I've been driving a Plug-In Toyota Prius for the last five days. Overall the experience was about what you'd expect -- Prius-like, but with an electrical cord running from my garage outlet to the Prius' left flank whenever I parked it.
Unlike our Long-Term Mini E, the Plug-In Prius only takes about 2 hours to fully charge. Also unlike the Mini E, it only goes about 10 miles on pure-electricity before the engine has to do most of the work (less if you're not in "Eco" mode -- which makes the car really slow).
Still, I applaud Toyota for offering this version of the Prius. For drivers with a short daily commute or minimal driving needs (as well as minimal power needs and no steep hills nearby), it's conceivable to use very little fuel when driving a Plug-In Prius. And if you take it out of "Eco" mode and suddenly decide you want to drive across the country, the car basically becomes a regular Prius, getting 50 mpg while having adequate space and power.
But this idea of powering our cars off the grid seems to be gaining momentum (for now...), and if that's the direction we're headed I can tell you things are going to be different, and not just in terms of where our motive power is coming from. Thus, I present the Top 10 Things a "Plugged-In" American Driver Will Have to Learn:
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Categories: Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles, Karl on Cars, Toyota
Earlier this week I got a chance to ride along on the road trip of the future. It wasn't in a crazy concept vehicle, but rather in a pair of pre-production, Euro-spec Ford Fiestas. And even though the trip had all the trappings of several days on the road -- empty soda bottles in the cup holders, bags of Sour Patch candies, stories about accidents and incidents along the way -- the purpose was not just to get from Point A to Point B, but to show how "cloud computing" apps Ford is developing can make highway journeys easier and more fun.
I joined the last leg of what was a week-long road trip from Ann Arbor, Michigan to the Maker Faire DIY geek fest in San Mateo, California this weekend, or what Ford billed as American Journey 2.0. In one Fiesta was a pair of Ford engineers and in the other was a trio of recent University of Michigan graduates who developed an app called Caravan, which won a contest that Ford sponsored at U of M -- and got the grads on the road to California.
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Categories: Car Audio and Technology, Ford, Future Vehicles
This is the interior of the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Mark Takahashi likes this one better. He has a keen design eye (or so he says) and thought the below 159 had too many round elements in square spaces.
This is the interior of the Alfa Romeo Brera and 159. John DiPietro and I like this one better. We think its driver-centric design looks more classically Italian, plus I love the extra gauges and just look at that steering wheel. Of course, the stereo and navigation controls look scary. Just what on Earth do those 12 buttons at the bottom do? Oh well, it is Italian after all.
So, please settle this argument. Which interior looks better?
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Categories: Future Vehicles
Although Ford had greatly improved the Shelby GT500 Mustang for 2010 -- specifically in the areas of handling and overall refinement -- things get even better next year. Ford formerly announced today that for 2011 the GT500 gains more power, loses weight and offers a few more features.
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Categories: Ford, Future Vehicles, Muscle Car
I'm in Detroit right now, surrounded by show cars promising everything from 18 mpg to 230 mpg to infinite MPG, though the latter numbers require one to believe batteries and pure electric cars require ZERO energy. If you believe the hype you might think the electric car is just around the "Electric Avenue" corner, waiting to save us from all those nasty gasoline fumes and all that evil foreign oil.
Of course we all know electric cars still need energy from somewhere, but we've told ourselves electric power is far cheaper and cleaner than refined oil because electric cars don't have exhaust pipes. I think if one were to closely research the assembly and "motor-vation" of electric cars one might be a tad disappointed at their supposed cleanliness, but that's a topic for another column. Instead I'm going to temporarily give the electric car brigade their way and blithely agree that cars powered by motors are somehow "better" for the planet than cars powered by engines.
That said, what will it take to get a meaninful number of U.S. drivers into these electric cars? I think we'd all agree electric cars represent nothing more than headline-grabbing novelties until people start opting for them in lieu of gasoline power.
Not that manufacturers would ever stoop to meaningless technology exercises just to garner a positive headline or three...
For clarity I'm going to define "meaningful number of U.S. drivers" as the same number of people already buying diesel or hybrid vehicles -- that's less than 3 percent of the new car market for either. If 3 percent doesn't sound particularly meaningful to you, well, I agree. However, if electric cars could ever match even that low bar I'd still be impressed.
So, what's killing the electric car?
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Categories: Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, Talk Back Tuesday
Last week, I was invited to attend the world premiere of the 2011 Audi A8. This being their flagship vehicle, Audi spared no expense, housing guests at the Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach, in the heart of "Millionaire's Row". It was a fitting backdrop for the luxury automaker and their "Art of Progress exhibit." The A8's premiere was held at nearby Audi Pavilion, and was surrounded by an impressive art collection from the Rubell Family.
Though I wasn't allowed to drive the A8, I did see it in person, and learned some of the philosophy behind its design. Here are three things that caught my attention.
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Categories: Audi, Future Vehicles
I ran across this video the other day and it struck a chord. Disney produced this film in 1958 to illustrate their idea of the future. Watching it, I was amazed by the endless optimism of the day, as well as some of the predictions that actually came true.
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Categories: Future Vehicles
Last night, at the Palladium in Hollywood, Ford celebrated the completion of its Fiesta Movement. The Movement was a clever program whereby the carmaker loaned out 100 of its new Fiestas to 100 people for six months to generate a buzz about the Fit fighter and get feedback. Each month, the driver, or "agent", had to go on a themed mission and make a YouTube video of it. They also spread the Fiesta gospel by Twittering.
Awards (in the form of a trophy fashioned from a Fiesta's sideview mirror) were given out for things like best video and best Technology Mission. In the latter, the agent drove to the set of "Will it Blend?" a comical internet site where the hosts toss all manner of objects into a blender. Our Fiesta Agent dropped a hunk of Boron steel (which the Fiesta uses in its construction) to see if it would blend. And nope, the tough material didn't give in.
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Categories: Auto Shows, Ford, Future Vehicles
With Turkey Day fast approaching and year-end celebrations following close behind you probably think it's "holiday season." But for automotive industry folks Thanksgiving marks a much more imposing time period: Auto Show Season.
Yeah, Frankfurt (or Paris) and Tokyo fall outside the traditional holiday season, but the really important auto shows for the U.S. car market land conveniently (actually, inconveniently) between Thanksgiving and Easter.
And because the last thing the world needs is another "Top 10" list herewith are the "Bottom 10" things about Auto Show Season:
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Categories: Auto Shows, Future Vehicles, Talk Back Tuesday
The buzz around electric cars reached a Norelco pitch last week after Nissan started showing off its new Leaf and Carlos Ghosn claimed 10 percent of global automotive sales will be electric by 2020.
That's 10 years from now, and when one considers the technological potential of the next decade it doesn't sound so far fetched, right?
Wrong! I think this prediction (like most automotive predictions involving more than 5 years) is more sound-bite than sound reasoning. And if you don't believe me, ask Bob Lutz. I did last week on the same day the Leaf made it's splash-down in Los Angeles.
Lutz was in Los Angeles as part of the 2011 Buick Regal reveal at the Hollywood Palladium, but several senior Edmunds.com folks spent some quality time with him at the Roosevelt Hotel. We discussed multiple topics, including the future of the electric car.
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Categories: Future Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles, MINI, Nissan, Talk Back Tuesday
As I write this I've just driven home in a brand new, 2010 Volvo XC60 featuring the new "City Safety" system. This is a system that will completely stop the new Volvo crossover's forward motion, independent of driver input, if you are traveling at less than 20 mph and show no sign of stopping yourself before hitting a solid object (wall, fence or another vehicle). The idea is that even the best of us can have a lapse in judgment or attention, but the car will turn an otherwise costly at best (and potentially deadly at worst) low-speed collision into a non-event. I've tried the system out, and it does indeed work. It can't discern a pedestrian- or motorcycle-sized object, yet, but Volvo says a later version of City Safety will.
This experience comes three weeks after driving a Bentley Continental GTC Speed from Napa to Los Angeles. The Bentley features adapative cruise control, allowing it to match the speed of vehicles in front of it regardless of the speed set in cruise control. These systems have been around for a couple years, but it took that 400-mile jaunt for me to fully realize the extent of its powers. Basically, you can set the speed at just about any velocity (say, 85 mph) and then use surrounding traffic to modulate your speed -- all without ever hitting the brake or gas pedal. Once you get confident in the system's ability (it took me about 100 miles of freeway driving) you realize how much easier it makes long-distant travel. Basically, you just have to steer -- at least until Bentley or someone else comes up with a fully-automatic lane-guidance system. Then you won't have to do anything.
Finally, this afternoon I saw a press release for the new Mobileye Accident Avoidance System. This is an aftermarket modification that can be added to any vehicle for approximately $1,000. Once installed it provides much of the same features listed above, including forward collision warnings and lane departure warnings.
It's clear we're rapidly moving into a world where cars will not only possess advanced radar systems (effectively letting them "see" as well or better than the driver), but they will also make decisions for the driver based on these systems.
Today's question: Is this technology making us better or worse drivers?
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Categories: Car Audio and Technology, Driving, Future Vehicles, Safety Systems, Talk Back Tuesday
Auto shows are supposed to be filled with fantasy cars. After all, for decades the glitzy show cars at these flashy gatherings were referred to as "dream cars," so expecting nothing but down-to-earth reality vehicles to appear on the show floor would be unrealistic (and, honestly, boring).
But at this year's Detroit Auto Show I found myself increasingly annoyed by the unending parade of pure fiction being shown off. This aggrevation came not as much from the show cars' embodiment as metallic vaporware as it did from the messages surrounding them. Basically, the automakers were claiming these vehicles would be available in the next 12-24 months when, of course, they probably won't represent viable transportation for upwards of 12-24 years.
By now you've probably identified which cars I'm referring to -- electric cars.
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Categories: Auto Shows, Dodge, Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, MINI, Talk Back Tuesday, Tesla, Toyota
I'm ready to start driving this car today.
Seriously. Between the Honda FCX Clarity's power, handling, comfort, features, cargo space and, yes, even range on a full tank of fuel, this vehicle is 100% ready to meet the demands of today's car owner.
I personally drove the FCX Clarity over 110 miles between my commute and some errands (inlcuding Cold Stone Creamery with the kids). To say I was impressed would be inaccurate because the car isn't particularly quick or nimble or cutting edge in any way, except for the fact that it runs on hydrogen. Really, it's pretty much like any other Honda sedan on the road.
And that's what impressed me. If you like how Honda sedans drive (sales figures suggest many of you do), then you'll like the FCX Clarity. In fact you'll probably feel exactly how I did after driving one: "When and where can I buy it?"
Of course you can't buy it. Honda is only offering leases on the FCX Clarity, and so far only three are on the road, meaning they ain't exactly widely available. That's probably a good thing, as hydrogen (despite being the most common element in the universe) also isn't widely available as a vehicle fuel.
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Categories: Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, Talk Back Tuesday
If we were to predict the Chevrolet Volt's future success on it's ability to generate interest, the car would have to be judged an unmitigated success. The GM folks brought one by the Edmunds.com offices yesterday to let our editors (and the rest of the company) have a first-hand look at the car some have dubbed the savior of General Motors.
That's a mighty large burden to bear if you ask me. It would be akin to assuming one man is capable of solving all the mounting challenges facing this country...
But I digress. Let's assume, for a moment, that GM succeeds in delivering a Chevrolet Volt production vehicle to consumers before the end of calendar 2010 (a promise the company has fully committed to). If said vehicle is parked in dealer showrooms 24 months from now, will it truly mark a drastic change in GM's future success?
I foresee two distinct scenarios facing the Volt in the next two years. Let's take a look at both of them.
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Categories: Chevrolet, Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, Talk Back Tuesday
If you believe the recent reports from Chrysler and GM you might think we'll be free of our oil-powered economy in just a couple years.
GM just unveiled the Chevrolet Volt and says it will be selling them by "late 2010." Last week Chrysler made suspiciously similar claims, saying in effect it will be selling a purely electric vehicle in 2010. So far Ford hasn't joined the electric car parade, which may bode well or ill for the Blue Oval depending on your point-of-view.
So maybe that bothersome old "black gold" will be as valuable as VHS players in a couple years, and we'll be able to tell certain Middle East nations what they can do with it.
But I doubt it.
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Categories: Automotive News, Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles
