Apr 21
I have had so many questions in the past about who runs who. No, I’m not talking about men and women but about car manufacturers. For as long as I can remember, it has always been a tough job to figure out who is bankrolling the “other guy”. There are some long time obvious ones like Toyota owning Lexus, Honda owning Acura, and Ford owning Lincoln. Good news is TooManyCars.info and Jalopnik.com have clarified the whole picture and helped us out with even the most obscure! Below is a preview of the map of how all the auto manufacturers are tied to each other. If you would like to view the full high res copy, click the map below. Don’t forget to subscribe to us and keep up to date on Motorpinion.com through email or your favorite RSS reader.
written by Jonathan L. - Motorpinion
Apr 21
I have had so many questions in the past about who runs who. No, I’m not talking about men and women but about car manufacturers. For as long as I can remember, it has always been a tough job to figure out who is bankrolling the “other guy”. There are some long time obvious ones like Toyota owning Lexus, Honda owning Acura, and Ford owning Lincoln. Good news is TooManyCars.info and Jalopnik.com have clarified the whole picture and helped us out with even the most obscure! Below is a preview of the map of how all the auto manufacturers are tied to each other. If you would like to view the full high res copy, click the map below. Don’t forget to subscribe to us and keep up to date on Motorpinion.com through email or your favorite RSS reader.
written by Jonathan L. - Motorpinion
Apr 21
A look at how the Buick Invicta concept car was developed.
Author: TheAutoChannel
Keywords: Buick GM concept cars automobiles Invicta design
Added: April 21, 2008
written by roadflytv
Apr 21
Video car review of the brand new 2009 Nissan GT-R filmed in Lake Tahoe Nevada.
Author: roadflytv
Keywords: Nissan GT-R 2009 Roadfly Roadflytv Lake Tahoe Supercar Nevada
Added: April 21, 2008
written by roadflytv
Apr 21
Filed under: Etc., Euro, Supercars
Click above for gallery of the Uragano handbuilt supercarWho doesn't dream of building his or her own supercar? It took four years for him to do it, but Filandri Moreno from Italy has inspirational neighbors such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani. Moreno possibly thought of famed supercar blowhards like Enzo and Ferrucio when naming his car the Uragano, which means 'Hurricane' in Italian, but blowing through 48 months is easy when you've got to design and fabricate a body and frame then populate it with the proper automotive subsystems. Rather than figure out how to set up a backyard foundry, Moreno borrowed an 4.2 liter bent eight from an Audi A8 for motivation and hung a large turbocharger off the rear for good measure. It's tough to say anything critical when someone's realized a goal that most of us will never achieve, but we're honestly underwhelmed by the look and quality of the Uragano's body fabrication. Not that we'd do much better than a lumpy C5 Corvette-looking thing that appears rendered in papier mache.
Thanks for the tip, Trent!
[Source:
PopSci]
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written by Dan Roth
Apr 21
Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Supercars, Lamborghini
Click to view the Premier4509 Gallardo in hi-res
Did you have enough of Premier4509's outlandish tuning after viewing the tuner Continental GT? Judging from the comments left by our readers, you most definitely did, but in case you missed out, the Japanese aftermarket firm has released a similar body kit for the Lamborghini Gallardo.
Set aside the extroverted aero kit for a second and the big question mark follows: why are they just now releasing a kit for a model that's already been replaced? The Gallardo LP560-4 debuted last month in Geneva and effectively replaces the model on which Premier4509 has based this kit. For those with an existing baby Lambo, however, plus a chunk of cash and a taste appetite for the extreme, Premier4509's Gallardo kit consists of a new bumpers front and rear, side skirts, a rear spoiler and optional stainless exhaust tips, plus the same forged rims as seen on the company's Bentley. The front end clearly draws its inspiration from the Lamborghini Reventon. The parts are all made of carbon fiber, which, as Premier4509 points out, has been laboriously hand-stitched together because some panels are actually wider than the sheets in which the material comes. Premier4509 also notes that it is working on new kits for Bentleys, Maseratis and Astons Martin, so better hide your exotic wheels now before it's too late. Click through for more details and high-res images can be viewed in the gallery below.
[Source:
Premier4509]
Continue reading Premier4509 launches kit for outgoing Lamborghini Gallardo
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written by Noah Joseph
Apr 21
Filed under: Diesel, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, USA
Back in January BMW made the big announcement that it would finally introduce modern clean diesel engines to the U.S. market. At the time the Bavarian manufacturer told us that the new 335d and X5 xDrive35d would be launched by later in 2008 without getting any more specific than that. A blog specializing in news about the blue and white propeller brand is reporting that the new models will debut in mid-October. We decided to give BMW a call this afternoon and talked to spokesperson Charlene King. She reiterated the company has not made any new announcements about availability and re-confirmed that the diesels would debut this fall.
Having said that, last month Mercedes emphasized that they would be the first to offer Tier 2 Bin5 compliant diesels in the U.S. market when they launch BlueTec SUVs this fall. Neither company has actually provided an on-sale date, but there is no doubt that BMW will be racing to beat their arch-rivals to the showroom. Regardless of which company actually gets there first, both are likely to lose out to Volkswagen which has said they will begin selling the new Jetta TDI in September.
[Source: BMW, BMWBlog.com]
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written by Sam Abuelsamid
Apr 21
Filed under: Time Warp, Coupes, Etc., Pontiac
Click on the image for more pictures of the Fiero Car BoatIs there anything that the lowly Pontiac Fiero can't be turned into? We've seen Fiero
off-roaders, Fiero
Ferrari's and some Fiero conversions that completely
defy classification. This
latest find is not a driver, but a floater. Proving the phrase, "Where there's a will, there's a way," is the Fiero Car Boat. Judging from the pictures, somebody with some not-so-mad-fiberglassing skills has managed to make a Fiero watertight (at least we hope so!) and hang an outboard motor on the
rear-end stern. The seller refers to his Fiero Car Boat as "The Best Advertisement Money Can Buy." Perhaps this is true... just so long as the amount of money being spent is very, very low. Some good news: it does come with a nice trailer.
Thanks for the tip, Josh!
[Source:
eBay Motors]
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written by Jeremy Korzeniewski
Apr 21
more info at: http://www.volkswagen-scirocco.com/ or http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080303.020/volkswagen-scirocco-unveiled
Author: worldcarfans
Keywords: Volkswagen Scirocco 3D Animation auto car
Added: April 21, 2008
written by roadflytv
\\ tags: video
Apr 21
Filed under: Biodiesel, Green Culture
Over at the La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley, California on Wednesday night, the people behind Berkeley’s Biofuel Oasis are hosting a biodiesel film night in order to raise funds and biofuel awareness. The funds are intended for BBO’s new solar powered fueling station and the awareness, well, that’s just there for its own sake. One of the films, Fat of The Land, documents a 1994 trip by four women around the U.S. in a biodiesel-powered “Fat Mobile,” making their fuel in fast-food restaurant parking lots. The filmmaker will be attending the festival, so if you have questions on how biodiesel was received by the general public in the mid-1990s, this could be a chance to ask. Other video entertainment on the schedule includes excerpts from Revolution Green and Freedom Fuels. There will also be an “Ask a Mechanic” booth and free homemade organic popcorn. If you’ve got a biodiesel co-op or other green group in your neighborhood, using the template from this event might be a good idea. Whether you want to include puppetry is up to you.
[Source: BBO]
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written by Sebastian Blanco
Apr 21
Filed under: China, Hatchbacks, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows
Click above to view the Ford Fiesta S in hi-res
China will undoubtedly be an important market for the new Ford Fiesta. Originally unveiled in European spec at the Geneva Motor Show last month, the Chinese version has just made its debut this week at the Auto China show in Beijing. The Chinese Fiesta is scheduled begin production before the end of the year at Ford's $510 million Changan Ford Mazda Automobile (CFMA) plant in Nanjing, China.
Styling is by and large the same as its European counterpart, only the Beijing show car, displayed in S trim, features a sportier, more aggressive trim package that could preview what a future hot-hatch Fiesta ST or RS could look like. Did Ford hit the sweet spot in Geneva or in Beijing? Take a look at the Chinese and European versions in the galleries below and share your thoughts in the comments.
[Source: Ford]
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written by Noah Joseph
Apr 21
The FX35 is an all new Crossover SUV for Infiniti debutin in the 2008 model year. It promises to deliver a lot of new technologies that will eventually make their way through the rest of Infiniti's line-up and potentially the rest of the automotive industry....
written by Motor Trend Videos RSS
Apr 21
The Suzuki SX4 Sport, or simply said, just SX4, looks remarkably different from the SX4 Crossover, which is really the exact same car with different bumpers and two tone body work....
written by Motor Trend Videos RSS
Apr 21
Filed under: Motorsports, Euro, Celebrities
With seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher retired from Formula One and his kid brother Ralf moving on to DTM, the racing world was just getting used to the idea of the post-Schumacher era. Racing fans, however, can look forward to the continuation of the dynasty, as Michael's nine-year-old son has taken to the track himself.
Mick Schumacher got behind the wheel of an Alonso kart, ironically, for a low-level event in Spain, finishing the two races tenth and eighth, and will proceed to three more rounds in the series. The Schumachers tried their hardest to keep the young Mick out of the press limelight, entering him in the race under his mother's maiden name Betsch and accompanied at the event by his grandfather Rolf (Michael and Ralf's father), but you can bet the motorsport press will be keeping a close eye on the young Schumacher - already nicknamed Schumi III, following his father and uncle - as his career progresses.
[Source: F1-Live, Photo: as.com]
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written by Noah Joseph
Apr 21
When talking about the Nitro's styling you can't keep from pointing out that the Nitro really set the stage for the brand's toughened up look that has come sinces its induction, especially on the Dakota....
written by Motor Trend Videos RSS
Apr 21
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, ZENN, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)
TechnoRide, ‘the car site for tech fans,’ has managed to score a Zenn electric car for review. They seem to have had a good time with the NEV, calling it “impressive.” They do, however, note a few issues with the vehicle, which are to be expected, including a lack of luxury features and excessive noise. The reviewer had no problem getting up to the Zenn’s max-speed of twenty-five miles per hour and mentions that it’s capable of more if it weren’t for that electrically-limited speed regulation system.
TechnoRide also makes mention of the solid state electrical storage system from EEStor, which we are all still waiting to hear more about. The review echoes news that the Zenn with EEStor system should be available in 2009, and we remain hopefully optimistic that this is indeed the case. We’re not forgetting that we’ve yet to see any demonstration of the capacitor-based system.
[Source: TechnoRide]
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written by Jeremy Korzeniewski
Apr 21
The 2008 BMW 328i Convertible is the entry level way into the 3 series hardtop convertible line-up. It may not boast the 300-hp twin-turbocharged engine of the 335i but it still offers all of the majesty of the open sky, exquisite style and sophisticated mechanisms the hardtop convertible is renowned for....
written by Motor Trend Videos RSS
Apr 21
The 2008 Acura TL is a mid-sized luxury car that has ranked as one of Acura's best selling vehicles since its inception 1996. Without a redesign in the past 5 years, it is do for one but it still manages to attract customers especially with the high performance Type-S model....
written by Motor Trend Videos RSS
Apr 21
Filed under: Wagons/Estates, China, Misc. Auto Shows
Click above for high-res gallery of the Brilliance BS4 WagonThe
Brilliance BS4 sedan is a pretty good-looking car, so it stands to reason that its wagon variant would be easy on the eyes, as well. Unveiled in Beijing, the BS4 wagon is indeed a snazzy-looking, ostensibly practical machine. Power comes from a 1.8L Mitsubishi G93 four-cylinder making 134 hp (100 kW) at 6500 rpm. The BS4 wagon also comes equipped with an alphabet soup of safety feature acronyms like
"ABS + EBD + EDS" but word association games involving "Brilliance" and "safety" only call to mind the
BS6 Euro NCAP debacle (since
corrected, allegedly... but still). The bad news continues, as a recent
Inside Line review of the BS4 sedan concluded that the car was generally lackluster at best. Based on that, we can probably assume that the same shortcomings afflict the wagon. It
does look nice, at least.
All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source:
Autoblog Chinese]
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written by Alex Nunez
Apr 21
The Power Wagon harks back to the days of World War 2 and the equipment used to win it. It started its life as a tool used to shuttle troops and their gear too and from ensuring food, ammo, and reinforcements for those fighting on the front lines....
written by Motor Trend Videos RSS
Apr 21
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Solar, On Two Wheels, Green Daily
We’ve run across a few solar-powered two-wheelers before, but this one, known as the Sunny Day, is a concept that makes some sense. Many bikers who are interested in the utmost efficiency already streamline their bikes, so why not coat that bodywork in solar cells? We’re not certain how efficient the solar cells could be or how many the limited real estate would allow, but even a bit of electric-boost could be helpful to commuters. Additionally, the bike folds down, offering the cells a more direct look at the sun and easing storage issues. The Sunny Day bike was recently awarded Grand Prize win in the 12th annual International Bicycle Design Competition. We’d have chosen it, too.
[Source: Gizmag]
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written by Jeremy Korzeniewski
Apr 21
Filed under: Etc., Safety, Honda, Driving
Honda's launching the next step in navigation system evolution that will automatically warn drivers to be on guard when traveling through areas of high crime. The system is launching in Japan on Tuesday, but we haven't heard of any plans to bring it to the United States. It's probably for the best, as there'd be wide swaths of the country that this navi would recommend you avoid. Places like Washington DC, where crime is apparently legal and perpetrated by criminals with offices and staffs. Detroit might be marked with an avoidance warning too, but that's more likely due to Honda wanting to avoid a Jets-Sharks danceoff.
Honda's warning system uses historical data from the Japanese police to pinpoint areas where vehicle damage or theft has happened in the past. Areas then receive ratings based on the level of danger they pose to automobiles just passing through. We guess it could be useful for people who don't take notice of their surroundings when behind the wheel, but some of us may lump it in with other "safety" annoyances like self-locking doors.
[Source:
AFP]
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written by Dan Roth
Apr 21
With the price of oil and gasoline hitting record highs, it's time to wake up and face the crude truth on how you can save money on energy costs.
As commodity traders push oil prices ever higher as the dollar recedes, there's little, if any, relief in sight at the fuel pump or from soaring utility bills.
Yet the deer-in-the-headlights attitude that most investors, vehicle owners and homeowners adopt is misguided. There are quite a few actions you can take to beat the escalating cost of energy.
The most-common response to high gasoline prices is to go out and purchase a high-mileage vehicle. This reaction certainly hasn't hurt the sales of companies such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., which offer several fuel-stingy cars, trucks and vans.
If you have a long commute or simply drive a lot, you'll immediately see the savings. There will be longer times between fill-ups. It may not make sense to pay a premium for these cars, though. The top two highest-mileage cars -- the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid -- carry retail prices of more than $20,000.
Let's say you bought a stripped-down Toyota Prius for $22,000, received a $4,000 trade-in allowance and put $2,000 down. You also paid about $1,300 in sales tax. You then finance the balance, $17,300, at 6 percent annual interest for five years, resulting in a payment of $334 a month. You will eventually pay about $2,800 in interest on the loan. If you save $1,000 a year in gasoline costs, it will take you almost three years to recoup your investment.
Even Better Math
Like many who suddenly are cheered by the fact they are getting terrific mileage in their new hybrid car, you may succumb to the buffet effect -- and drive more -- thus negating some of your savings and extending your payback period.
Two other strategies make more sense. Buy a smaller, less- expensive car for your commute and drive less. The Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit retail between $12,000 and $14,000 for the basic models.
Their fuel efficiency ranges between 28 miles per gallon in the city and 35 on the highway. That's less than the 48 mpg the Prius claims for city driving, but you can put your savings to better use.
The single-best strategy is to take public transportation or car pool and delay your new-car purchase. If you invested a $479 monthly loan payment, according to the newsletter Fidelity Investor's Quarterly, in a portfolio earning 7 percent a year, you could turn a year's worth of car payments into almost $200,000 over 35 years. That's the miracle of compound interest -- if you keep your savings invested.
Can you wait two years and invest those deferred payments? Then it's a $330,000 savings.
Beating Oil Prices
You must think Fidelity is daft suggesting you can get 7 percent in a portfolio now with U.S. stocks swooning, bond yields dropping and the dollar in the dumpster.
Higher returns are available. If you can't beat oil prices, join Wall Street in profiting from them. The SPDR S&P Oil and Gas Production and Exploration exchange-traded fund samples a basket of stocks in the energy-extraction industry.
The energy fund has gained about 40 percent over the past year, according to Bloomberg data.
Energy funds involve concentrated bets with high risk if you guess wrong. If you choose to gamble on these vehicles, do it with no more than 10 percent of your portfolio.
Feel squeamish about investing in oil and gas production? Then just diversify outside of U.S. stock markets. The Janus Overseas Fund is up about 16 percent over the past year, putting it in the top 2 percent of its peers.
Guaranteed Savings
One guaranteed action that will ``green'' your savings is to lower your overall energy use.
Start with your home or apartment. Do an energy audit with the U.S. Department of Energy's free Home Energy Saver program. I plugged in my home zip code and discovered I could save almost $650 a year by making my home more energy efficient.
The biggest energy savers anyone can do,'' said Fred Maas, a green developer with Black Mountain Ranch LLC in San Diego. ``Add insulation and seal windows. An enormous amount of energy is lost through ventilation.''
Not only will you save money on energy bills if you become more efficient in your home and transportation use, it will benefit the earth in terms of lower carbon dioxide emissions. When economy meets ecology halfway, everyone benefits.
written by Horisly
\\ tags: Auto blogsphere
Apr 21
Volkswagen AG, the second-largest overseas vehicle maker in China, unveiled two models designed specifically for the market as it bids to fend off rising competition with cars tailored to local tastes.
The models are the Bora, a sedan to be built with China FAW Group Corp., and the Lavida, which will be built with SAIC Motor Corp., the Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said in a statement at the Beijing car show today.
Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor Co. and other overseas automakers plan to add China-specific models to stand out in the country's increasing competitive vehicle market. A new or revamped passenger car was introduced every three days in China in the first quarter, as local and overseas carmakers wrestled for sales in the world's fastest growing major auto market.
China has, and indeed merits, its own specific strategy as opposed to being wrapped up in a generic Asia strategy,'' said Stephen Pope, chief global strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald in London. ``Given that the U.S. is clearly slowing, China represents a key prize.''
Volkswagen's has speeded up the introduction of new models in China since 2005, when an aging line-up caused its first loss in the country. This year, sales surged 33 percent in the first quarter to 268,200, helped by demand for the Santana Vista, a new version of China's bestselling car.
The German automaker, which added at least six new models in China last year, aims to boost sales in the country by at least 10 percent this year to more than 1 million cars. It sold 103,200 vehicles in China in March, the first time it topped 100,000 cars in a single month in the country.
Yesterday, Volkswagen's Audi AG luxury-car unit gave a global debut to the Q5 sport-utility vehicle at an event in Beijing. It also introduced the A5 sedan to the Chinese market.
written by Horisly
\\ tags: Auto blogsphere
Apr 21
Searches for hybrid vehicles on the Cars.com Web site are at an all-time high. In fact, a recent Cars.com survey showed that 59 percent of car shoppers have purchased or would consider purchasing a hybrid as their next car.
So which cities are greener when it comes to car shopping? According to the group's ranking of hybrid vehicle searches by market, West Coast shoppers show the greatest interest in going green. San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Sacramento and San Diego make up the top five.
In each of these markets, hybrids account for more than 3 percent of new car searches. Cities in the south -- Houston, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Birmingham, and Miami -- round out the bottom five.
"Gas prices definitely play a role in hybrid interest, because West Coast cities traditionally have higher gas prices on average than the rest of the country," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor in chief.
"The Cars.com Green Index also shows that interest is high in markets that are traditionally concerned with environmental issues, such as Denver and Minneapolis, and those plagued by traffic and congestion, such as Washington, D.C., and Boston."
written by Horisly
\\ tags: Auto blogsphere
Apr 21
Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, China, Volkswagen, Misc. Auto Shows
Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Lavida for ChinaShanghai Volkswagen developed the new VW Lavida in China, for China. Now it's made its big debut before the home-market audience in Beijing. Stylistically, the made-in-China design looks oddly dated, quite frankly. The petal-shaped head- and taillamps look like something you might find on a 1990's Korean import and not a newly-minted VW, regardless of origin.
The Lavida's positioned below the new VW Bora (also introduced in Beijing), with a shorter overall length (around 3 inches) but an identical wheelbase, so passenger comfort should be around the same as the larger car. The interior is a blend of familiar VW partsbin stuff with elements that just seem a little odd-looking in a VeeDub, like the silver audio head unit and the silver HVAC knobs set against a healthy dose of woodgrain trim. Power comes from 4-cylinder engines displacing 1.6L or 2.0L, with a six-speed Tiptronic available to handle shifting duties. It may be all-new, but it's also pretty boring.
All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source:
Autoblog Chinese]
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written by Alex Nunez
Apr 21
The 2009 Audi A4 Avant will feature the 2.0 TFSI, a new high-powered four-cylinder turbocharged engine that has 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The current A4 Avant offers 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The 2009 A4 Sedan will also offer drivers the 2.0 TFSI or the option of a 3.2 FSI V6, with 265 hp and the patented Audi Valvelift Technology (AVS).
2009 Audi A4 Avant: Made its North American debut at this year’s New York International Auto Show (2008 NYIAS).
Enhancements to the V6 include considerably lower inner friction and a valve actuation system called the Audi Valvelift System which varies the stroke of the intake valves. The engines will improve performance, while reducing fuel consumption versus previous generations.
A number of transmission options are also available, including a six-speed manual and tiptronic transmission, which is optional for the 3.2 FSI.
The Avant’s proportions have been reconfigured significantly from the previous generation model to emphasize both sport and practicality. The front overhang has been shortened, while the hood and wheelbase have increased in size.
The new A4 Avant measures 15.42 feet in length, making it 4.72 inches longer than its previous model.
Its body is considerably more rigid and safer in build than its predecessor, while still being approximately 10 percent lighter. Those proportions yield the largest luggage capacity in its class, with up to 50.5 cubic feet of cargo space.
Other points of emphasis in the interior and exterior design are the xenon plus headlights, which consist of 14 white light-emitting diodes, and a driver-oriented cockpit that borrows many features from the larger A8, including an electro-mechanical parking brake that also comes standard on other Audi models.
Technology options for the new model include a complete range of high-tech systems. These include the Audi parking system (a parking aid and standard for the A4 Avant), Audi lane assist (the lane departure warning system) and Audi side assist (which warns of hazards when changing lanes). The adaptive cruise control option maintains the distance to the vehicle in front.
When it comes to multimedia, the Audi A4 Avant will meet every user’s needs. The Audi Music Interface (AMI) allows for iPod connectivity and control.
The navigation system with DVD including MMI is an additional upgrade option. Bluetooth connectivity for cell phones is included, as well. The car audio system is by Bang & Olufsen. A 505 watt, ten-channel amplifier controls 14 speakers.
written by Horisly
\\ tags: Auto blogsphere
Apr 21
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Th!nk (Think)
As ABG reported earlier today, Th!nk has announced it will be coming to the U.S. market. More information has come out on Reuters via Th!nk’s venture capital partners Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Rockport Capital. Ray Lane, a managing partner at Kleiner and chairman of Th!nk North America, said today “In a couple of years, we hope to be selling 30-40-50,000 cars per year.” The report states that Th!nk intends to launch the vehicle in 2009 at a sub-$25,000 price point.
Th!nk’s VC partners’ high profile participation in the electric car maker’s U.S. launch is evidence of the greater attention being paid to battery electric technologies after an initial preference for biofuel development.
[Source: Reuters]
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written by Marc Geller
Apr 21
Filed under: Coupes, Subaru, Toyota
One topic of debate that began raging after Toyota and Subaru officially announced their
collaboration on a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive coupe was how the Toyobaru would be marketed, particularly with both brands getting their own models. Apparently, Subaru execs share our concerns.
Subaru has branded itself as the purveyor of competent, multi-purpose vehicles that begin and end with one distinct feature: all-wheel-drive. By adding another vehicle into its lineup lacking that core trait, Subaru risks diluting its hard-earned image, not to mention going toe-to-toe with the Toyota monolith by selling a badge-engineered variant.
Automotive News spoke with Fuji Heavy Industries overseas sales chief, Mat Nagato, who said, "We may lose our longstanding territory, or we may lose the great niche brand image. The potential risk is there. We have to be very smart on marketing strategy." This issue has to be weighed against the short-term gain of a new, inexpensive model for enthusiasts and Subaru's continued growth, but the simple solution would be to nix the Subaru version altogether, allow Toyota to brand the new coupe as its own and rake in the cash provided by the partnership. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen, so the only thing Subaru can do now is make an attempt to differentiate its own version from Toyota's, while praying that consumers won't forget what "Makes a Subaru a Subaru."
[Source:
Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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written by Damon Lavrinc
Apr 21
Filed under: Biodiesel, Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Volkswagen, Lightweight
Heading into Earth Day, Volkswagen of America has launched a new micro-site called Volkswagen Responsible Mobility that is dedicated to, well, responsible mobility. The premise of the site, which covers all the VW brands available in the U.S., is to promote all the various alternative drive and fuel technologies that Volkswagen is developing. Diesel is obviously a big emphasis for the company that pioneered turbocharged direct injected diesel engines. Volkswagen is also heavily involved in developing a second generation bio-diesel called SunFuel made from cellulosic biomass. The automaker has invested in German biofuel developer Choren. Another page of the site focuses on future technologies like high-temperature fuel cells, hybrids and weight reducing materials like aluminum and composites.
The site seems to hit all the right messages, now we just need to get some of those technologies on the road here in the U.S. and elsewhere. The Jetta TDI is launching this summer with the Touareg to follow. So far though there is no firm indication of when a hybrid will arrive or if we’ll get any of the BlueMotion models now available (or not) in Europe. The site also features the logos of Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley. Bentley earlier this year announced their intent to cut CO2 emissions of their fleet by 15 percent by 2012 but so far there aren’t any details of how that will come about. Lambo and Bugatti? Nothing to report there either.
[Source: Volkswagen Responsible Mobility]
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written by Sam Abuelsamid
