Used Car Values

Monday, December 3, 2012

CAFE Regs Are Prompting EV Development

8:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

Published December 3, 2012

By Jeff Cobb

Looking at slower than hoped for EV sales, companies (like A123 Systems) on the rocks, or going out of business, or saying they’re not ready for prime time (like Toyota), there have been some observers ready to write the obituary on the only recently revived electric car.

But as Mark Twain, who was credited with once saying “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” such is the gist of a piece on EVs by Automotive News after speaking with industry executives about the future of EVs at the LA Auto Show.

The reason? Increasingly stringent requirements for fleet-wide miles per gallon and emissions mandated for 2017-2025 by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules.

CAFE calls for year over year upticks in the average mpg performance for a given automaker’s entire fleet, and pure EVs such as the Nissan Leaf burn no gas and spew no tailpipe emissions. Similarly, extended-range EVs and plug-in hybrids stand to drastically cut their gas consumption and emissions.

Such powertrains are seen as needed to hit a “54.4 mpg” target equating to low 40 mpg range on the window sticker on average by 2025.

"No carmaker makes 54.5 miles per gallon without alternative-fuel vehicles,” Automotive News quoted Nissan Division General Manager Al Castignetti as saying. “Direct-injection engines are not going to get you there."

While others in the industry are only guardly optimistic, several spoken to generally consented to an alternate strain of sentiment within the collective unconsciousness in saying things like electric vehicles are “inevitable,” as Chrysler U.S. sales chief Reid Bigland said.

Fiat, which owns a controlling stake in Chrysler had on display in LA its 500e electric car. It was immediately panned as a mere compliance car in California by some, but Bigland’s statement reveals Fiat-Chrysler, while late to the EV game, has bigger plans ahead.

"The way the CAFE and regulatory environment is, in order to be compliant, most if not all OEMs will need some form of electrification in their product portfolio," Bigland said.

Others were cited as well, but a consensus is while EVs are indeed off to a slow start with some winners and losers – and the politicized accusation by critics of the government “picking winners and losers” also muddying the waters, we’ll add – EVs are still being said to be on their way.

More often than not, executives indicated their EV development efforts are still, to mix metaphors, full steam ahead.

Perhaps rather than referring to a historical saying about a premature death for EVs, another ancient proverb would be more apropos to describe what still looks like the infancy of a new kind of car – “Do not despise these small beginnings.”

Automotive News

Californian Electric Vehicle Smart Grid Demonstration Project Studies EV Usage

9:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

Published December 3, 2012

By Philippe Crowe

An infrastructure project studying smart grids named "Living Laboratory" is underway at the University of Southern California and Mitsubishi is involved with its i-MiEV EV.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. is supporting the University of Southern California (USC) and the institution's Viterbi School of Engineering as it develops a special campus-wide Smart Grid "Living Laboratory" project including the use of Mitsubishi’s diminutive electric vehicles.

The company says the Mitsubishi Motors/USC Electric Vehicle Smart Grid Demonstration Project will work to further develop and improve virtually all phases of electric vehicle infrastructure to accommodate their widespread usage in the future.

This USC Smart Grid Living Laboratory program will simulate a city with a population between 50,000 to 60,000 citizens, tourists, visitors and two hospitals as they document their experiences operating a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) under a wide range of conditions and simulations over a period of two years.

"Mitsubishi Motors is proud to offer our support to the USC Smart Grid Living Laboratory program," said Yoichi Yokozawa, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America. "This project will help cities of all sizes develop a very cost-effective electric vehicle infrastructure game plan for drivers of 100 percent electric-powered vehicles including the Mitsubishi i-MiEV."

Mitsubishi Motors says it will be providing a total of twelve Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles, several Level 2 EVSE charging systems to the Smart Grid program, and will consult with the university throughout the course of the research program.

"We are excited to build a partnership with Mitsubishi Motors in the area of electric vehicle integration into the Smart Grid that demonstrates that USC and Mitsubishi Motors are serious about the future of electric vehicles," said Dr. Yannis Yortsos, dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. "This is a substantial electric vehicle fleet that will not only provide a useful pool of data for technical and behavioral research projects but will also have a highly visible impact on the USC community due to interaction with students, faculty, staff, alumni and the surrounding neighborhood."

Mitsubishi has been researching, designing and developing electric-powered vehicles for more than 40 years. The company says more than 30,000 Mitsubishi i-MiEV and i-MiEV-based vehicles are on the road around the world today.

Conducted in coordination with the Smart Grid Regional Demonstration Project of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, many elements of the University of Southern California (including several academic departments, the USC Department of Transportation; the Department of Public Safety; Facilities Management Services; and the Department of Athletics) will work with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Energy Institute to collect and analyze data under various operating scenarios.

The end goal is a better integration of electric-powered vehicles into society as well as successfully scaling up the outcomes of the Mitsubishi/USC project to larger cities.

Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet "60s Edition" and "70s Edition"

11:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

"The Beetle Cabriolet. As sun as possible."

(click images for a larger view)

Volkswagen Beetle "60s Edition" and "70s Edition"

9:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

"The Beetle Cabriolet. As sun as possible."

(click images for a larger view)

Drop Top Customs puts tops on Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, proceeds to drop them

7:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

Related Gallery Drop Top Customs Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger SRT8

News Source: Drop Top Customs via Carscoop

Category: Aftermarket, Convertible, Sedan, Chrysler, Dodge, Specialty, Design/Style

Tags: 300, charger, charger srt8, chrysler, chrysler 300 convertible, dodge, dodge charger srt8 covnertible, drop top customs

Saleen 351 announced with 700 HP

4:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

Show full PR text
SALEEN ANNOUNCES THE 351 MUSTANG

Enhancing the current model lineup with the specially built 351 Cubic Inch offering.

Los Angeles, CA – (November 29, 2012) Hot on the heels of Steve Saleen regaining his namesake brand comes the first model announcement since the news was released. Making his announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the well known man of Mustangs announced the Saleen 351 Mustang.

"Since regaining the Saleen brand, I really want to bring it all together with the heritage that Saleen is known for", said Steve Saleen. "With the current Saleen [302] Mustang model it provides all the right features to bring back and update the S351 model."

After nearly 13 years since a Saleen production vehicle has been powered by a 351 c.i.d. powerplant, this new model debut has an exciting list of technological and design offerings under the Saleen 351 model name.

Power

The most notable component in the 351 is the Saleen engineered 351 cubic inch V8 engine which will produce 700 hp and 655 ft-lb of torque when paired with theSaleen 296 supercharger system.

"Everything about this project has been mindful of the goal to create the most potent Mustang on the market", said Al Wagner, V.P. of Engineering. "I think we have certainly pushed the bar in the production Mustang segment with our 351 offering. Once the project came together I couldn't help but thinking; if the 302 mustang is using a coyote engine, the 351 is definitely the gray wolf of the class."

Transferring all of that power requires the use of some specialized equipment as well. The Saleen 351 will utilize a 6-speed transmission equipped with a high performance Saleen clutch system, and a 3.73:1 final drive ratio to ensure that the power will be where its most required, on the ground.

Brakes, Wheels and Tires

Working in conjunction to the wheel, tire, and Saleen S4 suspension are the Saleen 15" brake package which are a well-placed component of this 700 hp Saleen vehicle. "A multi-piston brake caliper setup is critical to a high performance vehicle of this caliber", added Wagner. "The amount of power that this vehicle can deliver is astounding and needed to have a well composed counterpart allowing it comparable stopping power."

Rounding out the performance system on the 351 are the Saleen 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped with high performance tires. Setup in a staggered formation of 20x9 front and 20x10 rear, the slalom performance times and corning capabilities are set to be on-par with levels approaching those of pure bred racecars.

Design

Building on the design elements from the Saleen 302 Mustang, the 351 will feature the Red Butterfly Center Ram Air Induction system which has become a signature of the Saleen brand. A truly functional system, the Red Butterfly hood allows cold air to intake through the butterfly scoop design as they open-up under throttle. Once the air passes through the butterfly openings it is directed through the engine compartment to the 351's powerplant where it becomes a tributary to the air intake system. Additional design components include full carbon fiber front and side splitters, as well as a carbon fiber rear diffuser which houses the F-1 style tail lamp. A complete treatment of Saleen 351 badging and graphics will also be included to complement any one of the standard or custom Saleen paint schemes available on all Saleen vehicles.

Saleen – Born of Racing

Steve Saleen's high-performance history delves beyond the first Saleen Mustangs that went on sale in 1984. As a race car driver, Steve launched his racing career in 1969, where he competed in his first time trial. He then proceeded to win the first race he entered in 1970, and then moved to a professional racing career from the 1970's through the 1980's and 1990's ranging from the Formula Super Vee, to the Formula Atlantic, and later to sports cars, truck and Indy car series. Based on his racing and manufacturing successes, Steve catapulted the company to new heights by entering the luxury supercar niche in 2000 with the Saleen S7, at the famous Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance in Monterey, California. By the following year in 2001, the race version was introduced – the S7R, and was quick to dominate racetracks around the world, including a Win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010.

Saleen – The Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer

As a Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer since 1984, Saleen offers a range of White, Yellow, and Black Label high-performance vehicles: The Saleen 302 & 351 Mustang,Saleen 570 & 570X Challenger, and Saleen 620 and 620X Camaro. Everything at Saleen is literally built from the ground-up, by skillful hands. The Saleen staff consists of a wide range of designers, R & D engineers and production team members that works together pushing the envelope of development, manufacturing, and certification of high-performance specialty vehicles.

News Source: Saleen

Category: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford

Tags: 2012 la auto show, la, la auto show, saleen, saleen 351, saleen mustang, steve saleen, tuning