New posts from Gas 2.0! |
- Hybrid and Electric Car Sales Rise Twice as Fast as Rest of Market
- Hyundai Unveils Fuel-cell EV in Seoul
- New Mercedes A Class set to Shock Shanghai (video)
| Hybrid and Electric Car Sales Rise Twice as Fast as Rest of Market Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:17 PM PDT
No doubt that the auto industry is on an impressive rebound, and hybrid sales are racking up big dividends as gas prices continue to climb. Naturally, Toyota was the hybrid leader, with 37% more gas-electric sales over last year, and a 52% increase in Prius sales (though I wonder if that has anything to do with a rush to buy hybrids before supply interruptions from the earthquake/tsunami hit.) Toyota sold over 54,600 hybrids, far and away the leader, while Honda moved 84% more hybrids, or 11,354 hybrids from dealer lots, with Ford came in a distant third, with a 9% hybrid sale increase, sell over 7,700 "advanced technology vehicles." While the rest of the auto industry made a substantial 20% gain over last year, hybrids were definitely at the forefront of sale increases, though hybrid sales still only made up about 2.6% of total first-quarter sales of 3.1 million vehicles. For comparisions sake, Ford sold almost as many F-150's in the month of March (53,727) as Toyota sold hybrids in the whole first quarter. We'll see what happens as people settle into the idea of paying $4 a gallon for gas… Source: The Detroit News Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can read about his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout or follow his non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.
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| Hyundai Unveils Fuel-cell EV in Seoul Posted: 08 Apr 2011 07:00 AM PDT
The Blue2 concept itself is powered by a 120 hp electric motor that Hyundai promises will deliver fuel efficiency equivalent to more than 80 mpg. Seriously rakish sheet metal drapes the FCEV powertrain, while the car’s interior features a new Transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (TOLED) monitor in place of a traditional instrument cluster. The canopy and moonroof are made from lightweight, tempered “Gorilla Glass”, and the infotainment system is manipulated through something called a “Motion Sensor Moustick”, which (eerily?) responds to the driver’s touch and hand movements. No word on when or if Hyundai plans to follow in the Honda Clarity‘s footsteps with a production FCEV, I know this about the Blue2: I like it!         Source: Gizmag.
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| New Mercedes A Class set to Shock Shanghai (video) Posted: 08 Apr 2011 04:00 AM PDT
The styling of Mercedes’ previous A class effort was – generously speaking – forgettable. If this new A Class BlueEFFICIENCY concept is an accurate look at next year’s A200, though, the 2013 A will go straight to the head of the class with radical curves, sweeping surface, and sporting proportions that Mercedes’ press materials call “concentrated dynamism”. Concentrated dynamism nails it, and after just one look at the press photos – BANG! – the whispers I’d been hearing of an AMG version suddenly make sense. While still officially a “concept” the new BlueEFFICIENCY A Class features the same “start-stop” equipped 200 hp, 2.0 L turbocharged engine as the upcoming 2012 C class M270 series engine, paired to a high-efficiency dual clutch transmission driving the front wheels. No matter how much more efficient the upcoming is than its Milquetoast predecessor, however, the big news here is the car’s styling … … to that end, Mercedes has released a full “design analysis” video (included, below) which plays like an 8 minute love letter to the new A, for anyone obsessive enough to watch something like that (I’ve watched it 3 times so far). Source: World Car Fans.
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