Archive for March 2nd, 2010

Filed under: Hybrid, Porsche, Geneva Motor Show

During Porsche’s press conference here at the Geneva Motor Show, most of our attention was understandably on the 918 Spyder Concept, but the German automaker had several other significant debuts. One was the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, Porsche’s first racecar to feature electric power sourced from a duo of motors that send power to a generator attached the flywheel. Like many hybrid production cars, the motors are charged whenever the brakes are applied, and the driver can use the extra power for 6-8 seconds for overtaking.

Porsche plans to do extensive testing with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid after jetting from Geneva, including a trial-by-fire at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race from May 15-16. Porsche claims that it has no intention of winning the race, but we can’t imagine that they won’t be at least competitive. You can get more details on the car in the press release after the jump, or browse through the high-res gallery of live shots below.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid not to be overlooked

Geneva 2010: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid not to be overlooked originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Via Autoblog Green

GENEVA – Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche confirmed, kind of, that the F800 Style concept previews a future Mercedes-Benz four-door, but of course refrained from saying just what that is.

“We built a research car which should demonstrate our technological path to the future, and…the somewhat new styling…strategy, direction for the future.”

In other words, we will see plug-in hybrid Mercedes and fuel cell Mercedes in the years to come. It’s the styling that counts now.

“There are cars which will come to the market sooner and some which will come later, so the ones which come sooner obviously will reflect those thoughts first. But this is not the car which should introduce the next XYZ, CLS or anything else. And therefore, for instance, if you look at the CLS and expect some styling cues to be seen there again, that’s not totally wrong. But you should not look at the length and say, ‘well I learned that the CLS will be shorter or something like that.’ It has nothing to do with it.”

Uh, so what it means is that the F800 concept is not the 2012 CLS. And the next CLS will not necessarily be half a foot shorter, like the F800. Conversely, if Mercedes buyers are lucky, the next CLS could have a lot of F800 styling cues.

Zetsche further said that Mercedes styling in the future will be more consistent, and he noted there will be specific themes for coupes and for sedans, for example. If we think of the CLS more as a coupe that happens to have four doors, a new CLS with the F800′s SLS-like nose makes a lot of sense.

Asked at a roundtable interview at the auto show Tuesday whether cars like the turbodiesel-hybrid E300 BlueTec just unveiled might be sold in the U.S., Zetsche didn’t hold out much hope.

“Their product characteristics I think are ideal for the U.S. and tremendous efficiency is as desirable in the U.S. as other places. On the other hand, fuel obviously is still cheap in the U.S. and diesel is, relative to gasoline, expensive, and the pricing in the U.S. in an international comparison is challenging for manufacturers.”

Clean turbodiesel plus hybrid technology adds up to too many euros.

“Diesel hybrid, which combines all the desirable, but expensive technologies as well in one vehicle, makes it more difficult to introduce that in the U.S. If we can find a way to make that in a profitable way, we will. Some is based on exchange rates and other circumstances.”

To reiterate, don’t hold your breath.

Zetsche confirmed that Mercedes continues to talk with Renault over cooperation to add new models to its struggling smart brand, and he addressed talks with BMW over a collaborative effort, and said they’re going well, if you leave out engines and transmissions.

“This is looking into different modules, and seeing if we can find common ground. That includes engineering to allow us to join in some of these parts and components, and create very substantial and real economic benefits for both sides. Where we haven’t seen any progress is in any headline-creating activities like common engines or common transmissions.”

Mercedes doesn’t share any common ground with Porsche, conversely, which has complained to the U.S. government that its upcoming Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards are too restrictive. He pointed out that he signed an agreement with the then-nascent Obama administration over the new CAFE standards, and while the threat of harsher legislation from states within the U.S. will be a problem, he wouldn’t have signed it if Mercedes couldn’t meet it.

“So we have to stretch, but we intend to go there, therefore we don’t complain, and I would prefer if others, if they want to complain would not complain in the name of their neighbors.” Mercedes and Porsche both are based in Stuttgart, of course.

For a press conference lasting just 20 minutes, the subjects were widespread. One reporter asked Zetsch whether Mercedes’ new entry into Formula One conflicted with its commitment to the environment.

“I said this morning we intend to become champions in Formula One and in green. I don’t see those things conflictive.” Of course, “green” means something altogether different where winning in F1 is concerned.

Finally, he was asked about Wolfgang Bernhardt’s return to Daimler, and said this: “The facts are that Wolfgang has been nominated as a member of the Daimler board, again, that his responsibilities are those of procurement and production of Mercedes cars, and his successor who will run that division will report to him as a board member. That’s the scope of his responsibility.

“He is not the crown prince. He is not my deputy, he doesn’t have a contract. What will happen in the next round of whatever…I’m glad that he’s back.”

And on our way out of the roundtable, Zetsche added, “by the way, if you feel sympathy for Wolfgang, the best service you could do to him is not speculate.”

Via MotorTrend Magazine Blogs

BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroen will carry on together developing 4 cylinder engines for next-generation models.

More than 1.3 million engines developed under the agreement have been used in Mini, Peugeot and Citroen models, and the two firms will now work at developing EU6 engines together.

Norbert Reithofer, BMW chairman, said, “We have always been very successful in our cooperation with our partners, and that is particularly true with regard to PSA. We are delighted to continue our engine cooperation and look into options for further collaboration.”

Components and systems will also be developed between the two firms.

Via Cars Of The Future® Blog

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo

It’s all about the anniversaries up here in Geneva. Alfa Romeo is celebrating its centenary, and like the show itself, Pininfarina is marking its 80th this year. And when a design house as venerated as Pininfarina is celebrating, you better believe it’ll be mouthwatering.

The quizzically named 2uettottanta concept is Pininfarina’s vision for how a next-generation Alfa spider should look. And we can’t help but agree. The 2uettottanta represents the culmination of an age-old partnership between the two Italian firms, and pays tribute to the iconic 60s-era Duetto roadster. Power is (theoretically, at least) provided by a modest 1.7-liter turbo four, longitudinally mounted in homage to the 1750 Veloce.

We could go on about the details, but there’s a press release for that. A Pininfarina concept is about design, and you can see it for yourself in the live and stock high-res image galleries below.

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta concept by Pininfarina

Geneva 2010: Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta concept by Pininfarina originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Via Autoblog

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Honda, Motorcycle, Electric

Ask anyone who’s ever shopped for an ATV, outboard engine, personal robot…heck, even a private jet, and they’ll tell you that cars are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg for Honda. The Japanese industrial giant is one of a handful of automakers that also makes motorcycles (along with the likes of Peugeot, BMW and Suzuki, to name just a few). And here in Geneva, the two core competences have come together in the form of the 3R-C Concept.

Packing two wheels up front and one in the back, the 3R-C is the latest take on the trike formula. The open cabin (which can be closed by the canopy windshield when parked) can accommodate one passenger/driver/rider in enclosed comfort, while the twin front rims keep it stable. It follows in a long line of intriguing R&D products from the technological powerhouse, but don’t expect to see it parked curbside in front of your office/home/biker bar quite so soon.

Geneva 2010: Honda 3R-C Concept is one trick trekky trike originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Via Autoblog