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As the auto industry emerges from crisis , new hope is given to a General Motors factory town with today’s announcement that Fisker Automotive will purchase the Wilmington Assembly plant in Delaware. Vice President Joe Biden and Delaware Governor Jack Markell were on hand for the news that Fisker signed a letter of purchase intent for $18 million. An additional $175 million will be spent to refurbish and retool the factory over the next three years. The funds come from a conditional loan of $528.7 million the Department of Energy awarded the company in September. The facility that previously built the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky will be overhauled to assemble an “affordable” plug-in hybrid sedan dubbed Project NINA. Production is expected to begin in late 2012, and Project NINA is optimistically forecast to support 2,000 factory jobs and more than 3,000 vendor and supplier jobs by 2014, as production ramps up to full capacity of 75,000-100,000 vehicles per year. More than half of the sedans are expected to be exported. The car itself is estimated to cost about $39,900 after federal tax credits. Learn about the Fisker Karma , a luxurious plug-in hybrid that delivers an estimated...
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The Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize announced the 43 teams that will advance in its international competition to develop a marketable car that achieves 100 miles per gallone equivalent (MPGe). The teams are campaigning 53 vehicles total that have passed expert review for business plans and technical specifications. These vehicles will progress to the performance and safety testing in the spring as they compete for the $10 million prize. In total, almost 100 entries had been submitted for the contest. The finalists represent 18 states, 10 countries, and six fuel types, signaling the contest’s reach and diversity. Cars on hand at Manhattan’s Classic Car Club for the announcement included the narrow Amp Sky, Commuter Cars Tango, and three-wheel Zap Alias. At the event, X Prize also opened the registration for the DASH+ contest. Funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant, this parallel competition challenges high schoolers to design the dashboard of the future. School teams can register at FuelOurFutureNow.com , where they can learn more about the related sciences involved in interior design. The qualified teams are listed below, along with their fuel or energy type. Mainstream...
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In an interview yesterday with Automotive News , Honda Motor Company president Takanobu Ito said that moving production of the popular Honda Fit subcompact from Japan to the United States is a "highly likely possibility" in order to reduce the company's financial losses attributed to the yen's eight percent increase in value against the dollar since August. "Considering the foreign exchange, such a structural reform might be called for," Ito said. "That is sort of the direction we are considering." According to Automotive News , approximately 80 percent of all of the cars Honda sells in the United States are built here. The Honda Fit, with U.S. sales nearing 56,000 year-to-date 2009, is imported from Japan. While the Fit has weathered the financial storm this year better than other Honda models, the yen's rise threatens the Fit's profitibility. No announcement was made yet as to when or where in the United States the Honda Fit will be built. ~ Deborah Neal, editorial director, autoMedia.com
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It is the week ending October 16, and we have browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather the highlights from each....
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Safety experts have become so concerned that today's whisper-quiet hybrid and electric cars may pose a danger to visually-impaired pedestrians that they've introduced a study to investigate whether such vehicles should have artificial soundtracks to help people nearby hear them....
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If you’re looking for great fuel economy, you have lots of choices. There’s a cornucopia of small cars on the market and, if you need more space, there are some larger hybrid vehicles that still turn in impressive numbers at the pumps. But let’s say you want more. How about a good-sized vehicle with wonderful road feel and driving fun? That car is the Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel sedan. If you haven’t been around diesels lately, you might still think they’re the smoky, stinky, slow models that have been around for a couple of decades. But you’d be wrong. Today’s diesel has been to the gym, quit smoking and—with an impressive 31mpg city/40 mpg EPA fuel economy rating—doesn’t drink much either. The Jetta TDI gives you a choice of either sedan or wagon (or SportWagen), and both are handsome vehicles. Our four-door sedan looked very German in its reflex silver metallic. While our TDI sedan test car was thrifty on fuel, there was nothing low-rent about its interior. Like all modern Volkswagens, the design is clean and efficient, and the quality of the materials sets the standard for its class. The best part of the Jetta TDI experience, though, was in the driving. Start up was smooth...
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Infiniti will launch its first hybrid vehicle when a gasoline-electric M sedan joins the range for the 2012 model year. The redesigned M line goes on sale in spring 2010, with a choice of V-6 and V-8 engines. When it hits the market a year later, the hybrid version will use a 3.5-liter V-6 with an electric motor acting largely in an assistance role. The combination promises improved fuel economy and performance, in the spirit of current Lexus LS600h and Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. The Infiniti M Hybrid will be able to operate solely on electric power in certain conditions. It will use a laminated lithium-ion battery pack. Infiniti claims it will be the same size as other packs, though boast twice the power and better reliability. More details will be released closer to production. Late to the game, trailing Lexus and Mercedes-Benz by years, Infiniti will still likely beat other lux brands to market with a hybrid. See our sneak peek of the 2011 Infiniti M35 and M56 .
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Nissan has freshened the Altima for 2010, giving the popular, well-regarded coupe and sedan a midlife update. Most noticeable, the Altima has a new hood, grille, front bumper, and wheels. Inside, the Altima has new upholstery, trim, and revised option packages. Stability control is standard on all models. The infotainment factor is turned up to 11 for the new year, with an available premium Bose audio system. This new stereo boasts nine speakers, 4.3-inch screen, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation, XM satellite radio, and a rearview camera. Also available is a hard-drive-based navigation system with a 6.5-inch screen, Zagat ratings, XM NavTraffic and NavWeather, Bluetooth streaming audio, DVD player, and 9.3 gigs for music storage. What hasn’t changed is the base price, which remains at $19,900 for the 2.5 S sedan. The coupe climbs several hundred dollars to $22,440. 2010 Nissan Altima suggested retail prices 2010 Altima Sedan Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P. Altima Sedan 2.5 S 2.5L I4 CVT $19,900 Altima Sedan 2.5 S 2.5L I4 CVT $21,840 Altima Sedan 3.5 SR 3.5L V6 CVT $24,520 2010 Altima Coupe Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P. Altima Coupe 2.5 S 2.5L I4 6MT $22,440 Altima Coupe...
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Mercedes-Benz released its own Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motorshow this week. The five-seat, four-door BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS hatchback promises a total range of about 370 miles, of which about 60 can be traveled solely using electricity. The E-CELL PLUS is part of a trio of BlueZERO concept vehicles , each with its own drive system. Mercedes-Benz feels it won't be just one technology that paves the way to sustainable mobility in the future, so the company is presenting several alternatives. The first in the trio -- the BlueZERO E-CELL -- was released in Detroit at the beginning of the year. Propelled exclusively by a battery-powered electric drive, this pure electric vehicle is projected to be able to travel more than 120 miles on a single battery charge and will be completely free of tailpipe emissions. The third vehicle will be the Hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered BlueZERO F-CELL, promising a range of nearly 250 miles on electric power and also without creating tailpipe emissions. The E-CELL PLUS revealed at Frankfurt operates in a similar fashion to the highly anticipated Chevy Volt EREV: The liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery is stored in the...
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Volkswagen presented a large selection of small cars at the 63rd International Motor Show (IAA) being held in Frankfurt this week. The nine premieres ranged from the zero-emissions E-Up! concept to a near-production prototype of the sensational 1-Liter car, the L1; the economical Polo three-door; and super-efficient BlueMotion versions of the Polo (71 mpg), Golf (62 mpg) and Passat (53 mpg). Volkswagen also showed a supersporty the Golf R, and the new generation of the Multivan / California . Many customized models - such as three new, dynamic R-Line versions (Golf, Scirocco and Passat CC) and the first vehicle under the new top label Volkswagen Exclusive (Golf Estate) - completed the range of IAA premieres. Most notable is the zero-emissions E-Up! Concept, which is based on modules of the New Small Family Volkswagen is expecting to release for the 2011 model year. This super tiny ultra-compact pure electric vehicle measures in at just under 10 and a half feet long (compare that to the Smart fortwo at 8 feet, 2 inches or a Honda Fit, which is just over 13 feet) features an 18kWh lithium battery pack with a range of 84 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. Promising seating for three adults...
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In a few days, Lexus will pull the wraps off this compact hybrid concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Designed in California, the LF-CH will make its North American debut in December at the LA Auto Show. This latest concept hybrid vehicle from Lexus explores a more dramatic package than the brand currently offers. Given that the unique styling is attributed as a key factor the success of the Prius, and that hatchbacks are essential for overseas sales, this is a natural direction to pursue. Lexus is mum on the powertrain, saying only that it is powered by "the latest generation of Lexus Hybrid Drive technology." It isn’t a big leap to assume it shares its hybrid system with the Lexus HS 250h , teaming a high-efficiency Atkinson-cycle 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission, and electric motor, producing a combined 187 horsepower. Directing the high-tech car’s character, the driver could then select between four modes: Normal, Eco, and EV plus a Sport mode that amplifies throttle response. The LF-Ch concept was designed by Calty Design Research Inc., Toyota’s North American-based research and design center located in Newport Beach. While production...
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Hybrid powertrain pioneer and marketing wizard Toyota will debut a 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) concept vehicle next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Toyota has shown and field tested second-generation Prius plug-in hybrids, furthering the development of this third-gen model. (Also see the Fisker Karma plug-in scheduled to be shown in Frankfurt.) Using lithium-ion battery technology, this plug-in hatchback boasts electric operation at higher speeds and longer distances than conventional hybrids. When fully charged, the vehicle will achieve an electric-only range of approximately 12 miles and will be capable of achieving highway speeds in electric-only mode. For longer distances, the PHV concept reverts to “hybrid mode” and operates like a regular Prius. The ability to utilize all-electric power for short trips or hybrid power for longer drives alleviates the issue of limited cruising range encountered with pure electric vehicles. Toyota will distribute a 500-unit test fleet worldwide later this year, with 150 plug-ins planned for evaluation in the United States. No widespread production has been announced, though this marks a significant step forward as Toyota seeks to further...
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Fisker has released a bevy of numbers ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the boutique automaker will make a splash with its four-door Karma next week. (We last saw the Karma at the New York auto show .) The curvaceous plug-in hybrid electric will be touting its fuel economy figures of 3.5L/100km, based on Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) methodology. That translates to about 67 mpg. Calculations developed by SAE estimate carbon dioxide output will be less than that of today's cleanest production cars and 75 percent less than that of competing vehicles, on average, according to Fisker. Fuel economy is the bragging rights future cars will hang their reputation on. Take the Chevrolet Volt , for example. General Motors created big buzz with a marketing campaign centered around a claimed 230 mpg city rating, 100 mpg overall, based on development testing using a draft EPA federal fuel economy methodology for labeling plug-in electric vehicles. This high claim may come back to bite GM, as it is only theoretically achievable. On the other hand, this figure from Fisker appears quite fair on the surface. Only real-world testing will show how practical the rating is. However, there...
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It's the week ending September 4, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. Cash for Clunkers and Papa John's Camaro remain in the headlines for another week, and David E. Davis says he wishes Jean Jennings was dead, but besides all that, we've also got plenty of other unusual news sure to delight the automotive fan. Cash for Clunkers rebates undoubtedly fueled robust August car sales , with manufacturers showing increased sales over the same time period a year ago, and even better increases over their sales just one or two months ago. Motor Trend's Todd Lassa shares an astute analysis of these figures , with detailed insights into the best-selling models and manufacturers. Classic Car Examiner Jim Cherry knows cars have had a long and colorful history on TV from the 1966 Batmobile, to Entourage's Maserati Quatroporte, to Starsky & Hutch's Grand Torino. Knight Rider's Kitt car was so popular that Hasselhoff's series was revived years later in the vain hope of selling more lunchboxes. The right car makes the right statement on TV. They hop things up, express...
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Barely a month after The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program was first enacted, the second leg of the pivotal program also known as "cash for clunkers," wrapped up boasting nearly 700,000 car sales and improved fuel efficiency....
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