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  • Preview: Audi working on new E1 minicar

    Preview: Audi working on new E1 minicar July 22nd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, July 22nd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 13 Comments

    Preview: Audi working on new E1 minicar Even as fuel prices slide back down to pre-crunch levels, the automotive industry knows it's only a temporary respite and continues its up-shift for a new layer of premium small cars. On the German front, BMW is thought to be working on a sub-1-series mini car, Daimler already has its Smart, and soon Audi will join the club with its own fuel-sipping urban warrior.

    The latest reports indicate the car will be based around the same platform as VW's up!, and will do battle with the likes of Ford's Ka, Toyota iQ and the Fiat 500. The car is expected to be called the E1 and is to be the entry to a range of new ‘ecological’ models,... Even as fuel prices slide back down to pre-crunch levels, the automotive industry knows it's only a temporary respite and continues its up-shift for a new layer of premium small cars. On the German front, BMW is thought to be working on a sub-1-series mini car, Daimler already has its Smart, and soon Audi will join the club with its own fuel-sipping urban warrior. The latest reports indicate the car will be based around the same platform as VW's up!, and will do battle with the likes of Ford's Ka, Toyota iQ and the Fiat 500. The car is expected to be called the E1 and is to be the entry to a range of new ‘ecological’ models, which will span everything from minicars to performance models. Power will come from a 600cc turbocharged two-cylinder engine in either petrol or diesel guises. The small engines will certainly be underpowered for extended highway use, but with CO2 emissions under 100g/km and about 80mpg (2.9L/100km) fuel efficiency, the E1 will be an easy to operate, low-tax tool for getting around any major city. An electric powertrain is also being considered, but as yet no details on its capabilities have surfaced. Positioned below the A1, the E1 would also get a 1.2L three-cylinder, which would be more highway-capable than its two-pot brethren. Nevertheless, the up! based vehicle will still be primarily targeted at younger, affluent, urban audiences with an emphasis on technology and style. The fact that so much of the Audi city car's competition is gearing up for U.S. sale and/or production hints that the E1 could be sold in America as well, though poor exchange rates, high transport costs and a generally weak economy could conspire against such a decision. Nevertheless, given the expected production time frame, Audi should have several years to makes its decision. While the VW version of the up! will be hitting the streets in 2010, the Audi variant will have to wait a while, and is not expected until late 2011. Production will be handled at VW’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, alongside the up! version as well as Skoda and Seat variants.Preview: Audi 'City' car Read More

  • Report: BMW, Daimler to end hybrid partnership

    Report: BMW, Daimler to end hybrid partnership July 15th, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, July 15th, 2009 Ralph Hanson 0 Comments

    Report: BMW, Daimler to end hybrid partnership BMW and Daimler have been working more and more closely together over the past several years, especially since the need to share costs and improve bottom lines has become so sharp in 2009. But despite ongoing partnerships for vehicle safety technology, the hybrid partnership that spawned the two-mode hybrid appears to be in trouble.

    A report emerging from Germany today via Auto Motor & Sport has a BMW spokesperson casting doubt on the continuance of the partnership with Daimler. The reason for the doubt? There are currently talks underway with other carmakers that might yield a better solution for BMW.

    The report says that Daimler wants... BMW and Daimler have been working more and more closely together over the past several years, especially since the need to share costs and improve bottom lines has become so sharp in 2009. But despite ongoing partnerships for vehicle safety technology, the hybrid partnership that spawned the two-mode hybrid appears to be in trouble. A report emerging from Germany today via Auto Motor & Sport has a BMW spokesperson casting doubt on the continuance of the partnership with Daimler. The reason for the doubt? There are currently talks underway with other carmakers that might yield a better solution for BMW. The report says that Daimler wants the partnership to continue due to the cost savings it can deliver over the coming years as hybrids expand through the Mercedes-Benz lineup, including the S400 and ML450 hybrids. Daimler's own plans for a fully-electric future are being laid at a breakneck pace, however, so a hiccup in its hybrid operations may not have as serious an impact as might appear at first glance. On the other hand, until electric drive expands outside of the Smart lineup in Daimler's plans, hybrid drive is the only way to make its Mercedes offerings greener without sacrificing significant performance.Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID2010 Mercedes Benz ML450 Hybrid Read More

  • Lexus tops J.D. Power Initial Quality study, Porsche and Cadillac close behind

    Lexus tops J.D. Power Initial Quality study, Porsche and Cadillac close behind June 22nd, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, June 22nd, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 5 Comments

    Lexus tops J.D. Power Initial Quality study, Porsche and Cadillac close behind When it comes to luxury-car quality, taste often plays as big a role as fact, but J.D. Power tries to boil the issue down to a simple metric: problems per 100 cars. The resulting ranks are dubbed the Initial Quality Study, and used to guide consumer decisions. As usual, Lexus rates at the very top, but this year Cadillac has shot up the charts, beating out some of the German competition.

    The overall initial quality title went to Lexus with its brand-wide average of just 84 problems per 100 cars, though the Lexus LX led the way for the whole industry with just 52 problems per 100 cars. Lexus's win this year bumps Porsche from the spot it... When it comes to luxury-car quality, taste often plays as big a role as fact, but J.D. Power tries to boil the issue down to a simple metric: problems per 100 cars. The resulting ranks are dubbed the Initial Quality Study, and used to guide consumer decisions. As usual, Lexus rates at the very top, but this year Cadillac has shot up the charts, beating out some of the German competition. The overall initial quality title went to Lexus with its brand-wide average of just 84 problems per 100 cars, though the Lexus LX led the way for the whole industry with just 52 problems per 100 cars. Lexus's win this year bumps Porsche from the spot it held for the previous two years. Cadillac saw its rank rise from 10th to third, right behind Porsche. Mercedes-Benz came home in sixth place while BMW and Audi languish in 15th and 20th places, respectively. Surprisingly, the worst overall ratings for initial quality went not to any of the usual suspects but to BMW's MINI, which rated just two spots below Daimler's Smart brand and 5 spots below the notorious Hummer marque. Overall, the industry as a whole saw initial quality rise, with the average problems per 100 cars dropping from 118 last year to 108 this year. "Achieving high levels of initial quality in all-new models is one of the greatest challenges for manufacturers," said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "Now that more manufacturers are getting their launch quality right straight out of the gate, consumers can expect the quality of new vehicles to continue to rise." Each year J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study compiles the statistics on the number of problems new owners face over the first 90 days of ownership. The study claims to be an excellent predictor of long-term durability, and therefore a good basis for consumer decisions on new car models that don't yet have a proven track record. "High quality generally translates into reduced re-engineering costs and lower warranty expenses during a vehicle’s life cycle. High quality also enhances an automaker’s reputation for reliability, which is a critical purchase consideration for many consumers," said Sargent. Read More

  • Brabus electric Smart car features electronic exhaust noise simulator

    Brabus electric Smart car features electronic exhaust noise simulator June 17th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 17th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 1 Comment

    Brabus electric Smart car features electronic exhaust noise simulator It's often cited as an advantage of electric cars, but it's also one of the biggest potential danger zones: silence. It makes for peaceful - if somewhat eerie - cruising at speed, but it also poses a huge risk to pedestrians and other road users. So Brabus is doing something about it in the case of the Smart ForTwo Electric drive (ED).

    Lotus Engineering and a number of research and automotive firms and governmental entities have come up with solutions that offer realistic exhaust sounds to those outside the cabin, and it's not clear which solution Brabus is using, but it's able to replicate a real engine. You can also choose between the... It's often cited as an advantage of electric cars, but it's also one of the biggest potential danger zones: silence. It makes for peaceful - if somewhat eerie - cruising at speed, but it also poses a huge risk to pedestrians and other road users. So Brabus is doing something about it in the case of the Smart ForTwo Electric drive (ED). Lotus Engineering and a number of research and automotive firms and governmental entities have come up with solutions that offer realistic exhaust sounds to those outside the cabin, and it's not clear which solution Brabus is using, but it's able to replicate a real engine. You can also choose between the sounds of a muscle car or an economy car, depending on your mood, reports Edmunds. Fortunately, for those times when it would be better to have no sound at all, the system can be turned off with a single switch. So far, the system is just a proof-of-concept, but with all the work going into the field, something similar will come to production by the time the Smart ED hits retail at the end of 2009 or start of 2010. Check out our previous coverage for more about the Brabus Smart ForTwo ED.Brabus Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Read More

  • Tesla delivers 500th Roadster

    Tesla delivers 500th Roadster June 3rd, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, June 3rd, 2009 James Martinez 0 Comments

    Tesla delivers 500th Roadster Having recently formed a partnership with German auto giant Daimler, Tesla this week has announced more good news with the company delivering its 500th all-electric Roadster model to a customer in New Jersey. The lucky individual and latest to get their hands on one of the popular Roadsters is a philanthropist by the name of Martin Tuchman.

    Tuchman, a former automotive engineer, said that his new Roadster "drives like a dream" and that he plans to use the car for commuting. Tuchman has already dabbled in electric propulsion, having previously converted his 1937 Chris-Craft into an electric boat in order to legally take it on Lake Carnegie,... Having recently formed a partnership with German auto giant Daimler, Tesla this week has announced more good news with the company delivering its 500th all-electric Roadster model to a customer in New Jersey. The lucky individual and latest to get their hands on one of the popular Roadsters is a philanthropist by the name of Martin Tuchman. Tuchman, a former automotive engineer, said that his new Roadster "drives like a dream" and that he plans to use the car for commuting. Tuchman has already dabbled in electric propulsion, having previously converted his 1937 Chris-Craft into an electric boat in order to legally take it on Lake Carnegie, which does not allow gas-powered boats. With more Tesla dealerships set to open in a number of cities in both the U.S. and around the world, it shouldn't be long before the company begins racking up more sales of its electric spots car. For now, Tesla is the only company selling highway-capable electric vehicles in respectable volumes, but this fact will change in the next couple of years as the major automakers jump on the electric bandwagon. To help keep sales up, Tesla is branching out in terms of its model range, first with the all-new Model S sedan and then with a second generation Roadster. Furthermore, the deal with Daimler will see Tesla supply the German automaker with batteries and the technical expertise needed to bring an electric car to market at the highest possible speed. The first fruits of this partnership will be a fleet of electric Smart ForTwos, which should go on sale late next year.Tesla RoadsterTesla Model S Prototype Read More

  • Smart offering free upgrade to fix balky ForTwo transmissions

    Smart offering free upgrade to fix balky ForTwo transmissions May 21st, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, May 21st, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 1 Comment

    Smart offering free upgrade to fix balky ForTwo transmissions Questions about safety, affordability, ultimate value and even performance are all well-worn topics for fans of the Daimler-built Smart ForTwo minicar, but to date mechanical problems haven't been a hot topic - aside from balky transmissions. Now Daimler has decided to fix the problem by offering a free upgrade to the 24,622 2008-model vehicles affected.

    The fix applies to U.S.-market cars sold last year. The problem was a hesitancy going into gear, rough shifts and even slipping between gears, according to reports from users. The company is acknowledging the problem, and stepping up to fix it free fo charge - as they should.

    "We will... Questions about safety, affordability, ultimate value and even performance are all well-worn topics for fans of the Daimler-built Smart ForTwo minicar, but to date mechanical problems haven't been a hot topic - aside from balky transmissions. Now Daimler has decided to fix the problem by offering a free upgrade to the 24,622 2008-model vehicles affected. The fix applies to U.S.-market cars sold last year. The problem was a hesitancy going into gear, rough shifts and even slipping between gears, according to reports from users. The company is acknowledging the problem, and stepping up to fix it free fo charge - as they should. "We will upgrade your transmission software to the new 2009 operating mode which provides improved shifting dynamics as well as instant changing between automatic and paddle shifting just by touching the up or down shift paddles," says one owner's notice letter, according to USA Today. A simple software update will fix the automatic's issues, and it only takes about 90 minutes from start to finish. Getting these issues out of the way will be a key element to the success of even more expensive versions like the ForTwo EV displayed at this year's Detroit Auto Show. The huge potential for efficiency and consequent low emissions won't be enough to overcome a car that offers a poor driving experience for many picky American drivers. Read More

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