Report: Diesel and electric vehicles two of many options to meet CAFE regulations
Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, USA
2010 Volkswagen Golf – Click above for high-res image gallery
New CAFE standards set to take affect in 2015 have automakers in a hurried frenzy. Meeting target CAFE numbers of 35.5 miles per gallon within the short five-year time frame is no easy feat. Current standards, set at a fleet average of 27.5 mpg, will quickly become a thing of the past. As automakers push to meet the new requirements, decisions must be made. These decisions could best be regarded as risky bets that could impact an automakers success in the years ahead.
New rules within the CAFE guidelines will require many compact vehicles to achieve even higher numbers than the 35.5 mpg listed above. It’s a bit technical, but put simply, the more compact vehicles a company sells, the higher its fleet average must be. This may sound simple, but compact cars may be hard to sell if the technology required to meet the goals adds a significant amount to the vehicle’s bottom line.
Automakers are at a crossroads where they must decide which approach will prove to be most beneficial. Should the diesel engine be employed to meet CAFE requirements? Should hybrid powertrains be widely adopted? Automakers must answer these questions and many more. The wrong answer could spell disaster for market share and profits, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that new CAFE requirements will increase a vehicle’s price by an average of $1,300. Others predict numbers far exceeding these claims, but no matter the numbers, cost is a major concern in the compact class of cars.
Here’s a breakdown of some choices automakers should consider; improve gasoline engines to extract up to 20 percent more fuel efficiency, more widespread adoption of diesel engines, aerodynamically design vehicles for improved efficiency, add start/stop features, add more mild hybrids and consider weight saving measures or electrify vehicles. Each option has an associated risk versus cost versus reward factor that must be weighed out precisely for automotive success.
Video: First official shot of Ferrari 599 GTO
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari
Click above to view the video after the jump
The crew at Fast Lane Daily have apparently scored the first official shot of the Ferrari 599 GTO ahead of its launch later this year, and while we’re still suitably skeptical about the pic, we’ve been assured by the show’s producers that this is the real deal.
So what’s Ferrari have in store? If previous reports are to be believed, the GTO will be a road-focused version of the 599XX, packing a 700+ horsepower Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12 capable of revving to 9,000 rpm. Shifts will be delivered in a mind-boggling 60 milliseconds, resulting in a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds as it climbs to a claimed 217 mph top speed. Only 500 units will be produced – and likely made available to select Ferrari owners – each carrying a price tag somewhere north of $400,000. Make the jump for Derek D’s insufferable commentary and photoshopped shenanigans, and expect the 599 GTO to be revealed in full in the coming months.
Gallery: New York 2009: Ferrari 599XX
Report: AMG working on super saloon to slot in below C-Class
Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Technology, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Luxury
Mercedes-Benz F800 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Rumors of a smaller, entry-level new saloon for Mercedes-Benz’s in-house tuning division AMG just won’t seem to go away. As before, these latest reports suggest that the next-generation of the B-Class would be the model to get the AMG fitment, but Autocar is now suggesting that an entirely new type of engine will power the car.
The new AMG engine would reportedly be based on a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that is currently slated for the CLS350. The mill would be downsized to 3.2 liters and upfitted with an electrically operated pressure wave supercharger. Not too familiar with the technology? Don’t fret, neither were we. The all-knowing Wikipedia comes to the rescue.
Autocar further posits that the engine would make somewhere around 400 horsepower and could potentially send its prodigious power output to all four wheels with a rear-biased power split. If it ever comes to fruition, the new AMG model would go up against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R, BMW 1 Series and any other entry-level hotted-up luxe models in the works. Styling would follow the example set by the F800 Style concept from the Geneva Motor Show.
Panoz to unveil new Abruzzi sportscar at Le Mans
Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, MISC, Racing
Panoz fans, take heart. We know it’s been a while since the American sports and racing car manufacturer had anything new for us, but the dry spell is about to end.
This directly from the lion’s mouth, and the lion, in this case, is one Don Panoz. The motorsport and pharmaceutical mogul announced his plans at this past weekend’s 12 Hours of Sebring that the sportscar-maker founded by his son Danny and which bears the family name will unveil the new Abruzzi model to the public at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this coming June.
Little is known at this point regarding what form the Abruzzi will take. Previous reports indicated that initial plans for a dedicated prototype racer were scrapped in favor of a series production sportscar, which would in turn breed a GT2 competition version. Otherwise your guess is as good as ours.
The sketch above was reportedly released by a former Panoz designer, and bears a striking resemblance to the Esperante, which the Abruzzi will either replace or join in the company’s line-up. The name, meanwhile, is taken from a region in southern/central Italy that was recently ravaged by natural disaster. Hopefully the Abruzzi will bring better fortunes to Panoz. We’ll be watching to find out. Thanks for the tip, Wayne!
[Source: PanozLife] Read more…
Nissan Micra spy picture, caught testing in India
The much hyped small car from Nissan, Micra for Indian market was caught testing in Indian conditions. Nissan recently inaugurated the construction of new car plant of Micra at Oragadam, near Chennai. The plant will have capacity to manufacture 2,00,000 cars by 2012 which will be doubled by 2014.
Incoming search terms:
- nissan picture india
First Lifan SUV will show in Beijing
Chinese automaker Lifan will demonstrate at the international motor show in Beijing in April this year, its first SUV. Reportedly, this compact car, which will enjoy good equipment and low cost.
Name of the new model Chinese manufacturer has not yet reported. According to foreign media, the car will be completed with the family Tritec engine volume 1.6 liters. During the construction of a compact SUV will use the same components as in the Toyota RAV4. Details will become available closer to the premiere of the new items.
Incoming search terms:
- suv lifan
Report: Toyota to replace pedals for owners not satisfied with fix
Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Recalls, Safety, Toyota
Second-gen Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to a Toyota memo first obtained by the New York Times and later reported by the Associated Press, Toyota is currently notifying dealers that a replacement pedal can be installed at no charge to owners of recalled Toyota products if the owner is not satisfied with the current fix for the problem.
Most vehicles involved with the pedal recall have been fixed by inserting a metal shim into the accelerator pedal, which is believed to reduce friction and provide smoother travel to the pedal. The AP reports that owners who either do not feel confident in the fix or who still complain of pedal problems can ask their dealership for a new replacement pedal at no charge.
Through data analysis, it has been determined that at least 100 owners of recalled vehicles have filed complaints regarding pedal action after the dealership reportedly fixed the problem. Perhaps by witnessing this data, Toyota has responded to reduce further complaints by replacing the entire pedal assembly on vehicles with on-going problems.
The Associated Press quotes a portion of the memo as follows:
