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.
Episode four of the video series is out, with a focus on the and how it’s helping to make the . We already knew that the Corvette C6.R has been running on cellulosic E85 for the past two years, but that’s just the beginning of the improvements to these race cars.
The engineers and technicians that create and maintain the racers have been working for a decade to make them better. When the original GT1 class C5.R started racing ten years ago, it would get about 10 laps per tankful at Le Mans. Today the cars get 15 laps per tank, meaning they spend a lot less time sitting idle in the pits and more time out running for position.
Reducing friction and parasitic losses throughout the car has helped tremendously. The team has worked with its air conditioning supplier to reduce the compressor power draw from five horsepower to just 1.8 hp. Similarly, going from traditional steel wheel bearings to ceramic bearings has added three mph of straightaway speed and improved durability. The next big change that could eventually make its way to road cars is zero viscosity engine oil to cut internal engine friction.
It would seem that the only good time Lewis Hamilton had at the Australian Grand Prix was when he was actually smoking the tires of his loaner . Once that burnout was complete, though, the wheels came off: Hamilton got under Melbourne’s anti-hoon laws, had the car impounded, qualified 11th for the race and .
And it’s not over: Lewis has been officially charged by a Melbourne court with intentionally losing control of a vehicle. A summons for a court date of August 24 was given to his Australian solicitor, but with the Belgian Grand Prix taking place on August 29 the chance of his appearing on that date seems slim. If nothing else, charging a former Formula 1 world champion – and Swiss resident, to boot – is the best lesson to every non-world-champion out there who plans to visit Melbourne: Do. Not. Hoon. Hat tip to Robert
Tata Motors has milked the minicar’s “most affordable” status for a ton of press, but it might soon hand the title belt over to a new challenger. According to a report at TopNews.in, Geely’s reportedly got its own ultra-frugal compact in the works for 2010. Called the IG, it’s expected to bring a $2,250 price tag and a 1.0-liter, 70 horsepower motor to the party.
We have no idea what to expect from a new car that’s , but word is that Geely aims to surpass the Nano from a quality standpoint. We already have a good idea of what the IG might look like if/when the Chinese microcar hits crowded city streets in a couple years, since Geely showed off the IG Fantastic concept car at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show.
While we’re certain the concept’s gullwing doors will never see life outside an exhibition hall, we’re thinking that a cute little runabout could fare quite nicely with a $2,250 price tag. We’ll likely never see the IG here in the States, but the folks in China and India will probably love it.
Formula One impresario Bernie Eccelstone wants to bring his series back to the United States, but he’s apparently not keen on returning to Indy, site of the U.S. Grand Prix from 2000-2007. Instead, he hopes to stage the race in a big media market like New York City. While the idea of an F1 street course in Manhattan has surfaced repeatedly over the years, anyone familiar with the city will tell you the concept is clearly idiotic.
In recent days, however, a new venue has jumped in as a possible host: the . Monticello is a private motorsports country club located about 75 miles northwest of Manhattan. The track has a maximum length of 4.1 miles with 22 turns depending on the configuration, and would make a magnificent site for an F1 race. While there is an airport nearby, and the track itself is new, having opened in 2008, there are currently no spectator facilities. If Monticello gets the deal to host a Grand Prix, a lot of work would have to be done, meaning a race probably wouldn’t happen until at least 2012 or maybe even 2013.
Earlier this week, a plastered the – rather, Ram – logo on a Fiat 500. It looked pretty bad. Now, Fiat USA is offering Yanks a chance to choose a more conventional logo for the cute little bugger, and thankfully, the mountain mammal doesn’t factor into the equation.
Elsewhere, the 500 logo is the horizontally-split numerical graphic at the top. Your job is to let Fiat know which of the five supplementary graphics you think should grace the car. Whether Fiat plans on listening to any of you or using your majority choice anywhere remains to be seen, but as long as it isn’t number three then we’ll have fun playing. And as Mr. Letterman would advise, please, no wagering. Hop on over to and cast your vote.
The first leaked shot of the 2011 Passat has apparently surfaced in Germany’s Auto Bild. Assuming it’s accurate, the mid-size sedan boasts one of the straightest interpretations of VW’s new design language.
In fact, its wide, strongly-horizontal bearing is as much a reminder of the as it is of the . Following the lines of the heavily-chrome-accented front end back along the absolutely flat shoulder, the new Passat presents itself as upscale middle-management transport that acts as a stepping stone to the range-topping Phaeton. It’ll arrive later this year, and we expect to get our first in-person look at it at the Paris Motor Show.
The first leaked shot of the 2011 Passat has apparently surfaced in Germany’s Auto Bild. Assuming it’s accurate, the mid-sized sedan boasts one of the straightest interpretations of VW’s new design language.
In fact, its wide, strongly-horizontal bearing is as much a reminder of the Phaeton as it is of the Touareg. Following the lines of the heavily-chrome-accented front end back along the absolutely flat shoulder, the new Passat presents itself as upscale middle-management transport that acts as a stepping stone to the range-topping Phaeton. It’ll arrive later this year, and we expect to get our first in-person look at it at the Paris Motor Show.
Technology is your friend, but no one said it’s always going to be not creepy nice to look at. The fellow there next to the Ford Fiesta is named “Santos.” He’s a U.S. Department of Defense creation working part-time at Ford as a “computerized avatar.” His job? To perform “actions in the virtual world that can allow Ford to improve quality, safety and ergonomics in factories before an assembly line is built.”
Translation: Santos and his virtual musculoskeletal structure can test assembly line procedures at The Blue Oval, helping production-line engineers organize stations in a manner that maximizes efficiency and worker comfort. We’re just waiting for the day when Santos says, “The most efficient way to do this is… to eliminate the humans.” Enjoy the gallery of high-res photos below and the video after the jump – while you still can.
2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT – click above for high-res gallery
Over the last few months, we’ve had some time to come to grips with how comfy and capacious the interior is in our long-term , but despite this, we think it could still do with a sportier feeling cabin. A big part of the staidness of the interior can be blamed on our test car’s spears of orangey woodgrain trim – we would have gladly substituted the silver trim in lower-rung models, but it wasn’t an option.
Thankfully, has recognized the incongruity – and the opportunity – and they’re substituting faux carbon fiber , which ought to be a great improvement and help sell the ‘performance’ aura. Better still, they’re adding aluminum pedal covers and silver seat stitching which should definitely liven up the place a bit.
Pricing for the 2011 model – now in ‘Limited’ trim only – goes up by $405 to $31,395. but includes Harman/Kardon audio with XM – two items that cost extra in our 2010. They’re also adding folding side mirrors, which should make at least one AB commenter we’ve heard from very happy. Either way the modest price increase is money very well spent in our book. Now, if Subaru would only make its excellent Xenon headlamps available as an option (they’ve already got the next to the power mirror controls), we’d be even happier campers…
Updates on our year-long experience with this Subaru can be found by checking out its . Bookmark it, subscribe to our RSS feed and (#ablongterm) as we travel along the road ahead with our Legacy 2.5GT.
Gallery:
Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
McLaren dealer rendering – Click above for high-res image gallery
McLaren Automotive has announced the 35 cities where the will be available when it goes on sale next year. Dealers in the 19 countries on the list are still being evaluated and at least 23 of them will be named by McLaren prior to the public debut of the new sports car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
There are few surprises on the list of cities, with all of the usual suspects being represented including Paris, London, Los Angeles and Tokyo. As you’d expect, the Middle East is over represented with seven locations, including two in Saudi Arabia. The UK isn’t left of the mix with one dealer each in Manchester and Birmingham, while those of us in the States will have to check out McLaren’s newest supercar in Tampa, Florida. Over 500 dealers have applied for the first 35 outlets and McLaren expects some expansion in 2012. Of course, that’s all dependent on demand, but with 2,500 prospects expressing interest in buying an MP4-12C so far, there could be a McLaren boom in the making.
Since the beginning of autodom, there have always been uptight car owners wincing at every swirl mark and paint chip. Blemishes in the leather upholstery cause heartburn, and spilled milk is definitely grounds for weeping. Couple that tightly-wound protectiveness with high-end conveyances from and you’ve got a bout of steam emanating from owner’s ears.
Mercedes-Benz thinks it has a solution in its new First Class Exterior and Interior insurance. DuPont is providing the rejuvenation service, and it means that you can grit your teeth a little less when ‘lil Johnny scrapes the side of your W212 with his handlebars. BMW is offering the same kind of coverage, and Mercedes expects it to be a popular up-sell, just as extended service contracts are.
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.
Yesterday, and announced that the two companies would be . Tesla will be taking over the factory in Fremont, California, which was recently closed. Now, the United Auto Workers is urging Toyota to hire union workers to operate the plant, giving jobs back to the people who were rendered unemployed after the NUMMI shutdown.
UAW president Ron Gettelfinger has issued the following statement:
“Our union’s hope is that this venture will give first hiring preference to former NUMMI employees who are already trained and highly skilled.”
As you’ll recall, NUMMI was closed at the beginning of April after the Toyota/General Motors joint venture fizzled, a development that left roughly 4,500 union workers unemployed. Thus, it only makes sense that the UAW would be fighting to reinstate these workers’ jobs now that Tesla plans to build its sedan at this facility.
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.
Thought the battles between and the were over? Think again. Toyota President Jim Lentz was back on Capitol Hill Thursday to discuss , and it appears some representatives are still looking for blood. The Detroit Free Press reports that Michigan Congressman Bart Stupek (D) accused Toyota of worrying more about dodging lawsuits and discrediting Southern Illinois University professor David Gilbert than the thousands of unintended acceleration claims that have made headlines the past few months.
Lentz countered that Toyota has spent thousands of hours testing its electronics, and that it had hired California engineering firm Exponent to provide an independent investigation of the systems in question. Toyota has also given more power over quality issues to North American executives.
To help with consumer confidence going forward, the Japanese automaker is installing brake override systems in all new models beginning at the end of 2010, and Lentz added that the company has already repaired 3.5 million of the 5.6 million vehicles involved in the recall.
U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif then asked Exponent to provide documentation of its investigation, and the company replied that it had little or no documentation of its testing. Waxman went on the offensive, saying that he can find no basis for Toyota’s assertions of extensive electronic defect testing, adding “Toyota’s assertions may be good public relations, but they don’t appear to be true.”
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.
Daniel Garcia’s Audi A9 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
From the front, high three-quarter angle, A9 concept is a little too reminiscent of BMW’s . Yet, as is the case with so many geniune Audis, get to know it a bit more and you discover its beautiful and original secrets. As a concept, it’s full of features like self-repairing panels and a pushbutton that changes the exterior color, but we have to admit we’re digging those electroluminescent, spoked wheels.
Better yet is the exterior, with its inviting proportions, conceivable enough that if someone told us this will be the 2016 we’d give them the benefit of the doubt. Have a better look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below, and we’ll hope that one of includes running a program that turns your A8 into this.
