We've added a Honda Civic GX to our long-term fleet. It runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).
We want to see if it really saves us any money and what kind of compromises we'll have to make to try to save the environment.
We have a CNG station near our offices in Santa Monica, but they are few and far between...
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Categories: Green Tech,Honda
Autoblog
(via
AN
) is reporting that Mercedes-Benz may outsource their transmissions in an effort to save costs. Likely suppliers would be Getrag or ZF.
If this were to come about, expect these outsourced transmissions to be first found on their A, B and C-Class cars, which are much more price-sensitive than their larger cars.
Full story here
...
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Categories: Auto Industry,Mercedes-Benz,Trends
Most in the auto industry are bracing for another month of weak auto sales. Key to what's happening is the slide of the subprime lending market, along with the ever worsening housing market and continued high gas prices.
"There's the direct impact of what's happening in the market," states Jesse Toprak, industry analysis at Edmunds.com,. "Then you have the indirect impact: people who may be able to purchase a vehicle, but don't because they're not sure about their home value."
Full story here...
Categories: Auto Industry,Trends
The Net was abuzz all day about the possibility VW and Apple partnering to develop an iCar. Apparently the CEOs of both companies, Steve Jobs and Martin Winterkorn met earlier this week to discuss a possible deal.
If this were to happen, it's sure to be one wild ride, packed with technology no one has even thought of before. You also know it will cost about twice what other comparable (if that word can even be used here) vehicles cost...
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Categories: Future Vehicles,Volkswagen
UK car site
4Car
is reporting that Subaru may offer
two
diesels for the European market. According to
4car
there will be a base economy-oriented 2.0L diesel that will put out something like 150 hp—and that there may very well also be a "hot" diesel WRX!
This squares with a couple of rumors I've been hearing over the past six months or so, one being that there may be a WRX diesel. Another rumor I've heard is that Prodrive, Subaru's rally-house, may be working on a WRC diesel rally racer.
Now before everyone goes ga-ga over this—
these are just rumors
...
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Categories: Diesels,Future Vehicles,Subaru
BMW has been pretty adamant about not making a Motorsport version of the X5. As far as it's concerned, an SUV is not the proper basis for an "M" vehicle. That hasn't stopped the German company from making hopped up versions of previous models, however, and the next high performance X5 looks as though it could be the fastest one yet.
We've heard rumors of V10 power, and this prototype appears to confirm them...
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Categories: BMW,Future Vehicles,SUVs,Spy Photos
Inside Line has obtained these spy shots of a new, uprated version of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Developed to complement the standard Vantage, the new model will feature upgrades to the suspension, brakes and engine. Expect better breathing and a new ECU to deliver improved throttle response with more power and torque.
Comparisons with the Porsche 911 GT3 are obvious, but Aston insiders insist the new car will not be as radical as its German rival...
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Categories: Aston Martin,Coupes,Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Spy Photos
The 2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 by Mazdaspeed Accessories. I'm out of breath just typing it.
This factory-tuned version of the turbocharged Mazdaspeed 3 showcases its aftermarket parts catalog.
Read the Mazdaspeed 3 Full Test on Inside Line...
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Categories: Hatchbacks,Mazda
Take 1
:
John Edwards steals a page from Al Gore's playbook
Presidential hopeful Edwards, if elected (or not), will ask Americans to give up their much-cherished SUVs.
"One of the things they should be asked to do is drive more fuel-efficient vehicles," Edwards told a forum held by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers here. When asked if this meant telling voters to give up their SUVs, the former senator said, "yes," according to the Associated Press.
Think it will fly?
Here's
Inside Line's
take:
"Sacrifice" Your SUV, Says Presidential Candidate John Edwards
Political Fallout: John Edwards Slammed for Pushing SUV "Sacrifice"
Take 2:
Hit the road Jack, er, Karl...
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Categories: Trends
Found this over at
NASIOC.
At a quick glance, it looks like just another WRX, but upon closer inspection you can notice the cobbled fender flairs with larger tires, as well as the different wheels and tires. Also four exhaust tips can be seen—a dead STI giveaway.
Then there's the clincher: Check out the interior shot...
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Categories: Sports Cars,Subaru
This weekend new auto safety and environmental requirements go into effect. In 2005, Congress ordered automakers to place frontal and side crash tests and rollover ratings on vehicle window stickers starting Sept. 1, 2007. Also, tire monitors must be on all 2008 vehicles...
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Categories: Auto Industry
Dodge is once again offering a cargo van version of their new Grand Caravan. As with past versions, the vehicle comes without any second- or third-row passenger seating.
It's powered by Chrysler's 175-horsepower 3.3L flex-fuel V6, the Grand Caravan Cargo Van sports a 17/24 city/highway EPA rating. and has a heavy-duty suspension...
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Categories: Dodge,Trucks
Nissan will be showing this striking electric Mixim concept at Frankfurt. Think of it as sort of Nissan's take on the Chevy Volt, but more geared toward the computer game crowd.
Powered by a compact lithium-ion battery pack that drives two electric "Super Motors," which powers each axle, the Mixim therefore becomes an all-wheel-drive vehicle.
The styling is sure to evoke much discussion, as does many recent Nissan designs...
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Categories: All Auto Shows,Frankfurt Auto Show,Green Tech,Nissan
This lean, green machine is Porsche's race-ready 911 GT3 RS. It's a 415-horsepower supercar that you can drive on the street.
It has a 3.6-liter flat-6, track-ready tires and a fully adjustable suspension and rear wing.
I dig that green and black...
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Categories: Motorsports,Porsche,Sports Cars
We bid a fond farewell to our long-term Kia Sedona EX after 25,000 miles and a year of hard labor.
Boy, did we use that car in all of its seating configurations. It helped us move, picked up furniture we were too cheap to have delivered, carted around kids, withstood cookie crumbs and soda spills.
The Sedona was a very practical vehicle and will be missed...
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Categories: Kia,Minivans
We knew all along that new Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli and Cerberus would act swiftly and with vengeance to get Chrysler's house in order. And as such, word is now filtering out that Chrysler's famed parts division, MOPAR, or parts thereof, may be one of the first items to be sold off.
Until official word comes down, it's not clear as to whether all of MOPAR will be affected or not. There is some hope that, if true, it will not effect the performance aspect of MOPAR, but rather just the parts replacement business...
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Categories: Auto Industry,Chrysler
According to a Dutch newspaper, two parties have filed a bankruptcy claim against Spyker Cars N.V. One party being an insurance company, and the other being an individual. This has led to speculation that Spyker may be forced to file for bankruptcy.
Spyker founder Victor Muller says there is nothing to worry about...
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Categories: Motorsports
Audi will debut its all-new 2009 A4 at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show next month.
As with many new cars, this one has grown a bit, as it is 4.6 inches longer and 2.2 inches wider. Here in the USA expect initial models to be powered by a turbo four (FWD) and a 3.2L V6 (AWD).
Here's
Inside Line's take:
Frankfurt Preview: 2009 Audi A4
Categories: All Auto Shows,Audi,Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars
Alternate Route
has an interesting blog up about ethanol, and about how it's going to save us all from the satins of OPEC—or not.
My big grip with ethanol, besides what's mentioned in this blog, is that the infrastructure is severely lacking. The last time I checked (6 months ago) there were maybe 3 or 4 ethanol stations within 50 miles of me. High interest with lousy availability is not exactly a great recipe for success...
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Categories: Green Tech,Trends
So what do you do if you're a Chinese automaker, and you want to export your product, but are finding that North America and the rest of the so-called civilized world's auto markets too tough to enter? Heck, you go after developing countries, where tough safety, economy and environmental regulations are virtually nonexistent.
And that's exactly what China is up to. They're taking a stab at the African market, where any form of new motorized transportation is welcome as compared to what they now have...
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Categories: Auto Industry,Trends