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Archive for December 16th, 2009
Ford Fusion hybrid up for North American Car of Year
Author: adminDecember 16, 2009
The Best American HybridThe Ford Fusion hybrid is a contender for the 2010 North American Car of the Year.
The Fusion hybrid could be the fourth hybrid to ever win the award, which will be announced at January’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and Ford’s second hybrid winner.
Amongst hybrid cars the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic hybrid, and the Ford Escape hybrid have won the award in previous years.
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Civic hybrid MPG suit still not fully settled
Author: adminDecember 16, 2009
What’s the real mileage?In 2007 a class action lawsuit was brought against Honda for a number of advertisements and commercials that inflated the real world mileage of the Civic hybrid.
Consequently, owners of Civic hybrids from 2003 – 2008 will receive a DVD for improving fuel economy, $100 cash or a $1000 rebate on their next Honda.
26 states, however, have objected to this settlement, largely because the rebate does not apply to new Civic hybrids, the Insight hybrid, Fit or CRZ. Plus, a number of state attorney generals have objected to the fact that the attorneys filing this class action lawsuit are set to receive almost $3 million in legal fees.
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What if small car buzz fizzles?
Author: adminDecember 16, 2009
America’s next best seller?This year’s LA Auto Show featured several small cars that US automakers hope will drive big buzz – and sales – as automakers move towards new CAFE rules.
But what happens if they don’t sell?
According to research from AutoPacific, these new small cars are facing an uphill battle. “People want technology to solve the problem of fuel economy,” notes one AutoPacific analyst. They don’t, however, want to be forced to downsize.
That means lighter materials, clean diesel, and hybrid technology. Yet, so far US automakers haven’t been able to use these technologies to match the efficiency of the competition. Consequently, the average fleet fuel economy of each of the Big 3 isn’t just far behind their Asian competitors, but even BMW has better fleet fuel economy than the any of the Big 3.
Can the Big 3 truly compete if fuel economy becomes the key driver of the US auto industry?
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Hybrid market share to top 3 percent in 2010
Author: adminDecember 16, 2009
Can the Fusion hybrid keep pace?According to Edmunds.com, hybrid cars will achieve a 3.2 percent market share in 2010 compared to about 2.7 percent share today.
Unfortunately, Edmunds doesn’t go into much detail as to how their hybrid numbers were derived, but one can imagine that a slightly less recessed economy is probably the key ingredient. Hybrid sales were hammered in early 2009 before picking up the pace a bit in the 2nd half of the year.
Currently, the Ford Fusion hybrid and the Toyota Prius are the two best selling hybrids in America, with the Prius accounting for about 50 percent of hybrid sales. That scenario will probably remain unchanged.
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The great hybrid hoax: Adding a plug?
Author: adminDecember 16, 2009
Better without the plug?Depending upon the poll or survey, between 70 and 80 percent of Americans are interested in buying a hybrid car today. Many of them are interested because they are worried about pollution and global warming. Most, however, are interested in hybrid cars because they help reduce foreign oil consumption.
Unfortunately, hybrids are still too expensive, according to these same polls, for most Americans to act upon these various convictions. Most Americans are only willing to pay a little more to ‘do the right thing’. Many, perhaps even a majority, are unwilling to pay anything extra for a hybrid, or any other foreign-oil dependency-fighting product.
So, what’s the solution? More expensive plug-in hybrid cars and electric vehicles, of course, at least judging by the actions of today’s politicians and US automakers.
Finish: The great hybrid hoax: Adding a plug?
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Study: Plug-in hybrid impact minimal for decades
Author: adminDecember 16, 2009
Not for the massesA new study by the US National Research Council finds that plug-in hybrid costs are likely to remain high for decades, therefore, PHEV impact on foreign oil dependency and CO2 emissions is likely to remain low until after 2030.
By 2030, the council expects about 13, but up to 40, million plug-in hybrid cars to be on US roads, dependent upon numerous factors. However, in a fleet of 300 million vehicles, impact upon reducing CO2 emissions and foreign oil dependency before 2030 will be minor. Even to achieve the 13 million mark, 10s of billions in subsidies, minimally, will be required. To hit the higher mark, hundreds of billions will probably be needed.
Overall, the council expects production costs of plug-in hybrid vehicles – mostly in relation to battery technologies – to decrease by about 1/3 over the next decade. Thereafter, cost-savings will probably slow. Thus, it will take decades of cheap electricity to recover the upfront costs of plug-in hybrids compared to gasoline vehicles according to the Council – which will severely impact plug-in hybrid adoption.
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Audi exec continues hybrid and EV slam
Author: adminDecember 16, 2009
Still not viable even after a $7500 tax credit?Yesterday, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen, continued his attack on the political love affair between D.C. politicians, including President Obama, and electric cars, claiming that plug-ins were probably two decades away from widespread use.
“The 50 percent or so price increase that the Volt represents over a similar gasoline car cannot be offset through the savings from reduced fuel compensation,” de Nysschen said. “The only way to offset the extreme premium is through taxpayer-funded subsidies,” and that according to de Nysschen, “is not sustainable.”
Instead, de Nysschen claims the free market should determine the winners, and according to de Nysschen, clean diesel would be a winner that would significantly reduce foreign oil consumption.
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December 16, 2009
Dodge today pulled the cover off the newest special-edition model of the 2010 Viper SRT10 lineup’ The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X is a turn-key, non-street legal race car that is slated to make its on-track debut in the summer of 2010′ “The Dodge Viper ACR-X takes the performance attributes of Viper to an even higher level for a wide range of drivers starting with the grassroots racer all the way up to the professional,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand’ “This project is a result of many years of performance engineering expertise from our SRT team, combined with the passion and dedication of Viper Nation, to keep the Viper racing tradition going strong on tracks around the country and the world’”
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December 16, 2009
Rack and pinion steering is here to stay. Discover common problems with steering racks and models affected by morning sickness. Find replacement parts.
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December 16, 2009
The Audi A1 has been caught undisguised during a commercial shooting with Justin Timberlake! Great looks, no not you Justin…
We just spotted this on our Twitter feed. While our earlier source on the JT Audi commercial shoot in LA didn’t reveal and photos of the car this most certainly does.
Related news: GermanCarBlog, P4MR, Audi A1
Source: Fourtitude
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