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BMW confirms New Energy Vehicle, an electric 5 Series for China

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, China, BMW, Shanghai Motor Show, Electric, Luxury

2010 BMW ActiveHybrid5 Concept

2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chinese will get their very own plug-in hybrid BMW at next month’s Shanghai Motor Show when BMW debuts the 2011 5 Series New Energy Vehicle. According to BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer, the car – based on the long-wheelbase 5 Series – is aimed specifically at the Chinese market.

There wasn’t much else to be had from BMW about the New Energy Vehicle, except that it probably won’t hit North American shores. It may, however, loan some of its technology to the ActiveHybrid 5, which BMW showed off as a concept last year. So far, we’re still waiting on the production version of that car, which uses a more traditional gasoline-electric hybrid set up.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: BMW 5 Series Active Hybrid Concept

[Source: Motor Authority]

BMW confirms New Energy Vehicle, an electric 5 Series for China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi confirms diesel A4, A6, A8, Q5 for U.S., first e-tron vehicle expected in 2013

Filed under: Sedan, Crossover, Audi, Diesel

Audi A3 TDI

Audi’s clean diesel initiative here in the United States started with the A3 TDI hatchback and Q7 TDI crossover, but in the coming years, we can expect the vast majority of the company’s volume models to offer oil-burning powerplants. This isn’t the first time the German automaker has spoke of expanding its diesel lineup here in the U.S., but during a press conference this morning, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen outlined exactly what we can expect to see over the next 24 to 30 months.

The first new implementations of TDI clean diesel will be in the A6 and A8 sedans, as well as the Q5 crossover. All three of these models are expected to have hybrid variants, as well, meaning customers will have a full range of powertrain options in the coming years.

As for the A4 – Audi’s highest-volume model – TDI power is still in the cards for U.S. consumption. Instead of offering a diesel engine in the current model, Audi will be waiting until the next-generation car arrives. The all-new A4 is expected to launch in 2015, or possibly even 2014.

Finally, de Nysschen stated that Audi’s first electric vehicle is expected to arrive in the U.S. by early 2013. The automaker’s e-tron EV technology has been displayed multiple times over the past few years, and while it’s unclear exactly what sort of electric vehicle will arrive in the U.S., our bet is on something R8-based to rival BMW’s new EfficientDynamics i8 sports car.

[Image: Drew Phillips/AOL]

Audi confirms diesel A4, A6, A8, Q5 for U.S., first e-tron vehicle expected in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickup truck becomes third vehicle to land in AZ family’s pool [w/video]

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Ford

Truck upside-down in swimming pool

Ford F-150 crashes into James Feely’s pool – Click above to watch the video after the break

A 32-year-old drunk driver missed a turn in Phoenix, Arizona in the wee hours of the morning and ended up crashing his Ford F-150 through a cinder block wall into James Feely’s back yard, landing upside down in Mr. Feely’s swimming pool. Feely and his wife were awakened by a shower of broken glass and bricks to discover the truck in their pool.

Feely went outside to see if he could help, sure the driver had perished. “My reaction was, ‘Nobody lived through that.’ About three-quarters of the cab of the truck was under water.” The driver did survive, however, only to be charged with drunk driving by Phoenix police. Turns out the drunk driving charge was the least of his worries, as police discovered he was wanted in Scottsdale on a domestic violence/arson charge.

Luckily both the Feelys got through the ordeal without injury.

The kicker? This isn’t something new for the Feelys. Last night’s accident marks the second time someone in a pickup truck has crashed through their wall and into the pool. In another incident, a motorcyclist was killed when he hit the Feelys’ wall. Check out the video after the jump.

[Source: azfamily.com]

Continue reading Pickup truck becomes third vehicle to land in AZ family’s pool [w/video]

Pickup truck becomes third vehicle to land in AZ family’s pool [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Camaro platform underpins new GM vehicle in Chicago

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Chevrolet, GM

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors has big plans for the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. At the exposition opening this week, GM will unveil a pair of new vehicles, although details on what form they’ll take remain scarce.

The news comes from reports quoting GM’s North American president Mark Reuss. All he’s revealed at this point is that one of the two cars will be based on the Chevrolet Camaro’s platform. That tells us it will be a front-engine/rear-drive vehicle, but little else. So, commence speculation: Camaro Z28? Chevy Zeta-platform sedan? (Which we think should be called Chevelle, because hey, if Dodge can call its sedan Charger…)

As for the second car slated for the Windy City salon, your guess is as good as ours. So we’ll just have to sit tight and see what the General has got in store for us.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

[Source: The Detroit News]

Chevy Camaro platform underpins new GM vehicle in Chicago originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevy Caprice Patrol Vehicle gets pounded by police

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Chevrolet

Chevy Caprice Arizona police test

Chevrolet Caprice police car gets flogged – Click above to watch the video after the jump

With the Ford Crown Victoria on the outs, the competition to be the “cop car of the future” is intense. Ford has both the Taurus- and Explorer-based Police Interceptors, Dodge is prepping a copped-up Charger and Chevrolet has the Holden Statesman-based Caprice Patrol Vehicle. As you can imagine, all three companies are working hard to woo local police departments into ordering large fleets, and here we see the General Motors folks showing off its new Caprice to officers in Arizona.

The officers seem impressed with the 355-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 and tight suspension, and the added interior space appears to be winning over the boys and girls in ~~blue~~ brown, as well. Interestingly, the folks at GM’s Holden division ran this event instead of team Chevy. Makes sense, especially since the event enabled Holden engineers can get feedback from straight from the customer. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Chevy Caprice Patrol Vehicle gets pounded by police

Video: Chevy Caprice Patrol Vehicle gets pounded by police originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dismal hybrid, electric vehicle sales in China concern automakers

To say that sales of alt-energy vehicles in China have been dismal would be an understatement. Despite investing million into advanced alternative fuel powertrains, the Global Times reports that many Chinese automakers are facing the tough decision to either ditch their green car plans or continue on with sales that are far below expectations.

Due to poor sales volume, Changan Auto has pulled the plug on its hybrid Jiexun. According to the company, not a single Jiexun was sold during the last year. BYD faces similar struggles, reporting that it has sold only 54 E6 electric vehicles and just 290 F3DM plug-in hybrids between January and October of this year. Even Toyota admits that Prius sales volume, which has been at less than 4,000 for each of the past three years, is below the company’s expectations.

Many Chinese automakers have voiced concerns and are calling upon the government to help boost sales of advanced-technology vehicles. So far, however, buyers have shown little interest in purchasing the high-tech rides that often come with steep price tags.

Source: Global Times]

Dismal hybrid, electric vehicle sales in China concern automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oshkosh Light Concept Vehicle competes in Baja 1000

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Military, Off-Road

Oshkosh Extreme Racing Light Concept Vehicle (LCV) – Click above for high-res image gallery, follow the jump for video

Yep, that’s a diesel hybrid Light Concept Vehicle (LCV) from the Oshkosh Extreme Racing team competing in the 43rd running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. “Light” in this case is relative, of course. Oshkosh builds a large variety of bigger machines, ranging from fire trucks to rigs capable of hauling up to 70 tons.

Now, the Oshkosh outfit didn’t win the event. In fact, only one of its two entries finished, and it was six and a half hours too late to be scored. It was, though, an opportunity to see how Oshkosh’s ProPulse hybrid system would hold up to the rigors of off-road abuse. In that department the race was a success.

According to the Oshkosh, the hybrid system uses a diesel engine to send power to a generator which, in turn, directly powers the wheels (Though not stated, we imagine there’s an electric motor involved for each set of wheels.) In place of batteries, the setup relies on ultracapacitors to store and deliver energy. The arrangement is said to reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent thanks to the elimination of components such as the torque converter, automatic transmission, transfer case and driveshafts. To get a better look at this beast, check out the gallery below or the video of it in action after the break.

Gallery: Oshkosh Extreme Racing Light Concept Vehicle

[Source: Oshkosh Corporation via Green Car Congress]

Continue reading Oshkosh Light Concept Vehicle competes in Baja 1000

Oshkosh Light Concept Vehicle competes in Baja 1000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By the Numbers: The Great Long-Term Vehicle Swap of 2010

Filed under: Sedan, Subaru, Volkswagen, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

Like two ships passing in the night, our long-term 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT and 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street edition briefly met in person last Saturday morning before their driver – myself and Senior Editor Lavrinc – swapped keys, turned around and headed back to our respective ends of the country.

The Great Long-Term Vehicle Swap of 2010 went off without a hitch, and because we know more than a few of you are curious, you’ll find a table after the jump that shows fuel consumption results for each vehicle on my own portion of the trip. But first, here are some other interesting factoids.

Miles Traveled: 4,938 total for both vehicles
Days: 4
Hours Driven: 10+ per day, per person
Starting Points: Cleveland, OH (Neff in Legacy), San Francisco, CA (Lavrinc in Jetta)
States Neff Traveled Through: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming
States Lavrinc Traveled Through: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming
Meeting Point: Cheyenne, WY

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Continue reading By the Numbers: The Great Long-Term Vehicle Swap of 2010

By the Numbers: The Great Long-Term Vehicle Swap of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Mazda2 to be world’s most efficient gas vehicle

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Mazda

2011 Mazda2

2011 Mazda2 – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re big fans of the 2011 Mazda2, but of all the good things this little hatch has going for it, fuel economy isn’t really one of them. Manual transmission models offer 29/35 miles per gallon city/highway, and while that isn’t terrible by any means, it’s sub-par when you consider the new standard for B- and C-segment cars: 40 mpg.

With the next-generation 2, Mazda plans to completely overhaul the powertrain, using its new SKYACTIV engine and transmission technology. The result is a Mazda2 that the automaker says will achieve 70 mpg without the help of an electric motor, making it the most fuel-efficient gas-powered car on the road.

The next Mazda2 will launch in Japan sometime in the first half of 2011 and will quickly make its way to other markets over the next few years. The 2 may be an all-new entry to the United States, but it’s merely a mid-cycle refresh of the car that’s been on sale overseas for years. We’re certainly eager to see what the Japanese automaker has up its sleeve, and while 70 mpg is indeed a lofty goal, it isn’t too far fetched these days.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Mazda2

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Next Mazda2 to be world’s most efficient gas vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche commits to a hybrid model in every vehicle line

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Porsche

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fuel efficiency is a big deal for small sports car manufacturers. Boutique automakers and sports car specialists like Porsche figure to have a particularly hard time meeting rising efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions regulations all around the world because they don’t manufacture vehicles that play in more fuel-efficient segments of the market.

With that in mind, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Porsche is keenly interested in hybrid technology. Starting with the 2011 Cayenne and following with a similar hybrid system for the Panamera, Porsche plans to roll out fuel-saving technology across its entire model range.

That transition won’t be an easy one. Both the Cayenne and Panamera use a front-engine layout and automatic transmission with an electric motor sandwiched in between, and such a system wouldn’t work on the company’s mid- and rear-engined models.

That’s where the upcoming 918 Spyder comes in. According to Porsche development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer, “We want to learn how we can electrify all our sports cars in the future with the help of this short production run” of the hybrid 918 Spyder. In fact, all of Porsche’s models are slated to be hybridized, says Duerheimer.

Other efficiency-raising efforts will include a 10-percent reduction in weight, increased use of carbon fiber bodywork and possibly even the return of four-cylinder engines, likely with forced induction and direct injection.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req’d]

Report: Porsche commits to a hybrid model in every vehicle line originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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