Ferrari: Hybrids not ready, electrics won’t happen; V6 engine possible
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Ferrari
Ferrari Millechile concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
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:
Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class spotted
Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury
2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class mule – click above for high-res image gallery
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.
Ferrari chief reportedly admits V6 a possibility
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.
AP: Lawmakers investigating Toyota have previous ties to the automaker
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.
Chicago Preview: Scion tC Release Series 6.0
Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Scion
2010 Scion tC Release Series 6.0 – Click above for high-res image gallery
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.
Scoop: Next generation Fiat Uno photos leaked
Fiat Uno was the first vehicle to launch by the company in India independently way back in early ninties. Thought Uno was built like a true Fiat which is known as one of the best car manufacturers, it could not kick out the sales, thanks to the old boxy look of the Uno. Now Fiat Uno is on an revival plan and is on the way for a comeback.
The photos of the next generation vehicle has emerged, with the courtesy of Novidades Automotivas, who have obtained the photos directly from the Brazilian government patent and registrations office.
Engines for the Uno will include a 1.0 liter ethanol powerplant with 75 hp and a 1.4 liter called the Evo, based on Fiat’s current 1.4 liter block.
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Video: Toyota’s Jim Lentz confirms FT-86 (not Supra) coming to America
Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Toyota
Toyota FT-86 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’re used to seeing Digg boosting our stories, but once in a while the popular user-voted news site generates some original content of its own. This time, a Digg correspondent got 30 minutes of camera time with Jim Lentz, who, as President and COO of Toyota Motor Sales USA, very well might be the busiest man in America right now. Lentz fielded a series of questions – mostly related to the recall – submitted by users and voted (or Dugg) into the list. But one of them had little to do with the recall at all; it had to do with sportscars.
The question was whether Toyota had any plans, after years without any real sportscar offerings in North America, to bring back the Supra or offer a new affordable sportscar. Lentz’s answer, as you can see in the video segment after the jump, was enlightening. The short of it was that the Supra won’t be brought back to these shores, but the FT-86 will.
From that we can surmise a few things. First of all, the final production version of the concept will not be called the Supra. Secondly, the FT-86 – or whatever it’s called when it comes to market – will be considerably more affordable than the Supra was. And finally, the FT-86 will be coming to North America. So there you have it. But don’t take our word for it – we’ve posted the pertinent excerpt after the jump, along with the full 28-minute video below it.
