VW reconfirms Jetta hybrid for 2012, boasts “best-in-class” MPG rating
Filed under: Hybrid, Volkswagen, Green Daily
2011 Volkswagen Jetta – Click above for high-res image gallery
Reconfirming what we already knew, Volkswagen product strategist Toscan Bennet announced that a hybrid version of the sixth-generation Jetta is definitely on the way and on schedule for a 2012 launch date. Bennet said:
VW as a brand takes the electrification of the automobile very seriously, and we have a longtime strategy for growing that business. The Jetta hybrid is our first entry in that strategy.
During the NYC debut of the new Jetta, Bennet made it clear that the company is shooting for “best-in-class” mileage ratings for the hybrid version of its new sedan. VW doesn’t mean Prius-like numbers here, but beating the Honda Civic Hybrid sounds about right. VW admits that the Prius defines classes and resides alone as the hybrid mileage champ. Rather than aspire to the Prius numbers of 51 miles per gallon city and 48 mpg highway, VW is more conservatively shooting to surpass the marks of 40 mpg city and 45 mpg highway set by the hybrid Civic. Combine the high mileage targets with price cuts found throughout the new Jetta lineup and VW may have a hybrid hit on its hands soon.
Toyota Drags Import Initial Quality Below Domestics in J.D. Power Survey
If you’re a glass half-full kind of enthusiast, the headline is that Ford Motor Company pulled the domestics up above the imports in this year’s J.D. Power and Associate Initial Quality Survey (IQS). If you’re a glass half-empty kind of enthusiast, or if you’re one of the posters who would never consider a foreign model over a Ford, Chevrolet or Dodge, the headline is that Toyota dragged foreign makes below domestic brand scores.
All domestic brands posted an average of 108 problems per 100 cars and trucks. All Asian and European Imports averaged 109 per 100 vehicles. For purposes of the survey and this post, “domestics” are Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, no matter where their models are built. “Imports” are all the others, even Toyotas built in Kentucky and Mercedes built in Alabama.
And before you domestic devotees pop the tops off your champagnes of bottled beer, you should know that the top four brands in the IQS survey, which entailed 82,095 vehicles sold between November 2009 and February 2010, are Porsche, Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
Yes, Lexus. Toyota division fell to 22nd, its lowest in the 24 years of the survey. Its previous low was 13th in 1998, and that year it was still above industry average. Cars, crossovers and SUVs from its luxury division, built in many of the same factories, did very well. New Toyota owners reported 117 problems per 100 vehicles.
The Lexus LS had the fewest problems of any car in the industry, says Dave Sargent, J.D. Power’s vice president for global vehicle research.
Volkswagen Touareg pricing announced (UK)
Volkswagen’s new Touareg 4×4 will cost from £38,255 to £56,530 when it goes on sale. The new Touareg is more than 200kg lighter than the outgoing model, despite an increase in length of 20mm. VW also claims the range is now 20% more efficient.
The entry-level SE model gets leather interior, 18” alloy wheels, touch-screen satellite-navigation w/ DAB digital radio, dual-zone climate control, burr walnut trim and 6 airbags as standard. It comes with a 237bhp 3.0 TDI V6 diesel, which has a combined fuel economy of 38.2mpg and emits 195g/km of CO2. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and has a top speed of 135mph. The 237bhp 3.0 TDI has a commendable 550Nm of torque and is available at 2,000prm. All models in the range use an 8 speed automatic gearbox.
Mid-trim Escape trim is also fitted with the V6 diesel engine and is priced from £39,055. Alongside the equipment found on the SE, it has centre and rear differential locks, raised suspension, 100 litre fuel tank, 4XMotion four wheel drive system with a permanent 50:50 front to rear torque split. The 4Motion has been heavily revised for off-road use.
The flagship Altitude models are start from £41,705 for the V6 diesel and come with 19” alloy wheels, body kit, tinted windows, Bluetooth and lowered sports suspension.
BMW releases 2011 M3 Frozen Gray Coupe for the U.S.
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW, Specialty
2011 BMW M3 Frozen Gray Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery
With all the limited-edition love available across the pond, it’s nice to see BMW is willing to share the wealth in the States. To that end, 30 lucky Bimmerphiles can get their mitts on one of the 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupes when orders begin this Monday, June 21st.
What’s so special about the unimaginatively named Frozen Gray M3? To begin with, the exterior is an exclusive matte finish combining a Space Gray base and BMW’s ColorSystem silk matte clear coat. If that’s not enough to get you interested in plunking down $77,600 (including destination and gas guzzler tax), the red Novillo leather and Competition Package – comprised of a 10mm lower ride height, unique 19-inch wheels, a revised M Dynamic Mode and Electronic Damping Control – make this limited-edition M3 more compelling.
Output from the 4.0-liter V8 remains unchanged at 414 horsepower, with grunt being sent to BMW’s M Double Clutch Transmission to net a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. If you’re interested in rowing your own, a six-speed manual is available, but you’ll sacrifice two-tenths of a second in the sprint to 60.
There’s plenty of other kit included in the package, so make the jump for all the details and get ready to dial BMW’s dedicated 800-number at 11:30 AM EST on Monday to place your order.
Jaguar is preparing a new supercar
Management Tata recently told that they owned Jaguar brand in the coming years will present several new models: F-Type Roadster, a new generation of X-Type, wagon-based XF. Jaguar engineers have already begun to establish a new supercar, which will be faster, more powerful and more expensive than the current XK coupe.
The new car does not yet have names. However, we already know that it will receive a light aluminum body, and under the hood of cars will be 5.0-liter supercharged V8, which will issue the order of 550-600 hp Thanks to the power unit and a light body of the car must accelerate from 0-100 km / h in less than 4 seconds.
Via Cool Cars
Officially Official: 2011 Honda Odyssey prepares to rock your sippy cups [w/video]
Filed under: Minivan/Van, Honda
![2011 honda odyssey blur main 630 Officially Official: 2011 Honda Odyssey prepares to rock your sippy cups [w/video]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/2011-honda-odyssey-blur-main-630.jpg "Officially Official: 2011 Honda Odyssey prepares to rock your sippy cups [w/video]")
2011 Honda Odyssey – Click above for high-res image gallery
When Honda pulled the wraps off of its Odyssey Concept at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, we knew it was just a few small tweaks away from being production-ready. Well, four months later, the official details and images have been released, and while the 2011 Odyssey doesn’t go a long way in offering fantastic new innovations for the minivan segment, it packages the whole thing together in what might be the best-looking minivan we have yet to see.
The 2011 Odyssey is lower and wider than the outgoing model, and features what Honda is calling a “lightning bolt” beltline, a feature that was present on the concept van that we saw in Chicago. We aren’t sure if we’re in love with that quirky design element, but one thing’s for sure, you won’t see the origami fold and stepped greenhouse on any other minivan in the shopping mall parking lot. Other new features for the 2011 model year include available HID headlamps up front, new 18-inch alloy wheels, larger 12.6-inch ventilated front disc brakes, revised side mirrors and a power tailgate. Honda has yet to release full performance specs, but we do know that there’s a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 under the hood, and early estimates state that the top-trim Odyssey Touring Elite should achieve 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg(!) on the highway.
Inside, Honda has made the most of the Odyssey’s extra width, offering an additional inch of shoulder room in the front row. What’s most interesting, though, are the three second-row seat configurations, including an all-new wide mode which allows the two side captains chairs to be pulled away from the center seat, meaning three child car seats can fit all across one row. Again, the Odyssey hasn’t really done anything innovative with its interior packaging, but new features like a chilled cool box in the front center console, HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) input, 16.2-inch widescreen entertainment system, 15 upholders and a trash bag holder (yep!) will make the cabin more attractive to consumers who need one heck of an all-around family hauler.
We’ll have more details on the Odyssey’s underpinnings in the future, but for now, hit the jump to not only read Honda’s press release, but to see videos of the new Odyssey in action. A full gallery of high-res images is yours for the clicking below.
Forget the plug and the battery: Safety rules
Micro cars as safe as a Hummer
Could safety be more important than the battery?
Most energy used by a car is wasted moving just the weight of a vehicle. Thus, many have pointed out that simply making vehicles much lighter would have a dramatic impact on reducing fuel consumption, at a far cheaper cost than adding batteries.
