More pics of the Buick Riviera concept
The folks over at the Hollywood Extra blog have shown us all some more pictures of the Buick Riviera concept that will debut at the Shanghai Auto Show.I'm really liking how the Enclave style translates into an elegant, sporty package.
I'd expect this to preview a product for both the Chinese and US markets for the end of the decade.
Chinese owned Rover (Roewe) shows styling promise
1. Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp (SAIC) purchased the assetts of UK's Rover brand.
2. SAIC is stymied in its plan to re-launch the Rover brand when Ford excercised it's option to purchase the Rover brand from BMW.
3. SAIC renames Rover as Roewe and continues with plans to bring re-launch the cars anyway.
4. We get to see the first of the newly freshened Rover/Roewe cars in the W2 concept shown here. Unlike some product we've seen lately from companies that shall remain nameless (I'm looking at you Subaru)...SAIC is showing that they have some styling chops.
There are several established players in the world car market that should be nervous (assuming Roewe can get quality down as well).
2. SAIC is stymied in its plan to re-launch the Rover brand when Ford excercised it's option to purchase the Rover brand from BMW.
3. SAIC renames Rover as Roewe and continues with plans to bring re-launch the cars anyway.
4. We get to see the first of the newly freshened Rover/Roewe cars in the W2 concept shown here. Unlike some product we've seen lately from companies that shall remain nameless (I'm looking at you Subaru)...SAIC is showing that they have some styling chops.There are several established players in the world car market that should be nervous (assuming Roewe can get quality down as well).
Buick Riviera Concept
Buick's Chinese arm is preparing a concept coupe for the Shanghai Auto show.Digging up the classic Riviera name, this coupe seems to show how some of the Buick design language from the Enclave might make it to a sportier package.
Since Buick in the US and China are committed to working closely from now on, we should see some of this design language influence Buicks we can by in the USA as well.
This would make a great Zeta-based coupe for Buick (assuming GM continues down the Zeta-for-everyone path - currently on hold pending new US regulations for fuel economy/CO2 emissions).
More details and pics as they are released.
GM to show next E-Flex vehicle in Frankfurt
The good folks at Winding Road are reporting on a statement made by Bob Lutz at last week's NY Auto Show about the follow-on to the Chevy Volt concept.
Another E-Flex vehicle (a battery powered vehicle with a supplementary engine/power source to extend range) will be shown at the Frankfurt show in September, likely badged as an Opel.
Expect this E-Flex to use a biodiesel engine as the 'range extender' and to have a unique body to that of the Volt.
GM still plans on putting an E-Flex powered vehicle into production in 2010 - barring any unforeseen problems getting the Li-Ion battery technology scaled up to allow electric-only operation for 30-40 miles.
See the video of the interview at:
Winding Road: Bob Lutz - New Volt-based Concept will Debut in Frankfurt
Another E-Flex vehicle (a battery powered vehicle with a supplementary engine/power source to extend range) will be shown at the Frankfurt show in September, likely badged as an Opel.Expect this E-Flex to use a biodiesel engine as the 'range extender' and to have a unique body to that of the Volt.
GM still plans on putting an E-Flex powered vehicle into production in 2010 - barring any unforeseen problems getting the Li-Ion battery technology scaled up to allow electric-only operation for 30-40 miles.
See the video of the interview at:
Winding Road: Bob Lutz - New Volt-based Concept will Debut in Frankfurt
GM reconsidering all their cool rear drive plans?
I mentioned earlier today that government or consumer action would possibly cause the automakers to change their product mix...I really didn't expect to see a concrete example the same day.
Over at Winding Road, they are reporting that Bob Lutz is saber-rattling that GM might have to hold off on some of their most exciting upcoming product to see what the Bush Administration does with regard to CAFE (fuel economy) rules, etc.
In the report, they claim that the Camaro is a done deal, but most everything else is now being reconsidered. This could include the Alpha platform (next Pontiac G6 and Cadillac BLS), rear drive replacements for the Chevy Impala and Monte Carlo, as well as rear-drive Buicks, etc.
The issue, according to Lutz is that they don't know how they'd get 30% better economy from these platforms.
My take? They think they know how to get there - but aren't sure yet. So, the benefits of mentioning product cancellations (possibly causing Washington to enact less aggressive new rules) outweigh the bad PR of looking less eco-friendly.
Come on, Bob...you can't talk about how green GM is and how hard you are working on all this cool technology and then claim that you can't figure out how to make RWD as efficient as FWD...it makes you and GM look like you don't know what you are doing (at best) or are lobbying away our future to save a buck (at worst).
Read about it at:
Winding Road: Lutz - Most of GM's Rear-Drive Future 'On Hold' Due to Possible Regulation Changes
Over at Winding Road, they are reporting that Bob Lutz is saber-rattling that GM might have to hold off on some of their most exciting upcoming product to see what the Bush Administration does with regard to CAFE (fuel economy) rules, etc.
In the report, they claim that the Camaro is a done deal, but most everything else is now being reconsidered. This could include the Alpha platform (next Pontiac G6 and Cadillac BLS), rear drive replacements for the Chevy Impala and Monte Carlo, as well as rear-drive Buicks, etc.
The issue, according to Lutz is that they don't know how they'd get 30% better economy from these platforms.
My take? They think they know how to get there - but aren't sure yet. So, the benefits of mentioning product cancellations (possibly causing Washington to enact less aggressive new rules) outweigh the bad PR of looking less eco-friendly.
Come on, Bob...you can't talk about how green GM is and how hard you are working on all this cool technology and then claim that you can't figure out how to make RWD as efficient as FWD...it makes you and GM look like you don't know what you are doing (at best) or are lobbying away our future to save a buck (at worst).
Read about it at:
Winding Road: Lutz - Most of GM's Rear-Drive Future 'On Hold' Due to Possible Regulation Changes
Check your politics at the door - changes in the auto business and global warming.
Our world is changing.
Dispute the causes all you want, but the truth is that our climate is changing and we can either sit on our hands or we can do everything in our power to try to stabilize the climate (using the things we agree we can control) and protect the lives we've all become accustomed to (whether that means having to run your A/C a certain number of days a year or keeping your beach house above the ocean - though the whole in-house aquarium thing might become a selling point down the road).
There are countless little things that we can do as individuals to try to help. They all center around using less energy (either directly or in the things we buy).
Since this is a blog about cars...I'm not here to talk to you about switching to florescent light-bulbs (though that would be a cheap and easy start, if you are interested).
Ultimately, there are decisions that need to be made with regard to what we choose to drive. Evaluations need to be made about what we really need in a car and what the environmental impact of said choice will be. Since CO2 is a direct by-product of the amount of fuel you burn, the flip-side of this coin is that you can not believe in global warming as a human caused phenomenon and still justify a low CO2 emitting choice on the basis of fuel savings or reducing our national consumption of oil.
Of course, the decisions may get made for us in light of the US Environmental Protection Agency's new mandate (via the US Supreme Court) to regulate CO2 emissions as an official pollutant. This may force our and automakers' hands with regard to vehicle choice.
I, for one, would much rather make conservation choices now and send a message to automakers - giving them a head start - then to live through another 1980's fiasco where awful cars get built to meet a deadline from the government.
As consumers and/or government shift their thinking and make environmental factors part of the buying decision/production requirements, automakers will add offerings (or alter current offerings) in response.
...and what companies are best positioned to take advantage of this shift most quickly? A couple names might not surprise you, but I'm sure one will. You can also check out the latest report from the Union of Concerned Scientists rating relative pollution (including CO2) from the major automakers - even though they disagree with one of my choices below.
Honda, already an established producer of economical cars has made an enviable position for itself with its hybrid models, but also its new Fit hatchback. 
The Fit is a roomy, versatile, economical product - all while being quite a little go kart that keeps you from feeling like you sacrificed driving fun for your lower carbon footprint. Combined with Honda's IMA hybrid technology that can easily be retrofitted to just about any product they make and they could quickly put a hybrid of just about any product on the road.
Toyota, the 800lb gorilla of t
he current eco-car movement (even though they sell plenty of guzzlers as well) has their green poster child Prius (as well as the related hybrid versions of several Toyota and Lexus products). Less expensive are the eco friendly cars in the Scion line (xD and xB) as well as the Toyota branded Yaris sedan and hatch. Toyota certainly has a nice niche carved out for itself with products in several categories that would make nice alternatives to its competition all while providing higher economy (and subsequently lower CO2 emissions).
Now for the unexpected player in this 3-way eco race...GM.
'What?!' I hear you saying. 'Isn't GM a long-in-the-tooth sign of everything that is wrong in the auto industry? Aren't they a company that has made their name selling low-mileage, CO2-spewing, low-tech junk for decades.' - not anymore (not to mention that their reputation of selling low-economy is way overblown) . Witness the following:
GM developed arguably the most sophisticated electric vehicle ever to see production, the EV1, in the 1990's. Lack of customer acceptance killed that electric car - GM was well within their rights to pull them all back in - given the legal requirements to keep parts on the shelf for years after they went out of production. The only reason you've heard that they 'killed the electric car' is because some very influential and money-ed individuals in Hollywood had their feathers ruffled when GM wouldn't give them exactly what they wanted.
GM is a global company with incredible reach with regards to technology that they can bring to bear. They have subsidiaries with incredible expertise in technologies as diverse as electric powertrains, biofuels, diesel, fuel cells, and efficiency increasing technologies for the workhorse gasoline engines.
One example of this is the 'skateboard' chassis that they have had in development for years. It would allow a wide range of hydrogen fuel-cell products to be brought to market quickly and cheaply (of course, first we would have to see significant efficiency gains for the fuel cells and a hydrogen infrastructure for refueling).
A second example is the recent Volt concept from Chevrolet - using a technology GM calls 'E-Flex' the architecture shown by this concept is much closer to reality than the 'skateboard' in that it uses existing electric powertrain elements from hybrid cars and allows for a supplementary power unit that could be a conventional gas engine, a diesel, a small fuel cell, or any of a wide range of biofuel options. The E-Flex concept would allow for high effective fuel efficiency products that could also leverage recharging via a conventional wall-outlet (and therefore drawing power from what could be a more eco-friendly point source of pollution).
A third example is GM's broad investment in ethanol fuels. Millions of GM vehicles already on the road could be fueled by an E85 blend of gasoline and ethanol - and, once ethanol production is shifted away from a corn-only system, would be close to carbon neutral. Saab is the GM subsidiary that is taking the lead in ethanol vehicles and has recently shown a Saab 9-5 wagon that is optimized to run on E100 (100% ethanol).
Forth and most recent is GM's serious consideration of micro or city cars.
These are quite a bit smaller than some of the smaller cars available already on the US market - but would be recognized immediately in Europe or Asia. GM is preparing to have 4-seat cars that would have 1.0 litre gas or diesel engines, perhaps with hybrid technology as well and seating for 4 adults. At the New York Auto Show, they showed 3 different flavors of this class of car, a micro crossover called the Trax, a 4-door shrunken version of the Chevy HHR (or PT Cruiser, if you prefer) called the Groove, and then a tiny 3-door with a sporty vibe that looks like a shrunken version of Honda's Fit.
So, as you can see, while our cars might get smaller with smaller engines (or no engines whatsoever) - regulations that might force lower CO2 emissions won't put consumers into quite the bind that you might expect. Some manufacturers are already set to provide what the market will need and others will follow suit. And, once consumers realize the fun and functionality that can be had in these packages - we will all be able to breath a bit easier.
Dispute the causes all you want, but the truth is that our climate is changing and we can either sit on our hands or we can do everything in our power to try to stabilize the climate (using the things we agree we can control) and protect the lives we've all become accustomed to (whether that means having to run your A/C a certain number of days a year or keeping your beach house above the ocean - though the whole in-house aquarium thing might become a selling point down the road).
There are countless little things that we can do as individuals to try to help. They all center around using less energy (either directly or in the things we buy).
Since this is a blog about cars...I'm not here to talk to you about switching to florescent light-bulbs (though that would be a cheap and easy start, if you are interested).
Ultimately, there are decisions that need to be made with regard to what we choose to drive. Evaluations need to be made about what we really need in a car and what the environmental impact of said choice will be. Since CO2 is a direct by-product of the amount of fuel you burn, the flip-side of this coin is that you can not believe in global warming as a human caused phenomenon and still justify a low CO2 emitting choice on the basis of fuel savings or reducing our national consumption of oil.
Of course, the decisions may get made for us in light of the US Environmental Protection Agency's new mandate (via the US Supreme Court) to regulate CO2 emissions as an official pollutant. This may force our and automakers' hands with regard to vehicle choice.
I, for one, would much rather make conservation choices now and send a message to automakers - giving them a head start - then to live through another 1980's fiasco where awful cars get built to meet a deadline from the government.
As consumers and/or government shift their thinking and make environmental factors part of the buying decision/production requirements, automakers will add offerings (or alter current offerings) in response.
...and what companies are best positioned to take advantage of this shift most quickly? A couple names might not surprise you, but I'm sure one will. You can also check out the latest report from the Union of Concerned Scientists rating relative pollution (including CO2) from the major automakers - even though they disagree with one of my choices below.
Honda, already an established producer of economical cars has made an enviable position for itself with its hybrid models, but also its new Fit hatchback. The Fit is a roomy, versatile, economical product - all while being quite a little go kart that keeps you from feeling like you sacrificed driving fun for your lower carbon footprint. Combined with Honda's IMA hybrid technology that can easily be retrofitted to just about any product they make and they could quickly put a hybrid of just about any product on the road.Toyota, the 800lb gorilla of the current eco-car movement (even though they sell plenty of guzzlers as well) has their green poster child Prius (as well as the related hybrid versions of several Toyota and Lexus products). Less expensive are the eco friendly cars in the Scion line (xD and xB) as well as the Toyota branded Yaris sedan and hatch. Toyota certainly has a nice niche carved out for itself with products in several categories that would make nice alternatives to its competition all while providing higher economy (and subsequently lower CO2 emissions).Now for the unexpected player in this 3-way eco race...GM.
'What?!' I hear you saying. 'Isn't GM a long-in-the-tooth sign of everything that is wrong in the auto industry? Aren't they a company that has made their name selling low-mileage, CO2-spewing, low-tech junk for decades.' - not anymore (not to mention that their reputation of selling low-economy is way overblown) . Witness the following:
GM developed arguably the most sophisticated electric vehicle ever to see production, the EV1, in the 1990's. Lack of customer acceptance killed that electric car - GM was well within their rights to pull them all back in - given the legal requirements to keep parts on the shelf for years after they went out of production. The only reason you've heard that they 'killed the electric car' is because some very influential and money-ed individuals in Hollywood had their feathers ruffled when GM wouldn't give them exactly what they wanted.
GM is a global company with incredible reach with regards to technology that they can bring to bear. They have subsidiaries with incredible expertise in technologies as diverse as electric powertrains, biofuels, diesel, fuel cells, and efficiency increasing technologies for the workhorse gasoline engines.
One example of this is the 'skateboard' chassis that they have had in development for years. It would allow a wide range of hydrogen fuel-cell products to be brought to market quickly and cheaply (of course, first we would have to see significant efficiency gains for the fuel cells and a hydrogen infrastructure for refueling).A second example is the recent Volt concept from Chevrolet - using a technology GM calls 'E-Flex' the architecture shown by this concept is much closer to reality than the 'skateboard' in that it uses existing electric powertrain elements from hybrid cars and allows for a supplementary power unit that could be a conventional gas engine, a diesel, a small fuel cell, or any of a wide range of biofuel options. The E-Flex concept would allow for high effective fuel efficiency products that could also leverage recharging via a conventional wall-outlet (and therefore drawing power from what could be a more eco-friendly point source of pollution).A third example is GM's broad investment in ethanol fuels. Millions of GM vehicles already on the road could be fueled by an E85 blend of gasoline and ethanol - and, once ethanol production is shifted away from a corn-only system, would be close to carbon neutral. Saab is the GM subsidiary that is taking the lead in ethanol vehicles and has recently shown a Saab 9-5 wagon that is optimized to run on E100 (100% ethanol).
Forth and most recent is GM's serious consideration of micro or city cars.
These are quite a bit smaller than some of the smaller cars available already on the US market - but would be recognized immediately in Europe or Asia. GM is preparing to have 4-seat cars that would have 1.0 litre gas or diesel engines, perhaps with hybrid technology as well and seating for 4 adults. At the New York Auto Show, they showed 3 different flavors of this class of car, a micro crossover called the Trax, a 4-door shrunken version of the Chevy HHR (or PT Cruiser, if you prefer) called the Groove, and then a tiny 3-door with a sporty vibe that looks like a shrunken version of Honda's Fit.So, as you can see, while our cars might get smaller with smaller engines (or no engines whatsoever) - regulations that might force lower CO2 emissions won't put consumers into quite the bind that you might expect. Some manufacturers are already set to provide what the market will need and others will follow suit. And, once consumers realize the fun and functionality that can be had in these packages - we will all be able to breath a bit easier.
Lexus breaks the 100k barrier with the LS600h L
Lexus has released the final tidbit of info on their new hybrid flagship.
The price.
Going on sale in June 2007, the LS600h L is a hybrid version of the LS600 L, long-wheelbase version of the Lexus' largest sedan. The base MSRP will be $104000.
The LS600h is unique in the Lexus line, not only in having a hybrid powertrain, but is also the only LS to have all-wheel drive, a continually variable transmission, and meets the Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) standard.
At this point, there are no actual fuel economy figures, but Lexus is claiming that the 430hp sedan will have efficiency equal or better than that of V-6, all-wheel drive, mid-sized sedans - with performance on par with V-12 powered competitors.
The price.
Going on sale in June 2007, the LS600h L is a hybrid version of the LS600 L, long-wheelbase version of the Lexus' largest sedan. The base MSRP will be $104000.The LS600h is unique in the Lexus line, not only in having a hybrid powertrain, but is also the only LS to have all-wheel drive, a continually variable transmission, and meets the Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) standard.
At this point, there are no actual fuel economy figures, but Lexus is claiming that the 430hp sedan will have efficiency equal or better than that of V-6, all-wheel drive, mid-sized sedans - with performance on par with V-12 powered competitors.
More Seoul Auto Show debuts - Hyundai Veloster
Now that we are done hearing of the concepts the major automakers debuted at the New York show, we are starting to hear reports of concepts shown at the 'other' major show starting this week - the Seoul Auto Show in Seoul, South Korea.Yesterday, we showed you the Kia KND-4 concept and now we have a sport-coupe concept from Hyundai - the Veloster.
Expect this to preview some styling elements we might see in the new Tiburon, though this concept is one step smaller and could preview a brand new, Elantra-based coupe.This concept also furthers the automakers fascination with coupes that are really 2-door, steeply-raked sport wagons...which the automakers see as a way to get customers buying sporty 2-doors again (by tempering their natural lack of utility with an extra-large cargo area out back).
See some more pictures over at:
Winding Road: Hyundai Unveils Veloster Coupe Concept in Seoul