Motor Authority - blog Tag: Automotive

Picture it: 200mi on a single charge, 80mph top speed and a purchase price of just $30,000 - not a recipe for success for a standard combustion engine car, but a very reasonable proposition for a mass-market electric car. And that's exactly what EV Innovations is proposing with its Wave electric vehicle.

You might be familiar with the company through its other electric car, the Inizio. That car, a 159mph (257km/h) sports car with a sub-4 second 0-62mph (100km/h) time, is not targeted at the average buyer with its $139,000 price tag.

The new car, built to win the Automotive X Prize, could be on the streets by 2010. If it does claim the top... Picture it: 200mi on a single charge, 80mph top speed and a purchase price of just $30,000 - not a recipe for success for a standard combustion engine car, but a very reasonable proposition for a mass-market electric car. And that's exactly what EV Innovations is proposing with its Wave electric vehicle. You might be familiar with the company through its other electric car, the Inizio. That car, a 159mph (257km/h) sports car with a sub-4 second 0-62mph (100km/h) time, is not targeted at the average buyer with its $139,000 price tag. The new car, built to win the Automotive X Prize, could be on the streets by 2010. If it does claim the top trophy at the X Prize contest, it will gain another $7.5 million to help with development and production of the car. At this point, however, EV Innovations hasn't decided which of its cars it will enter. Either way, it looks like the company will have a solid shot at the title. Read More

A company born out of Colorado is planning to launch an advanced hybrid sports saloon that will eventually compete in the multi-million dollar Automotive X-Prize competition to successfully build and market a 100mpg vehicle. The first prototypes are currently in development but a concept version of the vehicle was unveiled today at the Denver Auto Show.

The company behind the new hybrid concept is Lightning Hybrids, which plans to use a relatively unique hydraulic hybrid system to power its car. Dubbed the LH4, the sporty saloon concept features a 240hp (179kW) powertrain composed of a 90hp (67kW) twin-stroke biodiesel engine mated to a... A company born out of Colorado is planning to launch an advanced hybrid sports saloon that will eventually compete in the multi-million dollar Automotive X-Prize competition to successfully build and market a 100mpg vehicle. The first prototypes are currently in development but a concept version of the vehicle was unveiled today at the Denver Auto Show. The company behind the new hybrid concept is Lightning Hybrids, which plans to use a relatively unique hydraulic hybrid system to power its car. Dubbed the LH4, the sporty saloon concept features a 240hp (179kW) powertrain composed of a 90hp (67kW) twin-stroke biodiesel engine mated to a 150hp (112kW) hydraulic system. Lightning Hybrids claims the LH4 will have a fuel economy of 100mpg yet still be able to accelerate from 0-60mph in less than six seconds. Part of its prowess in efficiency comes from a super-slippery profile measuring in at just 0.20Cd. Other key elements of its design include cylinder deactivation technology, no transmission, and 100% brake energy regeneration. The vehicle body features a lifting canopy, although there are plans for a conventional three-door hatchback version, and it will be able to seat four adults. Also in the works is a smaller three-wheel version using the same hydraulic hybrid powertrain. Eventually, Lightning Hybrids hopes to license its system to other manufacturers and is currently developing a modular version called the Hybrid Retrofit System (HRS) that it plans to launch in 2010. Hydraulic hybrid systems are nothing new. They essentially use a fluid to store energy, usually when braking, and then release this energy during high- load situations to boost performance. Click here to read about a design from automotive parts supplier Eaton that we reported on earlier.2009 Lightning Hybrids LH4 concept Read More

The long-awaited resurrection of MG in the UK finally got underway late last year with the construction of MG TF roadsers at the Longbridge, UK plant. Last September SAIC announced it would be expanding the MG lineup with three new cars, and now the company has revealed the first will be coming by the end of the year.

The new MG will be sold first in China, but UK and European sale will follow, reports Automotive News Europe."We are currently developing a four-door model and a five door model based on the Roewe 550 platform (pictured) that will be sold in U.K. and Ireland," said Eleanor de la Haye, MG's UK representative.

In China the new... The long-awaited resurrection of MG in the UK finally got underway late last year with the construction of MG TF roadsers at the Longbridge, UK plant. Last September SAIC announced it would be expanding the MG lineup with three new cars, and now the company has revealed the first will be coming by the end of the year. The new MG will be sold first in China, but UK and European sale will follow, reports Automotive News Europe."We are currently developing a four-door model and a five door model based on the Roewe 550 platform (pictured) that will be sold in U.K. and Ireland," said Eleanor de la Haye, MG's UK representative. In China the new MG6, as the model will be called, joins the MG7, MG3SW hatch and MG TF roadster. Details on the upcoming lineup released last year indicate the new Roewe-based car will be targeted at the Ford Focus small hatch segment when it comes to Europe. The next two models to come from SAIC-MG will be a minicar along the lines of the Fiat 500 or Ford Ka, and finally a new sports car to replace the TF, which is already showing its age. Unfortunately there are no plans yet for U.S. sale, and earlier plans to send flat-pack cars for final assembly in North America were canceled when a deal with the Oklahoma distributor fell through.Roewe 550 Read More

Carmakers and legislators have been duking it out for decades. As one side fights to find new ways to lighten cars up, improve handling and efficiency, the other heaps on more and more safety regulations and mandatory equipment until things eventually cancel out. But an undercurrent to the progression toward more rigid, safer, and feature-packed vehicles over the last 40 years has been the increasing use of aluminum.

Surprisingly, despite the American public's taste for large vehicles, North America leads the world in vehicular aluminum use, about 0.8% ahead of the world average of 7.8%.

By brand, Honda and BMW are leading the way in... Carmakers and legislators have been duking it out for decades. As one side fights to find new ways to lighten cars up, improve handling and efficiency, the other heaps on more and more safety regulations and mandatory equipment until things eventually cancel out. But an undercurrent to the progression toward more rigid, safer, and feature-packed vehicles over the last 40 years has been the increasing use of aluminum. Surprisingly, despite the American public's taste for large vehicles, North America leads the world in vehicular aluminum use, about 0.8% ahead of the world average of 7.8%. By brand, Honda and BMW are leading the way in aluminum use, with about 340lb (154kg) of the metal in each car on average. General Motors and Nissan had previously led the way, and still remain among the leaders. Volkswagen and Hyundai are also among the brands steadily increasing their use of the material. But where in the car is all of this aluminum going? Mostly into engine blocks, wheels, suspension components and hoods. Almost 70% of all cars sold in North America now have aluminum engine blocks, and over 22% feature aluminum hoods. The rate of growth in aluminum use isn't slowing, either. Current estimates put the increase at about 4-5lb (roughly 2kg) per year, rising to about 300lb (136kg) per vehicle by 2020. That's roughly 9.4% by weight, given the average 3,185lb (1,447kg) curb weight of light vehicles. Some cars, like the Honda Insight pictured above, are also beginning to incorporate even lighter materials including composite resins and carbon-fiber derivatives. The Insight, for example, uses a composite resin material for its intake manifold, saving even more weight than an equivalent aluminum part.2009 Honda Insight Hybrid Read More

Last year Axon Automotive, creators of 2007’s Eco-M super lightweight speedster, entered the $10 million Automotive X Prize with a new hatchback aimed at city dwellers. The vehicle features a full carbon-fiber chassis and will likely be powered by a compact turbodiesel engine. Today the company revealed it has secured funding to move forward with construction of that vehicle.

The UK's Technology Strategy Board, which has previously funded advanced technology projects at Jaguar and Land Rover, among others, provided £2 million ($2.9 million) to Axon for construction of the hatchback. Further investments were made by TTP, a UK... Last year Axon Automotive, creators of 2007’s Eco-M super lightweight speedster, entered the $10 million Automotive X Prize with a new hatchback aimed at city dwellers. The vehicle features a full carbon-fiber chassis and will likely be powered by a compact turbodiesel engine. Today the company revealed it has secured funding to move forward with construction of that vehicle. The UK's Technology Strategy Board, which has previously funded advanced technology projects at Jaguar and Land Rover, among others, provided £2 million ($2.9 million) to Axon for construction of the hatchback. Further investments were made by TTP, a UK technology development firm and an unnamed individual, reports 4Car. "Right now I take this [funding] as a terrific vote of confidence in the British automotive industry, given the difficulties worldwide," said Axon Automotive's Dr. Steven Cousins. "Axon has a 2011 target for production vehicles and we're really looking forward to getting on with the job - getting the next generation of automotive technologies ready for the upturn." Keeping weight down will be a big consideration for the Axon hatchback as it strives to achieve the Automotive X Prize's requirement for competitors to produce a 100mpg car. The UK based company has pioneered a special way of processing carbon fiber that involves engineers wrapping carbon-fiber braids around a foam core to produce a material that is as strong as steel but a fraction of the weight. While there is no confirmation yet on the engine being used in the 100mpg hatchback beyond its 500cc displacement, every measure is being used to make the car as aerodynamic and as light as possible - hence the rather dated looking rear-wheel covers. The final vehicle will be designed for both crowded cities and fast-paced highways and will be capable of seating two adults plus two small children. Axon will be up against a number of strong competitors, including India’s Tata, which is developing two electric vehicles for the challenge, as well as Tesla and its famous electric roadster, and a Finish university that’s preparing a new electric sports car based on the Audi R8.Axon enters Automotive X Prize with new hatchback Read More

Labor negotiations between Volvo and Sweden's auto worker union have come to a close today, resulting in the termination of 2,721 emloyees, the vast majority of which are blue collar workers. The layoffs come as Ford has engaged Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in talks to buy the brand, according to latest reports.

Ford has revealed that the company is in talks with a Chinese company for the purchase, though it hasn't confirmed SAIC as the suitor. SAIC's recent bid to revive the British MG marque in the UK and Europe shows its eagerness to get a toehold in the west. While the models and brand name of MG could be useful in... Labor negotiations between Volvo and Sweden's auto worker union have come to a close today, resulting in the termination of 2,721 emloyees, the vast majority of which are blue collar workers. The layoffs come as Ford has engaged Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in talks to buy the brand, according to latest reports. Ford has revealed that the company is in talks with a Chinese company for the purchase, though it hasn't confirmed SAIC as the suitor. SAIC's recent bid to revive the British MG marque in the UK and Europe shows its eagerness to get a toehold in the west. While the models and brand name of MG could be useful in such a bid, the Volvo brand and product lineup would be infinitely more so. Talks at mid-year between SAIC and Ford fell through, reports the UK's Mail, though SAIC denied any talks at the time. In addition to securing a European, and even U.S., market entry for China's SAIC, the sale of Volvo would show the U.S. Congress that Ford is taking its current financial situation very seriously, and is raising cash any way it can. Talks in Congress are currently ongoing, but the expected outcome for near-term financial aid to the Detroit 3 carmakers is a $17 billion loan package. Though rivals General Motors and Chrysler appear to be in desperate need of immediate cash, Ford is in a somewhat stronger position, requesting only that funds be made available - it hopes its financial plan will prevent it from having to draw on them at all. Several other companies are also believed to be involved in talks with Ford over the Volvo brand, though specifics are thus far not forthcoming. The layoffs taking place in Sweden will begin immediately, with the majority released by the end of the year. "Today is of course a very sad day at Volvo, but I feel satisfied with the fact that our cost reduction program has been successful and it has enabled us to stay with a lower number of redundancies", says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. An additional 680 workers outside of Sweden and 1,215 contract consultants have been released as well. Read More