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Jeremy Korzeniewski

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ABC News: Prius one of Top 10 Innovations of the Decade

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 4th, 2009 at 11:54AM


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

Toyota didn't exactly invent the hybrid automobile, but the Japanese automaker certainly can be credited with popularizing. Exhibit A? The Prius hatchback. Ever since its U.S. introduction in 2000, the fuel-sipper has come to symbolize the environmental movement and has kickstarted an entire genre. Though it has competition, primarily from Honda and Ford, nobody comes close to the million-plus hybrids that Toyota has sold.

Is that enough to qualify the Prius as one of the Top 10 Innovations of the Decade? According to ABC News, the answer is yes. Joining the Prius on that list are such inventions as GPS navigation, text messaging and the launch of user-generated internet content sites like Wikipedia and YouTube. Oh, and not to mention the public offering of a little search engine known as Google. To see the rest of the list, click here.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius


[Source: ABC News via Prius Chat]

Fisker: VP Biden not the reason we chose Delaware

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 4th, 2009 at 10:03AM


Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery

What does Joe Biden have to do with Fisker Automotive? On the surface, the answer would seem to be nothing at all.. or at least it did until the Vice President himself revealed the startup automaker's plans to introduce a new series of electric vehicles under the Project Nina banner. Not only that, Fisker just so happens to have decided to build cars in Biden's home state of Delaware. Coincidence?

According to Fisker spokesman Russel Datz, coincidence is exactly what it is. There were a number of good reasons to choose the former GM plant in Wilmington, Deleware, and the fact that it's Biden's home state is not one of them. First, the plant is relatively new and hasn't been shuttered for a long period of time, meaning that it's in good shape.

Second, the plant is about the size Fisker was looking for. Further, the plant is already set up to install GM's 2.0-liter Ecotec engine, which is what will be installed in the Karma sedan and convertible. Moving along, GM had recently upgraded the plant's paint shop, leading to the quality kind of paint jobs that Fisker is looking for. Finally, the plant has easy access to shipping lanes and a UAW workforce that will require very little training.


Gallery: Fisker Karma


[Source: The Car Connection]

Ford: New remote start option will reduce harmful emissions by up to 75%

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 6:33PM



Good news, Ford fans: The Blue Oval is finally stepping into the 21st Century by adding remote start and heated steering wheels to its line of cars and trucks. The remote start option will make its first appearance on the 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickup truck while the heated tiller will initially see the light of day in the 2011 Lincoln MKX.

Following those two launches, the automaker promises that both items will infiltrate the rest of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineups in a jiffy. While it's been possible to have an aftermarket remote start system installed on any new car or truck for quite some time (including a dealer-installed option from Ford), JD Power reports that 90 percent of all purchasers would prefer a factory option, which makes perfect sense to us... especially since Ford's system will be integrated with the heating and cooling systems to bring the cabin to a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather outside.

Ford predicts that the remote start system will help the vehicle's exhaust catalyst heat up more quickly, thereby reducing hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 75 percent. Further, the automaker suggests that a heated steering wheel will increase dexterity in the fingers and hands and reduce the need to wear gloves while driving in the winter. Want to know more? Use those nice and toasty digits to hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

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2011 Ford Fiesta priced from $13,320, special deal for reserving early

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 2:56PM

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

Surprisingly, Ford decided to slip out U.S. pricing for its hotly anticipated and genuinely fuel efficient 2011 Fiesta with no fanfare at all. No major announcements at the LA Auto Show, no wordy press releases... nothing. But, if you head on over to Ford's official page for the new Fiesta, you'll see that it starts at $13,320 (plus a $675 destination charge).

Even better, the full Build and Price section is available, meaning you can see each and every individual option and its price. We went ahead and spent some time perusing the options list, and we see that the low base price is for the base S model, which comes exclusively in sedan form. The least expensive hatchback model is $15,120 (about $800 more than a comparably-equipped sedan).

Step up to a hatchback with Ford's new six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and you're looking at $16,190, and the uprated SES hatchback starts at $17,120 ($18,190 with the auto). Click past the jump for more interesting little tidbits that we noticed when pricing out our own Fiestas, including what Ford is offering for reserving one early.


Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta

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REPORT: Upcoming U.S. VW sedan to be offered with diesel and hybrid powertrains

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 9:32AM


2011 Volkswagen NMS Sketch No. 2 – Click above to enlarge

According to a report from Autocar, Volkswagen's upcoming New Midsize Sedan will come with a hybrid option here in the States by the summer of 2012. That's just six months or so after the regular-grade NMS is scheduled to roll out of VW's new Chattanooga, Tenn. plant.

Up to this point, we've been assuming that the German automaker's fine 2.0-liter turbocharged four would be used as the base engine with a larger and more powerful V6 as an uplevel option, and that still seems likely. But, says Autocar, we may also see a version of the NMS with the 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine that's currently seen in the Jetta TDI.

No word on whether or not the TDI engine will be paired up with a hybrid – assuming, that is, that there's any truth to this rumor at all.

[Source: Autocar]

Feds mull an extra three months to crush Cash For Clunkers victims

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 7:47PM



What do you do with some 700,000 recently clunked cars? Send them to scrap heaps, naturally. According to the initial set of rules drafted when Cash for Clunkers was first launched, all those vehicles need to be processed properly, which includes removing most (if not all) of the good usable parts from each vehicle before sending the remaining hulk through crush and melt-down machines.

That's all well and good, except that these recycling yards were only allotted six months to make all those cars go away. Not surprisingly, that's not likely to happen, leading the American Recyclers Association to request another six months to do the duty. Considering that nearly three times as many cars were junked than initially planned, that doesn't seem unreasonable.

On Friday, November 27, the U.S. Transportation Department submitted a proposal to extend the recyclers an additional three months. Why not go the full 12 months, as requested? Apparently, the federal agency believes that extending the deadline that far would heighten the risk of fraud. In other words, clunked cars could end up back on the highway, even though the vehicles in question all had their engines killed in spectacular fashion.

Michael Wilson, executive vice president of the American Recyclers Association agrees, saying, "While we were seeking additional time, we understand there are some other factors involved. We believe this is a good compromise, one that will help the vast majority of our members in processing these vehicles."

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

Lexus Magazine explains how to get 85 mpg from HS 250h

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 5:22PM


2010 Lexus HS 250h – Click above for high-res image gallery

There's no doubt that the single biggest reason to choose a hybrid vehicle is to decrease fuel consumption, and that's true regardless of what class of vehicle you are considering. From the largest hulking SUVs to the smallest little Insight, hybrid purchasers are hoping to save big time money on their fuel bills. So, just how much is it possible to reasonably expect to save?

The answer lies in the word "reasonably." There are some that just want to drive their cars the same way as they always have and be rewarded with good efficiency. Others, sometimes known as hypermilers, are willing to go to extremes to minimize fuel consumption. So, the question is: Just how low can you go?

How about 85 mpg from a new Lexus HS 250h? That's the figure that Clark Heideger from Lexus Magazine managed to coax from Lexus' new luxury fuel sipper. But don't expect that result to be easily repeatable. As Heideger himself says, "My tests were about as scientific as an episode of Scooby Doo." Still, if you want to know how he did it, click here for the whole story. Thanks for the tip, Renan!


Gallery: Lexus HS 250h


[Source: Lexus Magazine]

REPORT: Initial Chevy Volt launch will be in select U.S. markets only

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 8:03AM

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

Undoubtedly, the Chevy Volt is one of the most hotly anticipated new model launches in Chevrolet's long and storied history, and it will likely be seen as a halo model of sorts for the entire General Motors lineup. As we saw first hand when we got the chance to slide behind the wheel of a preproduction Volt the other day, the car is well on its way to becoming a production reality, but actually getting the vehicle into the hands of customers will be another matter entirely.

According to a report from Automotive News, GM is currently in the process of selecting which markets will get first crack at the Volt when it finally goes on sale in just under one year's time. Chevrolet division President Brent Dewar said that the automaker is looking at a number of factors to determine those unannounced target markets, including the existence of an EV charging infrastructure and available tax credits. After this initial launch, the rest of the country's inhabitants will get its chance to see the USA in an electric Chevrolet.


Gallery: Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Volt


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Hyundai tops the list as the most fuel efficient automaker in the U.S.

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 1st, 2009 at 7:59PM



Quick – name the most fuel efficient car brand in America. Did you say Toyota? Honda? Surely, you're not alone, but incorrect all the same. In fact, the answer is none other than Hyundai, which publicly set out to nab the title just one year ago. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Hyundai cars averaged 30.1 miles per gallon for the 2009 model year.

Rounding out the top five are Honda (29.7 mpg), Volkswagen (29.6), Toyota (29.4) and Kia (28.0). Naturally, we can expect all of these figures to continue rising in the coming years as every automaker strives to meet the upcoming 35.5 mpg U.S. standard for the 2016 model year.

Hyundai promises to meet that requirement with such technologies as direct injection, turbocharging, hybrid powertrains and lithium polymer batteries. The Korean automaker's first hybrid vehicle will be the 2011 Sonata sedan, which will hit the market early next year. Click past the break for the press release.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Spy Shots: Smart ForTwo+2 in the works?

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Dec 1st, 2009 at 6:39PM

Smart, the German-born automaker that revived the stagnant microcar market in the first place, has seen itself fall behind in the city car wars with Toyota's oh-so-clever iQ taking the top spot with its extra space for passengers and packages via its brilliant layout. What's more, new machines are on the way from BMW (the long-rumored Isetta revival) and the Audi (the A1, which will be debuted at the next Geneva Motor Show).

As such, we're not surprised to see Smart engineers out and about testing what appears to be the next generation of the diminutive Fortwo. Judging from the fender flares, we might make and educated guess that the new model will be slightly wider than the current car, which makes sense as the same platform is rumored to gain an extended-wheelbase variant called the Fortwo+2.

Unlike the previous Forfour, the Fortwo+2 would share the expected rear-engine, rear-wheel drive architecture with the base car and would come equipped with what would surely be a mini set of rear doors. According to Auto Express, we should see the next Fortwo in dealerships late next year with the +2 showing up in 2012. Electric and hybrid versions are reportedly in the works – and here's hoping they finally fix that horribly awkward transmission.

[Source: Auto Express]

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