900 people on the books for Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid supercar
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Porsche, Green Daily
Porsche 918 Spyder Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
It sounds as if Porsche may be dangerously close to crafting a rock-solid business case to build the fast and frugal 918 Spyder. After stealing the show in Geneva, it was revealed that the German automaker was seriously interested in bringing the hybrid supercar concept to market, if only it were able to find enough applicants willing to plunk down their hard-earned cash.
Not only is the 918 Spyder a beautiful design, it’s also capable of returning 78 miles per gallon or accelerating to 60 miles per hour in well under four seconds. Who wouldn’t be interested in that?
According to Bloomberg, Porsche has recorded nearly 900 potential buyers for the 918 Spyder. Wolfgang Duerheimer, development chief for Porsche, said in an interview, “I’m confident that we will soon reach the threshold of 1,000,” he said in an April 24 interview. “We need 1,000 seriously interested people to make a sound business case.”
Don’t doubt that Porsche will put such a low-volume halo car into production, either. Nearly a decade ago, the automaker employed a similar tactic with its Carrera GT, which began life as a racing car prototype but was eventually offered for public sale after sufficient interest was generated. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Porsche, build it and they will come.
Chelsea Sexton: GM re-connects old fans with new Volt to win hearts and minds – again
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily
2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery
In a rainy parking lot behind the Long Beach Convention Center, Chevrolet Volt Vehicle Line Director Tony Posawatz is egging on his last test driver of the night, while Bill Nye “the Science Guy” coaches from the back: “Okay, so want you want to do is hug this next curve with your right wheels – now punch it…puunnch it!” Each time the prototype Volt squeals around one of the wet asphalt corners, then straightens again without disturbing any of the bordering cones, the carload of grown (mostly) men would giggle like my son does after a fart joke. The women were just as aggressive, and just as thrilled – but everyone is at least slightly surprised to be smiling at all.
Over a decade ago, these drivers all leased the EV1, an experience that left them sold on electric cars but unconvinced that General Motors could ever be committed to one. When the EV1 program finally ended, some became very public about their frustration, while others just faded away, packing away the experience as souvenir of a future that came a little too soon.
For many years, GM did the same, seemingly willing it all to go away. But while the 2007 Volt unveiling was meant to be a bold step in a new direction, many saw it as a disjointed attempt to atone for the past. For their part, GM met the cynicism with relentless transparency throughout the Volt’s gestation, publicizing so many battery developments, supplier engagements, and plant choices that media briefings became nearly cliché. There have been some questionable choices – touting utopian triple-digit miles per gallon numbers invited wrath from media and enviros alike who saw it as greenwashing. (Notably, Nissan advertised their even higher number, 367 mpg, for the Leaf just a few days later and barely created a blip.) Over time, though, tongues have largely been removed from cheeks when mentioning “General Motors” and “electric vehicle” in the same sentence, as press releases have given way to pre-production vehicles and other milestones were achieved. Read on after the jump for more.
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan at Beijing 2010
Curtains has been raised over 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan in Beijing. The new model i.e refreshed Tiguan is just in production for a little over two years and is getting a facelift. The new car is going to hit the roads this fall when the 2011 models arrive.
The new look for Volkswagen Tiguan is going [...]
Via New Car Blog
2010 Beijing: Secret Machines
There were fewer copy cars at this year’s Beijing Show, though the badly out-of-focus Lexus RX 350 ripoff on the BYD stand lent credence to one cynic’s suggestion that the company’s name actually means “Borrow Your Designs.” The RX 350 was a popular choice among the knock-off merchants: The cheerful English-speaking chap on the Huanghai Auto stand assured me the crudely finished Landscape V3 prototype occupying center stage (pictured above) was “all ours” and “brand new,” even though from 50-feet away it looked like it had been made by Toyota. Never heard of Huanghai Auto? Neither had I. Apparently it’s in Liaoning Province, “just across the river from North Korea.” So now you know.
The fast-learning domestic Chinese automakers are beginning to understand they need to build cars that look like their own designs, even if they’re starting with somebody else’s cast-off tooling. So here’s this year’s Beijing Show party game: Spot the donor cars.
Let’s start with an easy one. The badge says Hawtai C9. The sheet metal, however, says old Hyundai Santa Fe. Hyundai is apparently a minority shareholder in Hawtai, which was founded in 2000, and the Beijing-based company has been building the Santa Fe based C9 since 2006. The engine is a 1.8-liter turbo four built by SAIC, which acquired the tooling to the engine when it bought MG Rover in 2005.
Volkswagen introduced E-Lavida electric car
Volkswagen is trying to change public perceptions about electric cars, presenting at the motor show in Beijing – E-Lavida sedan, which has electric power. Volkswagen E-Lavida sedan based on Lavida serial, and this is virtually all that is known about the new product.
The German company also stated that this is the first electric car, fully developed and scheduled for release in China.
BMW Gran Coupe Concept
At the auto show in Beijing, the BMW has eclipsed all, especially since the introduction of the concept four-door coupé, which, according to rumors, may be analogous to the future 8th Series. Coupe was developed with the aim of increasing competition from such models as the Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte and the Audi A7.
According to representatives of BMW, the car combines the ability of a sports car and GT. Despite the fact that the total length of the compartment about 5 meters, the concept embodies all the typical coupe lines, including an extended wheelbase, the original hood, roof line. Sam Gran Coupe 100 mm below the sedan seventh series, the height of the compartment is 1.4 meters.
«BMW Gran Coupe really has the elegance of the seventh series, but it is more dynamic and sporty” – the company says.
BMW Gran Coupe could go into production in 2012. The car will use the same platform as the current fifth and seventh series, so the range of engines are likely to remain the same.
Incoming search terms:
- bmw gran coupe
- bmw gran coupe 2012
- bmw koupe 2012
Logan price slashed by up to Rs 80,000
Mahindra & Mahindra, which is the sole owner of Logan now, has slashed the prices of the car by Rs 24,000/- to Rs 80,000 depending up on the variants The price reduction is a move by the company to give its customers a better value for money vehicle.
Last week Mahindra bought 49% stake in the JV from Renault. This gives 100% rights to the company on Logan. Mahindra plans to bring in more models on the present Logan platform.
Logan was successful vehicle when it was launched, but eventually lost its ground due to various reasons. The small car norm of 8% tax was a major setback for the car because it was slightly bigger than the small car dimension. Secondly, for its value for money package, it ended up finally as a good comfortable cab.
However now with full authority on the car, Mahindra is thinking positive and planning to bring in more innovative products from the platform. A chopped boot Logan and a sub 4 meter mini SUV are in the pipeline.
