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Archive for December 10th, 2009
Suzuki hybrids based on VW technology?
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
Better off with GM technology?Not long ago it seemed as if Suzuki hybrids based upon GM hybrid technology was a done deal. Of course, with GM shedding brands and executives like a furry dog heading into summer, technology partnerships might have been too much of a distraction for both companies. Likewise, GM still needs to prove that any of its hybrid technology can be cost-effectively viable.
Hence, it’s not much of surprise that Suzuki would look for other technology partnerships. Nonetheless, it does seem a bit of a surprise that Suzuki and VW would hook up on hybrid vehicles considering that VW has yet to sell a hybrid in the US. Hence VW’s technology might just be as ineffective as was GM’s BAS hybrid powertrain.
Of course, perhaps Suzuki needed any partner. Or, even better, perhaps Suzuki received an inside look at VW’s hybrid technology and liked what they saw. Hopefully, it’s the later, as a little more serious hybrid competition is certainly in order.
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A few new details on the Honda CR-Z hybrid
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
The production version of the CR-Z hybrid?A Japanese Honda CR-Z hybrid brochure has apparently leaked onto the Internet. According to the brochure, the CR-Z hybrid will go from 0 – 62 in about 9.7 seconds.
Additionally, MotorTrend speculates that the CR-Z hybrid will be slightly less fuel efficient than the Honda Insight due to “a little more displacement”.
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California cities battle to lure Tesla
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
And the EV wars are on, kind ofJust when it seemed the city of Downey, CA was a shoe-in to become the next electric vehicle assembly plant for Tesla, Long Beach stepped up the stakes.
A few weeks ago, Tesla and Downey appeared to agree on a $8.9 million deal to set up an assembly plant.
Yesterday, however, the city of Long Beach approved a plan to offer Tesla $28 million to build an assembly plant in that city.
Will it all come down to the Benjamins?
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Ford seeks tax credits to begin EV battery production
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
The Ford Focus EVIf Ford can acquire about $120 million in state funding from Michigan, the automaker will invest up to $500 million to develop batteries for its EVs in the state while hiring up to 1,000 workers.
If the future of the automobile is the battery, it seems Michigan has no choice but to acquiesce to Ford’s demands if keeping Ford in Michigan is job one.
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December 10, 2009
Would you buy your car again?Every year Consumer Reports asks its subscribers if they would buy their car again.
Pretty much every year, the Toyota Prius is one of the top ‘buy again’ vehicles, as it was again this year, coming in at number 5. But the Prius wasn’t the top hybrid on this year’s list.
Coming in at number 2 was the Ford Fusion hybrid.
Perhaps that helps explain why the Prius and the Fusion hybrid are the top two selling hybrid cars in the US?
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VW UP electric car coming to US market
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
The UP Lite at the LA Auto ShowThere aren’t many details, but it has been reported that an EV version of the UP, based closely on the UP Lite concept version pictured in this post, is coming to the US market. Early word suggests the new EV will be called the Space UP! Blue.
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US hybrid sales can’t top 3 percent market share
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
Fusion hybrid sales up 73 percentCompared to last year, this year’s November hybrid vehicle auto sales were up 21 percent. Still, total new car market share was only 2.7 percent for hybrid cars.
Almost half of all hybrids sold were Toyota Prius hybrids, and almost three-quarters of all hybrids sold were made by Toyota.
The only real bright spot outside of Toyota was the Ford Fusion hybrid with 2,361 total units sold. For comparison the similarly-sized Toyota Camry hybrid sold 1,465 units. However, the Prius sold 9,617 units.
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Wheel Alignment Facts | You Fix Cars.com
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
Wheel alignments are often misunderstood. Discover why it is so hard to get a quality wheel alignment and how to increase your chances of good service.
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Audi e-tron: Limited to 1000?
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
Rumor has it that the Audi e-tron will be limited to 1000 copies.
Audi says it only plans to make 1000 units of its e-tron electric sports car and that it will almost certainly be priced at "above R8" levels when it goes on sale in 2012.
"There are always people who want to be first to own new technology," Achim Badstubner, Audi’s head of exterior design told Autocar.
Related news:
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Audi A8: Driving action video
Author: adminDecember 10, 2009
Audi has released a nice video with some driving action of the new Audi A8. A beautiful car! Have a look.
Related news: GermanCarBlog, P4MR, Audi A8
Source: The German Car TV
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