BMW plans to hold course with larger cars
Being BMW has its advantages. Just the other day, we heard news that Renault’s future large cars were in trouble due to the prevailing winds in the automotive sector pushing new car buyers towards smaller, more fuel efficient cars. BMW, on the other hand, is set to launch at least one relatively large model in concept form at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next month called the 5 Series Gran Turism. This vehicle is widely expected to spawn a future production model. Perhaps Strategy Number ONE has moved back a few places? Remember that BMW also owns the Rolls Royce and MINI brands, so the German automaker can stretch out into a wide range of market segments without diluting the hard-earned brand integrity of its own label. Small cars can be introduced under the MINI umbrella. Plus, there’s rumors of another brand in the works to focus on even smaller city cars. On the opposite end of the spectrum, BMW can produce a line of Rolls Royce models that are just dripping with luxury, size, weight and, of course, high fuel consumption. Even that premium moniker is downsizing, though, with the new smaller, gentler RR4 expected to debut next month as well. For what it’s worth, BMW claims that the new Roller will lead its segment in fuel economy and carbon emissions. [Source: Channel 4 ] Auto Blog: BMW , MINI , Rolls Royce , Geneva Motor Show BMW plans to hold course with larger cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:20:00 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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BMW plans to hold course with larger cars
Spain announces $5.3 billion in aid for domestic auto industry
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Seat Ibiza Ecomotive The United States , the United Kingdom and France have already announced plans to stimulate the ailing automakers and suppliers that do business in their countries, so it’s not too surprising to hear that Spain has joined in the ranks as well. Like those other bailout packages, the Spanish government is highlighting the need to invest in eco-friendly automotive technologies. According to data provided by the Spanish government, 350,000 people are employed in auto-related industries in Spain and 6 percent of the country’s GDP is related to the automotive market. Last year, new car sales in Spain dropped by about 28 percent, which seems to be about the average slump worldwide. The European Union has requested additional information from Spain regarding the plan before it will sign off on the aid package. Some European countries have complained that France’s plan amounts to illegal protectionism. Gallery: 2009 Seat Ibiza Ecomotive [Source: International Herald Tribune ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Europe/EU , SEAT Spain announces $5.3 billion in aid for domestic auto industry originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:51:00 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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Spain announces $5.3 billion in aid for domestic auto industry
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Leave a commentJon Stewart talks to "Two Billion Cars" author Daniel Sperling
Click above and scroll down to watch the video Whether the cheap Tata Nano is the driving force behind a massive upswing in the number of cars actively used in the world or not , the day is coming when there will be two billion cars on the roads. So says author and California Air Resources Board member Daniel Sperling . Sperling was on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last week to discuss his new book and to give his predictions about which technologies would power these two billion cars. He said that “eventually” the “vast majority” of the two billion cars will be alternative-energy (pure electric, plug-in hybrids, biofueled, and hydrogen fuel cell) vehicles. Yes, that was as specific as he wanted to get on Comedy Central. Sperling also claimed that we’d need “tens of billions” of dollars in government aid to make the large-scale shift to plug-ins and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Stewart, for his part, said that the automakers represent the past, and he wondered why we don’t just let them fiddle with the deck chairs while others get fuel cell and electric vehicles on the road. Watch the full interview after the jump. Bonus history lesson: Sperling has a slightly troubled past . [Source: The Daily Show ] Continue reading Jon Stewart talks to “Two Billion Cars” author Daniel Sperling Auto Blog: Emerging Technologies , EV/Plug-in , Hydrogen , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily Jon Stewart talks to “Two Billion Cars” author Daniel Sperling originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Jon Stewart talks to "Two Billion Cars" author Daniel Sperling
Posted in Auto Green, Hybrids | comedy-central-, daily, entry, france, geneva-motor, Hybrids, largebmw, mini | Leave a commentGet Approved!
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