Now diesel owners can reap the same tax benefits as hybrid owners. The IRS approved the TDI Jettas, both the sedan and wagon, for the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit of $1300. "The $1,300 tax credit provides an even greater value to the upcoming Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen,” said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Our clean diesel vehicles offer consumers the fuel efficiency that they’re looking for while providing power, utility, performance, safety and excellent value."
The TDI Jettas are EPA rated at 29/40 mpg city/highway, but according to VW the real world results are 38/44. The new diesel Jettas will be available in August or early September.
This is the first time the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tested the side impact protection of small pickups. Unfortunately many of the results were dismal. Watch in horror as not only do the trucks get smashed, but so does your resale value.
The only truck to receive the IIHS highest rating of good in side test for occupant protection was the Toyota Tacoma. The Dodge Dakota, Mitsubishi Raider, Ford Ranger, Mazda B Series, and Nissan Frontier all rated marginal. The Chevrolet Colorado and it’s twin, the GMC Canyon, which do not have optional side impact air bags, received the lowest rating of poor in the side test.
The side impact test simulates a crash with a truck or SUV type vehicle moving at 31mph. These tests are important due to the fact that side impact crashes are the the second most common type of crash fatality. Federal mandated side impact air bags goes into effect on the 2015 model year. As of right now, side air bags are standard on 65 percent of new model
UPDATED WITH SCHUMACHER INTRO. Would you buy a car from this guy?
As if you needed another reason to want to be Michael Schumacher, the infamous F1 champion has now completed the track and road development stages of the Ferrari California. The rest of the world will have to wait until this autumn when Ferrari’s first retractable hardtop convertible debuts at the Paris Auto Show.
"I have to say that, as with the 430 Scuderia, participating in the project since the very beginning has been really fascinating and great fun," commented Schumacher at the end of a test session at the Fiorano circuit. "Although the cars are very different, they both offer absolutely unique driving pleasure because of the inherently sporty character of all of the cars that come out of Maranello. The 430 Scuderia is, of course, a more extreme model with a focus on absolutely cutting-edge performance. However, although the Ferrari California is very much a Grand Tourer in terms of its usability and high level of interior comfort, it is still surprisingly sporty and fun to drive under any kind of conditions."
The California is powered by a V8 engine that delivers 460 hp at 7,500 rpm. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in less than 4.0 seconds.
Chrysler is now a private company. Unlike General Motors and Ford, whose stocks are publicly traded, Chrysler doesn’t have to show you the books unless it wants to. So while the other two big American carmakers had to disclose record losses in their quarterly reports this week, Chrysler got to keep its mouth shut. One problem: Daimler, who still owns almost 20 percent of Chrysler, is publicly traded, and Daimler must report the value of its stake in Chrysler. In its disclosure, Daimler said that it had lost €373 million ($584 million) from Chrysler in the first quarter of this year. Chrysler, who does not want to give the appearance of knocking on death’s door, was quick to point out that outside items, including the difference between the U.S. and international accounting standards, make the actual loss more like €65 million ($102 million).
The press release with full breakdown after the jump.
BMW is already working on the next generation Z4, and we can now confirm you that the launch is near by. Why? Simple: because the Spartanburg, South Carolina facility that makes the current Z4 will stop producing them next month.
The future Z4 is codenamed E89, will have the same size as the current Z4, but will probably wear a less controversial design with a wider track and more dynamic proportions. The highlight of the new model is its high-tech structure—a combination of aluminum space frame and steel unibody construction.
The 2009 Z4 will initially have three different choices of engines. The first one is a 2.0-liter direct-injection with an output of 185 hp. The second one is a direct-injection 2.5-liter Inline-6 with a power of 231 hp. The third one is a Turbocharged 3.0-liter direct-injection rated at 321 hp. After the launch, a 4.0-liter V8 making 450bhp will be available.
Subaru shot this video on the Willow Springs race track with drivers Travis Pastrana and Ken Block. You’ll have the chance to see both Impreza WRX sedan and the new STI in action. Enjoy!
The HEVT(Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc.) brings some important improvements to the famous pickup F-150 especially in regards to fuel savings and still using the Ford chassis. This truck serves as a model for pickups, SUVs and vans using the efficient technology of reducing fuels, gas and emissions. In the case of the Ford F150 the results of HEVT are quite surprising, pushing it from 16mpg(14.7l/100km) during a daily driving to just 41mpg(5.7l/100km).
The brain of this technology is the ACU(Adaptive Control Unit) which controls the hybrid drive train and, when driving, it controls the use of the electric motor and gasoline engine. The ACU features a display unit which shows all the time how much charge is left and how much energy is being recaptured through regenerative braking.
Ariel Atom is driving in its purest form. It’s the kind of wind-in-your-hair, knuckles-dragging-on-the-ground race car for the streets that makes you thank God the wheel was invented. It’s as light as a feather and even has a version with a 500 hp V-8. As their motto says, "No doors, no roof, no compromise!" Well, make that one compromise: the Atom now has a windshield option. So now you won’t need a helmet for high-speed fun, but with a windshield in place, will some of sensation be gone?
Explanation? Ariel boss Simon Saunders: "We believe in offering Atom customers maximum choice. The windscreen widens that choice and is the first in a range of options dedicated to keeping the Atom the best in its class." In other words, you can now take your Atom on your daily commute, ha!
The price for the windscreen will be somewhere around £1,000 ($2,000). Better buy a helmet, no?
Rolls-Royce is putting on a play. While that usually is not news, it is when the play is “Toad of Toad Hall” taken from the book The Wind and the Willows. This tells the story of a human-like toad whose downfall is rooted in owing a succession of expensive and powerful automobiles. Does this remind you of anyone’s customer base?
Rolls is allowing the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre to perform the play at their factory grounds in Goodwood, England. From August 4th to 16th, a cast of over 60 young people aged between 11 and 19 will play infamous characters such Ratty, Mole, Badger and, of course, the car-loving Toad. Although it is a little ironic that a company with exclusive cliental puts on a play about someone too rich for his own good, it’s also a classic piece of writing. So Rolls Royce absolutely deserves kudos for not only allowing space to support its community, but also for supporting classic automotive literature.
Oh no! First rumors about a GT-R sedan, and now a Cabrio version? First one most likely will never happen, but a Cabrio version, that’s really possible. But better not! It looks great as it is now, no need for something else, don’t you agree?
But we can all take comfort in knowing that this is just a photoshop, and Nissan is very busy building the coupe version to satisfy the demand. They don’t have time for anything else, hopefully.
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