When unveiling the new BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid, BMW also announced the first hybrid model from the company will come in 2009. It’s main competitor should be the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID. The BMW ActiveHybrid technology featured in the concept car reduces both fuel consumption and emissions by 15% versus the same car with a combustion engine. The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid combines an eight-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor developing 20 hp and maximum torque of 155 lb-ft as a mild hybrid concept. Electric power is generated by a more powerful variant of Brake Energy Regeneration already featured in the BMW Group’s regular production cars. The energy generated in this way is then stored in a lithium-ion battery fitted beneath the luggage compartment.
Infiniti revealed today a new image of the 2009 G37 Convertible that will make its world debut in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Based on the current G37 Coupe, the new G37 Convertible will feature a three-piece automatic retracting hardtop. The Infiniti G37 Convertible is expected to be powered by the same 328 hp 3.7-liter V6 engine that is in the coupe version and possible 7-speed automatic transmission.
In the never-ending quest to keep eyes on the road, Parrot, the well known manufacturer specialized in wireless mobile telephone accessories, launched its MKi Series. This is a range of iPhod-enabled control systems specially developed to be used in your car. The MKi series features two microphones incorporated with text to speech technology that interfaces with the iPod or iPhone. MKi series comes with three models, the MKi9000, MKi9100 and MKi9200, each fitted with a RF remote control. The MKi9100 features a blue 2 lines OLED display while the 9200 comes with a 2.4 inch color TFT display. MKi displays information regarding phone status, phone book and a small playlist while the 9200 features some extra information such as caller picture id, full playlist and LP covers. The retail prices of the Parrot MKi system are as follows: MKi9000 for $231, MKi9100 for $266 and MKi9200 for $337.
Honda announced that the 2009 Insight hybrid will be priced below $19,000, meaning it will get the same fuel economy as the larger Civic Hybrid but will cost less ($23,500). The Insight also will sport a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine and lightweight aluminum wheels, although it will drop the aluminum body panels used in the Insight’s earlier two-seat incarnation. Honda President Takeo Fukui announced the details today while unveiling a concept version of the five-door, five-passenger hatchback at the Paris Auto Show. The revived Insight will cost less than the Civic Hybrid, thanks to cost cuts in its battery, motor and electronic control unit. Its fuel economy will mirror the Civic Hybrid’s, at 40 mpg city/45 highway. Although the new Insight will undercut the current Prius’ pricing ($22,000), it does not beat the current Prius’ 48 city/45 highway millage. This becomes even more important as the 2010 Prius will likely widen the millage gap even further with better fuel economy. So the future hybrid champion may be decide by lower cost of better millage.
The Internal Revenue service wants to have a chat with racecar and reality show champion Helio Castroneves to see if the two-stepped his way out of paying some taxes. A grand jury in Miami yesterday in indicted the two-time Indy 500 winner with tax evasion charges. It seems that over $5 million may have illegally pitted in offshore banks during a five-year period beginning in 1999 (this covers the period of time when he won both Indy 500s.) The Miami-area resident is expected to turn himself in to authorities later today. But just like Dancing With the Stars, Castroneves be nothing without his partner(s). The driver’s sister, business manager and attorney were also indicted.
The four door Ferrari concept got some big press from the blogs, but remember, that was a design study created by someone who does not work for the prancing horse. Ferrari is showing that its staying true to its sports car roots, even after Lamborghini announced plans to put into production the Estoque Concept. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo spoke to a group of journalists at the Paris Auto Show and said there will be no plans to pollute Ferrari’s lineup with a sedan. Montezemolo wished his competitors "good luck." He went on to say that as long as he is in charge at Ferrari "we will never do a four-door." He feels that Ferrari’s corporate cousin, Maserati, already covers the market for sporty Italian sedans with the Quattroporte. He also announced that California is sold out for two years.
After cars like the Citroen GT and the Nissan Nuvu, the Paris Auto Show is starting to look like its the place to present electric dream cars. Now in its second day, Venturi came with a new addition to the line-up: the Volage Concept, a two seater roadster that is looking to go into production in 2012.
This Volage is made completely of carbon fiber. Venturi says it "incorporates innovations which have enabled radical changes in terms of the vehicle’s architecture, style, dynamic behavior and, more generally, the design of a modern vehicle."
Volage features Michelin Active Wheel technology that incorporate four wheel motors with a maximum power of 73 hp per engine, or a total of 292 hp and a peak torque of 232 NM (4x58 NM). It makes the 0 to 50 mph sprint in less than 5 seconds. Venturi Volage Picture Gallery
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Ford unveiled today new teaser image of the 2010 Mustang. This time you will see the car’s front fender and the rear view mirror. Not much help considering it looks a lot like the current Mustang (with possibly a little Dodge Challenger flair.) The new generation Mustang will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. As a reminder: the 2010 Mustang will be offered with a V-6 and a variety of V-8 engines. Although there is not much in the pictures, we can tell the design will be somewhat faithful to the Giugiaro concept that was unveiled in 2006 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. 2010 Ford Mustang teaser
Toyota has unveiled a new airbag system, specifically for small cars, designed to protect rear passengers. The airbag protects passengers in a rear end collision. According to Toyota the new airbag deploys from the roof lining above the rear window in the form of a curtain-like barrier and, together with the headrests, minimizes impact to the head from a colliding vehicle or parts of the hit vehicle. The technology is due to be featured in the new iQ ultra-compact four-seater. “Toyota has continued to actively develop and make available its collision safety technologies,” the company said in a statement to the press. “Resulting in such achievements as the swift market introduction of SRS curtain shield and knee airbags to enable its vehicles to better respond to a greater range of accidents.”
Pininfarina unveiled at the Paris Auto Show the B0 (B-Zero) concept vehicle, an electric car that will go into mass production model, with the first units coming off the production line at the end of 2009.
The B0 is powered by batteries that can be recharged in just a few hours. The battery does not require any maintenance and has a lifespan of around 200,000 km (125,000 miles). The car’s LMP batteries thus help combat air pollution. The batteries of the B0 also contribute to reducing noise, another nuisance which affects people’s quality of life in urban environments.
Because it is 100% electric powered, the B0 does not generate any pollution. But the process of generating the electricity which the car uses must also, as far as possible, not have produced any atmospheric pollution. That is why the creators of the B0 have designed it to incorporate every possible solution designed to optimise the car’s energy efficiency and use of clean energy sources. Press release after the jump. >> read
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