest.
The British motorcycle company has seen fit to update its Sprint sport tourer for the 2011 model year with a 1050cc inline-triple powerplant that puts out 130 horses, five more than before. Anti-lock brakes are standard, as are 8.2-gallon saddlebags and a 12-volt power port. Optional amenities include heated grips, a taller windscreen, gel seats and a large top case for additional storage.
Styling is slightly revised as well, with a smoother fairing, new optics up front and the addition of a single low-mount exhaust in lieu of the previous underseat system. For whatever reason, the name of the bike is now the Sprint GT, not ST. Check it out for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.
