We have heard this before about the Chrysler 300C.
From timesonline Love it or hate it, you cannot ignore it. Launched in Britain in October 2005, the Chrysler 300C looks as though it has driven straight out of The Sopranos with a body in the boot as standard.
It follows in a long line of American saloon cars that had tried, and failed, to crack the European market, and for many critics this latest attempt was likely to stand no better chance than its predecessors. Furthermore, they predicted, its residual values would be so poor that new car sales would all but dry up.
Two years on, however, and not only are new 300Cs still commanding list price but used examples are holding their value better than Mercedes, BMWs and Audis. The Chrysler 300C looks as though it’s the American saloon that finally won in the UK market.
Tags: 300C Chrysler 300C

Source: 300C Love It or Hate It

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Volkswagen has officially confirmed the Passat Coupe (see spy pic here) by launching a mini-site that contains teaser shots of their upcoming 4-door coupe. According to the German carmaker, details are to be released on the dedicated website in early 2008, which means that you shouldn’t be at all surprised if Volkswagen took the wraps off the Passat Coupe at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show this January. In any case, sales are expected to start on both sides of the Atlantic during the second half of 2008. -Continued after the jump

From what we know up until know, VW’s “poor-man’s” Mercedes CLS will be built on a slightly modified version of the Passat’s platform and it will fit right under the Phaethon in VW’s car line-up. We can only guess what engines would be shared with other members of the platform family, but we expect that the engine-line-up will include the 4-cylinder 2.0 TFSI delivering 200 Hp or more and the Passat R36’s 300 hp 3.6 liter six cylinder unit combined with permanent four-wheel drive (4MOTION).

Via: Autoblog.it , Link: Volkswagen

Source: Volkswagen Passat Coupe - Official Teaser Images

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Lascelles Linton
Filed under: Etc., Transportation Alternatives, On Two Wheels, Green Daily

Those old fashioned bikes with big front wheels are called Penny Farthings and there are modern ones as described in the video above. They are not too popular because the design is so impractical it’s not even funny. Below the fold is a video of something called body skating which is basically putting skates all over your body and throwing yourself down a hill. That’s just nuts. Emission-free, but nuts.

[Source: YouTube]

Source: Cool videos: Modern Penny Farthing, body skating

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Xavier Navarro
Filed under: Biodiesel, Asia

Finnish oil company Neste has started preparing to build what they are claiming will be the biggest biodiesel production facility in the world in Singapore. The company has invested about 550 million EUR (about $800 million US) in a plant that will be able to produce about 800,000 tons of biodiesel per year. Construction is expected to start in early 2008 and be completed by the end of 2010.

Despite some concern from environmental groups and research institutes, Neste is going to produce biodiesel from palm oil. They chose Singapore as site for such a big facility is because it has the world third-largest oil refining complex. It’s also very close to palm oil-producing countries. Neste already has a biodiesel factory in Porvoo (Finland) that produces about 170,000 tons of biodiesel per year.

Neste states that this facility is going to use the company’s new NExBTL, claimed to be a “second generation biodiesel manufacturing process.” The process can use any kind of fatty acids as a raw material. Neste also said that NExBTL has a higher quality than standard oil diesel and has about 40 to 60 percent less global CO₂ impact.

Related:

• Neste will test biodiesel in Sweden
• Neste’s new NExBTL solves many biodiesel issues

[Source: Agencia EFE via Econoticias]

Source: Neste Oil starts construction of the biggest biodiesel manufacturing plant of the world in Singapore

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Simona Alina
Filed in: Opel | Opel Astra | car tuning

The Astra H from 2007 is on route with a new front. For both the Astra H 5-door and the Astra H Estate, Steinmetz Opel-Tuning has developed a new front with an even more striking appearance. The new Steinmetz parts have been developed to fit harmoniously into the overall image and are made with the usual high quality.

Engine

Steinmetz provides more power for the new generation of 1.9 CDTI engines from Opel. For the 150 HP engine, Steinmetz raises the power to 175 HP. Naturally the conversion is available both with and without soot particle filter, and still complies with Euro 4 standards. Safe and sure: Steinmetz gives a 2 year warranty from first registration.

Exhaust

Steinmetz’ trademark is the high gloss polished, trapezoid twin tailpipe silencer. For left or left/ right (5-door only), its unmistakeable appearance and sound leave nothing to be desired, and the quality of fit are convincing. As an option, the twin tailpipe silencer can be fitted to vehicles both with and without rear skirt.

Lowering

The Steinmetz lowering kit of around 30 mm was developed not only for appearance but also to make a decisive contribution to safety and uncompromising driving pleasure. So it is available for both standard suspension and sports suspension with Sport Mode. The Steinmetz springs lower the Astra’s centre of gravity, reducing its tendency to roll on corners and allowing faster direction changes.

Wheel/Tyre Combination

From 16" to 19", Steinmetz has the right wheel and tyre combination for all Steinmetz Astra H. The ST4 can be fitted in size 8.0J x 18“ and the ST5 in 7.5J x 17“. Both wheels are bicolor rims, with a black/silver appearance which intrigues the viewer. The brilliant finish is achieved with a polished surface. The resulting light plays have the desired effect of making both wheels into real eye catchers.

Bodywork/Aerodynamics/Interior Trim

THE outer sign of Steinmetz is the honeycomb front grille. For the Astra H 2007, the striking Steinmetz front grille was developed with a new design with vertical double struts. The new front spoiler with small flippers and outlined air intakes gives the front a more dynamic appearance on both the 5-door and on the Estate.

Extending the lines to the rear, the side skirts have been designed to make the Astra appear even lower. To provide rearward visibility, the electrically adjustable and heated Steinmetz sports mirrors have been adapted to the shape of the Astra.

The solid rear roof spoiler provides more downforce on the rear. Finally, on the same visual line as the side skirts and front skirt, a Steinmetz rear skirt was developed to allow the Astra driver a choice of rear silencers. For standard, left or left/right (5-door only), the rear skirt was developed so that (almost!) every wish can be met. Further bodystyling accessories are the design stripes in silver or anthracite and the aluminium filler cap cover.

In the interior, sill plates, an aluminium handbrake handle and the 4-piece foot mats with Steinmetz logo in stainless steel complete the overall impression of the Astra H.

Source: Internal

Source: Opel Astra H Facelift by Steinmetz

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

2020. That’s the year by which all automakers selling vehicles in the United States must [now] achieve a Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) of 35mpg. The symbolism is strictly ironic. The politicians who crafted the new Energy Bill hardly displayed 20-20 vision. They singularly failed to see that their well-meaning efforts to force Americans to conserve fuel by forcing manufacturers to produce fuel efficient vehicles evokes the law of unintended consequences. While it’s impossible to see the future with perfect clarity, there are obvious “unforeseen” pitfalls.

Let’s start with the legislation’s basic assumption: automakers can create a range of vehicles that when combined achieve a combined 35mpg. Ostensibly, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel (and everything attached to it). All carmakers have to do is build and sell more vehicles like the ones that already achieve the requisite [combined city and highway] 35mpg. According to the official EPA website, only two cars sold in the U.S. that meet the new target: the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. Uh-oh.

First, these are both niche products; the vast majority of American consumers prefer to drive something else. That reality creates a strange, politically uncomfortable paradigm. An automaker who doesn't meet the new standards has a far better chance of selling vehicles and making money than one who does. If the CAFE fines are lower than the profits generated by ignoring the standards, auto execs' seeking maximize shareholder value must turn their backs on the legislative directive, pay up and get on with it. To wit: BMW and Mercedes' current CAFE fines.

Second, the Prius and Civic hybrid are both Japanese. Detroit doesn’t possess the necessary gas - electric technology to replicate their mpg results. To think that The Big 2.8 can catch-up with Toyota and Honda in 12 years, never mind overtake them, is a leap of faith without a historical basis. Yes, this dilemma is Detroit’s own damn fault. But Ford, GM and Chrysler are already teetering on the abyss. This legislation is a shove in the wrong direction.

Third, the Prius and the Civic Hybrid's towing capacity is… “not recommended.” While I’m sure there are plenty of environmental campaigners who’ll be happy to learn of the Energy Bill’s de facto death sentence for SUVs/CUVs, the economic impact of neutering pickup trucks (a.k.a. America’s workhorses) would be devastating.

The argument against this line of thinking: automakers will now race to develop technological solutions that will up their CAFE numbers by 40 percent without sacrificing anything: comfort, performance, practicality, towing, safety or reliability. Call it the “if we can put a man on the moon…” school of thought.

If we accept this metaphor, Japan is America with a ten year lead. Detroit is Communist Russia. Ford is bankrupt. Chrysler is destined for sale. And even if Chevrolet’s Volt turns out to be a stunning technological triumph, there’s little chance GM can convert their entire passenger and light truck fleet to lithium-ion battery-aided propulsion— and get people to buy the result— by 2020. That’s unless the EPA and/or NHTSA agree to some highly advantageous mpg calculations for plug-in gas – electric hybrids.

The potential for federal finagling on partial electric propulsion's impact on CAFE requirements raises the automakers’ most obvious “solution” to Congress’ “solution” to our dependence on foreign oil: cheating. Early reports indicate that the new Energy Bill extends the ethanol credits that hoiks automakers’ EPA stats based on almost entirely theoretical E85 use. I have every confidence that Representative John Dingell (D-Michigan) created plenty of exemptions, exceptions and get out of jail free cards for his Detroit constituents.

For example, the Detroit Free Press reports that “Money generated from fines that luxury automakers would receive for missing fuel-economy standards are to be given to automakers that retool old factories for building models with advanced technology.” If we assume the “luxury automakers” bit is Freep conjecture, this rider could mean that automakers who violate CAFE– and sell more cars than a more CAFE-compliant manufacturer– can use their own CAFE fines to fund new product development to catch-up; you know, if they really want to. How great is that?

The way I see it, either this Energy Bill will defeat Detroit, or provide enough loopholes and clever caveats to render its 35mpg target meaningless, or simply fail under the weight of its own unrealistic expectations. At the end of the proverbial day, legislation that attempts to control the free market on this scale is doomed to failure. The only way this will work is if the free market heads in the same direction at the same time– allowing legislators to claim credit for events they didn't create or control.

Of course, I could be completely wrong about all of this. Perhaps the Energy Bill will usher in a golden age of environmentally friendly automobiles. Wanna bet?

Source: New Energy Bill Dooms Carmakers to Failure

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Sebastian Blanco
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Green Daily, Aptera

AutoblogGreen has had our share of stories on Aptera and the company’s upcoming 300 mph space-like vehicle. But we understand that more information is just a click away for everyone, and so we thought you’d like to know about an interview Gizmag posted with the Aptera Co-Founder & CEO, Steve Fambro (AutoblogGreen spoke with Fambro in October). ABG reader Sayyad pointed this out for us, and says it “is worth the read, and makes a lot more sense than Aptera’s website.” He’s not kidding about the website. The last time I went to Aptera’s site, I about poked my eyes out.

Anyway, there’s a lot of interesting stuff in the interview. I like the way Fambro explains why he got excited to build his own high-mpg car company in the first place: it was when he saw SpaceShipOne.

I was amazed that twenty people in three years could develop a spacecraft, the aircraft to carry it up at altitude, test it and put it on the edge of space. If twenty people can do that then surely three or four people can build this car and take it to some form of completion ready for manufacture.

There’s more at Gizmag.

Gallery: Aptera

[Source: Gizmag, h/t to Sayyad]

Source: Interview with Aptera CEO

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Each year the world’s top tuners take to Italy’s Nardo high-speed test track to find out which is the fastest. This year’s round included a diverse range of exotics as well as few odd choices, including a Maybach saloon and the fastest of the pack, a twin-engined Audi TT. However, one car stood out from the field as the most exclusive and sinister-looking, the Edo Competition prepped Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Versione Nardo.

Each contestant has just three laps of the circular track, the first one as the warm-up lap, the second one as the high-speed lap and the third one as the cool down lap. Edo’s 663hp V12 powered LP640 went on to reach 345.7km/h (214.8mph) in 6th gear on its second lap, the fastest ever recorded top speed of a Lamborghini.

To achieve this Edo only need to apply small modifications like an ECU recalibration, new high flow air filters and high performance catalytic converters specifically designed for the LP640.

Engineers are now working on the next stage of development: 700hp and a targeted top speed of 360km/h (224mph).

Source: Edo Competition Murcielago LP 640 Versione Nardo

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Simona Alina
Filed in: BMW | Accessories | BMW 3-Series | car tuning

The Hotchkis Sport Suspension 2008 BMW 335 driven by Hotchkis Chief Engineer, Aaron Ogawa, made its competition debut on Thanksgiving weekend at the CSSC Regional Solo at California Speedway.

“We received the car shortly before SEMA and concentrated on making it look great for the show,” said company founder and president John Hotchkis. “Now we will run the BMW at autocross events and track days to gather the data necessary to develop a complete 335 Sport Suspension package. Every part that leaves this facility was developed and tested on the racetrack.”

The brand new BMW was grouped in the highly competitive Street Modified class that featured well developed cars running on R compound street/race tires. The Hotchkis BMW held its own and completed every run.

“The 335 has power and potential,” Ogawa explained. “We were conservative in all aspects for this first event and I can’t wait to make some serious suspension modifications and get back out there.”

The Hotchkis BMW 335 is sponsored by: The Tire Rack, Bridgestone Tires, Enkei Wheels, Stop Tech Brakes, Borla Exhaust, Red Line Oil and APR Carbon.

Source: Internal

Source: BMW 335 Coupe gets Hotchkis Sport Suspension

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...