2020: More e-bikes in China than cars in US 100 million electric vehicles strong and growing fast Back as the Internet bubble was beginning to froth, I remember some very smart people making the argument that no one was ever going to challenge Microsoft without government intervention. The government didn’t need to create competition, I argued, the marketplace would take care of the problem and the Internet would lead the way. Like the Internet, electrification is also an inevitable game changer, but just as Microsoft misjudged the Internet revolution, so too might major automakers and the government miscalculate the plug-in revolution. In fact, China might have already biked its way into total plug-in domination. Companies with the size and power of a Microsoft almost inevitably become complacent. The Big 3 certainly have had their share of such arrogance, although the recent recession did temper this losing attitude to some extent. Even Toyota fell into the same elitist trap, only to be reinvigorated by the entrepreneurial spirit of Elon Musk and Tesla. Yet, even Musk might have misjudged the electric revolution. As Americans, we arrogantly assume the rest of the world is inevitably going to become more like us. Why? We’re a pretty dysfunctional bunch. We have so much, yet we use it so unwisely. We excel most at consumption and waste — even when it comes to our plug-in vehicles. Certainly, others want to consume more, even waste more, but they still have different expectations. Likewise, the Chinese auto market might never go through an SUV craze such as America experienced back in the 90’s. In fact, they might never buy the big is better American automotive mantra. In places like China, big is often a pain in the butt, even if you can afford it. A plug-in electric bike, or e-bike, on the other hand, fits China’s transportation background, and it’s simply more functional and far cheaper than a car, especially one of American size. That doesn’t mean the Chinese, and other emerging markets, won’t want cars. They probably will, but they’ll have no problem adapting to much smaller and lighter vehicles than most Americans, even Europeans, would consider. In fact, China can create a new mold for transportation...

GM's eAssist makes sense according to Intellichoice Toyota dominates list of 2012 Best Values You know the line. Hybrids just don’t add up. The hybrid premium isn’t made up for decades, long after the car has expired. Blah, blah, blah. Yet, over and over numerous forms of analysis regarding such trivial issues as cost of ownership find a lot of hybrid cars do make sense, financial sense. The Intellichoice Best Values in 2012, for instance, concluded that 5 of the best 24 values were hybrid-only vehicles. The Honda Insight picked up the best compact passenger vehicle. The Toyota Prius V took best crossover/wagon, while the regular Prius earned the best passenger car nod. Likewise, Toyota’s Lexus CT 200h won the best premium compact passenger car. And, finally, the Buick LaCrosse eAssist topped the best premium passenger car list. Hybrid cars aren’t just for making green statements. Many hybrids are also a smart buy for people that invest in the future. Source: MotorTrend Read the original post:  Smart buy: Many hybrid cars are an Intellichoice

VW taking microhybrid leadership to full hybrids soon 39 million micro-hybrids in the next five years New analysis by Lux Research suggests hybrid vehicles have a much bigger interim future than most might expect, especially here in America. Unfortunately, that future is driven by micro-hybrids, but at least that’s still a bit of an improvement. Thus, by 2017 micro-hybrids will achieve 42 percent market share in the light duty vehicle space. Mild hybrid cars are are also expected to make a jump forward. One of the more interesting points of the study is that a huge micro-hybrid market already exists. Only we don’t know about it here in America because the micro-hybrid is driven by Europe, especially by VW. Europe will continue to dominate the micro-hybrid in 2017, but China and America are also expected to make big jumps in adoption. Similarly, according to Lux, as battery makers begin building out supply chains and manufacturing capabilities for plug-ins, mild hybrids stand to experience great growth as well as they suck up spare capacity in the lithium-ion supply chains. Market share, however, is still projected to be less than 2 percent by 2017. That makes me wonder about full hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius or the new lithium hybrids coming from Ford. Why couldn’t these vehicles take advantage of the development of lithium supplies as well? By 2017 Toyota, for instance, could be well beyond 1 million hybrid sales per year according to previous company forecasts, and if lithium costs are conducive, Toyota has indicated it would make the switch to lithium batteries. Likewise, Ford could easily be producing a few hundred thousand hybrids per year as well if the plug-in build out provides cheaper lithium batteries for all. The Lux study apparently did not assess full hybrid potential under this same scenario. Anyway, a little disappointing how real world, cost-effective solutions for increasing fuel economy, such as microhybrids, turbo-charging, etc. are driven by the European market and not the US, but I’ll be getting back to that later. Source: GreenCarCongress Originally posted here: Forget plug-ins and the Prius. It’s a mirco-hybrid world by 2017

Jeremy Clarkson has famously contended that you cannot be a true “petrolhead” until you’ve owned an Alfa. For those of us in America, this presents an issue as old Alfas are increasingly few and far between. We’ve found one automotive answer to this problem that although strange should be expected—a Miata. More » Read the original post: Mazda Miata dressed up like vintage Alfa answers a question no one asked [Found On EBay] Originally posted here: Mazda Miata dressed up like vintage Alfa answers a question no one asked [Found On EBay]

You never know when something is going to go wrong on a racetrack, but when it does you quickly begin to appreciate the importance of good safety equipment. We imagine the driver of this 1972 Triumph Spitfire would be among the first to agree with this sentiment. More » Go here to read the rest: This is what a high-speed track day rollover looks like from a driver’s perspective [Video] Read the rest here:  This is what a high-speed track day rollover looks like from a driver’s perspective [Video]

Today, Garmin announced new social features for its StreetPilot onDemand subscription-based navigation app at Macworld | iWorld 2012 in San Francisco. The iPhone application also gains new voices, icons, and revised 3D rendering. The social features tie in with Facebook and Foursquare, enabling users to share their location once they arrive and coordinate meeting with friends. The update also integrates Wikipedia, thereby adding information to one’s adventure planning and to learn about locations while traveling. (An ideal use for this would be touring a city like Washington, D.C., on foot, where there are many famous buildings to learn about. The app provides pedestrian and public transit guidance, as well.) We’re told that the social functions are implemented in a way intended to avoid distractions, so the app will not be reading messages as you drive. To celebrate this update, Garmin is reducing the price of its North American turn-by-turn navigation apps by $10 during Macworld (January 26-28, 2012). StreetPilot onDemand remains 99 cents to try it for 30 days. Likewise, sister-brand Navigon is also marking down its applications. Revised special pricing: Garmin StreetPilot Onboard USA: $39.99 Garmin StreetPilot Onboard North America: $49. Garmin StreetPilot onDemand: $19.99 annual subscription Navigon USA: $39.99 Navigon North America: $49.99 Navigon MyRegion: $19.99 Key lesson here is to hold out for discounts on navigation apps. The major-brand apps can be expensive, and history shows that they are often discounted for special events and holidays. Related: How to choose the best smart phone navigation app Go here to read the rest: Garmin StreetPilot onDemand navigation app adds social features, drops price temporarily

We heard, and Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik confirmed, that the Korean automaker will supply Chrysler with six-speed automatic transmissions for use in the new Dodge Dart. While it’s not uncommon for a manufacturer to source components from an outside supplier, it does seem a bit peculiar to see Chrysler and Hyundai pairing up again so soon after the recent split of the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA), a joint manufacturing concern the pair shared with Mitsubishi. World Engines, Worldly Transmissions But that peculiarity may only be on the surface. As a result of that now-dead partnership, the Dart’s updated 2.0- and 2.4-liter engines—the ones that use the six-speed automatic—are very similar to engines that Hyundai continues to use. (The Hyundai Sonata, for instance, uses a turbocharged 2.0 and a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter, both of which evolved from the GEMA program.) We suspect that Chrysler needed to quickly source a pile of six-speed autos for the sake of fuel economy—the four-speed units paired with the old versions of these engines wouldn’t have cut it—and so went with the Hyundai transmission, which should easily link up with the engines. Chrysler won’t confirm the purchase arrangement, and Hyundai isn’t offering any specifics on exactly which transmission it will sell to the Italian-Americans. The Calibration Game We’ve also heard that Chrysler is having some difficulty with final calibrations of the Hyundai gearbox. This got us wondering how the automaker has already arrived at the Dart’s “unadjusted combined fuel-economy rating” of 40 mpg, a miserly number that happens to be one of the metrics needed to trigger Fiat’s recent automatic five-percent ownership increase in Chrysler. It’s possible—and, again, Chrysler is staying mum on the subject—that the 40-mpg unadjusted number comes from a 2.0- or 2.4-liter Dart with a six-speed manual, or the turbocharged 1.4-liter model and its dual-clutch automatic. And the calibrations in question could be those more specifically focused on drivability, which wouldn’t affect emissions or economy, therefore allowing the company to lock in its mileage number. If it is indeed the Hyundai-sourced ’box used to achieve the 40-mpg number, the latter scenario...

Reborn Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Castagna is coming to the U.S. and has embraced our bigger-is-better mantra with this trio of seventeen-and-a-half foot stretch limousines built out of Fiat 500s. More » Originally posted here: Italians Think America Wants A 17-Foot Fiat 500 Limo [Fiat 500] See the original post:  Italians Think America Wants A 17-Foot Fiat 500 Limo [Fiat 500]

It’s hard to tell if Mayor Bloomberg’s new video is supposed to advertise NYC’s new transportation policies or is setup to a porno that never gets to the sex, but we can see both featuring a slightly mad Ed Koch. More » Here is the original: Bloomberg’s New NYC Cab Video Is Hilariously Bad [Taxis] Original post: Bloomberg’s New NYC Cab Video Is Hilariously Bad [Taxis]

One of the world premiere at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show was the all-new Audi Q3 Vail. The stylish crossover is confirmed for the U.S. market and will compete directly against the BMW X1 SAV that goes on sale this fall. Same as the X1, the Audi Q3 targets a younger demographic that embraces outdoor activities and the need of a small, compact SUV with adequate storage space. The Q3 Vail shares its platform with the A3 hatchback and is powered by a 314-horsepower 2.5 liter turbocharged 5-cylinder with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The rumormill churns out that a possible S-like model is in the pipeline as well. The Energy Red color was developed specifically for the Q3 and blends in nicely with matte gray parts and aluminum and high-gloss black window surrounds that add a touch of luxury. The Vail name comes from the mountain resort in Colorado and unites “a powerful presence with a sporty lifestyle,” according to Johan de Nysschen, the Audi of America president. To be competitive against similar offerings from BMW and Mercedes, the Q3 would carry a starting price in the mid-$30,000s. The rest is here:  2012 Detroit Auto Show: Audi Q3 Vail – BMW’s X1 competitor

The big kickoff event at the Detroit auto show this morning had Ford debuting its midsized Fusion sedan to the usual accompanying ear-splitting music and laser-light/fake fog extravaganza. Company officials made a point to show how sales and market share of the top-two competing models in the segment (Toyota Camry and Honda Accord) have been on a fairly steady decline over the last few years. Of course, they also conveniently failed to mention that the Camry’s and Accord’s sales slide came when both models were mid-cycle or near the end of their current designs. Nevertheless, now is the time, Ford suggests, to show the world that the new Fusion is ready to become king. How bold does the new Fusion have to be to woo buyers in this most-competitive segment? For starters, the Fusion’s styling looks like a baby Jaguar XJ – very pleasing to my eye, but I wonder if the seemingly high rear deck and sloping rear window will compromise rear visibility. In not offering a V6 engine in its midsized sedan, Ford follows in Hyundai’s footsteps, but cuts against the grain of most in the industry. With fuel economy as one of the key drivers, the Fusion will be offered three four-cylinder engines, two with EcoBoost turbocharging technology, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid powerplants. Give Ford some credit here for having the guts to go small – much in the same way they chose not to offer a V8 in the redesigned Explorer. The plug-in hybrid (expected to achieve “100 MPGe…8 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt”) is especially appealing. It also makes the Volt look like a toy. The press conference also included a video snippet of the “latest version” of the maligned MyFord Touch system. Interestingly, the video showed the passenger adjusting the screen…not the driver. Past Fusions have done well in Consumer Reports tests – with reliability among the best in its class. There’s a lot riding on this car, and Ford hopes its vision steers customers to their showrooms before people take a look at the upcoming redesigned Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu. Even though NASCAR is on its winter break, the race is still on in America’s best-selling midsized sedan class. Read the original post:  2012...

In what’s being called (by us) the biggest victory for America since the 1980 Olympics hockey team and Baywatch , BMW announced today that it will offer a six-speed manual transmission for the 2013 M5, expected to hit U.S. dealerships in late summer. The manual will be available from the beginning of production and will be a no-cost option in place of the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic we sampled during our first drive late last year in Spain. And the U.S. market (okay, and Canada) is the only one in which the three-pedal M5 will be offered. On the previous-gen, V-10–powered M5 (E60), a six-speed manual was hastily added to the North American order sheet after customers and some magazine editors who shall remain us complained about the herky-jerky SMG automated manual. Unfortunately, BMW chose to make the traction-control system on the manual cars undefeatable. That this was later rectified with a software update failed to assuage. About 50 percent of all American E60 M5 buyers chose the manual. There will be no such problems with the new M5 manual model, as it will carry the same M differential and final-drive ratio as the dual-clutch cars, as well as identical traction and stability programs. See the original post: BMW Confirms Stick Option for U.S. M5: Victory—and a Manual Gearbox—Is Ours! View post: BMW Confirms Stick Option for U.S. M5: Victory—and a Manual Gearbox—Is Ours!

The original conception of SUV’s came in the form of a truck-based platform. Lately, many SUV’s have taken a different direction incorporating a car-based unibody design. For upwards of 27 years the Nissan Pathfinder has been in existence first as a boxy body-on-frame design later going the way of a unibody structure and then for its last 7 years of existence, took on its original truck-based architectural roots. Now the all-new 2013 Nissan Pathfinder takes on a new face integrating the same underpinnings as the upcoming Infiniti JX . Built on a new unibody platform, the new Nissan Pathfinder will be lighter, stronger, and sportier than all previous conceptions. Still in “concept” form, the 2013 Nissan Pathrinder touts Nissan’s famed VQ-series V6 engine mated to their latest version of their CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Together, the new powertrain will yield a 25% improvement in fuel economy. Moreover, the new Pathfinder will feature an innovative 7-passenger seating configuration. Hit up the official press release from the North American International Auto Show below for additional information while the new Pathfinder is still in concept form. Nissan Pathfinder Concept Meets Changing Customer Needs for Enhanced Style, Comfort and Fuel Economy – Pathfinder Concept Previews Innovative 4th Generation Design’s Fresh New Styling, Full-Size Roominess; Makes World Debut at North American International Auto Show – In 1986, when the Nissan Pathfinder first appeared, it quickly revolutionized the sport utility vehicle segment. Offering previously unavailable features such as ample cargo room and a comfortable on-road ride, along with authentic off-road adventure performance, it immediately set a new standard in the emerging SUV class. Now 27 years and 1.2 million-plus Pathfinder sales later, a new dimension is about to be added to the popular nameplate with highly evolved, aerodynamic styling – previewed in the stylish Nissan Pathfinder Concept. “If there is one constant among the first quarter century-plus of Pathfinder’s existence, it has been its ability to innovate, with each generation evolving to meet the changing needs of the customer,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division,...

After brief opening remarks from General Motors CEO Dan Akerson, head of design Ed Welburn, and President of GM North America Mark Reuss at the College for Creative Studies, America’s biggest automaker dropped the sheets off the Cadillac of compacts — the 2013 ATS ahead of tomorrow’s Detroit Auto Show . More » View original post here:  2013 Cadillac ATS: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Live Photos [Detroit Auto Show] See original here:  2013 Cadillac ATS: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Live Photos [Detroit Auto Show]

The Leaf is a great car, but can it really change the world? Can the world wait for electrification? I was never much of a car guy growing up. It wasn’t until the first hybrid cars hit the street that autos started catching my attention, especially since code was such a big part of their powertrain, and coming from the software industry, that was compelling. Plus, after 9/11 it just seemed obvious that things needed to change, and batteries and fuel cells seemed so necessary. For years I didn’t care about any new vehicle technology except those with batteries. I even wrote off fuel cells for a while. Sure I believed they would happen one day, but my focus was today. In that regard hybrids, including those with plugs, seemed the game-changing call to action. Of course, in the early days, I had never heard of issues such as the legacy effect. Nor did I have any understanding of the depth of automotive supply chains and their impact on scale in the auto industry, nor how long it takes to move a car from concept to reality or to retool a production platform. Likewise, I didn’t know much about battery technologies themselves. I just assumed once lithium hit the street, it was on. Well, lithium has hit the street, but the revolution is far from on. Why? For one, there is little consensus in the auto industry regarding how exactly the auto industry is going to move forward according to a recent KPMG study of automotive industry executives. While automakers are investing heavily in all forms of electrification — hybrids, plug-in hybrids, range extended electrics, battery electrics, and fuel cells — there is no consensus regarding which will dominate and when. In fact, it seems obvious that their won’t be ONE powertrain solution for many decades into the future. By 2025, for example, automakers expect all the above forms of electrified powertrains, combined, to achieve less than 15 percent of total auto sales, combined . Sure, some form of hybrid is the dominant technology, but there isn’t even one hybrid technology that dominates. Several years ago I might have questioned such a study, arguing that these automotive execs just can’t think outside of their box, or they don’t realize how fast technologies are going to...