AutoblogGreen for 04.29.09

AutoblogGreen for 04.29.09

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

	First Drive: Chevrolet Volt powertrain mule We get our chance to really see what GM's been up to these last 28 months, and we're impressed.		Ford Fusion hybrid hypermiles, goes 1,445 miles on a single tank In other news, America's bladders give a collective shiver today.
	Shai Agassi talks about Better Place, $20,000 EV, batteries extra The man with the battery-swap vision keeps forging ahead - and who wouldn't with a plan to sell everyone an electric car?	Other news: Ferrari 599XX may not have hybrid powertrain now, likely will in the future Elon Musk to show the Tesla Model S on Letterman Wednesday night Spy Shots: Mission Motors TTXGP entry snapped at Infineon

AutoblogGreen for 04.29.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Crazy Horse - 1967 Ford Mustang with butterfly doors and folding hardtop

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertibles, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Auction Action, Etc., Ford, Special/Limited Editions

1967 Ford Mustang hardtop convertible custom - Click above for an image gallery

According to this eBay seller, this is the only 1967 Ford Mustang ever fitted with a retractable hardtop. As we've never seen one before (or one wearing butterfly doors, for that matter), we'll give the auctioneer the benefit of the doubt.

In any case, this restomod 'Stang has been comprehensively reworked, including a new Ford Racing 302 crate motor, along with a new Tremec T5 gearbox, a fully reworked suspension and a set of four-wheel discs hiding out under the American Racing Torque Thrust II wheels.

Of the staffers we surveyed here at Autoblog, we're not crazy about the paint or the doors, but the retractable fiberglass top unit from Mustang Plus is something we can't help but find interesting, particularly if this conversion was done to a donor car that wasn't originally terribly collectible (non numbers-matching, etc.). Admittedly the lines of the top don't blend with the rest of the design as nicely as a stock hardtop's roofline does, but that's to be expected with conversions like this. Besides, both the engine bay and the underbody are incredibly sanitary - certainly cleaner than they were the day this 'Stang rolled off the assembly line.

The seller says that the droptop conversion is something of an homage to a concept Mustang model that Ford originally considered building back in 1967. According to the listing, the Blue Oval invested some $250,000 in exploring the concept, only for it to get nixed by Henry Ford II because it couldn't be motorized. A quarter century later, retired Ford designer Ben J. Smith apparently devised the system seen here. Be sure to check out the huge gallery of images and the link below... only a few hours left to get your bid in!

Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: Custom 1967 Ford Mustang hardtop convertible

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Crazy Horse - 1967 Ford Mustang with butterfly doors and folding hardtop originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Wall Street rallies around better-than-expected Ford results

REPORT: Wall Street rallies around better-than-expected Ford results

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Ford, Earnings/Financials

On the surface, at least, news that a company lost $1.4 billion wouldn't normally be greeted as good news by Wall Street. However, the Ford Motor company's just-published quarterly earning reports have done just that, with the stock trading 15% ahead of yesterday and the entire Dow Jones stock market perking up at the news.

Why the positive reaction? The Blue Oval has fared markedly better than most analysts' estimates, and the size of the loss indicates that Ford is at least stemming its hemorrhaging. In further news that perked up trading, Lewis Booth, Ford's CFO reiterated that Ford expects to make it through the rest of the year without seeking any government monies, and the company notes that it expects to actually exceed the $4 billion cost-cutting goals it set for itself this year.

Of course, all is not rosy, although things are better than expected. For the first three months this year, Ford's sales dropped 43%, with accompanying revenue of $24.8 billion - a drop of almost 37 percent year-over-year versus 2008's $39.2 billion intake.

Perhaps the best news of all? Dearborn officials reinforced that the company is looking good to break even in 2011, noting that it could even post a profit before taxes. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: The Associated Press | Image: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty]

REPORT: Wall Street rallies around better-than-expected Ford results originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen for 04.17.09

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

	Greenlings: What is regenerative braking? A primer on just what happens when you pres the brakes on your hybrid or EV.		In Russia, public transportation goes to the dogs (literally) These pups are smart enough to take the subway into town for better begging.
	Chrysler's first EV will likely be the Dodge Circuit With much of the work done out of house, it makes sense that the Circuit could be ready by 2010.	Other news: Obama outlines high-speed rail plan for U.S. Skycar update: production version coming in 2010 Jay Leno picks the future classics, includes first-gen hybrids

AutoblogGreen for 04.17.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan slashing 370Z global sales hopes by two-thirds... or is it?

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

2009 Nissan 370Z - Click above for high-res gallery

After strapping two separate Autobloggers behind the wheel of the 2009 Nissan 370Z, we feel completely justified in suggesting that the latest Z car is the best yet. It also performs rather well when compared to its closest competitors, and that includes the pricier Porsche Cayman. Regardless, the current gloomy state of the global economy is just as powerful at dictating sales levels as any given vehicle itself, regardless of how good it may be. This being the case, nearly every automaker has adjusted its sales expectations downward from earlier projections.

According to Automotive News, Nissan initially planned to sell 30,000 370Z coupes globally, but it has since reduced its expectations by two-thirds. Of the 10,000 370Zs that AN says Nissan now hopes to sell in 2009, 7,000 would be destined for the United States and the remaining 3,000 units would be sold in Europe. The industry publication did not publish Japanese domestic market (JDM) sales predictions for the car (known locally as the Fairlady Z).

We thought those numbers seemed low, so we called Nissan USA for clarification. According to Darryll Harrison, manager of Nissan's Product Public Relations Group, the Japanese automaker sold 1,452 Zs in the U.S. market (a small percentage of which were older 350Zs) in February and another 1,632 in March in the United States alone. That figure represents about 30% of America's two-door, two-seat sports car market, sales of which generally pick up in the summer months. In other words, Nissan could actually sell well over 10,000 370Zs here in the U.S. in the 2009 calendar year.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan 370Z

[Source: Nissan, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

REPORT: Nissan slashing 370Z global sales hopes by two-thirds... or is it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Renault's reinvigorated Gordini line to go electric?

REPORT: Renault's reinvigorated Gordini line to go electric?

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Euro, Green, Hatchbacks, Renault

Reports of Renault's plan to relaunch the decades-old Gordini moniker just got a lot more interesting. The first model from the French automaker is due in 2010 and will be based on the Twingo hatchback, with the Gordini version slotting just above the already available Renaultsport model. Following closely thereafter will be performance-oriented versions of the Clio and Megane Coupe. Sounds good so far, right? Here's where things take an entirely unexpected turn.

According to a report by What Car?, the fourth Gordini model will be an electric hot hatch about the size of the Clio. This electric supermini will seat up to five occupants and is currently slated for production in 2012, at which time it will be joined by at least three more EVs from Renault and its corporate partner, Nissan.

Pricing for the Clio-sized EV is expected to begin where the current model leaves off at around �14,000, and the batteries will be leased for around the same price per month as diesel fuel. Renault also reportedly has plans to launch charging stations where drivers can have their battery packs pulled and exchanged for fresh units, just like at a gas station. Alternatively, the cars will sport a plug to enable charging any standard wall outlet.

[Source: What Car?]

REPORT: Renault's reinvigorated Gordini line to go electric? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen for 04.03.09

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

	Rush Limbaugh blasts green car movement because "nobody" wants hybrids The world's most famous blowhard thinks that 1.3 million hybrids sold don't mean squat.		GM Plug-In Ecosystem update How many utilities is GM working with to get America ready for the Chevy Volt? A lot.
	Greenlings: What is a series hybrid/extended range electric vehicle? Need a refresher course on the different hybrid systems? We've got just the thing.	Other news of import Toyota nearly matches price of Honda Insight with new 2010 Prius in Japan Plug In America suggests reducing warranty time to lower cost of Chevy Volt GM to gov't: $2.6 billion for more Volt hybrid models, please

AutoblogGreen for 04.03.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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