AutoblogGreen

Mazda to provide renewable power for Japanese All Star baseball games

Chris Shunk — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Green Culture, Mazda, Japan

Mazda plans to save 6.6 metric tons of CO2 this month, but small, efficient powertrains and hybrids definitely aren't part of the equation. The Zoom Zoom automaker is on the hook to provide the power for the Nippon Professional Baseball Association's two All Star games on July 23 and 24, and the voltage will come from only green sources. The 12,000 kilowatt hours of power for the games will come from alternative energy sources like biomass, solar and wind.

So, did Mazda unearth some ground breaking formula for powering baseball stadiums that can later be translated into automobiles? No. But team Zoom Zoom is working hard to polish up its green credentials and there are few events in Japan that are held in higher regard than Nippon Professional Baseball games.

[Source: Inside Line]

Mazda to provide renewable power for Japanese All Star baseball games originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS condemns use of mini trucks and low-speed vehicles on public roads

Chris Shunk — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:00:00 EST

If you live in the U.S. sunbelt or in an upscale gated community, you've probably seen quite a few of those hopped-up electric golf carts trolling around your neighborhood. These low-speed vehicles are great for zipping to the mailbox or heading over to the clubhouse, and the vehicles are currently allowed on select public roads in 46 of the 50 United States. But even though they're perfectly legal in many areas, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a pretty serious warning for anyone looking to take these vehicles onto high-traffic areas. IIHS tested both a GEM electric cart and a minitruck in side impact crashes, and the results were sobering to say the least.

The first test was a side impact affair between a GEM EV and a crash barrier moving at 31 miles per hour. The crash test dummy, which was buckled up and in the driver's seat, showed injuries consistent with catastrophic injury or death. IIHS then performed the same test with a Smart ForTwo replacing the barrier, but the results were very similar. The crash, which typically nets relatively low injury risk for vehicles with high safety scores, was so severe that the crash dummy's head almost hits the ForTwo's windshield. Chief research officer David Zuby said that the test shows that these vehicles "weren't designed to protect people in a crash with a microcar like the Smart ForTwo, let alone larger cars, SUVs, and pickups in everyday traffic."

After demolishing a few GEMs, the IIHS then focused its glare on the 2008 Tiger Star minitruck. The Tiger was pitted against a 2010 Ford Ranger in an offset front crash with the minitruck going 25 mph and the Ford 35 mph. The results were similarly catastrophic, with the Ranger dummy relatively unharmed while the Tiger dummy's head hit the steering wheel hard in spite of the fact that it was wearing a safety belt. Hit the jump to read over the IIHS' strongly worded press release.

[Source: The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS condemns use of mini trucks and low-speed vehicles on public roads

IIHS condemns use of mini trucks and low-speed vehicles on public roads originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 21 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will debut in New York

Chris Shunk — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Lincoln, New York Auto Show

When we take a hard look at the current Lincoln lineup, we see some issues. For starters, the Navigator, MKS, MKT, MKX and MKZ aren't exactly setting the sales charts on fire. Come to think of it, we just listed the entire Lincoln lineup. Okay, so Ford's luxury marquee can easily be likened to a well-heeled slice of Swiss cheese, but we have proof that The Blue Oval is trying to breath new life into the brand. We loved the MKT, the 2011 MKX looks extremely promising and it looks like the four-pointed star is getting into the hybrid business as well.

The Detroit News reports that Lincoln will debut a hybrid MKZ this week at the New York Auto Show. The MKZ will likely share the same powertrain as the Ford Fusion Hybrid; a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle mill mated to an eCVT transmission, along with an electric motor drawing power from a 275-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. The MKZ hybrid will be the first battery-assisted model in the Lincoln lineup, giving Ford a luxury hybrid competitor to the Lexus HS 250h.

And if the MKZ does in fact carry the same powertrain as its more pedestrian sibling in the Ford dealership, the Lincoln should have more than competitive fuel economy. The HS 250h is rated at 35 miles per gallon city and 34 miles per gallon highway, while the Fusion Hybrid manages a 41/36 mix. The MKZ is a big bigger, too, and price should be comparable. Also helping the MKZ's case for life is the fact that Lincolns carry higher MSRPs than the typical Ford or Mercury, giving The Blue Oval a theoretically bigger margin with which to make a profit.

The down side to the MKZ hybrid is the fact that Ford is pretty well restricted on how many hybrids it can produce. Unless Ford has struck a deal to increase its hybrid powertrain output, the MKZ will simply shift the allocation of hybrids in the Ford family instead of adding to the overall totals. We're also very interested to see if Ford strives to differentiate the MKZ from its more pedestrian siblings to better-justify the undoubtedly higher price tag that comes with the Lincoln badge. We'll be staked out at the New York auto show for the chance to know for sure.

[Source: The Detroit News via The Truth About Cars]

Report: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will debut in New York originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Hyundai's Tata Nano competitor cometh

Chris Shunk — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Hyundai, Lightweight, India

While the Tata Nano isn't sold here in the U.S., the $2,500 uber-economy car has in many ways put parent company Tata Motors on the international map. The reason for the Nano's celebrity has everything to do with its ridiculously cheap price tag, which gives many buyers in India a four-wheeled vehicle they can actually afford. But the Nano also gives the competition a low-ball target to shoot for, and rumor has it that Hyundai has the little Tata in its crosshairs.

Indian Autos Blog quotes unnamed sources within Hyundai's India operations saying that the Korean automaker is working on a Nano-sized microcar that could carry a two lakh rupees ($4,400 in U.S. dollars) price tag. IAB says the low-cost, sub-I10 ride, reportedly called the H800 project, is powered by an 800cc petrol engine and priced to compete withe the SAIC microcar, the Suzuki Alto and the Nano. Further, the site claims that Hyundai will have a working prototype ready for real-world testing by the middle of 2010.

Since Hyundai hasn't officially announced the existence of the H800, we don't know how realistic looking IAB's rendering really is. But we can tell you that the ice-blue rendering is a whole lot more attractive to our eyes than just about anything else in the sub-$5,000 price range. Head over to the Indian Autos Blog to see the rendering for yourself.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Rendered Speculation: Hyundai's Tata Nano competitor cometh originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW evaluating sites for North American carbon fiber plant

Chris Shunk — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, BMW, Lightweight, USA

A report from Washington State television station KXLY claims that BMW is looking to build another manufacturing facility in North America, but it doesn't appear to be a vehicle assembly plant. The TV station claims BMW and partner SGL Group will announce plans to build a carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, WA within the next few days or weeks. The site would reportedly bring 200 jobs and $200 million to the region; very good news in an economic downturn. BMW officials had reportedly touched down in Washington to look for appropriate land for the top-secret project, which is rumored to be called "Project Chinook" by Moses Lake officials.

The rumored facility would build carbon fiber parts for BMW's upcoming electric vehicles, which are slated to hit the streets by 2015. Last November, BMW announced its partnership with SGL, citing the goal of making cost-competitive, large scale carbon fiber components to cut more weight from its vehicles. BMW tells us the first vehicle to utilize extensive carbon fiber isn't an M1 replacement or the heir-apparent to the Z8, but instead the Megacity hybrid-electric vehicle.

By making carbon fiber parts in North America, BMW would likely save quite a bit of money versus building the components in Europe. But is BMW going to build components for an electric city car here in the States only to have parts shipped back to Europe for assembly? We're thinking if our Bavarian friends do announce a carbon fiber facility in Moses Lake, there's a chance the company could decide to build the Megacity here as well.

[Source: Motoringfile]

Report: BMW evaluating sites for North American carbon fiber plant originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you're green, are you more likely to be mean? A new study suggests you are...

Chris Shunk — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:49:00 EST

Filed under: Green Daily

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're like us, you've probably heard the Toyota Prius referred to as the "Pious." The joke, we think, is that Prius owners feel holier than thou because they drive a hybrid. But it's just a joke made by people who wish they could achieve 50 miles per gallon around town, right? If you ask Canadian psychologists Nina Mazar and Chen-Bo Zhong, you may get an answer that sounds a lot like 'environmentally conscious types are liars, cheats, thieves and just plain mean,' and they're not even talking about hybrid-driving politicians.

The Detroit Bureau reports that a Mazar and Zhong study in published in Psychological Science focused on the social behaviors of green consumers, and the results were pretty damn surprising. The psychologists set up tests to gauge the behavior of environmentally conscious types against consumers who are less likely to consider environmental impact during the purchase process.

In one study, both groups of university students (90 students) were asked to identify which side of a computer screen had more dots. If you chose the left side, you received .5 cents for your efforts. If you chose the right side, you received five cents. The result? The green types chose the right side 51.4 percent of the time, while the non-green consumers chose the right side 42.5 percent of the time, far closer to the actual answer of 40 percent right.

Another test of both types of consumers involved money in an envelope that was to be used for purchases. The test subjects were told that they were to pay themselves for purchases and share the rest with another test subject that didn't actually exist. In the end, green store shoppers shared, on average, $1.76, while conventional shoppers shared $2.18. So what's 42 cents between friends? The psychologists say that the difference shows "acting upon one's values establishes moral credentials that can subsequently license deviating behavior." We're not sure, but we think that means the green shoppers felt they were holier than thou. Click here to read the entire study in Psychological Science.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau Psychological Science]

If you're green, are you more likely to be mean? A new study suggests you are... originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final three World Car of the Year finalists announced, including Toyota Prius

Chris Shunk — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, New York Auto Show

The votes from 59 international journalists have been counted and the finalists for World Car of the Year have been named. The Detroit News is reporting that the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Polo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class have made the final cut, and the three vehicles will go toe-to-toe on April 1st (no foolin') at the start of the New York Auto Show, which is where the World COTY award is announced.

On the performance vehicle front, the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari California are jockeying for the big prize. We feel sorry for the judges who have to choose from among these three junkers, but we're sure they'll somehow make it fun for themselves.

Design finalists are the Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Camaro, and from the green category we have the previously mentioned Prius, the Honda Insight and Volkswagen's BlueMotion diesel offerings. Check back on these pages to see the winners of the individual categories when they are announced in New York on April Fool's Day.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Final three World Car of the Year finalists announced, including Toyota Prius originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Traffic congestion goes back up as economy recovers

Chris Shunk — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Green Daily

There's really no good news about a recession, but if you really hate your commute (and you're not one of the millions of Americans out of work) at least traffic congestion subsides a bit. We don't know about you, but we'd rather see a strong economy even if it means a bit more cars on the road, and a new study by traffic and navigation services INRIX shows that may be what's happening.

The INRIX study shows modest improvements in traffic congestion as the country pulls out of its economic downturn. In 2008, traffic dropped off quite a bit from the all-time highs of 2007 due mostly to the recession coupled with $4 per gallon gasoline. The latest data for 2009 shows that four of the 10 most congested cites in the U.S. showed increased traffic in 2009, as drivers in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia all felt a bit more pain. Houston traffic actually decreased in 2009, as the Texas city dropped from fourth to sixth on the list of most congested cities. The areas with an at least a 10 percent increase in traffic congestion are Las Vegas, Baltimore and D.C. So in other words, gambling and lobbying likely increased in 2009.

The federal government's stimulus projects are also affecting traffic congestion. The INRIX study shows that construction projects have led to 25 percent higher traffic congestion during off-peak hours, and the majority of projects are courtesy of stimulus funds.

Hit the jump to read over the INRIX press release, which includes the top 10 most congested cities and the 10 biggest highway bottlenecks in the country. If you live in New York, you probably already know that five of the top 10 bottlenecks are in your neck of the woods, and if you typically travel on the Cross Bronx Expressway/I-95 Southbound at the Bronx River Parkway you don't even want to look.

[Source: INRIX | Image: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]

Continue reading Study: Traffic congestion goes back up as economy recovers

Study: Traffic congestion goes back up as economy recovers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM to engineer RWD hybrid powertrain for future Cadillacs?

Chris Shunk — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:07:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, GM

General Motors' two-mode hybrid system hasn't exactly been a commercial success. GM has had a hard time finding customers willing to part ways with $10,000 or more for a fully capable SUV with sedan-like city fuel economy, but that reportedly isn't stopping the Detroit, MI-based automaker from improving its hybrid formula for its next generation of vehicles. GM is said to be working on a new electric motor that will reportedly shrink in size by 25 percent while increasing power by 20 percent. These smaller, more powerful motors will reportedly help The General put its hybrid tech in even smaller vehicles.

Automotive News reports that Tom Stephens, GM's vice chairman of global product operations, told reporters that the company's next two-mode setup will be lighter and more affordable when it hits the streets in 2013. The system will reportedly still be available for SUVs and trucks, but Stephens says the system will also be available in rear-drive cars. Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics reportedly told AN that the easy money is on Cadillac getting the upgraded Two-Mode tech, with the next generation CTS and the ATS as the best bets to include the hybrid powertrain.

Given the fact that Cadillacs command a higher price tag, we're thinking that the Wreath and Crest is a good place to start if the automaker ever wants to make a profit off of a full hybrid vehicle. And with the STS likely to go away before 2013, we're thinking the CTS and ATS could be the only rear-drive Caddy sedans by the time 2013 rolls around. It can't hurt that the ATS and the next CTS will share the same platform either, making it easier/cheaper to add Two-Mode tech to both vehicles.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

GM to engineer RWD hybrid powertrain for future Cadillacs? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2010: Transportation Secretary LaHood ponders another round of cash-for-clunkers

Chris Shunk — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:04:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

Cash-for-Clunkers was among the more watched auto-related story lines of 2009. With the industry hurting, the government provided cash vouchers of between $3,500 and $4,500 to anyone who turned in a vehicle that was eight (or more) years-old and with between two and 10 miles-per-gallon worse fuel economy numbers than the new car or truck with which it was replaced. The program went from fledgling idea to a done deal in a matter of a few months, showing that the U.S. government is capable of move quickly when it really wants to, albeit with the help of a big fat $3 billion check.

The feat was reportedly so impressive to Department of Transportation Ray LaHood that he openly wondered whether the program should be reincarnated for 2010. Motor Trend reports that LaHood told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show that Clunkers was "the most wildly successful program ever, selling 800,000 cars in less than 30 days." It sounds like LaHood was really impressed with how C4C panned out, but will the program and its multi-billion dollar price tag resurface in 2010? LaHood says the DOT won't be begging for any spending money, and he insists that any decisions will need to be made by Congress in the year ahead.

Motor Trend says that despite LaHood's hands-off approach to Clunkers, there are persistent rumors that C4C could resurface in the second quarter of 2010 with perhaps less bountiful tax incentives and a less exorbitant price tag. We have no idea if C4C has any chance of making a cameo in 2010, though we're thinking that the consistent uptick in sales after Clunkers expired shows that the industry is beginning to improve without additional government intervention. Why spend money propping up an industry that seems to be doing a swell job of helping itself? Let us know what you think by heading over to the Comments and giving us your two-cents.

[Source: Motor Trend | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Detroit 2010: Transportation Secretary LaHood ponders another round of cash-for-clunkers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2010: Caption Contest - What the heck are Bob Lutz and Elon Musk talking about?

Chris Shunk — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Tesla Motors, Detroit Auto Show

Bob Lutz has been an important guy in the auto industry since before most of us were born. Elon Musk is the reason your eBay transactions go so smoothly (he was the co-creator of PayPal). Together, they don't seem to make much of a team. Well, they wouldn't make much of a match if Musk weren't the CEO of Tesla Motors. Elon makes electric cars. Bob wants to make electric cars. Both are (*ahem*) outspoken and give good soundbites. Upon further review, it makes perfect sense that the two men were hanging out at the Detroit Auto Show. But what were they talking about?

We have some ideas, but they probably aren't as creative as yours. We'll get you started with some appetizers, but we're really just looking for you to provide the main course:

Lutz to Musk: "You think you're nervous right now, but you really just have range anxiety"
Musk to Lutz: "We have more batteries in one car than you have in 500 Volts"
Lutz to Musk: "$500 million? $50 billion!"

Help us out with some better captions by leaving some tender verbal vittles in Comments.

Detroit 2010: Caption Contest - What the heck are Bob Lutz and Elon Musk talking about? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Want an Aston Martin Cygnet? You'll need to have a big boy Aston first

Chris Shunk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Aston Martin

Aston Martin Cygnet - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are few automakers on earth as exclusive as Aston Martin, so we were more than a little surprised when the English exoticmaker announced it was going to build the Cygnet, a city car based on the prosaic Toyota iQ. After all, we chastise automakers for rebadging all the time, but Ford, Honda and General Motors products don't have anywhere near the exclusivity of Aston Martin. Then there is the Cygnet's reported $35,000 price tag. Some Aston purists were a little taken back by the "modest" $120,000 price tag of the V8 Vantage, so a $35,000 Toyota with a Rapide grille probably won't go over well with more than a few loyalists.

The New York Times has shed a little light on the subject, reporting that only owners of full-sized Astons will be eligible to purchase the Cygnet. Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez said in the winter issue of Aston Martin magazine that "this concept is akin to an exclusive tender for a luxury yacht." If that doesn't make sense to you non-yacht owners, think of it as a 105 mph golf cart for Aston owners.

To further help the Cygnet stay exclusive, Aston only plans to build 2,000 copies of the iQ-based city car and there are no current plans to sell the mini car in the U.S. market, so it might be fair to say this is a bit of a commuter special for Londonites. Even still, while this novel sales plan may help to mitigate potential brand degredation that Cygnet skeptics suggest it may bring about, we can't help but wonder how the thousands of non-Cygnet toting Aston owners will feel about their favored brand dipping a foot into the House of Toyota.

Gallery: Aston Martin Cygnet

[Source: The New York Times]

REPORT: Want an Aston Martin Cygnet? You'll need to have a big boy Aston first originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ward's announces 10 Best Engines for 2010

Chris Shunk — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:54:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hybrid, MPG, Green Daily

Ward's Ten Best Engines of 2010 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Just about every publication has an award to give away this time of year, and Wards Automotive is no different. But instead of picking the best car, truck or SUV, the industry wiz kids at Wards go right for the power supply to rank the Ten Best Engines for 2010. Over the years the list has contained a nice mix of engines from the U.S., Europe and Asia, but never before has the Ten Best been this fuel efficient. The list comprises of two hybrids, two diesels, one supercharger and three turbocharged gasoline mills.

To be eligible for Wards' 10 Best Engines competition the vehicle must cost less than $54,000 and the engine must be available as a standard production option by Q1 2010. Among the ten winning engines are the new 1.8-liter hybrid powerplant from the Toyota Prius, the 2.5-liter hybrid powering the Ford Fusion, and the diesels from the BMW 335d and the 2.0-liter Jetta TDI. Audi joins the ranks with its excellent 2.0T and 3.0T (well, supercharged) mills, while Ford scored a hit with its Ecoboost 3.5-liter engine. The most powerful engine to make the 10 Best Engines list is Hyundai's 4.6L Tau V8, which gains ten hp for 2010.

The 10 Best Engines awards will be presented at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 13. Hit the jump to read Wards' press release and check the gallery below for a tour of this year's winners.

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Continue reading Ward's announces 10 Best Engines for 2010

Ward's announces 10 Best Engines for 2010 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford accepting applications for Fiesta Movement 2

Chris Shunk — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:56:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford finally unveiled the U.S. version of its B-Segment Fiesta yesterday at the LA Auto Show, and thanks to some clever marketing, the Blue Oval's newest small car is already well-known to prospective buyers. Ford's ingenious "Fiesta Movement" marketing initiative, which put 100 Euro-spec subcompacts in the hands of socially advanced "agents," resulted in over six million YouTube views, 740,000 Flickr views and 3.7 million Twitter impressions. All that traffic has apparently resulted in a 60-percent vehicle recognition score in Ford's survey findings - a number that would be good for a vehicle that has already been on the market a few years.

The first Fiesta Movement was created to get the Fiesta in front of the car-buying public while engaging in customer-driven dialog. Connie Fontaine, Ford brand content and alliances manager, says that wave two will focus on "driving unparalleled consideration." In other words, Ford wants customers to be excited to buy a new Fiesta. Given the fact that Ford generated 80,000 "hand-raisers" with Fiesta Movement number one, another group of Fiesta agents probably isn't a bad idea.

Ford is looking now for 20 teams of agents to participate in getting the word out about its new small car. Interested parties can apply via video on fiestamovement.com between now and January 31. Round two begins in mid-February. Winning contestants will need to be "socially vibrant" and "in-tune with the latest happenings in their neighborhood." Winners will be chosen based on public reaction to their video presentations... though it probably wouldn't hurt to look young and Millenialish. Hit the jump to check out Ford's official press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford accepting applications for Fiesta Movement 2

Ford accepting applications for Fiesta Movement 2 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Preview: 2011 Ford Fiesta for America revealed, hits 40 mpg

Chris Shunk — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:46:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Ford, LA Auto Show

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Ford Fiesta has proven to be a very successful small car wherever it's sold in the world. Ford has sold 12 million Fiestas over the vehicle's lifetime and the new-for-2009 model has moved half a million units already this year in Europe and Asia. It's a smash hit in spite of the fact that the Fiesta is not for sale in the U.S., a.k.a. the world's biggest car market. That all changes in the spring of 2010 as the Fiesta finally makes its way stateside.

Ford appears to be focusing its efforts in the U.S. small car market at exactly the right time, as consideration for B-Segment vehicles is at an all-time high and the trend appears to be upwardly mobile. And while Ford would love for us to believe that it was clairvoyant when deciding to bring the Fiesta to the U.S., it just isn't true. In fact, the Fiesta wasn't originally designed for the U.S. market, but the shock of $4 per gallon gas and a new-found interest in eco-friendly transportation led the Blue Oval to rethink its strategy. Ford didn't start readying the Fiesta for the U.S. market until many bits and bolts of hardware were already settled, so Team Blue had to go back to the drawing board to make its small car ready for Americans. The result is a U.S.-spec Fiesta that has only 60% of its parts in common with the Euro Fiesta. Will Americans be missing out? Follow the jump for everything you need to know about the Fiesta.

Continue reading LA Preview: 2011 Ford Fiesta for America revealed, hits 40 mpg

LA Preview: 2011 Ford Fiesta for America revealed, hits 40 mpg originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Toyota U.S. president Lentz believes Prius could supplant Camry as brand's best seller

Chris Shunk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:11:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Toyota Camry has been the best selling car in the U.S. for 11 of the past 12 years, and only a total industry meltdown has managed to slow the Japanese automaker's bread-and-butter sedan. Even with that impediment, the Camry still has a comfortable lead versus its archrivals, the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. In fact, the only vehicles to routinely beat the Camry in overall vehicle sales are the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado, and those vehicles need dozens of configurations and both regular and heavy-duty variants to retain their overall sales leads. Conversely, the Prius isn't even the second best-selling Toyota right now (that would be the Corolla), but it wouldn't surprise Toyota USA President Jim Lentz if the ubiquitous hybrid hatch passed the Camry for sales supremacy sometime next decade.

Lentz reportedly told Wards Auto that he envisions the Prius passing the Camry in the next decade, but not because he foresees the midsize sedan slipping. Instead, Lentz says, "I think Prius will become just that much stronger." The reason Toyota's top U.S. man sees the Prius taking over Toyota's top sales spot is because he feels that rising gas prices and growing eco-awareness will push more car buyers into hybrids. That, combined with the high regard in which many Americans hold the Prius makes for a very compelling long-term argument. Lentz also says that a full lineup of Prius-badged vehicles is far from a sure thing, though he says he pushes executives in that direction each time he visits Toyota's Japan headquarters

While we can see a future where the Prius overtakes the Camry for sales supremacy, we don't see it happening any time soon. Toyota's world renowned hybrid had its best-ever sales year in 2007, and 2009 numbers promise to fall about 40,000 units short of that bogey. Did we mention that the Camry is still outselling the Prius at a nearly three-to-one clip?

[Source: Wards Automotive]

REPORT: Toyota U.S. president Lentz believes Prius could supplant Camry as brand's best seller originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fusion breaks into Top 10 best-selling vehicles amid best year ever

Chris Shunk — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Ford

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

There was a time when Ford vehicles absolutely dominated the list of the top 10 vehicles sold in the U.S. The F-Series was always number one, followed by stalwarts like the Taurus, Explorer, Ranger and even the Focus (or Escort before that). 2001 was a long time ago, though, and the past eight years haven't exactly been stellar for the Blue Oval. The tide may be changing for 2009, though, as the Dearborn, MI-based automaker has seen its market share rise steadily in a down auto market.

Ford's biggest success may be the 2010 Fusion, as the sharply redesigned sedan now delivers best-in-class fuel economy, an impressive hybrid option, a Sport model and all the features and amenities necessary to compete against the best vehicles in the segment. Customers have taken notice of the new Fusion, and Ford's payoff is that Fusion sales are the best they've ever been. In fact, Ford has already eclipsed the model's all-time best sales year of 2007 by nearly 2,000 units. The Fusion is selling so well in this dismal car market that it has now made its way into the top 10 vehicles sold in the U.S. Ford can also take pride in the fact that the Fusion is the best-selling domestic car (not including trucks) in the U.S.

While the Fusion has finally hit its stride after five years on the market, Ford's mid-size sedan has a long way to go before catching the Japanese bogeys. The Toyota Camry has nearly doubled the Fusion's year-to-date sales of 151,000 units, and the Honda Accord isn't too far behind. Even the Nissan Altima is ahead of the Fusion by nearly 18,000 units.

While the Fusion still has a ways to go before it can look down upon the likes of Camry and Accord, we're thinking cracking the Top 10 is still worth a Dos Equis or two. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release, which is rightfully chock full of bragging.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Fusion breaks into Top 10 best-selling vehicles amid best year ever

Ford Fusion breaks into Top 10 best-selling vehicles amid best year ever originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM awarded DOE money to research Shape Memory Alloy heat engines

Chris Shunk — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, GM, Legislation and Policy

General Motors has been awarded $2.7 million by the Department of Energy to create a working prototype engine using Shape Memory Alloys (SMA). The idea is for the prototype to use SMA tech to capture heat energy from engine exhaust gasses via an electric generator and transfer that energy to recharge batteries for hybrids or electric vehicles.

SMA tech can also theoretically power electronic devices like power seats and windows in a standard gas- or diesel-powered car, perhaps even replacing the power-sapping alternator. The GM press release, which is pasted after the jump, doesn't go into much depth explaining how memory alloys work, but the basic principle is easy to understand.

"When you heat up a stretched SMA wire, it shrinks back to its pre-stretched length, and when it cools back down it becomes less stiff and can revert to the original shape" said Jan Aase, director of GM's Vehicle Development Research Laboratory. "A loop of this wire could be used to drive an electric generator to charge a battery."

While $2.7 million isn't a lot of coin in the realm of GM finances (the General seemed to shed about $2.7 million every ten minutes pre-bankruptcy) the grant was significant in that it was the only monies awarded by the DOE given to an automaker. GM is working with partners from outside the auto industry to make the concept a reality, a practice that the General says is imperative to get breakthroughs like this to market. No timetable was given as to when GM's SMA concept would see the light of day.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM awarded DOE money to research Shape Memory Alloy heat engines

GM awarded DOE money to research Shape Memory Alloy heat engines originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Empire Strikes Back: White House calls out Edmunds on Clunkers story, Edmunds responds

Chris Shunk — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST

The facts in the case of the White House versus Edmunds are essentially indisputable - but they are open for interpretation. The federal government's $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program generated 690,000 sales by providing $3,500 and $4,500 vouchers to car buyers who turned in their eligible car or truck in exchange for a more fuel efficient ride. From here on in, Edmunds and the White House seem to be at considerable odds.

Edmunds recently claimed that its statistical analysis shows that only 125,000 of the nearly 700,000 vehicles purchased under C4C were sales that wouldn't have come in 2009 if it weren't for the much ballyhooed government program. And since the program cost $3 billion to implement, Edmunds came to the conclusion that each incremental sale achieved by C4C cost taxpayers $24,000 per vehicle. As you might imagine, the White House has a problem with that.

The White House starts its quite literally otherworldly retort by noting that that motor vehicle sales increased America's overall economic growth in the third quarter by 1.7%. That's the industry's largest contribution to that metric in over a decade. The WH blog post then states that Edmunds is ignoring the assertion that overall car sales were also positively affected by the Clunkers program above and beyond the 690,000 C4C units sold. To add insult to assault, the White House accuses Edmunds of covering auto sales on Mars.

While the government doesn't have hard facts here, anecdotal evidence certainly shows that August's seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 14 million cars and trucks sold means there were considerably more sales generated by C4C than the 125,000 number would suggest. The WH blog also notes that analysts from Global Insight and Moody's suggest that there has been little payback from the Clunkers program.

The White House also states that C4C will have benefits beyond the third quarter, as production has been bumped at Chrysler, General Motors, Ford and Honda in the fourth quarter. That should mean that GDP will get still another big shot in the arm from the auto industry. The White House then goes on to add that C4C generated 70,000 jobs. We're tempted to call shenanigans on that one, especially considering that divvying up $3 billion between 70,000 jobs only comes out to $42,857 per - and that doesn't account for the actual cars themselves.

Edmunds CEO Jeremy Anwyl took time to respond to the suddenly hostile situation, arguing that government subsidy programs are always expensive when looked at on a per-unit basis. Edmunds adds that it is strictly working with the facts to come up with the $24,000 per vehicle number, and that anecdotal evidence like indirect sales isn't based on concrete data.

[Sources: White House Blogs; Edmunds Auto Observer | Image: Gabriel Bouys/Getty]

Empire Strikes Back: White House calls out Edmunds on Clunkers story, Edmunds responds originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com survey says public wants more Cash for Clunkers. Well, of course they do.

Chris Shunk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily

After a month of relentless Cash for Clunkers coverage, we were more than pleased when the Fed's buy-back program finally ended. Nearly every other day C4C was in danger of getting shut down because of a lack of funds. Then there were dealers were worried about getting paid and customers who had to sign responsibility forms in the event their clunker wasn't covered under the program. But while we've had more than our fill of C4C, the car-buying public wants more.

A recent poll conducted by Kicking Tires shows that 55 percent of recent car buyers and current shoppers feel C4C should be resurrected. You might be thinking that anyone who's recently purchased a new car would be pleased with any program which provided $4,500 for an inefficient hunk of junk, but only ten percent of respondents participated in the program. Among those involved, 37 percent would have purchased a new car over a used car if C4C was in effect, 30 percent weren't anticipating a purchase of any kind and 24 percent held off on new car purchases until clunkers arrived.

While many car buyers would love a continuation of Cash for Clunkers, we're guessing tax payers probably don't want to dole out another $3 billion to clear our nations roads of additional rust buckets. Heck, according to an Automotive News survey, 44 percent of dealers didn't even want the program extended the first time.

[Source: Kicking Tires | Image Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Cars.com survey says public wants more Cash for Clunkers. Well, of course they do. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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