Diesel’s near-term prospects in America took a huge hit with the revelation that nine diesel-powered 2010 models are on hold. Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have put the kibosh on rolling out more oil burners due to cost and perception issues. Toyota’s obviously on a hybrid run and doesn’t want to expelnd the effort or expense of investing in diesel for the American market - and having to overcome America’s dirty diesel perceptions. The others, as mass market manufacturers, simply need more justification for the cost and complexity of oil burners in order to make the case for consumers to spend more. Additionally, diesel’s benefits are weighted differently according to EPA or CAFE standards. The EPA mileage numbers present diesels well, but CAFE’s differing fuel mileage equation makes gas-hybrids look better than diesels, and CAFE is something all automakers are looking at. However, you’ll notice that German brands aren’t mentioned - their price premium and European diesel volumes make a worthwhile case for diesels, so those diesel Jetta Sportwagons won’t be going away any time soon. Gallery: 2008 VW Jetta CleanTDI [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] Filed under: Diesel , MPG Dead Diesels: Six automakers reportedly kill plans for oil burners originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery Ford CEO Alan Mulally says the automaker is on track to return to profitability by 2011, despite posting a record $14.7 billion loss in 2008 and a forecast to continue posting losses through the rest of 2009 and 2010. A major portion of Ford’s turnaround plan revolves around “more and more electrification, both hybrids and battery electric vehicles,” Mulally said shortly after the automaker accepted $5.9 billion in U.S. Department of Energy loans as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program to retool factories to build more environmentally friendly cars and trucks. Ford plans to use the DOE funding to convert a couple of former truck plants into new automobile assembly facilities and help fund its planned electric van in 2010 and the Focus EV in 2011 . Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Manufacturing/Plants , Ford , Legislation and Policy Mulally: Ford’s path to profitability based on electrification originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

The other day, Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering, said, “If they (the DOE) raise the appropriations from the $25 billion to the $50 billion, we qualify.” At the time, we hadn’t heard about any plans to increase funding for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program. Of course, as we wrote when Cischke made those remarks, never say never. Guess what? There’s now talk that the DOE may go ahead and double its $25 billion investment in the ATVM program. It seems that new legislation was added to the already controversial (and already massive at a whopping 1,200 pages) climate change bill that’s currently making the rounds in the House. So far, Ford has been awarded $5.9 billion, Nissan has gotten $1.6 billion and Tesla has accepted $465 million, which leaves a total of $17 billion left in the original $25 billion. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is expected to award the remaining millions to a range of automakers large and small as well as auto suppliers. If the House votes in favor of the bill, which may or may not happen before the planned July 4th recess, it will be sent to the Senate for consideration. [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Photo: laura padgett CC 2.0] Filed under: Legislation and Policy , USA House now considering doubling $25 billion DOE ATVM program originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Mitsubishi iMiEV - click above for high res iamge gallery The electric vehicle money is flowing everywhere. Following the U.S. DOE’s announcement yesterday , the UK has announced it will spend £25 million ($40 million) on a large project to get EVs and “ultra-low carbon vehicles an everyday feature of life on Britain’s roads in less than five years.” Automotive partners include Ford , MINI , smart, Mitsubishi and Toyota. More information available at the links and in the press releases after the jump. While EV fans here on AutoblogGreen will undoubtedly be happy to hear this news, there was a line in the Automotive News Europe (subs req’d) write-up of the announcement that doesn’t exactly bode well. The automakers brought their vehicles together at the Guildhall in London for the day, which gave a reporter the chance to hear what the i MiEV sounds like: “When the demonstrator started the car and pressed the accelerator, it did not rev nor growl. It sounded like a toy.” Really, a toy? Gallery: Mitsubishi i MiEV - LIVE [Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)] Continue reading UK will spend £25 million ($40 million U.S.) on huge electric car test program Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Ford , MINI , Mitsubishi , SMART , Toyota , Legislation and Policy , UK UK will spend £25 million ($40 million U.S.) on huge electric car test program originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery Volkswagen seems to have a nice success story on its hands in the form of the latest Jetta TDI . In April, VW moved 2,253 Jetta TDIs. Last month, that number surged to 3,862, which accounts for about 36-percent of total Jetta sales. Similar sales figures are expected in June. Interestingly, dealerships across much of the United States are reporting particularly strong demand for the SportWagen version of the oil burner. Diesel-powered station wagons in Amerca? Sign us up! One possible reason why Jetta TDI sales are on the rise may be the decline diesel fuel prices, which have remained slightly below the cost of regular-grade gasoline for the last few months and well below that of premium gasoline. That explanation would help explain why Mercedes-Benz has also seen an increasing percentage of M-Class, GL-Class and R-Class models sold with diesel engines. Whatever the reason, it’s good to see diesels selling well (relatively) in the U.S. for a change. Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd] Filed under: Diesel , Volkswagen , USA Demand for VW Jetta TDI remains strong in U.S. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery Volkswagen seems to have a nice success story on its hands in the form of the latest Jetta TDI . In April, VW moved 2,253 Jetta TDIs. Last month, that number surged to 3,862, which accounts for about 36-percent of total Jetta sales. Similar sales figures are expected in June. Interestingly, dealerships across much of the United States are reporting particularly strong demand for the SportWagen version of the oil burner. Diesel-powered station wagons in Amerca? Sign us up! One possible reason why Jetta TDI sales are on the rise may be the decline diesel fuel prices, which have remained slightly below the cost of regular-grade gasoline for the last few months and well below that of premium gasoline. That explanation would help explain why Mercedes-Benz has also seen an increasing percentage of M-Class, GL-Class and R-Class models sold with diesel engines. Whatever the reason, it’s good to see diesels selling well (relatively) in the U.S. for a change. Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd] Filed under: Diesel , Volkswagen , USA Demand for VW Jetta TDI remains strong in U.S. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

According to a new study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute , the Detroit three automakers need to make major changes in their current corporate cultures if they truly want to reverse their fortunes, and that will likely require new leadership. Says Walter McManus, director of the Transportation Research Institute’s Automotive Analysis Division and co-author of the report: Our findings support rapid, wide-reaching change in business models. The key to a long-term recovery is executing an excellent portfolio of products, and we find that increasing fuel economy standards will lead to a portfolio of products that is more likely to raise the profits of the Detroit 3 automakers than to lower them . Perhaps it’s not fair to lump all three major American automakers into the same category, but it’s also true that Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have only recently shown any real efforts to drastically improve the fuel efficiency of their automotive fleet. Whether it’s with the current leadership or not, hopefully that culture really is on the way out. [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd] Photo by Elsie esq. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0 . Filed under: Green Culture , MPG , Chrysler , Ford , GM , USA STUDY: The way to profits in Detroit? Make fuel efficient cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

According to a new study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute , the Detroit three automakers need to make major changes in their current corporate cultures if they truly want to reverse their fortunes, and that will likely require new leadership. Says Walter McManus, director of the Transportation Research Institute’s Automotive Analysis Division and co-author of the report: Our findings support rapid, wide-reaching change in business models. The key to a long-term recovery is executing an excellent portfolio of products, and we find that increasing fuel economy standards will lead to a portfolio of products that is more likely to raise the profits of the Detroit 3 automakers than to lower them . Perhaps it’s not fair to lump all three major American automakers into the same category, but it’s also true that Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have only recently shown any real efforts to drastically improve the fuel efficiency of their automotive fleet. Whether it’s with the current leadership or not, hopefully that culture really is on the way out. [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd] Photo by Elsie esq. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0 . Filed under: Green Culture , MPG , Chrysler , Ford , GM , USA STUDY: The way to profits in Detroit? Make fuel efficient cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Dodge Circuit EV - Click above for high-res image gallery Austrian powertrain engineering firm AVL has a new research and development facility in California dedicated to alternative fuels. AVL conducts both engineering and research work for its automaker clients as well as building test equipment for use in clients facilities. The new facility, located in Lake Forest, is focusing on working with automakers and suppliers to help with system integration of electric and hybrid drive systems. Integrating and calibrating electronics, batteries, electrical and mechanical hardware is the most time consuming aspect of developing these new vehicles. AVL’s new test bed allows all of these subsystems to be pulled together in a vehicle and evaluated in a controlled environment. The Lake Forest lab was already working with Chrysler on its ENVI electric drive program, which is behind vehicles like the Dodge Circuit EV, before fully opening. [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid AVL launches hybrid powertrain engineering center in California originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments