AutoblogGreen for 01.30.09

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

click to visit AutoblogGreen

It's all about the money. Tesla gives up on San Jose move because of money issues. Meanwhile, we discover that rich people are really the ones lusting after an electric car. There's got to be a way to bring those two camps together. Oh, and if your car is as aerodynamic as a rocket, then deer will be safer. Srsly.

• Who wants electric cars? Rich people!
• Tesla gives up on San Jose move
• The stuff of nightmares: Biomass-fueled autonomous robot
• Video of Plug In America's Inaugural Parade West - with 70 electric cars
• Toyota increases its iQ with hypermiling stunt
• Hybrid Technologies delivers LiV^TM WISE, Corvette guy loves it
• BMW launches 730Ld, a 32 mpg (U.S.) luxury sedan, in Europe
• Electric Jaguar XF to paint Copenhagen green
• BMW could launch Z10 ED, an efficient supercar
• eBay Find of the Day: 1993 smart Roadster?
• Audi claims best in class mileage for Q5, still can't touch the TDI
• Aerocivic gets a website, deer should now be safer
• UK government wants �2.5 billion auto loans used for green projects
• Notice anything new around here? ABG v2.5
• BMW X6 ActiveHybrid to arrive by year's end

AutoblogGreen for 01.30.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Porsche, First Drive

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Porsche Boxster S with PDK

The Italian countryside passes by in a blur. At an indicated 265 km/h (164 mph), we have hit the invisible wall. The accelerator pedal has been jammed into the carpet for the last ten seconds, yet the sleek Porsche cannot push the molecules of air away any faster. Thanks to a stiff headwind, simple aerodynamic drag has overcome the 310 horsepower engine and arrested our acceleration a bit shy of Porsche's quoted maximum speed. Regardless of the blustery gusts, the direct-injected flat-six buried in the middle of the chassis continues to wail as it sustains the fight. An approaching curve on the horizon convinces us to reluctantly lift off the gas.

We're in Sicily testing the new second-generation 2009 Porsche Boxster S. Significantly updated for the new model year, the drop-top coupe continues to impress us. How has Porsche improved its 12-year-old platform? Are the new powerplants significantly different from their predecessors? How does the Boxster compare to the Cayman? Follow the jump to find out and take a tour of Italy with the Porsche Boxster in our high-res gallery of images below.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Porsche Boxster S PDK

All photos Copyright (C) 2009 Michael C. Harley, Weblogs, Inc./ Porsche Cars North America

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Porsche Boxster S with PDK

First Drive: 2009 Porsche Boxster S with PDK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Convertibles, Mazda

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda MX-5 (JDM)

With over 800,000 copies sold during its 20-year lifespan, the Mazda MX-5 is the king of all roadsters. When the miniature Mazda hit the scene in 1989 as the Miata, Mazda gave it impeccable balance and precision. In the interim, the MX-5 has continued to evolve, and Mazda is looking to make even more magic for 2009. The new roadster will receive more horsepower, better fuel economy, and an updated aesthetics. The lightweight MX-5 is more about driving characteristics than outright power, so Mazda only increased output from the 2.0L engine from 166 to 168 hp. While the extra two ponies isn't going to set the track on fire, Mazda promises an improvement over the 2008 model's 22/27 fuel economy. Mazda also tweaked the MX-5's already sweet suspension for even tighter handling characteristics and made minor changes to the front and rear fascias. The 2009 MX-5 will also receive updates to the interior, colors, and available packages, and will debut in North American-spec at the Chicago Auto Show. Hit the jump to read Mazda's press release.

Gallery: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Roadster

Gallery: 2009 Mazda MX-5 LIVE

Continue reading Chicago Preview: 2009 Mazda MX-5 will say hey to USA

Chicago Preview: 2009 Mazda MX-5 will say hey to USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo announces 2010 XC60 pricing starting at $37,200

Volvo announces 2010 XC60 pricing starting at $37,200

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossovers/CUVs, Volvo

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Volvo XC60

Pricing has been released for the 2010 Volvo XC60 crossover, and the T6 with standard AWD and Volvo's pioneering City Safety low-speed collision protection system will have a base price of $37,200 plus destination. Power is provided by a turbocharged 3.0L T6 engine pumping out a solid 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Premium features like leather, power driver's seat, SIRIUS, Bluetooth, and HD Radio with USB and AUX ports are all standard. The Panorama moonroof will even be offered at no charge as part of an introductory offer, although Volvo hasn't said how much it will run after that.

Four different option packages available on the XC60, beginning with the Climate Package for $1,000 which includes heated seats fore and aft, heated windshield washer nozzles, rain sensing wipers, headlamp washers, and an Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) with a humidity sensor. The Technology Package will retail for $2,700 and adds a 650-watt Dynaudio stereo with 12 speakers and Dolby surround sound, plus Volvo's DVD navigation system with real time traffic and a rear park assist camera setup. This being a Volvo, of course there's a safety package as well.

The Collision Avoidance Package adds another $1,695 to the bottom line and includes a big bowl of alphabet soup: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB), Distance Alert (DA), Driver Alert Control (DAC), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). That's a lot of tech for such a small package and the availability of these features, although increasingly moving downmarket, can help justify the seemingly very premium base price of the vehicle. You even get free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles as part of Volvo's new program. You can read the rest of the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 Volvo XC60

Continue reading Volvo announces 2010 XC60 pricing starting at $37,200

Volvo announces 2010 XC60 pricing starting at $37,200 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan instructs dealers to reprogram GT-R launch control

Filed under: Car Buying, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Nissan

Few topics have set the Autoblog commenting system on fire more than the Nissan GT-R. And once stories began to surface about Godzilla's gearbox grenading when customers invoked the power of launch control, it was like a Hateraid atom bomb had gone off below the fold. Well folks, strap on your riot gear and grab a stick of C4. Nissan's in the news again, officially addressing the GT-R's gearbox failure and rolling out a new software program to mitigate the problem.

Make the jump for all the details.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Nissan GT-R

Gallery: 2008 Nissan GT-R Details

[Source: InsideLine, StraightLine]

Continue reading Nissan instructs dealers to reprogram GT-R launch control

Nissan instructs dealers to reprogram GT-R launch control originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible tipped for Geneva

Filed under: Convertibles, Geneva Motor Show, MINI

Click above for a gallery of the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

MINI's going to be busy over the next few months, with new product debuts already scheduled for Geneva (the MINI One Clubman) and Frankfurt (MINI Crossover). If the rumors are correct, you can add one more to the mix, as the John Cooper Works edition of the new convertible looks to join its fixed-head stablemate at the Geneva Motor Show in March. As in the JCW hardtop, the ragtop version will be blessed with a more powerful version of the Cooper S model's turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which can send its 211 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels through either an automatic or manual shift gearbox, each with six forward ratios. As with the hard-hat JCW, an overboost function allows for a torque peak of 207 lb-ft for a short period of time of quick bursts of acceleration.

Chassis improvements include new 17-inch alloys (with optional 18-inchers), an upgraded brake package and standard sport suspension. Of course, no upgrade package would be complete without a few visual modifications, and the JCW delivers with a revised front fascia, aero kit and plenty of badging inside and out. Want one? Expect to pay at least 30K for the privilege.

Gallery: 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

[Source: Carscoop]

2010 MINI Cooper JCW Convertible tipped for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feds introduce used vehicle database for dealers, consumers

Filed under: Car Buying

In 1992, a law passed requiring each state's motor vehicle department to link into a federal database. After pleading from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), automakers and consumer advocates - plus one lawsuit - the U.S. Department of Justice will launch the system beginning tomorrow at 9 AM EST.

The database will attempt to reduce the amount of title-washing that plagues used car buyers when unsavory characters rebuild a totaled vehicle and sell it with a clean title, normally out of state. Currently, 27 states are participating and another ten should be on board shortly. All states are required to be in the system by Jan 1, 2010 and data will begin to be collected from insurance companies and salvage yards on March 31.

The DOJ claims that when the database launches tomorrow, approximately three-quarters of the nation's vehicle titles will be include, but unfortunately, the system won't be free. Online providers will act as the middlemen, but an announcement hasn't been made about which companies will handle the heavy lifting. While it's doubtful that firms like CarFax are going to dramatically affected by the move, we're hoping some competition among providers brings the cost down for consumers. To read all the details on the database, click here (PDF warning).

[Image: David Greedy/Getty]

Feds introduce used vehicle database for dealers, consumers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Next Mercedes SLK to spawn gullwing hybrid variant?

Rendered Speculation: Next Mercedes SLK to spawn gullwing hybrid variant?

Filed under: Convertibles, Hybrids/Alternative, Sports/GTs, Green, Mercedes-Benz, Rendered Speculation

The Mercedes-Benz SL range is growing. For years just a solitary model, the mainstay roadster has since spawned the smaller SLK, the fixed-roof Black Series and the McLaren SLR (in its many iterations). Slated to be replaced by the SLC supercar and supplemented by a new baby SLA, new reports indicate that with the next SLK on its way, a compact roadster could gain a gullwing hybrid variant as well.

While the two elements would seem unrelated, Mercedes engineers are reportedly set on using the classic SL door configuration as a space-saving, access-enabling solution. The battery packs for the electric motors are earmarked to sit in the door sills, leaving reduced space for entry and exit that could be alleviated by the use of the top-hinged gullwing doors that appeared on the original 300SL - the very same door type that is earmarked to appear on the new range-topping SLC.

The hybrid propulsion system - based on that of the Concept BlueZero E-Cell unveiled earlier this month in Detroit - will reportedly be supplemented by a gasoline-burning V6, an F1-derived kinetic braking system and start-stop engine management. Word is that the combination should be good for AMG levels of performance while returning exemplary gas mileage and low emissions. The next-generation SLK, which could itself include a folding glass roof mechanism, is expected to arrive by 2011, with the hybrid gullwing model following the year thereafter.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rendered Speculation: Next Mercedes SLK to spawn gullwing hybrid variant? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy prices Corvette Competition Sport package

Filed under: Car Buying, Motorsports, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Chevrolet, Special/Limited Editions

Click above for a high-res image of the Chevrolet Corvette Compeition Sport

Last week GM announced a special package of racetrack upgrades for the 'Vette and Z06 dubbed the Corvette Competition Sport (CS) package and now, the General has released pricing. The cost of a base Corvette coupe with the package is $55,655, a bump of $3,350 over a 1LT coupe with the Z51 option pack and NPP exhaust. The price of a CS equipped Z06 is $77,500 w/ DFC, a jump of $2,725 over a 1LZ Corvette Z06.

As outlined before, the kit includes the Z51 Performance Package, the NPP performance exhaust system, a differential cooler and a set of racing pedals. Power peaks at 436 hp on the base Coupe and 505 hp on the Z06. Besides the steak, there's a bit of sizzle. Visual mods for both versions include Competition Gray stripes, wheels and headlamps, a special engine cover, and the "Jake" and CSR logos inside and out. A set of racing numbers will also be delivered to the buyer based on the particular car's build sequence.

Chevy prices Corvette Competition Sport package originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Germany's turn: scrap your used car, get a bonus to buy a new one

Filed under: Car Buying, Euro, Government/Legal

Last month China proposed a plan to offer consumers a cash incentive to scrap their cars and buy new ones. Germany is the latest country looking at the same option, with a law that aims to give €2,500 to people getting rid of cars that are at least nine years old and buying new ones.

China may want to watch what happens in Germany: so far, interest in the program looks like it could exceed the available funds. The German government set aside €1.5 billion for reimbursements, which is enough to reward 600,000 people. But in just two days, the office that will look after the program got 420,000 phone calls. One German market research firm put the potential number of takers at 1.2 million.

If the measure passes into law as is, then early birds would get the incentive worm. The €1.5 billion is coming out of a €50 billion German stimulus plan, aimed at reviving the automotive, transport, and education sectors, and it wouldn't seem out of the question for them to double the allotted funds to allow all to participate. Although no one knows how much the program would help German automakers -- people might scrap their cars and buy Fords -- it would put money back into the economy and get cleaner cars on the roads to boot. Hat tip to Gregg!

[Source: Der Spiegel | Photo: Ms. Martin]

Germany's turn: scrap your used car, get a bonus to buy a new one originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: How not to wash your new MINI convertible

Filed under: Convertibles, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, MINI

Click above to watch the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible brave the car wash with the top down

The new for 2009 MINI Cooper Cabrio is fashionable, ecologically friendly, and ready for open-air fun. While the new MINI drop-top is many things to many people, its still not a good idea to head through a car wash with the top down. That is, unless you're MINI and you're trying to drive home the marketing pitch "Always Open" with a viral video. Hit the jump to view MINI's a minute and a half clib of a brand new MINI Cabrio going through a car wash with the top down. The guys in the car seem to be having a good time, but we're not so sure this looks like much fun. On the flip side, it does kind of satisfy that twelve-year-old urge we once had to go through the car wash in a convertible. Please don't try this at home. Thanks for the tip, Andreas.

Continue reading VIDEO: How not to wash your new MINI convertible

VIDEO: How not to wash your new MINI convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Artega GT roadster rumored to appear in Geneva

Artega GT roadster rumored to appear in Geneva

Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Geneva Motor Show, Euro

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Artega GT

Of all the European auto shows, we enjoy the Geneva Motor Show the most. Not because we get our French food fix or adore the train ride along the lake after a grueling day at the show. No. We love Geneva because of its neutral nature, where no automaker can be considered the "home team" and that no matter the marque, each gets their time in the in the lime light. Case in point: The Artega GT. Over the past few years, the Henrik Fisker-designed coupe has made an appearance; first in conceptual form in 2007, then in production guise in 2008. This year, Artega's parent company, Paragon, will bring the next iteration of the GT to Geneva, and if the rumors are true, the coupe will lose its roof.

The same Volkswagen-sourced 3.6-liter V6 will be mounted amidships, sending 300 horsepower through a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox on its way to the rear wheels. Both left- and right-hand-drive versions will be available, and - depending on whether Artega opts for a soft-top or retractable hard-top - the curb weight shouldn't be significantly higher than the 2,400-pound GT. Paragon has made it clear that the Artega GT's success is dependent on global availability, and the U.S. market is the linchpin. Rumor has it that the first Stateside order has already come in from a customer in NYC, so we might see the Artega - in both coupe and cabrio form - here in the States after all.

Gallery: Artega GT - Intro 2008 Edition

Gallery: Artega GT - Production Version

[Source: GlobalMotors]

Artega GT roadster rumored to appear in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LusoMotors LM23 rolling prototype ready for its closeup

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Convertibles, Sports/GTs, Euro, Special/Limited Editions

Click image for huge high-res gallery of the LusoMotors LM 23

Last July, we told you about the latest rolling homage introduced by Portuguese car design and development house LusoMotors. While our previous post featured a gallery of naked chassis and finished product renderings, we now have pics of the rolling prototype. Dubbed the LM23, this bathtub racer is nothing sort of an updated Lotus 23B for the street. Well, it is likely to spend more time on the track, but it is ostensibly streetable.

Set to go head-to-head with cars like the Ariel Atom, Radical SR3, KTM X-Bow, Brooks Double R, et al, this featherweight flyer features a steel tube frame chassis under its shapely foam-sandwich metal body. Track-ready details include inboard-mounted coilovers and brakes, plus an integrated roll bar.

This first roller is powered by a 150-horsepower, 1.0-liter Honda CBR1000 engine mated to a six-speed sequential transmission. Weighing just 881 pounds, 150 hp should be more than enough to get this thing around a track with alacrity, but LusoMotors founder Ernesto Freitas says customers can choose a number of different engines, including a Subaru turbo boxer. Kit prices are expected to start at €15,000 (around $23,600 USD) minus the engine. The line forms to the right.

Gallery: LusoMotors LM 23

[Source: Autoblog.nl via WorldCarFans]

LusoMotors LM23 rolling prototype ready for its closeup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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