Category: Auto Industry

Teased: BMW i8 official images leak ahead of Frankfurt [w/video]

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Design/Style, Electric, Luxury

BMW i8 Profile Shot

The new BMW i8 plug-in electric supercar isn’t set to make its official debut until September 10, when it will glide onto the Frankfurt Motor Show stage amidst a sea of flash photography. Of course, that isn’t so true in today’s world, where debuts are always preceded (often carefully) by “leaks.”

Take this trio of images of the BMW i8 – there’s just enough of the exterior on display in the profile shot to draw attention, without showing important styling points that might be present on the front or back of the car. The same goes for the video attached below. The cabin shot is cool, but isn’t particularly earth-shattering when it comes to BMW interiors. As for the skeletal shot, we can see the 1.5-liter, turbocharged engine positioned between the rear axles, the battery pack found in what would be the transmission tunnel and the front-mounted electric motors.

We’ll have a full set of live images when the BMW i8 makes its debut in Frankfurt next week. Until then, have a look in the gallery and at the video below, and let us know what you think of BMW’s next big thing.

Continue reading BMW i8 official images leak ahead of Frankfurt [w/video]

BMW i8 official images leak ahead of Frankfurt [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teased: BMW i8 official images leak ahead of Frankfurt [w/video]

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Design/Style, Electric, Luxury

BMW i8 Profile Shot

The new BMW i8 plug-in electric supercar isn’t set to make its official debut until September 10, when it will glide onto the Frankfurt Motor Show stage amidst a sea of flash photography. Of course, that isn’t so true in today’s world, where debuts are always preceded (often carefully) by “leaks.”

Take this trio of images of the BMW i8 – there’s just enough of the exterior on display in the profile shot to draw attention, without showing important styling points that might be present on the front or back of the car. The same goes for the video attached below. The cabin shot is cool, but isn’t particularly earth-shattering when it comes to BMW interiors. As for the skeletal shot, we can see the 1.5-liter, turbocharged engine positioned between the rear axles, the battery pack found in what would be the transmission tunnel and the front-mounted electric motors.

We’ll have a full set of live images when the BMW i8 makes its debut in Frankfurt next week. Until then, have a look in the gallery and at the video below, and let us know what you think of BMW’s next big thing.

Continue reading BMW i8 official images leak ahead of Frankfurt [w/video]

BMW i8 official images leak ahead of Frankfurt [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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260.5 EVs set world record for electric vehicle parade [w/video]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Europe/EU

A half Nissan Leaf participates in the world record EV gathering in Oslo, Norway

Norway has long led Europe in electric vehicle adoption, and now the country’s EV advocates can boast of holding a new world record: the largest-ever gathering of moving electric vehicles. We are particularly amused that the record was set by 260 and a half EVs, since one of the cars was a cutaway version of the Nissan Leaf. The sliced EV is complete enough to drive, and was thus eligible to participate in the emissions-free parade.

Organized by the Electric Vehicle Union (EVU) and the Norwegian EV Association, the 2.5-mile parade featured a lot of Leafs (understandable, since it’s the world’s best-selling electric car) and took place in and around Oslo, Norway’s capital. For proof, the drive “was monitored by two-camera carrying drones to ensure that all vehicles were moving simultaneously and qualified for the new world record.” In support, Nissan announced it wants to have its EVs from around the world reach a cumulative 1 billion all-electric kilometers (621,371 miles) by the first day of 2015. A video featuring snippets of happy EV drivers talking about their cars and a press release about the event are available below.

The previous EV record was set last December when 225 Leaf EVs gathered at Silverstone in the UK. 260.5 certainly is a lot, but we have National Plug In Day coming up in the US at the end of the month, so we’ll see if this new record stands for more than 30 days.

Continue reading 260.5 EVs set world record for electric vehicle parade [w/video]

260.5 EVs set world record for electric vehicle parade [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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260.5 EVs set world record for electric vehicle parade [w/video]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Europe/EU

A half Nissan Leaf participates in the world record EV gathering in Oslo, Norway

Norway has long led Europe in electric vehicle adoption, and now the country’s EV advocates can boast of holding a new world record: the largest-ever gathering of moving electric vehicles. We are particularly amused that the record was set by 260 and a half EVs, since one of the cars was a cutaway version of the Nissan Leaf. The sliced EV is complete enough to drive, and was thus eligible to participate in the emissions-free parade.

Organized by the Electric Vehicle Union (EVU) and the Norwegian EV Association, the 2.5-mile parade featured a lot of Leafs (understandable, since it’s the world’s best-selling electric car) and took place in and around Oslo, Norway’s capital. For proof, the drive “was monitored by two-camera carrying drones to ensure that all vehicles were moving simultaneously and qualified for the new world record.” In support, Nissan announced it wants to have its EVs from around the world reach a cumulative 1 billion all-electric kilometers (621,371 miles) by the first day of 2015. A video featuring snippets of happy EV drivers talking about their cars and a press release about the event are available below.

The previous EV record was set last December when 225 Leaf EVs gathered at Silverstone in the UK. 260.5 certainly is a lot, but we have National Plug In Day coming up in the US at the end of the month, so we’ll see if this new record stands for more than 30 days.

Continue reading 260.5 EVs set world record for electric vehicle parade [w/video]

260.5 EVs set world record for electric vehicle parade [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Infiniti FX to gain interior volume

Filed under: Performance, Crossover, Infiniti, Luxury

2013 Infiniti FX37 front three-quarter

The Infiniti FX, soon to be renamed QX70 thanks to the Japanese brand’s convoluted naming scheme, is currently in the midst of its second-generation. And while we like the compact, sporty crossover’s driving character a lot, it lacks the “utility” part of the CUV moniker. That lack of cabin space will be addressed in the future, though.

Automotive News recently sat down with Nissan’s global design boss, Shiro Nakamura, to talk about the future of what he called “the icon of Infiniti.” And while Nakamura-san admitted the FX/QX70’s worth to the brand, its sales have long been something of a disappointment. “Exterior and styling-wise, it’s very strong as an icon. But to be honest, its sales volume has not been as big as we wanted,” a reality Nakamura believes is due largely to its tight cabin relative to its competition.

Finding the right balance might be difficult, though. The FX/QX70 is selling extremely well in both China and Russia, according to Nakamura, because of its looks. Altering that style in order to increase interior space risks alienating a new and important group of buyers for Infiniti. The designer put it best when he told AN, ” It is selling well in China and Russia because it stands out. So we want to maintain that striking look.” As it stands, we’ll likely be living with the current vehicle for a few more years – AN doesn’t expect the third-generation of the FX/QX70 to arrive until 2015 or 2016.

Next Infiniti FX to gain interior volume originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Infiniti FX to gain interior volume

Filed under: Performance, Crossover, Infiniti, Luxury

2013 Infiniti FX37 front three-quarter

The Infiniti FX, soon to be renamed QX70 thanks to the Japanese brand’s convoluted naming scheme, is currently in the midst of its second-generation. And while we like the compact, sporty crossover’s driving character a lot, it lacks the “utility” part of the CUV moniker. That lack of cabin space will be addressed in the future, though.

Automotive News recently sat down with Nissan’s global design boss, Shiro Nakamura, to talk about the future of what he called “the icon of Infiniti.” And while Nakamura-san admitted the FX/QX70’s worth to the brand, its sales have long been something of a disappointment. “Exterior and styling-wise, it’s very strong as an icon. But to be honest, its sales volume has not been as big as we wanted,” a reality Nakamura believes is due largely to its tight cabin relative to its competition.

Finding the right balance might be difficult, though. The FX/QX70 is selling extremely well in both China and Russia, according to Nakamura, because of its looks. Altering that style in order to increase interior space risks alienating a new and important group of buyers for Infiniti. The designer put it best when he told AN, ” It is selling well in China and Russia because it stands out. So we want to maintain that striking look.” As it stands, we’ll likely be living with the current vehicle for a few more years – AN doesn’t expect the third-generation of the FX/QX70 to arrive until 2015 or 2016.

Next Infiniti FX to gain interior volume originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Chrysler celebrates 30 years of minivans with special editions

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Dodge

2014 Dodge Grand Caravan 30th Anniversary Edition

It’s been known by many names: the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler Voyager, Lancia Voyager, Volkswagen Routan, Ram Cargo Van… but the bottom line is that Chrysler’s minivans have defined the segment for 30 years now. In fact, Chrysler says it has sold 13 million of them since 1983, helped along by the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan that accounted for nearly half of all minivans sold in the United States just last year. So to celebrate this three-decade milestone, the Auburn Hills auto has announced a pair of new special editions.

2014 Chrysler Town & Country 30th Anniversary EditionThe 2014 Chrysler Town & Country 30th Anniversary Edition starts the Touring-L trim and includes such special touches as 17-inch wheels, unique badging, available Granite Crystal Pearl paint and an interior decked out in black Alcantara and Nappa leather, piano black trim and all the optional bells and whistles bundled in.

The 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan 30th Anniversary Edition, meanwhile, starts off with either the SE or SXT trims and also upgrades with 17-inch alloys as well as color-keyed mirrors and an interior with silver stitching, piano black trim, power everything, and of course, those special badges.

Both versions are powered by the same 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 283 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. Scope out the press release below and our full image galleries for a closer look at what sets these celebratory specials apart.

Continue reading Chrysler celebrates 30 years of minivans with special editions

Chrysler celebrates 30 years of minivans with special editions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Chrysler celebrates 30 years of minivans with special editions

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Dodge

2014 Dodge Grand Caravan 30th Anniversary Edition

It’s been known by many names: the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler Voyager, Lancia Voyager, Volkswagen Routan, Ram Cargo Van… but the bottom line is that Chrysler’s minivans have defined the segment for 30 years now. In fact, Chrysler says it has sold 13 million of them since 1983, helped along by the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan that accounted for nearly half of all minivans sold in the United States just last year. So to celebrate this three-decade milestone, the Auburn Hills auto has announced a pair of new special editions.

2014 Chrysler Town & Country 30th Anniversary EditionThe 2014 Chrysler Town & Country 30th Anniversary Edition starts the Touring-L trim and includes such special touches as 17-inch wheels, unique badging, available Granite Crystal Pearl paint and an interior decked out in black Alcantara and Nappa leather, piano black trim and all the optional bells and whistles bundled in.

The 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan 30th Anniversary Edition, meanwhile, starts off with either the SE or SXT trims and also upgrades with 17-inch alloys as well as color-keyed mirrors and an interior with silver stitching, piano black trim, power everything, and of course, those special badges.

Both versions are powered by the same 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with 283 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. Scope out the press release below and our full image galleries for a closer look at what sets these celebratory specials apart.

Continue reading Chrysler celebrates 30 years of minivans with special editions

Chrysler celebrates 30 years of minivans with special editions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Volvo Trucks’ president Claes Nilsson delivers the right hook

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Work, Volvo

Claes Nilsson, Volvo Trucks CEO

We’d like to think that most executives stand behind their products, especially cars and trucks where people’s lives are on the line. But Claes Nilsson has taken the principle one step further.

In this brief video clip, the president of Volvo Trucks doesn’t just stand idly by and watch the new Volvo FMX being put to the test. He stands on top of it as it is suspended from a crane at the port of Gothenburg, Sweden. It’s a sight to see, and aptly illustrates the point that Volvo trucks are built to withstand more than their design brief. See the one-take stunt for yourself in the video below, and be sure to watch the new “making of” video as well.

Continue reading Volvo Trucks’ president Claes Nilsson delivers the right hook

Volvo Trucks’ president Claes Nilsson delivers the right hook originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Volvo Trucks’ president Claes Nilsson delivers the right hook

Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Work, Volvo

Claes Nilsson, Volvo Trucks CEO

We’d like to think that most executives stand behind their products, especially cars and trucks where people’s lives are on the line. But Claes Nilsson has taken the principle one step further.

In this brief video clip, the president of Volvo Trucks doesn’t just stand idly by and watch the new Volvo FMX being put to the test. He stands on top of it as it is suspended from a crane at the port of Gothenburg, Sweden. It’s a sight to see, and aptly illustrates the point that Volvo trucks are built to withstand more than their design brief. See the one-take stunt for yourself in the video below, and be sure to watch the new “making of” video as well.

Continue reading Volvo Trucks’ president Claes Nilsson delivers the right hook

Volvo Trucks’ president Claes Nilsson delivers the right hook originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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