Archive for July 12th, 2010

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Phoenix

We got a little more information from Phoenix Motorcars today about the introduction of the company’s “newly configured Sports Utility Truck” this week. As we mentioned this morning, the SUT has been a long time coming and Bryon Bliss, Phoenix Motorcars’ VP of sales and marketing, said that:

While many would criticize us for returning again from the “ashes”, we are truly here to stay. It’s been a long road for us but one well worth waiting for.

Bliss also answered a few of our questions about the company and the car. Here’s the transcript:

ABG: What exactly happened during Phoenix’s bankruptcy? Is that all behind the company now? Is/was any of this accurate?

Bliss: Al Yousuf LLC, one of our primary investors, purchased the assets of the company out of bankruptcy. We continue to operate under the trade name Phoenix Motorcars with a mission to complete the Phoenix SUT and have begun some other interesting projects in the alternative fuel industry. This road bump is behind us and we are back on track and picking up speed toward vehicle deliveries.

ABG: What prompted the change from 100-mile to 70-mile range on the SUT? What, exactly, are the differences in the truck now vs. before?

Bliss: To meet customer needs we are now offering multiple battery pack solutions. Unlike our historic strategy of being sole sourced for our battery solution, which didn’t work out so well for us, Phoenix has become battery agnostic and capable of integrating the best advances to power our Phoenix SUT.

ABG: What happened to the SUV? Is that still in the works?

Bliss: We are focusing primarily on the commercial Phoenix SUT product. The SUV was always more of a consumer product. As we are delaying a consumer launch we are choosing to direct focus on the available product, the Phoenix SUT.

ABG: How closely is Phoenix’s future determined by what happens with SsangYong? Is the powertrain convertible enough to put into another body if need be? How difficult would that be, and how would it affect performance?

Bliss: We are very aware of what is happening with Ssangyong. The short answer is that it does not affect our near term product plans and we keep in close communications with what is happening.

[Source: Phoenix Motorcars]

Phoenix Motorcars gives more details about new SUT, says “This road bump is behind us” originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Via Autoblog Green

Lined up in a parking lot behind the W Hotel Hollywood, I feel like an A-lister. Strangers wearing hip designer t-shirts snap pictures as we wait. Everyone is all smiles, pointing and staring at the millions of dollars worth of machinery on hand. A few of NOS Energy’s scantily clad models say hello as they pass our metallic silver Porsche Turbo. It’s partly cloudy and around 72 degrees. Today should be entertaining. 

I’m strapped into a racing bucket as a participant of Targa Trophy — one of those many “rally” events usually reserved for socialites with money to blow and cool cars to run. It’s like the famous Bull Run and Gumball 3000, but without the respective $20,000 and $50,000 to $100,000-plus entry fees. The cost to enter Targa Trophy: a more reasonable $900, not including the cost of hotel rooms, food, and drink. Rather than taking multiple days to accomplish, Targa Trophy only takes place on one Saturday.

In lieu of racing each other, competitors try to set the best time over the 200-mile course from Hollywood to the W Hotel in downtown San Diego. To win, drivers and navigators must also compile the most points by stopping at predetermined checkpoints.

From Lamborghini Murcielagos to Mercedes-Benz AMGs, to Lotus Evoras and fully modified BMW M3s, the collective of Targa Trophy participants is beyond impressive. The pre-race expo attracts over 600 of the region’s most pristine automotive examples.

Talk to the cars’ owners and they’re just as diverse and interesting as the rides. Local business leaders, international playboys (and girls), and plain old rich people come from as far away as Europe to run Targa Trophy. Why? Because “it is a rush”, Sevan says. A real life adventure of sorts…

Sevan, the beautiful eastern European redhead with the title to our No. 55 Porsche Turbo and a fire to drive hard, is sitting to my left. After a last minute breakdown of my ride, driving was out of the question, so I’ve taken the role as her navigator.

“I’ve always wanted to try it. Once I got the Porsche, I had to sign up,” she explained the night prior. “There is definitely an element of adventure that attracted me.”

After a quick mileage check by officials, we’re off on our day long journey. The round butt of the No. 09 Panamera Turbo arrives quickly at our nose thanks to some long stop lights. A quick downshift and jab of the right pedal and the quirky four-door falls back into our rear view.

Heading first to Long Beach, we pull off the 105 east and onto the 405 south. A Vons grocery store is our first checkpoint. Forty minutes later, we’re cruising along Newport Beach. After quick lunch at the local Ferrari dealership, it’s time to make the break to San Diego, about an hour and a half to the south. But first, we head inland to hit the region’s smooth serpentine paths.

The road leading up Palomar Mountain is one of Southern California’s most scenic and challenging drives. And if taken without care, it can be one of the most dangerous. Steep canyons filled with thick green forests reside mere feet from the road’s edge. Line the nose of your car or bike incorrectly, and it most likely will be your last. Today, only a few motorcyclists brave the same trail with us.

Sevan’s movements are fluid on the run through Palomar: Brake. Shift. Modulate throttle. Hit it full bore. On to the next apex.

“Two weeks ago I went to a track day at Willow Springs,” Sevan mentioned before our start. “I was taught a few things.”

I can tell. She’s going well over the legal speed limit, poised and collected as ever. Neither her nor the new six-speed 997 Turbo is sweating. Flat as Bonneville and as athletic as LeBron, the all-wheel drive, 500-horsepower Porsche eagerly devours each of the mountain’s countless kinks. It was painstakingly engineered for moments like these, and this redhead is proving she can handle her business behind the wheel.

The higher we climb, East San Diego’s vistas become more breathtaking and clearer. Skeletons of the trees burned by recent unfortunate fires blur by.

Residents hear the Targa cars ahead of us speed past. Some set up folding beach chairs along the road. Others just stand and point. Everyone waves, cheers, and grins happily. One man flashes his latest copy of Motor Trend after picking it from the mailbox. How could he possibly have known? Thumbs up are the norm in these mountains.

On our descent we drive past the small mountain town of Julian, a place known for its delicious apple pie and sweet ciders. Onto Interstate 8 east, downtown is almost in sight. We hit light traffic and venture into the city.

“Pretty fun, yes?” Sevan asks as we pull into the W Hotel San Diego.

“Definitely. Great driving, too.”

Of course, my only regret is that I didn’t actually drive the Targa Trophy. But my alternative wasn’t all that bad, either. It made me realize once again that you don’t always need to be at the helm to have a good time — especially when you’re in one of Stuttgart’s finest.

Even with my eyes plugged into Google Maps, Targa Trophy proved to be as entertaining as advertised. Unfortunately, we didn’t beat the 72 other driving pairs or even gain a top 10 finish, but with Sevan taking corners, hustling hard up and down some of southern California’s most scenic mountain passes and desolate country roads, it proved quite the experience — one that I can see being thoroughly addicting. Now if I only had an extra $2000 in the bank and an exotic car to flog, I’d definitely sign up just for this “rush”.

Photography by Nate Martinez, Vincent Guglielmina, Thomas McCallum, Ryan Siu, Mo Satarzadeh + ID Agency

Via MotorTrend Magazine Blogs

Taking a leaf out of Fords book, Audi has now utilised a new fuel filler cap to stop owners unintentionally filling their diesel cars with petrol. The Audi A4, A5 and Q5 TDI models for the 2011 model year will be the first to gain from the new system.

The fuel filler neck has been redesign reshape to include contact points that open an internal fuel flap only when the larger diesel pump nozzle applies pressure on them. The smaller diameter petrol nozzles do not make contact, ensuring that the filler flap stays shut to prevent access to the reservoir.

Occurrences of misfuelling have risen considerably in recent years creating problematic and expensive consequences. Audi thinks this is due to the increased refinement of diesel models which has seen them run nearly as effortlessly and quietly as their petrol equivalent. According to Audi, revised fuel filler cap should be of particular interest to companies running vehicle fleets, or private buyers making the switch from petrol to diesel-powered cars.

Audi says the system will gradually be rolled out to more of its models.

Via Cars Of The Future® Blog

Filed under: Etc.

Got a question for our intrepid team of podcasters? Now’s the time to ask away. Don’t forget to vote on which questions deserve our attention the most, though we’ll try to get to as many as we can. Discussion topics for Autoblog Podcast #183, which we’ll record tonight, can be found below. Finally, subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already to hear your question answered.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #186

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• 2011 Nissan Quest
• Toyota R&D center deep-dive
• PT Cruiser finally dies
• Cars being developed for blind drivers
• Tesla building Toyota mules

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #186 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Via Autoblog

Ferrari introduced a new gallery of photos of the model 599 GTO, showing in all its glory this supercar.

At the heart of the car is the engine V-12 (obtained from the Ferrari Enzo), edited milking 661 hp and 620 Nm of torque, while vehicle weight is less than at 195 kg, compared with the 599 GTB, a sum amounting 1,495 kg.

Acceleration to 100 km / h in a Ferrari 599 GTO is 3.35 seconds, and if we continue to push the pedal on the right, until you can reach the maximum 333 km / h.

GTO comes with aerodynamics in the style of F-1, including thresholds, diffuser, double exhaust pipe and spoiler. Installed car 20- discs.

The cost of the Ferrari 599 GTO is 460 000 dollars, and will be produced 599 cars, and some sources claim that all the cars already sold.

Via Cool Cars