Archive for June 4th, 2010

And the Chevy Volt goes “bruup, bruup, bruup”

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Nissan, Green Daily

Even though many of us would rather see electric vehicles whiz by in utter silence, the powers that be insist that noise is mandatory. As automakers scramble to find the perfect auditory tones for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), we are eagerly awaiting to hear the sounds of the vehicles of tomorrow. Will it be a futuristic sci-fi shriek, the classic burble of a V8 or something totally unexpected?

Many automakers are mum, choosing not to reveal the sound until some later date, but General Motors did hint at what we can expect to emanate from the Volt. According to Micky Bly, General Motors’ executive director for hybrid electric vehicles and batteries, the Chevy Volt’s sound can be closely approximated by, “bruup, bruup.” We’ll have to wait to hear it to give a better description of exactly what “bruup” sounds like, but Bly adds that it will be, “like the low tone of a horn, but nonstartling.”

In typical Nissan fashion, the company has built up the hype for its Leaf sound debut. The noise will be officially, official within two weeks when the company introduces it at a media event in Japan. As Nissan’s director of product planning Mark Perry told the New York Times’ Jim Motavalli, “It’s a little too early to disclose it, but when we do, you’ll understand the work that went into it from our audio guys.” Nissan’s treating it like some highly-regarded trade secret with a debut date, whereas GM released the “bruup” on us with no audio clip to go with it. It’s just a noise, how important can it be?

Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Read more…

Saab UK sold to Spyker (UK)

The sale of Saab UK to Dutch car firm, Spyker Cars was agreed today by GM UK. The company, which distributes Saabs in the UK, now becomes part of the Spyker Cars organisation, which purchased Saab at the beginning of the year. In this case, Spyker is ready to expand into Saab dealerships to double its [Spyker] showrooms by the end of the year.

In an interview, Saab and Spyker boss Victor Muller said Spyker’s dealer network would expand from 35 to 60 this year and should reach 90 by the end of 2011.

“We are signing up Spyker dealerships left, right and centre,” said Muller. Spyker’s latest model, the C8 Aileron, will be one of the first Spykers to be sold through Saab dealerships.

Read more…

Chrysler recalls nearly 35,000 vehicles for sticking accelator pedals

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

After one month of investigation, Chrysler has decided to initiate a voluntary recall of 34,631 Dodge Caliber and 90 Jeep Compass vehicles from the 2007 model year in order to address a potential issue with sticking gas pedals. While the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has been investigating the problem for over a month, Chrysler reports that no accidents, injuries or property damage linked to vehicles equipped with these pedal assemblies have been reported.

The pedal assemblies are supplied by CTS and are similar to those that triggered a recall of 2.3 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles earlier this year. The actual issue does not appear to be the same problem that afflicted the Toyota vehicles, although the end result of unintended acceleration can be similar. The Detroit Free Press reports that the issue is caused by a bearing housing that was made too large.

CTS experienced a manufacturing issue for five weeks during March through May of 2006 that affected some of the first Calibers and Compasses built. According to Chrysler, only about one-third of the recalled cars are expected to actually have an issue with their pedal assemblies. Since announcing there was an investigation in early May, Chrysler has allowed customers to bring their cars in for a free inspection. If a pedal assembly is found to be defective, Chrysler will replace the entire pedal assembly for any of the recalled vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

[Source: Detroit Free Press, Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler recalls nearly 35,000 vehicles for sticking accelator pedals

Read more…

Report: 2011 Euro Range Rover to get 4.4L diesel, the ex-F-150 engine?

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Europe, Ford, Land Rover, Diesel

A recent report says the 2011 Range Rover (in Europe at least) will be getting a new 4.4-liter V8 diesel engine with 308 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque to replace the current 3.6-liter V8 diesel. When the the current F-150 was launched back in 2008, Ford announced that it would add a diesel V8 to the powertrain lineup in mid-2010. That diesel V8 was rumored to displace about 4.4-liters and at that time, Ford still owned Land Rover and Jaguar. When the economy hit the skids and diesel prices skyrocketed, the diesel engine plan was shelved from the pickup. We haven’t been able to get any comment from Land Rover, but a Ford official has confirmed that the new Land Rover diesel V8 is being supplied from Ford’s Chihuahua engine plant which also produces the new 6.7-liter Scorpion diesel for the Super Duty pickups.

However, we were reminded that Ford never officially confirmed details of the planned diesel for the F-150, so this may not be the same engine. Given all the other information we have, it does seem to be a reasonable inference. We checked with truck expert Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com who believes this is, in fact, the same oilburner.

The fact that it’s being built for the luxury SUV means that it could potentially be revived for the pickup, although that now appears unlikely since Ford has decided to add the Ecoboost V6 to the F-150 instead. As the engine was once destined for the U.S. market – with all the emissions requirements in check – it could, at the very least, eventually appear in American Range Rovers. Given the success of diesels in German SUVs, that much certainly seems plausible.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Report: 2011 Euro Range Rover to get 4.4L diesel, the ex-F-150 engine? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read more…

Incoming search terms:

• 2011 RANGE ROVER 4 4L DIESEL SPECS
• Range rover 4 4l v8 diesel specs
• new ford scorpion
• new cars released by land rover diesel
• Land Rover 4 4L Diesel specs
• ford 4 4l diesel
• ford 4 4 liter diesel range rover
• european 4L diesel
• diesel trocks suv
• 4 4L diesel specs
• v8 deisel Range rover for US market

Mahindra Xylo 5 seater – the new mini SUV from Mahindra

     Few days ago we had mentioned about Mahindra developing a sub 4 meter SUV for the Indian Markets. Now the secret is out and the sub 4 meter SUV is none other than the Xylo 5 seater with chopped off rear section.

     The spy picture provided by AutocarIndia shows the Xylo with chopped rear end undergoing hot weather testing in Rajasthan. The mini Xylo will be less than 4 meters in length and will come with a 1.5L diesel engine. This makes it to qualify for the ‘small car’ norm in India and hence can avail a substantial 12 percent saving in excise duty.

     The mini Xylo is built on the same Xylo’s body-on-frame chassis, chopping it at the rear. The engine capacity has been reduced from 2.5L to 1.5 litre by reducing the bore and stroke and eliminating one cylinder. Hence mini Xylo will come with a 3 cylinder diesel engine. Expect this engine to give the best of the mileage in its segment.

     The mini Xylo will have only two rows of seats and hence the seating capacity will be for only 5 persons. It will go on sale next year and is likely to be priced Rs 5 lakh. The mini Xylo will compete with the lone mini SUV Premier Rio in the segment. Read more…

Incoming search terms:

• mahindra zylo mini
• mini xylo pictures
• mahindra mini suv
• mahendra zylo mini launch
• mini xylo launch date
• new mahindra zylo mini
• mahindra mini xylo launch
• mahindra xylo mini price
• mini xylo launch
• mini suv india 2011
• mahindra mini xylo launch date
• mahindra mini xylo
• mahendra zylo 5 seater
• mini xylo
• mahindra xylo mini suv
• mahindra xylo mini photos
• mahendra zylo mini price
• mahendra zylo pictures
• xylo mini suv
• mahindra xylo cs
• mahindra xylo mini
• mini xylo mileage
• mahindra xylo 5 seater
• mahindra new mini suv 2011
• mahindra mini zylo
• mahindra zylo mini launching date
• xylo mini launch date
• mahindra mini xylo mileage
• mahindra new small xylo
• mahindra small suv
• mahindra xylo mini mileage
• mahendra zylo mini launch date
• mahindra xylo mini launch
• mahindra zylo mini photos
• mahindra zylo price
• mahindra new xylo 2011
• xylo cs
• Xylo mini
• mahindra mini xylo pictures
• MAHINDRA SMALL XYLO
• xylo mini launch
• new mahindra xylo mini
• new mahindra xylo cs
• mahendra zylo price in india
• mahendra zylo mini price in india
• mini suv in india
• mahindra xylo small
• mahendra zylo mini mileage
• mini xylo from mahindra
• mini mahindra zylo
• mahindra xylo small car
• XYLO SMALL
• mahindra mini xylo photos
• mahindra new launch
• mahindra compact suv
• mini suv mahindra
• new xylo 2011
• upcoming mini suv in india 2011
• mahendra zylo price
• mahindra new mini suv
• small xylo
• mahindra new xylo mini
• new mahendra zylo 2011
• mahindra new suv 2011
• mahindra mini xylo price
• xylo mini images
• mini xylo launch date in india
• mahindra mini suv launch
• Mahindra Mini-Xylo
• mahendra zylo 5 seater price
• mahendra zylo mini
• new mahindra xylo 2011
• mini xylo with 5 seats
• new mahindra mini xylo
• Mahindra SUV Price
• mahindra zylo new model picture
• mahendra zylo 2011
• compact suv from mahindra
• mahindra new suv
• MAHINDRA NEW MINI XYLO
• xylo mini pictures
• xylo compact
• new mahindra xylo 5 seater
• new mini xylo
• new mini suv from mahindra
• mini xylo pics
• mahindra xylo 5 seater price
• mahindra zylo mini price
• gm mini suv india
• launch date of mini xylo
• upcoming suv in india 2011
• mahindra zylo mini launch
• mahindra xylo compact
• mini zylo
• mahindra upcoming suv
• mahindra xylo 2011
• mini SUV 2011 India
• mini suv to be launched in india in 2011
• mini suv in india 2011
• mahindra mini-xylo photos

Find of the Day: Jean Alesi’s 1991 Scuderia Ferrari 642 [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Ferrari, Racing

As motorists are confronted with constricting regulations and fewer places to unleash their sportscars, track-day cars are becoming a bigger deal by the day. But if you’re going to take to the track, why limit yourself to something street legal? Especially if you’ve got the means. Like, say… $700,000.

What you’re looking at is the Scuderia Ferrari Tipo 642 which Jean Alesi campaigned in the 1991 Formula One World Championship. Though Alesi scored three podiums with this car, none were better than third place – peppered by eight DNFs – landing him seventh in the drivers’ championship behind the likes of Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Riccardo Patrese, Gerhard Berger, Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet. (All but Patrese and Berger would go down in history as world champions, several as multiple champs to boot.) That should hardly deter buyers from salivating over the 700-horsepower turbocharged V12 engine, though, reined in by none of the electronic driver aids that would creep into the sport in later years.

Interested? Follow the link below to the Aero Toy Store in Fort Lauderdale, which also appears to have a couple of F430 GTCs in stock if sportscar racing is more at your speed. Photos in the gallery below and video after the jump.

Tata Safari DICOR Specifications

Price: Rs. 8,76,869/- to Rs. 13,34,028/- ex-showroom New Delhi. (As of June 2010)
Variants: LX, EX, GX, VX (All Diesel)

Dimensions
Length: 4650 mm
Width: 1918 mm
Height: 1925 mm
Wheel Base: 2650 mm
Ground Clearance: 205 mm
Front Track: 1500 mm
Rear Track: 1470 mm
Kerb Weight: 2040 kg
Gross Weight: 2650(4×2) / 2780 (4×4)
No. of Doors: 4+1
Seating Capacity: 7 persons
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 liters

Engine
Type: 2.2 L 16 Valve DOHC VTT DiCOR
Displacement: 2179 cc
Power: 140 PS @ 4000 RPM
Torque: 320 Nm @ 1700-2700 RPM
Bore x Stroke: 97 mm × 100 mm
Compression Ratio:17.5:1
No Of Cylinders:4
Cylinder Configuration: Inline
Valves Per Cylinder: 8

Transmission
Type: G-76-, 5/4.1 – Synchromesh with Overdrive
Gears:

Read more…

Incoming search terms:

• new safari dicor 2011
• tata safari 2011 dimensions
• tata safari dicor 2011
• tata safari 2011 video
• safari dicor 2011
• www tatasafaridicor com
• www tata sfari com
• www tatasafaridicor
• www safaridicorprise
• tata safari specs
• future of tata safari
• wwwtatasafri com
• tata safari future
• tatasafari2011video
• tata safari 2011 specification
• mini tata safari
• tata safari 2011 dimension
• @dbicor com
• spy pics of 2011 tata safari dicor
• 2012 tata safari release date
• safari dicor new 2011
• launch of new safari dicor in 2011
• new tata dicor cars to be launched in india in 2011
• tata dicor 2011
• 2011 tata safari dicor shipped to us
• tata safari 2010 size
• 2011 safari dicor
• dicor 2011
• www tatasfari
• wwwtatasafaridicor com
• tata safari dimensions
• tatA SAFARI DIMENSIOS
• tata safari dicor2011 news
• tata safari futures
• tata safari overdrive
• tata safari wheel diamensions
• tatasafare com
• tatasfari com
• www tata safari dicor 2011 lanched photos
• tata safari dicor specifications
• tata safari 2011 with new suspension
• tata safari 2011 specifications
• tata safari 2011 specs
• tata safari dicor prise and future
• tata safari dicor future
• tatasafari tyre size
• tata safari dicor 2011 price
• tata safari dicor 2011 launch
• watch tata safari overdrive review
• www tatasafaridicor2011
• tatasafari spacifection
• tatasafari net
• tatasafare
• tata safaridicor 2011 picture
• tata safari dicor 2011 when launch
• tata safari vx pictures bsmotoring
• what is new safari dicor 2011
• what is the rim size of safari
• www tatasafaridicor nwt
• tata safari 2011 videos
• www tata safari vdo
• www tata safari leanth higst
• www tata safari dicor price 2011
• www tata safari dicor 2011 new images futhers
• www tata minisafari com
• tata safari auto in italy
• www safaridicornew2011
• www 2011tatasafaridicor com
• when tata safari dicor 2011 launched
• what size are the wheel nut sizes on tata safari ec
• Tata safari vx overdrive review
• tata safari videos 2011
• TATA SAFARI VIDEOS
• tata safari in usa
• Tata safari height
• tata safari dicor futures
• tata safari future release
• tata safari dicor in 2011
• tata safari fiture
• tata safari dymenshons
• tata safari dicor launch
• tata safari dicor launched 2011
• tata safari dicor new 2011
• tata safari dicor price Washington state U S A
• tata safari dicor review2011
• tata safari dicor review 2011 video
• tata safari italy
• tata safari launch 2011 official date
• tata safari tyre size
• tata safari tyre china number 16 pictures
• tata safari dicor 2012
• tata safari specifications
• tata safari size
• tata safari reviews
• TATA SAFARI REview 2011 OVERDRIVE
• tata safari review
• Tata safari next generation specifications
• tata safari modial 2011 specifican
• tata safari mini
• tata safari length