Every carmaker has an electric car “planned”, but most of these concepts are what they are – concepts – and few actually “walk the talk”. However, some of them mean business. Mitsubishi is a pioneer in putting EVs on the road with the i-MiEV, which will also sell in Europe with Peugeot and Citroen badges.

Renault-Nissan is also betting big time on an electric future – the Alliance aims to be the world leader in electric vehicles and will roll out 500,000 units per year across the globe from 2012. Designed to be affordable and mass market, Renault’s Z.E family of EVs and Nissan’s Leaf are on track to “electrify” the industry.

Nissan has announced that its Leaf will be made in Sunderland, UK, joining two other manufacturing hubs for the EV. Production will begin in Oppama, Japan later this year followed by Smyrna, Tennessee, USA in 2012. Sunderland will come on-line in early 2013 with an initial annual production capacity of about 50,000 units. Also, construction of Nissan’s advanced lithium-ion battery plant will begin next month. The facility, which will be located at Sunderland, will have a production capacity of 60,000 units per year. It will start supplying battery packs to Renault and Nissan come 2012.

To go on sale later this year, the Leaf is a zero-emissions EV powered by an 80kW electric motor. It has a real world range of 160 km and charges to 80% capacity in under 30 minutes. Top speed is “more than 140 km/h”, so this is not a city-only vehicle. Billed as the “world’s first affordable, mass produced zero emission car”, the Leaf is a five-seater C-segment hatchback sitting on an all-new dedicated EV platform. Will it come to Malaysia in the future? Possible, since the official pictures show a right-hand drive car, but it’s not easy for car companies to plan ahead when our country doesn’t have a clear roadmap on green cars and technology.

Click here for videos and images of the Nissan Leaf.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Toyotas running away from their owners are occuring at a frequent rate these days, but are all cases genuine or is there something sinister behind the allegations? Could it be like the scandals facing celebrities, where the first few bonafide revelations open the gates for many “victims” trying to “cash in” on the situation?

One James Sikes called 911 earlier this month, saying that his 2008 Prius was traveling at a high rate of speed, the accelerator pedal was stuck, and that the vehicle was out of control and could not be stopped. The operator repeatedly instructed the driver to shift the car into N and turn off the power button. A California Highway Patrol officer intercepted the vehicle and instructed the driver to press firmly on the brakes, apply the emergency brake and turn off the car, at which time the Prius came to a safe stop.

Toyota engineers employed data analysis, static and dynamic testing and inspected all related components of the “problem car”. A final report is not due yet, but there are “strong indications that the driver’s account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis”. Toyota believes that Sikes’ assertion that the vehicle could not be stopped with the brakes is fundamentally inconsistent with basic vehicle design and investigation findings. A congressional staff member and NHTSA officers were present during Toyota’s examination, and the latter are conducting their own investigations.

Among the points raised by the embattled carmaker were that Sikes’ car’s accelerator pedal was tested and found to be working normally (the Prius is not subject to the sticky accelerator pedal recall) and the floor mat wasn’t even touching the gas pedal. During testing, Toyota abused the brakes on purpose by continuous light application in order to overheat them. The vehicle could be safely stopped by means of the brake pedal, even when overheated, and there were also no diagnostic trouble codes found in the power management computer.

Read Toyota’s full press release on its findings after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE

NHTSA investigators were present during Toyota’s examination, and are conducting their own investigation of the vehicle and its performance. Toyota’s examination was also observed by a congressional staff member.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

The Honda CR-Z has all the basics to look like a hot compact coupe, but seeing the production car for the first time in Geneva, I thought that it looked very tame. The hi-tech feel, driver centered dashboard gets our thumbs up, though. But there’s nothing a good tuner can’t fix, especially for a brand like Honda with top notch outfits like Mugen and Spoon in the wings.

The picture above is of a lowered, kitted and mildly modded CR-Z by Spoon. The more purposeful stance comes from a front coilover kit and rear spring/shock kit that lowers ride height by a substantial 50 mm. Other parts being tested are the N1 exhaust, ECU, and “twin-block” calliper and slit rotor brake upgrade. There’s also an attention grabbing set of Spoon CR93 alloys in blue. Working on the ECU and brakes will have to take into account that these are vital components in the CR-Z’s hybrid drivetrain, though.

And this is Mugen’s idea of how the CR-Z should look like. Full bodykit (lower front bumper reminds us of the Modulo kit for the Honda Accord), dramatic rear spoiler and diffuser, Mugen GP wheels in bronze and LEDs on the front grille are added. The suspension, exhaust system and air filter have been uprated too, while the cabin gets a unique gear knob, extra gauges and floor mats with logos.

View live images from Geneva of the CR-Z and Spoon/Mugen versions after the jump.

Source

Honda CR-Z live images from Geneva

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Yes, that’s true, and the buyer in question is PSA Peugeot Citroën. Mitsubishi has announced the signing of a “Final Cooperative Agreement” that will see the French giant purchase 100,000 units of the i-MiEV electric car. PSA will market the rebadged i-MiEV as the Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero. Both French badged cars will go on sale in Europe by the end of this year, starting with their domestic market.

This sealed deal comes just after both parties failed to agree terms for a capital alliance in the style of Renault and Nissan. Mitsubishi Motors CEO Osamu Masuko and PSA chief Philippe Varin met at Geneva and jointly released a statement that a capital tie-up would not be realistic although both companies would continue to expand business ties.

Besides this latest deal, which would help Mitsubishi achieve better economies of scale for an expensive project, PSA also bases its Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser on the Japanese maker’s Outlander SUV.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

The Audi A8 is the newest limo on the block and this is the A8 hybrid which aims to be the greenest in the segment. Shown at the Geneva show for the first time, the A8 hybrid’s drivetrain consists of two propulsion units – a 2.0 TFSI internal combustion engine and an electric motor – that develop a total output of 245 bhp and 480 Nm of torque. This enables a 7.6-second 0-100 km/h time and a top speed of 235 km/h, done in Transporter style coolness.

A hydraulically operated wet clutch links the TFSI with the electric motor (with 45 bhp and 211 Nm), which makes available its grunt from standstill. In the boot lies the Audi’s lithium-ion battery pack, which still leaves 400 litres of luggage space. Subsystems that operate on engine power in a regular car have been modified to run entirely on electric power in the A8 hybrid, such as the air-con compressor, electromechanical steering system and brake booster, all managed by a “pulse control inverter” system. All these will appear in the Audi Q5 hybrid, to be introduced later this year.

This A8 is capable of fully electric-powered driving up to 65 km/h and for a distance “exceeding 2 km”. Normally, both work in tandem but above 65 km/h, the combustion engine propels the car alone, while the electric motor supplies ancillaries and recharges the battery. The TFSI is disconnected from the drivetrain when the driver chooses to coast. The e-motor also functions as a generator to recoup energy from braking and replenish the battery.

Green credentials? The A8 hybrid’s average fuel consumption is 16.1 km/l while CO2 emissions is 144 grams per km. These figures compare very well with the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, which does 12.7 km/l and 186 g/km. Launched last year, the car from Stuttgart pairs a V6 with electric motors for a combined 299 bhp/385 Nm, and was the first production hybrid to use lithium ion batteries.

Live images from Geneva and the official gallery is after the jump.

Audi A8 Hybrid live images from Geneva

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Here are some live pictures of the 918 Spyder concept that Porsche unexpectedly revealed in Geneva. The Stuttgart based sportscar maker, now under the Volkswagen umbrella, was very protective of its “sports car for the 21st century” (500 bhp V8 with 9,200 rpm redline, 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, faster around Nurburgring than the Carrera GT, capable of 33.3 km/l) – as you can see from the pictures, they erected a barrier (with few big Germans keeping guard in case any daredevil journalist got too close) around the show stopper. My vote goes to Weissach in the Geneva battle of the hybrid hypercars between this and the Ferrari 599 HY-KERS!

My best efforts are in the gallery after the jump – they’re not great, but you’ll get to see some close ups of the exterior details and the cabin. For more details on the 918 Spyder, click here to read our earlier post. An impressive video is in the post right below this.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Didn’t anyone send Ferrari the memo that the colour for anything green and environmentally friendly is blue, and not green? It’s nevertheless a nice colour for the car, as with most bright colours on Ferraris. It’s matte green if you notice. This concept is called the HY-KERS. In Ferrari speak, a concept is a vettura laboratorio, which is Italian for experimental vehicle. It’s based on a 599 GTB Fiorano but has hybrid technologies in it.

Weighing about 40 kg, the compact, tri-phase, high-voltage electric motor of the HY-KERS is coupled to the rear of the dual-clutch 7-speed F1 transmission. It can produce over 100 horsepower. In town driving, the car can run on motor alone. The motor can also act as a generator for brake energy regeneration. All engine ancillary components are now electrically powered.

The batteries for the electric motor are located below the floorpan of the car in the underbody. As usual, this placement helps with the vehicle’s centre of gravity as it is positioned low and below the passenger cabin. The result is a centre of gravity that is even lower than the standard 599. Look after the jump for a short video presentation on the new 599 HY-KERS.

VIDEO: Ferrari 599 HY-KERS Concept

VIDEO: Ferrari and the environment

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Jaguar Land Rover, Bladon Jets and SR Drives are in a joint venture consortium to develop a new ‘micro jet turbine’ for use in range extender hybrid drives. By now all of you should know what a range extender series hybrid system is, since once was featured in the Proton EMAS Concept.

The aim here is to replace the piston combustion engine in the range extender with a very compact jet turbine that is capable of burning a wide range of fuels. The turbine would be hooked up to a high-speed switched-reluctance generator to produce electricity to either recharge the batteries or power the electric motor that drives the series hybrid. The consortium has been awarded a juicy £1.1 million grant by the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board for the research and development. The total project cost is £2.2 million.

According to the consortium, replacing a petrol-powered piston engine with an axial flow micro jet turbine can save up to 15% of overall vehicle weight. Some of the weight savings will be from the engine’s supporting parts such as the lack of needing water cooling, oil or catalytic converters. You can also reduce emissions by burning cleaner fuels other then regular petrol.

But more importantly, Bladon Jets says the actual physical size taken up by the micro turbine is much much smaller, and could potentially only take up 5% size, weight and parts count of a typical piston engine. A prototype christened the BJ-300-P measures only 4 inch in diameter and 12 inches in length. Also, with a turbine there is only one moving part.

Production versions of the ‘Ultra Lightweight Range Extender’ as it is called could take between 5 to 15 years though – hopefully by then it will still be relevant to the motorist, as it definitely sounds like a cool idea.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Concept cars are generally done as a ‘what if’ exercise and to gauge public perception and interest before moving ahead with the production version. This is why the one big question put forth at the Proton Concepts microsite is “would you like this to be the future of Proton”. According to Datuk Syed Zainal, it may take another 2 years before we can see a production version of the Proton EMAS on the roads.

But in any case, one of the most common comparisons in the comments so far is between the EMAS and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. After all, the i-MiEV is somewhat similar – raised floor, compact size, rear motor and rear wheel driven. But the key difference between the two cars is that the i-MiEV is a pure electric car while the Proton EMAS Concept is a series-hybrid. But what exactly does series-hybrid mean? Does it mean it is not an electric car thus is not as ‘clean’ as an i-MiEV?

A series hybrid is basically an electric car, as long as you have enough juice in the battery packs for the electric motor to function. The Proton EMAS Concept has a range of 50km, which is shorter than the i-MiEV’s 160km range. But note that it isn’t an apple to apple comparison – the i-MiEV’s 160km range is calculated based on the Japanese 10-15 urban mode driving cycle, while Proton’s 50km range is not specified. It might be a mixed mode range or a ‘best effort’ range.

The difference is range can be quite easily explained – it is simply because the i-MiEV has a larger battery. It needs to have a larger battery because the battery is its only source of energy. Once you’re out of juice, you’re a sitting duck. With the Lotus Range Extender system, you do not need to have such a large battery – only one that is large enough to complete most city trips. That means less weight and less cost in terms of battery costs. Let’s say your office is about 15km to 20km from your home. You’ll hopefully be able to complete a to and fro trip on a single charge. When you get home, you plug the EMAS into your wall socket again to fully charge it up (3 hours on our 240V voltage – longer in 120V countries), and repeat the cycle the next day.

What happens when you need to travel further than 50km? The internal combustion engine will turn on and run to generate power. Because it only generates power and does not drive the wheels, Lotus can optimize it to run only at certain RPM points, so there is no need for costly variable valve timing, or this or that. The engine is a very simple 1.2 liter 3 cylinder single cam engine with only 2 valves per cylinder and a 10.0:1 compression ratio. It does not have to be built to withstand high RPM speeds so it can be lighter and cheaper to manufacture. The Range Extender engine only runs at 2 points – 1,500rpm and a higher 3,500rpm when you need to generate power a little faster. Peak torque is 107Nm at 2,500rpm, while peak power is quoted at 51hp at 3,500rpm.

Thus the Proton EMAS is hybrid in the sense that the electricity that its electric motor requires can be obtained through 2 ways – either a wall socket, or by the range extender engine burning fuel to generate electricity. As long as you do not exhaust the 50km battery capacity, your EMAS is technically as good as an electric vehicle and there won’t be any exhaust gas coming out of your exhaust pipes. But we don’t know yet how the battery management system works so the range extender engine might kick in earlier to ensure the battery does not get too weak in order to preserve battery life.

What I want to know now is how efficient the engine is in burning petrol to generate electricity. How many km can the car go on the electricity generated by 1 liter of petrol? That will give us a “km per liter” measurement for when the car is not running on plug-in power. Look after the jump for 4 pix of the engine.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

I haven’t finished covering every hall of the Palexpo yet, alternating between going out for “war” and posting in the press centre, but so far, the SEAT IBe is one of the concepts that caught my eye. Low, wide, squat, and free from the severe “criss-cross” lines of the current range (which I personally dislike), the IBe could be VW’s Spanish subsidiary’s rival to the Scirocco. Although its 3.78 m length is 250 mm shorter than an Ibiza, the IBe measures 1.8 m wide and is only 1.22 m in height. The showcar’s 19-inch wheels also look good with almost zero overhangs beside them.

Unveiled here by managing director James Muir (right) and chief designer Luc Donckerwolke, the IBe is a zero-emissions electric vehicle powered by lithium-ion batteries. With a max output of 102 bhp and 200 Nm of torque, the IBe completes the century sprint in an unexceptional 9.4 seconds, although the 0-50 km/h time of 3.4 seconds suggest good point and squirt acceleration. Top speed is limited to 160 km/h.

An electric powered SEAT should be quite far away, since the brand only plans to launch its Leon Twin Drive plug-in hybrid in 2014. For now, SEAT has a popular range of diesel powered Ecomotive cars, the best of which (Ibiza Ecomotive) achieves 27 km/l and 98 g/km of CO2. More pictures after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Proton has just sent over a PDF document explaining the EMAS Concepts a little. The text goes a little more in depth into the design language. It’s an interesting read if you just can’t get enough of the EMAS triplets. If we’re lucky, Proton will probably showcase then at the KLIMS the end of this year alongside some other interesting stuff. Then both you and I will get to see it in flesh. But for now, enjoy the text and remember to click the ‘fullscreen’ button for easier reading, or download it for offline use.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Italdesign-Giugiaro have uploaded a video presentation of the new Proton EMAS Concept on its website. You can watch it here streamed from local servers. The video has a little technical presentation in it, showing how the interior dimensions were designed to be similiar to that of a C or D segment SUV, etc. Hope you enjoy it!

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Proton’s range of concept hybrid city cars have been officially unveiled in Geneva today and we now know that they are called the EMAS, the EMAS Country and the EMAS3. For non-Malaysians reading this site, EMAS basically means gold in Bahasa Malaysia, but in this context it also stands for ‘Eco Mobility Advance Solution’. The cars were unveiled at Italdesign Giugiaro’s booth by our ex-PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who so happens to also be Proton’s advisor.

The EMAS is the 5-door 4-seater silver hatchback that we first saw. The other two models are the EMAS3, which is a three-door 3+1 seater for city driving, and the EMAS Country which is for country driving – that’s the model with the SUV styling and raised suspension. The concept cars were designed by Italdesign-Giugiaro to fit the description of a compact car with the passenger room of an SUV.

Proton EMAS

The EMAS range of vehicles all run on a common platform that can spawn some other body variants such as a small van for short commercial trips around the city. The chassis has a wheelbase of 2,590mm (the shorter EMAS3’s wheelbase is 2,035mm). Imagine a small zero emissions and silent van used by Pos Malaysia to deliver your mail and parcels! The batteries are positioned somewhere at the centre of the car. The Lotus Range Extender engine is mounted at the front.

It’s basically a 1.2 liter inline-3 engine that’s designed to run only specifically as certain RPM ranges, since it does not drive the wheels directly but only generates power to recharge the batteries. This means it does not necessarily have to rev very high. Drive torque is provided by the electric motor. So it is not surprising that the 1.2 liter engine’s peak power is 51 horsepower at a very low 3,500rpm.

Because the engine does not have to rev high, Lotus can design it for a lower redline and certain parts such as valve springs and etc do not have to be built to tolerate higher speeds. This can save weight and cost – and the result is an engine that weighs only 56kg according to the original specs. But in any case, the specs that was unveiled here is actually slightly more powerful than what Lotus initially announced when they introduced the range extender engine. The original Lotus Range Extender press release quoted two different power generation points depending on load – 20hp at 1,500rpm and 47hp at 3,500rpm. The engine can run on gasoline, ethanol, methanol or natural gas.

The electric motor outputs a continuous power of 45kW and a peak power of 75kW. The motor’s torque output is pegged at 240Nm at peak, and does not require the use of a gearbox, so the motor drives the rear wheels through a fixed ratio. 0 to 100km/h tales 14 seconds, the car’s top speed is 170km/h, and one battery charge’s worth of range is 50km before the internal combustion engine needs to kick in to recharge it. You can also charge the battery via an electrical outlet as it has plug-in capabilities. A full charge is said to take 3 hours with 240V 13A power point.

The interior (which you can see above – we’re in the midst of getting better pix) is said to feature two TFT monitors in the center mounted at a concave angle. The right hand monitor shows the speedo and various other vital statistics of the car such as the hybrid system energy flow diagrams, while the left hand monitor handles the in-car entertainment and communication settings, including a browser for internet access. A third display located beneath the center console is a touch screen display that allows you to control various car functions.

“The unveiling of the concept cars today reflects the long-term strategy we have in matching global automotive standards as we expand and reinforce our presence worldwide. We strive to listen to our customers to ensure the development of a global car that meets customer’s requirements and expectations. The aim is to produce the global car for world market in the future,” said Proton managing director Dato Syed Zainal. According to DSZ, the car is between 17 to 24 months away from production, so we’re looking at a 2012 to 2013 launch date!

We’ll be back very soon with some more info from our man Danny on the floors of Geneva with more live photos of the car (live photos now uploaded) as well as perhaps some videos. Look after the jump for a full spec sheet as well as product images.

Dimensions and weights

Mechanical units and performance

GALLERY: Proton EMAS 5-Door

GALLERY: Proton EMAS3

GALLERY: Proton EMAS Country

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

This is the Porsche concept car that they’ve managed to keep under the wraps so far while other Geneva debuts like the new Cayenne were prematurely leaked. It will debut alongside the Cayenne and the 911 GT3 R Hybrid on Porsche’s Geneva stands.

The 918 Spyder reminds us of the Carrera GT and thanks to its hybrid powertrain, it can hit 100km/h in under 3.2 seconds. It can also do the Nurburgring in less than 7 minutes and 30 seconds, which Porsche says is faster than the original Carrera GT! Even with these impressive figures, Porsche claims an average fuel consumption of just 3 liters per 100km though you’ll use far far more than this when you are really gunning it as hard driving isn’t factored into ‘combined fuel consumption’ driving behavior.

The car is built on a modular monocoque bodyshell made of carbon reinforced plastic as well as magnesium and aluminum. Thanks to that, curb weight is only 1,490kg, despite having to carry the entire hybrid system. That’s a lot of stuff there – the combustion engine which will no doubt be large and powerful since this is a performance car, and then we also have the batteries and the multiple electric motors.

The hybrid powertrain in question combines a 9,200rpm redline high revving V8 producing about 500 PS together with electric motors on both the front and rear axle. The motors produce a combined output of 218 PS. Peak combined output from all the power sources is 718 PS. Rear wheels are driven by the V8 and an electric motor through a 7-speed Porsche PDK dual clutch transmission, while the front axle’s electric motors drive the wheels via a fixed transmission ratio. These motors get their power from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery mounted behind the passenger cell, which seats two by the way.

The car can work in four different modes. In Hybrid mode, the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine but shuts either off depending on conditions, just like a regular series-parallel hybrid like the Prius. The Sport Hybrid mode turns on both electric and V8 power all the time, with most of the drive power going to the rear wheels. There is also torque vectoring so power is distributed well between the left and right wheels. In Race Hybrid mode, both power sources also work together, but there is also a “push to pass” button that feeds in extra power for overtaking. Finally, the E-Drive mode allows the car to move on electric power only up to 25km.

Look after the jump for three initial hi-res photos they’ve released.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

This is the production version of the hybrid Toyota Auris HSD, which debuts at Geneva this week. Gone is the weird blue dashboard of the concept car. Two versions will be offered in Europe – one which does 89g/km of CO2 in emissions and 74.3mpg while another does a wee bit less eco-friendly numbers at 93g/km of CO2 and 70.6mpg. on the combined cycle. But Toyota’s press release only mentions one engine variant – the 1.8 liter VVT-i with an electric motor so I have no idea what makes the numbers different.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive system’s 1.8 liter VVT-i engine is mated with a 60kW electric motor. The 1.8 liter engine itself only makes 97 horses at 5,200rpm and 142Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, while the 60kW motor makes a peak torque of 207Nm between 0rpm all the way up to 13,000rpm. Peak combined output is 134hp. But of course if the Auris HSD is anything like a Prius, during a drive everything just works in the background and all you feel is a CVT-like engine note accompanied by a very soft electric whine depending on what mode the system is in.

Compared to a regular Auris, the Auris HSD is lightly more aerodynamic at 0.283 Cd compared to 0.290 Cd. The Auris HSD’s upper front grille opening has been optimised to promote a smooth flow of air over the upper half of the body, and the lower grille has been made larger to reduce airflow resistance and improve engine cooling efficiency. The flat, vertical surface of the corners of the front bumper corrects the airflow as it passes over the front wheels, helping minimise turbulence in the wheelarches. Ride height has been reduced by 5mm, and finally the alloy wheels are of a special aerodynamic design and are wrapped with low rolling-resistance tyres.

Look after the jump for a hi-res gallery.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

It has been slightly over 3 months since BMW launched the all new 5 Series mid-sized sedan. The sedan variant will be joined by the touring as well as the tarmac-cracking M5 versions. Apart from these two BMW will also add an ActiveHybrid variant, like the ActiveHybrid 7 and X6.

What you see above is the conceptual version of the 5 Series ActiveHybrid that will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show next week. The company has revealed that the concept is powered by a 6-cylinder petrol engine fitted with BMW’s TwinPower force-induction system. The engine is paired with a 40kW electric motor and an 8-speed gearbox. Those wheels remind me of the design on the E34 M5.

You can probably expect the concept to produce about 400hp and up to 600Nm of torque which is lower than the power output offered by the ActiveHybrid 7. The X6 variant makes 480hp and 779Nm of torque but that vehicle has two electric motors. As with with most hybrid vehicles, the concept also has an engine start/stop system and brake energy regeneration. A production version is expected to show up in about a year.

Look after the jump for some high-res images as well as a video.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Here’s another image of the Hyundai i-flow concept which will be unveiled at Geneva next week. The i-flow, which advances the ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language Hyundai currently uses on cars like the new Sonata and Tucson, previews a future D-segment contender, according to the Korean carmaker.

Under the sheetmetal is Hyundai’s first diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. The package consists of a new 1.7-litre engine with two-stage turbocharging, lithium Ion-polymer batteries and a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Combined with drag coefficient of 0.25Cd, the i-flow’s CO2 output is a low 85 g/km and it only consumes three litres of fuel for every 100 km (33.3 km/l).

Hyundai says that the i-flow cabin “redefines the perception of space in a sedan bodystyle”, and this concept will use next-generation materials and technologies co-developed with top chemical company BASF. Elements such as the seats and centre console has BASF’s input for minimal weight and volume, while the cockpit’s main interface screen recognises not only touch but also “gestural inputs”. The glossy Liquid Metal eco-friendly waterborne coating developed by BASF Coatings contains special-effect pigments that give the surface a polished metal appearance, good for highlighting the car’s complex lines.

Also making their debuts will be the facelifted i30 (with cleaner powertrains and enhanced spec, production starts next month) and eco focussed Blue Drive variants for the i10, i20, i30 and ix35 (European version of the Tucson). All Blue Drive cars except the SUV produce less than 100 g/km of CO2. One step beyond the blue-badged models is the ix35 FCEV which shows Hyundai’s latest hydrogen fuel cell tech. The show car features steps to reduce cost and complexity of fuel-cell manufacturing as well as new approaches which simplify final assembly, leading to full production in 2012.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

The Proton Concept Car, which will be unveiled at next week’s Geneva Motor Show, will showcase a series hybrid drivetrain designed and developed by Lotus Engineering.

Integrated into the Italdesign penned concept is the Lotus Range Extender engine, which uses a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine to replenish charge in the battery and provide electrical power for the drive motors when battery levels are low. This method is much like GM’s E-REV system in the Chevrolet Volt, where the internal combustion engine does not power the wheels, and only acts as a “generator”. The battery can also be recharged via household sockets to achieve initial electric-only operation. No range is given for the pure electric mode, just a mention that it’s “acceptable”. Click here for more technical info on the Lotus Range Extender engine.

Dr Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering said: “The hybrid drivetrain of the Proton Concept is another example of Lotus Engineering’s expertise in electrical and electronic systems and efficient performance engines. The high efficiency Lotus Range Extender engine, which we unveiled to great acclaim at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year is perfectly suited for the advanced series hybrid we have created for the Proton Concept city car. It is an exciting example of the diverse range of highly efficient total propulsion systems that Lotus Engineering continues to develop for its partners and clients.”

A hi-res copy of the image above is available after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

We searched long and hard for a statement that could sum up the Mercedes-Benz F800 Style concept in the extremely lengthy press release before chancing upon this: “The F800 Style is both a technology platform and a showcar”. Stuttgart calls the F800 Style, which will make its world premiere in Geneva, a “research vehicle” that previews not only the design path Mercedes is heading in, but eco-friendly tech for the future.

Let’s start with the styling bit. The F800 Style wears the wide grille, big logo face of the SLS AMG, in turn inspired by the classic “Gullwing”, which is the look we can expect from future Mercs (the mysterious unnamed sculpture they showed at the Detroit show had the same nose). Design boss Gorden Wagener has confirmed this with Autocar UK, adding that the first production car to sport the new look will be the next CLS, set for launch later this year. Besides the front design, the rear horizontal light bar also pays homage to the 300SL. Wagener adds that although Mercedes uses past designs as inspiration, they will never do “retro”, “trendy” or “sacrifice design for aerodynamics”. We can also look forward to all future Mercs having LED daytime running lights, although they aren’t meant to look aggressive.

The “technology platform” bit is held up by two advanced propulsion proposals – plug-in hybrid and fuel cell. The former combines a 300 bhp V6 petrol engine with a hybrid module rated at 109 bhp. The lithium-ion batteries with a storage capacity of over 10 kWh can be recharged either at a charging station or a household power socket, and can solely power the car for up to 30 km. Claimed fuel consumption is 34.5 km/l coupled to CO2 emissions of only 68 g/km. Performance isn’t sacrificed for this – 0-96 km/h is done in 4.7 seconds while top speed is 250 km/h. In electric mode, maximum velocity is 120 km/h. This system will be launched together with the next-gen S-Class.

Next up is fuel cell tech. The fuel cell generates current by chemically reacting hydrogen with oxygen, producing water vapor as the only emission. The components of the fuel cell drive are not new; Mercedes already has them installed in the limited edition B-Class F-CELL. However, unlike the front-wheel drive B-Class, the rear driven F800 has the fuel cell located in the front, while the compact electric motor (136 bhp, 290 Nm) is installed near the rear axle. Mercedes intends to show the flexibility of its F-CELL system, which can be used for different drive configurations.

On the safety front, Distronic Plus Traffic Jam Assistant makes its debut. A development of the existing Distronic Plus, this new system allows the F800 to automatically follow the vehicle in front of it into curves. It’s capable of recognising the difference between driving along curved roads and turning, which means it does not “blindly” follow the vehicle up in front – for example, when it changes lanes in order to exit the highway. The result is that at speeds of up to about 40 km/h, Traffic Jam Assistant can steer the car by itself. If that’s too scary a prospect, drivers can override the system at any time.

Also new is PRE-SAFE 360°, which anticipates another vehicle potentially crashing into it from behind. It reacts by engaging the brakes around 600 milliseconds before a rear-end collision occurs. Mercedes says that the key advantage of this is that braking one vehicle helps prevent secondary accidents such as those that occur when the car is pushed uncontrolled into an intersection or a pedestrian crossing, for instance.

More pictures after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

This is the Flextreme GT/E concept car that will be Opel’s showstar at the Geneva show next month. Using the Chevrolet Volt’s extended range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology, the 4.7-metre Flextreme is the first big bodied housing for the E-REV drivetrain.

As a recap, the wheels of E-REV cars are powered by electricity at all times (unlike hybrids). For journeys up to 60 km, energy is supplied by a lithium-ion battery pack. However, unlike regular EVs, E-REV will continue running when the battery is depleted, as a small gasoline engine then acts as a generator to provide current. GM says that this arrangement “eliminates any possibility of range anxiety through fear of being stranded without power”. Charging the Flextreme via a 230V outlet takes less than three hours.

The Flextreme GT/E has a drag co-efficient of just 0.22, which helps it reach a 200 km/h-plus top speed. Weight reduction measures include the use of carbon composite panels, polycarbonate window glazing and aluminum alloy structural components. 370 Nm of torque comes in at 0 rpm to propel the Flextreme to 100 km/h below nine seconds.

More pictures after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Tesla Motors, maker of the battery powered Roadster sports car, lost three employees in a plane crash which happened over California’s Silicon Valley. The twin-engine Cessna 310 crashed shortly after taking off in fog from Palo Alto Airport. No injuries were reported on ground, but the accident cut off power supply to companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Facebook.

“We are withholding their identities as we work with the relevant authorities to notify the families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Tesla is a small, tightly-knit company, and this is a tragic day for us,” said Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk.

Police said that the plane struck a power tower and one of its wings came off, hitting a residential structure. Electricity was cut across the town, affecting about 28,000 people and forcing two hospitals to rely on emergency systems.

This unfortunate incident aside, things are looking up for the company. Palo Alto will be the future base for Tesla Motors, which is set for an initial public offering and the announcement of the location of its US assembly site. The 500-staff outfit has delivered about 1,000 of its $109,000 Roadsters (0-96 km/h in 3.7 seconds, 200 km/h limited top speed) to buyers, which includes celebrities like George Clooney.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

This is the 5 by Peugeot concept car that previews the upcoming 508 sedan. The concept will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show which is just around the corner. Under that pretty good looking thing is an all wheel drive HYbrid 4 powertrain which means it has a 163hp 2.0 liter DHi FAP diesel engine and a 37hp electric motor.

The former is mounted on the front axle while the latter sits at the back. The powertrain is able to output 200hp collectively and its fuel consumption is figured at 74.3 miles to the gallon. The system also releases 99 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometer. More information will be released soon meanwhile continue reading to view an image gallery.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Toyota has announced that it will launch the 2010 RAV4 compact SUV as well as the production-ready Auris HSD at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

The front end of the RAV4 is now treated to a more aggressive styling along with revamped headlights and a redesigned grille with more chrome. Toyota also said that the interior has been ‘refined’ as well.

Toyota Auris HSD

The Auris HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) is a C-Segment full hybrid that will be built at Toyota’s Burnaston factory in the UK. The company said that the hybrid vehicle will go on sale across Europe by summer this year.

Apart from these two cars, Toyota will also showcase the Prius Plug-in Hybrid as well as the FT-EV II electric vehicle concept. AE-86 fans in Europe not to worry, the company will also present FT-86 sports car concept at the motor show.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Lexus has released a teaser image of the CT 200h which will make its debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The CT 200h is a development of the Lexus LF-Ch concept that was revealed six months ago and features the second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology.

According to Lexus, the CT 200h will be the “first full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment”. The press release also stated that the CT 200h will offer “new levels of refinement, sophistication and attention to detail, without compromising style or driving pleasure”.

View a high-res version of the teaser image after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

We previously posted a single teaser image of a Citroën concept, and here’s more information and images released by the French carmaker of its Geneva showstar. Called the DS High Rider, it’s supposed to “represent a bold and radical vision of the future, combining compact dimensions with generous internal volumes, dynamic performance, sophisticated style and consummate quality,” according to Citroën.

Typically Citroën, the DS High Rider’s windscreen soars over the heads of its front occupants. The muscular appearance is also brought by the high waistline and 19-inch alloys, while the bold front end features gaping air intakes, long headlights and defined ridges along the bonnet. Citroën says that the roof is covered with a “coated textile material”, whatever that is. Dimensions are 4.26m long, 1.82m wide and 1.48m high. To get a mental picture, that’s the same width as a Honda CR-V, but 20cm lower and 26cm shorter than the Honda.

Under the skin lies a ‘Full Hybrid’ drivetrain that combines PSA’s acclaimed HDi diesel engine with an electric motor located on the rear axle. Citroën says that the DS High Rider has fuel efficiency and power of an HDi diesel engine with the ecological benefits of an electric vehicle. More pictures after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Porsche has announced that it will launch the 911 GT3 R Hybrid at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The company said that the hybrid technology on the car is specially developed for racing which makes it different from the hybrid systems we are used to. It features two electric motors (each developing 60 kW) on the front axle while the rear axle has a 4.0 liter flat six that pumps out 480hp.

Apart from providing extra power the hybrid system can also help reduce fuel consumption which means drivers may not need to visit the pits that often. Porsche revealed that after its debut in Geneva the 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested in long-distance races at the Nurburgring including the 24 Hours on the Nordschleife which happens on May 16th and 17th. More images can be found after jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

Kia was present at this year’s Chicago Auto Show and took the opportunity to reveal the Ray concept vehicle. The Ray is based on the Forte platform and measures 4,400 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, 1,360 mm high and has a wheelbase that is figured at 2,700 mm in length.

The concept which is able to seat seat four utilizes a plug-in hybrid powertrain that is made up by a 1.4-liter Gamma GDI engine that outputs 153hp as well as a 78 kW electric motor. It uses a continuously variable transmission. The Ray is able to deliver 1,200 kilometers in terms of overall range and can travel for 80.5 kilometers on pure electric power.

Overall fuel consumption is figured at 1.2 liters per 100 kilometers which sounds very good. Key features on the Ray concept includes a “cool car” technology along with nano-laminate films and cool-glazing materials that reduce solar heat which can help keep the interior cool. This will then reduce air conditioning loads and subsequently greenhouse emissions.

It also has a drive-by-wire steering system, touch screen controls, Kia’s UVO voice and touch-activated controls and more. More images can be found after the jump.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

The Kia Ray concept car will make its debut at next week’s Chicago motor show. Previously we’ve seen a design sketch that showed a low-roof coupe style four-door body. That image, which shows the rear of the Ray, also revealed a glass roof and prominent wheel arches. Now we can see the front design – no grille, long headlamps that stretch into the front fender and very little front overhang.

Styled at the Kia Design Centre in the US, the Ray is a plug-in hybrid that also shows off “Kia’s evolving design direction”. Since we like how the current crop of Kias look, it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll evolve.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

General Motors is of the opinion that it will be able to reduce costs and improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors by doing it themselves. So they’ve set out to try to design and build their own and have set 2013 as a targeted debut year. The GM-designed and built motors will see first use in a two-mode hybrid system for rear wheel drive vehicles. This sounds like trucks, trucks and more trucks – the Volt and Cruze are front wheel drive.

“In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now. By designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries as they evolve, potentially reducing cost and weight – two significant challenges facing batteries today,” says Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations.

The GM two-mode hybrid system runs like its namesake in two modes. It is capable to run the car in an EV-only zero emissions mode. The two two modes are the ‘input mode’ and the ‘compound split’ mode. The ‘input mode’ is used for moving from a stop, driving at low speeds, and towing, basically any vehicle situation where you need more torque. This mode runs in gear 1 and 2 and can run either with electric power only, engine power only, or both. The compound split mode is used for cruising. In this mode, the electric motors only help the combustion engine when they are needed.

GM claims that they’ve been working at preparing for this for years now, and that the electric motors would be built in the US at a GM facility. They probably couldn’t do it any other way, since they received US$105 million from the US government sometime in the second half of last year with the intention that the money be used for the R&D and manufacturing of electric motors and related drive components in the US. If they decide to go with more cost effective countries, they would probably have to return the money.

But while they dump money into motor R&D, they are also planning to continue to work with suppliers to co-design electric motors and buy them. “This is a strategy we use today with batteries. We are partnering with suppliers to create innovations faster than ever before. Our goal is simply to establish GM as a leader in automotive electric motors. We see that leadership as a key enabler – both to our long-term success and to our nation’s move away from oil dependence,” added Stephens.

Source

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.

This is a teaser image of the Kia Ray concept, which will make its debut at the Chicago motor show next month. Not much is known about the Ray, but the Korean carmaker says that it is a plug-in hybrid that also shows off “Kia’s evolving design direction”.

Styled at the Kia Design Centre in the US, the Ray looks to have four-doors wrapped in a low-roof coupe style bodyshell. It’s obvious from the picture that the Ray has a glass roof and prominent wheel arches. We reckon that it should be quite a looker in the metal.

On another note, Kia says that real-life testing of its hybrid vehicles (both petrol and diesel variants) will start this year in the UK.

© 2010 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 22 Mar 10 07:33:03 +0000.