AutoblogGreen

Without an accompanying announcement about any changes to the status of the Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO, Daimler today released a bunch of new pictures of the hydrogen/gas-electric hybrid/pure electric concept car. The pictures show us (once again) the direction that Daimler is taking the design of the next-generation Mercedes B-Class and that the promotion folks have an apparent love of HDR.

As we learned in Detroit this past January, the BlueZero concept could be made as an E-Cell variant with a 35 kWh li-ion battery pack good for 120 miles; as an F-Cell with a 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell that could carry the car for 240 miles; or as an E-Cell Plus that adds an engine from a fortwo to create a hybrid powertrain that can go 360 miles with both "tanks" full. In the new batch of pictures, we do get a shot of the clean E-Cell powertain with a strange hole in the center. We think this might be a storage space for the charging cord or, possibly, an opening for the radiator to vent.


[Source: Daimler]

Somehow, we managed to miss China's first-ever hybrid sports car at the Shanghai Motor Show earlier this year. The car is called the S11 from Tong Jian – which incidentally also seems to be the name of a popular Chinese figure skater – but details on the car's hybrid powertrain are extremely scarce. China Car Times reports that all four wheels are powered in some manner, but that's about all we know.

It's obvious that the S11's designers looked to the Audi R8 and any number of recent Ferraris for design inspiration, both inside and out. As far as we can tell, the resulting mashup isn't all that bad – minus the one-size-too-small alloy rims and those awkward Audi-esque blades on either side.

If CCT's sources are correct, design work on the Tong Jian S11 has been completed and the hybrid sports car should be headed for production at an unknown plant in Changchun city in short order.


[Source: China Car Times]

While the argument about whether a Hummer H2 is actually more environmentally friendly than a Toyota Prius has long since been debunked (even if it keeps popping up its ugly head), it does raise a valid point. A major part of the environmental impact of transportation devices like cars and trucks comes during the manufacturing and disposal phases of their existences. Evaluating environmental impact requires total lifecycle analysis of the product, something that Toyota has done for the new 2010 Prius.

The Tsutsumi plant that builds the Prius is one of five ISO14001 certified Eco-factories in the Toyota network. The factory has a 50,000m² solar array on its roof that generates 5,000 2,000 kW per hour of electricity, about half of the plant's total requirements. Another 22,000m² of the factory is covered in a photocatalytic paint that converts NOx CO₂ to oxygen and nitrogen. A number of initiatives including zero land-fill waste, water recycling and reduced volatile organic compound use are all part of the overall effort to reduce the impact of building Priuses.


[Source: Toyota]

Read more →

Fiat is confirming that the U.S. will be getting four versions of the Fiat 500 by 2011. The tiny 500 is the only Fiat model that has been officially greenlighted for American consumption under the Fiat banner. Other models will likely show up as Chryslers or Alfa Romeos. The 500 will make up for that by coming in four different flavors when it reaches these shores: hatchback, convertible, station wagon and sporty hatchback. There's also an outside chance that a micro-CUV, Outback-like version of the wagon will be coming along as well, according to an Automotive News piece.

While the news makes no mention of the new Fiat 500 hybrid that debuted last year in Goodwood, it's possible that this version could be part of the offerings, too. What we do know is that the "sporty hatchback" mentioned will be the Abarth, Europe's 2008 Car of the Year. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne calls it "our iPod." Wonder if it's too late for some co-branding. The 500 family should be in U.S. dealerships by the first half of 2011. The American-market cars will likely be produced at a Chrysler plant in the United States or in Toluca, Mexico. No official word on pricing yet. We can hardly wait.




[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd.]

As expected, Toyota's youthful Scion division will indeed get a version of the diminutive iQ for the North American market, possibly by either the end of 2010 as an '11 model or in early 2011 as a '12 model. According to Motor Trend, the car will cost about the same as the Yaris and get the usual modifications for the American market, such as slightly extended bumpers and recalibrated airbags to meet U.S. safety regulations.

Fortunately, the Big-Wheels-esque body kit and rims that the Japanese automaker fitted to the conceptual Scion iQ that was shown off at the New York Auto Show earlier this year won't come to the States as standard equipment. We're not entirely sure what powerplants Toyota plans to use in the American iQ, but in other markets it's available with three engines displacing between 1.0 and 1.4 liters. No hybrid iQ is currently planned due to cost and packaging considerations.

Interestingly, MT also reports that the Toyota FT-EV electric car concept from this year's Detroit Auto Show, which was based on the iQ minicar, will hit the market by 2012. At this time, the Japanese automaker may still be deciding between tried-and-true nickel metal hydride batteries or more powerful but unproven lithium ion units. Regardless, Toyota's aiming for a 50-mile range and an eight-hour recharge from a standard wall outlet.


[Source: Motor Trend]

It's has been a while since we heard any news about the inflatable car from XP Vehicles but it seems they are still out there and still planning to take the auto industry by storm. Freshly featured on the cover of Product Design & Development (PDD), the concept vehicle that doesn't employ airbags, but rather is the airbag, is given credence in the two page spread. After reading the article, though, we're left with a nagging question: "Is this thing just a lot of hot air?"

While PDD proclaims that the "prototype benefits from a perfect economical storm" and mentions "...motors are built into the rear wheel of most XP prototypes", there doesn't actually seem to be a prototype in existence aside from computer renderings. Also troubling is the claim that it can both achieve a range of 125 miles with four passengers (after which an auxiliary power unit kicks in and extends that range to 300 miles) and contains its batteries in shelves that consumers can remove, throw over their shoulders and carry up to their apartments to plug in and charge. Considering the weight involved in batteries capable of taking you that far, it's a proposition that seems unlikely.

We don't want to be complete negative Nancies about the project though. Perhaps the day will soon come when they will post a video of a door from their mini utility vehicle (MUV) undergoing their proposed toughness testing with an AK-47. Hit the break to let us know from whose future face egg will be dripping and a short clip from XP Vehicles extolling their vehicles' virtues.

[Source: Product Design & Development]

Read more →

When Ford introduces the next-generation Focus in Europe next year it will be powered by the first of the company's new four cylinder EcoBoost engines. The engines will be built at the Bridgend in Wales starting with a 1.6-liter displacement. Like the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 now debuting in North America, the four has direct injection and turbocharging. Just as Volkswagen does with its similar 1.4-liter TSI engines, the EcoBoost engines will be available at several power levels.

The first version, which has appeared this year in the Iosis-Max, Lincoln Concept C and Volvo S60 concepts, will be rated at 180 hp. Further versions will be available at 130 and 150 hp levels. The EcoBoost fours will also be paired up with the new PowerShift dual clutch gearbox. The EcoBoost and PowerShift will also be available here in the U.S. when the new Focus arrives for 2011.



[Source: EuroCarBlog]
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Even supercar and luxury GT makers are finally starting to think green. Bentley is trying out E85 and possibly working on a hybrid. Same goes for Ferrari. Lamborghini is even adopting solar power, at least for its factory. The latest premium brand to step to the plate is Aston Martin. Sure, the fine folk from Gaydon have already used E85 in some of their racecars, and Prince Charles is even driving a wine-powered Aston, but we just got news that the firm is taking a big step down in order to lower their carbon footprint.

Aston Martin has announced the world's first super luxury supermini. Having blown their development budget on the V12 Vantage RS, Rapide and One-77 hypercar, they turned to an unlikely partner for some help: Toyota. Aston Martin has taken the Toyota iQ 3+1 commuter and given it a tailored suit from Savile Row. The result is the new Aston Martin Cygnet you see above. In case you're wondering, "cygnet" is a baby swan.

Although technically just a concept, word has it that the vehicle will be put into limited production and sold exclusively to existing Aston Martin owners, at least initially. There's a full press release after the jump, but the Cygnet should sell for around £20,000 when it goes on sale late next year. The car will retain the iQ's unique 3+1 seating but will be tailored to the individual customer's needs when it is assembled in Gaydon. We only have the one photo for now, but from what we can see it doesn't look half bad with that distinctive Aston Martin grille, hood cutouts, side vents, and of course, the winged badge. Follow the jump for the presser.

[Source: Toyota via Autocar]

Read more →

When automakers are getting a new vehicle ready for production, the main specifications are generally locked down about 18-24 months before production starts. After that point, validation testing and calibration continues right up until Job One and changes are restricted unless a major problem is encountered. Because of the potential impact on other vehicle systems, any changes are necessarily limited. Meanwhile, once a current generation is locked down, the advanced engineering teams move on to further evolutions.

UK magazine AutoCar is claiming that the Chevy Volt and its European twins the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera will be one=generation vehicles. After the first generation, the publication claims, the Voltec propulsion system will just be applied to other existing vehicles like the Astra. While Voltec will almost certainly be mainstreamed just as Toyota has done with its Hybrid Synergy Drive, the Volt will apparently live on. GM spokesman David Darovitz tells ABG "there is about much truth to this as I am going to be in the next Superman movie. We're already working on Gen II." GM discussed the Gen II Volts back in March. The Ampera may be a different situation however, as GM attempts to sell off controling interest in its European operations. That variant may fade away in the coming years.


[Source: AutoCar, General Motors]