Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
TOYOTA DEBUTS 100-MILE RANGE, RAV4 EV DEMONSTRATION VEHICLE
TOYOTA DEBUTS 100-MILE RANGE, RAV4 EV DEMONSTRATION VEHICLE
AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
Toyota/Tesla Collaboration To Build, Demonstrate And Evaluate 35 Vehicles:
Fully Engineered Second-Generation RAV4 EV Slated For 2012 On-Sale Date Read full release here.
2010-'11 Jaguar XJ Recalled for Defective Windshield Wipers
Jaguar is recalling 6,475 2010-'11 XJ sedans because the windshield wipers could detach from the car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Most Saab 9-4Xs are headed for U.S.
The 9-4X is Saab's new crossover, developed with former owner General Motors Co.
9-4X output will average 12,500 units annually when full production is reached next year, said Jan Ake Jonsson, CEO of Saab Automobile AB. Jonsson said it is a conservative production forecast. About 9,400 are for the United States, he said. Read more here.
source:reviews.cnet.comVW considers building a new minivan
However, one major automaker that has struggled to gain any kind of traction in the North American minivan market is Germany’s Volkswagen. The brand virtually invented the genre with the 1950 Type 2 (or Transporter), but left North America with the departure of the T4 Transporter — marketed in Canada as the Eurovan — in the 1990s.
But now there’s talk of a new VW minivan, more in line with the well-received Microbus Concept from the 2001 Geneva auto show. Continue reading here
source: wheels.ca
Thursday, November 25, 2010
EV Batteries Will Have Lives Beyond the Road | dailyator.com
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EV Batteries Will Have Lives Beyond the Road | dailyator.com
That bodes well for the coming wave of electric vehicles, and it's safe to assume lithium-ion batteries will keep cars we'll see next month like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt rolling for a long time to come. ...dailyator.com - http://dailyator.com/
Coyote Blog » Blog Archive » More Thoughts on EV MPG
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Coyote Blog » Blog Archive » More Thoughts on EV MPG
To this end, the more sophisticated DOE standard is a much better reflection of how well the Nissan Leaf affects US fossil fuel use. The only reason not to use this standard is because the EPA, and the Administration in general, ...Coyote Blog - http://www.coyoteblog.com/
GM Volt and Nissan Leaf all set to take on Toyota Prius
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GM Volt and Nissan Leaf all set to take on Toyota Prius
| Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, both having better reviews than Prius, are scheduled to be launched next month in US. Toyota Prius gives a mileage of 37 mpg ... See all stories on this topic » |  Rush Lane |
Chevy Volt receives 93 MPGe EPA rating; Nissan Leaf 99 MPGe
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Chevy Volt receives 93 MPGe EPA rating; Nissan Leaf 99 MPGe
Earlier this week, Nissan announced that the Nissan Leaf, its all-electric vehicle, will achieve the equivalent of 99 MPG in combined city and highway ...See all stories on this topic »
Friday, November 19, 2010
First 2011 Toyota Corolla Live Photos
The 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show is open to the press, and we've nailed down the first live photos of the 2011 Toyota Corolla.
The Corolla is one of the most popular cars currently on sale in the U.S. The 2011 model is a facelift, with new front and rear bumpers, a lightly reskinned interior, and two new colors--as well as the Toyota Care complimentary maintenance plan, which covers service for two years. Continue reading this article and view more pictures here.
Source:motorauthority.com
Hyundai introduces new Elantra model
The global stage of the Los Angeles Auto Show was the perfect setting for the fifth generation Hyundai Elantra model to make its debut – with a host of fuel economy improvements.
The vehicle is powered by a new 1.8litre Nu four-cylinder engine with 148hp and 131lb-ft of torque, replacing the outgoing 2.0litre Beta engine. It is smaller in size and weighs 74lbs less, helping the vehicle to fuel economy improvements of 18 per cent when compared to its predecessor. In all, the vehicle achieves 29mpg city and 40mpg highway with a highway-only driving range of up to 500miles. Continue reading this article here.
Download free Hyundai online auto brochure here.
Ford reducing stake in Mazda to 3.5%
Battery price fall ‘to make EVs cost-effective’
The price of batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles will ‘tumble’ over the next decade to the point where alternative powertrains will be as cheap as internal combustion engines, a leading battery maker said at the Reuters Auto Summit this week.
According to Reuters, Prabhakar Patil, the chief executive of LG Chem unit Compact Power reports that the price for lithium ion batteries has already fallen by a factor of 14 since the technology was first commercially introduced in the early 1990s. Read the rest of this article here.
Source:thegreencarwebsite.com
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Gets Racing TracKey
- 2012 Mustang Boss 302 can be fitted with a new aftermarket TracKey that provides full race calibration and two-stage launch control.
- TracKey was developed by Ford Racing and the Mustang engineering team.
- It's an aftermarket option from Ford dealers.
Read the rest of this article here.
Free Maintenance Added To All 2011 Lincoln Models
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Revealed On Facebook
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Global Vehicles USA Still Hopes to Sell Mahindra Truck by Spring | Online Auto Brochure
News & Rants: 2010 Mazda CX-9: Car Seat Check | Online Auto Brochure
Time for Mark Perry, Nissan Director of Product Planning, to answer a new question from this community. Many of you asked about options for roadside assistance, which comes standard with the Nissan LEAF. Watch and learn more in this video.
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Time for Mark Perry, Nissan Director of Product Planning, to answer a new question from this community. Many of you asked about options for roadside assistance, which comes standard with the Nissan LEAF. Watch and learn more in this video.
Time for Mark Perry, Nissan Director of Product Planning, to answer a new question from this community. Many of you asked about options for roadside assistance, which comes standard with the Nissan LEAF. Watch and learn more in this video.
Mark Perry Answers a Question for the Nissan LEAF Facebook Page [HQ]
Time for Mark Perry, Nissan Director of Product Planning, to answer a new question from this community. Many of you asked about options for roadside assistance, which comes standard with the Nissan LEAF. Watch and learn more in this video.
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Time for Mark Perry, Nissan Director of Product Planning, to answer a new question from this community. Many of you asked about options for roadside assistance, which comes standard with the Nissan LEAF. Watch and learn more in this video.
Time for Mark Perry, Nissan Director of Product Planning, to answer a new question from this community. Many of you asked about options for roadside assistance, which comes standard with the Nissan LEAF. Watch and learn more in this video.Mark Perry Answers a Question for the Nissan LEAF Facebook Page [HQ]
History Of Some Of The Most Famous Automobile Logos | Online Auto Brochure
Is The Electric Car Worth It?
The overall fuel efficiency of electricity would be the remainder of the burning of fossil fuel at a power plant at around 40% efficiency then it is delivery or transmittal to the consumer’s home at around 93% then the electricity is used in the vehicle at 92% providing a total of 34% efficiency. The oil refinery functions at 75% of efficiency then the delivery causes another 6% loss of energy. Combustion engines are around 20% efficient leaving the total efficiency at 14%.It’s probably more beneficial to break this all down to dollars and cents.
12.5 gallons at 20 miles to the gallon will get 250 miles. If gasoline costs $3.09 per gallon, the total distance will cost you $ 38.62. With electric, it costs $10 per kWh; it will cost 3.7 cents per mile or $9.25. Remember at night economy rates for electricity kick in as low as 2 cents per mile. So what would be the differences between driving an electric and gasoline vehicle? With a gasoline vehicle, you can travel more miles on one fill compared to electric which the average range is 100 +/- miles. It only takes minutes to refuel with a gas vehicle as opposed to minutes to hours with electric. Now you can recharge conveniently at home or work, in other words –while being productive. Electric vehicles costs around 2 cents per mile compared to 10+ cents for gas. Okay so sooner or later you will need to replace the battery pack, some manufacturers have recycling programs. There is a cost to replace a battery pack, you’re not going to get t for free, It costs around $375 per KWh. A Nissan Leaf 25 kWh battery will cost $9,375. This cost is far less than the yearly maintenance costs for a gasoline run vehicle. Electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions; Gas vehicles create pollution and greenhouse gasses. Keep reading here.
Subaru Announces Pricing On 2011 Forester
via online auto brochure an informational blog. Please visit us and enjoy, thanks.
The new model year brings an all-new version of Subaru’s hallmark “boxer” engine, which leverages horizontally opposed cylinders for compact packaging and a lower center of gravity. The new 2.5-liter mill still provides plenty of pep, but now it also offers up to 10 percent better fuel efficiency. EPA ratings on the new Forester can reach as high as 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined, regardless of whether it’s equipped with a standard five-speed manual transmission or Subaru’s optional automatic gearbox.
In addition, all Forester models showcase a new grille design and an updated instrument panel made from more premium materials.
Also notable is something that didn’t offer a significant upgrade for the new model year—the Forester’s MSRP. The highly contented base model (the Forester X) receives a mere $200 bump to its price tag, which now starts at $20,495 with a DIY transmission or $21,695 with an automatic. And the price of a key Forester X option, the hot-selling alloy wheel package that delivers eye-catching 16-inch alloy wheels and roof rails, remains at just $400. Continue reading here.
Source: subaruinthenews.com
Electric Volt and Leaf: Zippy, fun, superquiet
Recently I got behind the wheels of two highly anticipated new-model electric cars -- the first of what could be a new wave of electric vehicles in the United States.
Made available for my scrutiny as a typical driver were the all-electric Nissan Leaf and the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt. I drove the Leaf about five miles around the city streets of Atlanta (with a brief highway detour) and the Chevrolet Volt 630 miles from Orlando, Florida, to Raleigh, North Carolina.
It was 15 minutes in the Leaf versus 10 hours in the Volt. Both driving experiences showed me that these cars are very much like piloting a "normal" vehicle -- with one difference -- it's much easier to sneak up on people. Keep reading here
Source: cnn.com
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited AWD – Short Take Road Test
via online auto brochure. Please visit us and enjoy, thanks.
Hyundai’s entry in the super-competitive mid-size crossover segment got a refresh for 2010, the focus being its underpowered engine lineup. The base 185-hp, 2.7-liter V-6 was replaced by a more fuel-efficient 2.4-liter four making 175 hp, while the uplevel Lambda V-6 was extensively upgraded and grows from 3.3 liters to 3.5. Output increased from 242 hp to 276. Front-wheel-drive four-cylinder models have a six-speed manual as standard—a six-speed auto is optional—while V-6s and all-wheel-drive examples only offer the self-shifting tranny. (Previously, the Santa Fe offered a five-speed stick and four- or five-speed automatics.) Keep reading hereSource: caranddriver.comToyota Brand New Airbag System.
via online auto brochure. Please visit us and enjoy.
Toyota has revealed a brand new airbag system, that`s specifically for the small autos, designed for protecting the passengers on rear. This airbag is protects the passengers on a rear end collision. And according to Toyota this all-new airbag is deploying from the roof lining up above the rear window on the curtain-like barrier form and, having the headrests, it minimizing the impact on head from the colliding car pieces of the hit auto. This technology will be featured on the ... >> Read moreMonday, November 8, 2010
Test Driving the Chevy Volt
After four years of development, and a near dismantling of the whole project when General Motors went through bankruptcy and full restructuring in 2009, the electric car, or as GM calls it, the "electric vehicle with extended range," finally arrives at select North America Chevy dealers before the end of 2010.
Like many next-generation fuel-efficient cars, the Volt won't come cheap. The four-door sedan will list for $41,000 (there's also a leasing option: $350 a month/36 mo. with $2500 down). There will be some relief on the price-tag front: the electric vehicle qualifies for a $7,500 tax credit. Cintinue reading this article here
Source: http://www.pcmag.com
Mixed Results For October Hybrid Car Sales
The nation's major automakers have published their October sales reports, and there is mixed news in the hybrid market. While the Toyota Prius remains the nation's bestselling hybrid, Prius sales in October were down 9.9% from October 2009. Read the rest of this article here.
Source: forbes.com
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Behind the wheel of electric cars, no big surprises
For all their differences under the hood, the electric cars coming to market do a pretty good job of disguising their electric identities. That will make these vehicles more attractive to potential buyers, but don’t expect auto sales to flip electric like a light switch.
A few weeks ago, I had the chance to drive a number of electric vehicles at the Business of Plugging In auto industry conference in Detroit. I can report what many car reviewers will tell you: these are real cars. You really can forget that old notion of rickety golf carts.
Step into a Nissan Leaf or a Chevy Volt and you’ll feel at home, even with the new “fuel gauges” you’ll see. Although I only had short drives with the Leaf, Volt, and other electric cars, I found them comfortable and enjoyable to drive.
Continue reading this article from the surce here.
What Technology Will Achieve 2011 Green Car of the Year Accolade
The nominees for 2011 are especially arousing because of the broad diversity of power supplies among the group, plus the few that are absent this year. The Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf are the first electric vehicles to make the finals. The EVs are competing with the Ford Fiesta, the only gasoline-only powered automobile, and 2 hybrid gas-electrics, the Sonata Hybrid from Hyundai and the Lincoln MKZ. Observably absent for 2011 are recent victors which include a diesel from 2009 plus a hydrogen fuel cell auto in 2007.
Read the rest of this article here.
Designer seeks sporty car to blow doors off Kia's image
LOS ANGELES--Kia's design boss wants to add a sports car or convertible to lend more appeal to the brand.
No such car is officially in the pipeline, said Peter Schreyer, Kia's chief design officer. Kia first needs to get on more solid footing, he said.
"I think Kia needs a car like that sooner or later, but at the moment it's not yet the time to make any promises," Schreyer told Automotive News. Read the rest of this article here.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Audi aims to boost electric car know-how
As it bids to position itself among the leading car makers in the electric vehicle sector, Audi has announced a partnership with Tongji University to boost its research, instruction and services in electromobility.
The company has actually been co-operating with the Shanghai-based university since January with students working with the car manufacturer on a number of technical projects as part of their coursework for a bachelor’s, masters or doctorate. The first is to develop an Audi A6L as an electric car in what is known as “Audi Tongji Joint Labs”. Read the rest of this article here.
5 ways mobile car apps will change the way you drive
