EPA certifies new propane injection systems for Ford and GM
Filed under: Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Natural Gas, USA
Two of the leading producers of propane-injection systems for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles – Cleanfuel USA and Roush – have received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for their new-vehicle systems.
Cleanfuel USA announced EPA certification of their new liquid propane engine, the first to be built on a General Motors 6.0-liter chassis. Designed for OEMs to produce new light-duty vehicles that operate on propane, Cleanfuel’s liquid propane injection (LPI) system provides a high-performance, fuel-efficient alternative to gasoline and diesel engines to help fleets significantly reduce carbon emissions. Cleanfuel says their system performed 25 percent better than comparable gasoline and diesel engines tested against current EPA standards including a “zero” in particulate matter emissions rate.
Roush Performance also had an EPA-approval announcement of their own: their 2010 E-150, E-250, and E-350 propane fuel conversion system utilizing the Ford 5.4-liter V8 engine has met the Federal emission regulatory requirements for new vehicles. This means the vehicles are certified to be sold anywhere in the U.S. except California and states that have adopted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification standards. CARB certification is currently pending, as is EPA approval for other additional model year vans. However, production and shipment of conversion systems and of Roush-built vehicles can commence immediately. Roush received CARB approval for their F-250 and F-350 propane-injection system last month.
[Source: Cleanfuel USA, Roush]
Continue reading EPA certifies new propane injection systems for Ford and GM
GM’s “Fresh-Start Accounting” Doesn’t Hide $4.3 Billion Loss
They weren’t car guys, anyway, the Rick Wagoners and Fritz Hendersons of the General Motors finance department who made their way to the top of the organizational chart. And so, the new financial management regime already seems a huge improvement over the guys who helped drop the world’s largest automaker to second place before auguring it into the ground. GM on Wednesday said it had lost $4.3 billion in the blunted second half of 2009, counted from the day it emerged from bankruptcy, July 10, to December 31. The news came from GM’s new chief financial officer, Vice Chairman Chris Liddell (pictured). You’ll remember that Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre hired Liddell away from Microsoft last year to replace Ray Young, who has moved on to international operations finance.
Liddell has coined GM’s new system, “Fresh-Start Accounting.” It throws out Old GM’s tendency to move money around, legally, to make the balance sheet look better. Still, under that $4.3-billion second-half ’09 loss, Liddell says “it’s getting close to break-even.”
That $4.3 billion is total net loss, an EBITA number for those of you who are balance-sheet inclined. The EBIT, or Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBITA adds “amortization”) was $4 billion, which includes, Liddell says, “$3.4 billion of what you might call special items.”
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GT DR7 Supercar from Brazil
The Brazilian company Amoritz in October this year will present a production ready supercar – GT DR7. New product are expected to receive 8.4-liter engine from Dodge Viper SRT10, which additionally be equipped with the two turbines.
Hypercar, which developed by Fernando Morita designer, a former designer of the company Volkswagen, plans to release an edition of 50 copies. New supercar receive passenger compartment, similar to the legendary car McLaren F1 – when the driver sits in the center of the car, as well as wheels and tires of different dimensions, front and rear.
Other details are not specified.
This project implements a Morita from scratch – in 2009 he introduced the GT concept car, which had a similar layout of the cabin, but equipped with a motor V8. This model was built only as a running prototype and served as the basis for a production car has GT DR7.
How much will cost hypercar from Brazil – not known.
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Subaru introduces WRX Club Spec 10 for Australia
Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Japan, Hatchback, Subaru, Australia
Subaru WRX Club Spec 10-click above for high-res image gallery
There are more iterations of the Subaru WRX than there are wallabies in the bush. At least it feels that way to Australians. As the name suggests, the WRX Club Spec 10 is the 10th special edition Rex that Subaru has seen fit to grace the land down unda. We don’t actually get special WRX editions here in the States (save one STI variant), but that’s okay as Subaru seems to completely redesign their hot little rally champ every 24 months. However, if we did live in the world’s most scenic former British penal colony, here’s what we’d get.
Starting up front you’d get the lip spoiler off the STI for enhanced aerodynamics that (supposedly) “improves stability and cornering.” Then there’s a “flexible” strut tower brace to improve stiffness steering. We think “flexible” is Australian for “adjustable” because there’s also a “flexible” lower bar (sway bar) as well as a front end chassis brace. All of this will help reduce front end floppiness and sharpen up the already famed WRX’s handling reflexes.
WRX Club Spec 10 owners also get slightly wider 17-inch STI wheels, leather seats, sunroof and sat nav. This isn’t the very greatest WRX kit we’ve ever encountered, but Subaru of Australia is limiting the total Club Spec 10 output to just 250 units. meaning that each one is assured to be collectible. How much? $49,990 Australian dollars, or just over $46,000 in our non antipodean currency.
Its ‘The End’ for 12 cars after Bharat Stage IV
The Bharat Stage IV emission norms which came into effect from 1st April this year has brought an end to 12 cars in India. The 12 cars which is listed below is being phased out from 13 major cities of India.
Cars that are phased out from 13 major ciites of India
Maruti 800
Hyundai Getz
Skoda Octavia
A fully employed America at $5.00 a gallon gas?
Can gasoline prices go anywhere but up?
Any major US economic recovery, as well as world economic recovery, will require massive increases in oil consumption, according to the energy experts, and that means much higher gasoline prices.
Yet, despite the relatively stagnant economy, gas prices are already increasing, and an upward pricing trend appears inevitable throughout the next decade. Even more disconcerting, there are numerous, highly likely events that could spark huge spikes in gasoline prices.
If $5.00 per gallon is the new $2.00, can America ever again achieve ‘full’ employment? While seemingly oxymoronic, might not accepting the reality of $5.00 gasoline be the key to full employment?
NY: Hyundai Releases Teaser of All-New Sonata Hybrid
After announcing it would launch a hybrid version of its shapely Sonata sedan way back at the 2009 LA auto show, Hyundai sent out this teaser photo of the 2011 Sonata Hybrid before its official debut at the 2010 New York auto show.
We’ve yet to see the car in its entirety, but it appears the Sonata Hybrid receives a significant makeover to accompany its hybrid driveline. The entire front fascia is revised, incorporating a very thin upper grille accompanied by a larger aperture positioned lower in the bumper. Headlamps and foglamps are also restyled, and it appears the former incorporate Audi-like LED running lamps.
For the most part, expect the 2011 Sonata Hybrid to closely resemble the prototype Blue Drive hybrid system Hyundai first showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. A 30 kW (41 hp) electric motor will likely be sandwiched between a 2.4-liter “Theta II” inline four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. As a parallel hybrid, the Sonata Hybrid can be propelled either by the electric motor alone or a combination of the two power sources.
Perhaps most interesting is the battery pack — instead of following the crowd and developing lithium ion batteries, Hyundai — along with partner LG Chem — has pursued lithium polymer battery packs. For the most part, the battery chemistries are very similar, but instead of using a liquid electrolyte, lithium polymer cells use a polymer-based gel. As a result, each battery cell can be built in a smaller package. Hyundai says an entire lithium polymer pack can be 20 percent smaller than a lithium-ion battery — which is already roughly 50 percent smaller than a traditional nickel metal hydride design.
Expect more details, specifications, and photos to emerge closer to the car’s New York debut on March 31.
