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January 07, 2009

  • Gordon Murray talks about his 80 mpg T25

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    Is it possible to make a car that carries 4 people comfortably, meets modern safety standards, provides decent performance and gets 80 mpg for barely more than $10,000? Even more impressive would be to do it without electric or hybrid drive. If it's at all possible, Gordon Murray may well be the man to do it. Murray is one of the most innovative engineers of the past three decades. Like Colin Chapman before him, he believes weight is the enemy. Murray has created plenty of lightweight, high performance road and race cars but his latest project, called T25, is designed to also be practical and affordable. Shorter and narrower but taller than an original MINI, it will have to be a triumph of packaging to meet the stated objectives.

    Making superlight cars is nothing new. Doing it with materials that don't cost a fortune is the problem. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Murray drops a few hints about the construction. It's a body on frame design with plastic upper end and steel chassis. Murray is keeping most of the car under wraps until they get all the patents lined up. Hopefully the T25 will be unveiled in early 2010.

    [Source: Daily Mail]

    Gordon Murray talks about his 80 mpg T25 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 10 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Consumer Reports tests plug-in Prius conversion, finds it lacking

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    While the main storyline for Consumer Reports' February issue revolves around the new Hyundai Genesis and its toppling of the mighty Lexus ES350 as the mag's top-rated entry-level luxury sedan, another tidbit of information regarding next month's rag caught our attention. Apparently, CR purchased a Hymotion L5 plug-in Prius conversion kit from A123 Systems, and testing proved to be a mixed bag. We don't have full details to share regarding the kit's installation or full fuel mileage statistics, but CR's press release indicates that the PHEV managed to increase its mpg rating from 42 to 67 over the first 35 miles of driving. Perhaps this will be an ongoing series from the consumer-oriented publication. While that kind of mileage increase is meaningful, it would take a very long time to recoup the $11,000 purchase price of Hymotion's kit. Still, "the technology itself proved viable," according to CR.

    [Source: Consumer Reports]

    Continue reading Consumer Reports tests plug-in Prius conversion, finds it lacking

    Consumer Reports tests plug-in Prius conversion, finds it lacking originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 11 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)

January 06, 2009

  • All new cars in California now carry smog, global warming scores

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    Since the beginning of the year, all 2009 model year vehicles (and anything newer, once they're available) sold in California will be sporting a new sticker. No, not the kind that makes your car worth $4,000 more but the kind that describes the vehicle's global warming and smog scores. Just look under the hood of that new car (if you're the unusual kind of person who's still out there car shopping) and you'll see it, courtesy of the California Air Resources Board. As some of you pointed out in the summer when we first got word of these new stickers, the 1-10 rating scale is somewhat counter-intuitive. A higher score means the car is cleaner/better. An average car, CARB says, will get a five. The best of the best, right now, is the GEM, which gets two 10s. That "perfect" rating means that the vehicle emits less than 200 grams of CO2-equivalent per mile. A score of one means the car spits out more than 520 grams over the same distance. Cars like the Honda Civic hybrid and the Prius score nines.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/la-2008-fireballed-gem/">LA 2008: Fireballed GEM

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/la-2008-fireballed-gem/1184103/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/la-2008-fireballed-gem/1184102/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/la-2008-fireballed-gem/1184101/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/la-2008-fireballed-gem/1184100/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/la-2008-fireballed-gem/1184099/">

    [Source: Environment News Service]

    All new cars in California now carry smog, global warming scores originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 12 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Hertz puts the hurt on Zipcar at OSU

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    The Ohio State University like a few alt-fuel cars: the Buckeye Bullet 2, hydrogen-powered golf carts and Zipcar/Flexcar. Well, scratch that last one. OSU has decided to give the campus car-sharing contract to Connect by Hertz instead of Zipcar. The exact reason for the switch was not disclosed, with OSU saying only that Zipcar was "not the successful bidder." The Columbus Dispatch reports that Zipcar, with at first 20 but then seven vehicles on campus, did not provide enough cars to suit employee needs. OSU did not provide details on how Connect will work at OSU, but in other places, Hertz offers rate plans that range from $50 a year to $125 per month (depending on the plan) that includes gas, insurance and maintenance. Then you have hourly rental fees that start at $8.50. The Dispatch says that Hertz will have a dozen cars on campus and charge between $9 and $11 an hour for them. OSU uses car-sharing in an attempt to reduce the number of state vehicles - most of which sit unused during the day - needed on campus. Thanks to a buckeye for the tip!

    [Source: Ohio State University, Columbus Dispatch]

    Hertz puts the hurt on Zipcar at OSU originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 13 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Chery QQ gets sequential gearbox and a boost from the government

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    One of the most well-known Chinese clones, the Chery QQ3, has been often been the target of retirement rumors. However, just like practically everywhere else, the Chinese auto market is getting help from the government, help that might help the QQ3 survive. One of the measures the Chinese government is applying is a tax reduction on certain vehicle niches, including vehicles mated to sequential gearboxes. Well, for the Chinese New Year, Chery is launching a new QQ3 model that, hey, uses a sequential gearbox. Mated to either a 0.8-liter or 1.1-liter engine, the gearbox manages to save 0.2 to 0.8 liters per 100 km. With the tax benefit, the prices for these QQ3 models have dropped 3,000 and 4,200 Yuan below the manual versions, respectively.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/chery-qq-official-pics/">Chery QQ official pics

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/chery-qq-official-pics/662407/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/chery-qq-official-pics/662406/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/chery-qq-official-pics/662405/">

    [Source: Sohu via Le Blog Auto]

    Chery QQ gets sequential gearbox and a boost from the government originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 13 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Car and Driver hosts hybrid hoedown, hearts Ford Fusion heaps

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    With 4 of the worlds top brands now boasting mid-size sedan hybrids in their line ups, the chaps over at Car and Driver decided it was time to rustle them all together and see how they stack up. If you've been torn over whether to buy a hybrid in the shape of a Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima or Chevy Malibu, this is the comparo that can save you days of visiting dealerships and conducting your own set of test drives. To save you even more time, we break down their observations into a handful of bit-sized chunks, from worst to first.

    The Chevrolet Malibu hybrid was the "mild hybrid" of the bunch. While its appearance has been praised by some, its engineering earned few accolades from the C&D crew. They found the start/stop system rudely abrupt and the electric assist seemed to surge off and on with a mind of its own while under way. It not only came last in mileage (19.8 mpg city! Dude!), it also came last in acceleration. The can of tire inflation product in lieu of an actual spare only adds insult to injury. Let's hope GM puts more effort into the Volt. A lot more. Hit the jump to see how the others contestants fared.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2008-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid/">2008 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2008-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid/1021649/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2008-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid/1021656/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2008-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid/1021661/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2008-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid/1021658/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2008-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid/1021659/">

    [Source: Car and Driver]

    Continue reading Car and Driver hosts hybrid hoedown, hearts Ford Fusion heaps

    Car and Driver hosts hybrid hoedown, hearts Ford Fusion heaps originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 14 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Detroit preview: Cadillac SRX is direct injected but not flex-fuel

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    click above for more a high-res gallery of the 2010 Cadillac SRX

    Next week at the Detroit Auto Show Cadillac will be taking the wraps off an all-new version of the SRX crossover. The SRX is getting smaller and moving to a new platform that is mix of the Epsilon II car platform and the Theta CUV. For 2010, the SRX will have two engines available, a 300 hp turbocharged 2.8L V6 based on the Saab Turbo-x engine and a new 3.0L direct injected V6. Both engines are part of GM's high-feature V6 family along with the 3.6L that's used in a wide variety of GM vehicles.

    Contrary to some reports, the 3.0L SRX will not be a flex-fuel vehicle when it launches this summer. The spec sheet that was published by GM lists the engine as E85 capable. However, this is an error based on copy data over from the standard specs for the engine. GM Powertrain spokesman Tom Read confirmed to ABG that the engine has probably been engineered to be compatible with E85 with items such as high flow fuel injectors and corrosion resistant fuel lines. Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell confirmed that the SRX will run only at gasoline at launch and there are no current planst to make it flex-fuel capable. The only flex-fuel Cadillac currently available is the Escalade. For the full details on the SRX, head on over to Autoblog.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2010-cadillac-srx-3/">2010 Cadillac SRX

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2010-cadillac-srx-3/1260346/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2010-cadillac-srx-3/1260354/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2010-cadillac-srx-3/1260351/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2010-cadillac-srx-3/1260348/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2010-cadillac-srx-3/1260349/">

    [Source: GM, Domestic Fuel]


    Continue reading Detroit preview: Cadillac SRX is direct injected but not flex-fuel

    Detroit preview: Cadillac SRX is direct injected but not flex-fuel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 15 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Bond would kill for this Lotus-developed biofueled Antarctic speeder

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    For the engineering crew at Lotus, building transportation devices that are not sports cars is nothing new. Back in the early 90s they put their knowledge of lightweight materials and aerodynamics together to create a race bicycle that tore up the velodrome at the Olympics, not to mention wild soap box racers. The latest project is a three ski snow speeder that will be used in an Antarctic expedition next November to raise awareness of climate change. The Concept Ice Vehicle (CIV) is powered by a two cylinder BMW bike engine converted to E85 operation and turning a propeller that pushes the vehicle across the ice and snow at up to 84 mph. The CIV will be used to scout for crevasses in the ice. When the voids are found the GPS coordinates will be sent back to the rest of the team to warn them before anyone falls in.

    [Source: Wired]

    Bond would kill for this Lotus-developed biofueled Antarctic speeder originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 16 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Dale Vince's wind-powered car could be the Storm, the Zero or the Nemesis

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    click above and scroll down to watch the video

    When he's not taunting Tesla, Dale Vince is pretty focused on building his wind-powered car. The Zero Carbonista project (previous post) is moving along and the fourth (of six) video about the project is new ready for your viewing pleasure. The front of the car is taking shape and now it needs a name. On the shortlist are: The Zero, The Storm and The Nemesis. I think the Zero Storm would be a good compromise, and I think it'll sound good with a British accent.

    In the video, the biggest problem the team is facing seems to be figuring out the fingerprint entry and startup system. What's more exciting is the torque potential the designers and engineers discuss towards the end of the video. Check it out after the jump and see what the (indirectly) wind-powered Exige is up to these days.

    [Source: Zero Carbonista via Treehugger]

    Continue reading Dale Vince's wind-powered car could be the Storm, the Zero or the Nemesis

    Dale Vince's wind-powered car could be the Storm, the Zero or the Nemesis originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 16 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Honda advertises cars with green hybrid billboards

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    Click above to enlarge

    If you are going to bill yourselves as the World's Greenest Automaker, as Honda does from time to time, you'd better be willing to back it up. Luckily, Honda always seems to be looking for a way to do just that. Whether it's by offering the best overall fuel economy in the United States or powering billboards with solar power, Honda is often a step ahead. Wait, hold on... powering billboards with solar power? Yep, in the land of Oz at least, Honda has partnered up with APN Outdoor to create Australia's first eco-friendly outdoor advertisements. The solar panels provide power when possible and a backup electrical connection that gets its power from a green feed is there to pick up the slack. This may be a small thing, but we'll take it. We should also mention that Honda has invested in solar technology itself, with its Soltec subsidiary opening for business in 2006 and now selling panels for residential or commercial use.

    [Source: Honda]

    Continue reading Honda advertises cars with green hybrid billboards

    Honda advertises cars with green hybrid billboards originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 17 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • It's not clean and certainly not green - it's a coal-powered Caddy

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    The legacy of experimentation with alternative fuels to gasoline is nothing new. It started back in the earliest days of the car in the late 19th century. Alternatives to piston engines are also not new, although none but the Wankel rotary have had any notable commercial success. Starting back in the 1950s, there was a lot of interest in trying to run cars on turbine engines. Turbines had some inherent advantages,including high power density and, most importantly, the ability to run on virtually anything combustible. In the wake of the first Middle East oil embargo, the search for gas alternatives heated up again, and the engineers at General Motors came up with a novel idea: a coal-powered Caddy. The US had plenty of coal, after all, and GM had a turbine engine. The General's engineers therefore built a Cadillac Eldorado with a turbine engine that ran on powdered coal. As a proof of concept, it worked. The car ran fine. As a practical alternative? Not so much. The coal powder was messy and difficult to handle and the engines produced high NOx emissions. Then there was that pesky problem of a re-fueling infrastructure. Where have we heard that one before?

    [Source: New York Times]

    It's not clean and certainly not green - it's a coal-powered Caddy originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 18 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Toyota halts all Japanese production - that means the Prius, too - for 11 days

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    click for more images of the 2009 Toyota Prius

    Toyota has announced that all of its 12 production plants in Japan will be shut down for 11 days in February and March thanks to the recent sales drop. Toyota sold about 20,000 fewer Priuses in 2008 than in 2007. According to Automotive News Europe (subs req'd), Toyota already reduced the number of vehicles it will build this business year by almost a million units and this round of closures means there will be even fewer Toyota's built in the coming year. The last time all Japanese Toyota plants were shut at the same time was in 1993. Considering that all Priuses are made in Japan (that Mississippi Prius plant never got off the ground), the Prius supply will be reduced over the 11 days of quiet. The big question is if it'll be down enough to meet demand without excess.

    [Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd), AP]

    Toyota halts all Japanese production - that means the Prius, too - for 11 days originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 19 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Honda S2000, CR-Z convertible follow Acura NSX and V8 to scrap heap

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    Last month we learned that Honda had canceled plans to build a new V10-powered replacement replacement for its departed NSX sports car. Now, AutoCar is reporting that several other vehicle programs at Honda have fallen victim to the new economic and environmental reality. In addition to the NSX, Acura was due to get a new rear wheel drive platform and V8 engine for its sedans so they could better compete with products from BMW and Mercedes as well as Infiniti and Lexus. The new architecture and engine are now on ice.

    Over on the Honda brand side of the house, two future sporty car programs have also been killed. A replacement for the S2000 roadster will apparently never see the light of day and a convertible version of upcoming CR-Z has also been shelved. The CR-Z hybrid coupe will debut in 2010 based on the new Insight.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/cr-z-hybrid-concept/">CR-Z hybrid concept

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/cr-z-hybrid-concept/457487/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/cr-z-hybrid-concept/457486/">

    [Source: AutoCar]

    Honda S2000, CR-Z convertible follow Acura NSX and V8 to scrap heap originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 19 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • India getting Porsche Cayenne Diesel

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    Click above for high-res gallery of the Porsche Cayenne Diesel

    Porsche just launched its first modern diesel engine in the Cayenne sport utility vehicle, and the German automaker said when it was first introduced that it was planning on bringing the model to other markets. Considering that the Cayenne is Porsche's best-selling vehicle in India, it's not all that surprising that the oil-burner is slated for an Indian introduction in short order. Even better, according to Car Trade India, "a diesel version of this popular SUV is expected to sell like a hot cake." That sounds good, right?

    Currently, Cayenne diesels are produced at Porsche's Leipzig factory, and this is where the Indian Cayenne's will be exported from. Europeans are the first to get the diesel, and they'll officially get the option beginning in February for a base price of €47,250. The 3.0L V6 engine comes from Audi and offers up 240-horsepower and a useful 405 lb-ft of torque.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/porsche-cayenne-diesel-2/">Porsche Cayenne Diesel

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/porsche-cayenne-diesel-2/1175967/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/porsche-cayenne-diesel-2/1175966/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/porsche-cayenne-diesel-2/1175965/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/porsche-cayenne-diesel-2/1175964/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/porsche-cayenne-diesel-2/1175968/">

    [Source: Car Trade India]

    India getting Porsche Cayenne Diesel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 20 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Montana gives grant to make great green goo from CO

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    What's green and blue, eats CO2, and could wind up in your gas tank? If you answered heat-loving green blue algae (or thermophilic cyanobacteria, if you want to sound all smart and stuff), then ding! ding! ding!, you are correct! A pilot algae bioreactor project was just awarded a $375,000 grant by the Montana Department of Commerce and may, if it works out as hoped, pave the way for commercialization of the process.

    GreenShift, a bio-fuel producing company, wants to use the CO2 emitted from corn ethanol production plants, along with concentrated sunlight and nutrient-rich water, to help grow massive quantities of a certain type of algae. The created biomass could then be used as a feedstock for different products; most notably, biodiesel. The company already operates a biodiesel plant in Michigan as well as several corn processing facilities. We're not sure if this will sooth the bruises suffered recently by ethanol but it can't hurt. Hit the jump to see the process explained in a short video.

    [Source: Green Car Congress]

    Continue reading Montana gives grant to make great green goo from CO2

    Montana gives grant to make great green goo from CO2 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 21 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Mercedes may pop smart fortwo clone lawsuit against the Bubble

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    Small Chinese automakers have developed the nasty habit of cloning the design and styling of successful European automobiles and placing that bodywork atop vastly inferior hardware. Although it doesn't seem right, there may be little that automakers like BMW and Daimler can do about it. Evidence of such can be seen in recent court cases, one of which was lost by a certain Bavarian automaker that sued to stop the European importation of a Chinese SUV with an eerie similarity to its own X5. Now that BMW has lost that case, Daimler's lawyers have reportedly attempted to settle the case with Martin Motors, which is the European importer for the Shuanghuan Bubble. That diminutive machine looks a great deal like the smart fortwo, but it may still go on sale in Europe sometime this month.

    Currently, the Bubble is not allowed to be sold in Europe and the first few machines that were imported were detained in customs. If Daimler were to lose the lawsuit, it may be liable for damages to Martin Motors. Sure, it seems odd to us, but apparently the price - and likely quality - of the Bubble is so low that lawmakers believe there's no conflict, regardless of the value of intellectual property.

    [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

    Mercedes may pop smart fortwo clone lawsuit against the Bubble originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - about 22 hours
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Renault to unveil a Twingo-based roadster

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    If you think that the current generation of the Renault Twingo - a fairly low-polluting car and quite useful on crowded European cities - isn't that much of a looker, take a look at this first image of the Twingup. I happen to like to first-gen Twingo, but can appreciate that Renault has taken some inspiration from the converted Honda CRX convertibles for its new Twingo-based roadster.

    The Twingup's manually-adjusted roof can be stored in the trunk, and Renault expects that this solution will lower the price of the car so as it will compete against similar cars such as the Micra C+C, the Peugeot 207 CC and the Opel Tigra, which have electrically-operated foldable roofs. The Twingup should appear during the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2010.

    [Source: Autointernationaal]

    Renault to unveil a Twingo-based roadster originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - 1 day
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • Toyota, Honda hybrid sales drop in 2008; 5 FCX Clarity models sold

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    Click above for more shots of the Honda FCX Clarity

    We've already taken a look at the 2,555 hybrids that GM sold in December and the 14,439 hybrid vehicles it sold in 2008, but what about the other major automakers? Not every automaker reports their sales the same way (most don't break out hybrid numbers, for example), but we can still compare GM's results to Honda's and Toyota's.

    Toyota reports that, for all of 2008, it sold 15,200 Lexus RX 400h luxury hybrid SUVs and 19,391 Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUVs. For the year, Toyota and Lexus sold 241,405 hybrid vehicles. That includes 158,884 Priuses, compared to 181,221 in 2007. That 12.6 percent drop in hybrid sales is better than the drop in overall sales in the industry.

    There is something interesting going on with the Honda numbers. The sales numbers say that 1,036 Civic hybrids were sold in December (31,297 in all of 2008) compared to 3,223 in December 2007 (32,575 in all of 2007). That was expected. The discontinued Accord hybrid managed to sell 198 units in 2008 (vs. 3,405 in 2007). The interesting part comes in the FCX Clarity section. Apparently, Honda sold five of them in 2008. I thought the only way to get an FCX Clarity was to lease one.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-first-drive-1/">2009 Honda FCX Clarity First drive

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-first-drive-1/495600/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-first-drive-1/495603/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-first-drive-1/495569/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-first-drive-1/495570/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/2009-honda-fcx-clarity-first-drive-1/495566/">

    [Source: Toyota, Honda]

    Toyota, Honda hybrid sales drop in 2008; 5 FCX Clarity models sold originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - 1 day
    source: (AutoblogGreen)

January 05, 2009

  • Chinese researchers develop nickel catalyst fuel cell

    Filed under: ,

    Hydrogen fuel cells have a lot to recommend them. Fuel cells consume air and hydrogen and produce nothing but water and electricity. They provide a mechanism to get an electric vehicle with the type of range that drivers have come to expect along with the rapid re-fueling they are used too. Unfortunately, they have some serious drawbacks, namely the problem of distributing and storing the hydrogen as well as the high cost of the fuel cells themselves. A major factor in the cost is the need for precious metal catalysts to trigger the reaction that causes the electrons to be stripped off the hydrogen atoms.

    The precious metals are needed because of their ability to survive the acidic environment created by the presence of ionic hydrogen. Lin Zhuang of Wuhan University in China has developed a different fuel cell using a nickel catalyst on the anode. This catalyst triggers the generation of hydroxyl (OH) ions which are alkaline. Unfortunately, the current polymer membranes can't conduct these hydroxyl ions so the Chinese researchers developed a new membrane material that can pass these ions. The team also added chromium to the nickel to help prevent oxidation of the catalyst. So far, the power outputs being achieved are low but this is definitely a research path that has some potential for reducing the cost of the cells. Thanks to Martin for the tip!

    [Source: Technology Review]

    Chinese researchers develop nickel catalyst fuel cell originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    - 1 day
    source: (AutoblogGreen)
  • European Insight brochure leaks out

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    Click above for a gallery of leaked Honda Insight images

    The world can be a leaky place, especially since the internet makes it easy to spread any early information in an extremely rapid manner. Such is life for automakers at the moment. The latest victim (or beneficiary, if you consider a leak to be free advertising) is Honda, which saw a Japanese brochure for its upcoming Insight hybrid hatchback leaked out to the internet just last week. This was followed up by the leak of what appears to be a European brochure that offers us tons of sneak peeks at details such as the new Euro-spec Insight's head lamps, tail lights, grille, wheels and dash. Overall, the car looks pretty similar to the concept that was introduced last year in Paris, gaining cleaner lines overall and losing unnecessary show car bits in the process. As much as we all like to see these early shots, we only have a short wait until January 11th when the car will get its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Until then, enjoy these early teasers.

    Gallery: <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/european-honda-insight-brochure/">European Honda Insight brochure

    <a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/european-honda-insight-brochure/1258584/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/european-honda-insight-brochure/1258600/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/european-honda-insight-brochure/1258601/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/european-honda-insight-brochure/1258602/"><a href="http://".$GLOBALS["HTTP_HOST"]."/photos/european-honda-insight-brochure/1258603/">

    [Source: Carscoop]

    European Insight brochure leaks out originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    source: (AutoblogGreen)