Reva delaying production of NXR electric car?
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, India
Reva NXR – Click above for high-res image gallery
The NXR – Reva’s low-cost, 65 mile-per-hour electric car (9,995 euros for the lead acid version with leased batteries) – was supposed to be available soon. The official Reva website still sends out that message, with the words, “Production of the REVA NXR is scheduled to commence early 2010,” but we have a hint that this will not happen. Somebody posted on the G-Wiz owner’s club forum an email purportedly from Reva:
I am writing to inform you that the start of production of the REVA NXR will be delayed by a few months to early 2011. As a result of this delay we have decided to refund customer deposits for this model.
Your bank account / credit card (as appropriate) will be credited with the sum of 500 euro within 30 days under the name of Reva Electric Car Company. Kindly contact your respective bank for the same. If for any reason you do not receive this credit you may write to our Customer Care department at exports@reva-ev.com.
We will contact you by email to confirm the new date for the start of production as soon as it is confirmed.
If you have any queries please feel free to contact us at any point in time.
We’ve asked Reva for a comment, and will let you know when we hear something official. At the very least, we want to know how “a few months” after the end of early 2010 becomes early 2011. Thanks to Jeff T. for the tip!
Is Rear-Wheel Drive Dead in Mainstream Cars?
BMW’s own research shows that 80 percent of customers who buy the 1 Series think their new car is front-wheel-drive. The automaker’s chief executive officer, Norbert Reithofer, revealed this in an analysts’ conference call. Presumably, Reithofer was speaking about all customers around the globe, not just the Americans that embraced the brand as a yuppie-mobile in the ’80s.
Reithofer’s statement is self-serving, of course, coming shortly after reports that BMW would soon build a small front-wheel drive car despite the company previously making it clear that rear-wheel-drive was part of the brand’s DNA, with front-wheel-drive reserved for its Mini brand.
With those oft-cited draconian European CO2 and U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards on the way, we’ll soon see a raft of sub-1 Series BMWs and of sub-C-Class Mercedes-Benzes, most or all with FWD. The Toyota FT-86 and its unnamed Subaru sibling notwithstanding, FWD is the way to go for interior space packaging and cost, especially if you can share the sub-1 Series platform with the next-generation Mini. Or, in the case of Mercedes, update and expand the A- and B-Class platform.
Two wheels to the front: Arizona to legalize lane splitting. Maybe.
Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Motorcycle
Picture this: It’s ten minutes after five o’clock, you’re heading north on the 405 freeway, leaving Los Angeles. You won’t appreciate your favorite two-wheeled conveyance much more than at this moment. If you spend time traveling through California, you know the practice of lane-splitting can shave hours off of an otherwise grueling commute. The act of passing slowed or stopped cars between lanes, however, appeared to be limited to to the Golden State, with slim hopes of spreading east. Until now, that is.
Under House Bill 2475, Arizona lawmakers would allow lane-splitting during aone-year “trial period.”. This would only encompass Maricopa County, home to the Phoenix metro area and its surrounding suburbs.
Local news reports indicate differing opinions over the plan’s safety. That said, riders who lane-split in California (not to mention the millions who regularly do so every single day in Europe and Asia) will tell you the practice can indeed be performed safely. What’s more, lane-splitting reduces fuel consumption, travel times and roadway congestion.
As traffic grows more intense each year, it’s hard to view attempts to reduce congestion as anything but positive. If Arizonans need another excuse to enjoy their year-round riding conditions, it could soon come with the passing of Bill 2475.
[Source: ABC15.com | Image: akeg via CC-SA 2.0] Read more…
Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu prepares to shake up mid-size segment
Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Chevrolet
We’ve seen patent drawings of the Chevrolet Malibu, and now spy shooters have captured the real thing cruising the hinterlands like a Yeti. Additional styling elements will be added to the bodywork, giving the current car’s graceful bulk a few more angles and a bit more finesse.
The prototype’s better-looking than the patent sketches indicate, which is no surprise, but we’re still looking forward to how those front and rear lights will evolve. At least in back, it looks like they won’t be true dual units, as envisioned on a couple of sketch-based renderings, but will have single lenses outboard and another set on the trunk.
Inside, which is where we think the Malibu can really step up its game, “vastly improved” materials are said to be on the way. A significantly better ride will come courtesy of the HiPer strut system on the car’s new Epsilon II platform.
[Source: Car & Driver]
Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu prepares to shake up mid-size segment originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Porsche a big winner in KBB’s Brand Awards
Filed under: Etc., Ford, Lexus, Porsche
Kelley Blue Book has compiled and collated the data from its year-long Brand Watch Study, which, based on “consumer perception data, [shows] which brands best communicated certain features of their vehicles.” Of the nine categories tabbed, Porsche took three: best performance brand, best exterior design in the luxury segment, and coolest brand. Double victories went to Ford for most rugged truck brand and most family-friendly brand, and Lexus for best comfort and best interior design.
This list makes a lot more sense on the face of it than AAA’s commuter picks released a couple of days ago, and Porsche makes excellent cases for winning all three categories – the 918 Spyder concept alone might be good enough to garner two of them. We do get a chuckle, though, from the KBB description of Porsche’s most recent offering: “The new four-door Panamera only adds to the mystique.” Indeed.
Shout-outs to all the winners, including Chevy for best exterior design in the non-luxury segment and Mercedes-Benz for three-peating as best prestige brand. You’ll find KBB’s full presser with methodology and reasoning after the jump.
Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S
Mahindra Xylo 4×4 spied
Mahindra Xylo All Wheel Drive was spied at Mahindra Great Escape event that concluded recently in Khimsar, Rajasthan. The vehicle is undergoing final testing and will soon launched in the Indian Market. Xylo will be the first MPV with 4×4 drive to be launched in India .
The Xylo 4×4 uses an advanced version of the Borg & Warner system. The 4wd system finds ways to provide maximum road grip and stability rather than off-roading traits.
Source: Business Standard via Indian Autos Blog
Spy Shots: Next-gen Hyundai Accent (or Elantra?) borrows several notes from Sonata
Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, Hyundai, South Korea
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is more stylish, more spacious, and flat out better than its predecessor. This seems to be the M.O. for Hyundai nowadays, as it rolls out a continual stream of new and/or revised vehicles that leave any old brand preconceptions in the dust. Vehicles like the new Sonata, Tucson, and the Genesis models are casting Hyundai in a totally different, much more positive light than ever before. It won’t end there, either. For instance, the 2011 Hyundai Equus will slot above the Genesis sedan and target bigger, pricier game.
But what about the folks with tighter budgets, shopping at an entry price point well below the Sonata? Well, as you see above, it looks like they won’t need to sacrifice style for value much longer. This photo, posted to a Korean forum, apparently reveals the next-generation Hyundai Accent , caught buck naked in its homeland. (Earlier spy photos call this car the Accent, and the forum where this shot came from is calling it the Verna – the Accent’s name in Korea.) At the same time, it appears to be the same as (or uncannily similar to) this vehicle, caught by spies in January and presumed to be the Elantra.
As you can plainly see, the new car, whether it be the Elantra or the Accent, shares the Sonata’s “fluidic sculpture” design language – no bad thing. In fact, it’s a really good thing, seeing as how the current Accent is about as generic-looking as cars get, and the current Elantra doesn’t exactly set hearts racing either. Hyundai doesn’t do generic anymore, and that now seems to apply to the lower-grade models, too. This looks quite promising, and we’re keen to see more. Thanks to Foo for the tip!
UPDATE: As it happens, there’s evidence to suggest this could instead perhaps be the next Elantra. The original post text has now been modified to reflect this possibility.
[Source: PPOMPPU.co.kr]
Spy Shots: Next-gen Hyundai Accent (or Elantra?) borrows several notes from Sonata originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
