Ford Transit Connect, Electric Version in 2010
May 11, 2009
Ford will be coming up with an electric version of its Transit Connect compact van for 2010, collaborating with Smith Electric Vehicles of Britain for the company’s first vehicle in its attempt to go electric.
This marks the start of a series of electric vehicles for Ford. After the Transit Connect, there will be a battery-powered car slated for 2011; then, a plug-in hybrid will be released in 2012. The electric Transit should house an electric motor that has a battery that can go for 100 miles on a full charge.
Smith Electric Vehicles currently has a model called the Smith Ampere, an electric version of the Ford Transit Connect. Ford’s electric version of the Transit Connect will be based off the Ampere, in turn.
It’s great to see the big guns stepping up to the plate and going the electric route. Ford is showing its willingness to make cars that are needed, rather than simply focusing on which cars would sell or not. But then, I don’t think many expected the company’s first electric vehicle would be someone not really known by the people.
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Saturn-to-Penske Deal Confirmed to be in the Work
May 9, 2009
Both General Motors and Penske Automotive have officially confirmed that a deal is in the works to sell GM’s Saturn brand to Penske.
Once the deals falls through, something that should happen within the third quarter of 2009, Penske is expected to acquire the rights to the Saturn brand as well as Saturn’s assets. Right now, the parties involved are under a 60-day due diligence period as there is still some work to do to make sure that the deal’s terms meet requirements in GM’s current bankruptcy protection.
Details about Penske’s plans for Saturn haven’t been revealed yet. However, the second-largerst automotive dealer group in the US is said to be in talks with manufacturers on how to broaden the Saturn product range. Penske is also expected to retain Jill Lajdziak, the current Saturn general manager, as well as give a post to Tom LaSorda, the Chrysler co-president that is set to retire.
The deal is essential for GM’s viability plans and towards preserving the Saturn brand. More importantly, the deal will allow 350 dealerships to continue their operations and 13,000 people to retain their jobs on top of saving the Saturn brand.watch rated x in divx baker the dvd download two for the road dvdripundead dvd download
Ford Transit Family One Connect
May 7, 2009
Ford has come up with a variant of its Ford Transit geared towards providing entertainment for the family. Called the Ford Transit Family One Connect, the vehicle is smaller than your standard minivan but still loaded with lots of space that makes it better than a station wagon. Furthermore, it has some unique features that allow kids to enjoy the car even when parked.
The rear inner-door panels can be written on by the kids at back, using wipeable water pens. There’s also a projection screen to play digital videos like cartoons and anime while on the go. There’s also an RFID tracking system that can keep track of the kids, as well as of key equipment.
“For children, the conceptual intent of the vehicle is to be as engaging and entertaining when parked as it is on the go,” said Ford Designer Chiwei Lee. “The Family One easily transitions from functional family mobility to ‘base camp’ when the coolest mom puts the shift lever into the park position.”
The Ford Transit Family One Connect is really designed to keep the kids from pestering the adults on long drives. With its array of entertainment features, the kids won’t be asking “Are we there yet?” anymore.
Source: Motor Authority
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Coda Automotive Enters US Electric Car Scene
May 7, 2009
There’s a new kid on the EV block. Coda Automotive, another electric company from the mind of Miles Electric Vehicles founder Miles Rubin, has just launched in the US and is targeting the second half of 2010 to start selling cars.
The first model for the fledgling California-based company will be a basic four-door sedan that will run on an electric motor driving the front wheels, powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries co-developed with Lishen of China.
Coda will be banking on the estimates that driving the car for a hundred miles will cost a mere $3, compared to an average petrol sedan running at 20mpg that costs around $17 per 100 miles. That’s because the Coda sedan will be using much less moving parts than gas-powered cars, which lets it minimize costs due to wear-and-tear and also doesn’t require oil changes.
The first Coda vehicle will be hitting the California market alone when it starts sales in 2010, but the company is also eyeing an eventual release throughout the entire nation.midnight clear dvd download download doctor strange divx teaching mrs tingle download
Saturn Hybrid Technology Retained for Other GM Brands
May 6, 2009
While General Motors is still in the process of looking for the best offer for the flagging marque, GM execs have confirmed that the automaker will apply Saturn’s new plug-in hybrid technology for other brands.
While Saturn sales have continued dismally, the brand is technically GM’s most fuel-efficient. Additionally, Saturn has the second-highest hybrid sales among GM marques, trailing only Chevrolet. The Vue crossover and the Aura mild hybrid are part of Saturn’s cancelled vehicle line. With the closure of Saturn in April, planned Green Line and 2-mode hybrid Vue models were also scrapped.
Tom Stephens, vice chairman for global product development at GM, confirms that the plug-in system that was intended for the Vue will still arrive to fleets by 2011 even with the eventual sale of Saturn. “The technology does not go away. We are going to plug it in,” he added. “We’ll go to fleets first and see where it goes after that.”
The benefactor of this new plug-in hybrid drivetrain is expected to be one or a few of the key models from GM’s core brands, such as the Chevy Equinox or the GMC Terrain, which share the Vue’s platform.
Source: Motor Authority
GM Looking Over Potential Saturn Buyers
May 6, 2009
Now that General Motors has confirmed once and for all that it would much rather sell the Saturn brand than phase it out, the struggling automotive giant is now looking at a list of potential buyers as part of a new viability plan it has to submit by June 1—or else be forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just like Chrysler did.
GM is currently considering a number of offers for Saturn. To speed up the process, the company enlisted the aid of advisory firm S.J. Girsky & Co. Many have expected GM to do away with Saturn long before, although it wasn’t easy to see any takers.
Still, whoever gets the brand will also be able to get their hands on Saturn’s extensive dealer network spanning 400 dealerships, on top of the rights to the Saturn brand name.
One of the reported frontrunners for the brand is Penske Automotive Group, the world’s second-largest dealership group based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The Group incidentally also sells the second most new cars in the US, and also introduced the Smart vehicles to the North American market.
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