Lightning Hybrids Planning ‘Hydraulic-Hybrid’ Sports Car
January 10, 2009
Lightning Hybrids, a Denver-based automotive research and manufacturing company, is coming up with a new sports car powered by a hydraulic hybrid system. The design will be exhibited at the 2009 Denver Auto Show due next month.
The company calls the car the LH4, and it is part of a two-vehicle design lineup that is slated to see launch by 2010. The car is powered by a 90-horsepower biodiesel engine and a 150-horsepower hydraulic system. The biggest claim for the LH4 and its hydraulic hybrid powertrain is that it is capable of 100 mpg in fuel economy, while still having a 0-60 time of below 6 seconds. Those figures will be essential as the car enters the Automotive X Prize Challenge.
The Challenge, sponsored by Progressive Casualty Insurance, is slated to run until 2010, and the company who can come up with a viable vehicle that reaches 100 mpg efficiency will be awarded $10 million.
Additionally, Lightning Hybrids is developing a smaller 3-wheeler with the same hybrid system. The company will also be marketing this system for other manufacturers.
Source: Motor Authority journey to the center of the earth download blood work dvd
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GM Expects Return to Profitability by 2011
January 8, 2009
General Motors may be down, but they sure aren’t out. Despite being already under bankruptcy protection and the government owning 60 percent of the company,the struggling US car manufacturer is expecting to bounce back into profitability by 2011, according to data from court papers.
Financial advisers Evercore Partners expect GM to lose somewhere around $17.5 billion this year before some $3 billion in profits come around in 2011. Those profit figures are based off an assumed rebound for the US auto industry, where sales are pegged to rise to 16 million vehicles annually—some 6 million units better than current industry rates.
Evercore also projected that GM will be increasing annual vehicle production from 3.8 million units in 2009 to a whopping 6 million units by 2014.
Even with all the ext year seems light years away, as GM is still in the middle of its bankruptcy where some 20,000 workers in the US are expected to lose their jobs. GM is also busy trying to sell some of their underperforming brands, including Saab and Saturn—both of which could have new owners sooner rather than later.
Geneva 2009: New Chevrolet Spark Unveiled
January 8, 2009
Attendees at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show were treated to an early unveiling of the new Chevrolet Spark city car, intended for release sometime in early 2010 for European consumers and late 2011 for the United States market.
The new Spark features updated styling, with edgier and expressive design elements particularly for the front fascia. The designs for the headlights, grille, and front underside are more aggressive than the predecessor’s. It will be practically the same size as the old version. The second row doors’ handles are cleverly concealed somewhere in the C-pillar.
Chevrolet is reportedly considering using a 1.0-liter, 66-horsepower engine as an upgrade over the current Spark’s 0.8-liter engine. Fuel efficiency is still at the core of the vehicle’s intentions, and this is complemented by adequate space for the interior. Innovative display and console designs were influenced by a variety of sources like electronics and motorcycles.
Exact figures for mileage and CO2 emissions are still unavailable since the powertrain isn’t finalized yet, but we expect the Chevrolet Spark to have solid numbers. The car has a good following in Europe, and it’s not hard to expect the same thing of the new model.
Source: Car and Driver download birds of america dvd
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Penske Admits Interest in Saturn
January 7, 2009
Roger Penske, big boss of the Penske Automotive Group, has confirmed that he is indeed interested in acquiring GM’s chopping-block brand Saturn. He did say, however, that his company has not yet made a bid for the flagging brand.
Penske affirmed that a large reason for his interest is the dealership network of Saturn. “We buy and sell dealerships as part of our normal operations; we have the experience in the distribution business and are constantly looking for opportunities to grow our business and further diversify the operation of Penske Automotive Group.” The Group currently has 156 US dealerships and 148 dealerships overseas.
Aside from the Penske Automotive Group, investment firm Telesto Ventures has also confirmed its intent to purchase Saturn, for the same reasons as Penske.
One firm who is confirmed to have made a bid for Saturn is Oklahoma City equity company Black Oak Partners. The firm reportedly proposed a plan last month to make Saturn a fuel-efficient brand and also sell GM cars through the Saturn dealership network. GM, of course, has yet to commit to an agreement and is still feeling out prospective buyers.red violin the free
GMC to Debut New Terrain Crossover at New York Show
January 6, 2009
General Motors has come up with its bet to compete in the compact crossover segment: The new GMC Terrain, scheduled to be unveiled at next week’s New York Auto Show. With considerable fuel-economy and jam-packed with features, GM is hoping that the Terrain can be a force in the competitive crossover market.
A 2.4-liter direct-injection engine banners the available engine configurations. It offers the best mileage for the Terrain, with highway efficiency at 30 mpg. Trying to get to this mileage isn’t automatic, though. Drivers still have to use the “ECO” mode, but at least they only have to push a button. There’s also a 3.0-liter 264hp engine with direct injection. Both have six-speed transmissions and available on either FWD or AWD configurations.
The Terrain is loaded with features, including a powered liftgate, rear-view cameras, Bluetooth connectivity, a seven-inch display, hard-drive satnav system, and OnStar and XM Satellite Radio.
Sales of the new 2010 GMC Terrain should start in mid-2009.
Source: Motor Authority
Melbourne 2009: Holden Reveals Volt
January 1, 2009
In perhaps one of the odder unveilings at the 2009 Melbourne Show, Holden revealed its localized version of the Volt plug-in electric car—with only photoshopped images of the multi-awarded Chevrolet Volt from which Holden derived its model.
The Holden Volt takes the same plug-in hybrid power supply from the Chevrolet, allowing it to go 40 miles just on battery power, after which the conventional 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine starts to power a generator that feeds further electrical power to the batteries or to the electric motor. This setup disqualifies the Volt from being a hybrid, since electric power drives the wheels at all times. GM refers to it as an E-REV, or Extended-Range Electric Vehicle.
Mark Reuss, GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, said that the company believes the car “will play an incredibly important role in (Holden’s) efforts to make motoring better for the environment.”
The image of the Holden variant shows a right-hand drive with Holden badges on the grille and at the rear. The Australian variant of the Volt is not expected to see release until 2012. With such positive interest in the car, however, look for GM to get the Holden Volt off the production lines sooner rather than later.
Source: Holden
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