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Geneva 2009: Top ten diesels you can’t get in America!

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:19:00 +0000

One of the first things you notice when you start wandering around the Geneva Motor Show is that virtually every major automaker offers diesel engines. Lots of them. Many of them are even in cars that we can get in the U.S. market but only with gasoline engines. As our regular readers know, I’m a fan of modern diesel engines. Being in Geneva gives me a chance to present, in no particular order, 10 examples of cars available in the U.S. (or available soon) that could really benefit from having a diesel option. All the mileage figures have been converted to U.S. mpg. No need to use glowplugs, let’s just get started . Auto Blog: Diesel , Geneva Motor Show Geneva 2009: Top ten diesels you can’t get in America! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Euro-spec Tata Nano (it’s bigger!) and all-electric Indica

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:47:00 +0000

Click on image to see the three upcoming Tata Euro-spec models As we reported, Tata has an Euro-spec Nano on the works . The changes from the Indian version include adding an all-aluminium I3 MPFI engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission and electric power steering. The engine should address all the concerns about Tata’s green credentials, as it will be Euro V compliant and have emissions under the 100 g/km of CO 2 mark. The Nano Europa will also include significant security equipment like ABS, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and airbags. There’s also a change in size, as the Nano Europa has a slightly longer wheelbase of 2.28 meters. Tata’s all-electric Indica, which was also shown during the SIAM Expo , uses polymer lithium batteries that are expected to offer a range of 200 km (120 mi) and a 0-to-60 km/h (0 to 40 mph) time of less than 10 seconds. The model was adapted by Miljo Grenland/Innovasjon of Norway, where Tata UK’s owns 70 percent of the shares. Tata will also include a third model, called Prima, in its future European lineup. Gallery: Future European Tata Models [Source: Tata] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Europe/EU , Tata Geneva 2009: Euro-spec Tata Nano (it’s bigger!) and all-electric Indica originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Euro-spec Tata Nano (it’s bigger!) and all-electric Indica

Geneva 2009: Honda Accord Tourer Type-S

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:33:00 +0000

Click the Accord tourer for a high res gallery The car pictured above represents some of my favorite features in a main-stream car: it’s a wagon and it’s a diesel. I’m also fully aware that I am in a distinct minority on both counts among drivers in the U.S. market. This is the new European-market Honda Accord Tourer Type-S. We get the sedan version in the U.S., badged as the Acura TSX. Personally, I prefer the wagon version because it retains the overall size and dynamic characteristics of a sedan while adding a huge dollop of utility when needed. It’s also quite a handsome car. Rumor has it we’ll see this body style appear as a new Honda CUV in the states this fall with the high-riding Outback treatment. The wagon is not new to Europe but the new Type-S (also available as a sedan) is. The Type-S Accord gets a 178 hp version of Honda’s new iDTEC 2.2L diesel four cylinder with a stiff 280 lb-ft of torque. The Type-S gets larger 18″ wheels and bumper and sill extensions for a more aggressive look. Unfortunately, this is very likely the car we were supposed to get as a TSX this year. However, market conditions have forced Honda to indefinitely cancel those plans. What a shame. Gallery: Geneva 2009: Honda Accord Tourer Type-S Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading Geneva 2009: Honda Accord Tourer Type-S Auto Blog: Diesel , Acura , Honda , Geneva Motor Show Geneva 2009: Honda Accord Tourer Type-S originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Ruf Greenster evolves the electric Porsche concept

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:12:00 +0000

Click the Ruf Greenster for a high res gallery Last fall, Porsche high performance tuning specialist Ruf announced that it had built a prototype electric sports car called the eRuf which was essentially a lithium ion battery-powered 911. That was just the beginning of the story as the company has brought the Greenster here to Geneva. The Greenster is a targa top 911 in the old style with a chopped speedster type windshield. In the back sits a 270 kW Siemens electric motor with 695 lb-ft of torque. The battery pack system has been improved and is now 30 percent smaller in volume, restoring the front trunk space that was lost on the original. The battery pack now has greater power capacity allowing it to release and absorb power faster, enabling more regenerative braking capacity. The battery can apparently be charged in only one hour from a 400V outlet. The next iteration will switch to a twin motor setup and the company is planning a small series production run in 2010. Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ruf Greenster Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Porsche , Geneva Motor Show Geneva 2009: Ruf Greenster evolves the electric Porsche concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Magna Steyr Mila EV concept

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:28:00 +0000

Click for a high res gallery of the Magna Steyr Mila EV Like most other suppliers, Magna International and its contract manufacturing unit Magna Steyr are pushing hard to diversify into the area of hybrid and electric powertrain components and systems. In January at the Detroit Show, Magna International and Ford announced a collaboration on the Focus-based electric car that will go on sale in 2011. Here in Geneva, Magna Steyr combined that electrification effort with a reminder that the company is capable of doing complete vehicle engineering and manufacturing for other automakers. The Mila EV is a concept meant to illustrate a new vehicle platform that Magna has developed and optimized for electric drive applications. The modular system is able to be adapted to different body styles and even different powertrain configurations. It can be built as a pure EV, or parallel or series hybrid setup. Magna is offering it up to any manufacturers that would like a turn-key EV platform solution in order to get a car into production quickly. In addition to the platform, Magna is getting into the battery game. Currently, the company is focusing on pack integration and working with a number of different cell suppliers and chemistries. Long term, the company may look at getting into cell development itself. Gallery: Geneva 2009: Magna Steyr Mila EV Continue reading Geneva 2009: Magna Steyr Mila EV concept Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Geneva Motor Show Geneva 2009: Magna Steyr Mila EV concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Opel goes Voltec, Ampera coming in late 2011

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:11:00 +0000

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel Ampera concept General Motors Europe boss Carl-Peter Forster began this morning’s press conference in Geneva with an acknowledgment of the dire financial straights that the entire industry is experiencing right now. Forster also candidly admitted that GM is currently investigating all options when it comes to changing its relationship with Opel , including outside equity investments. Once he got past all the bad news, however, he introduced the production-intent version of the Opel Ampera. If it looks familiar, it should. If it doesn’t, well, what rock have you been hiding under for the last two years? The Ampera is the Opel badged variant of the Chevrolet Volt . It uses the same Voltec powertrain as the Volt, as well as most of its body. The main differences are the markedly more aggressive front and rear fascias and the black (rather than white) interior. Like the Volt, most of the front fascia is closed off to optimize aerodynamics. The styling of the nose is a mix of the 2007 GTC and Flextreme concepts, and we rather like the bold new look, particularly the chevron-like forms that grow downward from the headlamps. The Ampera is planned for production in late 2011, about one year after the Volt. A right-hand drive Vauxhall version is scheduled to launch a year after that. Gallery: Geneva 2009: Opel Ampera reveal Gallery: Opel Ampera Continue reading Geneva 2009: Opel goes Voltec, Ampera coming in late 2011 Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Chevrolet , GM , Geneva Motor Show , Opel Geneva 2009: Opel goes Voltec, Ampera coming in late 2011 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Bentley goes flex-fuel, new powertrain in 2012

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:19:00 +0000

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen promised an all-new more efficient powertrain for his lineup in 2012 but declined to give details. In the meantime, he acknowledged that bio-ethanol is an important stepping stone to a greener future as is lighter weight. To that end Bentley introduced its latest model today in Geneva, a project that started 24 months ago as an exercise in mass reduction. That part of the effort yielded savings of 242 lbs off the portly Continental coupe. Under the hood the usual flex-fuel bits have been added to the twin turbo W12 bringing the output up to a massive 621 hp. That’s enough to push the Continental Supersports to 204 mph. Although Paefgen didn’t say what the new 2012 powerplant would be he did mention that he didn’t feel that plug-in hybrids would make a significant impact on the market for at least 5-10 years. Plug-in hybrid technology is being developed elsewhere in the Volkswagen group and it would make sense to apply it to luxury vehicles like Bentleys allowing them to silently cruise around town, while still having massive performance when desired. Gallery: Geneva 2009: Bentley Continental Supersports Continue reading Geneva 2009: Bentley goes flex-fuel, new powertrain in 2012 Auto Blog: Ethanol , Flex-Fuel , Hybrid , Bentley , Geneva Motor Show Geneva 2009: Bentley goes flex-fuel, new powertrain in 2012 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Rinspeed iChange in the flesh

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Rinspeed iChange With automakers pouring into Geneva from around the world, it’s largely up to Rinspeed to hold down the home fort here in Switzerland, and the quirkiest of niche automakers never disappoints. So this year we made sure to swing by Rinspeed’s show stand right away to take in its latest concoction. Called the iChange , we’ve already brought you the details and factory photos of this innovative electric vehicle, and it looks no less unique in person. Its low-slung body is punctuated by a forward-hinged canopy, which can be expanded to accommodate a third passenger as needed. Stay tuned as well for live shots of the E2, a split-personality Fiat 500 that joined the iChange on Rinspeed’s show stand here at the Geneva Palexpo. Geneva 2009: Rinspeed iChange in the flesh originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Volkswagen reveals Polo BlueMotion concept, 87 g/km CO2!

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:59:00 +0000

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion Concept Volkswagen revealed the all-new Polo concept, expected to come to the US market in the next couple of years. This new B-segment car comes in three- and five-door hatchback flavors with a range of gas and diesel engines, but the leader of the pack is the BlueMotion model with 96 g/km of CO2 emissions. More importantly, VW showed a concept for the next-gen. BlueMotion model that will launch in 2010. The BlueMotion concept uses an updated 1.2L three cylinder TDI diesel, with 74 hp. Combined with 15-inch low rolling resistance tires, a blanked off grille, extended rocker panels for lower drag, automatic start stop, and brake energy regeneration. The bottom line is 71.3 mpg (US) and 87 g/km of CO 2 emissions. That makes the new BlueMotion the most efficient five passenger internal combustion car on the road. Continue reading Geneva 2009: Volkswagen reveals Polo BlueMotion concept, 87 g/km CO2! Auto Blog: Diesel , MPG , Volkswagen , Geneva Motor Show Geneva 2009: Volkswagen reveals Polo BlueMotion concept, 87 g/km CO2! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Ford’s all-electric Tourneo Connect

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Click above for a gallery of Ford Tourneo BEV Ford couldn’t be bothered to actually bring a battery-powered version of the Transit Connect to the Chicago Auto Show last month (but they did show off four gasoline-powered versions and announced the BEV there). People visiting the Geneva Motor Show will get a more personal experience with Ford’s latest zero-emission vehicle when the Tourneo Battery Electric Vehicle concept makes an appearance there this week. The idea behind the passenger-friendly Tourneo BEV is to showcase how the battery-only powerplant can be used to ferry people as well as freight. The powertrain for both models was co-developed by Ford and Smith EV and features a 21 kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery pack, a 50 kW permanent magnet motor, and a single-speed transmission. That’s good for a 160-km (100-mile) range and top speeds of about 113 km/h (70 mph). A full charge takes 6-8 hours. These numbers are exactly the same as those announced for the electric Transit Connect . Gallery: Ford Tourneo Connect BEV [Source: Ford ] Continue reading Geneva 2009: Ford’s all-electric Tourneo Connect Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Ford , Geneva Motor Show , Green Daily Geneva 2009: Ford’s all-electric Tourneo Connect originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva 2009: Ford’s all-electric Tourneo Connect