range Archives | Page 3 of 4

BMW registers ‘i’ nameplate for MegaCity range

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, BMW, Electric

BMW MegaCity design sketch

BMW Megacity Vehicle – Click above for high-res image gallery

First Apple, then Intel, now BMW. We’re not sure what it is about the letter ‘i’ (in lower case, naturally) that various marketing professionals the world over are so enamored with, but word has it that the Bavarian automaker plans to use the moniker for its fuel efficient MegaCity range of vehicles.

According to a post on the e90.com web forums, BMW has registered trademarks for i1, i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, i8 and i9, making us wonder exactly what the company has in mind for its newest sub-brand. Will there be high-efficiency versions of each of the automaker’s models, or is it just holding on to these designations so that others don’t attempt to gobble them up?

Whatever the case, we think they missed one golden opportunity… Where’s the iSetta trademark?

Gallery: BMW Megacity Vehicle

[Source: e90post.com]

BMW registers ‘i’ nameplate for MegaCity range originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “BMW registers ‘i’ nameplate for MegaCity range”

Project Kahn working on Cosworth-powered Range Rover Evoque

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, SUV, Land Rover, UK, Luxury, Off-Road

It’s not every day that a new Range Rover is introduced. But when one is, you can count on Azfal Kahn and his crew to go to work on it. And the new Evoque appears to be no exception.

Beyond the photo above, all Project Kahn has released so far about its tuning program for the Evoque is that (a) it’s working on one, (b) it’s coming some time in the new year and (c) it’ll be powered by Cosworth. Kahn has worked with the racing engine manufacturer on previous projects, so that’s no big revelation by itself, but it’ll be interesting to see what the two British firms have got in store for the new baby Rover beyond a set of flashy rims.

[Source: Project Kahn via autoblog.nl]

Project Kahn working on Cosworth-powered Range Rover Evoque originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Project Kahn working on Cosworth-powered Range Rover Evoque”

LA 2010: 2012 Range Rover Evoque sprouts a set of rear doors

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Land Rover, Luxury

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Five-Door

Range Rover Evoque Five-Door – Click above for high-res image gallery

We first met the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque at this year’s Paris Motor Show, and its five-door sister makes its official debut today at the LA Auto Show. The Evoque is a huge departure from what we’ve commonly known of things that wear the Range Rover name, and it’s poised to be a real hit amongst the urban, luxury lifestyle set. Power comes from a range of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, and all-wheel drive is standard – it is a Land Rover, after all.

Both the three- and five-door Evoques go on sale in the summer of next year, and Land Rover states that pricing will start around $45,000. See the new five-door Evoque for yourself in the high-res image gallery below and/or peep the mega-sized press release from Land Rover after the jump.

Gallery: LA 2010: Range Rover Evoque Five-Door

Range Rover Evoque Five-Door

Gallery: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-door

Continue reading LA 2010: 2012 Range Rover Evoque sprouts a set of rear doors

LA 2010: 2012 Range Rover Evoque sprouts a set of rear doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “LA 2010: 2012 Range Rover Evoque sprouts a set of rear doors”

Chery reportedly researching Wankel engines for extended-range EVs

Filed under: China, Technology, Chery, Electric

Mazda isn’t the only company out there working on the next-generation rotary engine. According to China Car Times, Chery is also dabbling in Wankel technology. The company isn’t so much interested in bringing non-piston love to The People’s Republic so much as they are finding a more efficient way to charge the batteries in an extended-range EV. If CCT’s intelligence is accurate, the plan is to use an 800cc Wankel as a sort of internal-combustion lifeline so that if an electric car’s batteries go dead the driver won’t be walking home. The strategy is in line with what we’ve seen from the Chevrolet Volt.

Chery has already worked up a prototype or two using electron-powered QQ3 models. China Car Times says that the vehicles can drive up to 93 miles on battery power alone. Throwing in the new Wankel has extended the vehicle’s range by as much as an additional 43 miles. As of right now, there are no specifics as to whether or not Chery plans to bring the range-extended QQ3 to market.

[Source: China Car Times]

Chery reportedly researching Wankel engines for extended-range EVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Chery reportedly researching Wankel engines for extended-range EVs”

2011 Brammo Enertia Plus doubles down on distance with 80-mile range [w/video]

2011 Brammo Enertia Plus – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2011 Brammo Enertia Plus doesn’t just raise the bar – it hoists it high and threatens to go all Jackie Chan on everything within its newfound extended reach. It takes the 40-mile range of the original Enertia and doubles it to 80 (LA92 drive cycle). It’s now easier to charge, simpler to start and turns tighter than its predecessor. Amazingly, with its new “Brammo Power” battery, it still weighs the same 324 pounds and, at $8,995, costs only $1,000 more.

Brammo has been pretty good about using social media to keep in touch with their existing and future customers and not only has the company listened to what people told them about the product, it’s taken their suggestions to heart and the Enertia Plus is the proof. Of course, increased range was a no-brainer, but boosting the battery up to a 6 kWh pack really makes the machine more desirable and allows it to truly fulfill its urban commuter mission. Minor complaints about the turning radius that could have been easily shrugged off were addressed with an improvement of the front geometry. Not only does the new bike turn tighter but the handle bars are now an inch closer (the fork offset has been increased and the trail decreased). Brammo engineers have also streamlined the charging and starting procedures. Now, you simply plug it in to charge and turn the key to start.

If you’ve already bought yourself an Enertia but really really want to upgrade, don’t despair. The company is offering a very attractive $2,500 “Customer Loyalty Rebate.” As with its new Empulse model, Brammo is also giving away a free bike to one of the first 1,000 pre-orders. To read the official press release and watch a slick and quick presentation of this new and improved urban weapon, hit the jump.

[Source: Brammo]

Continue reading 2011 Brammo Enertia Plus doubles down on distance with 80-mile range [w/video]

2011 Brammo Enertia Plus doubles down on distance with 80-mile range [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “2011 Brammo Enertia Plus doubles down on distance with 80-mile range [w/video]”

Nissan to offer free conventional car loan to Leaf buyers to ease range anxiety?

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Nissan, Rumormill, Electric

2011 Nissan Leaf

2011 Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery

The December 2010 launch of the 2011 Nissan Leaf gets closer every day and thousands of people have already signed up to reserve their spot for one. Still, some would-be buyers may suffer from a touch of “range anxiety” – that is, a nervous apprehension about running out of juice, only to be stranded somewhere. To quell that fear, TheDetroitBureau.com reports that Nissan is pondering an option for owners who need to undertake a journey longer than the 100-mile range the all-electric Leaf is rated for. A no-cost loan of a conventional, gasoline-powered vehicle could be made available to owners for periods of up to a week.

The loaner car option is still in the early planning stages, and it’s not yet clear exactly how it would work. Would the Leaf owner be required to arrange the loan through a rental agency, or could it be handled through a local dealership? Nissan still has a lot of details to iron out, but if the plan gets approved, it could prove to be a strong marketing tool.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf: First Drive

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Nissan to offer free conventional car loan to Leaf buyers to ease range anxiety? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Nissan to offer free conventional car loan to Leaf buyers to ease range anxiety?”

Range Rover Evoque art installations pop up across Paris

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Land Rover, Design/Style, Luxury, Off-Road

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque art

Range Rover Evoque Art Installations – Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover is very happy to show off its new Evoque. In fact, the automaker just commissioned an artist to create wire-frame versions of the little luxury crossover. The pieces, of which there are four, have been placed as art installations throughout Paris. The whole concept is designed to highlight the model during its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Four artists were chosen to create the pieces; André (a.k.a. “Monsieur A”), JCDC, Surface To Air and Yorgo Touplas. The unique units can be seen now through the end of September.

We’re big fans of wire-frame artwork because it presents a very unique perspective on an everyday object. It’s a smart way for Land Rover to get the Parisian locals and visitors talking about their newest model, especially since the city is currently filled with automotive journalists attending the Paris Motor Show and fashionistas in town for Paris Fashion Week.

Gallery: Land Rover Evoque Wire-Frame Art

Land Rover Evoque Wire-Frame Art

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Range Rover Evoque art installations pop up across Paris

Range Rover Evoque art installations pop up across Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Range Rover Evoque art installations pop up across Paris”

Paris 2010: Exagon Motors Furtive eGT range-extended EV looks better in person [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Paris Motor Show, Electric

Exagon Furtive e-GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

Exagon Motors hasn’t often appeared in these pages – the company built some electric ice racers last year – and so yesterday’s announcement of the Furtive e-GT extended-range/all-electric sports car caught us by surprise. We recovered from our shock long enough to check it out in person at the Paris Motor Show today, and the metal does the sleek shape more favors than a camera lens. Still, with a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds (take that, Tesla Roadster) and some range guarantees (!), we’ll take one no matter how it looks.

Specifically, Exagon guarantees that the Furtive-eGT will be able to go – when “calculated according to European standards and energy use cycles” – the following distances before the range extender kicks in:

At a constant speed of 50 km/h : 402 km (31 miles per hour : 250 miles)
At a constant speed of 90 km/h : 288 km (56 mph : 179 miles)
At a constant speed of 110 km/h : 241 km (68 mph : 150 miles)
At a constant speed of 130 km/h : 197 km (81 mph : 122 miles)

Another interesting thing about the Furtive-eGT is that the range extender is an option, which is certainly a welcome change from the one-type-fits-all powertrains we see in the Tesla, Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. Check out more views of the Furtive-eGT in the gallery below and be sure to click past the jump to watch the video.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Exagon Motors Furtive-eGT

Exagon Motors Furtive-eGT

Gallery: Exagon Furtive e-GT

Continue reading Paris 2010: Exagon Motors Furtive eGT range-extended EV looks better in person [w/video]

Paris 2010: Exagon Motors Furtive eGT range-extended EV looks better in person [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Paris 2010: Exagon Motors Furtive eGT range-extended EV looks better in person [w/video]”

Paris Preview: Exagon Furtive e-GT is a range-extended super-electric coupe [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Technology, Paris Motor Show, Electric

Exagon Furtive e-GT – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Born of Exagon Engineering, constructor of many a race car (including the eight ice-melting machines that contested the Trophée Andros Electrique last season), Exagon Motors has uncloaked a new street machine for a handful of French journalists, and the car’s performance numbers will probably raise more eyebrows than its looks.

The 2+2 is said to achieve a Tesla Roadster-beating 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds with twin Siemens motors producing 340 horsepower. The all-important, all-electric range is similar to the Silicon Valley speedster as well, with 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) claimed as the distance possible before the need for its on-board gasoline motor to kick in to take you the next 400 kms.

It appears the French manufacturer could begin production as soon as 2012. As far as the price goes, we’re going to guess this is is one of those, “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” type of deals. Still, we’ll ask anyway when we check it out for ourselves in the metal. Or carbon fiber. Or whatever it is. In the meantime, you can get a great look, inside and out, in the video reveal awaiting you after the break.

Gallery: Exagon Furtive e-GT

[Sources: Zer Customs, Turbo.fr]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Exagon Furtive e-GT is a range-extended super-electric coupe [w/video]

Paris Preview: Exagon Furtive e-GT is a range-extended super-electric coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Paris Preview: Exagon Furtive e-GT is a range-extended super-electric coupe [w/video]”

Paris Preview: Five-door Range Rover Evoque caught prepping for show [w/video]

Filed under: Spy Photos, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Land Rover, Luxury

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque five-door

When Land Rover officially revealed the Range Rover Evoque they didn’t include a single shot of the five-door baby crossover utility. Thankfully, someone with early access to the upcoming Paris Motor Show floor decided that was some kind of crime, and so they took shots of the more family-minded Evoque occupying the Land Rover stand. The secret snapper also got images of the cabin, and we think it’s beautiful distillation of the Range Rover Sport’s interior language. We can’t wait to see it ourselves next week.

For now, have a look at the link below for more shots of the Evoque five-door, and be sure to hit the jump for a video of the two-door.

[Source: 0-100.ro]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Five-door Range Rover Evoque caught prepping for show [w/video]

Paris Preview: Five-door Range Rover Evoque caught prepping for show [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Paris Preview: Five-door Range Rover Evoque caught prepping for show [w/video]”