Try selling an off-the-wall concept every once in a while Have major automakers colluded against out-of-the-box-thinking? Today is the first day of press days at the LA Auto Show, which is supposed to be the green auto show. Yet, there aren’t really that many buzzworthy green debuts expected. Automakers seem too big and stodgy to actually be surprising. Couldn’t an automaker gain some real PR buzz by doing something completely unexpected and unanticipated? Earlier today I was thinking about this in How Chindian hybrid vehicles could save America . Essentially, China and India are the future of the auto industry, but what we drive in America today is not going to drive the future of the Chindian market. Isn’t that a problem? Why not start trying to build the future in America? Why not try to be more disruptive? Moreover, why not use auto shows to actually do something shocking? Every auto show instead seems to be filled with trend du jours where automakers just go through the motions, to show us they’re going to build the future — one day. Well, why not just give us a real futuristic product rather than just concepts? Or at least a product that breaks the mold every once in a while? I don’t mean just a new hybrid or plug-in vehicle. There are many interesting concepts out there, but instead of concepts, make these vehicles production ready and try to sell a run of them. Yes, I know small production lines aren’t cost-effective, and maybe that’s the problem. Maybe new production systems need to be explored all the time so that the auto industry can become far more flexible, and adaptable. Isn’t that truly the path to becoming revolutionary? Anyway, just ranting. Read the rest here: Will auto shows ever be more shocking and disruptive?

Chrysler's first hybrid under Marchionne due in 2013 Chrylser 300 hybrid to be first out of the gate While Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne believes that hybrid cars are too “costly to produce” and will only “sell at low volumes”, 2025 CAFE regulations will require the automaker to use hybrid technology to achieve the new fuel economy requirements. And the first new hybrid, the Chrysler 300 hybrid, is due out in 2013. Nevertheless, it doesn’t appear that hybrid vehicles are going to be Chrysler’s main products. Instead, hybrids will help supplement Chrysler’s plans to introduce a wide range of diesel vehicles. Additionally, Marchionne would like to see a big move to compressed natural gas vehicles. Source: AutomotiveNews See the original post:  Marchionne: Hybrid cars critical to Chrysler’s future

Fisker: Balancing efficiency and performance. And offers 32 miles of electric range The EPA has cleared the 2012 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, and according to the EPA the Karma offers 32 miles of electric range and achieves a mile per gallon equivalent of 52 mpg. Although in some range extending circumstances, fuel economy can drop to 20 mpg. While some will scoff, perhaps correctly, at the Karma’s fuel economy numbers, the Karma is a performance vehicle, and in that category, the Karma’s numbers are very respectable. For instance, the Karma plug-in offers 403 hp and 981 pound-feet of torque. 52 mpge and 403 hp? That’s a pretty respectable combination of efficiency and power. Source: MotorTrend Excerpt from:  EPA rates Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid at 52 mpge

Will 2014 be the year of the Volt? 2012: The Year GM sheds its government motors image? Today, the auto world has been abuzz with news that GM will invest $2 billion to upgrade a number of manufacturing centers throughout the US, with a significant and timely focus on fuel efficiency. Even better, in 2012 GM will begin rolling out a horde of new and upgraded models. Additionally, the Chevy Volt will soon amp up for a “huge” production lift. Earlier today, GM CEO Dan Akerson told CNBC’s Phil Lebeau that aside from new models, new powertrains, such as those driven by an upcoming 8 speed transmission, would not only enable GM’s vehicles to perform better, but to achieve better fuel economy. Likewise, Akerson noted that GM’s new E-Assist “light hybrid” powertrain would have a big impact on the fuel efficiency of GM’s mid-sized sedans, beginning with a number of Buick hybrid vehicles . As for the Volt, battery production is today a “critical linchpin”. Fortunately, new battery production capabilities are coming online and within the next 24 months, Volt production will experience a “huge uptick” according to Akerson, whom was unwilling to provide official numbers when Lebeau asked when GM might begin to produce 100,000 Volts per year. Interestingly, even earlier in the day, Lebeau also noted that GM’s moves could create up to 4,000 new GM jobs, which could multiply to 40,000 new American jobs according Lebeau. If true – if GM can help create 10’s of thousands of new jobs, while also significantly improving its vehicle quality and fleet fuel economy – it could be time to kill the ‘Government Motors’ moniker, if such time hasn’t already arrived. See original here: Huge uptick in Chevy Volt production by 2014

In the first independent crash tests of mainstream all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt took top grades from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on all measures — in part because both outweigh other small cars. More » Read the original here: Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf crash so good [Video] See the rest here: Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf crash so good [Video]

At the New York International Auto Show, BMW was presented with both the “Coolest Brand” and “Best Performance Brand” awards in Kelly Blue Book’s 2011 Brand Image Awards. “What could be cooler than The Ultimate Driving Machine,” said Jim O’Donnell, President and CEO of BMW of North America. “We are redefining performance by offering the best performing electric, diesel and hybrid vehicles in America, in addition to our gasoline-powered cars, like the Z4 Roadster with the new TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine. Who but BMW would introduce both a full-electric and an M version of the 1 Series Coupe in the same year that it’s introducing a new 6 Series Coupe and Convertible.” “Anyone who’s driven a BMW will understand why the team from Munich won best Performance Brand for 2011,” wrote the editors of Kelly Blue Book. “With powerful yet increasingly efficient engines, legendary ride and handling, and aggressive looks to match, BMW’s vehicles are the yardstick by which innumerable carmakers measure their products.” “Defining ‘cool’ is tricky business, but BMW certainly has most of the boxes checked,” noted the editors of Kelly Blue Book. “Effortless performance? Avant-garde styling? A heritage worth remembering? Check, check and check. For some, cool is synonymous with desirable. If resale value and sales figures are any indication, BMW has that box checked, too.” [Source: BMW ] Read the original here: BMW Takes Two Prizes in 2011 Kelly Blue Book Brand Image Awards

On Monday, BMW unveil the new “i” sub-brand and the first two plug-in hybrid vehicles that will launch in 2013: BMW i3 and i8. In the same press conference, BMW made another important announcement which created an extensive buzz in the Internet world. The Munich-based automaker is launching “BMW i Ventures” , a $100 million venture capital fund to develop a range of mobility-related services. The services are meant to reach even people that don’t own a car,  from parking space information, to ground transportation guidance or planing of a route using various forms of public transportation. The fund is meant for finding and helping the best and most innovative tech startups in the fields of mobility and travel. The fund’s first investment is MyCityWay, a company that develops location-aware apps for urban navigation. With BMW’s funding, MyCityWay will expand to another 40 cities worldwide, including BMW’s hometown Munich. In a short interview for Forbes, Tom Kowaleski, BMWNA vice president of Communications said “it isn’t all about putting people in a BMW or a Mini.” By offering mobility services, BMW sees a potential new source of long-term revenue. This is in its infancy. The vision behind this, as we go particularly into urban markets, is that mobility has means which have nothing to do with an automobile.” The company is currently accepting applications. The BMW i Ventures fund made the Forbes news as well and the US publication digs deeper into the subject. View original post here: Forbes: “BMW’s Newest Model Isn’t A Car”

News from the Land of the Rising Sun:  The Mainichi Shimbun and Shimbun newspapers in Japan state that Honda Motor Co. gave their new hybrid car with low, low price tag of only ¥1.59 million (that’s roughly US$18,600), which makes it the cheapest hybrid vehicle in Japan.  Soon, the new Honda Fit Hybrid might just be the most affordable gasoline-electric car in the United States and the world. The US$18,600 price tag is still as staggering $3,500 lower when compared with the Honda Insight, the present cheapest hybrid in the market today.  It is also $4,600 lower compared to the conventional gasoline-chugging Fit.  While Japan’s market price does not always coincide with the US, Honda Fit Hybrid’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price might land somewhere around $17,000. The Honda Fit Hybrid will carry an electric motor and a 1.3-liter engine. It is expected to achieve 70.6 mpg US, 3.3 L/100km with the fuel economy of 30 kilometers per liter.  However, the Fit Hybrid’s title of being the cheapest hybrid vehicle is challenged by Toyota’s plan to debut its compact hybrid in 2011.  Toyota’s hybrid will have the price tag of around ¥1.5 million (that’s $17,554) and is expected to reach 40 kilometers per liter and 94 mpg US, 2.5 L/100km.  According to analysts, the release of these two hybrid vehicles will improve the competition in the sales of eco-friendly vehicles between the two Japanese automobile giants. Honda’s new Fit hybrid will make its debut in the Paris Auto Show this fall season and will be released sometime in 2011. There’s much more Honda Civic stuff at www.motors.co.uk, the UK’s awesomest portal for second used cars and car information. We actually used it ourselves to buy our Honda S2000, and paid less than 60% of new price! Read the original:  Honda’s Cheapest Hybrid at US$18,600

Honda are one of the most popular manufacturers out there and for good reason they make great cars and great bikes. If you have recently decided to buy a new Honda car or bike you are going to need to get it insured. Insurance is expensive and not something that most people like having to pay for but it is a requirement of law. For the most part car insurance and bike insurance are pretty similar but there are some important differences to keep in mind. Accidents are an important part of driving, they are going to happen. You are required by law to have insurance on your vehicle in order to protect other people in the event of an accident. You can also get insurance to protect yourself in the event that your nice, new Honda gets damaged but this isn’t required, although it is a good idea. In the event that you cause an accident you are financially responsible for any damage you cause. If somebody gets injured that could cost millions of dollars, it is important that you have adequate insurance. The coverage on your Honda bike will be a little bit different than that on your Honda car. The most important difference covers what happens if you get hurt. Insurance policies on cars will cover you if you are injured in an accident, this isn’t the case with motorcycles. When riding a bike there is no personal injury cover for the rider unless he purchases it separately. If you plan to carry passengers you will also need to get a personal injury plan to cover them as well (available at great rates in the UK at www.carolenash.com ). You will probably find that it costs quite a bit less to insure your Honda bike than it does to insure your car. The reason for this is that you are the most likely person to get hurt in a bike accident. Insurance premiums are largely determined by who gets hurt in an accident. It is far more expensive for the insurance company if you hurt somebody else than it would be if you got hurt. Since a bike will do far less damage to other people than a car they are cheaper to insure. Accidents are an unfortunate part of driving,which means that insurance is a part of driving. It is important that you make sure that you have the right insurance coverage. It is a good idea to research insurance before you even buy your new Honda. And that...

Rare earth metals that is Toyota is facing a potential shortage of rare metals that could limit production of hybrid cars according many news stories recently. As it turns it out, China is hording natural resources, rare earth metals in this instance, it deems important to long term viability. Likewise, there are hints that exports could be severely limited into the future, even the very near future. Currently, China accounts for 97 percent of the world’s supply of rare earth metals. Fortunately, however, there are companies and mines in the US capable of a significant uptick in rare earth metal mining. Unfortunately, there aren’t any rare earth metal refineries or processors in the entire United States according to CNBC reporting. So there is some cause for pause. Ultimately, REM’s probably won’t kill the hybrid, but if efficiency is the driver of the new US economy, there is a lot of work to be done. View original post here: Could REM kill the hybrid?

To never put rubber to the road? I never thought much of Porsche’s move to hybrid cars , but at least the development was a step in the right direction. That step, however, has been made much smaller. Now that VW is taking over Porsche, the Cayenne and it’s upcoming hybrid sibling will be discontinued . See the rest here: DOA: Porsche Cayenne hybrid

Better than the Prius? At the Frankfurt Auto Show there will be a good bit of hype around Toyota’s plug-in Prius. However, there might be even more hype around the new Auris hybrid vehicle. Unlike the Toyota Prius , the Auris hybrid will be based on Toyota’s first HSD Full hybrid technology that enables the Auris to run solely on electric power, gasoline or a combination of the two. Likewise, according to early reports, the Auris hybrid will then be able to use the engine as a generator to recharge the batteries, or to power the Toyota’s latest hybrid offering. Expect more details in the next few weeks. Continued here:  Auris hybrid more advanced than the Prius

Soon to face a rare metal shortage? By next year, the Prius hybrid car could help Toyota sell 1 million hybrid cars per year, if there are enough rare metals available for such an output. According to reports , the supplies of rare metals needed for the electric motors and batteries of hybrids is beginning to tighten. And, eventually, China – the biggest supplier of such metals – is going to reduce its exports. Fortunately, however, new mines in Canada and the US are set to open. View post: Prius: Biggest rare metal guzzler

How have you dealt with your hybrid problems? Most hybrid owners are pretty happy with their hybrid vehicles . 90-some percent of Toyota Prius owners, for instance, would buy another Prius. Still, there are consumers that are unhappy with the performance, usually fuel economy, of their hybrids. Sometimes these hybrid problems are bugs. Sometimes these hybrid problems are based on a misunderstanding of hybrid technology. For instance, many hybrid drivers will start a cold hybrid and baby it a on a few mile trip and wonder why the fuel economy isn’t better. In such conditions, I use more aggressive acceleration followed by coasting until the engine warms. While such a tactic seems counter-intuitive, it does lead to better short trip fuel economy. Yet, many dealers – from the complaints I’ve read – never seem to discuss such tactics. Does your dealership and service department fully understand hybrid technology? Read the original: Does your dealership / service department understand hybrids?

Toyota must challenge the CR-Z hybrid Sometimes when you sit atop the world, it’s quite easy to become complacent. Well, when it comes to Toyota’s hybrid kingdom, there certainly has been no complacency. Not long ago there were rumors that the 2010 Third Generation Toyota Prius was going to cost more than the eventual sticker price. However, Toyota didn’t want pricing to be too high, as it might provide a competitive advantage for Honda’s Insight hybrid . Thus, Toyota reacted with new pricing and a new base model. Likewise, now that Honda is preparing to roll out the hot looking CR-Z sports hybrid , AutoWeek is reporting that Toyota is developing a 2-door sporty hybrid, based upon the third generation Prius, to compete with Honda’s next hybrid. Also, according to the reports, the new design of the 2-door Prius will be developed by an Italian design studio. That could mean a vehicle that not only breaks out of the Prius design mold, but the design box of Toyota altogether. Than alone could be exciting. Excerpt from: 2 door, sporty Toyota Prius on the way