2010 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery Initial strong sales of the 2010 Honda Insight slowed last month, but new models of the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion helped give hybrids car sales in June 2009 a nine percent increase over last June. In the U.S., dealers sold 26,205 new hybrids in June, 49.6 of which (12,998 units) were Priuses. Compared to May, hybird sales were up two percent, according to data released by the automakers and complied by Green Car Advisor . This was the sixth month where hybrid increased in sales volumes. Potential reasons for the increase include the new models as well as rising gas prices (and the expectation thereof) and some uncommon hybrid sales incentives. Overall, sales were down for everyone but Subaru and Volvo compared to June 2008. Gallery: Ford Fusion hybrid [Source: Green Car Advisor ] Filed under: Hybrid , Ford , Honda , Subaru , Toyota , Volvo , Green Daily , USA Hybrid sale up despite another down month overall, Prius leads charge originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Hybrid transit buses using the GM-Allison Two-mode hybrid system are becoming fairly common in North America with several thousand now on the road. In the UK however, the two-mode buses are brand new, with the first four recently going into service in London. The two-mode hybrid transmissions are installed in Optare Tempo bus chassis that are being used as part of a hybrid test program in the British capitol. Several different hybrid systems are being evaluated by Transport for London. The two-mode hybrid is the basis of the system being used by General Motors in its full-size SUV and pickup trucks. The only difference (other than size) is that the light duty versions have a clutch system that provides up to four fixed gear ratios and direct mechanical drive for better highway efficiency. Since the buses typically operate at lower speeds, this isn’t needed. The buses use a 340 hp diesel engine and a nickel metal hydride battery pack. Gallery: London two-mode hybrid buses [Source: Allison] Continue reading Two-mode hybrid buses debut in the UK Filed under: Hybrid , UK Two-mode hybrid buses debut in the UK originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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

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

Freightliner Innovation Truck - Click above for high-res image gallery According to the American Trucking Association, there has been a 41 percent increase in registered large trucks and an 84 percent increase in miles traveled by large trucks from 1986 to 2006. That equals lots of diesel fuel consumed. Fortunately, a new report from Coordinating Research Council and the Health Effects Institute shows that pollution from heavy trucks and buses is actually improving at a faster rate than automobiles. Impressively, today’s big rig engines produce 98 percent less carbon monoxide, 10 percent less nitrogen oxide, 95 percent less non-methane hydrocarbons and 89 percent less particulate matter than required by EPA’s 2007 diesel engine emission standards. Diesel engines manufactured in 2010 will perform even better as new regulations mean the powerplants will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by another 50 percent. This study is the first installment of the Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES), which will continue to test diesel engines and the related health effects of burning diesel fuel over the next five years. Click here to view the official test results and to keep future tabs on the testing results. Gallery: Freightliner Innovation Truck [Source: American Trucking Association] Continue reading Report: Heavy trucks cleaning up faster than diesel passenger cars Filed under: Diesel , USA Report: Heavy trucks cleaning up faster than diesel passenger cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Chevrolet Volt Integration prototype - click above for high res image gallery The technicians and engineers at GM’s Pre-Production operations center at the Warren, MI tech center have been hard at work for the last several weeks trying to finish up the first of about 75 integration prototypes of the Chevy Volt. They worked so hard, in fact, that the first car was completed a week ahead of schedule. These are the first actual running prototypes and include pretty much all of the production-intent hardware in a production body shell. As is typical of these integration prototypes, items like the light clusters aren’t quite done yet. The intended bulbs are included in a flat black plastic cluster with the proper arrangement but the covers and internal sculpting are missing. Chief engineer Andrew Farah took IVER #1 (that’s Integration Vehicle Engineering Release #1) out for a brief drive after it was completed and checked out and, according to the video after the jump, everything worked smoothly. While the car looks pretty much like the Volt that was unveiled last September, if you look carefully you will notice one difference. From the original concept to the styling buck we have seen for the last nine months, the charge port was always hidden under the trim piece just ahead of the driver’s side mirror. There is now a flap looking much like a gas cover just below that on the fender. The charge port sits behind that flap. According to Volt spokesman David Darovitz, this is the production intent configuration. Dave, we’re ready for our test drive anytime, you have our number. Check out the video with Andrew Farah after the jump. Gallery: First Chevy Volt integration prototype [Source: General Motors] Continue reading Volt chief engineer takes first drive in integration prototype [w/VIDEO] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Chevrolet , GM Volt chief engineer takes first drive in integration prototype [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

By some accounts, Silicon Valley’s Tesla Motors makes a pretty neat electric sports car. But even if they get the cost of that gasoline-free tire ripper down to $25,000 apiece, when it comes to grin factor the company’s car won’t hold a battery-powered Christmas candle to the drama these guys generate. Tesla Motors gives us the live-wire version of Vaudeville. This week, Chairman and CEO Elon Musk (the largest shareholder and a self-described nano manager) fired back at his old CEO Martin Eberhard in response to his June 11 lawsuit against the company. Eberhard sued for libel and breach of contract. He blames Musk for the costly delays in bringing the roadster to market and for the company’s losses as a result. Musk, who is pictured above, has publicly laid those issues at Eberhard’s door in the past. On that score, Eberhard says Musk has damaged his reputation and made it difficult for him to get a new job. Tesla says the company will respond to the suit in court. But why wait for the attorneys to respond when Musk can blog it up himself? He did just that today, rubbishing Eberhard’s claims that the company was stripped from him by Musk and that he was forced out purely for personal reasons. He gets into Tesla’s history and how, when he met Eberhard, the former CEO had no money to get the project off the ground. He says the company had no assets or even offices. Musk brought in cash and hired chief engineer J.B. Straubel, the brains behind Tesla’s electric drive system. He also goes into some detail about board meetings, fights over door sills and claims that the Tesla roadster cost the company $140,000 to build when Eberhard ran the show. Now the car’s cost (not including overhead) is down to $80,000. The company is en route to being profitable, Musk wrote. Perhaps. But if Eberhard was running overboard on costs, Musk was the chairman and had a role in either approving or missing it all. Also, I once interviewed Michael Marks, one of two CEOs hired between 2007 when Eberhard was pushed out and 2008 when Musk took that title himself, and he said some of Tesla’s cost issues stemmed from the fact that parts suppliers didn’t believe they were legit. So they charged a lot more even for basics. It was tough to get anything cheaply. He did not blame Eberhard. As an aside, rarely have too men fought so much over a company making so little money. Who is right? The courts will decide, unless of course Tesla settles out of court. But that’s not Musk’s style. He plays to win and isn’t afraid to wage a legal battle just to make a point. Eberhard may be even tougher to silence. He has taken public criticism from Musk in the past. By filing a suit that will dredge up his mistakes—real or perceived—he risks more damage to his reputation. But he has clearly had enough. If Musk is lucky, his attorneys might get the better of him. They may convince him that further disparaging Eberhard through the constant filing of public documents and blog postings that are gobbled up by the mainstream press (like me) and the hordes of green blogs who watch Tesla’s ever move is bad P.R. If he pushes it? Musk will make a company striving for legitimacy look more like a side show than a carmaker.

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.

Volvo has announced that they are recalling certain models of the 2008 through 2009 S80, V70, and XC70 vehicles. They stated that the engine cooling fan may stop working due to a software… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Volvo has announced that they are recalling certain models of the 2008 through 2009 S80, V70, and XC70 vehicles. They stated that the engine cooling fan may stop working due to a software… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]