Now that GM has given a hybrid powertrain to the new-for-2008 Malibu, Chevrolet’s mid-size runner has a lot more to bring to the table and offers a real stiff competition for the Toyota Camry. We like the Malibu’s styling and interior refinement, but after a week in our test fleet, we’re having doubts about the Chevrolet competing with the likes of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.
Click through the jump for our full driving impressions and click the images below to open a gallery.
Detroit’s own D Business magazine featured a recent interview and photo session with Cadillac boss Jim Taylor, in which the executive talks about the CTS Coupe that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this year, as well as a pair of very interesting theme motorcycles.
A motorcycle enthusiast himself, Taylor commissioned the Cadillac chopper in the photo above from Great American Chopper of Clawson, Michigan. More interesting still is a second bike that’s still in the works, which will feature a hybrid engine capable of running on ethanol or in a pure electric mode.
The hybrid Cadillac bike is being built by V20 Consulting of New York City, and has been tasked with displaying “GM’s strength in science and technology.” The bike is purported to be capable of a 0 to 60 sprint of 4.5 seconds, and should be unveiled for the public at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show.
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Our old friends at Newport Convertible Engineering are at it again, with yet another one-off drop-top that has people remarking, “It was only a matter of time.”
The popularity of the Toyota Prius Hybrid may dictate at least a few of these bespoke offerings, but the beauty of the final product certainly doesn’t. Through no fault really of either Toyota or NCE (we’re putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of the customer that ordered this up), the Prius makes a rather grisly translation to a soft top, with an intrusive roll-hoop that looks as if it were salvaged from a PT Cruiser convertible. Likewise, the remaining window frames look, to put it charitably, odd.
Still for those who want the iconic hybrid and the wind in their hair, NCE has got your jam.
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The powertrain was developed in conjunction with engine specialist FEV and is comprised of a 2.2-liter four-cylinder mated to an electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission. The combined forces of the diesel and electric motors will make 154 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. A nickel metal hydride battery pack will be used for energy storage. No economy figures for the new hybrid have been announced as yet.
Mahindra & Mahindra distributor Global Vehicles USA claim that the engine will be available in the Scorpio and Appalachian pickup when those vehicles go on sale in North America in 2010. Until then, check out the standard Scorpio in our gallery below.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Electric sports car builder Tesla Motors is suing designer Henrik Fisker (pictured) and Bernhard Koehler of Fisker Coachbuild, for fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of contract.
Tesla hired Fisker, who had worked for the likes of BMW and Aston Martin, during 2007 to work on the interior and body styling of its upcoming electric sedan called WhiteStar. The company is making the claim that despite paying Fisker almost $800,000 for the work, the designer purposely held back his best efforts, and helped to push back the launch date of the WhiteStar by six-months to 2010.
(Have a look at the offending piece of evidence, the Fisker Karma, in our gallery below or click through the jump to read on.)
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne (pictured) would like his company to have the lowest CO2 emissions of any automaker in Europe by 2012. To help accomplish that goal, and stay ahead of the curve for emissions standards set by the European Union, the Fiat group is developing both gasoline and diesel hybrid systems for its small cars and vans.While he claims that Fiat is still currently in the research phase, CEO of powertrain technologies Alfredo Altavilla says, “if everything proceeds as expected, we could begin production within three years.”
(Click through the jump to read more or on the thumbnails below to check out another interesting Fiat, the 500 Abarth.)
Want to see exactly how General Motors is progressing on the production version of its Chevrolet Volt electric car? Well, thanks to a little sneakiness on the part of WWJ 950 radio reporter Jeff Gilbert, now you can.
Gilbert was among a group of reporters that was invited by GM to come and take a look at the latest stages of testing for the much ballyhooed Volt, and despite strict security on the part of the automaker, was somehow able to walk out with the footage for this rather comprehensive walk through video. On display is The General’s battery laboratory, a production Volt model undergoing aerodynamics testing, as well as an honest to god test mule…that looks strangely familiar. Watch and learn.
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Toyota denied reports today that it had received any funding by the Japanese government to aid in the development of its Prius hybrid car. The denial came in response to an interview of Jim Press by Business Week recently, in which Press claimed, “The Japanese government paid for 100 percent of the development of the battery and hybrid system that went into the Toyota Prius.”
Press currently serves as vice chairman and president of Chrysler LLC, but worked for Toyota for 37 years, including years spent working on Prius research.
Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco called the reports by Press untrue saying, “I can say 100 percent that Toyota received absolutely no support — no money, no grants — from the Japanese government for the development of the Prius.”
(Chances are the Japanese government had little to do with this Star Trek Prius, have a look in the gallery below.)
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The world’s largest oil refiner, Exxon Mobil, is helping to develop a revolutionary new battery technology, that could help light the way forward for all-electric vehicles. The oil company believes that it’s getting in on the ground floor of what could be the dominant transportation mode for the near future.
Exxon developed a type of film, initially to be used in cell phone batteries, that has been found to be extremely valuable for the type of lithium-ion batteries that could be used in new hybrids and EVs. The film is able to withstand temperatures of up to 374 degrees, and can help to prevent them from overheating and exploding, one of the main and scary drawbacks to li-ion technology. (Click through the jump to read on.)
Steam engines? Turbine cars? Handling radioactive materials without HAZMAT suits? All was par for the course in GM’s research labs four decades ago - or so it seems from Progress of Power, a 1969 propaganda promotional film showcasing the company’s advances in alternative powertrain - including early stabs at fuel cell and hybrid vehicles with the ElectroVan and 612, respectively.
Although it’s got plenty of that stereotypical ’60s promo-reel feel (dig that peppy elevator music), it’s worth sitting through the “advances” in combustion-engine emission reductions (commonplace these days) in order to see these experimental wonders - including a steam-powered Grand Prix, an electric Corvair, a Stirling-Hybrid Kadett, and a gas turbine-powered bus - take to the streets of GM’s Tech Center.
While today the Prius is merely one vehicle in the Toyota lineup, the company seems to be toying with the idea of expanding on the ever more powerful “green” brand name. Toyota may be planning a range of Prius models within the next decade.
Calling a Prius range of models a “reasonable direction,” Toyota executive VP Kazuo Okamoto said tantalizingly, “We are studying that, but I can’t say what stage of the study we are in.” Okamoto went on to say, “Using the Prius platform for various variations is possible.”
While no timetable was given for a possible Prius expansion, Okamoto sensibly admits that recognition of the car is increasing across the globe. The model, which until this year has only been sold in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, is moving on to a broader stage.
Does Prius have the chops to represent an entire model range? Have your say in comments.
(Some tuners are creating a range of Prius on their own, check out our gallery of tuner examples below.)
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Technology du jour indeed. Lithium-ion batteries haven’t even hit the mass market yet and Toyota’s already looking beyond – post-li-ion technology. Remember that phrase. It’ll become tomorrow’s coin-phrase, like, say, today’s eco-friendly.
Toyota said its goal is to produce a battery with a range of 50 miles on a single charge from a home outlet. Toyota plans to commercialize the technology – if things go right – by 2020, according to Japan’s Nikkan Kogyo newspaper.
The automaker has not confirmed the details reported, but Toyota has already outlined its plan to have a hybrid variant of each of its models by 2020. Toyota’s currently the leader in hybrid vehicles, so it would be no surprise for it to beat out the competition in the next-generation of battery technology.
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