Archive for November, 2009
Porsche to Offer Lithium-ion Battery
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by admin.
Porsche will offer as an option a lithium-ion starter battery in place of a standard lead battery on a few select models. Available in January for the 2010 911 GT3, GT 3 RS and Boxster Spyder, the li-ion starter battery will lower the car’s weight, as well as enhance performance and dynamics, Porsche says.
The pack comes in a separate unit and can be interchanged with the lead battery. The li-ion battery recharges more quickly, has a greater number of charging and discharging cycles, a lower self-discharge and a longer service life, Porsche says. While a lead battery only has 30% of its total capacity available at any given time, the li-ion battery does not have this problem.
When the charge level drops below a certain level, a warning signal tells the driver to charge the battery, which can be done either by driving the car with only the engine or using a normal battery charger.
Although lithium-ion batteries do not show a lot of promise at breaking into the SLI battery segment (standard starting, lighting, ignition), Porsche hopes racing enthusiasts will spring for the simple, low-weight replacement battery. And how much must they spring? The option will cost a healthy $2,400.
Porsche Offers Li-ion Starter Battery Option (Green Car Congress)
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Gas Prices Rise with Thanksgiving Travel
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by admin.
If you’re traveling by car this Thanksgiving, you’ll notice a difference in gas prices from last year. Up 72 cents per gallon from a year ago, the national average stands at roughly $2.64, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report.
Keep in mind that last year at this time we had just seen the crash of the housing and automotive markets and the meltdown of the financial sector. Thanksgiving travel plummeted by 25% from 2007 to 2008, and all the talk was of how to avoid a Great Depression redux.
AAA says Thanksgiving travel will rise 2% over last year, with a total of 33.2 million people hitting the road, and gas prices are actually down a few cents from a month ago.
Still, oil prices have been rising steadily and currently hover at around $77.56 per barrel. An unemployment rate of more than 10% should help keep that in check, but experts expect the economic recovery to be tested as energy prices rise.
The Energy Information Administration expects gas prices to rise past $3 per gallon during the summer of 2010.
Higher Gasoline Prices Greet Thanksgiving Travelers (USA Today)
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Saab’s Buyer Backs Out
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by admin.
Koenigsegg, the Swedish boutique car maker, has terminated its purchase agreement to buy Saab from GM. General Motors just released a statement from CEO Fritz Henderson:
“Many have worked tirelessly over the past several months to create a sustainable plan for the future of Saab by selling the brand and its manufacturing interests to Koenigsegg Group AB. Given the sudden change in direction, we will take the next several days to assess the situation and will advise on the next steps next week.”
What the next steps will be is uncertain. GM recently decided to keep Opel, it’s German subsidiary instead of selling it off. Could Saab possibly remain under the GM umbrella? Or will it suffer the same fate as Saturn?
The sale was based on a loan from the Swedish government of roughly $600 million and a Chinese company was planning on a minority stake as part of the deal as well.
Related
No New Saabs Until 2010
Poll: Will the Saab 9-5 Save the Company?
Saab Closing 37% of Dealers
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Cities Pay Drivers to Carpool
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by admin.
Following the lead of other big American cities with congestion, Washington D.C. has set up a program to pay commuters $2 a day to carpool. The hope is that by giving people a short-term incentive, the cities can alter their long-term behavior.
Atlanta, Seattle, Birmingham and Los Angeles have tried similar programs. Atlanta’s program—led by the Clean Air Campaign—began in 2002 and has had 19,000 participants, most of whom have continued carpooling after their payments ended. Atlanta’s system works by allowing people to log their commutes online, receiving $100 after a three-month trial period. Drivers tend to realize the savings they’re making on gas and maintenance and stick with the carpools.
Still, some economists think this is an expensive way to incentivize drivers when tolls tend to work better than cash payments in changing driver behavior. Because tolls are politically unpopular, cash payments are easier to sell.
D.C.’s program aims to take just 750 cars off the road at first, a small difference when considering Beltway traffic. Nevertheless, city officials want to see if the program can alter driver behavior permanently.
Cities Use Cash to Encourage Carpooling (NPR)
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Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Mazdaspeed3
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by admin.
Despite its confounding, redundant name, the Mazdaspeed3 is a sporty little car that offers a dose of practicality, according to Cars.com reviewer Bill Jackson. The Mazdaspeed3, he says, is no pretender when it comes to driving pleasure, but there is a chance buyers will get caught up on some of the subjective details. Read Jackson’s full review to find out why he thinks this car should be on your test-driving list if you’re looking for zippy practicality.
2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 Review
2010|Mazda|Mazdaspeed3
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Honda, Hyundai, Toyota Tops in Fuel Efficiency
Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by admin.
Honda has the most fuel-efficient U.S. fleet with an average of 23.6 mpg, followed by Hyundai and Toyota in second and third place, respectively, according to preliminary figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Hyundai averaged 23.4 mpg and Toyota had 23.2 mpg — close on the heels of Honda. Volkswagen came in fourth with 22.3 mpg, while Nissan and BMW tied for fifth with an average of 21.6 mpg. Of those, only Toyota and Nissan offer both full-size pickups and SUVs.
Highlighting the gap that has plagued the Detroit Three’s gas-guzzler habit, the American automakers finished in the last three slots of the study. Ford averaged 20.5 mpg, GM had 19.9 mpg and Chrysler had just 18.7 mpg.
The official figures won’t be released until October or November of next year, but the final verdict seems to be an average of 21.1 mpg for all vehicles sold in the 2009 model year. This is a one-tenth improvement on 2008’s average and a 0.5 mpg improvement from 2007.
These EPA figures are based on real-world fuel-economy rankings and sales versus the EPA ratings on window stickers, which are based solely on the EPA’s testing methods.
Honda Leads in Fuel Efficiency (Detroit News)
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Americans Slowly Buying More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by admin.
U.S. consumers are increasingly buying more fuel-efficient vehicles, but the pace of mileage improvements remains slow, according to a report issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.
American vehicles averaged 21 mpg for the 2008 model year, which is a 0.4 mpg increase from 2007. The average is expected to increase to 21.1 mpg for 2009, although the EPA warns that the past year's upheaval in the auto industry could render that forecast false.
The elephant in the room is the Obama administration's insistence that automakers hit a 35.5 mpg average by 2015. Keep in mind that this is just what car companies have to build, though not necessarily what consumers have to buy. Even after the $4 per gallon of gas price spike of 2008, consumer behavior has not altered as quickly as some would like.
It should also be noted that the federal government's fleet average uses a completely separate formula for measuring mileage; it's not what the EPA lists on new-car window stickers. This means achieving the 35.5 mpg standard will not necessarily ensure a real-world 35.5 mpg fleet average.
Purchases of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Increase Slowly (Detroit Free Press)
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Cosma To Build Frames For GM’s Next Generation Half-Ton Pickups
Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by admin.
Cosma International, part of global automotive component supplier Magna International, announced today that it will supply the frame assembly for General Motors' next generation of full-size light-duty pickups and SUVs. It's the third generation of frames that Cosma has been awarded on this platform by GM. The current GMT900 frame is pictured at the top of this post.
Cosma will produce the new frames at two factories, located in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada and Saltillo, Mexico.
“Receiving this third-generation frame business from GM is a real testament to our ability to deliver on key areas including cost and quality,” said Horst Prelog, President, Cosma International. “GM is a long-term valued customer of ours and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them.”
[Source: Cosma]
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2010 Lexus GX: First Look
Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by admin.
- Competes with: Land Rover LR4, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Audi Q7
- Looks like: The previous GX 470 with styling tweaks here and there
- Drivetrain: 301-hp, 4.6-liter V-8 with six-speed automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive
- Hits dealerships: January 2010
Lexus’ midsize truck-based SUV, the GX, has been redesigned for 2010. The new luxury SUV features a more powerful V-8 engine, slightly improved gas mileage and revised styling inside and out. For the first time, the GX will be offered in two grades: base, which will carry an MSRP of $51,970, and Premium, which will be priced at $56,765. The MSRP does not include a delivery charge of $875. The all-new GX 460 will be on display for the first time in North America at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January. It also hits U.S. dealerships in January.
The 2010 GX 460 retains the tall stance of its predecessor, but new sheet metal and styling cues help update the look. The GX has smooth body sides that are accented by large front and rear fender flares; its new face has an uncanny resemblance to Subaru's redesigned Outback wagon, thanks to similar headlights. Around back, the rear window can be opened independently of the gate.
The GX's new 4.6-liter V-8 makes 301 horsepower and 329 pounds-feet of torque, and it teams with a six-speed automatic transmission. The full-time four-wheel-drive system incorporates a low range that's designed for off-road excursions. The SUV gets an EPA-estimated 15/20 mpg city/highway, which improves upon the old GX 470's 14/18 mpg. Maximum towing capacity is unchanged at 6,500 pounds.
Seven-person seating in three rows is standard. The second-row bench seat can slide forward and backward for optimal legroom, and the seat's backrest also reclines. When more cargo room is needed, the standard power-folding third row folds flat with the floor.
The cabin's appearance has been completely overhauled, and it features a symmetrical dashboard design with a large center control panel finished in a silver-colored trim. Standard features include leather seat trim, heated and ventilated power front seats with a memory feature for the driver, automatic air conditioning, a moonroof, a backup camera and a nine-speaker audio system with iPod connectivity. A navigation system, Mark Levinson audio, backseat entertainment system with two screens and three-zone air conditioning are optional.
Lexus' Pre-Collision System, which can cinch the front seat belts and ready the brakes for stronger stopping performance, is optional. PCS can also be paired with a system that monitors the attentiveness of the driver and will try to warn them of obstacles before automatically braking the SUV.
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2010 Cadillac SRX Video
Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by admin.
With nearly a dozen small luxury crossovers on the market, Cadillac has its work cut out for it with the 2010 Cadillac SRX. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays took a hard look at the SRX and concludes that Cadillac’s small SUV may have a tough time breaking through the crowded segment. Check out his video review to find out why.
2010|Cadillac|SRX
