Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
Could the nearly-identical shapes of the Prius and the new Honda Insight really be a coincidence, as Honda claims, or is the so-called "Prius killer" going to slay by copying? At least the new 2010 Chevrolet Cruze has got its own style, as we saw at yesterday's live reveal in Detroit. Another reveal takes place later today when GM shows off the Chevy Volt. Stick with Autoblog and AutoblogGreen for all the details.
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- Europe's proposed CO2 rules might be illegal
- Europe scales back crop biofuels requirements
REPORT: Cadillac gets green light for smaller, RWD sedan
Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, Cadillac, Rumormill
Despite being priced to compete with the smaller BMW 3 Series sedan, the Cadillac CTS is as large as the German marque's 5 Series. Similarly, the STS competes with the 5 Series in pricing but matches the top-level 7 Series in size. Rumors of a smaller Caddy to zig alongside the benchmark 3 Series in size have been running rampant for over a year and now we hear the sedan may have finally been green-lighted. Expect the new entry-level Cadillac to be built atop GM's upcoming rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform. We have had nothing but good things to say about the latest Cadillac CTS, so we naturally have high hopes for the new, smaller Caddy sedan, which could also sprout a coupe and a convertible. To this point, GM has never quite hit the sweet spot with the premium division's smallest offering in Europe, the Saab 9-3-based BLS, and we are anxious to see how the new Alpha Dog can compete. Thanks for the tip, Rob![Source: Motor Trend]Read�|�Permalink�|�Email this�|�Comments
Chery to begin production of budget hybrid this year
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, China, Green, Chery
As it currently stands, gas in China costs about half what it does in most other countries, and the government spends billions to keep it that way. This being the case, expensive hybrids like the Toyota Prius don't sell in very large numbers. Still, there are a number of analysts who predict that gas will go up in China and that cheaper hybrids could begin to get a foot-hold in the Chinese market. To test the hybrid waters, Chery has introduced its home market to a new inexpensive mild hybrid built off its own A5 platform. Like some of the hybrids from General Motors, the A5 adds a belt-driven starter/generator that runs on just 12 volts and allows for stop/start functionality for its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Chery tested the vehicle during the Olympic games and is apparently now ready to begin selling its first hybrid to retail customers in China at about a third of the cost of the Prius. With pricing like that, the expected 10-15-percent gain in fuel efficiency could provide plenty of incentive to choose a hybrid.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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