Mercedes-Benz concept BlueZero - Click above for high-res image gallery 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. Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO [Source: Daimler] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Hydrogen , Mercedes Benz , Green Daily Pics aplenty: Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Tong Jian S11 - Click above for image gallery 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. Gallery: Shanghai 2009: Tong Jian S11 hybrid sports car [Source: China Car Times ] Filed under: Hybrid , China Tong Jian S11 hybrid sports car attempts to channel inner Audi and Ferrari originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Ford iosis Max Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery 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. Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ford Iosis Max Gallery: Ford Iosis-Max Concept [Source: EuroCarBlog ] Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Filed under: MPG , Ford Ford’s new 1.6L EcoBoost four to come in three power levels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Vespa-based sidecar - Click above for high-res image gallery There’s more than one way to attach a sidecar to a motorcycle. Proving that point are the three oddball machines you see here. We’re a bit partial to the Vespa you see above for the absolute potential of zero-emissions motoring provided by the pedal-powered two-wheeled sidecar, though there are other way to attack the problem of compromised passenger-carrying capabilities on a motorcycle. François Knorreck of Italy spent some 10,000 hours of work over a ten-year period and 15,000 euros into a unique sidecar motorcycle called the Snaefell - likely named after the tallest peak on the famed Isle of Man (above left). Half the machine is based on the guts of a Laverda motorcycle, while the other half uses bits from a Volkswagen GTI, Audi 80 and a Citroen Xantia . Equally as interesting is the sidecar outfit seen above right, which combines what appears to be an older British motorcycle with a cut-down Citroen 2CV sidecar. It seems both machines are in fully working order with the older 2CV still sporting what we assume is an inoperative a steering wheel. Check out all three machines in the gallery below. Gallery: Oddball sidecar outfits [Source: Bikes in the Fast Lane , The New Cafe Racer Society ] Filed under: Etc. , Transportation Alternatives , On Two Wheels , Green Daily It’s Friday: Oddball sidecar outfits redefine the word ‘hybrid’ originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . 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

Here’s a storyline I have heard before. The Big Three are narrowing the gap on quality. J.D. Power and Associates have just released their annual Initial Quality Study, which measures problem per 100 cars in the first 90 days of ownership. Detroit’s carmakers reduced problems by 10%. Their foreign foes reduced problems by just 8%. When measuring problems per 100 cars sold, no one will notice the difference. And here’s the frustrating part. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have been improving quality for years. But they rarely beat Honda or Toyota in a brand-wide measure. And they don’t beat them in model-by-model comparisons often enough. Every year, they inch closer. But that doesn’t send the loyal Toyota Camry or Honda Accord owner to a Chevrolet dealer. The top 10 went like this. Lexus was number one with just 84 problems per 100 vehicles and Porsche was No. 2 with 90 problems per 100. Cadillac was third with 91 problems. From there it went: Hyundai: 95 Honda: 99 Mercedes-Benz: 101 Toyota: 101 Ford: 102 Chevrolet: 103 Suzuki: 103 Infiniti: 106 Mercury: 106 The industry average was 108 problems per 100 cars. Every brand not mentioned above did worse. That means all of the new Chrysler’s brands are below average. GM, for its part, did quite well. Cadillac was third among 37 brands. Chevrolet ranked ninth, but was close enough to Ford and Toyota that difference is just about meaningless. Mini finished last. The problem for Detroit is that those overall numbers don’t mean so much. If car buyers compare models, they would find that 10 of Toyota’s cars rank in the top their in their segment, more than any carmaker. Ford had three models getting awards in their vehicle segments while GM had two and Chrysler had one, the slow-selling PT Cruiser. That’s the difference in quality that consumers will see. They will shop for a mid-sized luxury car, for example, and see that the Lexus IS was best-in-class for quality. The Infiniti G-series and Cadillac CTS tied for second, but the Lexus won. To win buyers, that Cadillac needs to leap frog the Lexus. And the American carmakers need to start recording wins, not narrow defeats.

For all the family vacations, he drives to practice, the trips to the burger stand, letting us “help” when we weren’t really helping, and for not yelling at us too much when we shot cap guns at other cars out the open back window from our rear-facing seats in the family station wagon: Thanks, Dad. From all of us at Autoblog to all the dads out there, Happy Father’s Day! Got any fun dad/car stories? Share ‘em below. Happy Father’s Day from Autoblog originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Filed under: Motorsports , Etc. , Lifestyle Former WRC driver Colin McRae died just before the game bearing his brand, DiRT, was released. That game didn’t get a chance to honor the 1995 WRC champion, but the game’s sequel, DiRT 2 , will make up for that. In addition to a host of off-road events that you can run in a variety of off-road vehicles, there will be a Colin McRae Memorial Cup that you can qualify for. Other drivers in the game will also be heard talking about McRae, and he is “the central figure in the narrative.” As a step to pay tribute it is commendable, and it’s good to see that Mr. McRae hasn’t been forgotten. [Source: Joystiq ] DiRT 2 will honor Colin McRae in-game originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  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

Filed under: Spy Photos , Sedans/Saloons , Sports/GTs , Aston Martin A Car magazine reader has photographed the Aston Martin Rapide looking like it could have come off a dealer lot. The snapper also peeped the inside, which he said has a full-length console a la the Mercedes CLS to create four distinct seating positions. Aston has, however, said that those rear seats are for “children or two adults on shorter journeys.” The slinky black number also sports a serious set of pipes out back that we expect to put out a beautiful soundtrack. And thank goodness the car has a hatch like the Vantage, which means — in a first for current Aston Martins — it could have a proper trunk. Like the kind you can actually put things in. [Source: Car ] Spy Shots: This is your Aston Martin Rapide originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments