Porsche’s 911 Test “Hybrid”
Posted by autoguy on February 21, 2010 - (0)
Last week, Porsche introduced its , featuring the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). It will be formally unveiled at next month’s Geneva auto show, exactly 100 years after Ferdinand Porsche launched the world’s first hybrid car, the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus. In May, it will race in the 24-hour Nürburgring, the track of which is widely thought to be the world’s toughest, most demanding racetrack.
Most hybrids rely on heavy lithium-ion batteries, but the KERS is a flywheel generator that captures and stores energy from braking, and replaces the passenger seat. As the driver brakes, the car’s front two motors act as generators, accelerating the flywheel. When the driver pushes a button on the steering wheel, the flywheel then acts as a generator converting mechanically stored kinetic energy into electrical energy, sending up to 120 kW to the front wheels for a 6 to 8 second burst of 160 hp. This will be useful as the driver is coming out of a turn, or trying to pass. It is expected to save fuel, lower the number of pit stops, and allow the car to be heavier.
Typical for 911s, a 480 HP 4.0 Liter flat six engine runs the rear wheels. This motor is known for lower mechanical vibrations.
Porsche will be using the same design that the Williams Formula 1 racing team uses, except as there is no passenger seat in the F1, the F1 KERS gets its energy from the rear drivetrain. In the past, Formula 1 found the technology controversial for several reasons. It adds 25 kg. (55 lbs.) of weight, raises the car’s center of gravity and reduces the ballast, making it difficult to evenly distribute the car’s weight.
Though there are no plans yet for a street-legal version of this car, this design is part of Porsche’s “Intelligent Performance” philosophy, which will drive all future car designs. The goal is more power, less fuel and lower CO2 emissions (which they have lowered by 1.7% annually for the last 15 years). This hybrid will act as a racing laboratory, and is intended to spearhead Porsche’s new design.
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Green Cars Highlight the DC Auto Show
Posted by autoguy on February 5, 2010 - (0)
In a speech at last week’s DC Auto Show, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said “We have to bring back manufacturing [to the US].” We are lagging the Japanese and Chinese. (”It’s startling how much manufacturing is happening in China now.”) That, and weening ourselves off our addiction to foreign fuel, is why the Department of Energy is lending $13 billion to companies and suppliers to research and develop electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, corn ethanol and agricultural waste fuels, advanced combustion engines, natural gas cars, hydrogen fuel cells, and even modified bacteria that change bio waste into a gas substitute. Of that, $1.4 b will be lent to Nissan America to produce the Nissan Leaf, a plug-in which will be made in Tennessee.
The 2011 Nissan Leaf will get 100 miles per charge and cost about $30,000, though Federal credits may bring this down to $23,000. It charges in 14 hours at 120 volts, 4 hours at 240 Volts, and in a little over 30 minutes at 440 Volts DC (planned for Nissan’s commercial charging stations). The car has its own web service that will direct the driver to the nearest station, as well as provide music and video channels. Plus an iPhone app will allow the driver to check your car’s charge level, and even turn the AC or heater while the car still on the charger. It has 100 horsepower and 210 ft-lbs of torque, but with its electronic shifter and gauges, it wont feel like any car we’re used to. Expect to see them on the road in December, with charging stations opening in Portland, Seattle, Tuscon, Phoenix and Nashville.
Here are some of the other highlights of the auto show.
GEM, a company acquired by Chrysler in 2000, sells neighborhood electric vehicles. A lot of them. They sold 40,000 last year in the US, number one in their category with a 70% market share. A GEM representative calculated that in 2009, their vehicles went about 500 million miles, saving 19 million gallons of gas and 93,000 metric tons of emissions, equivalent to planting half a million trees. Ten percent of vehicle sales are to retirement communities, but they also sell to college campuses, state parks, and municipalities. They have six models available, ranging in price from about $7,300 to $13,000 for the fully-loaded six-passenger model.
Toyota debuted a plug-in hybrid Prius. The regular Prius has a nickle-hydride battery, but the plug-in’s is lithium-ion. It can run for 13 miles on a bone-dry tank, and gets 80 to 100 mpg “if driven correctly,” said Joyce Brew, a Toyota representative. It has the same power train and hybrid synergy drive as the old Prius.
But it doesn’t all have to be “green”, does it? The Viper roadster has a 600 hp engine and 560 ft-lbs of torque. Zero to 60 in under four seconds, and the quarter mile in 11 seconds. Zero to 100, and back to zero in 11 seconds. It tops out at about 198 mph, and has no traction control or stability program (”kid gloves” stuff, said the presenter).
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Toyota Recall Gets Personal
Posted by autoguy on January 31, 2010 - (10)
Yesterday Toyota announced the recall of another 1.9 million vehicles for “pedal entrapment” issues, bringing the total to 9 million cars worldwide. This is the second largest ever, to Ford’s recall of 14 million cars with faulty cruise control switches in 2009. So far in the US, over 2,100 cases of sudden acceleration have been reported, resulting in at least four deaths, 19 pending investigation.
The affected vehicles, according to Car and Driver, are
- 2009-2010 Toyota Carolla
- 2009-2010 Highlander
- 2009–2010 Venza
- 2009–2010 Matrix
- 2009–2010 Pontiac Vibe (same as the Matrix underneath)
As the gas pedal mechanism becomes worn, the pedal becomes harder to push, or slower to return to the idle position, due to resistance from the all-weather rubber floor mats. Except in the worst case of uncontrollable acceleration, this should not occur suddenly but be noticeable over time.
If you own one of the above recall models and experience this defect while driving, experts suggest that you do not pump the brakes. This depletes the vacuum needed by the power brake assembly. Instead, shift your car to neutral, use both feet on the brake pedal, bring the car to a complete stop and turn it off. Remember never to remove the key while driving as this will lock the steering wheel. If you have an engine start/stop button, push it for at least three seconds to turn the car off. And finally, report the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
About ten years ago, Toyota made the decision to use non-Japanese suppliers to produce more cheaply and expand market share. It worked. In 2008, they eclipsed GM as the world’s largest car manufacturer, continuing the trend in 2009 even as the entire market shrank. But it would appear that what they saved in cost, they wasted in quality. In November 2009, the NHTSA mandated a recall, based on four deaths in California of an off-duty highway patrolmen, his wife, daughter and brother-in-law.
That Toyota was forced by American authorities to recall their cars is just the latest in a pattern of denial, according to the LA times. In a scathing expose last month, they alleged that Toyota has known about the problem since 2000, but deemed it more profitable at the outset to deny it, or blame the driver. As cases went to litigation, their denial took the form of out-of-court settlements and non-disclosure agreements, some reaching seven figures. They drew criticism from the courts for ignoring requests for evidence, but chose instead to pay the fines. (So far, Toyota hasn’t shared black box passwords or accident data, claiming that the recording device is a proprietary prototype).
When they found the pedal problem in the Camry and Lexus ES two years ago, their only “repair” was a warning label … on the underside of the floor mat. Even as the deaths in California brought the issue to light, Toyota publicly insisted that no default existed, drawing an uncharacteristically sharp rebuttal from the NHTSA, which called their statements “inaccurate and misleading.”
It is clear that Toyota will not walk away from this without a scratch. Edmunds.com forecast a dip in Toyota’s market share from around 18% (it’s high in 2008) to 14.7%, its lowest point since March of 2006. Sales figures will be released Tuesday, but they are expected to show a decrease of 45% for December and 11.9% for January. Though Toyota is running apology ads in major newspapers on Sunday or Monday, but many industry experts agree that the damage has already been done. Though the typical consumer has a short memory span, this issue will be in the media spotlight long enough for even the shortest memories.
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HK Plant to Open in Alabama
Posted by autoguy on January 26, 2010 - (0)
This week, Chinese automaker Hybrid Kinetic Motors announced plans to open a plant in Alabama later this year. This is great news for at least 6,000 autoworkers laid off in 2009 by the Big Three, not to speak of the numerous suppliers that will be needed to support production. It’s good news for the environment as well, as HK slates the plant for eco-friendly cars, with natural gas for fuel.
Since the US is the second largest natural gas producer worldwide (CIA Factbook, 2009), we will be — as the mantra goes — finally “decreasing our dependency on foreign oil.” HK’s car will get 45 miles per gallon, and emit about three ounces per mile of CO2 exhaust (or 50 grams per kilometer).
Natural Gas Vehicles (or NGVs) are the latest trend in green, environmentally friendly cars, as they emit 93 percent less carbon monoxide than regular gas vehicles. Although they cost about $30,000 to $50,000 more to produce, natural gas is just one third the price of regular gas, and is much more stably priced. If that is not enough to convince a buyer to front the extra cost, NGVs typically require less routine maintenance than regular cars, because the gas burns so cleanly that there is less wear and tear on engine parts.
On the flip side, though there are around 120,000 NGVs in the US (mostly fleet vehicles), as of last year, there are only 1,300 fueling stations for NGVs with many not open to the public. Riders complain that NGVs aren’t roomy, as the lower-density gas needs more storage space. Finally, NGVs have more limited range than regular gas vehicles, around 220 miles compared to 350 miles for the same car (Honda Civic GX vs. Civic).
The eight initial models for the HK plant will be designed by world-famous designer Giorgetto Guigiaro, of DeLorean fame (featured in the “Back to the Future” movie series. He also did a 2006 Mustang prototype). The concept car of this week’s press conference was in fact the Quaranta, recycled from the 2008 Geneva International Motors Show, a fact that was not denied, but not publicized either. It’s generally acknowledged that this is not likely to be the production model (whew! it has two front passenger seats, with the driver in the middle), but the flagship product is to be a sports car.
HK plans to produce about one million cars annually when it meets full capacity in 2018, and later produce vans, trucks and SUVs. When production begins in 2012, it will bring the US back to 14 million cars per year, with HK motors producing a significant share of the domestic auto market.
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2012 Mustang Coyote Engine
Posted by admin on December 24, 2009 - (0)
While there has been a great deal of hype over the coyote engine that has been released in the 2011 Mustang, many people are looking to the future and wondering what the Road Runner engine is going to be offering consumers with the 2012 Mustang. So, 2012 Mustang, coyote engine? The answer is no, because it is Road Runner all the way.
From what many people have heard, the 2012 Mustang engine will be a 5.0 liter V-8 engine, which will give it horsepower in excess of 600, which would make it by and large the leader in sports cars among major auto makers. Many fans of Mustang are happy to see that the five liter engines may be back on the Mustang, with many wanting a return to the 5.0 badge of Mustang.
The 2012 Mustang Road Runner engine is expected to be an aluminum block. Now it should be noted that the engine will not have 600 horsepower even though it is capable of that. Instead, it will most likely sit around 422 to 425 horsepower, which is par with Camaro. It is hard to know what exactly is going to be coming from the 2012 Mustang and its Road Runner engine but many sources cite that there will be a new Boss version of the Mustang in 2012, and that many consumers will be happy with the new look of the old car.
Overall, it can also be expected that the 2012 Mustang will have good fuel economy. The 2011model can do 30 miles per gallon on the highway and if the 2012 model does not exceed that it should remain par. This is very important because Ford is trying to brand its cars as eco-friendly, and if its Mustang brand takes a step back to poor fuel economy, the company may have trouble selling this iconic car.
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GM plans for Cadillac Converj hybrid car
Posted by admin on November 10, 2009 - (0)
GM emerged from bankruptcy proceedings recently and is making new strategies for gaining new market. In the same line they planned to manufacture next generation of electric cars. GM has decided to manufacture Cadillac Converj an electric car in line with the technology used in Chevrolet Volt.
Cadillac Converj concept car was unveiled in 2009 North American International Auto Show and was able to garner very good supporters. Industry critics and general public both were happy with the concept.
The production date for the car is not set and it might be a few years before one could expect this car with the dealer. This car will only go into production floor after the launch 2010 Chevy Volt. That means it would be somewhere near to 2013 when one would be able to see this car on the roads.
Cadillac with a higher sticker price would help to offset high cost of the battery system. It will also help GM to include electric car technology into their fleet. They could enhance the technology and reduce its cost thus they could use same technology on their other car models with lower sticker price,
Until GM is able to provide a car that could provide value like 2010 Toyota Prius at the same price it is going to struggle in the market. The lost market share is very hard to achieve as the road ahead is going to be tough for GM.
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Ford Edge Concept – with HySeries Drive
Posted by admin on September 8, 2009 - (0)
The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive was the world’s first fuel cell plug-in hybrid. The Ford Edge HySeries combines a hydrogen fuel cell generator with lithium-ion batteries to give customers improved fuel economy.
In the first tests, the Ford Edge was able to obtain 41 miles per gallon in combined city/highway fuel economy with zero emissions. In fact, the only emission that the Edge concept produced is water. If individuals drive less than 50 miles each day, the average fuel economy increases to over 80 miles per gallon.
There are different types of hybrids available. The current production solutions combine gasoline internal combustions with electric motors. Other technologies, such has hydrogen fuel cells, are longer-term options that may allow for even greater fuel economy savings than the current gasoline engine/electric motor hybrids.
The HySeries Drive in the Ford Edge concept is 50% smaller, lighter, and lower in complexity than conventional fuel cell systems. It also offers more than double the life of the fuel cell stack. The vehicle has 250 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle’s top speed is 88 miles per hour.
The Edge concept is powered by a 336-volt lithium-ion battery pack at all times. The first 25 mile of each journey is completed on stored electricity. Then, the fuel cell begins to operate to keep the battery charged. The total range for the vehicle is 225 miles. The Edge is the first hydrogen vehicle to have a range that approaches a traditional combustion engine. The battery pack can also be charged by plugging in the on board charger into a standard home outlet.
Fuel cell vehicles are currently very expensive mainly because of the cost of the lithium-ion batteries. In addition, for hydrogen vehicles to become a viable alternative for customers the fuel cell reliability will have to be improved and the infrastructure to be able to supply hydrogen to customers will have to be implemented.
Ford claims that the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive will be available for 2015 for fleet use. However, if you want one now, their prototype concept vehicle cost approximately $1 million.
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2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z interior
Posted by admin on November 13, 2008 - (0)
2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z interior has a 2 person sitting capacity and the cockpit has 2 tones – red and black. Standard features for this car includes CD stereo, aluminum pedals, remote key less entry and a cruise control. The cargo room is 6.8 cubic feet.
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2009 Dodge Ram 1500 – New Tricks
Posted by admin on September 22, 2008 - (0)
The Dodge Ram line of trucks has been around for a long time, a testament to its enduring and versatile design. However, with such longevity, you run the risk of getting lazy and resting on your laurels. The designers at Dodge understand this risk, that’s why they’ve introduced a number of innovative features into the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. Pickup trucks have always come in a variety of styles designed to fit with the exact needs of the driver. The Ram 1500 is no different and comes in three different cab configurations, the 2-door Regular cab, the 4-door Quad cab which features two rear access doors, and the 4-door Crew cab which features four full sized doors. The Regular cab can fit three people while the Quad and Crew cabs can fit as many as six. Available lengths of the truck beds vary based on cab design.
Some Great New Luxuries in 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
When you think of a pickup truck, you don’t normally think of the word “luxury”. However, Dodge realizes that just because a pickup truck has to be tough, that doesn’t mean that it can’t provide the passengers with a few creature comforts as well. Some of the options available for the 2009 Ram 1500 are heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats (both highly desirable options if you ever have to do outside work in a place with a harsh winter), and a pair of “store in the floor” storage bins. These bins each feature a removable liner that can fit 10 beverage cans and ice.
Where’s The Power
Like the previous model year, the 2009 Ram 1500 will be available with three engine options, one V6 and two V8’s. The 3.7 liter V6 engine will only come on the Regular Cab and Quad Cab two-wheel-drive models. The 4.7 liter Magnum V8 engine will come standard on all four wheel drive and Crew Cab models. The Magnum engine is FlexFuel Capable, a technology that allows the engine to run on either unleaded gasoline or on E85 ethanol. The top of the line engine choice is an upgraded version of Dodge’s 5.7 liter V8 Hemi engine. What makes this newer version of the Hemi special is that is features Dodge’s Multi-Displacement System, which will automatically shut down four cylinders under lighter loads. This system is a brilliant step towards increasing the fuel efficiency of the Ram 1500, especially since pickup trucks have never been known for their exceptional fuel economy.
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2010 Ford Taurus
Posted by admin on August 29, 2008 - (0)
In the 2005 model year, the Ford Taurus was replaced by the Ford Five Hundred. The Taurus had long been a presence in the sedan market, but lagging sales figures coupled with unexciting design features spelled the end for the Taurus. But, for the 2010 model year, the Taurus is making a comeback. During it’s hiatus, the Five Hun-dred didn’t have resounding success and Ford has decided that bringing back the Taurus with a new design was the key to picking up a larger share of the sedan market. Initial reports on the new Taurus seemed to indicate that it would simply be a modified Five Hundred with a new name, but recent news has proven that that is not the case.
What’s In A Name?
Those familiar with the Ford brand and it’s subsidiaries know that in the past the company has simply taken a car and interchanged the brand insignias so as to seem diverse. Ask the average driver the difference between a mid-1990s Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, aside from the Ford and Mercury insignias, and you’ll likely be met with a blank stare. Well, for the 2010 model year, the Taurus is bringing something new. First and foremost is a change in design aesthetic. The new Taurus takes it’s styling cues from it’s European cousin, the Ford Mondeo. This is by no means a bad thing as the Mondeo is a top seller in the European markets. The new Taurus is not simply a rehash of the Mondeo, however, as the Mondeo is built on a different platform and utilizes a different drive train. Expect the Taurus to have a range of power options, including Ford’s proven turbocharged four cylinder and an engine from Ford’s new “Eco-Boost” line. The Eco-Boost engines deliver impressive power with greater efficiency and, as they further evolve, they will probably become the standard engines on many Ford models. As it stands right now, a 2010 Taurus equipped with either the turbo four cylinder or an Eco-Boost V6 will likely garner a MPG rating of mid to high twenties for city and around thirty for highway. These numbers are not staggering when compared with compacts and hybrids, but considering that the Taurus features the roomiest cabin in it’s class, they are impressive.
Will It Work?
So, is the 2010 Ford Taurus going to turn around it’s predecessor’s sales figures? Time will tell, but the Taurus will certainly put up a fight. However, considering that the Toyota Avalon will see a redesign in the 2011 model year, along with the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300, competition will be stiff.
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