General Motors car tzar, Bob Lutz spoke at the Reuters Auto Summit recently, and was quoted as saying that the Chevrolet Volt series hybrid will be in production by the end of 2010. Executives at GM sound pretty intent on meeting their deadline, because Lutz admitted to reporters that employees working on the Volt “are becoming increasingly nervous” about getting this thing out by the end of the decade.
The biggest challenge in meeting the production deadline is the battery technology that will be used in the Volt. GM’s two battery suppliers, A123 Systems and Compact Power, are working around the clock to improve the life span and performance of the lithium-ion batteries. GM has its own internal R+D team working on a solution as well, applying for patents every step of the way to ensure their investment is secure.
GM aims for the Volt to get a 40 mile range on its batteries alone, and if they can get it on the market by 2010, competing auto makers will have some serious trouble on their hands.
[Source: Autoblog]
Honda has confirmed plans to build a production version of the CR-z hybrid sports car. We reported earlier that the CR-z was considered a successor to the highly popular compact sports coupe, the CRX from a few years back. Though no dates were given by Honda execs as to when the car would hit the sales floor, sources close to Honda have suggested a launch between late-2009 and mid-2010.
At the Tokyo Auto Show, Honda’s execs explained that their vision of the production CR-Z will be a compact, lightweight sports car powered by the latest iteration of Honda’s hybrid IMA powertrain, promising to deliver low emissions and fuel consumption figures, without sacrificing performance potential.
We’re pretty stoked that this concept will see the light of day as a production model, but we’re guessing that some aesthetic changes will have to be made first in order for this vehicle to become consumer friendly. Check back on Driver’s Life for more details!
[Source: Car Scoop]
We’d like to introduce you to the world’s most efficient hybrid road car. The Aptera Typ-1h is a funky, aerodynamic, streamlined 3 wheeled gas-electric vehicle that would look right at home in the year 2050. Built to be strong and lightweight through use of space age composite materials, the Typ-1h is capable of a 0-60 sprint in 10 seconds and reach a top speed of 90mph. Oh, did we mention it is also capable of achieving almost 300mpg? Not too shabby for a hybrid! Power comes from a small, water-cooled EFI Gasoline engine with closed loop oxygen feedback and catalytic converter mated to a lightweight 12KW starter/generator, making it very quiet too.
Despite looking like a teardrop, the interior boasts enough room for two adults, a child and just enough space left over for your golf clubs. Climbing into the vehicle is easy too, thanks to gullwing doors.
Safety was a concern for designers as well The Typ-1 boasts a 45″ frontal crumple zone, side-impact beams, airbags, and roll-over protection. With its wide stance, and aerodynamic design, the Typ-1 is also right at home at high speeds.
Aptera hopes to have the vehicle available for sale in the U.S. in the new year. Make the jump to see Aptera’s launch video.
[Source: Aptera]
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Audi’s answer to the BMW Mini comes in the form of the A1 (officially called the Audi metroproject Quattro), and from the looks of things, in exchange for “cutesy” styling, they’ve given it some attitude. You may recall an earlier post in which we pointed out that Audi execs still weren’t sure about the final design of the A1, on the cusp of the Tokyo Auto show. Seems like that’s been taken care of, as you can now see. The A1 offers a much more grown up and demure take on the sub compact segment, and even though this car doesn’t scream for attention, it is still undeniably an Audi.
We now know that power will come from a 1.4L TSFI engine mated to a 41 HP electric motor which is mounted on the rear axle, producing 150 horses and 147 lbs-ft. of torque. Because of the placement of the motor, the A1 can be plugged directly into an outlet. Audi estimates a 100 km range when running solely on the lithium-ion batteries. Choice of transmission is limited. Very limited. An S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox is all that will be available for the A1 at this point.
Despite the relatively low horsepower and torque figures, the A1 is capable of a 0-60 sprint in 7.8 seconds. Not too shabby. Handling should be even more impressive, however, thanks to Audi’s magnetic ride shock absorber technology, found on the Audi TT and R8.
We should have much more information about the A1 after it is presented at the Tokyo Auto show. See below for some high resolution images of the A1, and stay tuned to Driver’s Life for updates.
[Source: Motor Authority]
“There are many opinions. But currently, the voices calling for diesels are stronger than the voices for hybrids,” said Ikuo Mori, president of Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries, while talking to Automotive News Europe. The diesel-powered Subarus are slated to go on sale in Europe shorty after they are debuted at the 2008 Geneva auto show. Subaru says that there are no immediate plans to import the diesel vehicles to North America, and its possible we may not even see any on this side of the pond until at least 2012. Perhaps this is due to difficulties in meeting strict emissions standards in some states like California and New York. We broke the news yesterday about Mercedes-Benz becoming the first diesel vehicle manufacturer to pass California’s stringent emissions standards. To reduce investment outlays, Subaru plans to build the engines on the same line as gasoline engines. This is possible thanks to the unique structure of the symmetrical AWD drivetrain.
Subaru is collaborating with Toyota to jointly develop hybrid technology. Mori didn’t give a time estimation for when Subaru will put hybrids on the road, but he stated the company would not do so until their lithium-ion battery technology is perfected first. Subaru is also collaborating with Toyota on a small, rear wheel drive sports car.
It seems like most automakers are putting more emphasis on developing diesel vehicles for the North American market right now than Hybrids. This could be a result of the production costs involved, and the fact that hybrid vehicles depreciate much more rapidly than regular vehicles.
Either way, we’re excited to see that diesel alternatives are becoming readily more available from all manufacturers. Expect diesel infrastructure to improve as a direct result.
[Source: The Auto Channel]
The Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC is the first diesel powered vehicle to meet California’s strict emission standards, and it went on sale today. Mercedes-Benz is offering the car only as a lease vehicle for 2 years/24,000 miles for roughly $600 per month. Only about 100 units will be available this year, but don’t worry. The rest of the Mercedes diesel lineup arrives next August when the M, R and GL Bluetec diesels go on sale.
Other states that have adopted California’s strict emission standards are New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, all of whom can expect to get the E320 Bluetec in January 2008.
[Source: Automotive News]
Hyundai executives are planning on bringing a fuel cell powered vehicle to production as early as 2012. What you see here is the MPV concept first showcased at the Frankfurt Auto show last month, which gave the world a peek at Hyundai’s i-Blue technology. While the MPV may not ever make it to production, the corporate bigwigs tell us that the first vehicle to make use of the fuel cell will be a crossover SUV. And just in case you can’t wait that long, the bosses also revealed that a hybrid version of its Elantra family car would arrive in 2010.
[Source: AutoExpress]
Volkswagen officially revealed their answer to the Porsche Cayenne in the form of the Touareg R50 at the 2007 Sydney Auto Show. Powered by a V10 TDI engine, the R50 version of the Touareg puts out 345 HP and, wait for it… 627 lb-ft of torque! That’s enough torque to jumpstart a dying planet. Too bad they are still a bit short on the torque required to dislodge your mother in law from your favorite armchair. ..
Priced at about 88,260 Euros, the R50 sits on 21-inch wheels, and rides on an “air suspension sports chassis.” This is the third model to wear Volkswagen’s sporty R badge, along with the Golf R32 and the new Passat R36. All three models have 4MOTION all-wheel drive to guarantee optimal traction. You’ll need it just in case you actually do attempt to move your mother in law.
Full press release available after the jump.
[Source: Jalopnik]
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The Saturn Vue Green Line is the original hybrid SUV from General Motors. Now in its second generation, boasting a sexy new restyling, it is officially the cheapest hybrid SUV on the market. Slightly. Prices for the Vue Green Line will start at $24,795, under cutting the Ford Escape Hybrid by just $280. GM has just announced that the Vue Green Line is already well into production, and should be arriving in showrooms within the next few weeks. Just in time for the holiday season!
This generation of Vue Green Line uses a belt-alternator-starter hybrid system linked to a 2.4 liter 172 horsepower four-cylinder engine. The result is 25/32 mpg city/highway under the new 2008 EPA test procedures. This makes it one of the most efficient hybrids available as well, since most manufacturers found that their hybrid vehicles were losing an average of 20% economy under the new standards. The Vue hybrid also has a sizable 19 gallon fuel tank which GM sources tell us should be good for cruising up to 585 miles on the highway.
Two more Vue hybrid variants are supposed to make production in the next couple years. Next autumn, a Two-Mode hybrid version should be available, followed by a plug-in version the following year. And for those of you who like your SUV’s conventionally powered, the regular Vue with a 2.4L four cylinder gasoline engine is also available now for $21,395.
Saturn’s official press release and pictures after the jump.
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Chevrolet wants you to know that the 2008 Malibu is a better buy then Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The General is on the cusp of launching a new ad campaign which they are touting as the “biggest one-day digital takeover ever by a marketer…with an unprecedented one-day digital takeover of the leading online portals and automotive, sports and lifestyle Web sites.” Ummm Okay… so that’s great and all, but is an advertising campaign really going to get people to buy your cars? Maybe, but the car has to be able to live up to the hype. We think it probably does. With a stylish new redesign, and pricing that starts at $19,995 for the base-level LS trim, the Malibu is definitely looking pretty good right about now. Don’t forget, it rides on the same platform as the Saturn Aura, the car which beat the Camry and Accord for the 2007 North American Car of the Year.
Chevrolet will also be offering a hybrid version with the starting price of just $22,790, making it one of the cheapest hybrids on the market.
GM supposedly spent $100 million on the marketing campaign, and you can read the press release after the jump if you’re so inclined.
[Source: Jalopnik]
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