|
|
|---|
Friday, November 27, 2009
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Video: Chevrolet Volt tests out its “chirping” pedestrian friendly alert with blind people
- Nissan says its Olympic Games fleet could’ve averaged 60 g/km of CO2, still complains
- Video: See the Lexus LF-Ch’s design come to life
- Two new buyers appear for Saab, things might not be so bad
- Toyota to bring back MR2 as a hybrid sports coupe?
- French parents angry at Renault for naming its electric car Zoe
- Loma Performance reveals Corvette C6.BlackforceOne which will debut in Essen
| Video: Chevrolet Volt tests out its “chirping” pedestrian friendly alert with blind people Posted: 27 Nov 2009 01:24 AM PST  With hybrid and electric cars becoming more and more popular, things are going to become a bit more dangerous for pedestrians and bicycle riders, at least according to some studies, as they won’t be able to notice these very silent vehicles until it is too late. But that’s in terms of normal pedestrians, what about the visually-impaired which can rely only on the sound cars make? Well in order to test out its new pedestrian proximity alert system, which distorts the horn of the car in order to make a chirping noise and let everyone around the car know it’s there, the engineers of the Chevrolet Volt asked the National Federation of the Blind to help. They all went to the Milford Proving Grounds, where the visually-impaired had a chance to hear and have their word on the new alert system. You can check out the whole experiment in a special video available after the jump.
Source: Chevrolet Voltage via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
|
| Nissan says its Olympic Games fleet could’ve averaged 60 g/km of CO2, still complains Posted: 27 Nov 2009 01:09 AM PST  The coverage of the Olympic Games is huge to say the least, as the the various sporting competitions are popular all around the world. This means that getting your brand up there and in the faces of people during the events can certainly provide a boost in popularity. That is why the decision of the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), which takes care of the upcoming 2012 London Olympics, as to what cars will be used by officials, athletes and press can really make a carmaker’s day. As we reported, BMW has earned the coveted privilege of supplying the sporting competitions with over 4,000 vehicles. One of its rivals, Nissan, wasn’t so pleased with the decision, saying that it could’ve supplied much more efficient electric vehicles.
Even though Nissan may have some interesting facts in its favor, perhaps it would’ve been better to do the gentlemanly thing and not say anything, avoiding to appear as a sore loser. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
|
| Video: See the Lexus LF-Ch’s design come to life Posted: 27 Nov 2009 12:46 AM PST  One of the most interesting things to arrive from Lexus these days is the LF-Ch hybrid compact hatchback model, which paves the way for the a Lexus hatchback which will rival other premium models like the BMW 1 Series or Audi A3. In order to promote the model, the company has just released a new video in which the work done at the Calty Design Research center in Newport Beach, California, where the design of the LF-Ch came to life. Hit the jump to see the video and what it takes to make a new car.
Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
|
| Two new buyers appear for Saab, things might not be so bad Posted: 27 Nov 2009 12:30 AM PST  In case you’re following the recent turmoil through which Swedish carmaker Saab has been going through, you know that GM was set to sell it to fellow Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg. The deal fell through though, and now GM revealed that it will announce next week what it will do with the struggling Scandinavia brand. Although some analysts hurried and said that Saab is doomed, it seems things aren’t so bad, and two new potential buyers have already appeared. One of them, as we’ve speculated, comes from China, in the form of Beijing Auto (BAIC) which was set to help Koenigsegg with the purchase in exchange for marketing the new Saab 9-5 in its native country. But while BAIC may be in a good position, rumors indicate that GM isn’t very happy with selling a lot of its own intellectual rights and the technology behind its latest Epsilon platform, on which the Saab 9-5 is based, to the Chinese carmaker. The second potential buyer, and one which qualified in the remaining three bids last summer for Saab, is Wyoming-based merchant bank Merbanco. This bidder may have a few more chances, as its owner, Christopher Johnson, is a Saab enthusiast, and the fact that it is based in the US might make GM trust it more. But whoever will buy Saab will also get a “bonus” as the European Investment Bank declared that the loan it is negotiating with Saab will be transferred to the new owner when the deal is done, adding an incentive to the Swedish brand. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
|
| Toyota to bring back MR2 as a hybrid sports coupe? Posted: 27 Nov 2009 12:12 AM PST  I’m sure most of you are looking at hybrids as the harbingers of change for the automotive industry, as they will slowly erase the need for big, powerful sportscar from the mainstream market. But there are still sides of the hybrid market which tell a different story, as nobody said you can’t get performance out of such a car, with the best example being the upcoming Honda CR-Z sports coupe. But Toyota isn’t going to sit idly as its fellow Japanese rival gets the hybrid performance market all for itself, and even though it is rumored to be preparing a performance coupe of its own based on the Prius, the company is also considering the revival of the popular MR2 model. Now do bear in mind that this is just in the rumors stage, but according to sources in Japan, Toyota is seriously considering the launch of a coupe with its engine mounted in the middle, behind the cabin, and coupled through an optimized version of the Hybrid Synergy Drive to an electric motor. This new model might receive the MR2’s Japanese nameplate, MR-S and with any luck, will hit a global market soon enough. What do you believe? Would a hybrid MR2 make your day or should Toyota not attempt such a thing? Leave a comment with your view on the matter. Source: Best Car via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
|
| French parents angry at Renault for naming its electric car Zoe Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:54 PM PST  As you might remember from a few weeks ago, Renault has revealed that it will be starting production of all-electric vehicles as soon as 2011, with models like the Twizy and Zoe to appear on the market. But while we can all praise electric cars and their names, it seems that Zoe hasn’t really gone down well with French parents, which are angry at Renault for deciding to use such a common name for girls (according to statistics, Zoe is the 17th most common name for girls in France), for its future car. The parents have started petitions and are demanding for the French company to change the name as soon as possible and don’t even care that it will be used for an innovative electric car.
As you can imagine, Renault isn’t really impressed by the parents, and declared that: “It is a name that evokes values of femininity, of youth, a playful spirit and vivacity. It is also a reference to the concept of zero emissions.” Frankly, I don’t really see what’s the big fuss. At least they didn’t name a big, heavy and wasteful SUV Zoe, and many years ago when Alfa Romeo launched the Giulia, nobody got upset. What do you believe? Are parents right about this argument or should Renault keep the name and risk a few people not wanting to buy the future Zoe? Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
|
| Loma Performance reveals Corvette C6.BlackforceOne which will debut in Essen Posted: 26 Nov 2009 11:41 PM PST  For its exhibition at the upcoming Essen Motor Show, the German tuning company Loma Performance decided to customize and upgrade the Corvette C6 model. Taking a heavy dose from a symbol of the Corvette’s native USA, the Air Force One plane, the company entitled it the C6.BlackforceOne, as it is available in shades like the Stealth matte black, Eurofighter matte gray and White Storm matte white. The company got to work by upgrading the engine to a bi-turbo layout, which can produce around 794 PS at the crank shaft, and around 675 PS at the wheel, translating, thanks to other performance components like a carbon fiber sports clutch and drive shafts, to a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) time of 3.4 seconds, and with the Loma Cup Sport Superlight exhaust system, the car can go to a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph). While the styling of the C6.BlackforceOne wasn’t changed all that much, connoisseurs will notice the wider stance, which was increased by 10 cm in each side with the help of the carbon fiber wheel arch extensions and the side skirts made from the same material. The lightweight fiber was also used in the front lip spoiler and rear diffuser, which can boast integrate LED reverse lights. As an option, you can also add a carbon fiber-finished spoiler to the rear. Other enhancements made to the standard C6 include a set of coilover suspensions, adjustable stabilizer bars and a set of 20-inch OZ Racing Ultraleggera HLT wheels wrapped in Michelin Sport Cup tires. Braking will be done with the help of a set of Mov’it carbon fiber/ceramic brakes. Only 25 vehicles will be made, each with a starting price of €190,000. You’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of this model at the upcoming Essen Motor Show, starting on November 28. Source: WorldCarFans Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Rpmgo.com To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 Comments:
