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November 4, 2009

Chrysler Plans Part 1: More Diesels and 4-Cylinder Gas Engines

Video explains Fiat Multiair system that will be used in many of Chrysler's new models to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and boost power.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Chrysler's new powertrain chief, Paolo Ferrero, says the company will begin widespread adoption of gas and diesel engine technologies from its new owner, Fiat Group, with the first of a family of more fuel-efficient engines due next summer.

The company believes that hybrids and electric vehicles are a longer-term strategy and will concentrate in the "short-to-medium" term on internal combustion engine improvements and downsizing, and introduction of fuel-efficient clean diesels and engines using alternative low carbon fuels such as compressed natural gas.

Chrysler also will be adopting the start-stop system, also called a micro-hybrid system, that is used in some Fiat models to shut down the engine at stop signs and when idling. It can reduce emissions and improve fuel economy by as much as 5 percent, Ferrero said.

The first model in the Chrysler lineup to use it will be the the 2011 Jeep Wrangler.

By 2014, Ferrero said during a morning presentation at the day-long Chrysler product plan meeting, 38 percent of Chrysler vehicles will use small, four-cylinder engines, up from 19 percent today, and 14 percent will use diesel engines, up from 9 percent now.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell November 4, 2009, 10:30 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Diesel, Dodge, Hybrid, Jeep, Natural Gas, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Product Plans

November 3, 2009

Chrysler 5-Year Plan Thought To Include an EV Along With Fuel-Efficient Small Cars

Dodge Zeo8 concept shown at Detroit Auto Show last year could be basis for a new EV in revised Chrysler product lineup under post-bankruptcy recovery plan.

If there's anything certain about Chrysler's new 5-year product plan, to be unveiled in a lengthy conference tomorrow, it is that small cars, advanced technology gas engines and at least one electric vehicle all are likely to figure into the automaker's future.

The company, fresh out of bankruptcy, is now controlled by Italy's Fiat and Fiat, according to the leaks from Chrysler' suburban HQ in Auburn Hills, Mich., wants to use its new American unit as a portal to being its popular Fiat 500 subcompact over form Europe and to reintroduce the Alfa Romeo brand to the states.

Fiat, we've heard, also intends to use its "multiair" fuel-efficient engine technology in Chrysler vehicles going forward and, insiders say, wants to use the Dodge brand for introduction of an electric car - likely one of the models that have been under development - quietly - by Chrysler's ENVI group.

Yes, Virginia, the ENVI group, tasked with developing EVs and extended-range, plug-in hybrids for Chrysler when it was formed in 2007, has survived the financial mayhem and is still plugging away, so to speak.

Whether Chrysler's new masters will pick the sexy Dodge Zeo electric sports car, one of the Jeep plug-ins or the Chrysler 300-based EV concept shown at the Detroit auto show in January - all ENVI productions -or select an all-new Chrysler- or Fiat-based model for the EV is up in the air.

But as we've said all along - and as Fiat's Sergio Marchionne well knows - Chrysler can't survive in the new automotive age without EVs and PHEVs in its portfolio.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 3, 2009, 1:54 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler

October 28, 2009

Dodge Still Planning to Launch Two-Mode Ram Hybrid Pickup in 2010

Chrysler's new bosses unveil the company's new 5-year product plan next week and word already is leaking out that with Fiat in the driver's seat there will be a pared-down list of Dodge and Chrysler vehicles in the market.

One model that has survived the cut is the long-awaited two-mode hybrid version of the Dodge Ram pickup.

In an interview with the Detroit News, Scott Kunselman, Chrysler's senior vice president fopr engineering, said there have been no changes of plan for the Dodge Ram hybrid, due to be launched next year.

A diesel version of the truck, however, seems to be out - Kunselman said he doesn't see much recrerational buyer demand for an oil burner.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 28, 2009, 3:32 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: Dodge Dual Mode Hybrid

September 4, 2009

Ford C-Max Gets First 1.6-liter EcoBoost Engine; Maker Mum on U.S. Plan for MPV

Ford of Europe today released the first official images of the all-new C-MAX multi-purpose vehicle, which will be the first in a string of Ford vehicles packing an all-new 1.6-liter EcoBoost direct-injection gasoline engine.

The 2011 C-Max takes its handsome design from the iosis MAX concept car unveiled at this year's Geneva Motor Show. We like the coupe-resembling sweeping roofline, the aggressive stance and other design features, but it's the engine we like most.

This would be the same fuel-efficient, low-emissions, four-cylinder, turbo-charged engine Ford spent $109 million developing and which we described in October 2008.

In general, EcoBoost engines achieve 20 percent better fuel economy and 15 percent lower carbon-dioxide emissions than current larger displacement gasoline engines of similar power -- and they do all this without compromising driving performance.

However, Ford spokesmen today wouldn't comment on the C-Max's emissions or fuel economy; that, they said, will have to wait until the vehicle debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month.

Although stating that the C-Max will be available in Europe starting the second half of next year and will have a base price around $23,200, Ford spokesmen would not say if the vehicle would be sold in North America.

The C-Max is part of Ford's lineup of global vehicles being developed from Ford's new compact car platform, which also serves as the underpinnings for the European version of the Ford Focus. So it's possible it would come to the U.S.

If it did make its way to the New World, its price and features would put it in competition with the larger Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, which has a manufacturer's suggested starting price of $23,545.

But the C-Max would also compete with the Focus, Ford's fuel-efficient crossover slated to come from the Old World to the New next year -- and the Focus would likely prove tough competition for the C-Max.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 4, 2009, 9:24 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Dodge, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy
Technorati Tags:: 2010 C-Max

July 23, 2009

Starting Today Chrysler to Double U.S. Government's Cash-for-Clunkers Incentive

Chrysler Group LLC said Wednesday that it is offering $4,500 in cash toward the purchase of one of its new vehicles as it seeks to match a government incentive for people to trade in their old gas guzzlers.

The automaker said it will offer cash or zero percent financing for six years on most of its 2009 Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep models. The incentive begins today and lasts through Aug. 31.

Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy protection last month under new ownership and is now working to lure back car shoppers in a depressed market.

Chrysler sales were down 46 percent for the first six months of the year, while industrywide sales for the same period were down 35 percent.

The automaker is clearly using the financial incentive to lure prospective buyers into its showrooms, but unfortunately once there the prospects won't have the opportunity to buy any of the electric vehicles Chrysler has been showing in recent years.

However, Chrysler has promised that it will introduce a plug-in electric vehicle next year. It's shown several concepts, including a battery-electric Dodge two-seater based on a Lotus platform and a trio of "extended range" hybrid-electrics - two Jeeps and a Chrysler Town and Country minivan - that use electric motors, lithium-ion battery packs and small gasoline engine/generators in a set-up similar to that being pioneered by General Motors Corp. in the Chevrolet Volt due out late next year.

Most industry watchers, including us, are betting on the recently named Dodge Circuit sports car (right ) - a potential rival to the Tesla Roadster - to be first out of the chute.

Chrysler said in a statement Wednesday that buyers are eligible for the new incentive even if they are not trading in a vehicle under the government's cash-for-clunkers legislation.

That program's final rules will be announced Friday. It offers tax credits to car shoppers who trade in their old, fuel-inefficient vehicles for a cleaner new vehicle.

Not all vehicles qualify under the legislation, however. Car shoppers get a voucher worth $3,500 if they trade in a vehicle getting 18 miles per gallon or less for one getting at least 22 mpg. The voucher grows to $4,500 if the new car's mileage is 10 mpg higher than the old vehicle.

Owners of sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks or minivans getting 18 mpg or less could receive a voucher for $3,500 if their new truck or SUV got at least 2 mpg higher than their old vehicle. The voucher would increase to $4,500 if the mileage of the new truck or SUV was at least 5 mpg higher than the older vehicle.

That means some consumers could, in theory, get up to $9,000 off a new Chrysler vehicle if they trade in and buy the right combination of vehicles. According to our parent company, Edmunds.com, 16 Chrysler vehicles are fuel efficient enough to qualify a shopper for a tax rebate under cash for clunkers, so long as the trade-in vehicle qualifies as well.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 23, 2009, 2:01 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Jeep, Legislation
Technorati Tags:: Cash for Clunkers

June 24, 2009

GM Reportedly Persuing Chrysler for Repayment of 2-Mode Hybrid R&D Costs

General Motors is reportedly seeking from Chrysler full payment of development and production costs related to the two-mode hybrid powertrain that the two automakers co-developed with other partners.

PickupTrucks.com reports that GM has filed court documents saying that Chrysler has promised $173,477 to settle $531,275 in costs associated with the development and manufacture of the Chrysler Aspen (pictured) and Dodge Durango Two-Mode Hybrid SUVs.

You might recall that both of the vehicles were killed after only two months of production.

Calls by Green Car Advisor to Julie Gibson, the GM spokeswoman authorized to discuss the matter, were not immediately returned.

Under Chapter 11, Chrysler's assets and liabilities were assigned to two entities: Old Chrysler and New Chrysler. Italian automaker Fiat, which recently merged with New Chrysler after that portion of the company emerged from bankruptcy, has not assumed the two-mode hybrid contract, leaving it with Old Chrysler.

According to a report by TheDetroitBureau.com, the court documents also state that New Chrysler has assigned all production-related contracts to Old Chrysler.

The Website reported that a source outside Chrysler said that Chrysler is hoping to renegotiate many of its pre-bankruptcy production contracts so they can be signed by New Chrysler under more favorable terms. The two-mode hybrid deal reportedly is one of those.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett June 24, 2009, 10:12 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Courts, Dodge, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Legislation
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Bankruptcy

June 19, 2009

Chrysler Light Duty Diesel Project Reportedly Stalled by Bankruptcy

But Hike in MPG Requirements Could Resurrect It and Other Abandoned Diesel Plans

2009.dodge.ram pickup 1500.20242297-396x249.jpg Chrysler's bankruptcy reportedly has killed its diesel engine development contract with Cummins, at least temporarily halting work on a fuel-efficient, light-duty diesel for the Dodge Ram pickup.

The enthusiast site PickupTrucks.com first reported the situation, quoting Cummins pubic relations director Mark Land as saying that while development could be resumed, "it just won't happen under the terms of the original contract."

Chrysler is shedding its old obligations as part of the bankruptcy, and would have to negotiate a new pact with Cummins to move forward on the diesel Dodge Ram project.

Chrysler has been noncommittal, saying only that is continues to explore all powertrain options. It wouldn't wouldn't be alone, though, if it doesn't move forward.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell June 19, 2009, 2:01 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Diesel, Dodge, Fuel Economy
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Diesel

May 26, 2009

Chrysler Seeks Federal $ For Plug-in Pickups, Electric Minivans and EV Batteries; Development Facility Would Help Speed Commercial Production, Company Says

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Chrysler says the future has a plug on it and that, with a plug-in hybrid drive system, even its Dodge Ram pickups can find a home in the new world of high fuel economy and low greenhouse gas emissions.

We predicted as much last month, and this evening the company proved us right, saying it wants to spend $448 million to speed development and manufacture of plug-in and extended-range electric vehicles and has asked the federal government for $224 million in matching-fund grants to help with two programs.

Chrysler, which is in bankruptcy but is expected to emerge under the control of of Italy's Fiat, said it and a number of so-far unidentified partners would provide $224 million in matching funds

The bulk of the requested federal funding, $183.5 million, would be used for a $365 million demonstration project in which Chrysler would field "at least" 100 plug-in hybrid EV Town & Country minivans, 100 plug-in hybrid Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks and 165 all-electric Town & Country minivans (above) in several test fleets.

Manufacturing Center

The remaining federal funds, if the grants are approved, would be used for development and construction of a "vehicle electrification technology and manufacturing center."

The center, to be located in Michigan, would house facilities for developing, testing and manufacturing electric drive components and for assembling rechargeable battery EVs and range-extended EVs (so-called series hybrids which use an internal combustion engine to generate power for an electric drive system).

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 26, 2009, 4:59 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Electric Vehicles

May 20, 2009

Chrysler Says It Can Meet Future CAFE Standards With Help From Fiat

Chrysler's green prototypes include plug-in hybrid Jeeps and Town & Country van and a Dodge Circuit EV .

In a press release distributed Monday, Chrysler confirmed a report we posted last month in which the bankrupt automaker said it will rely heavily on Fiat to develop a nationwide fleet of low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles.

"Chrysler's alliance with Fiat will initially deliver consumers a world-class small engine and overall powertrain technology that will rapidly bring to market even more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly small cars," the company said.

These small cars would supplement a Chrysler-created line of electric and plug-in hybrid-electric prototype vehicles, some of which are shown here, that may or may not enter production.

The small engines developed with help from Fiat will compliment an all-new, high-volume V-6 engine made by Chrysler that the automaker says will deliver up to 8 percent improved fuel economy across the company's current vehicle lineup.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett May 20, 2009, 9:02 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: CAFE Standards

April 14, 2009

FEV and UQM Technologies To Unveil Extended Range EV at SAE World Congress

FEV Also Teamed With Raser Technologies on an E-REV Hummer Concept for Annual Engineering Confab

caliber station wagon.jpg

Powertrain and vehicle engineering firm FEV Inc. plans to introduce a range-extended electric vehicle with plug-in capability during the 2009 SAE World Congress next week in Detroit.

The concept vehicle that was designed in conjunction with electric power systems developer UQM Technologies is based on the Dodge Caliber platform (right).

The Caliber concept EV incorporates technology FEV is developing at its new $8 million Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Development Center in Auburn Hills, Mich.

The concept car's propulsion system incorporates a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder, four-valve engine mated to a UQM generator that provides 41 kilowatts of continuous power in extended-range mode, with a peak power of 75kilowatts.

The vehicle's energy storage system includes a 20 kilowatt-hour, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack that operates at 346 volts with a Delphi DC/DC converter. A traction motor from UQM powers the wheels.

The vehicle will have a 40-mile all-electric range, travel from zero to 60 in 8.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 84 miles per hour, according to FEV.

It's been a busy week for the company, which said Monday that it would unveil a Hummer H3 range-extended electric vehicle demonstrator during the SAE World Congress.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson April 14, 2009, 1:37 PM
Categories:: Dodge, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Battery Research

January 10, 2009

Detroit Auto Show: Chrysler Adds Jeep Patriot Extended-Range EV to ENVI Stable

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Chrysler, which so far has shown us an electric sports car, an extended-range hybrid minivan and an extended-range hybrid Jeep Wrangler to prove that its green division is hard at work and that the company knows that the future isn't in hemi-V8s, has added a fourth vehicle to its electric lineup.

Just in time for the North American International Auto Show (ta dah!), Chrysler's ENVI unit has retrofitted a Jeep Patriot crossover utility vehicle with an electric drive hybrid system that uses a small gasoline engine to generate juice when the battery pack's initial charge is depleted.

ENVI, for those who don't know, is Chrysler's greenworks. Its name comes from the first four letters of "environmental" and not from Chrysler's feelings about Toyota and others that jumped on the alternative fuels and powerplants bandwagon long before Chrysler figured out which way the circus was heading.

Anyhow, the Jeep Patriot EV, pictured above, is just a concept. Chrysler says that one of the EVs its engineers at ENVI are working on will be put into production in 2010, but hasn't let slip yet which it will be (we're leaning toward the Dodge EV sports car, which has just been renamed the Dodge Circuit).

The Patriot uses a 150-kilowatt electric motor rated at 200 horsepower and boasts a top speed slightly in excess of 100 mpg, Chrysler says.

When it is officially introduced at the auto show in Detroit today, it will wear a green paint job that Chrysler calls "ENVI Green Pearl." And, of course, the gi-normous "EV" logo that's splashed across the sides of all four of Chrysler's EV concepts.

The marketing guys in Auburn Hills must have figured that if it's a green car it really ought to be a green car and have repainted the other Jeep extended-range EV, a Wrangler, the same shade. It was white with giant chromed EV logos when it was in LA - land of bling.

But then, Chrysler has done up the Town and Country extended-range minivan in a deep gray - Liquid Graphite Pearl, to be precise - and the Dodge Circuit is tangerine, or "Tangoreen," so maybe it is only Jeeps that gotta be green to show that they are.

Anyhow, like the other extended range EVs Chrysler unveiled back in September and first publicly showed in November at the LA auto show, the Patriot EV uses a lithium-ion battery pack - Chrysler still hasn't said who the supplier is - and can travel up to 40 miles on all-electric power from a fully charged battery.

After that, the small gas engine kicks on to continue generating electricity to feed the electric motor, which is what drives the wheels.

By the time the fuel in the tank runs dry, Chrysler says its extended-range EVs can tick off 400 miles on their odometers.

And then you just fill 'er up at the first convenient gas station and you can keep driving until you have time to stop and plug-in the batteries for a recharge that will take several hours.

That's if Chrysler makes it out of the deep financial morass it's slogging around in these days, and, once out, actually pushes forward with its apparent commitment to electricity as the gasoline of the future.

The whole ENVI family: Jeep Wrangler and Patriot, Town and Country and Dodge Circuit EVs.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 10, 2009, 9:10 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chrysler, Dodge, Hybrid, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler EVs

Detroit Auto Show: Dodge EV Concept Gets Real Name, New Color

In what could be a clue as to which of its electric vehicle concepts Chrysler is thinking of moving into its production plan for 2010, the carmaker has given the formerly bumblebee-striped and unimaginatively named Dodge EV a new color scheme, a distinctively Dodge grille and a new moniker.

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Now called the Circuit, Dodge's tangerine-colored electric sports car looks more Mopar than it did in its yellow-and-black days as the plain ol' Dodge EV at the LA auto show.
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The Lotus-based two-seater is now the Dodge Circuit, and it has been repainted a color the marketing geniuses at Dodge are calling "tangoreen" but which looks pretty much like the international orange a lot of Dodge muscle cars have sported over the years.

The rest of the package is the same as was shown with the yellow-and-black version at the LA auto show in November, as far as we can tell from material Dodge gave us in advance of the North American International Auto Show's opening media preview session Sunday, where the Circuit will make its debut.

The basics: a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack and 200 kilowatt electric motor good for 268 horsepower; top speed a little north of 120 mph; 0-60 in less than 5 seconds, and range between charges of 150-200 miles, depending on how the car is driven.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 10, 2009, 9:01 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chrysler, Dodge, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Detroit Auto Show

January 9, 2009

Detroit Auto Show Forecast: Gloomy, But With Flurries of Green

(Note: Article updated after initial posting to include Lexus hybrid)

The upcoming North American International Auto Show in snowy Detroit - media preview days begin Sunday and the show opens to the public on Jan. 17 - is likely to be a pretty glum affair, what with the auto industry imploding and the prospect of many people really being interested in buying a new car right now ranking right up there with being interested in having wisdom teeth pulled sans anesthesia.

But carmakers are trying, and what most are trying hardest with is fuel efficiency and alternatives to the thirsty, greenhouse-gas spewing cars and trucks of the past.

Oh, there will be speedsters and factory-built hot rods on display at the show - Ford Motor Co., for example, will unveil the 540-horsepower 2010 Shelby GT500 Mustang and Audi will be showing a 525-horsepower, V10-version of its exotic R8 sports car.

But most attention will be focused on advanced technology cars such as the 2010 Prius hybrid (right) and the battery-electric city car concept that Toyota will show, Honda's Prius-fighting 2009 Insight hybrid and concepts such as the all-electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel -cell electric trio, collectively called Concept Zero, that Mercedes-Benz will unveil.

Beyond the cars, the show's media preview will spotlight industry executives who will be delivering news about their companies' green futures.

Most notably, Toyota is expected to outline its hybrid and electric-vehicle strategies for the next few years and Ford is expected to discuss its plans for a stable of future EVs, starting with a commercial truck it plans to launch in 2010.

Green Car Advsior, along with Edmunds Auto Observer, Edmunds Inside Line and Edmunds.com, will be covering the show 's media days and bringing you timely reports, but we thought we'd also offer a preview today of the major green vehicles that will be displayed and discussed.

Green Preview

So, by manufacturer, here they are:

Audi
Volkswagen's upscale stablemate is expected to announce plans for its upcoming U.S. diesel lineup. So far, the company has said it will launch a 3-liter diesel version of its Q7 SUV (right) later this year and has broached the possibility of a diesel A4. We'll know more after Audi's Sunday afternoon press conference.

BMW
The pride of Bavaria will discuss the X5 and 3-Series diesels it plans to bring to the U.S., perhaps supplying us with some performance and fuel economy numbers as well as a marketing time-line.

Chevrolet
Nothing big here, unless the General decides to announce the upcoming Volt plug-in hybrid's pricing and/or the battery suppliers.

The Chevy vehicle that gets officially introduced at the show is the redesigned 2010 Equinox crossover (right), which will come with a new six-speed automatic and a fuel-efficient, direct-injection four-banger expected to deliver 182 horsepower (almost as much as the '08 model's base V6) and highway fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon.

Chrysler
The company has three brands that it has tied together for car show purposes with a trio of concept electric vehicles.

Chrysler EV trio - 300.JPG Those to be displayed in Detroit are further refined versions of the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep EVs originally unveiled last September and first shown publicly at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November.

By brand, they are the Chrysler EV, an extended-range electric version of the town and Country minivan; the Jeep EV, a gas-electric Wrangler; and the Dodge EV, a Lotus-based, bumblebee-striped battery-electric sports car that would look great in the garage next to an electric Tesla Roadster.

Chrysler has said that it will bring one of the cars to market in 2010, but hasn't said which or in what kind of numbers. Maybe that's what we'll hear at the show.

Fisker
The nascent plug-in-hybrid company headed by, and named for, noted auto designer Henrik Fisker (BMW, Aston Martin, Fisker Coachbuild), will show the production version of it first proposed vehicle, the Fisker Karma sports sedan (right) that it unveiled to great interest at last year's Detroit show. Fisker also will unveil a new version - a convertible, we suspect - caled the Karma S.

Like the Chevy Volt, the Karma uses an on-board internal combustion engine to generate power to keep its electric motors turning the wheels.

Ford
We expect a discussion of the company's electric vehicle strategy, perhaps with a teaser glimpse or two of potential future offerings and a look at the commercial truck the company has said it will launch in 2010.

Honda
The news here will be the unveiling of the production version 2009 Insight hybrid (right) , a sub $20,000, five-seater Honda hopes will finally, finally, pump its hybrid sales up into Prius territory.

We're expected to hear a lot of technical detail and, perhaps, even a firmer price for the car, which looks in pictures a bit like the Prius it's designed to battle.

Lexus
Toyota's luxury unit will reveal its first stand-alone hybrid model, a small car that is based off the upcoming 2010 Prius.

Although it is not unusual - its pretty common, even - for photos of new models to leak out before their official unveiling, the best we've been able to come up with for the new Lexus hybrid is this rendering (left) published in a Japanese auto magazine a few months ago.

Mercedes-Benz
The covers will come off a trio of EV concepts from Daimler's luxe brand. All use the same swoopy, sport wagon-ish body (below right) - a design that also shows where Mercedes is heading with the compact B-Class replacement due in 2010 and, perhaps, headed for the U.S.

The so-called Concept Zero family consists of the E-Cell, a battery-electric with a range of about 60 miles; the E-Cell Plus, a plug-in hybrid that uses a 3-cylinder gas engine-generator to extend the range of its batteries when the initial charge is depleted (think Chevy Volt), and the F-Cell, which uses a hydrogen fuel-cell to produce electricity on-board by combining hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel-cell stack. Range is about 125 miles. Mercedes says the E-Cell Plus can go almost 400 miles on an overnight battery charge and a tank of gas.

Toyota
The company whose name has become synonymous with 'hybrid" is introducing the redesigned 2010 Prius at the show, but photos of the car leaked out weeks ago and you've got to believe that anyone who's interested has already seen it. What will be news, of course, are the specifications and performance numbers.

The other biggie on the product front from Toyota will be the unveiling of a concept electric vehicle, probably called the FT-EV if the company's previous auto show naming practices prevail (that would stand for "future technology-electric vehicle").

The car, believed to be built on a current Toyota subcompact chassis, is the company's effort to give us a look at what a Toyota-built battery-electric EV for short-range urban driving might look like if the company does, as it has said it would, put an EV into its retail fleet in 2012.

Not The End

And, of course - Detroit being Detroit - there likely will be a surprise or two. So consider this list a starter, not a definitive catalog.

China's BYD, for instance, will be there with the plug-in-hybrid (left) it launched in its home market a few weeks ago, beating the big boys like GM and Toyota to the punch by a matter of, oh, a year or two. Who knows what the company - whose name is an acronym for Build Your Dreams and whose future is being backed by investment whiz Warren Buffett - will do next? We might find out as the Detroit show rolls along.

We'll be back when media days begin on Sunday to keep you up-to-date.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); John O'Dell January 9, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, BYD, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Detroit Auto Show

December 8, 2008

Ford Hybrid, Fuel-Efficient Diesels From BMW, VW Make Ward's Best-Engines List

Ward's Automotive Group has announced its 15th annual 10 Best Engines list, which "reflects the diversity of 2009 powertrains that will play a role in reshaping America's automotive landscape."

The winning engines were selected by editors for Ward's, publisher of automotive trade magazines since 1924.

Thirty-two engines were considered this year. Eligibility requirements included: Availability in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2009. And, the engine must be in a vehicle priced no more than $54,000 (a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle).

The winners by manufacturer, engine and vehicle tested:

Audi; 2.0-liter TFSI (Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection) DOHC (double overhead camshaft) I-4 (inline 4-cylinder); A4 Avant
BMW; 3.0-liter turbocharged DOHC I-6; 135i coupe
BMW; 3.0-liter DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel; 335d sedan
Chrysler; 5.7-liter Hemi OHV (overhead valves) V-8 (a V-shaped engine with eight cylinders); Dodge Ram truck/Challenger R/T large car
Ford; 2.5-liter DOHC I-4 HEV (hybrid electric vehicle); Escape Hybrid SUV
General Motors; 3.6-liter DOHC V-6; Cadillac CTS sedan
Honda; 3.5-liter SOHC (single overhead camshaft) V-6; Accord coupe
Hyundai; 4.6-liter DOHC V-8; Genesis sedan
Toyota; 3.5-liter DOHC V-6; Lexus IS 350 sedan
Volkswagen; 2.0-liter SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel; Jetta TDI sedan

The diesel engines from VW and BMW and the engine from the Ford Escape Hybrid all got better than 30 miles per gallon during Ward's testing and often topped 40 mpg, said Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward's AutoWorld magazine.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 8, 2008, 6:18 PM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Diesel, Dodge, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Audi A4 Avant

November 28, 2008

Tesla Roadster Versus Chrysler's Dodge EV Concept: Plenty to Like About Both

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

If Tesla's Roadster and Chrysler's Dodge EV Concept provide a glimpse of the future, sports cars made after the internal combustion engine exits production might outperform their predecessors.

At a glance, the Tesla and the Dodge could be variants of one another, the Roadster being the convertible version, the Dodge the hardtop. Both of the zero-emissions vehicles are based on Lotus platforms, the Tesla on the Elise and the Dodge on the Europa S.

Spinning the rear wheels of both cars are electric motors receiving power from lithium-ion battery packs. The battery pack in either car can be fully charged in less than four hours.

After that, the pair differ significantly. For starters, the Roadster is in production. As of today, 70 have been delivered to customers, according to Jeremy Snyder, general manager of Tesla's Los Angeles showroom.

The Silicon Valley company is completing final assembly of the vehicle at the rate of 10 a week, Snyder said. That rate will double in early 2009, he said, adding that more than 1,200 people have placed deposits on one. Recent recipients include George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Dodge may never enter production. Chrysler has made three EV concepts--an electric-powered Chrysler Town & Country van, Jeep Wrangler and the Dodge--and Chrysler insists that one of them will enter production in 2010. But the automaker isn't saying which one quite yet.

The Tesla was designed to be an electric vehicle from the ground up. Not so with any of the Chryslers.

The Roadster is based on the Elise platform, but the chassis is completely different, having had its exterior sheet metal replaced by a carbon-fiber composite and a styling that is unique to the Tesla. The chassis is built around a longer, stronger version of the Elise's aluminum frame.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett November 28, 2008, 11:33 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler

November 17, 2008

Hoping to Generate Excitement, Chrysler Brings EV Concepts to LA Auto Show

Chrysler Town and Country EV (left) Dodge EV (center) and Jeep EV concepts represent Chrysler's shot at a future.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

In hopes of creating some buzz about the company that doesn't have to do with who might be buying it or how soon it might collapse from lack of funds, Chrysler LLC is bringing its three recently unveiled electric vehicle concepts to the Los Angeles Auto show this week.

There won't be a press conference or any big announcements from the company during the media preview days Wednesday and Thursday, but the three Chrysler EVs will be on the stand for oohing and aaahing and, the company, hopes, photos and stories.

We wrote a bit about the cars when they were first introduced in Michigan in late September, and we happily would have taken the bait and written about them again when the LA show's media days commence.

But we got an early peek last week at a special program Chrysler's ENVI program for advanced technology vehicles (it stands for ENVIronmental) hosted for a few media types at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, so we're going to write about them a few days before they go on display for the rest of the crowd.

The cars are a battery-electric "Dodge" EV built from a Lotus Europa and "extended-range EV" versions of a Town and Country minivan and a Jeep Wrangler 4-door, both with 40 miles of all-electric range on an electric drive system whose batteries are "replaced" by juice from an on-board internal combustion generator once the battery charge is depleted.

All three are first-phase demonstration vehicles, said Lou Rhodes, ENVI's president and ranking engineer. That means that they started life as regular production models with gas engines and conventional drivetrains and were converted - a process that requires some compromises be made.

The compromises were hard to find, though, as all three are nicely finished vehicle with no dangling wires or exposed components (there were some test modules installed in the trunk of the Dodge EV that wouldn't be there in a production model, but there were nicely hidden, covered in the same material as lined the rest of the trunk.)

The Town and Country wasn't working, though, and the Jeep didn't have the ICE generator installed so was running only on battery power. Rhodes said the ENVI team has built "multiple models" of each in recent months and had simply run out of time to finish the LA Auto Show cars before it was time to ship them.

The reason there are multiple models is that Chrysler already has started on a plan to to have 100 of the cars on the road for real-world testing over the next two years-Rhodes said the plan is for 50 next year and 50 the year after, with one model ready for limited volume retail production sometime in 2010.

Nobody will say which model is the leading candidate for production, but we'd guess that the Town and Country would be a safe bet.

It is large enough to handle the extra weight and size of an EV's battery pack, and a range-extended EV model (or RE-EV) would give Chrysler - already king of the minivan segment -a unique entry in the growing electric car segment.

Just A Ploy?

Rhodes is an engineer and while he's got a lot of retirement money (and, we expect, bonus and incentive bucks and other potential future income) tied up in Chrysler's future, his job isn't to worry about finances but to build vehicles that people will want to buy - something Chrysler's a bit short of these days.

Still, we asked him how, with the economy collapsing, the auto industry collapsing faster and Chrysler's very existence being questioned daily in the mainstream and financial media, he can remain serious about his job.

Isn't ENVI just a smoke screen to make the politicians who control potential auto industry bailout funds more likely to end send some cash Chrysler's way?

How, we asked, can Chrysler afford to finance development of a whole line of electric vehicles when it can't afford to keep plants open and workers employed?

The financial struggle, he replied, is for others to worry about. He insisted that there's been no cut-back of funding for ENVI and no indication that Chrysler's bosses are anything but serious about moving forward with the project.

The question shouldn't be whether the company can afford to pursue green initiatives, but whether it can afford not to.

"There's always been product that has turned Chrysler around," he told us. "This is some of the product that will do it for the company in the future."

We hope so.

Now let's take a look at the cars.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 17, 2008, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler EVs

October 27, 2008

GM Says Full-Size SUVs, Its Most Profitable Products Ever, Aren't Going Away

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

An article in Sunday's New York Times did a nice job of recapping the boom and bust of the sport-utility-vehicle market, particularly as it applies to General Motors.

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Right, the 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.
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The reporting high up in the article about GM putting the brakes on plans to overhaul the next generation of large SUVs and full-size trucks was particularly newsworthy; our regular readers will recall that we reported the development four months ago.

The decision came amid plummeting sales of full-size trucks and increasing demand for fuel-efficient cars. But as bad as things were for the auto industry in general and the Detroit Three in particular at the start of summer, they pale in comparison to the ugliness that followed.

Back in June, GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said "we think the higher fuel prices are here to stay and they'll have a significant -- essentially permanent -- impact on the truck market."

Although gas prices have since fallen, financial markets the world over have crashed and talk about America's major automakers possibly going belly-up is on the rise.

With this backdrop, we decided to call Wilkinson again to see where things stand now with regard to the GM's plans for full-size SUVS, the most profitable products in the General's hundred-year history.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 27, 2008, 5:38 PM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: 2008 Chevrolet Suburban

October 23, 2008

Chrysler to Discontinue Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids, Shutter Plant; Move Not Seen As Indicator of a Hybrid Collapse Amid Industry's Financial Turmoil

By Scott Doggett and John O'Dell

The Chrysler Aspen (right) and Dodge Durango (below) full-size hybrid sport utility vehicles have become the first green vehicle casualties in the wake of the automotive industry's declining fortunes.

Chrysler announced today that it will close the Delaware plant where the SUVs and their nonhybrid namesakes are made and discontinue the models.

The Auburn Hills, Michigan, automaker won't move their production anywhere else when the plant closes at year's end, Chrysler spokesman Scott Brown told Green Car Advisor, despite the fact the hybrids entered full-scale production on Aug. 22, barely two months ago.

"Even though we got significant orders for the hybrids, it doesn't make sense to keep the plant open for just them," he said.

The death of the two Chrysler hybrids isn't going to cause much mourning in environmental circles, said Jim Kliesch, senior engineer for the clean vehicles program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

By using the hybrid system with the notoriously thirsty 5.7 liter "HEMI" V8 engine, Chrysler didn't produce significantly efficient hybrid SUVs, he said. The big engine helped make the Aspen and Durango 'utes very expensive as well.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett October 23, 2008, 12:34 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid

Chrysler to Close Plant, Discontinue Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids

BREAKING NEWS -- DETAILED VERSION TO FOLLOW

Less than a year after unveiling the Chrysler Aspen (right ) and Dodge Durango (below ) full-size hybrid SUVs and only two months into their full-scale production, Chrysler confirmed today that it will discontinue the models with the just-announced closing of the Delaware plant where they are made.

"The demand for our full-size SUVs has really dropped off this year," Chrysler spokesman Scott Brown told Green Car Advisor. "Even though we got significant orders for the hybrids, it doesn't make sense to keep the plant open for just the hybrids."

The SUVs are Chrysler's first-production hybrid vehicles. The Durango and Aspen models, which employ the same two-mode hybrid system found in General Motors' full-size SUVs, are sticker priced at $45,340 and $45,570, respectively.

Chrysler wouldn't say how many of the hybrid SUVs it had planned to build at the plant in Newark.

Both models made their international debuts at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show last November.

Today's announcement coincided a report from Daimler AG, which owns a 19.9 percent share of privately-held Chrysler, that the U.S. automaker suffered a $772.5 million second-quarter loss due to slowing U.S. sales and a market shift to small cars.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 23, 2008, 10:34 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid

October 7, 2008

Toyota Retreats From Full-Size Pickup Truck Sales War, Tables Diesel Tundra

Last June, as the market for full-size trucks tanked in response to high gas prices, Toyota shocked the auto industry by announcing that for $20,000 over base price buyers could purchase the full-size Tundra pickup, the midsize Tacoma pickup or the FJ Cruiser SUV with additional power and abysmal fuel economy.

Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., told Automotive News today that despite its recent zero-percent financing deals, Japan's No. 1 automaker is not going to engage Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge in their full-sized pickup sales war.

"I don't want to get stuck in the middle of Ford and Chevy battling for the No. 1 truck this year, and Dodge launching the Ram," Lentz said in an interview.

Chevrolet sold 50,428 Silverados last month, off just 3.9 percent in a plummeting segment that saw Tundra, Motor Trend's 2008 Truck of the Year, fall 60.7 percent, the Ford F-150 drop 41.6 percent and Dodge Ram off 30.9 percent.

Toyota had hoped to sell about 20,000 Tundras a month this year; September sales were just 7,696 units.

Lentz said part of the decline was an abbreviated 2008 model year from its Texas and Indiana truck plants that were temporarily shut down. With a segment forecast to be as low as 1.5 million trucks--down from a peak of 2.5 million--the pickup fight could get desperate.

Development of a diesel-engine variant of the Tundra has been tabled, Lentz reportedly told Automotive News. While the diesel has not been canceled outright, Toyota is studying whether it makes sense to enter such a small segment.

That's a big step back from Toyota telling dealers at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention last year that a diesel would arrive by 2010 or 2011.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 7, 2008, 10:18 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Diesel, Dodge, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Toyota

September 25, 2008

Details, Details! More Info On Chrysler's Electric Vehicle Trio

Green Car Advisor was a bit early with our report Tuesday of Chrysler's unexpected but oh-so-welcome electric vehicle announcement, posting the bare bones of the story hours before the company held a press conference to lay out more detail.

We were in Portland covering a Toyota seminar on sustainable mobility when that happened and weren't able to make it to Chrysler HQ in Michigan for the show.

But colleague Michelle Krebs, senior editor of Edmunds Auto Observer, did attend and agreed to file an update to keep you all up to date.

Without further ado, heeeeere's Michelle's take on Chrysler's electric vehicles:

Chrysler EV trio - 300.JPG AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler unveiled a trio of battery-electric and extended-range series hybrid electric cars Tuesday and said it would eventually offer some type of electric version of every model in its line.

The first will hit showrooms in the U.S. sometime in 2010. European consumers will get one shortly thereafter.

Chrysler would not say which of the three models unveiled this week - one for each of its marques -- would go into production, and executives said that work continues on all of them.

The Dodge EV is two-seat, rear-drive sports car based on the Lotus Europa, a stretched version of the Elise sold only in Europe.

Chrysler revealed that it now has a partnership with the British sports car maker, though details remain under wraps.

The Dodge EV coupe is equipped with a 200-kilowatt motor that produces an estimated 268 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, for a zero to 60 mile per hour time of less than five seconds and quarter mile of about 13 seconds.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 25, 2008, 6:00 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, General Motors, Hybrid, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Electric Vehicles

September 23, 2008

Chrysler Unveils Prototype EVs And Says At Least One Slated For Production

Aiming to show that it is not irrelevant in today's fast-changing auto market, Chrysler is announcing today that it will have at least one electric vehicle in production by 2010, a timetable that would put its zero-emissions, gasoline-free car into competition with EVs and plug-in hybrids being launched by General Motors and Toyota in the same timeframe.

To prove it is up to the challenge, Chrysler Chairman Bob Nardelli is giving journalists a peek this morning at four EV prototypes it has developed in its year-old green car R&D program- one of them a close relative of Tesla Motors' already-in-production electric roadster, another -- more likely for production, based on the Town & Country van.

Chrysler raised the curtain with a preview this morning on CNBC, and promised more details later today after a press conference at its Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters

The cars, descendants of concept vehicles Chrysler introduced at this year's Detroit Auto Show, are being unveiuled just as Congress begins considering funding $25 billion loan program to help Detroit finance a new generation of fuel-efficient vehilces that could helkp it compete agan with cars from Asian and European manufacturers..

What we know now is that the operating prototype roadster (left) , called simply the Dodge EV, is based on an extended Lotus Europa chassis, uses a lithium-ion battery pack and has a claimed range of 150-200 miles per charge and a 0-60 acceleration time of under 5 seconds.

The specs closely mimic those of the Tesla Roadster, which uses a much-modified Lotus Elise chassis.

Other cars being shown are the Chrysler EV based on the T&C van (top), a Jeep four-wheel drive EV (bottom right) based on the Wrangler, and a bubble-shaped low-speed neighborhood EV (bottom left) that sprung from the imagination of a designer who apparently was once traumatized by a jelly bean.

The Chrysler and Jeep prototypes would use series hybrid electric drivetrains similar to that scheduled to be introduced in late 2010 in General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet Volt.

A grid-charged lithium-ion battery pack would provide up to 40 miles of range, after which an internal combustion engine/generator would kick on to produce enough juice to continue powering the electric drive motors while recharging the battery packs.

Click here to jump to the CNBC page where you can watch a (very slow to load) video of a test drive session.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell September 23, 2008, 7:30 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Electric Vehicles

September 2, 2008

Chrysler Testing Green Vehicles, Says Progress 'Substantial' Toward Electrification

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Chrysler co-president Jim Press, the carmaker's self-described "demand" man charged with developing a product line people actually want to buy, says that despite its image, the company isn't stuck in the performance-car track and is well on the way to launching a full slate of "green" vehicles.

In addition to gas-electric hybrid models of the Chrysler Aspen (left) and Dodge Durango SUVs just hitting dealer showrooms and a hybrid Dodge Ram pickup due next year, Chrysler engineers are testing a trio of hybrid and all-electric models with componments that are "near" market-ready, Press said.

Speaking to a group of automotive journalists and industry insiders in Los Angeles today, Press -- former head of Toyota's ultra-successful U.S. sales and marketing operation -- said that while a slimmed-down Chrysler will not abandon the Hemi V8s, hulking trucks and off-road vehicles it is known for, it is also looking at ways to boost fuel economy and, eventually, offer plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions of many of its models.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 2, 2008, 2:35 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, Hydrogen, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler Green Vehicles

July 22, 2008

Acura, Smart, Chevy Models Top List of Healthiest Cars Tested by Ecology Center

Soy foam in the seats the Ford F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Locally farmed hemp , "ethically produced" woolen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.

Some automakers are increasingly going to great lengths to make the interiors of some of their models if not environmentally friendly, at least a bit wholesome.

But others, well...

Early today the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, posted its second-annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children's car seats at www.HealthyCar.org.

More than two hundred 2008- and 2009-model-year vehicles and more than 60 children's car seats were tested for unhealthy chemicals that seep in gaseous form from the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats and carpet.

The "new-car smell," as the gases are commonly called, mingle with the air occupants breathe and have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.

The Ecology Center reported that Mazda, General Motors and Nissan improved since last year's findings, with GM showing the greatest gains of the domestic automakers, with an average vehicle ranking improvement of 27 percent.

The list of the 10 best and 10 worst vehicles as picked by the Center appears in the chart above.

Average child-car-seat scores improved 28 percent overall. The list of 10 best and worst car seats for 2008 as picked by the Center appears at left. Click on the chart for a better look.

For more information, go to www.HealthyCar.org.

Below are the three worst 2008-model-year vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki Reno and Volkswagen New Beetle.

Below are are the three best vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Acura RXD, Chevrolet Cobalt and Smart Passion Cabriolet.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 12:21 AM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Think, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 17, 2008

That New Car Smell Might Kill You

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

That's our sensational headline for 2008, but there's more than a smidgen of truth in it.

Last year Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center released the first-ever consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats -- and what they reported was sickening.

The odor you inhale when you slide into a new car? It might very well be bromine, chlorine, lead, other harmful chemicals or a witches' brew of them. They've been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and, no doubt, cancer.

If you think the government protects you against such things, think again. Some of the vehicles on the road today are veritable toxic dumps on wheels. And many drivers are exposed to these chemicals through inhalation and contact with dust every day.

In case you missed last year's report, Ecology Center found the most toxic vehicles were the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB 5dr and the Kia Rio. The least toxic vehicles were the Chevy Cobalt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Odyssey and the Volvo V50.

Next Tuesday -- July 22 -- Ecology Center will release its second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats, and if you're thinking of buying a new car anytime soon, you'll want to check it out. The guide will be posted at www.healthycar.org a little after midnight on the 22nd.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 1:39 PM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Legislation, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 16, 2008

Survey Finds American Consumers Are Hot for Hybrids but Cooling on Ethanol

While most automakers have shifted production to focus on smaller vehicles, nearly 70 percent of consumers want the companies to invest more in existing and emerging powertrain technologies, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Alternative Powertrain Study released today.

Now in its third year, the Alternative Powertrain Study examines the reasons why consumers consider or avoid alternative powertrain vehicles, such as gas-electric hybrid, flex fuel and clean diesel models.

The study includes the Automotive Environmental Index, which rates the 2008-model-year vehicles on the basis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data to fuel economy and greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as expert input from J.D. Power & Associates.

The study found that more than 80 percent of the 4,000 consumers polled believe the U.S. is currently facing an energy crisis. Only 18 percent of these respondents believe the issue can be addressed by building small, fuel-efficient vehicle.

Thirty percent believe automakers should continue to produce a comparable vehicle lineup with a focus on gas-electric hybrid, clean diesel and flexible-fuel vehicles, while another 39 percent believe carmakers should focus on developing fuel cell and all-electric vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 16, 2008, 3:32 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Ethanol, Fiat, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mitsubishi, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Solar, Toyota

July 14, 2008

Chrysler Says It Will Offer Three Electric-Powertrain Models Within 3-5 Years

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Chrysler is working on three extended-range electric vehicles that will be ready for market within three to five years, a company spokesman told Green Car Advisor today.

The EVs will be based on the Jeep Renegade, Dodge Zeo (at right) and Chrysler ecoVoyager (in Moon rock silver-beigel, below) concept vehicles that stole much of the limelight for their Ã¼ber-cool designs at their debut in Detroit this past January.

All three production models will be powered by electric motors connected to advanced lithium-ion battery packs, and each will be capable of extended drive ranges, Chrysler's Nick Cappa said in an interview.

The Dodge Zeo will be a pure plug-in electric sports car packing enough lithium-ion battery modules to travel 250 miles between charges, Cappa said. The sleek, four-door coupe will certainly be one of the most exciting concept cars to debut all year, and the reason should be apparent (it's breathtakingly beautiful!).

What's not apparent is the fact that the Zeo's doors -- front and back -- open upward instead of outward. Also not apparent is the Zeo's single 200-kilowatt/hour, 286-horsepower electric motor capable of propeling the EV to 60 miles per hour in under six seconds.

To keep costs and prices in check, the same motor, electrical architecture, power electronics and next-generation lithium-ion battery technology in the Zeo will be used in Chrysler's two other initial EVs.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 14, 2008, 6:38 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Fuel Cell, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Jeep, Plug-ins and Electric

July 1, 2008

Automakers Say Federal Fuel Economy Rules Could Leave 82,000 Unemployed

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

A lobbying group for 10 major automakers including Detroit's Big Three, Toyota and Daimler urged federal regulators today to dramatically water down its proposal to hike fuel efficiency standards or run the risk of costing 82,000 autoworkers their jobs and the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars.

In a thousand-page document filed today by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the automakers condemned the April 22 proposal by the U.S. Transportation Department that would boost fuel economy requirements to a fleetwide average of 31.6 miles per gallon by the 2015 model year.

That average includes 35.7 mpg for passenger cars and 28.6 mpg for light trucks. The nation's new passenger cars currently are required to meet a fleet average of 27.5 mpg, while the light-truck fleet - generally encompassing port utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans - must hit a target average of 22.5 mpg.

"This goes beyond what is technologically feasible and economically practical," the automakers said. "It would require manufacturers to expend resources at a pace that is excessive given the fact that the auto industry is already under economic stress."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 1, 2008, 1:31 PM
Categories:: BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Courts, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen

June 23, 2008

More Hybrids Coming Says Chrysler Exec

Taking a page from Toyota's playbook (hmm, didn't they recently hire some big shot from Toyota, a guy named Jim Press?) Chrysler says it will be offering hybrid versions of lots of its cars and trucks in the future.

The Detroit News reports that Chrysler brand marketing manager Michael Berube promised at the Boston launch of the two-mode hybrid Dodge Durango (left) and Chrysler Aspen SUVs last week that they wouldn't be the last Chrysler hybrids.

"In the future, hybrid and other fuel-saving technology will come in all sizes, shapes and colors," he said.

We already know the Dodge Ram pickup is next up on the hybrid timetable, and best guess is that the next shapes to be hybridized will be the company’s rear-drive Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 23, 2008, 11:30 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Hybrid

June 18, 2008

Toyota Joins Gang With Truck, SUV Cutbacks

Tundra and Sequoia (below) are victims of $4 gasoline and weak economy.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Even giants stumble.

Toyota is cutting production at its truck plants in San Antonio, Texas, and Princeton, Ind., and at its Alabama truck engine plant, hoping to adjust to the steep and sudden plunge in sales of large pickups and sport utility vehicles as shell-shocked consumers scramble for more fuel-efficient transportation.

The automaker, famed for its ability to read the market, also is dismissing all 200 members of the fulltime temporary workforce – contract workers supplied by a temp agency – at the San Antonio plant, where production is dedicated to the Tundra full-size pickup. The Indiana plant, which builds both the Tundra and the full-size Sequoia SUV, has no temporary workers.

"This is a painful but necessary step, given the state of the economy," said Toyota manufacturing spokesman Mike Goss.

$4-a-gallon gasoline, a moribund housing construction industry and a weak overall economy points to a permanent change in auto-buying habits in North America, with sales of small cars and compact trucks and SUVs expected to continue rising while sales of large trucks and SUVs shrink.

At present sales rates, it would take Toyota dealers about four months to sell out the backlog of built but unsold Tundras and Sequoias.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 18, 2008, 3:09 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Nissan, Toyota

June 17, 2008

Chrysler to Price Its Hybrid SUVs Well Under $50,000

Taking a cue from the lukewarm reception buyers have given GM's $50,000-plus SUV hybrids, Chrysler announced today that its Chrysler Aspen (above) and Dodge Durango (right) hybrids will cost $45,000 and change â€“ including shipping â€“ when they arrive in showrooms this August.

As you may recall, Green Car Advisor reported that the General was having such a hard time unloading his 2008 Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids that he felt compelled to offer $4,000 cash rebates on both full-size SUVs earlier this month.

To avoid possibly having to make a similar retreat, Chrysler will be offering the 2009 Durango and Aspen hybrids for $45,340 and $45,570, respectively.

The Chryslers will be all-wheel-drive vehicles and are expected to be rated at the same 20 miles per gallon highway as the four-wheel-drive GM trucks (the Tahoe is also available in 2WD), which is a 40 percent bump over the conventional models...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett June 17, 2008, 5:16 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric

June 12, 2008

Chrysler Working On Mini Based On Hornet Concept

Chrysler LLC is developing a global compact car model based on the Dodge Hornet concept car (above) that debuted at the 2006 Geneva Auto Show, Financial Times Germany reported Wednesday, citing Thomas Hausch, the company's vice president for international purchasing.

"We are working intensely on the Hornet study," Hausch said. "I think we will announce something on this in the future."

The new model will likely be launched in 2010 in Europe, the U.S. and other markets, the newspaper said...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 12, 2008, 10:54 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chrysler, Dodge, Fuel Economy, Nissan

Dodge Marketing to Shift From Muscle to Mileage

You know the commercial: Two skuzzy dudes in a Plymouth Duster stop at a red light beside a new Dodge Ram pickup towing a vintage Dodge Charger. The skuzzy passenger asks the Ram owner, "Hey, that thing got a Hemi?" The Ram owner replies, "Yeah." The light changes and the Ram beats the Duster to the next light. The Ram owner then asks the Plymouth passenger, "Did you mean the Charger? 'Cause, you know that's got a Hemi, too."

It brings a tear to your eye, don't it?..

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett June 12, 2008, 9:00 AM
Categories:: Dodge, Fuel Economy

May 30, 2008

GM Reps Green Up Launch Party for Eco TV Network

Celebrity poses with man in tree costume at launch party for green TV network.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

The launch party for Planet Green, a 24-hour eco-lifestyle cable TV network that will displace the Home channel starting June 4, was anything but green.

The celebrities who attended Wednesday night 's event at L.A.'s Greek Theater mostly arrived in stretch limousines and gas-snorting SUVs. At least two – MÃ¶tley CrÃ¼e drummer Tommy Lee and rapper Ludacris – arrived in personal buses.

The tabloid darlings strolled a green plastic carpet to a man in a tree costume to pose for paparazzi, oblivious to the live majestic oaks mere steps away.

Minutes later the celebrities were treated to cocktails "made from organic vodka" served in plastic cups and hors d'oeuvres made from macaroni and cheese served on plastic plates.

Oddly, the greenest VIPs at the event that we're aware of seemed to be the two men from General Motors Corp., who brought with them a fuel-cell vehicle and some positive automotive news.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett May 30, 2008, 11:17 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, China, Diesel, Dodge, Emissions, Flex-Fuel, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, India, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota

May 21, 2008

Hybrid Cars, Fuel Cell Cars, Green Cars Galore

It's turning into a banner year for hybrid and other green car news.

After all the Honda hoopla this morning, word leaks out that Toyota will debut the next-generation Prius, expected to be longer, lower and more powerful, but not radically different-looking, at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show with a sales launch slated for later in the year.

If that's not enough, Toyota's luxury marque, Lexus, is believed to be considering two new hybrids of its own, one of them a premium-priced version of that new Prius, the other a midsize crossover utility vehicle.

Edmunds.com's Inside Line has the details.

We think its great news -- although our aching keyboarding fingers wish it had been spaced out a bit.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 21, 2008, 5:51 PM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen

April 15, 2008

Greener Pickup Could Come From Nissan-Chrysler Pact

Could fuel-slurping Nissan Titan's appetite shrink as a Chrysler-built truck?

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

It wasn't long ago that most auto industry consultants â€“ and auto industry insiders, at least those in the truck departments -- were poo-pooing the idea that rising gas prices and oil shortage concerns would bring big hurt to the full-size pickup market.

But sales of those trucks are off by 12.5%, and the first casualty has just been announced as Nissan Motor Corp. said Monday it can no longer justify building its slow-selling Titan pickup â€“ a truck launched in 2003 with hopes of making Nissan a significant player in what some company insiders cheerily referred to as the BFT market ("B" for Big and "T" for Truck and you can fill in the rest). The Titan isn't leaving the market â€“ at least not yet â€“ but it is leaving the billion-dollar assembly plant Nissan built in Canton, Miss., to handle its new big trucks.

Under a deal announced Monday, Chrysler â€“ whose Dodge Ram proves its mettle in the big truck segment -- will build the next-generation Ttitan for Nissan at a plant in Saltillo, Mexico.

In return, Nissan â€“ which does small cars a lot better than Chrysler â€“ will supply a new small passenger car that its new "partner" will sell in the U.S., probably under the Chrysler brand.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell April 15, 2008, 11:10 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Diesel, Dodge, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Nissan

April 11, 2008

BMW X6 Dual Mode Hybrid Coming for 2009

Hybrid version of BMW's X6 will hit U.S. roads as an '09 model.

BMW says a hybrid version of its X6 "activity vehicle" will, indeed, hit the U.S. market in 2009, initially available only with the company's twin-turbo, 407-horsepower, 4.4-liter V8 coupled to the dual-mode electric drive system co-developed with General Motors and the former DaimlerChrysler.

It's the automotive equivalent of strapping a hydrogen bomb to a nuclear bomb for extra oomph.

In that configuration the hefty X6 won't be the poster child for fuel economy, but it will use less gas than the conventional model.

BMW hasn't disclosed mileage estimates for the hybrid, but says it should be about 20 percent better than the 19 mpg combined city/highway rating for the conventional version. That would put it close to 23 mpg for drivers who can keep the accelerator pedal off the floor.