Tag Archive
Saab debuts worlds first completely hybrid car
Last week Saab unveiled the first fossil-fuel-free
hybrid convertible. The car is being called the BioPower Hybrid 9-3 convertible concept. This is a major leap forward in hybrid cars. The concept is based on pure bioethonal instead of just part bioethonal.
The Biopower convertible also has a "zero mode," which is a button on the car that enables the car to operate from two powerful batteries, thus, eliminating all emissions. However, while in "zero mode" the car can only go up to 50k/m, but when you reach that threshold of 50k/m, the car automatically switches back to the biofuel.
The Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept also includes a natural step in the further development of BioPower technology. Such as the SIDI – a new direct injection system designed so the engine will start and run perfectly without any mix of petrol, even in extreme cold.
The turbocharging is tuned to take further advantage of the higher octane rating of pure bioethanol. So, the engine can produce 260 bhp and a huge 375 Nm torque.
Acceleration is boosted by the two electric motors of the hybrid system. At low speed and take-off they can briefly add a huge instant 785 Nm of torque. Helping to catapult you from zero to 100 in 6.9 seconds with automatic transmission.
Faster than most diesel or petrol-driven cars, but with zero fossil fuel emission.
Wow, I’m really excited. I can’t wait until these things are actually developed and work in the "real world." If Saab delivers what they promise, it sounds like a success to me.
(Source: Press Release From Saab)
See Also
The Sky is not falling in the global auto industry
At this moment in time, the American auto Industry looks really bleak. However, that’s not the case everywhere.
Daniel Pool, adviser to National City Corp., insists the global auto industry is actually thriving.
"If you look past Ford, General Motors and Delphi, you will find that the global auto industry is healthy and there are success stories to be found here in Michigan and elsewhere," Poole said.
National City maintains strong investments in such auto suppliers as Auburn Hills-based BorgWarner and Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls Inc., said Poole, assistant director of equity research for the financial holding company in Evansville, Ind.
"You have to look for companies that are responding well to technological change and rapid global growth," Poole said.
Good news about the auto industry comes as a suprise to most Americans, because; it is very hard to see past all of the lay-offs and chapter 11 bankruptcies that have taken place in the past few years.
Poole, however, was not oblivious to the problem in America, he just wanted his investors to understand the automotive world is not coming to an end and that companies will eventually pull out of this slump. Poole does predict that there will be a few more major bankruptcies in the next 11 to 18 months.
See Also
Harley-Davidson is opening a dealership in China
Harley-Davidson is opening a dealership in mainland China and is planning to open next month. This will mark the first dealership outside the United States since WW II. Harley-Davidson is also going for a "first-class" experience when building the show room and other parts of the dealership.
The dealership will have 14 staff members initially and be headed by Feng Huo Lun’s founder, owner and executive director Wan Jidong. Foley said Wan and his management team are passionate about riding motorcycles and understand the market in China.
The dealership will sell several makes of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, parts, accessories, merchandise and collectibles. Sales and service will be offered, as will rider training and events including organized rides.
Entry into the Chinese market is expected to be gradual because the market is limited by ownership and riding restrictions in most large cities and on highways, Harley-Davidson said. A population with a limited, but growing, disposable income will also prove a challenge, it said.
This is really neat. It’s odd to see an American company exporting to China. Heck, it’s odd to see any company exporting TO China. They seem to be always exporting.
Nice to see the US sharing a great product like the quintessential American motorcycle. Though, I just can’t see very many Chinese driving a Hog.
See Also
Audi joining the diesel crowd
Audi is promising by 2008 they will have their first prototype of a diesel auto. The car would be called the Q7. No one really doubts Audi’s technology, but people are wondering why it has taken so long for them to announce it. Clean diesel seems to be a popular alternative of gasoline.
Audi engineers are about two years away from nailing an execution of after-treatment technology that, in concert with low-sulfur diesel fuels, will enable the European Q7’s 3.0L V-6 diesel to meet stringent U.S. federal emissions standards and, more importantly, those in California.
The automaker expects the diesel car to sell 35,000 units in the debut launch in America. And, Audi suggests that the Q7 will retail at$49,000. For me, this does not mean too much because it’s way over my price range. However, with more companies adopting the diesel mindset, cheaper cars may begin featuring the new technology.
See Also
The Smart Unit is hurting the company
The Smart Unit is a next generation car; it has all the bells
and whistles that you can imagine. But the Smart Unit has long been a drag on DiamlerChrysler’s finances, and investors are pushing for the Smart series to be done away with because of lackluster sales and below par performance.
However, DiamlerChrysler made this statement regarding the Smart series, "based on current figures, we’re convinced that Smart, will achieve a break-even by 2007, as previously announced," Chief Financial Officer Bodo Uebber told reporters at the company’s Stuttgart headquarters late Monday.
Smart cars have not posted a single cent of profit since 1998, when it was created. That, to me brings a bit of worry. Is something flawed with the design? Is it an eye sore? Is it too expensive? I’m not sure what the problem is, but I do hope DiamlerChrysler can figure something out and not be blinded by ignorant optimism.
See Also
10 secrets that could help you
Cars.com has devised 10 "secrets" that the mainstream consumer is oblivious of. These secrets can help you get the best deal, save gas, and be informed when purchasing or maintaining your automobile. Here are three:
1. The Best Finance Rates
Dealers aren’t required to give you the best finance rate. Many consumers finance their vehicles through the dealership. Sometimes this involves the best deal, especially when subsidized by the automaker. However, if a dealer claims to have found you the "lowest rate," it’s possible that rate includes a point or two of profit for the dealer. (There’s no federal law forbidding this.) To be sure and get the best rate, look into it on your own before entering the dealership.
2. Dealers Don’t Own the Cars They Sell
Dealers don’t own the cars they sell, and neither do the manufacturers. Instead, the bank — sometimes in the form of the captive finance company — owns them.
3. Cordless Hybrids
Hybrids don’t need to be plugged in. Understandably, many people think hybrids run on electric power until their batteries die, and then they switch to a gasoline engine. While some plug-in hybrids existed as long as a century ago, all the current versions use gas engines that both propel the car and replenish the battery, which also is charged through braking. There’s some plug-in research going on, but don’t hold your breath. Automakers determined that American buyers are, well, turned off by the prospect of plugging a car into household current, so most hybrid advertising emphasizes that the model "never needs to be plugged in."
These 3 tips will save you a lot of headaches and money when it comes to automobiles. I sure wish I would’ve known some of these secrets when I was buying my first car.
See Also
New technology from the auto world
Most Automakers are looking into the future. However, it looks like Nissan maybe the first off the line with the next generation of safety features. Nissan’s newest development is the "Safety Shield" which is an "an electronic system that helps drivers control the distance between their car and the vehicle in front."
The system uses a front bumper-mounted radar sensor to determine the following distance and the relative speed of both cars. If the driver releases the gas pedal the system automatically applies the brakes. If the system itself determines that braking is required (presumably because the vehicle ahead is slowing), the driver is alerted by a lighted indicator and a buzzer, and the gas pedal automatically moves upward to "assist the driver in switching to the brakes."
This distance control assist system with pedal feedback will be very helpful in high traffic areas and in low traffic areas, where the drivers alertness may be at risk. There has been no word when this new technology will see production.
See Also
A breakdown of where your money goes when you buy gas
Gas prices are a hot topic here at AutoWarranties.com, but I want to make sure everyone knows where his or her money is going. That’s what being a smart investor is all about, right? And, with the fluctuation of gas prices, it’s only natural for people to wonder in amazement about the rapid change in prices from day to day.
Crude oil: Crude oil suppliers require the largest share of the pie at about 45%. This share is determined by the oil-exporting nations and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in particular. The price of one barrel of crude oil depends on how much crude oil these oil-exporting countries produce.
Taxes: Federal and local taxes take about 31% of the price you pay at the pump. Federal excise taxes account for about 18 cents per gallon, while state excise taxes require about 20 cents per gallon.
Refining costs: Refining crude oil makes up approximately 13% of the price you pay at the gas pump.
Distribution and marketing: The costs of transporting and marketing gas make up about 13% of the price of gas. Crude oil must be transported from oil-producing countries to refineries, then the gasoline must be transported to distribution points, and then lastly to the gas stations that fill your tank.
Gas station markups: There is no set percentage for this number. Gas stations are at their own discretion as to how much to add on to the price in order to actually make a profit on the gas that they sell. Some stations (usually the larger ones) will only tack on a couple cents, while others will add a dime or even more.
There you go! A simple breakdown of where each penny goes when you buy gasoline.
See Also
Gas prices are raised again
Gas prices are back on the rise.
U.S. gas prices are up 11 cents in two weeks which cancels out the 9 cents drop at the beginning of January.
Retail gas prices across the country climbed an average of 11 cents in the past two weeks, according to a new survey. The weighted average price for all three grades increased to $2.38 a gallon by Friday, according to Trilby Lundberg, who publishes the semimonthly Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations around the country.
With gas prices on the rise, it’s now becoming as apparent as ever that we need new technology, such as hybrids or better ethanol. I sure hope automakers and/or the government can figure something out soon, because bicycles are looking more and more attractive to this car enthusiast.
See Also
Kia will build its first US production plant in Georgia
Kia will be investing $1.2 billion in their first
production plant in the US.
The plant will be located in West Point, Troup County, Ga. and is expected to be completed in 2009. Georgia was competing with Kentucky and Mississippi to acquire the plant. Apparently, Sunny Perdue, Georgia’s Governor, offered incentives that could not be turned down.
The state promised various incentives that are worth 410 million dollars. These include free land and infrastructure, subsidies for the creation of new jobs, financial support for training workers and tax breaks.
Kia has seen exponential growth in America over the past few years, and they’re building this plant to demonstrate their longevity in and commitment to the American auto industry.
See Also
