2010 Fiat 500C - Click above for high-res gallery 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. Gallery: Fiat 500 Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth Gallery: Fiat 500C [Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd.] Filed under: Etc. , Hybrid , Manufacturing/Plants , Fiat REPORT: U.S. to get four versions of Fiat 500 by 2011, no word on hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Dodge Hornet concept - Click above for high-res image gallery So far, the path of the Dodge Hornet from concept to production has been a long and winding road leading to nowhere. We first saw the Hornet way back in 2006 , and since then, Chrysler has been searching high and low for a partner to actually assemble the vehicle. First, Chinese automaker Chery was tapped as the supplier of choice, and after that deal fell through Chrysler entered into an arrangement to have Nissan assemble the Hornet in exchange for the use of the Dodge Ram platform for a future fullsize pickup from the Japanese automaker. Now, Chrysler’s recent bankruptcy and tie-up with Italian automaker Fiat may put the Nissan plans on hold as well. Automotive consulting firm IHS Global Insight has released a report with projections on Chrysler’s future product line. Included in the missive is a forecast that the Dodge Hornet will finally enter production in 2011 based on the Fiat 199 platform and built at the Belvidere plant in Illinois. Click here to read about the rest of Global Insight’s forecasts on the future of Chrysler and Fiat. Gallery: Dodge Hornet [Source: Global Insight ] Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants , Chrysler , Dodge , Nissan , Fiat IHS Global Insight report forecasts Dodge Hornet may come by way of Fiat originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

First Drive: 2010 Ford Transit Connect, the right size for a smaller economy After relying on the full-size E-Series fans since the dawn of time, Ford is finally bringing its Transit Connect to the States. For small business who don’t need the Big-E’s tonnage, the squat little runabout offers all the practicality at a fraction of the cost. And it drives well too. Return of the ‘Runner: Plymouth Road Runner Concept shackled to the virtual world Nearly a year ago, the cover of Mopar Enthusiast asked the question: Could the Plymouth Road Runner be reborn? The obvious answer: No. But that didn’t stop the buff book from publishing a host of gorgeous renderings by Michael Leonhard, an independent artist hailing from Austria. Pics Aplenty: Gettin’ bacchus with the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport To celebrate the production of the Veyron Grand Sport, Bugatti released a bevy of new images of the drop-top supercar. Prepare your desktops and get ready for our Grand Sport review coming soon. Other news of import That didn’t take long: FIA sues the FOTA over breakaway series Future Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Fiat product plans revealed? Cash for Clunkers passes Congress, awaits President’s signature Chrysler kills light-duty Cummins engine for Dodge Ram 1500, at least for now Three-cylinder coming to next Mercedes-Benz C-Class ? Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts and subscribe to an RSS feed Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.19.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Tesla Model S - Click above for high-res image gallery Speaking at the Wired Business Conference that’s currently taking place in New York, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk had some rather interesting things to say. For instance, Musk believes that gasoline “should probably be $10″ per gallon. While that doesn’t sound like a popular sentiment for those Americans struggling with the thought of paying just $3 per gallon , but Musk offers an environmental reason to promote higher fuel prices: I’m not paying for the true cost of gasoline at the pump…since nobody’s explicitly paying for the CO 2 capacity of the oceans and atmospheres, it’s getting consumed. We will pay for it down the road, but we are sort of ignoring it for now . Naturally, Tesla Motors stands to benefit from the high cost of gasoline though the sale of its electric cars - possibly at the expense of the current crop of automakers - but Musk doesn’t have all bad things to say about the Detroit-based competitors: I think it’ll probably be a healthier place… I think this will be a cathartic experience. I think GM and Ford, maybe not Chrysler, but GM and Ford will come out of this healthier… and more competitive . Further, Musk says he’d “like to take up some of the manufacturing plants. When the mess gets sorted out I’d like to have a conversation with whoever’s in charge.” And what of the current crop of environmentally-friendly automobiles? Musk’s not a big fan, saying, “A Prius is not a true hybrid, really. The current Prius is like, 2 percent electric. It’s a gasoline car with slightly better mileage.” [Source: CNET ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Tesla Motors , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily Elon Musk: “Gasoline should probably be $10 a gallon” originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

One of the many questions arising from the General Motors bankruptcy is whether or not the company will keep the same name once it emerges from Chapter 11. While some people have already taken to calling it Government Motors, it seems somehow unlikely that new CEO Fritz Henderson will officially adopt that name. Still, the AP reported last week is at least being considered by the company. In a bit of thinking-out-loud contemplation, the Detroit Free Press has taken a look at the possibility that GM will indeed change its name. In them middle of the article is this paragraph: Now, [a name change] also could be a sign to consumers that this really is a new, different enterprise. But GM’s immediate challenge will be selling vehicles such as the Chevy Volt that were clearly conceived and designed by the current company, warts and all . When GM is talking about itself these days, the most common new “name” is, well, “the New GM.” The Free Press believes that GM should remain GM - why complicate matters. But what if the name does change and, since we’re imagining things here, the Volt is used as the symbol of this new brand. A new type of car for a new type of company. Good idea? View Poll [Source: Detroit Free Press ] Photo by mandj98 . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0 . Filed under: GM , Green Daily Would it matter if the Chevy Volt is made by an entity other than “GM”? [w/POLL] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

2009 BYD F3DM - Click above for high-res image gallery The BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid, made in China, might be headed south. The Environment Bureau of Hong Kong has purchased two BYD F3DM hybrid cars for testing purposes. The bureau will work together with the equivalent agency in Shenzhen, the nearby city where the car is built, to certify the use and the green credentials of the vehicle, preparing the car for sale in Hong Kong. BYD’s reasoning is simple: a car validated by the Hong Kong agency will offer purchasers a more objective assesment of the car’s real-life performances and will surely increase the vehicle’s reputation. This is something BYD could use after the lackluster sales of the model in China. Hong Kong, for its part, will get cleaner cars that can be used in one of the most crowded cities in the world. Gallery: 2009 BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid Gallery: Detroit 2009: BYD F6DM and F3DM [Source: Gasgoo ] Filed under: Hybrid , China , BYD BYD preparing to sell F3DM plug-in hybrid in Hong Kong originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

VW Golf Plus - Click above image for high-res gallery Volkswagen has added another LPG-fueled model to its lineup with the new Golf Plus BiFuel. Like most other vehicles capable of running on liquified petroleum gas, the Golf has a dual fuel setup that allows the driver to switch over to gasoline if LPG is not available. The use of LPG cuts emissions of carbon dioxide by 10% from 179 g/km with gasoline to 159 g/km and reduces operating costs because LPG gets a tax break in Germany until 2018. VW has incorporated the LPG tank into the spare tire well of the Golf and its 44-liter capacity allows the car to run about 273 miles on LPG. The 55-liter gasoline tank bumps the total range to nearly 700 miles. Germany has over 4,700 LPG filling stations, making the fuel a more practical alternative than ethanol is in the United States. Gallery: Volkswagen Golf Plus [Source: Volkswagen] Continue reading Volkswagen launches Golf Plus Bi-Fuel in Germany Filed under: Volkswagen , Natural Gas Volkswagen launches Golf Plus Bi-Fuel in Germany originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

2009 Ford F-150 SFE - Click above for high-res image gallery Back in the summer of 2008, fuel prices hit their highest peak in U.S. history and automakers responded with a raft of new cars and trucks designed to eke as many miles from a single gallon of fuel as possible. Not surprisingly, Ford followed this tack when it introduced its latest F-150 pickup truck for the ‘09 model year, which launched with an optional SFE (Superior Fuel Economy, if you must know) edition that featured a number of fuel-saving tweaks and the Blue Oval’s long-running three-valve 4.6-liter V8 engine. After just one year on the market, PickupTrucks.com reports that Ford will drop the SFE model for 2010. The good news for those interested in fuel efficient fullsize trucks is that Ford will continue to offer a two-wheel-drive, four-door version of its popular pickup with an SFE-matching 15/21 mpg rating, so it would seem the SFE is disappearing in name only. As far as we’re aware, GM will continue to offer a competing model that matches the ex-SFE’s 15/21 mileage rating and carries an XFE badge . Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150 SFE [Source: PickupTrucks.com ] Filed under: MPG , Ford , USA Ford drops ‘SFE’ label from fuel-efficient trucks originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Alfa Romeo Mi.To - Click above image for high-res gallery Alfa Romeo has introduced a new downsized engine to the compact MiTo that will improve output while cutting fuel consumption and emissions. The so-called MultiAir 1.4-liter four cylinder is available in normally aspirated and turbocharged variants in three power levels: 105, 135 and 170 hp. The key to the MultiAir concept is an electro-hydraulic valve control that allows the engine management system to directly control the intake valves in response to driver acceleration demands without a throttle. BMW has had the same concept on its six cylinder engines for several years under the ValveTronic name. The MultiAir system allows the engine to produce 10% more power and 15% more torque while consuming 10% less gas than a conventional throttle version of the same engine. CO 2 emissions are also cut by 10% while particulates and NOx are cut by 40% and 60% respectively. The MiTo with MultiAir will be available in Europe starting in September. Gallery: Alfa Romeo Mi.To [Source: Alfa Romeo] Continue reading Alfa Romeo introduces cleaner, more powerful 1.4L MultiAir engine in the MiTo Filed under: Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo introduces cleaner, more powerful 1.4L MultiAir engine in the MiTo originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Honda FCX Clarity - Click above image for high-res gallery Joe Romm has long battled with vocal hydrogen vehicle proponent Gerg Blencoe on the value of H 2 vehicles. They’ve made bets , given suggestions , and just plain disagreed about everything when it comes to hydrogen vs. plug-in electric vehicles. I doubt Romm’s latest missive is going to change the situation. Romm has published a lengthy post over at the MIT Technology Review on the ” dead end ” of hydrogen vehicles and why the U.S. DOE was right to slash funding for future work. Most of the first piece (it’s the start of a series) is taken from Romm’s 2005 journal article called, “The car and fuel of the future,” from Energy Policy ( PDF ). As should be obvious from the headline, Romm methodically goes through and explains why hydrogen fuel cells are just not the right choice for transportation. A few highlilghts: Hydrogen is the most challenging of all alternative fuels, particularly because of the enormous effort needed to change our existing gasoline infrastructure. The most promising AFV [alternative fuel vehicle] pathway is a hybrid that can be connected to the electric grid. These so-called plug-in hybrids will likely travel three to four times as far on a kilowatt-hour of renewable electricity as fuel cell vehicles The new generation of hybrid PZEVs such as the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape hybrid have substantially raised the bar for future AFVs. These vehicles have no chicken and egg problem (since they can be fueled everywhere), no different safety concerns than other gasoline cars, a substantially lower annual fuel bill, greater range, a 30% to 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and a 90% reduction in tailpipe emissions. The vehicles do cost a little more, but that is more than offset by the current government incentive and the large reduction in gasoline costs, even ignoring the performance benefits. A push to constrain carbon dioxide emissions actually delays the introduction of hydrogen cars because sources of zero-carbon hydrogen such as renewable power can achieve emissions reductions far more cost-effectively simply replacing planned or existing coal plants . There’s much, more more here if you want to join Romm or Blencoe on the battlefield. We’ll keep an eye out for Part 2. Gallery: Tesla Model S [Source: MIT Technology Review ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hydrogen , Green Daily What’s “a dead end from a technological, practical, and climate perspective”? Hydrogen fuel cell cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments