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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Canada Launches Second Phase of Its ecoTECHNOLOGY Progam

8:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

Published May 29, 2012

By Philippe Crowe

The Canadian government is taking another step towards aligning Canadian vehicle standards with those of the U.S.

Denis Lebel, Canadian Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, announced yesterday that the Government of Canada is continuing its commitment to advance clean vehicle technologies with the launch of the second phase of the ecoTECHNOLOGY progam.

The Clean Transportation Initiatives focus on aligning Canadian regulations with those in the United States and with international standards, improving the efficiency of the transportation system and advancing clean technologies.

The second phase of the ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles Program was launched by Minister Lebel. In the words of Minister Lebel: “this program will assess the safety and environmental performance of new vehicle technologies to ensure that innovations can be introduced in Canada in a safe and timely manner.”

The ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles Program is a five-year, $38-million program that will proactively test advanced vehicle technologies to develop safety and environmental regulations, as well as industry codes and standards. Test results will help align vehicle regulations in North America to reduce and prevent barriers to cross-border trade, lowering costs for business and consumers, and supporting jobs and economic growth.

The program builds upon a successful predecessor program with the same name, which focused on testing environmental technologies for passenger cars. The new ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles Program will expand testing activities to include heavy-duty trucks and a broader range of technologies.

Funding for the program was provided in Budget 2011 as part of a suite of Clean Transportation Initiatives under the renewal of the Government of Canada's Clean Air Agenda.

These initiatives will help Canada achieve its economy-wide target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.

More information about the ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles Program and test results from the predecessor program can be found on Transport Canada's website.

2013 Toyota Venza priced from $27,700*

8:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

Related Gallery 2013 Toyota Venza

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Toyota Announces Pricing for 2013 Venza Crossover

• Enhanced Exterior Styling

• Additional Standard Convenience Features for Greater Value

• Available Entune® Multi-media System

TORRANCE, Calif., May 25, 2012 - - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced the manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the 2013 Venza crossover vehicle. The Venza will begin arriving at Toyota dealerships next week.

The Toyota Venza crossover now offers enhanced exterior styling, added value through several new standard convenience features and updated option packages, which include the Entune® multi-media system for the 2013 model year.

Venza's aerodynamic shape has been tastefully modified with a new upper and lower grille, fog lamps and rear taillights. The updated styling is complemented by a new 19-inch wheel design and three new exterior colors: Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica. Venza is available in three interior colors: Ivory, Light Gray, and Black, which is new for 2013. Each color is offered in fabric on LE and leather on XLE and Limited.

The 2013 Venza is available in LE, XLE and Limited grades. The LE and XLE models are available with all powertrain combinations: four-cylinder, V6, front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD); the Venza Limited is powered by the V6 engine only, in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. Both engines are teamed with a six-speed sequential-shift electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i).

Value has been augmented and ordering simplified with the addition of many standard features in all three grades. All Venza models will be will equipped with a standard blind-spot mirror and outer mirror turn signals with puddle lamps.

Additional key standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control with air filter and second-row-seat vents; eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar; 3.5-inch LCD multi-information display; a tilt/telescopic adjustable wheel with integrated audio controls; an overhead console with map lights; rear-seat adjustable personal reading lamps and three 12-volt power outlets. The XLE and Limited models add to the abundance of standard features with many audio and convenience upgrades.

Entune Multi-media System

The 2013 Venza now offers the Toyota Entune multimedia system. Entune leverages the mobile smartphone to provide a richer in-vehicle experience with fully integrated access to navigation, entertainment and information services.

Toyota Entune supports engaging mobile apps, such as Bing, OpenTable, and movietickets.com, along with accessing useful travel-related services, such as live weather, traffic, fuel information (location and price), stocks, and sports. Toyota Entune has a large selection of music options available to a vehicle, including iHeartRadio's 750+ stations, and Pandora's personalized music service.

The audio systems combined with Entune feature a best-in-class, advanced conversational voice recognition system that helps the driver to stay focused by eliminating the need to memorize thousands of voice commands.

The base MSRP for the 2013 Venza LE will range from $27,700 for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) four-cylinder to $30,970 for the V6 all-wheel-drive (AWD), reflecting an increase $270 to $275, or 0.9-1.0 percent.

Pricing for the Venza XLE will range from $31,360 for the four-cylinder FWD to $34,630 for the V6 AWD, an increase ranging from $1,580 to $1,585, or 4.8 to 5.3 percent.

The Limited grade Venza will be receive a base MSRP of $37,420 for the FWD model, while the AWD model will be priced at $38,870. Both prices reflect an increase of $955, or 2.5 percent for the AWD and 2.6 percent for the FWD.

The MSRP for the 2013 Venza does not include the delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $810. The DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

All 2013 Venzas will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), in Georgetown, Ky.

News Source: Toyota

Category: Car Buying, Etc., Crossover, Toyota

Tags: 2013 toyota venza, 2013 toyota venza pricing, 2013 venza pricing, entune, toyota, toyota venza, venza, venza msrp, venza pricing

Heico Sportiv debuts Volvo V40 mods with bio-diesel racer

7:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

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Premiere at the AMI, Leipzig: Volvo V40 racecar from HEICO SPORTIV.

23.05.2012

Weiterstadt – For the first time at the unveiling of a new Volvo model in Germany, HEICO SPORTIV will simultaneously be presenting the corresponding sport edition: the premiere of the bio-diesel-powered Volvo V40 racecar at the Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig. The first-ever racing version of the brand new Volvo V40 will be on display from 1 to 10 June 2012 at the Volvo stand E31 in Hall 3.

Visitors at the AMI will be able to have a close look at the new Volvo V40 at Volvo's 800 m2 exhibition stand. The youngest Volvo – which celebrated its world premiere just recently at the start of March 2012 at the in Salon de l'Automobile in Geneva – will be available from Volvo partners from the summer. The compact hatchback model not only convinces with its outstanding safety features (e.g. the first series-production pedestrian airbag) but also with its dynamic design and sporty driving characteristics.

HEICO SPORTIV's philosophy centers on further accentuating Volvos' profiles and boosting their performance. As an official Volvo Car Germany partner for road vehicle individualization, HEICO SPORTIV works intensively on developing a comprehensive accessories program whose availability at retailers worldwide coincides with the market launch of the Volvo V40. It covers e.motion® ECU upgrades for all mainstream engine models, sonorous exhaust systems, sporty suspension and braking systems, exclusive VOLUTION® wheels, as well as high quality interior applications and made-to-measure body kits.

A first glimpse of HEICO SPORTIV's exterior design for the new Volvo V40 can be had with the racing version at the Volvo stand at the AMI.

The lightweight, carbon fiber body kit is oriented optically towards the future road version and was only optimized for the competition with wider wheel housing, a lowered front spoiler and a rear wing for race track application. The rear diffusor already corresponds to the final road version.

Under the slogan "Green Racing", HEICO SPORTIV has for many years successfully demonstrated that motorsports and ecology are not necessarily paradoxical. The Volvo V40 racer will therefore also be powered with alternative fuels. The latest Volvo model is powered by a five-cylinder, turbo diesel D5 engine which, in the racing version, generates 300 hp (221 kW) and a maximum torque of 600 Nm. From 2013, the Volvo V40 by HEICO SPORTIV will have bio-diesel in its tank when it approaches the starting line at demanding long distance races and the infamous 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring.

Related Gallery Volvo V40 by Heico Sportiv

News Source: Heico Sportiv via World Car Fans

Category: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Performance, Wagon, Europe, Volvo, Misc. Auto Shows, Diesel, Racing

Tags: bio-diesel, bio-fuel, heico, heico sportiv, v40, volvo, volvo v40

2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Tops Consumer Award’s Hybrid Category

12:00 PM Thomas Ponco No comments

Published May 28, 2012

By Philippe Crowe

Winners of this year’s Autobytel & AutoPacific Consumer Awards have been released and the top-rated hybrid car winner is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

This is the 16th edition of this annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.

Based solely on input from actual owners—more than 75,000 of them—taken during the first quarter of the year, AutoPacific’s 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSAs) provide a unique look at which vehicles provide the most satisfying overall ownership experience. Many other awards focus solely on specific aspects of that experience, or the subjective opinions of the media, and can’t identify the vehicles that really satisfy real drivers.

For example, when looking at the top-rated hybrid car in this year’s VSAs, the winner wasn’t the one with the absolute highest mpg ratings. Yes, the main reason people buy hybrids is to save on fuel costs, but, at this stage in the game, people expect that plus all the benefits found in a traditionally powered vehicle, too. And that’s exactly what they get in this year’s highest-rated hybrid car, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Part of the equation is Hyundai’s satisfying price tag of $25,850 that is the lowest MSRP of any hybrid mid-size sedan on the market.

The Sonata Hybrid also delivers the highest net horsepower in its class, and, thanks to Hyundai’s “Blue Drive” hybrid powertrain, EPA marks of up to 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway/37 mpg combined. Another Blue Drive benefit comes from the system’s advanced battery technology that relies on polymer gel electrolytes instead of the typical nickel-metal hydride setup. In plain English, the result is a battery that is 25 percent lighter, takes up 40 percent less space, delivers 10 percent better efficiency and can maintain available power for 1.7 times longer than traditional hybrid batteries.

An impressive list of standard content also contributed to the vehicle’s recognition as the highest-rated hybrid car in the 2012 VSAs.

Competitors included the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which was completely redesigned for the 2012 model year, as well as two luxury choices: The Buick LaCrosse eAssist and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The highest-rated dedicated hybrid was the Lexus CT 200h, which tied the Camry Hybrid for second place in the segment.

The most satisfying EV was the Chevrolet Volt, coming in just a few points behind the Buick and Lincoln.

More information on Hyundai’s win can be found here.

In the Hybrid SUV category, the 2012 Lexus RX 450h was named the top-rated hybrid truck. Showing the diversity of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, all of the entrants in the hybrid truck category used this advanced technology, but while the 2012 Lexus RX 450h.

Second Gen Fuel-Cell Buses Roll In Switzerland

9:00 AM Thomas Ponco No comments

Published May 28, 2012

By Jeff Cobb

PostAuto Schweiz AG has become the first company in Switzerland to deploy fuel-cell technology for public road transport.

Since the end of 2011, five Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid models have been serving on routes in and around Brugg (in the canton of Aargau) as PostAuto vehicles. Over the next five years, PostAuto will test the new generation fuel-cell drive, using clean hydrogen as fuel.

The dense network of routes operated by PostAuto around Brugg is ideally suited to the test in terms of both topography and routing, with a mixture of city traffic, country roads and village streets. The routes will be operated by the PostAuto company Voegtlin-Meyer AG, which will also service and refuel the five fuel-cell post vehicles at its garage location.

Aargau Canton is supporting the fuel-cell bus project with a subsidy of 1.5 million Swiss francs from the Swisslos lottery fund. PostAuto expects to save some 2 000 tonnes of CO2 during the five-year test phase.

Compared with the fuel-cell omnibuses that were tested from 2003 on as part of the CUTE and HyFLEET:CUTE projects, the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid offers significant innovations: hybridisation with energy recovery and storage in lithium-ion batteries, powerful electric motors fitted in the wheel hubs with a continuous output of 120 kilowatt, electrified PTO units and more advanced fuel cells.

These cells will have a service life of at least five years, or 12,000 operating hours.

The fuel-cell stacks in the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid are identical to those used in the Mercedes-Benz B-Class FCELL with fuel-cell drive. As in the earlier fuel-cell buses, the two stacks are already installed on the vehicle’s roof. A new addition is lithium-ion batteries, which store energy that is recovered during braking. With the electric power from this energy accumulator, the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid is able to run for a number of kilometres on battery power alone.

The concept behind the new FuelCELL bus essentially corresponds to that of the Mercedes-Benz BlueTec hybrid buses. However, these derive their electric power from a diesel generator, whereas in the new FuelCELL buses the fuel cells generate the electricity for the drive motors, without producing any emissions whatsoever.

The improved fuel-cell components and the hybridisation with lithium-ion batteries result in a reduction in hydrogen consumption of almost 50 percent for the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid compared with the previous generation.

As a result, it has been possible to reduce the number of tanks from the total of nine on board the fuel-cell buses deployed in earlier trials to seven on the current vehicles, holding 35 kg of hydrogen in all. The operating range of the fuel-cell bus is now over 150 miles.

With these diverse technical advances, buses running on electric power alone with fuel cells as energy generators are now a major step closer to production maturity.