Kangoo be bop Z.E. - Click above for high-res image gallery If you count yourself as a fan of the shortened Kangoo that will become the be bod Z.E., Renault’s first widely available electric vehicle, this post is for you. On the other side of the jump you’ll find three videos that show the car in motion, the interior and undergoing the recharging process. That last video shows the three options that owners of the Renault EV will be able to choose from to recharge their batteries: a regular slow charge at home (takes 6 hours), fast charging (30 minutes) or battery swap (3 minutes). The swapping video is quite similar to what Better Place showed us in this video . Gallery: Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. [Source: Renault via YouTube] Continue reading Renault shows off the Kangoo Be Bop Z. E. in three new videos Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Renault , Europe/EU Renault shows off the Kangoo Be Bop Z. E. in three new videos originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne tells Bloomberg News that the company is burning less of its valuable and limited cash than it was a few months ago, but he doesn’t say how much less. Chrysler is not publicly listed, so Marchionne says he doesn’t have to get into specifics. Chrysler went through $9.6 billion in cash in 2008. The automaker reorganized around what it considered its best assets in Chapter 11 and $6 billion in fresh financing from the U.S. and Canadian governments. “We are still burning cash, but it’s slowed down by far,” the news agency quoted Marchionne. That said, it is not lost on the CEO, who is also head of Fiat’s auto group in Italy, that the American public has a vested interest in knowing some of Chrysler’s specifics. He says he is discussing with the U.S. Treasury auto task force how much information will be disclosed and how often going forward. Fiat owns 20% of Chrysler and is managing the company now after the Federal government lent the automaker billions to stay in business. Today is the day that monthly sales are reported by the automakers. Chrysler, reporters were told yesterday, would issue a press release with sales information. But the automaker plans to discontinue the traditional monthly sales call with reporters to discuss the sales figures in more detail, and offer media outlets an opportunity to ask a few other questions. GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota have long held conference calls with reporters to discuss their company and industry trends. Right out of the box, though, Fiat is pulling back access by the media too its executives. Let’s see…a foreign owned company takes over an American icon with the aid of U.S. taxpayer money and then gets, some might say, uppity about disclosing information as a first impression. Hardly seems sociable.

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

European Fiat advertising campaign - Click above for high-res image gallery We’ve some pretty cool advertising in our time, but the new European marketing campaign from Fiat is surely one of the more memorable efforts from an automaker in recent years. In an effort to underscore the safety of its diminutive 500, both to its occupants and the animals we share our planet with, the Italian automaker has unleashed a new series of images depicting the little hatchback in various crash test scenarios. The interesting part comes from the car’s occupants, which includes a panda bear, a walrus (goo goo g’joob) and a couple of penguins. Equally as clever is the tagline, “Engineered for a lower impact on the environment,” after which the ad reminds the viewer that Fiat - with an average of just 133.7 grams per kilometer - is the brand with the lowest carbon emissions in all of Europe. Gallery: European Fiat advertising campaign [Source: Fubiz.net via Jalopnik ] Filed under: Green Culture , Fiat , Green Daily , Europe/EU PETA Alert: Fiat underscores eco-friendliness using unique advertising campaign originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:02:00 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

Ford Focus EV Mule - click above for a high res gallery The Detroit Free Press is reporting that tomorrow the US Department of Energy will finally announce the first recipients of low interest loans under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Incentive Program. It looks like the first batch of winners will include Ford, Nissan and Tesla Motors. Energy secretary Steven Chu will be making the announcement at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, MI on Tuesday morning. Ford applied for up to $11 billion in loans but will likely only get a small fraction of that in this first round. Ford will likely use the money to fund its electric vehicle program that will launch a battery powered version of the Transit Connect in 2010 followed by a C-segment car in 2011. Nissan wants to add production of its upcoming electric car and lithium ion batteries at its assembly complex in Smyrna Tennessee. Tesla is the big winner in this round as the money it receives will allow it to proceed with completing development and production of the Model S. The recent investment in the company by Daimler was likely a big help in getting the loan approved since companies had to demonstrate viability. Since the ATVM program favors re-tooling of older existing plants, Tesla will probably look at acquiring a closed factory from another company. Recent rumors had the company possibly acquiring a former McDonnell-Douglas factory in Long Beach although there are plenty of other properties available. The current chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings at GM and Chrysler made those companies ineligible in the current round. It’s not known if any announcements will be made about loans for battery makers like A123 or EnerDel. Gallery: ABG Quick Drive: Ford Focus EV mule [Source: Detroit Free Press ] Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Ford , Nissan , Tesla Motors , Legislation and Policy DOE expected to announce first ATVM loans Tuesday: Ford, Nissan and Tesla win originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Ford Focus EV Mule - click above for a high res gallery The Detroit Free Press is reporting that tomorrow the US Department of Energy will finally announce the first recipients of low interest loans under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Incentive Program. It looks like the first batch of winners will include Ford, Nissan and Tesla Motors. Energy secretary Steven Chu will be making the announcement at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, MI on Tuesday morning. Ford applied for up to $11 billion in loans but will likely only get a small fraction of that in this first round. Ford will likely use the money to fund its electric vehicle program that will launch a battery powered version of the Transit Connect in 2010 followed by a C-segment car in 2011. Nissan wants to add production of its upcoming electric car and lithium ion batteries at its assembly complex in Smyrna Tennessee. Tesla is the big winner in this round as the money it receives will allow it to proceed with completing development and production of the Model S. The recent investment in the company by Daimler was likely a big help in getting the loan approved since companies had to demonstrate viability. Since the ATVM program favors re-tooling of older existing plants, Tesla will probably look at acquiring a closed factory from another company. Recent rumors had the company possibly acquiring a former McDonnell-Douglas factory in Long Beach although there are plenty of other properties available. The current chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings at GM and Chrysler made those companies ineligible in the current round. It’s not known if any announcements will be made about loans for battery makers like A123 or EnerDel. Gallery: ABG Quick Drive: Ford Focus EV mule [Source: Detroit Free Press ] Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Ford , Nissan , Tesla Motors , Legislation and Policy DOE expected to announce first ATVM loans Tuesday: Ford, Nissan and Tesla win originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Filed under: Time Warp , Misc. Auto Shows 2009 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Day 1 - Click above for a high-res gallery The web is all about immediacy, and by that token, you should have seen these Greenwich Concours d’Elegance photos right after the event happened. Your humble correspondent, however, was juggling the Concours with his own family vacation preparations, and couldn’t deliver in a timely fashion. However, like Dick Nixon , I’m now tanned, rested and ready, so follow the jump for several themed photo galleries and the annual rundown on what you missed if you weren’t able to make the stop in Greenwich, All photos Copyright (C)2008 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading 2009 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance 2009 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

an Alfa-Romeo SUV based closely on the Jeep Liberty might be built on Toledo, helping the plant to run closer to capacity. Local sources say that Fiat leaders have visited the plant, currently down to one shift, four in recent weeks, taking measurements and analyzing equipment. The plant has some flex capability, building the Dodge Nitro on the same line as the Liberty (the Nitro shares no sheet metal and has different engines, interiors, and suspension tuning). The proposed Alfa SUV has apparently already been styled, with a smooth design. The Jeep Liberty is due to be refreshed for the 2012 model year, and it’s possible that the Alfa SUV will not be produced until then. It could also be introduced earlier, depending on the number of changes from the Liberty and the state of its evolution, but probably not within the next 18 months.

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