New Cars Reviews 2008 2009

2009 Blade Runner concept

2008-10-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

Mass transit is a belief that holds significant undertake in the U.S. as it is very under-used. Train trek has become more general now that the rate of gas has rocketed upwards, but rails only go in certain directions and there isn't forever a firm forward to your select destination. The highway routine in this country, on the other hand, is titanic and connects every foremost city in the country with one another (well, excluding Honolulu).

So, what if you could trust the passenger-haulage abilities of the focus with the abundant routes of the bus? That's exactly what a British crowd called Silvertip Design has envisioned with its Blade Runner idea. The machinery carries two sets of wheels, one appropriate for highway forceful and the other set up for rails. By with railways when potential, transfer wouldn't be a poser, and when the transmit desires to take a different course, highways gets to the good set of tracks. Like fresh trains, a diesel engine would strength a generator, providing emotional vigor to the wheels.

2009 Lola EV new car

2008-10-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

During the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, superstar joked to me that the Lola EV, a flashy exciting kit car, was the "penniless man's Tesla." Paul Pearson, the man behind the forecast, said, "That's a complement," but there's actually no comparison between the two other than that they're two-seat sports cars that run on batteries. The Lola EV has a 70-75 mph top hustle and Pearson called it a very Southern California form of car. There are no breech doors, for example, and there's no roof (so, it may look like a convertible, but it's not).

Steve Graber of Graber Cars in Phoenix, Arizona intended the Lola EV and Pearson useful his EV erudition to the shoot. Two living ago, at the Alt Car Expo, Pearson was displaying his road racer (and you can see the gossip of receiving in meet with Zap that he describes in our words in the old notes thread). For the new Lola, Pearson can present the car to an engineer as everything from a body with a set of strategy to an almost over car, starting at $45,000. The big caveat: the Lola-EV's rate does not involve the batteries. Since Electric Custom Cars are not an approved automaker, they can't convey the fulfilled vehicle to buyers. One cool part of the outline is that the shape calles for the batteries to sit where the doors would be, a residency that Pearson told us improved security.

2009 Electric vehicle of the year

2008-10-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

Officially launched at the British International Motor Show in July by NICE Car Company, MyCar was named thrilling vehicle of the year by GreenFleet this onwards Thursday in Twickenham, England. Sporting space for two occupants and born of an Italian pen, the tiny car from Hong Kong captured judges hearts by combining a classy and feasible intention with low operation expenses. In the land where it will be sold, the all-exciting MyCar gets to omit congestion charges and road tax and, depending on where you juice up the batteries, can loss as little as 2 pence a mile to start. Hopefully the prize will inspire an obedient queue of budding owners to form in preparation for the cars arrival to the NICE sales stun sometime next month. Cost of admission into the 40 mph / 40 mile sort vehicle is a mere £8,995 ($16,220). The options slant is fairly interesting and we expect masses of takers for 15 creep wheels, leather, bluetooth and notebook crop.

As with every contest there were winners and trash runners-up. Two notable notables were the Th!Nk City and the truck from Modec. The Th!Nk City is all-exciting and designed to be recycled while Modec is said to be making the first rationale-built electric light commercial vehicle. Although the Th!Nk City has yet to go on retailing in Britain (soon, we faith) according to GreenFleet there are over 110 copies of the Modec vehicle already on the streets displacing more than 990 tonnes of CO2 per year.

2011 Volkswagen twin-drive PHEV Golf 2011

2008-10-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen is running a twenty sturdy suffering fleet of Twin-Drive Golfs in and around Berlin Germany and the fallout of this work are apt to hit the retail promote around 2011. The present tested models are with diesel engines but the production versions are likely to knob to petrol when their 30-mile thrilling variety has been exhausted. With emergence EURO VI emissions values that manage the U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 standards, diesel fusion would minimally be too steep to be commercially viable.

The drivetrain plan of the Twin-Drive is different from the advance being used by recent matching hybrids or absolute vary EVs like the Volt. While the Volt ER-EV is a sequence hybrid setup where only the exciting motor is mechanically coupled to the wheels, the Golf is a matching practice but without a transmission. The track bargained gear ratio is comparable to a typical high gear and the torque of the thrilling motor is used to supply the equivalent of the torque multiplication that is normally achieved with the lesser gears. The absence of a conventional gearbox compensates for some of the added emphasis of the string and motor. A 12 kWh Sanyo lithium ion series pack provides 30 miles of powerful reach and energy storage from the regenerative braking.

TrioBike pedal-powered SUV for three

2008-10-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

Not everything at the AltCar Expo was an alternative car. Some, like the Prometheus emotional motorcycle and the TrioBike (above) were car alternatives. In verity, the TrioBike is very a next-generation SUV. I mean, that designation just means sports advantage vehicle, right? It doesn't have to identify oversized gas-guzzling grocery getter. And what's more sports value than pedaling your kids around?

In any argument, the TrioBike is a three-wheeled rotation with a large scoop in front that seats two small children or a bunch of fodder. A bonus sweep sits under the compartment and can attach to the rear end to form a average-looking bicycle. The front end then becomes a justly flag buggy that looks like it comes from the near potential.

Regina Keith is the U.S. sales representative for TrioBike. She and she partner Robert were the first in America to order a Danish TrioBike, but there are now two in the U.S. (another is apparently in Chicago). When the Keiths found out just how awkward it was to order one, they firm it was a good venture strategy to try to make it easier for other Americans to buy a TrioBike and worked with the Danish visitors to set up distribution in the States. Interest at the Santa Monica show was high, and Robert even said that a representative from the Price is Right blocked by their cubicle and optional making the TrioBike a prize on the show. If you don't want to interval for that possibility, Robert said that retail sales will create in the near prospect and the estimate will be around $4,500 (the Keiths salaried around $6,000 for theirs).

2009 Honda hybrid motorcycles

2008-10-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

Honda is one of those companies with its hands in nearly everything. Not that this is a bad thing, view you, as Honda always seems to be able to add something sole to the shape of any given significance, incrementally improving it along the way. Big Red's next pet-envisage may well be amalgam motorcycles. Anybody next these pages is well sentient that Honda helped kick off the full cross car thing with its Insight two-seater, and the name is set to reintroduce that nameplate as an aerodynamic and inexpensive people-carter.

Reports now reveal that Honda believes it can inject some of that hybrid technology to its motorcycles. This wouldn't be the first time that Honda infused its bikes with automotive DNA, as the, the manufacturer once used a regular transmission for some of its two wheelers with technology pure from its then-new Civic. Will Honda do it again? Fuel mileage could truly be astronomical with a zombie like this, so we look bold to decision out if these early rumors are accurate.

2009 Aptera New model

2008-10-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

The newest newsletter from Aptera has inwards and we can now tell you of their most current interesting updates. As projected, the party is about to begin the method of touching much of their current crowded service to their new, close-by Vista, CA setting. The new store will enclose some offices, the R&D lab and, of course, pause to originate chaining production of the all-new Mk-1. I say "all-new" because, as you may have noticed in the above renderings, there have been some "refinements" made to the super capable three-wheeler which they say make it safer and even more competent. Holding their cards close to their chest, the crowd would not elaborate about which, or how many of these changes would happen on the closing production edition but they should be making those revelations in their next newsletter.

The latest rendering seems to stretch and inferior our wingless isolated which might permit them to give it a slightly narrower marks. This form also adds quality-behold mirrors to an otherwise smooth outdoor but we don't know if they are stable since the aspect-vision cameras are maintained. Interestingly, the rear-observe camera gets its own little dorsal-fin inclusion that has been spotted on some pre-production Mk-1 out there in the lunatic. The other noticable change is the addition of another graphic behind the door. We're not confident if this is one of the stable changes however perhaps it could be if the visitors gets enough activist opinion from its fans. Though seemingly short, the newsletter does include a good chat between organizer Steve Fambro and the visitors's new CEO, Paul Wilbur and hints about an all-new website upcoming quickly.

2009 Volvo New DRIVe eco-models

2008-10-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

We met Volvo's good-looking new DRIVe eco-models (so named because they emit less than 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer) earlier this monthy and they now have a "preliminary" price tag. The three diesel models - C30 SportsCoupe, S40 Saloon and V50 Sportswagon - will be shown for the first time at the Paris Motor Show and prices start at £15,410 on the road. That's the price for the low-end Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe S, while the highest end V50 1.6D DRIVe SE Lux goes for £21,660. Full price breakdown is available after the jump. Production starts in mid-November and customers can expect deliveries starting January 2. More details on the vehicles are availabe here.

Volvo Car UK announces preliminary prices for the new economical sub-120g/km diesel variants of the C30 SportsCoupe, S40 Saloon and V50 Sportswagon. The new DRIVe range, which will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in early October, will start at £15,410 OTR for the Volvo C30 and £17,260 and £18,660 for the S40 and V50 respectively. The new 1.6D DRIVe models will offer outstanding fuel consumption of 64.2mpg on the C30 and 62.8mpg in the S40 and V50, with VED Band B CO2 figures of just 115g/km for the C30 and 118g/km for the S40 and V50. These new low emissions mean that the Volvo S40 and V50 offer best-in-class CO2 in their segments1.

2009 Fiat debuts new Panda Eco

2008-10-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

So, Fiat is set to show off a new series of eco-friendly cars in Paris under the PUR-02 mark. That line will enter its retro-fun 500, Bravo and Croma. Although it doesn't appear to plunge under the new low emissions branding, a new Panda will also make an appearance in brief order. Called the Panda Eco, the new little people-mover will be powered by both a 1.1-liter or 1.2-liter gasoline-burning engine. Fuel mileage should be over 50-mpg with carbon emissions of just 119g/km. To help make these low consumption facts possible, the Panda Eco will get low rolling-resistance tires and low gooeyness oil. Pretty plain matter, but the Panda was already a pretty small and able platform.

Depending on the engine, the new Panda Eco will get to sixty in an easy 14-15 seconds, but that's not very the face now, is it? Anyway, the 93 mph top velocity will allow you to get where you require to go to voyage on any path to get there. The £7,105 asking assess is just a £100 premium, and that will pay itself back in taxes deserted in just over a year.

2009 Mazda Weight reduction

2008-10-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

With its most fresh entries, the mid-sized 6 and sub-compact 2, Mazda has demonstrated that new generations of cars don't necessarily have to get heavier. Each of the recently introduced new models are at slightest 100 lbs lighter than the predecessors. For its next generation of new cars, Mazda intends to step up its match even more, aiming for reductions of over 400 lbs. Mazda engineers will completely re-check the structural propose of the cars.

One of the areas of focus will be to produce breakdown services through the baffle pan pretty than the body. The large outward sectioned of the stump apparently requires excluding reinforcement to achieve change space than the higher body structure. New aerated plastics will also help demote the heaviness of the components that dominate the interior of the car. New powertrains, including unbroken development of the Wankel revolving engine, will also contribute to power savings.

2009 Chevy Volt Chevrolet Power Flow

2008-10-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

There has been a just bit of discussion and controversy in the last couple of weeks on the interwebs about the strict nature of the powerflow and array charging in the Chevy Volt. Back in July GM's Larry Nitz discussed how the care sustaining method would work. As with parallel hybrids the series is usually kept between about 35 and 85 percent rush. That means when the array reaches its "reduction" instant it still has a significant total of payment left.

The stretch extender has excluding energy harvest than the, the thrilling ambition motor is gifted of (100 hp vs 150 hp) but it has enough output to work in most day-today pouring conditions. The variety extender doesn't normally try to rate the sequence abundant as that is deemed to be fewer useful and more costly than holding the series at the tiniest awaiting the car can be plugged in. For the times when more energy is desirable such as acceleration or mound climbing some of the preserve sequence might am open to be used. The battery could be tense down below the "weakening" thrust to about 25-30 percent. When this happens, a combination of regenerative braking and some surplus ability from the range extender will beget the battery back up to the tiniest. A cassette after the start shows the diverse modes and the license emerge.

2009 Dodge Challenger fuel mileage

2008-10-02T06:22:00.000-07:00

Our good contacts over at Popular Mechanics have been on a fuel-economy tear as of recent, putting the label-new Jetta TDI up against the reigning mileage victor, the Toyota Prius, and following that comparison up with an adversity of Chevy's Cobalt XFE. What's the next obvious worthy for mileage run? None other than the Dodge Challenger. Wait... Pardon me? The Challenger was fashioned to burn rubber and gas, right? Sort of, as one of the reasons people will buy one is for that "I live my life one quarter mile at a time" Vin Diesel look, but that doesn't mean that all Challengers are equipped with a gas-guzzling Hemi V8 engine. In reality, there is a wholly generous 3.5-liter V6 engine selection for the basis-prototype, still it's saddled with an outdated four-rush usual transmission.

So, if there is a Challenger out there that isn't just being marketed towards the racer crowd, how does it velocity on its fuel mileage virtues? Eh, we've seen shoddier. It's EPA rated at 17 mpg in the city, 25 on the highway. All right, we've seen better. Nevertheless, how did it do in true-world tough? After 669-miles of mostly highway energetic, the colt car managed 23.4 mpg. For what it's meaning, we got 24 mpg in our own taxing. While that's surely better than what you're likely to get in a V8 powered develop, it's not right measly. In any issue, now you know.

2009 Audi A1 Sportback hybrid concept

2008-10-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

The seepage chief up to the Paris Motor Show continues as the first pics of the new Audi A1 Sportback have surfaced. The A1 Sportback is prone what the production kind of Audi's new small car will look like when it hits the streets in 2010. The A1 is about a bottom shorter than the Golf-based A3 and if this theory is any indication, it may focus out to be Audi's first mixture.

The belief uses a 150 hp style of the VW 1.4L TSI engine opposite with a 27 hp amalgam structure. This appears to be a new mild mixture practice that we port't seen before from the VW group. Power conveyed to the wheels is handled by dual seize S-Tronic transmission (known as a DSG at VW). Fuel nation is said to be 60.3 mpg (U.S.) with CO2 emissions of just 92 g/km. Stay tuned for more facts later today.

2009 Mercedes-Benz S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY

2008-10-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced us to its BlueEFFICIENCY line of vehicles, initial off with the C-Class saloons (sedans). At the time, the German automaker promised that the fuel-cutback technology would make its way up the corporate ladder, and it has now reached the top rung, the S-Class. MB's new S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY manages a 10-percent improvement in fuel market and emissions over the last CDI-powered S-Class classical by way of "on-query right steering," a 7 rate repeated transmission with "standstill decoupling" and low rolling resistance tires. You want figures? For such a large car, the tavern manages virtually 31 miles per U.S. gallon (7.6 litres per 100km) and 199 g/km of carbon emissions. Still, zero to sixty acceleration is under 8 seconds, heaps swift for recent dynamic requests. On retailing presently in Europe at €70,864.50, just shy of a hundred-huge in U.S. dollars, however conversions don't work like that. Full prosecute publish after the disobey.

STUTTGART – October 1, 2008: From the end of 2008, Mercedes-Benz will be adding to its breadth one of the most fuel-effective and therefore economical luxury saloons around as the new S 320 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY. Effective thorough modifications and future technology have lowered the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the new mode variant by some ten percent compared to its predecessor, which was itself very economical. Features of the first BlueEFFICIENCY model in the S-Class breadth compose on-insist capacity steering, a natural transmission with standstill decoupling, as well as tyres with compact rolling resistance. All without compromising the high standards of comfort, performance and lashing pleasure in any way.

2009 Fuel-efficient Ford models

2008-10-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

Something tells me that the more fuel-useful Ford models can't get to America presently enough for Ford dealers. The rumor out today is that FoMoCo's U.S. sales dropped like mike Gravel-unnerved rock - 34 percent - in September. Truck sales were down 39.5 percent last month (22.3 percent so far in 2008) and car sales destroy 19 percent in September (6.3 percent this year).

While part of the obstacle is that Ford's gas-hungry line-up just isn't selling when gas prices are still totally high, the largely financial condition in the U.S. means that a lot of customers can't get status. According to AFP, Ford sales analyst George Pipas expects overall vehicle sales dropped 30 percent in September (GM's September sales were down 16 percent). Still, Ford is holding out chance that the new F-150 - due in November - will kindle sales. At least they've got a high-mileage style entrance.

2009 Audi A1 Sportback concept

2008-10-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

Audi has released the formal minutiae on its new A1 Sportback model that debuts at the Paris Motor Show. At 13.09 ft long, the A1 is a fasten of inches longer than a MINI Clubman and skin an amalgam drivetrain. Power comes from a 150 hp TFSI four cylinder with turbocharging and honest addition. The engine's harvest is blended with the yield of a 20 kW, 111 lb-ft thrilling motor and sent through a 6-rate dual grip S Tronic transmission. The thrilling motor is sandwiched between the engine and transmission and can impart thrilling boost as well as exciting only sink at low speeds. The lithium ion stringed cram has promoted-in capability and is claimed to be able to push the car for 62 miles in electric only kind. The car could acclerate from 0-100 kph in 7.9 seconds and still get 60.3 mpg (U.S.). Carbon dioxide emissions are a mere 92 g/km.

At the Paris Motor Show (October 2-10, 2008), Audi is promotion the A1 Sportback idea revision: next on from the Audi A1 scheme quattro, the three-door show car presented in 2007, this is a view for a five-door four-seater for the sub-compact brand – once again exhibiting all the characteristics of a frank Audi. The 3.99-indicator long (13.09 ft) and 1.75-meter eclectic (5.74 ft) vehicle combines bitter-bank, dynamic styling with best cheap of window and supreme condition. At the same time, a sequence of isionary precise solutions take efficiency, vitality and motoring pleasure into new territory as only Audi knows how.

2009 Porsche electric Porsche Cayman

2008-10-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

The feasible electric Porsche Cayman, the one-off conversion of the MIIN-AER, an old 911 EV conversion. There's indeed no require of people who like the looks of a Porsche but want to make the vehicle a lot clener. While there's no official string-powered EV arrival from Porsche, the party is agreeable to propose us vehicles that have "More Power on Less Fuel."

That's the tagline for the hottest emit from the band from Stuttgart as they prompt their vehicles for the Paris Motor Show. The highlight is Direct Fuel Injection across the complete variety of 911 models, models that are matched for EU5 and LEV II discharge values. Details on the "more energy" tilt after the interrupt. This isn't the greenest car circle, but we'll take their lowered emissions for now while we wait at them to change their selfish habits.

Following the greatest generation change in the memoirs of Porsche, all ten models in the 911 cycle – ranging from the Carrera Coupé all the way to the Targa 4S – are making their appearance together in Paris from 4 - 19 October, all in new plan and with new technology. Introducing the newest generation of the 911, Porsche offers a justly matchless cycle of sports cars site the colors the world over also through their sway units featuring DFI Direct Fuel Injection across the entire array. Indeed, the newly developed engines once again upgrade the already brilliant performance and efficiency of Porsche's classic even-six technology to a significantly superior norm than ever before. And credit to progressive secretion management and engine technology the new weight units fulfil even the strictest emission standards – EU5 in the European markets and LEV II in the USA.

2009 Mitsubishi iMiEV electric cars

2008-09-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

The hottest expansion of Mitsubishi's electric car code will be made official nowadays in Iceland. The small North Atlantic realm will adhere the hardship efforts for the Mitsubishi iMiEV during 2009. Iceland's head Olafur Ragnar Grimsson will be signing a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese automaker to give the diminutive EV to the island. Iceland has already been active for virtually three decades in making its energy food renewable. Virtually of all Iceland's electrical weight comes from geothermal or hydro sway.

Tokyo, September 19, 2008 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will today gesture a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) about fleet trying of its nothing-emissions i MiEV electric vehicle with Iceland's Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism. Iceland has aggressive campaign to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels; proposed hard of the electric car would start during 2009.

Jay Leno garage Zero X 2009

2008-09-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

Jay Leno gets the Zero X in his garage: Ay Leno often gets to try some pretty melodic rides but this week's featured zombie was cool AND green. It's not the first emotional two wheeler to dewdrop by the, the overdue-night humorist's automotive appear but the Zero X emotional off-road motorcycle is arguably the coolest. As Jay explains in the videotape, he likes vehicles that are the significance of a singular image and the Zero X is an absolute example of that. Its maker, Neil Saiki, took 5 being to model and fabricate every millimeter of the motorbike pending he was contented with the answer.

And what an answer. Built on an aircraft-aluminum skeleton, it weighs only 140 lbs. And has enough energy in its modular array to relay you 20 to 40 miles, depending on your riding elegance. It also smarmy recharges in two hours from a household channel or half that time with 220 volts. Like other electric bikes, there are no gears, no grab and no clamor. The Zero X is offered now through their website and outlay $7,450. There is a light kit free to make it lane official, but if you have a little patience, Neal mentions they will have a road-express cycle approach out in January. We can't stop. Hit the jolt for the film.

Toyota Prius vs Volkswagen Jetta TDI

2008-09-20T00:21:00.000-07:00

Back in June we told you about an analysis that Top Gear did with a Toyota Prius and BMW M3. At the time, the Top Gear crew ran a Prius around their analyze trail as prompt as they could for 10 laps with Jeremy Clarkson pacing right behind it in a BMW M3. Not surprisingly, the Prius - which is not planned for this kind of application - scored a comparatively humble 14.3 mpg (U.S.) in the hardship. As we all know, powerful grace does influence mileage which we again demonstrated this week during our compel of the Jetta TDI.

The major we did in the southern California canyons was at least as laborious what Top Gear did to the Prius and we managed a, much more impressive 30.7 mpg. While the Top Gear air pasture imprints is even, the Jetta handle forward included significant and repeated altitude changes as well as a 20 quantity temperature swing from about 73 along the coast up to over 90 extra domestic. Altogether, a very impressive performance by the German diesel even lacking any edge stopover or cross capability.

Zap Electric vehicles 2008 2009 zap-xebra

2008-09-20T00:19:00.000-07:00

Zap's been having a beautiful good last few weeks. There was the groundbreaking at the Kentucky stand and now we heed that August exciting vehicle sales set a new vinyl. According to a new emit from Zap (pasted after the jolt), the troupe sold $737,000 merit (unaudited) of vehicles in August, compared to $392,000 in August 2007. Back in April 2007, Zap announced a "deal" of $79 million, but we had questions about that.

Considering the former questions, I asked Zap for some clarification of the latest deal facts, plus how many of each EVs were sold. I wondered if this was another "retailing" to a partner, but Zap's reaction shows that this is not the task this time: "Sales are commonly to individual patrons. Don't have a breakdown but most of the sales were for trucks," they wrote to AutoblogGreen. That's what we know.

2009 Pontiac G3 GM new small car U.S.

2008-09-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

Do you memorize a lean we published with the 10 most fuel-efficient domestic cars? Here's a new one we'd add if we redid the record today: the Pontiac G3. The G3 reminds us of a preceding advertise about Pontiac's deteriorating cast character. Basing on the Chevrolet Aveo, the G3 will pimple the same 1.6-liter engine found in its siblings.

The G3 is expert as a 2009 typical and, like the Aveo, it's rated at 25 mpg city and 34 highway, which improves the Pontiac Vibe's 28 mpg standard (55 percent city/45 percent highway, all in U.S. gallons) Pontiac sells the present rendering of the G3 in Canada, where it is called the Wave, and in Mexico.

2009 Harley-Davidson Trike New three-wheeler

2008-09-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

Patent drawings have bare that Harley-Davidson, the quintessential American Motor Company, has been working on leaning three wheelers for the last few living. This is a notion that has already proven itself viable with food like the Piaggio MP3 chain of scooters presently on the sell. HD has already established itself as a player in the V-Twin trike advertise with its first-ever factory trike, the Tri Glide Ultra Classic. That shape, new for 2009, uses the more usual arrangement of two wheels in back, one in front.

Rumor has it that the impending example from The Motor Company will contrary that with the record controls at the rear, a complex that we favor for stability. If Harley does establish a reverse-trike concept, think it to be powered by the liquid-cooled Revolution motor as opposite to the classic 45-level air-cooled twin that the group is infamous for.

2009 Nissan green paint

2008-09-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

All right, so Nissan isn't expecting painting more of its cars in a green hue, but they are reducing the total environmental blow of their painting method. The new technology will cut down paint misuse, use less distance, downgrade carbon emissions and be earlier to gumboot. Nissan will move instantly to use this new means in all its plants worldwide, which expected has just as much to do with cutback money as it does with economy the environment -

but of course, we'll take the grass any way we can get it. We aren't going to crack to enlighten how the technology itself machinery as it seems to use some rank of laptop list to establish just how much paint is vital for an aspect body panel. It may as well be black allure, just so long as the closing artifact has a good kill and won't necessary a respray any nearer than usual.

2009-2010 Duracar Quicc DiVa New cars

2008-09-20T00:09:00.000-07:00

When last we heard from the Quicc DiVa from DuraCar, it was still being termed the Innovan and had many bridges to annoy, many mountains to climb. In the intervening months, the little Dutch van has garnered a "The Promising Technology" award, millions of euros in investment money from Econcern and an air of sophistication which should come in helpful as it officially premieres at the future 2008 Paris Motor Show. The cast has even attracted the man behind the Smart, Johann Tomforde, who will help with the design before it goes into bulk production in 2010.

The Quicc DiVa is fully light since it is made fully from recyclable forced. When powered by a lithium ion iron phosphate string it should achieve a range of over 90 miles and top out at 75 mph. It is positioned as a city manner vehicle and can store over 1300 lbs in its 77 cubic feet as well as the two people you would basic to unload it. A narrow production is designed for next jump for customers already existence in queue and several configurations should be expected. Check out the squash publish after the collapse.

2009 Castagna electric Fiat Tender Two

2008-09-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Wondering how to transform a Fiat 500 into a dinghy, um, we mean a tender? According to Italian coachbuilder Castagna, it can be done. First, detach the top, doors and stalk. Second, enlarge the sills so that some semblance of structural integrity is maintained. Next, detach the whole interior. Replace the interior with teak forest and woven accents and add endure-resistant seats. Replace the top with some multi-lined canvas for some additional endure protection.

Finally, amputate the inner combustion engine along with all its assorted bits and pieces. To make it movable once again, induct an emotional drivetrain that is able of propelling this beastie over 80 miles per hour. Of course, you'd want to travel a good distance, so it is reportedly able to get over 80 miles of span per attack. After taking a look at this conversion, we amazement if the party would just be disposed to do the electric drivetrain and ditch the place unaided.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ and Hybrid

2008-09-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

There was a time not so many years ago when the best-promotion cars in the U.S. sell were mid-sized models from General Motors. Cars like the Oldsmobile Cutlass and Chevrolet Malibu outsold everything also by very strong margin. In the average of the 1980s, that untouched as the successive generations of Honda's Accord grew better, Toyota introduced the Camry and Ford brought out the then-radical Taurus and Sable. Sales of mid-sized GM passengers went into a steady decline with the once top-selling Oldsmobile sort being euthanized completely and Malibu being dropped as a copy name.

While 2008 has been an absolutely dismal year for automakers in the U.S. sell, there have been a few sharp spots. For those like me who have never been fanned of SUVs and could never very grasp why, so many people had gravitated towards them, the resurgence of sales for smaller and mid-sized cars has been a pleasure to guard. The Chevy Malibu is back for a third iteration since its revival at the start of this decade. The first was so weak as to be imaginary, while the following was not cool on the eyes. The hottest edition debuted in 2007 to almost general acclaim for its bold styling. We newly tried two different Malibus that are set up specifically for enhanced fuel reduced. Check out our view after the flinch.

2009 Nissan new mini-cars EV concept

2008-09-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

Nissan forecast on viewing three new cars at the Paris Motor Show next month. Two of them are conventional small cars that we've already got photos of. The third is a sequence powered 2+1 seat micro-car called the Nuvu. We don't yet know what the Nuvu will look like or whether it will give a whiff of what to assume when Nissan introduces a production EV in 2010. The Nuvu is only three meters long which should make it an interesting challenger to the new emotional smart.

On the conventional area, Nissan will launch the Pixo, a collaborative crack with Suzuki based on the second troupe's Alto. The Pixo and Alto are both being built at a factory in Delhi, India. The little four door, five seater is motivated along by a 1.0L three cylinder. For those that penury something a bit larger, Nissan will also show a refreshed copy of the Note. The Note gets an all-new front end to enclose the gas or diesel engines. With the 1.5L diesel, the Note gets a carbon dioxide emissions rating of just 119 g/km, exempting it from congestion charges in an increasing number of cities.

2009 Hybrid - Electric car EPA vs Chevy Volt

2008-09-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

The Chevrolet Volt raises a lot of questions. From its public unveiling in January 2007 people wondered, is it a cross or a thrilling car? Right from day 1 in December 2006 before the vehicle show, GM officials have called it a breadth extended exciting car. They use the thrilling car terminology because, disparate what we think of as hybrids nowadays, only a thrilling motor drives the Volt. The engine, a naturally aspirated 1.4L (not turbocharged as Motor Trend shows) just drives a generator (not a two approach mixture company as MT says) instead of the wheels.

However, the authority of the scale extender causes the EPA to believe it fusion and they suppose it to have almost a plump expense at the end of the suffering sequence. The intention intent is that the sequence would be run down after having run more than its 40 mile exciting stretch during the analysis. As designed, the engine would only run 15 percent of the time during the stream EPA round and would yield over 100 mpg. Nevertheless, using the EPA's methodology and having the engine keep the battery near rotund arraign - which completely defeats the rationale of a block-in vehicle with a 40 mile electric sort - the Volt would only get about 48 mpg. While not a bad number, it's nowhere near reflective of what the Volt could achieve in the authentic world for most drivers. Clearly the EPA needs to work with manufacturers to change the tough methodology and come up with something that more strongly approximates valid world conditions for promote-in vehicles.

2009 Diesel Subaru Impreza Forester New car2009 Diesel Subaru Impreza Forester New car

2008-09-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Subaru is gradually mounting his diesel availability in Europe. Fitting with the marque's signature rebel diesel cylinder (the only I can think of in an advanced production vehicle), this diesel powertrain has been already vacant for a few months for the Legacy and Outback models. Following the Paris Motor Show, the engine will also be found under the hoods of Impreza and Forester models.

The diesel Impreza gets 150hp and has CO2 secretion levels of 152 g/km, while the Forester develops 147hp and has CO2 emission levels of 167 g/km. Both cars get new 6-rapidity gearboxes as well as Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) integral as banner. Subaru will also platform two additional models in Paris, the G4e and R1e, which we've already seen at other motor shows.

2009 Tata Motors Electric versions of Ace and Indica

2008-09-07T05:29:00.000-07:00

Tata Motors has confirmed that the rumors of an all-exciting Tata Ace and the all-thrilling Tata Indica are genuine. In an unveiling in India this beyond week, the crowd took the wraps off two lithium-ion series-powered EV prototypes based on the Ace work truck and the Indica vehicle (pictured). As we heard before this year, the Indica EV will first be sold in the Norweigian market next year because the Scandanavian country "has the crucial infrastructure in place to run exciting cars which India lacks," as

Tata Motors President Ravi Kant put it. Indians will get their own occasion to buy the car in about 24 months. According to the Business-Standard, the all-exciting Indica has two array packs which can control in eight hour and go around 110-120 miles on a price.

carbon fiber car material recycled

2008-09-07T04:52:00.000-07:00

Carbon stuffed holds a titanic likely in the automotive business. Comparing to both steel and aluminum - currently the most often used metals in our cars and trucks - carbon grain is both lighter and stronger. What's more, the pertinent can be bamboo in certain behavior to promote vigor in some areas and flexibility in others. There are, of course, a few troubles with the question stuff, sacrifice and the difficulty in its construction. At slightest one of those two problems may rapidly have a bit of a answer by way of recycling.

Today, the common of the ideas makes its way into airplanes. As these planes become obsolete, companies are currently looking into ways of recapturing that pricey textile. The actual technique requires that the carbon sheets be torn so that the enviable fibers can be reclaimed. Auto manufacturers such as Volkswagen are intrigued in the possibility of integrating new inferior-expense carbon integrity satisfy into its excluding luxurious yield. If you can read German, click here for more.

2009 electric car Cost to run your electric car

2008-09-07T04:50:00.000-07:00

By describing the price to loss an electric vehicle as "squishy," Martin Eberhard begins a marker on his Tesla Founders Blog on the right foot. Seriously. That's because it's a very stubborn question to answer and it perfectly depends on where you live, what business your control is arrival from and when you blame it. There are other factors too, such as what, if any, alternative sources you have and how much authority you mostly use on a typical day. To help describe all these little minutiae, Eberhard has made a spreadsheet based on Northern California's toll from Pacific Gas and Electric.

After doing all the sums, Martin figures that it overheads him 3.6 cents per mile to run his Roadster. That's more than he first figured but still just a small little of what it would cost to run on gas. For instance, at $4.00 a gallon, a car that gets over 40 miles per gallon would still cost binary per mile to work. Of course, YMMV. To help number it all out, Martin suggests that you produce your own spreadsheet and share it with the place of the taste.

2009 Mexican Beetle taxis New car

2008-09-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

Just as the traditional black cab has been an icon of London streets for decades, little around green and ashen Beetles have served an alike duty in Mexico. Long after the Volkswagen Type 1 had ceased being produced everywhere also in the world, VW's Puebla Mexico lodge perpetual to assemble Beetles until 2003. Many of those Beetles last to transport passengers around Mexico City and elsewhere, but perhaps not for much longer.

Just as cities like New York and San Francisco want their taxi fleets converted to hybrids over the next few years, Mexican officials want to retire the classic Beetles. Mexico City has some of the worst pollution in North America and the old bugs are blamed for at least some of the clutter. Transport Ministry officials have set 2012 as a deadline for replacing the bugs but harbor't yet picked a replacement. Whatever is select will prone top the 19 mpg the Beetles get, and be safer and much cleaner.

2009 Solar trees on parking garages University planting

2008-09-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

As part of an agenda to offer the University of California at San Diego with renewable energy from numerous sources plus sun, airstream and bio-gas fuel cells, the instruct has "planted" a virtual orchard of Solar Trees™ on the superior levels of a pair of parking garages. The "foliage" offer energy for the educate as well as shade for learner vehicles. The grid-together electrical infrastructure desirable for the plan also allows outlets for the spaces so when bung-in hybrids and thrilling cars create to seem on campus they can be accommodated.

The educate avoided paying any open expense by partnering with three different limited companies who took burden of the leverage and installation of the Envision Solar grove. The energy will be metered and the school will be billed monthly for the electricity expected. The Solar Trees™ are said to be awfully forceful and able of stable high winds as well as incidents of "driver mistake." Although not present in this installation, other Envision solar groves include flood water capture as well. Press circulate is after the respite.

2009 Ford Cars Like Mustang New car

2008-09-07T04:30:00.000-07:00

When the makeup of Tom Scavo drives down Wisteria Lane this spell on ABC's "Desperate Homemakers," he'll be behind the controls of one of Ford Motor Company's most talked about new vehicles, the 2009 Ford Flex. The inclusion of Flex on "Desperate Homemakers" is one of numerous Ford result integrations next to television this tumble, said Bob Witter of Ford Global Brand Entertainment, the Ford workplace in Beverly Hills that factory to "cast" Ford-branded vehicles in movies, television and other media. "A lot of people chauffeur a car because it's a porch of their personality, and in the world of Hollywood, that's one of the customs that they exploit characters," Witter said. "We work together with show producers to attain the car personality with the charm personality." In the suit of the Tom Scavo nature on "Desperate Homemakers," played by actor Doug Savant, Witter says the Flex was an achieve fit.

"Tom is the manner of guy who wishes to be seen in a car that's different," he said. "He doesn't necessarily belong in a high-end exotic car, yet he requests a vehicle that's actually bold and that stands out. Pairing him up with the Flex was an untreated." Witter says that when he went to Universal Studios to "test" the Flex, he sneaked along two other Ford strain vehicles to begin to the show's producers and copy baton – the new 2009 Lincoln MKS and the 2009 Mazda 6. "The MKS wasn't something they were first planning, but when they saw it they really loved it, so it is departure to be the vehicle for a new oddball on the show named Dave Williams," Witter said. "As the eccentric builds in the show, we're expecting that the vehicle will get more exposure." Producers also were interested in a vehicle for the character of young Andrew Van De Kamp. Witter says they were impressed with the Mazda 6, but the mid-magnitude sedan didn't rather gel with Andrew's personality.