Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Stolen: Zero S swiped from Fuel promotional tour!

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, USA



Zero S electric motorcycle - Click above for high-res image gallery



If you spot a Zero S electric motorcycle resembling the one pictured above - possibly in the New York Metropolitan area - being driven like it's stolen, chances are it probably was. A sad milestone was met on the weekend when the first theft of a battery-powered bike was reported to authorities in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The supermoto-style street machine, owned by The Veggie Van Organization (the folks with the algae-fueled Prius) and bearing the "MFG 7A 43245" license plate, was liberated from the back of a parked van despite the heavy cable lock in place to secure it. It's doubted that the thief was attracted to the early production S for its low carbon footprint and may be surprised to learn that they are in illegal possession of one of a very few examples of this model since it hasn't begun shipping to regular customers yet. Even in white, stripped of its Fuel movie promotional wrap, the Zero S sticks out and easily attracts attention to itself. Not ideal for a "hot" ride.



If you do happen to spot someone quietly zipping along, simultaneously grinning at the pleasure electric drive gives, yet looking furtive, do not attempt to apprehend. Contact the authorities and do your bit for both crime-fighting and the environment. Hit the jump for a look at the trailer of Fuel, the film the motorcycle was helping promote.







[Source: Zero Motorcycles via Electric Motorcycles Forum]


Continue reading Stolen: Zero S swiped from Fuel promotional tour!

Stolen: Zero S swiped from Fuel promotional tour! originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Preview: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV comes with a plug, extra cocochi

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Mitsubishi, Tokyo Motor Show


Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery



Mitsubishi is previewing its next-generation CUV in the Land of the Rising Sun next month, and like nearly every other concept bound for the Tokyo Motor Show, the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV is packing a number of hybrid technologies to maximize fuel efficiency, decrease emissions and keep performance on par. Plus, the PX-MiEV comes with an added helping of "cocochi" - Japanese for "cozy."



PX is Mitsubishi shorthand for "plug-in hybrid crossover," so a 1.6-liter inline-four powers the front wheels, along with a generator, and a new plug-in system allows users to tap into the grid with either a 100 or 200-volt outlet. The PX-MiEV boasts an EV mode with a 30-mile range which can toggle between front- and all-wheel drive, a series hybrid mode when the juice dries up and a parallel hybrid system when under full load. Mitsu's E-4WD system shuffles power to the rear wheels when needed, using the same S-AWC and E-AYC systems as the Evolution X. The PX-MiEV can send torque left-to-right depending on the conditions, and a new center differential motor (unlike the mutli-plate clutch setup on the Evo) actively tweaks torque output to the rear wheels to increase grip.



Inside, the PX-MiEV sports a spartan interior with a number of technologies to keep occupants happy and healthy, including heat reflective glass and paint, along with individual air conditioners. Active safety systems - ranging from a "Multi-Around Monitor" to a front-facing camera that detects fatigue, then alerts the driver through a series of visual, audio and "vibrational" warnings - are sure to find their way into future Mitsubishi models. All the details are yours for the taking the in press release below the fold.







[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading Tokyo Preview: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV comes with a plug, extra cocochi

Tokyo Preview: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV comes with a plug, extra cocochi originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz launches BlueEfficiency Sprinter van

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Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Mercedes Benz, Natural Gas



Mercedes-Benz BlueEfficiency Sprinter - click above for high res image gallery



Over the past year, Mercedes-Benz has been rolling out high mileage BlueEfficiency versions of several passenger car models and has now expanded the eco-tweaks to their commercial vehicles. Effective immediately, two different Sprinter BlueEfficiency variants are available with different engines.



The first is powered by a new 2.2-liter four cylinder common rail diesel engine that is available in 95, 129 and 163 hp variants. Torque ranges from 184 lb-ft to 265 lb-ft. Electric on-demand control of auxiliary systems like the oil pump, alternator and oil spray nozzles allows the loads to be managed to reduce parasitic losses.



The Sprinter is also available with a 156 hp natural gas fueled four cylinder engine. Natural gas Sprinters can be had as either CNG-only or bi-fueled versions that can also run on gasoline. Both engines are paired up with a new wide-ratio ECO Gear six-speed manual transmission. The gearbox incorporates automatic start-stop functionality to shut the engines down when the van stops.





[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz launches BlueEfficiency Sprinter van

Mercedes-Benz launches BlueEfficiency Sprinter van originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy shots: Possible Volkswagen BlueSport coupe mule spotted

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Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen

When Volkswagen unveiled its Concept BlueSport Roadster in Detroit last January, the big question on people's mind was "When can we buy one?" If the most recent spy photos from the Nürburgring are any indication, it could be soon. A development mule based on a three-door Golf MK VI has been spotted circulating with what looks like a dislocated rear axle.



It's not uncommon to see test mules like this that use existing bodies with new hardware underneath to evaluate new stuff. It looks like this mule has both a wider track and shorter wheelbase than the Golf, which could correspond to testing chassis bits for the BlueSport. It's not clear from this batch of photos whether this vehicle has the engine mounted up front or behind the front seats. There aren't any visible ducts or air intakes feeding a mid-engine but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Only time will tell if we get this high-mileage diesel-powered sports car.



[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy shots: Possible Volkswagen BlueSport coupe mule spotted originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sales of natural gas powered cars increase in Germany

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Filed under: Natural Gas, Germany





Despite the general economic downturn - felt in Germany as much as anywhere else - sales in Germany of natural gas (CNG) powered cars increased by 14 percent this year. Specifically, the increase saw 6,561 more CNG vehicles sold this year so far, adding about 80,000 CNG vehicles to German roads. Most of these models belong to two home brands, Volkswagen and Opel. The top sellers were the VW Caddy (with 2,476 units), the Opel Zafira (839 units), the VW Passat (758 units) and the Volkswagen Touran (562 units). One of the reasons for the increase in sales is the lower costs of natural gas in Germany. it costs about half as much to run a car on CNG than on unleaded gasoline in Germay, and there are lower taxes and insurance costs to consider as well.



[Source: Auto News]

Sales of natural gas powered cars increase in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: IIHS concerned with growing popularity of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)


Polaris Breeze NEV - Click above to enlarge



According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is concerned with the growing popularity of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. Specifically, the IIHS worries that these vehicles are increasingly being allowed to travel on public roads where traffic often moves at higher speeds than the cars were initially designed to travel on.



The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is reportedly considering how best to regulate NEVs as more of them begin to hit our nation's roadways. For its part, IIHS spokesman Joe Nolan says the organization may begin crash testing the "souped-up golf carts" to demonstrate their safety deficiencies when compared with normal cars and trucks. Current estimates put roughly 100,000 NEVs on the road today.



[Source: Wall Street Journal - Sub. Req'd via TTAC]

REPORT: IIHS concerned with growing popularity of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TTXGP to add Supermoto class for 2010

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Racing


Zero S electric supermoto motorcycle - Click above for high-res image gallery



Following up on the successful launch of the TTXGP zero-emissions motorcycle race at the Isle of Man earlier this year, the organizers behind the racing series have decided to branch out in 2010 to include a Supermoto class in addition to the Pro1 and Pro2 classes that have already been announced.



The new Supermoto class will be run in partnership with the Peveril Motorcycle Club, which has been in operation since 1923 and ran the first organized Supermoto event at the Isle of Man in 2005. The exact details of where the course will take the electric supermoto bikes will be finalized in early October.



In related news, the first TTX02 rolling chassis, which is reportedly based on the race-winning Agni bike, has been delivered. Up to 50 TTX02 racers will be built and sold to riders and teams that hope to compete in upcoming electric motorcycle racing events.







[Source: TTXGP]

TTXGP to add Supermoto class for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica

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Filed under: Hybrid, Hydrogen, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

The annual Alt Car Expo is coming up this weekend at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and Vision Industries will be on hand to display its Tyrano semi tractor. This is no typical smoke-belching, diesel-powered semi. In fact, the only thing emitted by this hauler is water vapor.



The Tyrano is a plug-in hybrid with a hydrogen fuel cell. The truck uses 33 kg of compressed hydrogen for a 340-mile range. It's not known at this point how far the battery can propel the truck on a charge. The Tyrano is being built as part of a program to replace 16,800 diesel-powered trucks in the port of Los Angeles over the next several years. The first production units are expected in the first quarter of 2010.



[Source: Vision Motor Corp]




Continue reading AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica

AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Austrian hyper-miler beats his own record when driving a Seat Ibiza Ecomotive to 100 mpg

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Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Europe/EU, Germany, SEAT





Last May, Austrian Gerhard Plattner took a Seat Ibiza Ecomotive and drove it from the factory where it was built, in Martorell (near Barcelona), Spain, and drove it a distance of 970.6 miles using just 2.9 liters of fuel per 100 km. This comes to 81.1 mpg (U.S.), an impressive figure. But, since there's always room for improvement, Plattner repeated the test. This time, he completed a 1,910-km (1,187-mile) tour that used just 44.8 liters of gas. That means Plattner managed to increase his average consumption figure to 2.34 liters per 100 km (100 mpg U.S.). The government fuel consumption rating for the model is 3.7 l /100 km (64 mpg).



Plattner's route wound its way through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and France on the way to Germany, where the car was to be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Seat Ibiza Ecomotive is powered by a 1.4-liter diesel engine featuring a diesel particulate filter that puts out 80hp. That's plenty when you're getting 100 mpg.



[Source: Auto News]

Austrian hyper-miler beats his own record when driving a Seat Ibiza Ecomotive to 100 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New train-sponsored carpool system comes to Paris

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Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Europe/EU

SNCF, the public company that manages the French railway system, has launched a new carpool service. Aimed at people who live in the large Paris metropolitan area and use the commuter train system, Transilien, to go to work, the idea is to get more people to use fewer cars because most stations have insufficient parking space. Since commuting by car to the train station is a problem for many people right now, SNCF hopes that sponsoring a system that promotes carpooling will make parking easier and get more people on board. SNCF has set up a website to let users find neighbors to carpool with.



[Source: Le Blog Auto]

New train-sponsored carpool system comes to Paris originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EcoCAR, Year Two starts in Boston; student engineers cleaning up the Saturn Vue

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Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Green Culture, GM, Green Daily





GM may have discarded the Saturn brand in the company's bankruptcy, but there are still at least 150 young engineers working hard to turn a Saturn Vue into the most efficient vehicle possible. The engineers are all students from 17 universities who are participating in the EcoCAR challenge, the three-year follow-up to Challenge X.



The 17 EcoCAR teams have now spent a year doing the theoretical work to pick the powertrain they want to install in their Vue. EcoCAR guidelines allow them to "explore a variety of cutting-edge clean vehicle solutions, including full-function electric, range-extended electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell technologies." Reducing weight, improving aerodynamics and using biofuels or hydrogen is also allowed. Year Two of the competition - in which the teams begin to translate their calculations into the real world - kicked off in Boston last week.



GM unveiled the Vue as the donor vehicle for EcoCar last December. EcoCAR is sponsored by A123Systems, General Motors Company, and the U.S. Department of Energy. More details after the jump.





[Source: EcoCAR]








Continue reading EcoCAR, Year Two starts in Boston; student engineers cleaning up the Saturn Vue

EcoCAR, Year Two starts in Boston; student engineers cleaning up the Saturn Vue originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch

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Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Green Daily





If nothing else, the big news of the day is that your iPhone can now make cars honk. Why an iPhone app should be able to honk a car's horn is almost beyond us. Almost. We can think of one reason for the unique feature, and it has to do with getting ready for a new phase in personal transportation: since Zipcar is all about car sharing, and Zipcar users will often be using one of many cars, having it beep allows you to remember, "oh, right, I'm in the MINI today." The key fob would, of course, work just as well, but it's not as flashy as using your phone.



The horn honking feature is part of the newly-released Zipcar App, which makes finding, reserving and controlling your Zipcar possible through the iPhone (and, over WiFi, the iPod touch). The controls are not as cool as Dr. Horrible's little app in the sing-along blog, but you can do more than honk. You can lock and unlock the car as well. The app wont' be able to unlock any car in the system - you still need to scan your Zipcard to start the reservation; only then is the app able to honk that horn. The App is free and available now in iTunes. You can take a tour here.



What we haven't seen in this app, but what would be a good idea, is a Google Maps feature that simply shows you where your automobile is. Also not as notable as the honking thing, but much more practical.



[Source: Zipcar]

Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EcoCAR, Year Two starts in Boston; student engineers cleaning up the Saturn Vue

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Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Green Culture, GM, Green Daily





GM may have discarded the Saturn brand in the company's bankruptcy, but there are still at least 150 young engineers working hard to turn a Saturn Vue into the most efficient vehicle possible. The engineers are all students from 17 universities who are participating in the EcoCAR challenge, the three-year follow-up to Challenge X.



The 17 EcoCAR teams have now spent a year doing the theoretical work to pick the powertrain they want to install in their Vue. EcoCAR guidelines allow them to "explore a variety of cutting-edge clean vehicle solutions, including full-function electric, range-extended electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell technologies." Reducing weight, improving aerodynamics and using biofuels or hydrogen is also allowed. Year Two of the competition - in which the teams begin to translate their calculations into the real world - kicked off in Boston last week.



GM unveiled the Vue as the donor vehicle for EcoCar last December. EcoCAR is sponsored by A123Systems, General Motors Company, and the U.S. Department of Energy. More details after the jump.





[Source: EcoCAR]








Continue reading EcoCAR, Year Two starts in Boston; student engineers cleaning up the Saturn Vue

EcoCAR, Year Two starts in Boston; student engineers cleaning up the Saturn Vue originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch

0 comments

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Green Daily





If nothing else, the big news of the day is that your iPhone can now make cars honk. Why an iPhone app should be able to honk a car's horn is almost beyond us. Almost. We can think of one reason for the unique feature, and it has to do with getting ready for a new phase in personal transportation: since Zipcar is all about car sharing, and Zipcar users will often be using one of many cars, having it beep allows you to remember, "oh, right, I'm in the MINI today." The key fob would, of course, work just as well, but it's not as flashy as using your phone.



The horn honking feature is part of the newly-released Zipcar App, which makes finding, reserving and controlling your Zipcar possible through the iPhone (and, over WiFi, the iPod touch). The controls are not as cool as Dr. Horrible's little app in the sing-along blog, but you can do more than honk. You can lock and unlock the car as well. The app wont' be able to unlock any car in the system - you still need to scan your Zipcard to start the reservation; only then is the app able to honk that horn. The App is free and available now in iTunes. You can take a tour here.



What we haven't seen in this app, but what would be a good idea, is a Google Maps feature that simply shows you where your automobile is. Also not as notable as the honking thing, but much more practical.



[Source: Zipcar]

Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch

0 comments

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Green Daily





If nothing else, the big news of the day is that your iPhone can now make cars honk. Why an iPhone app should be able to honk a car's horn is almost beyond us. Almost. We can think of one reason for the unique feature, and it has to do with getting ready for a new phase in personal transportation: since Zipcar is all about car sharing, and Zipcar users will often be using one of many cars, having it beep allows you to remember, "oh, right, I'm in the MINI today." The key fob would, of course, work just as well, but it's not as flashy as using your phone.



The horn honking feature is part of the newly-released Zipcar App, which makes finding, reserving and controlling your Zipcar possible through the iPhone (and, over WiFi, the iPod touch). The controls are not as cool as Dr. Horrible's little app in the sing-along blog, but you can do more than honk. You can lock and unlock the car as well. The app wont' be able to unlock any car in the system - you still need to scan your Zipcard to start the reservation; only then is the app able to honk that horn. The App is free and available now in iTunes. You can take a tour here.



What we haven't seen in this app, but what would be a good idea, is a Google Maps feature that simply shows you where your automobile is. Also not as notable as the honking thing, but much more practical.



[Source: Zipcar]

Zipcar's iPhone app finally available go ahead and honk the horn from your couch originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Attention 2004-2009 Prius owners: Remove your floor mats

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Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily





As part of the 3.8 million vehicle recall that was recently announced, Toyota and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration are advising owners of all 2004 to 2009 Prius hybrids to remove their driver's side floor mat immediately and not replace it with another brand until further information is offered.



Reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles have been heard for the last few years, and an investigation has found that it's possible for unfastened or improperly fastened floor mats to jam the car's accelerator pedal into the wide open throttle position.



A similar recall took place in September of 2007 for the all-weather floor mats in the 2007-08 Lexus ES350 and Toyota Camry, but it appears more vehicles may have been affected. Click past the break for official announcements from both the NHTSA and Toyota along with instruction on what to do if you own an affected vehicle.



[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Attention 2004-2009 Prius owners: Remove your floor mats

Attention 2004-2009 Prius owners: Remove your floor mats originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Tokyo Preview: Subaru Hybrid Tourer looks ready to take flight

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Filed under: Hybrid, Subaru, Tokyo Motor Show


Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery



Subaru is adding a green tint to its renowned all-wheel drive technical know-how at the Tokyo Motor Show next month with the Hybrid Tourer Concept. Three separate power sources will share the duties of propelling this concept, depending on the specific set of circumstances.



Naturally, a horizontally-opposed "Boxer" engine - in this case displacing two liters and boasting a turbocharger and direct injection - sits under the hood and sends power to the front wheels when necessary. A Lineartronic CVT transmission is used to promote maximum fuel efficiency.



As is the case with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, an electric motor is mated up to that gasoline engine and acts as a 10 kW motor when power is needed and a generator to recharge the lithium ion battery pack the rest of the time. A second electric motor sends 20 kW of power to the rear wheels under low-speed driving conditions and when maximum power is required. Because no driveshaft is required to connect the rear differential to the front-mounted engine, Subaru has managed to keep a flat floor for the rear occupants.



Besides the high-tech powertrain, Subaru's Hybrid Tourer Concept sports concept-appropriate touches such as giant wing-like gullwing doors that offer access for both the front- and rear-seat passengers and a dashboard that moves up and down to offer the driver a perfect view ahead. Want to know more? Check out high-res image gallery below and click past the break for the official press release.





Continue reading Tokyo Preview: Subaru Hybrid Tourer looks ready to take flight

Tokyo Preview: Subaru Hybrid Tourer looks ready to take flight originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Preview: Near-production Honda CR-Z "Concept" unveiled

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Filed under: Hybrid, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show




2009 Honda CR-Z Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery



One of the most highly anticipated new model releases scheduled to debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show would have to be the production version of Honda's CR-Z hybrid hatchback. First unveiled at the Tokyo show back in 2007 in concept form, the sporty two-passenger vehicle is slated for production early next year in Honda's home market of Japan. We expect the CR-Z to hit the States sometime thereafter.



Underhood will be a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated up to Honda's proprietary Integrated Motor Assist technology. Also on the menu will be a six-speed manual gearbox that will surely be a more entertaining partner for driving enthusiasts than the CVT automatic transmission used in the Insight hatchback.



While Honda is still calling the Tokyo-bound CR-Z a concept, don't expect the attractive sheetmetal to be altered before the car hits the showroom floor. That's fine by us - the car's wedge-shaped lines are very attractive and call to mind the seminal CRX from the early 1980s, though with a modern flavor reminiscent of the current Insight. See for yourself in our gallery below.






[Source: Honda]

Tokyo Preview: Near-production Honda CR-Z "Concept" unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan expecting 20,000 initial orders for Leaf EV

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily, USA


2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for hi-res image gallery



Starting next spring, Nissan plans to begin taking orders of its upcoming Leaf electric vehicle. By the time the first car is ready to be delivered to a paying customer in the fall, the Japanese automaker expects to have taken some 20,000 initial reservations - well over the 5,000 Leafs Nissan has committed to lease in 2010. In other words, if you really want one, you may want to consider getting your order in early.



Nissan will launch the Leaf next year in the states of Tennessee and Oregon, along with San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona. Each of those five locations has pledged to install 2,500 electric vehicle charging stations in expectation of a thousand or so new electric Leafs roaming their streets.



For the first two years or so, Nissan plans to import all U.S.-bound Leafs from Japan. By 2012, the automaker plans to have completed a $2 billion investment into its factory in Smyrna, TN that will allow for the production of 150,000 electric vehicles and 200,000 lithium ion batteries per year. This will be funded, in part, by the DOE loan Nissan was awarded in June.




[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Nissan expecting 20,000 initial orders for Leaf EV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo Preview: Near-production Honda CR-Z "Concept" unveiled

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Filed under: Hybrid, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show




2009 Honda CR-Z Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery



One of the most highly anticipated new model releases scheduled to debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show would have to be the production version of Honda's CR-Z hybrid hatchback. First unveiled at the Tokyo show back in 2007 in concept form, the sporty two-passenger vehicle is slated for production early next year in Honda's home market of Japan. We expect the CR-Z to hit the States sometime thereafter.



Underhood will be a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated up to Honda's proprietary Integrated Motor Assist technology. Also on the menu will be a six-speed manual gearbox that will surely be a more entertaining partner for driving enthusiasts than the CVT automatic transmission used in the Insight hatchback.



While Honda is still calling the Tokyo-bound CR-Z a concept, don't expect the attractive sheetmetal to be altered before the car hits the showroom floor. That's fine by us - the car's wedge-shaped lines are very attractive and call to mind the seminal CRX from the early 1980s, though with a modern flavor reminiscent of the current Insight. See for yourself in our gallery below.






[Source: Honda]

Tokyo Preview: Near-production Honda CR-Z "Concept" unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan expecting 20,000 initial orders for Leaf EV

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily, USA


2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for hi-res image gallery



Starting next spring, Nissan plans to begin taking orders of its upcoming Leaf electric vehicle. By the time the first car is ready to be delivered to a paying customer in the fall, the Japanese automaker expects to have taken some 20,000 initial reservations - well over the 5,000 Leafs Nissan has committed to lease in 2010. In other words, if you really want one, you may want to consider getting your order in early.



Nissan will launch the Leaf next year in the states of Tennessee and Oregon, along with San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona. Each of those five locations has pledged to install 2,500 electric vehicle charging stations in expectation of a thousand or so new electric Leafs roaming their streets.



For the first two years or so, Nissan plans to import all U.S.-bound Leafs from Japan. By 2012, the automaker plans to have completed a $2 billion investment into its factory in Smyrna, TN that will allow for the production of 150,000 electric vehicles and 200,000 lithium ion batteries per year. This will be funded, in part, by the DOE loan Nissan was awarded in June.




[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Nissan expecting 20,000 initial orders for Leaf EV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Production Citroen C-Cactus images leaked online?

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Filed under: Hybrid, Citroen, Spy Shots

Judging by a few grainy leaked images from Auto Express of what appears to be a production-ready version of the Citroen C-Cactus concept from the Frankfurt Motor Show in the fall of 2007, the French automaker has taken out some of the quirkiness that made the original vehicle so memorable... and added a whole new bunch of new and strange styling cues to pick up the slack.



This new model is rumored to be planned for sale in 2012 and will be the first model under Citroen's new Essentiele eco-friendly moniker. It's thought that the production C-Cactus will carry on with the concept's bare necessities approach, eschewing unnecessary bits - simplifying construction and lowering costs in the process.



Rumors contend that the upcoming Citroen will feature a three-cylinder diesel powerplant mated up with some unknown low-cost hybrid system. We'll see soon enough.



[Source: Auto Express]

Spy Shots: Production Citroen C-Cactus images leaked online? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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e-Wolf channels inner Italian with planned e2 electric car

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily


e-Wolf e2 - Click above for high-res image gallery



Shortly after debuting its Lotus Seven-esque e1 electric sportscar at the Frankfurt Motor Show, e-Wolf has released images and details of its next model, the e2. Unlike the open-topped e1, the German firm's e2 followup will feature a shape clearly inspired by any number of supercars from Italy, particularly the Lamborghini Reventon and Ferrari Enzo. If you're going to copy, might as well go for the gold, no?



Powering the theoretical electric supercar will be one 134-horsepower electric motor per wheel for a total of 536 squeaky clean horses and an impressive 738 lb-ft of torque (1,000 Nm). The run to 60 is expected to be dispatched in well under four seconds, though the top speed may be capped at 155 miles per hour.



Energy storage will be by way of a lithium ion battery pack composed of 84 flat cells from CERIO. Although no details have been released on the pack's stated capacity, e-Wolf suggests that range could be as high as 187 miles (300 kilometers) per charge after a recharge of just 30 minutes - of course it would take a powerful, specialized charger to achieve that result. Production is currently planned for 2011. Click past the break for the official press release.







[Source: e-Wolf via SpeedLux]

Continue reading e-Wolf channels inner Italian with planned e2 electric car

e-Wolf channels inner Italian with planned e2 electric car originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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