Motor Authority - blog Category: 2012

Regardless of what Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may or may not be saying between the lines to California assemblyman Tom Ammiano, his message is clear when it comes to Tesla Motors: a break on the sales tax on $320 million worth of equipment has enticed Tesla to build its new sedan plant within the state's borders.

The exact location for the plant isn't yet known, but the cities of Long Beach and Downey are both front runners. This would put the sedan plant--where Tesla will build its 2012 Model S Sedan--near the Los Angeles area, rather than midway up the coast where its current Menlo Park offices are located.

About $238 million will be...

Regardless of what Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may or may not be saying between the lines to California assemblyman Tom Ammiano, his message is clear when it comes to Tesla Motors: a break on the sales tax on $320 million worth of equipment has enticed Tesla to build its new sedan plant within the state's borders. The exact location for the plant isn't yet known, but the cities of Long Beach and Downey are both front runners. This would put the sedan plant--where Tesla will build its 2012 Model S Sedan--near the Los Angeles area, rather than midway up the coast where its current Menlo Park offices are located. About $238 million will be spent on the plant itself, while another $59 million will go to upgrade the existing Palo Alto powertrain production facility. All of these funds come from the U.S. Department of Energy loan secured earlier this year, worth $465 million. The 2012 Tesla Model S sedan, in addition to being seriously good-looking, is expected to be one of the first all-electric sedans to market. It will also carry forward some of the perform legacy built by the Tesla Roadster, with an expected 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds in the running with many gasoline sports sedans. In some configurations the sedan will also be capable of a 300 to 600-mile range. Starting price for the Model S will be $57,500, though a $7,500 tax credit will help bring its total cost down to about $50,000. It's expected to go into production by mid-to-late 2011, reaching retail sale by early 2012. [Reuters] Read More

Tesla’s managerial past has been a tumultuous one, with a number of CEO changes, white-collar job cuts and even a lawsuit with one company founder Martin Eberhard all taking place in the past 12 months or so. Today we have some good news in regards to Tesla’s latest management shuffle, with two auto industry veterans with deep engineering and manufacturing expertise joining the company.

The first is Peter Rawlinson, Tesla’s new chief vehicle engineer and the person primarily responsible for the technical execution and delivery of the Model S all-electric sedan. He previously led vehicle engineering at Corus Automotive, an...

Tesla’s managerial past has been a tumultuous one, with a number of CEO changes, white-collar job cuts and even a lawsuit with one company founder Martin Eberhard all taking place in the past 12 months or so. Today we have some good news in regards to Tesla’s latest management shuffle, with two auto industry veterans with deep engineering and manufacturing expertise joining the company. The first is Peter Rawlinson, Tesla’s new chief vehicle engineer and the person primarily responsible for the technical execution and delivery of the Model S all-electric sedan. He previously led vehicle engineering at Corus Automotive, an advanced engineering consulting firm. Some of his prior projects involved the Jaguar X-Type, Land Rover LR2 and LR3, Ford Fiesta, Honda Accord, BMW 5-Series, and Bentley Continental, so his expertise is widespread. Furthermore, Rawlinson’s previous work on the Think electric vehicle also set a new world record for best crash safety performance in the subcompact vehicle class. The second new appointment is Henry Brice as program director for the Model S. Previously, Brice was assistant chief engineer of the North American Fiesta program at Ford. He also served as assistant chief engineer for Ford’s full-size sedan platform, including the Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Town Car Vehicle lines, while also managing as many as seven product launches per year. With such talent on board things are looking promising for the upcoming Model S, plus there’s more to come. Sitting on a fat $465 million cheque from the Department of Energy, Tesla currently has more than 150 job openings and is interviewing candidates at all levels. Read More

 

As the world's automakers go back to the drawing board on what they need to compete in today's market, both structurally and in terms of product, parts sharing and efficiency are increasingly becoming key concepts. The next-generation of the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV could embrace both concepts with a much closer link to the next G-Class and R-Class (or their successors) as well as more forward-looking powertrains.

Due in the middle of 2011, the next-gen ML is still largely a matter of speculation. Spy shots of an early prototype reveal a smaller body than the current ML, though the wheelbase appears unchanged. We also have for the first...

  As the world's automakers go back to the drawing board on what they need to compete in today's market, both structurally and in terms of product, parts sharing and efficiency are increasingly becoming key concepts. The next-generation of the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV could embrace both concepts with a much closer link to the next G-Class and R-Class (or their successors) as well as more forward-looking powertrains. Due in the middle of 2011, the next-gen ML is still largely a matter of speculation. Spy shots of an early prototype reveal a smaller body than the current ML, though the wheelbase appears unchanged. We also have for the first time new shots of the interior as well. A few reports have suggested that a diesel-electric hybrid ML-Class is in the works, although a gasoline-electric hybrid like that in the upcoming ML450 Hybrid is almost certain. A plug-in variant of the ML hybrid is even possible, featuring an 80-horsepower electric motor paired with a twin-turbocharged and direct-injected 3.5-liter V-6 and capable of travelling up to 18-miles on electric power alone is also thought to be in the works. That plug-in hybrid system will draw on elements from the other hybrid programs within Mercedes, including the S400 powertrain. But other elements, including parts and underpinnings, will be shared more closely across the R-Class successor and G-Class vehicles to help achieve economies of scale while still maintaining separate identities. The chassis underpinning the new SUV is also the same design found in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, one of the lasting legacies from the now defunct DaimlerChrysler. The ML’s dominant position as the consumer 4x4 of choice within Mercedes' lineup won't change, though the focus will increasingly be on efficiency rather than performance. Accordingly, European models will likely get a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine rated at 204-horsepower. A V-6 diesel rated at 225-horsepower and a 333-horsepower V-6 gasoline engine is also thought to be in the plans. The V-8 engine will gain direct-injection and twin-turbochargers for the AMG model, which is expected to deliver at least 570-horsepower. Read More

Tesla’s sole model offering is a highly exclusive electric roadster that sells for more than $100,000 but the company has ambitious plans to eventually become a mainstream automaker. With a detailed plan spanning the next six years, Tesla intends to use $465 million in low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund its expansion from exotic sports car manufacturing to affordable family vehicles--all while maintaining its electric vehicle niche.

In 2011 Tesla will start production of its Model S electric sedan, which is set to enter the market at around $57,500 without any discounts. The Model S will be an upmarket sedan with...

Tesla’s sole model offering is a highly exclusive electric roadster that sells for more than $100,000 but the company has ambitious plans to eventually become a mainstream automaker. With a detailed plan spanning the next six years, Tesla intends to use $465 million in low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund its expansion from exotic sports car manufacturing to affordable family vehicles--all while maintaining its electric vehicle niche. In 2011 Tesla will start production of its Model S electric sedan, which is set to enter the market at around $57,500 without any discounts. The Model S will be an upmarket sedan with seating for up to six and promises a sub-6 second 0-62 mph time and a total driving range of up to 300 mi. By 2016, the company plans to launch a more affordable mass-market model that will sell for less than $30,000 and bring the company into a much more mainstream segment. While production numbers for the current Roadster are limited to around the 1,000 unit mark, and the Model S tipped to number around 20,000, the new sub-$30,000 Tesla should see volumes increase far beyond these levels, possibly cracking the 100,000 unit mark. Tesla, however, isn’t the only electric car company with such ambitious plans. Key rival Fisker Automotive, maker of the upcoming Karma plug-in hybrid luxury sedan, plans to eventually launch a more practical and family-oriented version of the Karma as well as low-cost model. However, while Tesla’s models will feature all-electric powertrains, Fisker has chosen to go down the plug-in hybrid route. [AutoNews, sub req'd] Read More

There's the Tesla Roadster and several three-wheeled electric vehicles for sale, but so far getting a purely electric-powered car to production with a standard car's features at a price the general public can afford has eluded the industry. Until the Nissan LEAF, that is.

Or at least that's the story Nissan is pitching. Due for launch in the U.S., Japan and Europe by late 2010, the LEAF guarantees a range of over 100mi (160km) on a charge in a practical mid-size hatchback bodystyle. Nissan says that 100mi range is enough to satisfy the daily needs of 70% of the drivers in the world.

"Our car had to be the world's first, medium-size,... There's the Tesla Roadster and several three-wheeled electric vehicles for sale, but so far getting a purely electric-powered car to production with a standard car's features at a price the general public can afford has eluded the industry. Until the Nissan LEAF, that is. Or at least that's the story Nissan is pitching. Due for launch in the U.S., Japan and Europe by late 2010, the LEAF guarantees a range of over 100mi (160km) on a charge in a practical mid-size hatchback bodystyle. Nissan says that 100mi range is enough to satisfy the daily needs of 70% of the drivers in the world. "Our car had to be the world's first, medium-size, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that's what we've created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility," said Masato Inoue, Product Chief Designer. Powered by a lithium-ion battery back, the LEAF should also provide reasonable performance, on par with other cars in the economy hatchback class. The electric battery pack can generate output of up to 120hp (90kW), while the electric motor delivers 107hp (80kW) of output and 206lb-ft (280Nm) of torque, figures typical of many smaller and medium-sized cars. And with the ability to regain up to 80% of its full charge in just 30 minutes, it can get back on the road again in a hurry. A full charge takes about 8 hours, a typical overnight duration. But the real story is how Nissan optimized almost every aspect of the LEAF's design to maximize efficiency. The LED headlights themselves tax the electrical system minimally, but the headlight covers also split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, cutting wind noise and drag. Inside, the materials are all styled in a 'blue earth' color scheme, reflecting the car's efficient nature and complementing the introductory model's exterior color. Finally, the LEAF employs an advanced IT system that connects it to a global data center to provide support, information and entertainment around the clock. The dash-mounted monitor uses this information to show a 'reachable area' display, letting the driver know exactly how far they can go on the remaining charge. It also shows the nearest charging stations to make juicing back up easier. Production of the LEAF will begin at Nissan's Oppama, Japan plant with the Smyrna, Tennessee plant to handle additional capacity down the road. The lithium-ion batteries that power the car are produced in Zama, Japan, though once demand outstrips that supply, sources in the U.S., Portugal and the UK are also ready to go. When sales begin late next year, Nissan sees the LEAF taking its place as both a primary car for some drivers and for others, a secondary car that's used primarily for commuting or other daily duties, while the family vehicle remains in service for times when more space is needed. Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales, however, Nissan is expecting the car to be competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle. Additionally, the LEAF is expected to qualify for an array of significant local, regional and national tax breaks and incentives in markets around the world. As an added benefit, because the vehicle has less mechanical complexity than a traditional gasoline-powered car, it will also cost significantly less to service and run.Nissan LEAF electric vehicleNissan LEAF Electric Vehicle Read More

As the world's automakers go back to the drawing board on what they need to compete in today's market, both structurally and in terms of product, parts sharing and efficiency are increasingly becoming key concepts. The next-generation of the Mercedes Benz ML-Class SUV could embrace both concepts with a much closer link to the next G-Class and R-Class (or their successors) as well as more forward-looking powertrains.

Due in the middle of 2011, the next-gen ML is still largely a matter of speculation. Spy shots of an early prototype, which you can see over at Auto Motor and Sport, reveal a smaller body than the current ML, though the... As the world's automakers go back to the drawing board on what they need to compete in today's market, both structurally and in terms of product, parts sharing and efficiency are increasingly becoming key concepts. The next-generation of the Mercedes Benz ML-Class SUV could embrace both concepts with a much closer link to the next G-Class and R-Class (or their successors) as well as more forward-looking powertrains. Due in the middle of 2011, the next-gen ML is still largely a matter of speculation. Spy shots of an early prototype, which you can see over at Auto Motor and Sport, reveal a smaller body than the current ML, though the wheelbase appears unchanged. A few reports have revealed that a diesel-electric hybrid M-Class is in the works, although a petrol-electric hybrid like that shown in the 2007 concept ML450 hybrid is already expected to arrive later this year. A plug-in variant of the ML hybrid is even possible, featuring an 80hp (60kW) electric motor paired with a twin-turbocharged and direct-injected 3.5L V6 and capable of travelling up to 18mi (30kW) on electric power alone is also thought to be in the works. That plug-in hybrid system will draw on elements from the other hybrid programs within Mercedes, including the S400 powertrain. But other elements, including parts and underpinnings, will be shared more closely across the R-Class successor and G-Class vehicles to help achieve economies of scale while still maintaining separate identities. The chassis underpinning the new SUV is also the same design found in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, one of the lasting legacies from the now defunct DaimlerChrysler. The ML’s dominant position as the consumer 4x4 of choice within Mercedes' lineup won't change, though the focus will increasingly be on efficiency rather than performance. Accordingly, European models will likely get a 2.2L four-cylinder diesel engine rated at 204hp (152kW). A V6 diesel rated at 225hp (168kW) and a 333hp (248kW) V6 petrol engine is also thought to be in the plans. The V8 engine will gain direct-injection and twin-turbochargers for the AMG model, which is expected to deliver at least 570hp (425kW). Read More