Ford considers moving electric vehicle production in-house if demand is high enough
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Ford
Ford Motor Company’s development of upcoming battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) has been, so far, an outside job. Electric versions of the Transit Connect and the Ford Focus were developed with the help of suppliers Azure Dynamics Inc. and Magna International Inc., but Ford has not ruled out producing future BEVs in-house. As Ford’s director of electrification programs Sherif Marakby stated:
When you get into BEVs, you have to have a larger battery, which is the driving cost. But the battery evolution and revolution has been moving, and things could change in the future. Ford would consider taking the technology development in-house if BEV volumes increase significantly.
Yep, we noticed the disclaimer that Marakby slipped in there leaving us wondering what exactly “increase significantly” means? Well, Ford’s Fusion Hybrid was a strong seller at more than 30,000 units last year, which might give an indication of what type of volume is needed for in-house BEV operations to commence. But Ford has a much more accurate indicator at its disposal. Release the Transit Connect and Focus EVs, see how they fare and base future decisions on the real-world successes or failures. Genius!
[Source: Ward's Auto] Read more…
American Le Mans Series announces Green Dream Team ambassadors
Filed under: Diesel, Ethanol, Racing
At an American Le Mans Series press conference at the Long Beach Grand Prix this weekend, the five gentlemen in the green jackets were not winners of the Masters golf tournament. They are, in fact, the ALMS Green Dream Team. Paul Drayson, David Brabham, Johnny O’Connell, Chris Dyson and Gunnar Jeannette will be acting as ambassadors for the green racing initiatives of the ALMS. No other major racing series has come close to promoting alternative fuels to degree that ALMS has.
In addition to driving for his self-named team, Lord Paul Drayson is the UK minister of Science and Innovation and a major proponent of biofuels. Drayson’s Lola-Judd and O’Connell’s Corvette are both running on cellulosic E85. Jeannette is currently driving an LMP Challenge car sponsored by and lubricated by G-Oil, which is made from animal fat. Brabham was one of the instigators of the whole green racing movement going in ALMS and Dyson’s Lola-Mazda is the first car in the series to run on biobutanol.
The members of the green dream team will make appearances at races and other events to promote and explain the alternative fuel technologies being used in the series. They will also make media appearances online and on broadcast outlets talking up the series.
[Source: American Le Mans Series]
It’s official: Nissan sending out Leaf registrations emails, will start taking money tomorrow
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan
We found an email in our inbox today that should make a lot of long-term plug-in vehicle fans happy. For the first time in about forever, a major OEM is taking orders on an all-electric passenger vehicle. Yes, Nissan is about ready to take your money in exchange for a purchase or a lease on the new Leaf, starting tomorrow. That’s when Nissan will open the doors to accepting refundable $99 reservations from people who signed up on NissanUSA.com. Once these hand-raisers are taken care of, anyone interested can send in the reservation money. Actual pre-orders for the Leaf begin in August.
We did notice something interesting. In our email, the image announcing the reservation fee was divvied up into two parts, with our specific reservation time listed separately:
Did anyone get a different time? Maybe Nissan is staggering the reservations a bit? In any case, weʻre getting close to a time when all of the prognostications weʻve heard about this car (it’ll flop! it won’t!) will be firmly locked in the past. Either people will want to drive the Leaf or they won’t. The time for proof is (almost) here.
[Source: Nissan] Read more…
2013 Jaguar Crossover
There are rumors around the Jaguar will enter the crossover market in 2013. Many other luxury car makers have already entered this segment, and it looks like Tata, Jaguar’s owner, may move the British automaker in that direction as well.
Some luxury makers are moving into the SUV and crossover segment together. Jaguar is [...]
Via New Car Blog
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Road Tester’s Law: Park Your Preconceptions, and Beware of the Numbers
It’s been fascinating to read the howls of outrage in the comments following the Hyundai Genesis Coupe’s win over Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger in our V-6 ‘hustlecars’ comparison. Basically the complaints seem to fall into the following three categories: 1) the Hyundai shouldn’t have been included in the first place; 2) the numbers favored the Mustang anyway; and 3) Motor Trend keeps changing its mind.
Let’s set the record straight.
The Hyundai shouldn’t been included in the first place. Why not? Because it has a Korean badge? Because it’s not designed and made in America? Because it’s not the same sort of car as the Ford, the Chevy and the Dodge? None of these reasons stands intelligent scrutiny.
New Car: 2011 Audi A3/Q7
Audi has revised the A3 for the 2011 model year. The car, which was facelifted in 2008, will see changes to all the variants.
New features on the car include glossy black B-pillars and grille, chrome air intakes, door handles, and side mirrors and a redesigned rear diffuser. Tail-light lenses are tinted on 3dr models.
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New BMW 5 Series to be launched in India on April 30th
Bowing to the pressure due to competition from rival Mercedes, BMW will launch its new 510 BMW 5 Series sedan in India much ahead than its original launch plans. The 5 Series will be launched on 30th of April to overcome poor sales of BMW sedans over Mercedes.
BMW 5 Series will initially launch 535i and 530d variants with a slight price hike. In the first quarter of 2010 Mercedes managed to sell 642 E class as compared to BMWs 304 5 Series. Expect to get huge discounts on the current 5 series models.
