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Anti-car extremists driving Big Brother to watch Britain’s roads?

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:50:00 +0000

The Association of British Drivers ( ABD ) has itself in a total tizzy over a proposal to limit speeds on rural single carriageways to 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph). If that wasn’t enough blasphemy to begin a barrage of bellicosity, they say the government plans to enforce this “speed bully” policy with a blanket of average speed cameras along the nations byways. At whose feet does the ABD lay the blame for this attempt at a national standard? Their elected representatives? The insurance lobby? The highway camera league (I made that one up)? Nope. They hold “anti-car extremists” responsible and to drive home their point they offer a 1995 quote (with no context) from Friends of the Earth ( FOE ), “speed limits should be made very low and rigidly enforced to take all the glamour out of motoring”. Perhaps environmentalists would like to see a drop in pollution and CO 2 levels as a result of slower speeds, but blaming people who care about the eco-systems that keep us all alive for every impingement of perceived liberty is getting a little old. Seriously. No one, not even “greenies,” enjoys being forced to drive slower than they want to and cameras alongside roads the length and breadth of Britain would not only be outrageously expensive but also really creepy. Perhaps the ABD would do better to avail themselves of the public comment period regarding the proposal and leave the hollow rhetoric for political discussions. Oh wait, this is the ABD we’re talking about . [Source: Association of British Drivers ] Auto Blog: Etc. , Legislation and Policy , UK Anti-car extremists driving Big Brother to watch Britain’s roads? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Anti-car extremists driving Big Brother to watch Britain’s roads?

Should the U.S. institute a vehicle scrapping plan?

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Last month, Germany reported a shocking 21 percent improvement in auto sales, and the greatest driver in the uptick was a used vehicle scrapping plan that pays drivers 2,500 euros ($3,150) to remove their old car from the road. With new car sales in most other countries down by at least that much, it was widely speculated that other governments would look closely at Germany’s new system to see if it would be worth adopting in their areas. An opinion piece at Automotive News (sub. req’d) suggests that it’s time for the United States to implement its own vehicle scrapping program. President Obama’s recently-passed economic stimulus plan does contain provisions that are intended to help spur new vehicle sales, but has nothing as dramatic as what’s been enacted in Germany. Such a plan would certainly spark major debate as to the environmental benefits and drawbacks of replacing older cars with new ones. One one hand, new cars feature engines that generally use less fuel and definitely emit less pollutants. On the other hand, the production of cars in general creates its own emissions and uses lots of power. What do you think: With signs pointing towards a possible sales recovery in the U.S., is now the right time to give the market an extra kick with a scrapping plan? [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Photo: nico.cavallotto ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , Germany , USA Should the U.S. institute a vehicle scrapping plan? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:06:00 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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iMiEV starts renewable energy-powered trial in New Zealand

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Click above to view a high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi i MiEV The long-awaited New Zealand road show featuring the all-electric iMiEV is underway. Mitsubishi kicked off the trial with a gala event on Tuesday, where over 100 people from the government and other “key stakeholders” were invited to Zealandia, a 252-hectare wildlife preserve, to give the zero-emission jellybean a quick drive. The nice thing about Mitsubishi’s New Zealand test is that the juice is provided by local utility Meridian Energy , which produces all of its energy from 100 percent renewable power (called “carboNZero” and is made from hydroelectric and wind sources). Meridian has been pro-electric cars for years , and has its own Electric Vehicle Programme that is “tasked with researching EV technology and implementing strategies to help NZ unlock a more sustainable personal transportation future, using renewable electricity.” This is the first time an automaker and a utility have worked together in New Zealand on EVs. The iMiEV will launch in Japan this summer and is currently testing there and in the U.S. and Europe in addition to New Zealand. [Source: Mitsubishi] Continue reading iMiEV starts renewable energy-powered trial in New Zealand Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Mitsubishi , Pacific Region iMiEV starts renewable energy-powered trial in New Zealand originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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China rolling out subsidies for hybrid cars

admin — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Hybrid , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , China Ever since last summer’s Olympic Games put the issues on the world stage, Chinese officials have been working hard to alleviate some of the poor air quality, high traffic and fuel consumption woes that its largest cities have been facing. Various measures have been put into effect, such as banning vehicles on specific days based on license number, lowering taxes on fuel efficient vehicles and raising the price of gas. Chinese automakers have been working just as hard on new fuel saving hybrid vehicles, with companies like BYD , SAIC and Chery all working on hybrid vehicles. Now, the two hopeful solutions are set to merge as the government institutes a new set of subsidies for hybrid cars and buses. To qualify, a hybrid passenger vehicle must achieve a relatively meager 5 percent improvement over its non-hybrid competition. Hybrid buses purchased by governmental agencies can qualify if they post at least a 10 percent efficiency improvement. [Source: China Car Times ] China rolling out subsidies for hybrid cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:00:00 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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Mercedes-Benz to enter U.S. CNG market with a natural gas B-Class?

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:37:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Mercedes Benz , Natural Gas , USA Click above for high-res gallery of the BiFuel B170 Compressed natural gas may not be given the publicity it deserves. After all, it burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, it can be collected from landfills and waste facilities and it’s abundant in North America. Regardless, CNG doesn’t seem to get much support from the government as an alternative to gasoline or diesel; certainly much less so than hybrids or fully electric vehicles. This lack of government help for the fuel makes it much less attractive to consumers than other alternatives. Mercedes-Benz is still interested in testing the American CNG waters, though, and the German automaker is proving it’s serious by bringing a natural gas-powered version of its B-Class compact MPV – the BiFuel B170 NGT -to the Auto Show that’s currently taking place in Washington D.C. A CNG-powered B-Class is already available in Europe (and South America), where natural gas, sometimes referred to as autogas, is a more popular choice than it is in the United States. Gallery: Mercedes BiFuel B-Class B170 [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] Mercedes-Benz to enter U.S. CNG market with a natural gas B-Class? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:37:00 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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Mercedes-Benz to enter U.S. CNG market with a natural gas B-Class?

Washington 2009: Colin Powell likes the Fisker Karma

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:50:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Green Daily , Washington DC Auto Show , Fisker Click above for a high res gallery of Powell’s Fisker visit There was a bit of a hub-bub around the Fisker Automotive booth yesterday afternoon thanks to the surprise appearance of one Colin Powell. The former four-star general, Secretary of State and WMD fearmonger spent a lot of time with both the Karma and the Karma S , getting a lot of one-on-one time learning about the vehicles from Henrik Fisker. A lot of well-known government officials visit the Washington Auto Show, but the Fisker booth model I talked with was geeked as anything about Powell’s appearance, asking me to send her the photos I was taking of the visit, even thought there were dozens of people snapping away with their own cameras. Even Powell pulled out his own camera to take his own pictures of the cars. The best part: Powell wore a name tag, just like the rest of us. Gallery: Colin Powell checks out the Fisker Karma Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the Auto Alliance. Washington 2009: Colin Powell likes the Fisker Karma originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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Tesla gives up on San Jose move

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:35:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Manufacturing/Plants , Tesla Motors , Green Daily Click on the Tesla Roadsters Hot Wheels for a high res gallery Tesla warned in early December that without a $350 million loan from the federal government, the Model S sedan will be delayed and the company’s planned move to San Jose, California to open a new HQ and manufacturing plant wouldn’t move forward. Guess what? It’s looking like it won’t happen . The problem, as you might expect, is money, and the fact that Tesla couldn’t raise enough money to finance the deal. Tesla spokesperson Rachel Konrad said that, “We abandoned that because the VC financing environment became so tight and difficult.” One problem with the previously-selected location is that it’s a greenfield site, where Tesla would build a totally new plant. With the low-interest loans that Tesla is applying for (about $400 million total, $250 million for the Model S plant and $150 million for a battery/powertrain facility), the government wants to see brownfield sites get developed. Konrad said that Tesla is looking to keep its headquarters in Silicon Valley and to search for a brownfield site where they can build the Model S. Plug-in aren’t dead in San Jose though. Recently, Coulomb Technologies installed EV charging stations in the city . Gallery: First Drive: Tesla Roadster [Source: KLIV , New Mexico Business Weekly ] Tesla gives up on San Jose move originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:35:00 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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Auto Alliance CEO has another cash for clunkers idea

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:38:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Etc. , Legislation and Policy , USA Photo by Bien Stephenson . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0. Yesterday, we wrote about two “cash for clunkers” ideas being discussed by U.S. and German lawmakers. Over on Gristmill , the president and CEO of the Auto Alliance, Dave McCurdy, has detailed a separate plan that would pay people to get rid of their old cars and buy new ones, new cars that are more efficient and cleaner than older cars. While McCurdy uses at least one slipperly line of thought (where he says that, “In the industry, we often say that the best thing you can due to reduce emissions is to purchase a new car. Why? Because today’s vehicles are 99 percent cleaner than vehicles of the 1970s.” That may be true, but there a not a lot of people driving around in a 1975 Chevy Impala just waiting to trade up), we do understand that, on average, new models are cleaner than older ones. Therefore, the Allliance’s suggestion that vehicles that are ten years old or older would be worth something to the government to take off the road has merit. Especially when coupled with a sliding scale incentive payment that says that the better fuel economy rating your new car has, the more money you receive. Thanks to Bryan P. for the tip! [Source: Gristmill /Auto Alliance] Auto Alliance CEO has another cash for clunkers idea originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:38:00 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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Auto Alliance CEO has another cash for clunkers idea

2010 Ford Mustang GT500 Preview

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:58:23 +0000

Mustang fans, fret no more. Hot on the heels of the L.A. Auto Show introduction of the 2010 Mustang and Mustang GT, Ford has just announced the production of the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 in coupe and convertible body styles. As the afterglow of the 2010 model’s introduction waned, the Mustang faithful were stung by the GT’s dearth of power compared to the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and the upcoming 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. With a standard 315 horsepower, the Mustang GT gets walloped by the R/T’s 372 ponies. Even worse, the base Camaro with a 3.6-liter V-6 produces 300 horsepower. Ouch! The muscle car game is often played by numbers, and Ford was coming up shy with the 2010 Mustang. Now, Ford has announced what we all knew was coming: the high-performance 2010 Shelby GT500. It will debut at the Detroit Auto Show. With 540 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 510 lb-ft torque at 4,500 rpm, all is right again in the Mustang corral. The new Shelby gets its power from a supercharged 5.4-liter overhead cam V-8 with an iron block and aluminum heads. Compared to the 2009 GT500, the 2010 model is up 40 horsepower from 2009, and matches that of the limited-production GT500KR, but at a fraction of the price. Ford estimates the 2010 Shelby GT500 to run 0-60 mph in about 4.1 seconds, through the quarter mile in 12.1 seconds, and top out at an electronically-limited 155 mph. Power gains come (in part) from less restrictive exhaust and intake systems. In back, the new exhaust is finished with four-inch round polished tips. Up front, a totally new intake funnels colder air into the manifold. This change necessitated that the Cobra logo move from the driver’s side of the grill to the passenger side because that’s where the air intake is positioned. The six-speed manual gearbox is a re-cogged T56 that has taller gears in 5th and 6th for better highway cruising. Initial acceleration should be quicker because of the move from a 3.31:1 rear axle ratio to a shorter 3.55. EPA mpg numbers aren’t yet available, but highway fuel economy may increase by a couple, coming in somewhere around 22 mpg, or about what the less powerful Mustang GT achieved in 2009. If you like this post we request you to kindly rate it. continued…. Suspension components are retuned to deal with the GT500′s extra power. The new bracing that yielded a much-improved ride on the 2010 Mustang GT should help the GT500 handle even better than the outgoing model. As expected for the ultimate steed, brakes are by Brembo, and the calipers up front sport four pistons apiece. The new Ford Shelby GT500 carries over the lines of the re-drawn 2010 Mustang … mostly. The hood and grill are simplified and in our eyes, beefed up. Functional air extractors are visible on the hood’s leading edge. A special front air dam with an operative splitter reduces aerodynamic drag and lift. The Shelby also gets unique forged and CNC-milled 19-inch wheels on the coupe (18-inchers on the convertible). It’s bold stripes can’t be missed, even from the inside. The rear spoiler incorporates a Gurney Flap that helps improve downforce at speed. Exterior colors gets matched to specific versions of the upgraded 2010 Mustang’s interior. The exterior stripes carry through the center sections of the leather-covered front and rear seats. Even the ball topping the short-throw shifter is striped. The door sill plate includes an SVT (Special Vehicle Team) logo that glows when the ambient lighting is operational. In terms of equipment, the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 carries the best of what can be found on the Mustang line. Standards include the requisite tilt steering wheel, cruise control, air conditioning, high-powered audio system, and power windows. The GT500 also includes the SYNC infotainment interface and ambient lighting (offering 125 different available interior lighting combinations … ohhhh, ahhhh). Sirius NAV system with Travel Link is optional. While pony car buyers aren’t necessarily interested in crash test performance, the new Shelby GT500 delivers on safety with a standard complement of features including; ABS, traction control, electronic stability control (with “track” and full-off positions), tire-pressure monitoring system, remote keyless entry, and four airbags. SYNC’s 911 Assist is also standard. The 2010 Mustang has not yet been tested, but we expect results similar to what was measured by the government on a 2009 Mustang; full five-star performance. The IIHS hasn’t recently tested a Mustang Coupe, but when they tested a 2007 Mustang Convertible, the results were “Acceptable” for frontal offset crashes and “Good” for side impacts. While Ford Motor Company is certainly struggling with the same challenges that have caused Toyota to close 2008 in the red, the Dearborn-based manufacturer continues to roll out new models. The 2010 Shelby GT500 is the latest, and more are coming. Stay tuned to TheCarConnection.com for more from the 2009 Detroit auto show, but until then you can see more pictures over at our 2010 Ford Mustang page. source:thecarconnection

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2010 Ford Mustang GT500 Preview