March 2010
2010 New York Auto Show: The 2011 Scion iQ Greets the World in Production Form
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010At long last, Toyota today pulled the cover off the production version of its iQ, a fuel-efficient city car that the Japanese automaker describes as "the world's smallest four-passenger vehicle." In fact, it's 3+1 seating requires that one of the occupants be a child or a pet or small package. But Toyota wants you to know the back seats, which can fold flat, create enough storage to accommodate up to two golf bags. Oddly, none of the journalists who crowded around the iQ had the IQ to bring two sets of clubs to the vehicle's debut. The iQ is more
2010 New York Auto Show: The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Makes Its World Debut
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010Hyundai today unveiled its 2011 Sonata Hybrid, which features a full parallel hybrid drive system and advanced battery technology in what will be the South Korean automaker's first hybrid in the U.S. market. The Hyundai-developed Hybrid Blue Drive architecture allows the vehicle to operate on an electric motor only, a gasoline internal combustion engine only, or a combination of the two depending on driving conditions and driver demands. Hyundai's proprietary parallel architecture differs from the power split technology used by most competitors, the carmaker claims, allowing significant efficiency advantages at higher speeds. It is also the first and only more
Saab Focused on Leasing to Fuel Initial Revival
By Michelle Krebs March 31, 2010Hoping to reconnect with consumers after a lengthy "dark" period in which no new cars were delivered to showrooms, Saab Cars North America Inc. plans to reach out with aggressive lease deals focusing largely on existing customers, president and COO Mike Colleran told AutoObserver at the New York auto show Wednesday. The switches were turned on again in Saab's Trollhattan, Sweden, assembly plant last week after no new cars were built for months as Saab transitioned from General Motors Co.'s 20 years of ownership to new owner Spyker Cars NV. more
2010 New York Auto Show: 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35d Diesel Appears on Center Stage
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010Among the many green cars to make a New York, North American or World debut today at the 2010 New York Auto Show is the 2011 BMW X5 xDrive35d. Green? you ask. Green enough to merit attention, we say. For starters, it's a clean diesel. Its 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology achieves 26 miles per gallon on the highway (no, BMW hasn't yet provided a city number) while meeting low-emissions requirements in all 50 state and generating 265 horsepower. As for performance, BMW claims this diesel SUV can whisk its driver from zero to 60 miles more
March Car Sales: In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
By Michelle Krebs March 31, 2010As automakers put the finishing touches on their March car sales numbers that will be announced on Thursday, it appears that the month came in like a lion but went out like a lamb, according to Edmunds.com's ongoing tracking of actual sales transaction data. The month started off strong as Toyota launched aggressive incentives, which included zero-percent financing and attractively discounted lease prices, and other automakers followed suit. But the great deals look as if they fizzled by month's end. That raises the question -- even if automakers continue heavy incentives through April, will they be effective? more
E20 Has No Measurable Impact on Vehicle Durability, Curbs Emissions, Study Finds
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010By Danny King, Contributor Filing a car up with fuel that has 20 percent ethanol - better known as E20 - cuts emissions and doesn't harm an engine more than conventional gasoline, according to a study released this week that's likely to spur further debate over the whether regulators should boost the allowable limit of ethanol in gasoline. E20 cuts carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions by 23 percent and 13 percent compared to conventional gasoline, the Rochester Institute of Technology reported, citing a study of 10 vehicles with older engines not designed to process ethanol blends. Additionally, E20 showed more
Daimler to Make New Gen of Transmission-Integrated Electric Engines for Hybrids
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010Daimler AG said today that it will produce a new generation of transmission-integrated electric engines for Mercedes-Benz hybrid vehicles at its factory in Berlin. The automaker said it will invest $56 million to convert a hall at the plant for electric engines. Some 50 employees will be involved in the development and production at the site. Daimler said its strategy is to develop technology and production of electric drive systems as a core competence in its Mercedes cars division. Daimler has two joint ventures for the development and production of battery cells and the future manufacture of lithium-ion battery more
DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to Build Biofuels-Development Unit
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has been awarded nearly $18 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to build an advanced biofuels process development facility. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the new facility is expected to help expedite the commercialization of next-generation biofuels by providing industry-scale test beds for innovative technologies. Called the Advanced Biofuels Process Development Unit, it will be the only facility of its kind available for public use. The grant announcement was made by DOE Assistant Secretary for EERE Cathy Zoi, speaking more
Ford to Debut in Focus EV Microsoft Charging-Efficiency Software for EV Owners
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010By Danny King, Contributor Ford Motor Co. is working with Microsoft Corp. on a system that will help owners of the automaker's electric vehicles more efficiently recharge their cars, and the companies announced today that the energy-management system will debut next year when it starts selling the Focus EV. In addition to the zero-emissions Focus battery-electric vehicle, Ford will start selling its Transit Connect Electric small commercial van later this year as well as a plug-in hybrid for 2012. Ford, which sells four Ford-and Mercury-branded hybrid-electric vehicles and will add the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid this fall, is looking to more
2010 New York Auto Show: 2011 Lexus CT 200h Makes Its North American Debut
By Scott Doggett March 31, 2010The Lexus CT 200h hybrid hatchback announced itself to the universe at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this month, but its unveiling in New York today marked the first time the premium compact posed on North American soil. The sporty CT 200h five-seater, which is slated to appear in U.S. dealerships early next year, is powered by a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gas engine with hybrid drive technology that features two motor generators. Each of the motor generators performs specific functions and can operate as both a motor and generator. The engine-driven generator can charge the battery pack or more