2010 Citroen C3 - click above for high res image gallery In Europe, the so-called C-Segment is the single largest volume vehicle class, so when a manufacturer brings out a new model in that class, it’s an important move. C cars are compacts like the Ford Focus, VW Golf and Opel Astra. Citroen’s C car is called the C3 and it’s all new for 2010. Visually, the most remarkable element of the C3 is the “Zenith windshield” which stretches back almost to the B-pillar. Seeing something like this is common on concept cars (see: Kia No 3 ) but rare on production cars, especially mainstream models. The 12.9 foot long C3 has managed to not add any weight in spite of the enormous piece of glass up front. Citroen has improved the efficiency and it will get even better next year with further powertrain upgrades. For 2010, the HDi 90 DPFS version will get a CO 2 emissions rating of just 99 g/km. Next year, a second-generation start/stop system will yield variants that get 90 and 95 g/km. Gallery: 2010 Citroen C3 [Source: Citroen] Continue reading Citroen announces new C3 including a version that gets 99 g/km CO 2 Filed under: Diesel , Citroen Citroen announces new C3 including a version that gets 99 g/km CO 2 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

The Focus-based electric car that Ford is developing with Magna for a 2011 introduction is not the only EV program in the company. Early next year, Ford will start testing a fleet of battery-powered Focuses in the UK with funding from a British government program. The Technology Strategy Board announced a total of £25 million for eight projects, including the Ford EV test (we’ll have details on the others up soon). Unlike the production-intent program in the U.S., Ford is collaborating with its partner for the Transit Connect EV, Smith Electric vehicles. The battery Focuses will be used by staff from Scottish and Southern Energy in Hillingdon, Middlesex, a utility which is partnering with Smith and Ford on the program. The Focus will use the same lithium iron phosphate batteries that Smith put into the Tourneo Connect BEV concept that we saw at the Geneva Show in March . Gallery: Ford Tourneo Connect BEV [Source: AutoCar ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , UK Ford to launch Focus BEV test fleet in the UK originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:28:00 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

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

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

American car buyers are used to seeing window stickers with information about fuel efficiency, crash test ratings and emissions. They may soon have another chunk of information to review when they go to their local tire store to buy new rubber. Buying new tires has always been problematic for drivers. Given how dependent tire performance is on things that the buyer can’t see - rubber compounds and internal construction, for example - it’s impossible to judge tires by just looking at them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing a new sticker for replacement tires that would give buyers more information on which to judge tires. In addition to a wet traction index and tread wear rating, the new proposed stickers would include a fuel efficiency rating. The new rating is based on the tire’s rolling resistance, which contributes to the overall efficiency of the vehicle. The new stickers are actually a requirement of the 2007 energy bill and NHTSA has to finalize them by the end of this year. Unfortunately, the sticker should also have some information about the tire’s grip characteristics, which affect handling and braking capabilities. [Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ] Filed under: MPG , Legislation and Policy NHTSA proposes tire fuel efficiency stickers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:56:00 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

Filed under: Tuners , Hatchbacks , Honda Mugen Honda Civic Type-R hatch - Click above for high-res image gallery Honda’s Euro-market Civic Type R hatchback has been called out for being a successor that hasn’t exactly succeeded. Seems a bit of the thrill is gone from the new car compared to the old one. Enter tuning firm Mugen, whose modifications to the Type R hatch should make it even better than it once was. Not much is known about the changes in store. However, based on changes made for Mugen’s Japan-spec Civic Type RR 4-door sedan, these pictures, and the fact that this car might take on the Renault R26.R, you can expect much: upgraded suspension and 18-inch wheels, giant front splitter and rear wing, huge exhaust, and a powerplant putting out 237 bhp and 160 lb-ft. If the pictures don’t lie, however, it looks like the bigger Brembo brakes might not appear, and the back seats will remain in place. You can check out the details for yourself in the high-res gallery below. Gallery: Mugen Civic Type R Hatch [Source: 4 Wheels News ] Mugen Civic Type R hatchback restores former glory originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments