Archive for February 9th, 2010

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Ferrari

It seems that Ferrari head Amedeo Felisa has plenty to talk about when it comes to the future of his legendary brand, and that includes alternatives to traditional fuel sources. Speaking to Autocar in the UK, Felisa had this to say in regards to the hybridized 599 that the automaker has been testing for quite some time:

The technology is not ready. The suppliers are not ready. Everything is underdeveloped. There is a lot of work to so. It is not for tomorrow. We haven’t decided when [it will be introduced]. It will be around 2015, but not before five years.

While it is going to take some time, Ferrari will indeed push forward with hybrid technology, which is said to improve the fuel efficiency of its traditionally highly thirsty V8 and V12 engines by 25 percent. That’s great, but couldn’t Ferrari do even better by going full electric? Not so much. Felisa explains that the Italian supercar manufacturer has no plans to introduce electric cars, saying:

If you look at global warming, the right solution is not full electric. It’s more a marketing solution than a real one, sound is just as important as design and performance for Ferrari. We will not make engine sounds with speakers.

We can agree that electric cars shouldn’t need fake engine sounds, but we’re not so sure that EVs don’t have a future in the high performance realm. Still, fuel efficiency is of real concern for Ferrari, to the point that the company would reportedly consider adding V6 engines to its lineup of pricey exotics. A new, fuel efficient Dino with a hybrid V6 setup sounds just dandy, no?

[Source: Autocar]

Ferrari: Hybrids not ready, electrics won’t happen; V6 engine possible originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Via Autoblog Green

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

We find it hard to believe that the W221 S-Class has been with us for five years already. Introduced to the world in the fall of 2005 at the Geneva Motor Show, the tenth generation S-Class is the biggest, fastest and heaviest of them all – at least in S65 twin-turbo V12 trim. However, like all good things, the W221 must come to an end to make way for the 11th generation S-Class. As Mercedes-Benz seems to be intent on keeping the S-Class on a six-year production cycle, it comes as no big surprise that some spy photographer friends of ours just captured the 2012 S-Class in the heavily camo’d flesh.

What exactly are we looking at? It’s really tough to say, as this particular mule is draped in a hot mess of panels, shrouds and rubber bunting. The side sills are even missing. That said, we got a taste of what a new S-Class might look like when Mercedes-Benz showed the world its eco-friendly F700 concept back at the 2007 Geneva show. Rumors persist that the future range topping MB will indeed come with shrunken headlights and a more upright grille, but not quite as extreme as on the F700.

Obviously, the protruding tail lights seen here on the mule are pure fiction, and will miserably fail European pedestrian safety standards. You can also see that the door cuts on the car above are different than the current S-Class, though they are disguised to the point of not really being able to tell. Especially as these are far from the final, production body panels.

Weight probably won’t fall very much thanks to Mercedes’ mission of always swaddling the S-Class with as much new technology and safety equipment as possible. However, a plug-in hybrid S-Class is on the way, along with a full hybrid, a mild hybrid and all those big bad V8s and V12s we love so much. Expect the new S-Class to appear in 2011 as a 2012 model.

Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class spotted originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Via Autoblog

Filed under: Performance, Ferrari

Purists who’ve given up hope with Porsche amidst their sedan and SUV shenanigans aren’t going to like this one bit. After all but completely phasing out even the option of a manual transmission in Ferrari road cars (in favor of robotized sequentials and dual-clutch gearboxes), Ferrari’s management says it can’t rule out the possibility of a V6 in the near future.

The quote comes from Ferrari’s chief executive Amadeo Felisa, who said that while the prospect would have been entirely dismissed as recently as a year ago, today’s climate – in terms of the environment and customer conscience – precludes its being ruled out now. The last time Ferrari built a V6 (also used in Fiats and Lancias) was with the Dino 246 (pictured above) that went out of production in over a quarter century ago. The Dino is, however, fondly remembered as a classic, despite its relatively small engine.

Felisa did, however, rule out the possibility of taking future Ferraris electric-only. The Maranello-based exotic automaker is presently working on a hybrid system.

[Source: Autocar]

Ferrari chief reportedly admits V6 a possibility originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Via Autoblog

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Lexus, Toyota

It looks like the Toyota recall mess is going to keep getting messier. Today we’re hearing that there might be some, let’s say, inappropriate ties between the Japanese automaker and the lawmakers that have been investigating its recent round of recalls. The Associated Press reports that the group of investigators includes “a senator who was so eager to lure the Japanese automaker to his state that he tramped along through fields as its executives scouted plant sites, and a congresswoman who owes much of her wealth to a Toyota supplier.”

Several other members of the congressional committees on the case are said to represent states that host Toyota manufacturing facilities as well, an obvious conflict of interest when you think of the possibility that sanctions against Toyota could jeopardize constituent jobs. It’s certainly not hard to understand why some people might question their objectivity.

As if that weren’t bad enough, one of Toyota’s executives is reported to be a former worker at one of those federal agencies that’s supposed to be keeping an eye on the automaker. Lead Toyota investigator in the Senate, West Virginia Democrat Jay Rockefeller, goes so far as to say he felt like part of the selection committee when Toyota chose the site for its plant in Buffalo, West Virginia. And yet Rockefeller apparently thinks it’s fine to stay on the committee.

On the House side of Congress, the investigating panel includes California Rep. Jane Harman, who happens to host Toyota’s U.S. headquarters in her district. Harman and her husband, Sidney, also reportedly own at least $115,000 in Toyota stock. Harman International Industries, a company founded by Sidney Harman, also sells audio and entertainment systems to Toyota, and has earned millions in the process.

The ties to Toyota fall on both sides of the aisle as well, so neither party is likely to point fingers any time soon. We’ll keep an eye on this part of the Toyota case, just like the rest of the story, as it continues to develop.

[Source: Associated Press via MSNBC]

AP: Lawmakers investigating Toyota have previous ties to the automaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Via Autoblog

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Scion

Scion has chosen Speedway Blue for its latest Release Series special, the 2010 tC Release Series 6.0 (tC RS 6.0), that should start speeding into dealerships in March. Gotta say, we’re digging the blue a whole lot more than the electric lilac color that they chose for the xB RS 7.0 that debuted in Los Angeles. This latest RS will land at the Chicago Auto Show this week, and will be limited to just 1,100 units stickering at $18,620 with a stick, or $19,420 with an automatic.

Like prior RS limited edition models, the tC RS 6.0 gets its bespoke hue and a host of other tweaks, including a matte-black vinyl graphic that’s pure muscle car. In fact, it reminds us of the popular Mustang tone and a certain Challenger from the Dodge boys, although we wouldn’t recommend lining up against either of those with this Scion’s untouched 161-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

Besides the paint and graphics, this particular RS package also includes bright blue highlights on the seats and steering wheel, a specially tuned 200-watt Alpine audio system with iPod/USB jack, and a 4.3-inch GPS touch screen. More details in the press release after the jump and check out the high-res images in the gallery below.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Chicago Preview: Scion tC Release Series 6.0

Chicago Preview: Scion tC Release Series 6.0 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Via Autoblog