Video: Ride along as the Nissan Leaf takes to the road
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily
Nissan Leaf test drive – Click above to watch video after the jump
By now, you’ve undoubtedly witnessed countless pictures of the Nissan Leaf. You’ve probably also encountered several videos, read numerous reviews and possibly even caught a glimpse of the Leaf in its undisguised form on public roads. But few people have had the opportunity to actually drive the Leaf and even less have had the chance to spend a considerable amount of time at the helm.
While the public’s opportunity to pilot a Leaf may still be months away, CNBC’s Phil LeBeau had ample time to drive the Leaf around southern California, and luckily for us, provided video of the event. Before we get to the ride along, let’s touch on LeBeau’s driving impressions of the Leaf. As Lebeau sums it up:
The Leaf delivered a far more spirited ride than I was expecting. It’s not perfect, and I’ll tell you what I didn’t like in just a bit, but overall it’s a car most people will enjoy driving.
The flaws LeBeau found include excessive wind noise, a rather ordinary interior and an unexpected whir from the electric motor. Complaints aside, LeBeau concludes that the Leaf is good enough to succeed, but he’s not yet convinced that it will be a game changer. Follow after the jump to ride along in the Nissan Leaf.
Screen Savior-My Aston Rapide Affirmation
I think automotive history’s most beautiful car may be the Lamborghini Miura, with a very close second being the Maserati Ghibli. The former is insanely expensive and impractical to drive on trips. The latter is not, and so in August 2000 when a lovely 1967 example came up for sale at an exotic car dealership 5.4 miles from home, I test-drove it right to my house for a quick snapshot that instantly became my screen saver. Seeing myself in that gorgeous car every day helped cement my resolve to pay about as much as I’d spent on all the cars I’d owned prior to that one combined. Ten years later I had the chance to drive what I feel is the most beautiful car in production today, and I was so smitten by it that I recreated the same screen-saver image as an affirmation that with hard work and clean living I may one day land an Aston Martin Rapide in my humble garage.
I’m probably going to have to wait a lot longer for this one to depreciate into my price range. My Ghibli listed for about $19,000 in 1967–roughly $122,000 in today’s dollars, and had depreciated by about 80 percent in modern money. The Rapide starts at $195,000, so if it holds up like my gorgeous Ghibli, it may be down to $39,000 in today’s currency by 2043–a perfect bauble for my 80th birthday.
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Price hike for 2011 Chrysler Grand Voyager
The 2011 Chrysler Grand Voyager has been revised so that CO2 emissions have been cut and fuel economy improved for diesel variants, which makes them cheaper to run, while all models will gain extra safety equipment and a reworked fascia.
Diesel models now have a combined fuel economy of 33.6mpg (8.4l/100km), improved by 10%, while CO2 emissions fall by 10%, down to 222g/km. This means the Grand Voyager has a lower VED band, from band L to K, saving customers £200 in the first year.
Within the car, 2011 models get a new black fascia with silver detailing, in addition active anti-whiplash head restraints on the front seats. This is on top of the existing stability control, tyre pressure monitoring and x6 airbags. What’s more, Stow ‘n’ Go seats are now standard across the range which fold flat into the floor, powered sliding side doors, and three-zone climate control. Range-topping Limited models automatic wipers and electric folding 3rd row seats.
On the options like are a dual-screen DVD system and a touch-screen satellite navigation system incorporating voice control and a 30GB hard-drive that can store more than 4,000 songs. Accessories like LED day-time running lights, side steps and alloy wheels will be available.
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Leaked sketch shows upcoming power cruiser from Ducati
Ducati Power Cruiser sketch – Click above to enlarge
Close your eyes and think of a Ducati motorcycle. Got it? Good. What’s in your head? We’d guess something fast, beautiful and… red. That about right? Despite having roots firmly in the sportbike minefield, clearly the Italian motorcycle maker has its sights set on expanding its market share by entering into new and previously untapped markets. Evidence? We’ll call the Multistrada Exhibit A.
And this sketch is about as strong an Exhibit B as you’ll ever lay your eyes upon. Sometimes dubbed the Mega Monster by the motoring press, this sketch gives us an indication of what Ducati has up its corporate sleeves for the upcoming EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.
As you can see, a liquid-cooled Testastretta V-twin engine with the Multistrada 1200′s 11-degree valve overlap angle, which smooths out power and improves fuel efficiency. We’re expecting something over 150 horsepower in this application, and ride-by-wire and traction control will also be present. There’s also a single-sided swingarm holding an absolutely massive rear tire (spy shots indicate it’ll be a 240, but we’ll see), USD front forks and monobloc calipers up front.
Naturally, Ducati’s trademark trellis chassis is in full effect, in this case used for style and not really for substance. Ducati does indicate that the power cruiser will sport a reasonable 40-degree lean angle, but we have to wonder about the potential handling characteristics of a bike with a raked-out front end and wide-for-the-sake-of-style rear tire.
For what it’s worth, assuming this bike is what we think it is, this is not the first time a European motorcycle maker has decided to dip a toe in the cruiser market. Way back in 1998, BMW released its R 1200 C range, and while the bike was much more technologically advanced than anything else on the market at the time (fuel injection, ABS brakes, telelever front suspension, single-sided shaft drive, etc.), it failed to reach the kind of sales figures hoped for by the German marque. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out for Ducati in November.
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Video: Corvette Racing Episode 6 – 2010 Le Mans recap
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing
Episode six of the Corvette Racing Track to Street series went up this week and as expected, it’s a recap of what went down at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last month. 2010 marked the 50th anniversary or the American sports car’s first appearance at the French endurance race and a parade of 50 ‘Vettes took to the track prior to the race.
The first French appearance of the works Corvettes in the GT2 class started off well, with the cars starting first and second in class after the Risi Ferrari F430 time was disallowed. The Corvettes ran strong for the first 16 hours before both eventually succumbed to engine failures. Team manager Doug Fehan promises the C6.Rs will be back for blood in 2011. Check out the video after the jump.
Gallery: Le Mans 2010: The Race
Report: Honda to abandon clean diesel development, focus on hybrids
Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, Diesel
Regular readers know we tend to be big fans of modern diesel engines. All the past demons that had plagued oil-burners over the years have been exorcised, including rough running, nasty smells, loud operation and narrow power bands. But sadly, modern clean diesel powerplants have never taken hold in the United States.
According to the Nikkei in Japan (via Reuters), we can add Honda to the list of global automakers that have abandoned plans to move further into the diesel realm. Instead, Honda will continue to puts all of its eggs in the hybrid basket, developing a new system for use in larger vehicles. Currently, Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist technology is used in the Civic Hybrid and the Insight.
We can only hope that Honda’s next hybrid system will expand on its current IMA tech, which has been unable to match the fuel efficiency and performance of rival Toyota, by being able to operate on the electric motor alone for longer stretches.
In addition to halting development of clean diesel tech, Honda has also put the brakes on the new microcar plant in Japan that was to build future Kei cars for the automaker’s home market.
[Source: Reuters] Read more…
Nissan Micra priced very competitively at Rs. 3.98 lakh
Nissan has competitively priced its small car Micra at Rs. 3.98 lakh for the base petrol model (XE) ex-showroom New Delhi. The top end petrol model (XV) is priced at Rs 5.28 lakh.
Micra competes with Maruti Swift, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai i20, Fiat Grande Punto and Tata Indica Vista. The base model of Swift is priced at Rs. 3.99 lakh where as the base Polo costs Rs 4.42 lakh (All prices ex-showroom New Delhi). The only car in the segment priced lower than Micra is Figo which is priced at Rs. 3.53 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi) for the base petrol variant.
Micra is available in 3 variants – XE priced at Rs. 3.98 lakh, XL priced at Rs 4.69 lakh and XV priced at Rs 5.28 lakh (All prices ex-showroom New Delhi).
