BYD aims for 100 E6 electric taxis by end of month, 560 by year’s end, 1,500 in total
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, China, BYD
BYD E6 – Click above for high-res image gallery
40 electric vehicles is all right, but 1,500 sounds much better. We’re talking about BYD’s electric taxi plans and even though the company only has 40 E6 taxis roaming the roads now, future plans call for way more. BYD hopes to have at least 100 E6 taxis tooling around the roads of Shenzhen, China by month’s end, but the plans for electric taxi domination don’t end there. BYD wants 560 of the electric chauffeur mobiles on the roads by the end of the year and sets the ultimate goal at 1,500 taxis. If BYD hits this magic number, then the company will have successfully electrified ten percent of the city’s taxi fleet.
According to a report, the taxi drivers notice no difference between the electrified E6s and their conventionally powered taxi counterparts. BYD claims that the taxis are not part of some glorified “experiment,” but should instead be considered “a real business” for the company. Reports also mention that the E6 taxis carry the following slogan on the vehicle’s rump: “This is not a conventional car, this is a declaration of environmental protection.” Well said.
Gallery: Detroit 2010: BYD E6
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Volkswagen considering Passat CC wagon
Volkswagen’s range expansion could include an estate version of its Passat CC, according to sources in Germany.
Since the next-generation Passat will not be sold in the U.S and its replacement, the New Midsize Sedan, will not offer a station wagon variant – a CC wagon would fill a useful niche in a region where it’s selling well.
VW’s board is expected to vote in September on whether to build the car or not.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee configurator now online
Filed under: SUV, Jeep
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Click above for high-res gallery
The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will start flowing into Chrysler dealerships in the coming weeks, but you can go price one out right now at the official configurator. Playing around with the “build your own” system shows that the least expensive Grand Cherokee available is the rear-wheel-drive Laredo which starts at $30,995 including destination and delivery.
Regardless of the trim level or number of driven wheels, the Grand Cherokees come standard with the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, although the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is available as an option on Limited and Overland trims. Injudicious use of the options list can push the price tag of a Grand Cherokee up to $50,000 and beyond.
Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Abdullah presented the first Arabian car – Gazal1
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah presented the production version of the Gazal1 SUV, who became the first Arabian car.
The car designed by students at King Saud University in conjunction with engineers of Mercedes-Benz. Concept SUV was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show this year. This car, like the Toyota FJ Cruiser with an engine Mercedes G500.
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Video: Hyundai steps in for Porsche, offers to take on Mini at Road Atlanta
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Hyundai, Mini, Porsche
Turnabout Is Fair Play: Hyundai takes up Mini challenge – click above to watch the video after the jump
Mini can safely be considered the 800-pound gorilla of viral marketing in the automotive sector, but fresh from its big showing this year with its Assurance program and successful Super Bowl appearances, Hyundai is showing real pluck. Need more proof? The boys from Korea have just stepped up to stand in for Porsche, offering to take on Mini at its Road Atlanta Challenge.
In a smack-talk-tastic video response they’ve released to Mini USA head Jim McDowell, Hyundai says they’re eager to bring their Genesis Coupe to Hotlanta raceway next month. What about Mini’s planned June 21 event? Seems Hyundai race driver Rhys Millen is a bit busy getting ready to climb a certain mountain, so Hyundai is challenging Mini to a race in July.
As Hyundai spokesman Dan Bedore tells Autoblog, “Since we launched the Genesis Coupe, we’ve always said that we’ll take on all-comers when it comes to comparison tests. And we’ve had some experience on the race track at Road Atlanta. We’d be happy to meet Mini on the race track.”
To step in and offer to take a punch for someone you don’t really even consider a buddy (read: Porsche) is either bold or downright crazy – or more than likely, some glorious combination of the two – but either way, it takes serious cojones. Will Mini step up to the challenge? Better still, might there be a three-way battle royale? Check out the video after the jump and stay tuned, everyone… this just got interesting.
Honda CR-Z: Sporty hybrid ready to zip in August
Less fuel efficient, but more sporty?
Can – should – a hybrid be sporty?
Honda has announced that the Honda CR-Z hybrid will go on sale August 24 in the US. While final pricing hasn’t officially been announced, the base model should begin at just under $20,000 and top out at $24,000 for the higher end of three trim levels.
2010 TopCar Porsche Cayenne 2
When TopCar announced to the world that they will introduce an all-new package for the Porsche Cayenne that will be setting off-road tracks on fire, they were definitely not kidding. The new 2010 TopCar Porsche Cayenne 2 project is obviously bound to make scene.
There are three versions of the Porsche Cayenne 2: the Advantage, the [...]
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