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Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill, Electric

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Car and Driver, General Motors may have something special planned for the Detroit Auto Show in January. Word on the web is that The General is planning to pull back the sheets on the next vehicle to use the extended-range hybrid drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt. The next branch in GM’s electrified family tree will be a five-seat crossover, potentially called the Chevrolet Amp. Using the same basic architecture, engine, motor and batteries from the Volt, a production Amp would help GM spread its substantial Voltec development costs over more than one model.

GM has been making noise about a crossover with Volt guts for some time, and thanks to the sleuth work of the detectives at Car and Driver, we know we may be closer than ever to seeing the vehicle become a reality. The company has gone through the pains to register a host of web domain names associated with the Amp moniker, some of which were snapped up as recently as October. Combined with the unveiling of the Volt MPV5 Concept at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, there’s a good chance that a battery-operated Crossover will grace Detroit with its presence next month. Thanks for the tip, Phrime!

Gallery: Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drop Top Customs to unveil convertible Cadillac CTS at SEMA

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Convertible, Coupe, Cadillac, Luxury

DTC Convertible Cadillac CTS – Click above for image gallery

The shop behind the beautiful convertible Dodge Challenger that stole the spotlight at last year’s SEMA show is at it again. Drop Top Customs has announced that it will set about creating a topless version of the ever-sexy Cadillac CTS Coupe for this year’s aftermarket shindig. We’re not entirely sold on the thought of hacking the razor-sharp roof line from the coupe and replacing it with a folding soft top, but we’ll reserve judgment until after we see the final product in the flesh, er, sheetmetal.

DTC has been cranking out convertible versions of production hardtops for around 30 years, so the company knows what it’s doing when it sets to taking the plasma cutter to an otherwise unsullied vehicle. Last year, that infamous convertible Challenger actually walked away from SEMA with a design award from Chrysler itself, so chances are the new drophead CTS will have the fit and finish of a factory effort. Still, we’ve got to wonder just how many people are clamoring for a convertible Caddy these days. After all, there didn’t seem to be much pent-up demand for the XLR…

Gallery: DTC Convertible Cadillac CTS

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Drop Top Customs to unveil convertible Cadillac CTS at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going to Pot: Motive to unveil cannabis-composite Kestrel [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos

Motive Industries talks about its cannabis-bodied car – Click above to watch a video after the jump

Motive Industries has announced that they will unveil Canada’s first bio-composite bodied electric car this September at the EV 2010 VÉ Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver. Dubbed the Kestrel, the four-passenger compact forgoes some of the traditional fibers used in composites for a renewable green car (*ahem*) technology – hemp.

The bio material is derived from hemp mats produced by Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) who gets their stash from Vegreville, Alberta (industrial hemp, i.e., Cannabis sativa L, is legally grown in Canada under license from Health Canada and must contain less than 0.3 per cent THC). As well as having the impact resistance of fiberglass composites, the hemp version has the added bonuses of being lighter and cheaper – two important qualities for battery-powered vehicles.

Engineered for a program called Project Eve that aims to aid Canadian firms produce electric vehicles and components, the Darren McKeage-designed cannabis car will undergo prototyping and testing later this month. Hit the jump for Calgary News broadcast discussing the new composite, including footage with company president Nathan Armstrong.

[Sources: Motive Industries, Calgary News]

Continue reading Going to Pot: Motive to unveil cannabis-composite Kestrel [w/video]

Going to Pot: Motive to unveil cannabis-composite Kestrel [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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