Posts Tagged ‘hybrid’
BMW Gran Coupe concept green-lighted for production
BMW will inveterate that the Gran Coupe Concept will reach production. The design of the Audi A7-rival will be shared with the forthcoming 6 Series Coupe.
Speaking at an event in Munich, Klaus Draeger, an associate of BMW’s Board of Management, said that the GCC will become a 6-Series “four-door coupe”. He implied the car would launch in late 2012.
To be sold as the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe, several engines and models will be offered: two petrols & diesels, a hybrid, and an M variant. So expect a 300bhp (304PS) 3.0 litre 6 cylinder (hybrids will have a 54bhp (55PS) electric motor), 400bhp (406PS) 4.4 litre V8 petrol, 3.0 litre diesel with 204bhp (207PS) and 245bhp (248 PS), and a twin-turbo V8 with 555bhp (563PS) to 570bhp (578PS).
Other than talking about the production GCC, Draeger mentioned BMW has designed and built a 6 Series Shooting Brake. It hasn’t been confirmed for production, but market evaluation studies are currently in progress.
Significant Honda Insight updates coming
In need of an update
A better ride coming soon
In some respects the Honda Insight has been a failure. Sales of the hybrid have fallen fall short of Honda’s expectations and many consumers – even Consumer Reports – have slammed the shoddy ride quality of the Insight.
Fortunately, a number of new upgrades to the vehicle are in the works.
According to reports coming out of the UK, but applicable globally, a new suspension with “an adjusted spring recoil-rate, new rear axle mounts and an adjustment to rear camber angles” should provide Insight drivers with a much smoother ride.
Likewise, the new Insight will offer new colors and better interior materials, including leather.
“Game changer” most over-used word in auto industry?
Can this really change the auto industry?
Game changer? Not any time soon
The latest energy bill provides nice tax credits for natural gas vehicles. Honda executive claims, “This could be a game-changer.”
“The Volt is a game-changing product,” recently claimed a Volt executive.
Maybe. Nonetheless, shouldn’t we wait until the game actually changes before claiming a product a “game changer”?
As the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize comes to an end, for instance, one thing appears obvious, just “how difficult it will be to make truly revolutionary improvements to the automobile.” Despite numerous hybrid and plug-in attempts, only one technology has emerged as the most “revolutionary” potential game changer: weight reduction.
Ultimately, the game isn’t really changing, and the only reason there is any change at all has nothing to do with “game-changing” products. Instead, new CAFE regulations are forcing automakers to make a few changes. Of course, not enough changes to have any real impact on oil dependence, or even foreign oil dependence.
Even if every other American commuter drove a Chevy Volt 40 miles or less per day, so that only electricity was used, America would still be heavily dependent upon foreign oil. That’s how little and how slowly the game is actually changing.
One day plug-in vehicles, natural gas and/or many other technologies could become real game changers. Unfortunately, none of today’s “game changers” are set to cause a revolution in the US auto industry any time soon. Likewise, any number of technological breakthroughs across many different technologies could easily make today’s “game changers” irrelevant.
“Game changer?” Sadly, the auto industry still has a long way to go before they can rightly claim such a description.
A two-cylinder hybrid: Can consumers change?
Time to get un-American
Outrageously cheap and fuel efficient
In the very near future Fiat might offer a two-cylinder car for the American market. Obviously, such a vehicle – one would think – would be called a joke by most Americans. Yet, what if Fiat offered an agile, fun-to-drive 100 mpg, 2-cylinder hybrid for just ,000?
Could such a hybrid outsell the Smart ForTwo? Could it compete with Toyota Prius sales?
The other day, MotorTrend asked their community whether they would personally buy a two-cylinder car. Not surprisingly, many of the gear heads mocked the entire concept. Surprisingly, however, nearly half expressed an interest with various caveats of course, such as fun to drive, excellent fuel economy, price, etc.
Also not surprisingly, many against such a vehicle cited safety as a significant concern. Yet, we could be just years away from software and auto-drive features that could make the smallest cars as safe as any other car on the market. If the safety of small cars were no longer an issue, would interest increase significantly?
Regardless of whether such safety capabilities are available and cost-effective any time soon, it seems that the concept of such a vehicle isn’t nearly as un-American as it was not so very long ago. More important, such safety features are coming.
While not an easy task, I’d bet Americans can think outside-of-the-box if provided with a truly compelling offering. Hopefully, one day an automaker will provide such a product. They just might realize far more success than they ever imagined and, eventually, I’d bet again, such products will be required for success.
Toyota hybrid patent suit over
Import block potential over
No stop for Toyota hybrids now.
The Paice LLC patent lawsuit against Toyota hybrid cars is now over.
Paice and Toyota agreed that they have shared parts, but that Toyota developed its parts independently from Paice, and all lawsuits have been dismissed. Consequently, any potential import block is now officially over.
Via Hybridcarblog
