Automotive News

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, DaimlerChrysler, Mercedes Benz

DaimlerChrysler is taking some of its eggs out of the diesel BLUETEC basket and placing them on the hybrid bandwagon, according to chairman Dieter Zetsche. The automotive giant had been banking on the success of its clean diesel technology to win over the green crowd, but DCX says the market demands hybrids. And so hybrids they shall make.

At first Mercedes will offer “mild hybrids”, essentially an overgrown starter motor that will supplement the gasoline (or diesel) engine to add extra power while improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. With a mild hybrid, DCX figures it can get 70 percent of the effect with 30 percent of the effort, but will eventually produce full hybrid powerplants. DaimlerChrysler plans on collaborating on its hybrid development with rivals BMW, not unlike the sharing of technology over BLUETEC, all in an effort to catch up with their mutual rival Toyota, which has harnessed hybrid power on its way to the top.

In the meantime, Mercedes plans on rolling out other tree-hugging technologies in its vehicles, including a stop/start system like that offered by BMW and PSA, and an alternator that disengages from the engine when accelerating.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

 

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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Mitsubishi

The next generation Mitsubishi EVO is due out this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and CAR magazine is asking whether drivers have already lost interest. In response, Phil McNamara reflects on his drive of the last of the current generation EVO IX models, and answers with a definitive NO! The EVO may not have as much finesse as the M3, but it sure is fun.

The quick steering, and the fabulous 2.0L turbo four cylinder put a smile on his face every time he hits the accelerator. The problem as Phil sees it is the image of young hooligans who are stereotypically thought to drive these cars, as well as some of the niggling trim details. However, he is definitely looking forward to Mitsubishi refining the fit and finish on the great looking new car, and hopes the new greener power-train retains the feel of the original.

[Source: CAR]

 

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Filed under: Gadgets, Marketing/Advertising, Tech, Videos, BMW

Wow, this is pretty cool. If you happen to wander into a BMW dealer and see a huge flat-panel in the corner, it’s likely not a TV on which owners can watch CNN while waiting for their Bimmer to be serviced. It’s more likely one of these high-tech sales tools for the Bavarian motor company. Powered by software made by Innotive, these touch-screen information displays allow a sales consultant to point out design features and even call up comparisons to competitive models. It’s kind of like having the company’s build-a-car websites open and active, but at a much higher level of interaction. And with the ability to telestrate and customize a sales pitch to the individual, it should be the ultimate selling machine for these ultimate driving machines.

Follow the jump to see a YouTube video of a salesperson using the system to compare features of a BMW to those of an Audi. You’ll also see a customer using the system to customize his car with a few taps of the glass.

[Source: Fresh Creation]

Continue reading BMW: The Ultimate Selling Machine

 

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Filed under: Car Buying, Auction Action

We love eBay Motors and can literally waste spend hours sifting through its vehicle offerings. At heart, however, it’s an auction house for the mass populace, not die-hard auto enthusiasts. Grassroots Motorsports, perhaps our favorite buff book produced in the U.S., has just opened the Grassroots Marketplace to cater to those die-hard auto enthusiasts who aren’t interested in wading through all those Toyota Siennas and Chevy Aveos on eBay Motors.

The site offers auctions as well as standard-issue classified ads (which are currently FREE to post for a limited time) for vehicles, parts and automobilia. Because it’s new, there isn’t a ton of offerings yet, but some killer classifieds have already popped up. Witness the CRX turbo project car from Road & Track. Or how about the Porsche 996 that helped kick off Grand Am racing with the series’ first recorded victory. How about a spec Miata racer that just won last weekend? Hopefully the online marketplace will flourish, because for many sellers it’s nice to know that you’re prized ride will be going to someone of the same ilk who appreciates your most precious metal.

Thanks for the tip, amp!

[Source: Grassroots Motorsports]

 

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Filed under: Etc., Renault

click above image for high-res version

We’re filing this under “Wish I’d thought of that.”

Renault, in its redesigned Twingo (appropriately named New Twingo), is offering an option it calls “Grass-mat” dashboard trim. Essentially, it’s a toothbrush turned bristles-up that holds all those gadgets we love so dear in our cars. The rubber fingers sit in a divot in front of the steering wheel, looking much like an abnormally blue sea anemone ready to coddle your Nemo-like iPod in motionless safety. No more digging under the seat for the phone that went flying in turn three, no unsightly Velcro on dash and phone, no more mining the seats for change at the toll booth. Genius.

Click on the above photo (or here) for an up-close, high-res look at the Renault’s rubber grass, and click here to see what a New Twingo looks like.

Thanks for the tip, James!

[Source: T3]

 

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Filed under: Wagons/Estates, Auction Action, Audi

When talk of the ultimate go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle pops up in the AB offices, the Audi RS6 Avant often gets a mention. This is one superfast grocery getter that has sophistication and style to spare. And apparently safety hasn’t been overlooked either, as one extremely lucky owner recently discovered. While moving along at a fairly good clip on a familiar stretch of roadway, the driver lost control and made impact with a tree. The vehicle did its job and absorbed the energy so that the driver would be protected. He actually got out and can be seen in the photos talking on his cell phone, perhaps explaining to the missus that he might be late for dinner. While the driver was intact, the car was not.

A nifty story of German engineering at its finest, but that is only the setup. The news here is that the vehicle is now available on eBay Motors, and as you may have guessed, it’s half off. Hardy-har. Even split in two, this might be the closest many of us can get to actually owning this superwagon. Actually, the bidding ended when the seller pulled it, but not before scoring a remarkable top bid of EUR 6,716. The seller stated that the engine and brakes were nearly intact, so maybe that wasn’t such a stretch after all. Check out the read link for more pics and a more detailed description.

Thanks for the tip, Dan!

[Source: eBay Motors]

 

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Filed under: Euro, Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler

In an article that sums up nicely the current situtation surrounding the potential sale of Chrysler, the Detroit Free Press reveals that two DaimlerChrysler shareholders have called for the company to change its name by dropping “Chrysler” if the Chrysler Group isn’t sold by March 31st, 2008. Shareholders Ekkehard Wenger and Leonhard Knoll have crafted a name change proposal that would insert the potential name change into the company’s articles of incorporation at its next annual meeting on April 4th. Wenger and Knoll didn’t hold back any punches in the proposal when speaking about the Chrysler Group and the perceived failure of this merger of equals:

• “Maintaining a corporate name that evokes associations with the failure of the business combination with Chrysler is detrimental to the image of the corporation and its products.”
• “This is all the more true as unflattering nicknames such as Doting Daimler, Daimler-Crisis or even Crime-ler have long been in circulation.”
• “The disadvantages this entails for shareholders, customers and employees can only be borne at most for a short transition period until there is a proper separation from Chrysler. If a proper separation cannot be effected within one year, this would only serve to underscore the need to remove this affliction on the image from the corporation’s name.”

What does it say about the state of solidarity within your company when you have one half being referred to as an “affliction”? Not much. And while we don’t read business trade journals in German over breakfast, we’ve never heard DCX referred to as “Daimler-Crisis” or any of the other nicknames mentioned in the proposal. Of course, now that we have, we’ll have to start using them.

The Freep article closes by noting that DCX supervisory and management boards are totally opposed to the namge change, so don’t expect them to be ordering new business cards anytime soon.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

 

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Filed under: Trends, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Call it a case of “He said, he said.” A Toyota spokesman says the Japanese automaker doesn’t see an interest in unionizing among workers at its production facility in Kentucky, while UAW spokespeople say workers are showing more interest than ever in forming a union. So which is it? Could be a bit of both. UAW membership has been dropping nationwide, but the organization still has an undeniably powerful place in the industry. With more foreign automakers building plants in the States, particularly in the South, the UAW has failed to gain a foothold in these facilities.

The Detroit News is quoting Toyota spokesman Rick Hesterberg as saying the carmaker sees no evidence of increased UAW interest among its Georgetown, Kentucky plant workforce. But the News also offers statements by UAW president Ron Gettelfinger and the union’s head of organizing efforts, Terry Thurman, that contradict Toyota’s position. They say there is “increased activity” ever since workers found out about a proposal to lower some workers’ wages to cut costs. They admit that Toyota workers’ wages are close to UAW rates, but say the difference is in how volatile wages can be at a non-union plant.

Though the UAW’s power has been waning, the slow resurrection of profits at General Motors will give it more bargaining power at the table this year. If a union ever were established at a Japanese-owned production facility in the U.S., that precedent would also create the opportunity for a resurgence in the UAW’s popularity among hourly auto workers.

[Source: The Detroit News]

 

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Filed under: Etc.

While Consumer Reports‘ overall Top Picks for 2007 were a Japan-only affair, for the second year in a row, the magazine has compiled a “Top Picks - American Style” list on its Car Blog, in which only US nameplates are featured. The rationale behind this is to help shoppers who are set on buying a vehicle from an American marque only.

The rules are pretty simple: a car can’t make the list unless it’s a recommended vehicle in the April auto issue. With that said, here are CR’s selections:

Top Picks - American Style

• Fun to drive: Cadillac CTS-V
• Small sedan: Ford Focus ZX4 SES
• Family sedan: Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan
• Upscale sedan: Lincoln MXZ
• Luxury sedan: Cadillac DTS
• Small SUV: Pontiac Torrent
• Midsized SUV: Ford Freestyle
• Minivan: (None apply)
• Budget car: Ford Focus ZX3
• Green car: (None apply)

CR notes that the Torrent beats the better Ford Escape because the Pontiac is equipped with stability control, and the Escape, which is not, got up on two wheels during NHTSA’s stability test. We’re guessing that this issue with the Escape is what also kept it from taking the “Green Car” pick. The Saturn Vue is not a recommended vehicle in the first place, so that keeps the Green Line from stepping into the open spot vacated by the Escape Hybrid.

Finally, even though Chrysler has never stopped offering minivans, their low CR reliability ratings preclude the mag from recommending the current generation. CR offers additional analysis on its American picks here. You can also check out last year’s “American Style” list for a comparison.

[Source: Consumer Reports Car Blog]

 

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertibles, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Bentley

We just brought you news of the upcoming facelift for the Bentley Continental GT yesterday, and already spy shots have surfaced showing a couple of cold-weather test mules sitting at the pumps. (Those six-liter W12s can drink a lot of fossils.)

As predicted, the updates will extend across the Continental range, which we can see from the facelifted Continental Flying Spur sitting in front of the revised Continental GT. We can expect changes to the exterior to be minor: the spy shots show a front bumper with a widened center air intake, but little done to mitigate the burnt-off-eyebrow look. The easiest thing to change on a facelifted car is always the wheels, but these test mules seem to be wearing the same rims as the models they’ll replace. Reported modifications to the interior should be nice, though, as Bentley cabins rank among the nicest places in the worldto be.

Click through to our friends at WCF to get a better look at the spy shots.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Related post:
Bentley planning Continental updates

 

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