Electric Cars
-
Engineering an electric vehicle conversion from an existing platform is hardly a plug-and-play operation. A myriad of challenges are inherent; not the least of which are aerodynamics, range and weight. But once those obstacles are addressed, some slick marketing can position the car as a must-have car for the eco-conscious. So when the Dutch development firm e-Traction boasts, “Welcome to the world’s heaviest fully electric passenger car” on its website, you have to wonder a moment if something was lost in translation. Then you read on a bit and realize the 2.75-ton...
-
The Tesla Model S Undergoes Winter Testing: VideoBaudette, Minnesota, is a sleepy little town at the far northern end of the Midwestern state. Its population is just over 1,100 residents, and its claim to fame is that it’s home to Automotive Enviro Testing, which specializes in extreme cold weather testing of vehicles. Cold weather can be...
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Cayenne GTS, Nissan 240SX, Dart Goes Wireless: Car News HeadlinesThe 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS has been officially revealed ahead of its debut at the Beijing Auto Show later this month. If you're looking for a lean, mean, sporting SUV, this may be the ticket. Nissan's rumored sub-370Z 240SX revival may be back on the table, especially now that the Subaru...
Nelson Ireson -
A Peek At Audi's e-tron e-sound Electric Car Sound System: VideoFor many, electric cars seem rather simple: just stick a battery and an electric motor in place of the regular oily bits. While it's far more complex than that, there are other concerns beyond the powertrain itself. Things like sound--or a lack of it--both for occupants and bystanders. To deal with...
Nelson Ireson -
Acura NSX Roadster, Pastrana Drives Dart, Goodbye New York: Today's Car NewsThe Acura NSX isn't even real yet--it's just a concept made of hopes and dreams--but already the Roadster version is getting some mileage on the set of the Avengers. Travis Pastrana may have set aside his more extreme forms of work, but he's still ripping it up on four wheels, including a first...
Nelson Ireson -
Day Two’s Coverage Of The 2012 New York Auto ShowWhile the opening press day of any auto show is typically the biggest and busiest, the second day at this week’s 2012 New York Show managed to have quite the number of new and exciting concept and product reveals to keep us entertained. While flashy luxury and sports models dominated the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Infiniti has given us a taste of its first electric car with the unveiling of the LE Concept this week at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The concept is for a compact sedan, which is not surprising given its based on the running gear of a Nissan Leaf, but Infiniti is keen to stress that it's been designed with luxury in mind, rather than purely economy. The LE Concept’s exterior features several Infiniti design cues, such as its double-arch grille and crescent-cut rear-pillar. However, its lines have been made more swoopy than usual to boost aerodynamic efficiency and maximize space. The...
-
Infiniti Zero Emission Concept: New York Auto Show Live ShotsA day before Infiniti's New York Auto Show press conference, the wraps were pulled to tease the luxury brand's show concept. What's been released so far is that this concept is an all-electric four-door sedan, based on Nissan Leaf underpinnings; expect seating for five, and a well-packaged...
Bengt Halvorson -
Fisker Atlantic Concept: 2012 New York Auto Show Live PhotosWill the Fisker Atlantic bring a fledgling green-luxury carmaker to profitability? Will it be built? Some analysts and industry experts are still skeptical, but if you ask Fisker Automotive CEO Tom LaSorda, its chief commercial officer Richard Beattie, or its founder Henrik Fisker, the answer will...
Bengt Halvorson -
Fisker Atlantic debuts at 2012 New York auto showFisker’s follow-up to the Karma, the highly-anticipated Project Nina, has now made its official world debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show as the Fisker Atlantic. The car on display in New York is labeled a “design prototype” but as the Karma has proven, Fisker isn’t afraid...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Final 2013 Viper Teaser, BMW i8 Concept Spyder, Fisker Atlantic: Today's Car NewsWe're in the final days before the start of the 2012 New York Auto Show's press days, and the concepts and new cars are rolling in quickly. At the top of the list, we have the 2013 SRT Viper. Today, we got the final teaser, which reveals the front of the car--and shows it will be a bit of a...
Nelson Ireson -
Daimler Launching Denza Brand And New Electric Car In ChinaDaimler, together with one of its Chinese partners, BYD, has established the new vehicle brand Denza that will focus on eco-friendly vehicles including electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The Denza brand is a 50:50 joint venture between Daimler and BYD and is expected to unveil a concept of its...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Over the weekend BMW released the first details and images for its i8 Concept Spyder, the first convertible version of the string of previously revealed i8 coupes and a somewhat more production-looking version too. BMW has already confirmed that its i8 supercar, an advanced plug-in hybrid that promises 0-60 mph acceleration of less than five seconds and 78 mpg combined fuel economy, will enter production in 2013 ahead of a sales launch early in the following year. However, there’s been no mention of a convertible version until now. The reveal of the i8 Concept Spyder confirms BMW is at...
-
2013 SRT Viper, 2012 Camaro ZL1, Chernobyl: Today's Car NewsThe 2013 SRT Viper is less than a week away, arriving in full at the 2012 New York Auto Show. In the interim, a new teaser has been released, hinting that the new Viper will be much more premium than the last. Excited yet? Chevy has lifted the production hold on the 2012 Camaro ZL1, and deliveries...
Nelson Ireson -
2014 Audi Q7, 2013 Subaru Legacy, 2013 Explorer Sport: Car News HeadlinesToday we have several all-new models, revealed ahead of their New York Auto show debuts--but first we have the upcoming 2014 Audi Q7, spied even before it has progressed past test mule status. The 2013 Subaru Legacy is out, and it looks pretty sharp. With a new 2.5-liter engine, a mild facelift...
Nelson Ireson -
Monster Tajima Goes Electric For Pikes Peak 2012Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima is no stranger to Pikes Peak. In fact, he's the reining master, having been the first to break the 10-minute barrier there and set a new world record last year. Likewise, electric cars aren't new to the peak either, though they're much newer and not nearly as dominating as...
Nelson Ireson -
Coming Soon: The Sport Of Electric Car DriftingLike it or not, electric cars will begin making inroads into mainstream motorsports, probably in the not-too-distant future. Electric drag racing is already an established sport and the benefits of electric propulsion (like peak torque at zero rpm) work well here. Range certainly isn’t an...
Kurt Ernst -
Camaro 1LE, Recalls, Acura NSX Shares With RL: Car News HeadlinesChevrolet has seemed one step behind Ford when it comes to the Camaro and Mustang battle, despite the Camaro selling more cars. Today, the company took the lid off its new 1LE package, which takes aim at the Boss 302's track capabilities. Check out the details in the link below. Recalls are upon us...
Nelson Ireson -
Late last year BMW and Toyota signed a memorandum of understanding concerning a mid-to-long-term collaboration on next-generation environment-friendly technologies, which covered everything from the joint development of electric car technologies to the sharing of engines. Today, the two automakers have taken the next step towards solidifying the alliance by announcing that they will collaborate in the research of next-generation lithium-ion battery technology. The research project being undertaken under the agreement is focusing on increasing the performance and capacity of lithium-ion...
-
A123 Systems Recalls Battery Used In Fisker Karma And Other Plug-InsThe supplier of the Fisker Karma's lithium-ion batteries, 123 Systems, has issued a recall on them due to what it claims are defective prismatic cells.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fisker To Preview Project Nina At 2012 New York Auto ShowFisker has announced today that it will be providing a glimpse of its future at the upcoming 2012 New York Auto Show, and just to heat things up has also released this teaser image. No other details have been released though it’s widely expected that the teaser image is for Fisker’s...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2013 SL65 AMG, F1 IPO, 2013 Range Rover: Car News HeadlinesThe 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG gets a preview look before its official debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show, and it looks pretty impressive on paper--and in pictures. Formula 1 is prepping for an IPO that could raise as much as $10 billion. That's a lot of racing. And the 2013 Land Rover Range...
Nelson Ireson -
2014 Subaru Forester, 2012 Beetle Turbo, DIY Charging: Car News HeadlinesOur spy photographers grabbed the first shots of the 2014 Subaru Forester in testing, revealing little behind its heavy camouflage, but showing us it will stick with its proven formula. Our sister site The Car Connection drives the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo and reports on its best and worst...
Nelson Ireson -
Porsche's Future, MINI Countryman Coupe, Chevy NASCAR: Today's Car NewsWe take an inside look at Porsche's near-term future in a roundtable discussion with some of the company's top brass, including CEO Matthias Mueller. Can you say plug-in hybrids, four-cylinders, and a new supercar? MINI might name the production version of the Paceman concept the Countryman Coupe...
Nelson Ireson