Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[<i>Top Gear</i> builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, an ER-EV to answer the Chevy Volt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/top-gear-builds-hammerhead-eagle-i-thrust-an-er-ev-to-answer-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/top-gear-builds-hammerhead-eagle-i-thrust-an-er-ev-to-answer-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/top-gear-builds-hammerhead-eagle-i-thrust-an-er-ev-to-answer-th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Click above to watch videos after the jump

Many electric vehicle fans out there are constantly complaining about how long it's taking automakers to bring plug-in vehicles to market. We've had commenters on this site claim that automakers should be able to bring EVs to the street in six months. Apparently even six months is too long for the crew at Top Gear.

For those unfamiliar with the format of the show, most episodes involve the producers giving a challenge of some sort to hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. The most recent episode, aired this week on the BBC in the UK, included just such a challenge. The boys were tasked to build their own answer to the extended-range EV Chevrolet Volt.

In a mere 18 hours they transformed a TVR Chimaera (interesting choice since a chimaera is a mythological creature composed of parts of a number of animals) into the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust pictured above. Once the i-Thrust was completed, it was turned over to Autocar magazine for an independent road test. As you might guess based on the photo, the results were not surprising and are a testament to perhaps taking all the time you need when developing a car. You can grab a copy of AutoCar's full road test as a PDF or just watch the entire Top Gear segment and video of the Autocar road test after the jump.

[Source: Autocar]

Continue reading Top Gear builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, an ER-EV to answer the Chevy Volt

Top Gear builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, an ER-EV to answer the Chevy Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>er-evextended range electric vehicleextended range EVextended range vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleExtendedRangeEvExtendedRangeVehicleHammerhead Eagle i-ThrustHammerheadEagleI-thrusttop gearTopGearWed, 25 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sneak peek at Jaguar's 'Limo-Green' series hybrid concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/11/sneak-peek-at-jaguars-limo-green-series-hybrid-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/11/sneak-peek-at-jaguars-limo-green-series-hybrid-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/11/sneak-peek-at-jaguars-limo-green-series-hybrid-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


For the past year, Jaguar, Lotus, Caparo Vehicle technologies and the MIRA proving ground have been working on a UK government-funded project dubbed Limo-Green. The goal of the project was to develop and build a series hybrid luxury sedan. Earlier this week, Jaguar showed off the car for the first time. Most of the powertrain development work was done using a last generation XJ, but recently all the hardware was moved into the just launched 2010 Jaguar XJ.

Like the Chevy Volt and Fisker Karma, the Limo-Green uses an electric motor for propulsion, in this case a 145 kW, 295 lb-ft unit. A lithium battery pack moves the car for 30 miles on a charge and then the Lotus-developed 1.2-liter range extender takes over for the remainder of the 600-mile range. We've contacted Jaguar for more information, but we're still waiting to hear back. In the meantime, AutoCar is reporting that the big Jag gets 47 mpg (US) on the EU combined cycle with CO2 emissions under 120 g/km.

[Source: AutoCar]

Sneak peek at Jaguar's 'Limo-Green' series hybrid concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>er-evextended range electric vehicleextended range vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleExtendedRangeVehiclefalsejaguarjaguar limo-greenjaguar xjJaguarLimo-greenJaguarXjlimo greenlimo-greenLimoGreenlotusxjFri, 11 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[General Motors reportedly approves Cadillac Converj for production *UPDATE]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/14/general-motors-reportedly-approves-cadillac-converj-for-producti/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Cadillac Converj - Click above for a high-res image gallery

At the Detroit Auto Show in January, General Motors surprised the crowd with a concept coupe called the Cadillac Converj. Built on the same Voltec platform as the Chevrolet Volt, the Converj was seen as a way for GM to leverage the pricey ER-EV drivetrain in a vehicle that could sell at a premium price, recovering some of the development costs. According to Motor Trend, the Converj has been given the green light for production in 2011, a year after the Volt launches. When we talked to GM's Bob Kruse at the Detroit show, he indicated a production Converj would likely use the same powertrain as the Volt, although it could have different calibrations to allow somewhat higher performance than the Chevrolet.

If the Converj does move forward, the proportions might have to change in order to use the same under-structure as the Volt. However, the larger stumbling block to building the Converj is money - or a lack thereof. Unless some kind of deal is struck between the Treasury and Energy Departments to allows GM to tap into ATVM loans, there won't be enough cash in GM's coffers to build the Converj.

*UPDATE: GM spokesman David Darovitz has just told us: "The status of the Cadillac Converj concept has not changed - it's still a concept vehicle undergoing a review that has not yet concluded. "

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj


[Source: Motor Trend]

General Motors reportedly approves Cadillac Converj for production *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac converjCadillacConverjer-evextended range electric vehicleextended range vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleExtendedRangeVehiclevoltecTue, 14 Apr 2009 20:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Jaguar to build extended range-EV version of new XJ in 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/rumormill-jaguar-to-build-extended-range-ev-version-of-new-xj-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/rumormill-jaguar-to-build-extended-range-ev-version-of-new-xj-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/rumormill-jaguar-to-build-extended-range-ev-version-of-new-xj-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jaguar is apparently planning to attack the upstart Fisker Karma head-on with an extended range electric version of the all-new XJ. The completely reworked XJ is due to arrive in July and hit dealers in December with a look heavily influenced by the smaller XF. A year later, the Indian-owned British luxury automaker will reportedly launch a plug-in version with 30 miles of electric only range that should help the big car get 47 mpg (US) and a CO2 emissions rating of less than 120 g/km.

Jaguar will be able to introduce this new model now that it has approved for a new EU loan for developing greener cars. Jaguar already has an advantage over some of its competitors because the full-size XJ is comparatively light thanks to its aluminum construction. Lotus Engineering and Caparo are helping Jaguar with development of the ER-EV powertrain.

Additionally, Jaguar and Land Rover are rumored to be developing micro-hybrids, full parallel hybrids, smaller diesel engines, and boosted gas engines along with even more weight reductions for the full lineup.

[Source: AutoCar]

Rumormill: Jaguar to build extended range-EV version of new XJ in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>er-evextended range electric vehicleextended range vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleExtendedRangeVehiclejaguar xjjaguar xj er-evjaguar xj evJaguarXjJaguarXjEr-evJaguarXjEvMon, 13 Apr 2009 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: Jeep Patriot EV joins the ENVI lineup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/detroit-2009-jeep-patriot-ev-joins-the-envi-lineup/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/detroit-2009-jeep-patriot-ev-joins-the-envi-lineup/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/detroit-2009-jeep-patriot-ev-joins-the-envi-lineup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click above for high-res image gallery of the Jeep Patriot EV

It remains to be seen how serious Cerberus is about keeping Chrysler LLC going or if anyone else will step forward to take control of the Auburn Hills-based company. While the gang in the executive suite determine the company's fate, the engineers at the ENVI division have their shoulders to the grind-stone turning out a fourth electric vehicle for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. This time the team has applied it's extended-range electric-drive powertrain to the Jeep Patriot. Like the earlier Town and Country EV, this one has an electric motor driving the front wheels, in this case a 150 kW unit. A lithium-ion battery pack of indeterminate capacity gives the Patriot EV a claimed 40-mile range per charge.

A surprisingly small 60-hp internal combustion engine/generator combo keeps the Patriot going after the battery is depleted for up to 400 miles. Since the Patriot is a rebodied Caliber, it seems plausible that if the lights are still on by the time we get to Chicago or New York, we might see an ER-EV version of the Dodge at some point, too. Unfortunately, unless the economy picks up and Chrysler's mainstream lineup is improved, the efforts of the ENVI team might all be for naught.

Gallery: Jeep Patriot EV

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Jeep Patriot EV joins the ENVI lineup

Detroit 2009: Jeep Patriot EV joins the ENVI lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdetroitdetroit 2009detroit auto showDetroit2009DetroitAutoShower-evextended range electric vehicleextended range vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleExtendedRangeVehiclejeep patriot evJeepPatriotEvSat, 10 Jan 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Fisker Karma to use GM's 2.0-liter turbo'd four]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/fisker-karma-to-use-gms-2-0-liter-turbod-four/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/fisker-karma-to-use-gms-2-0-liter-turbod-four/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/fisker-karma-to-use-gms-2-0-liter-turbod-four/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Fisker Karma

Fisker Automotive has apparently decided that 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque should be plenty of power to recharge some batteries. Those 260 galloping ponies will come courtesy of the General in the form of its 2.0L direct injected and turbocharged Ecotec four banger, an engine that we've sampled ourselves plenty of times. We feel well qualified, therefore, to suggest that this is an excellent motor, but it really sounds like a major case of overkill for this particular application. Perhaps that's better than "underkill" (if such a word actually existed) as that powerful engine ought to be able to recharge the Fisker Karma's on-board lithium ion batteries at an extremely brisk pace. The faster the internal combustion engine can charge up the battery pack, the quicker the car can revert back to its native electric-only operation. Plus, that engine is a relatively light chunk of alloy, so the Karma's motor shouldn't be burdened by the gasoline-fed boat anchor too horribly under electric power.

We also find it a bit interesting that Fisker chose GM as its powertrain supplier, which means that the Karma and GM's own Chevy Volt are now even closer cousins than before. Both vehicles will sport four doors, lithium ion batteries and an extended-range electric vehicle drivetrain; and with this announcement, both are now slated to share four cylinder engines from GM. This kinda makes 'em second-cousins through marriage, no?

Gallery: Fisker Karma

Continue reading Fisker Karma to use GM's 2.0-liter turbo'd four

Fisker Karma to use GM's 2.0-liter turbo'd four originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0l ecotec2.0lEcotecerevextended range electric vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehiclefiskerfisker automotivefisker ecotecfisker gmfisker karmafisker-karmaFiskerAutomotiveFiskerEcotecFiskerGmFiskerKarmagm ecotecGmEcotecFri, 21 Nov 2008 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[GM employees to get sneak peek at production Volt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/gm-employees-to-get-sneak-peek-at-production-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/gm-employees-to-get-sneak-peek-at-production-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/gm-employees-to-get-sneak-peek-at-production-volt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Pending white collar cuts and dismal sales data have resulted in morale problems at General Motors. That's going to put a damper on the Detroit automaker's centennial celebration, so the General plans on showing employees a near-production-ready Chevy Volt to give workers hope. The (hopefully) game-changing extended range electric vehicle will be shown internally around the September 16th centennial, and employees who see the Volt will, of course, have to check their cameras and phones at the door. That doesn't mean the public won't soon get an eyeful of the car, as GM sources report that it'll be shown in production trim at this year's LA or Detroit Auto Show. Don't forget also that it's also been rumored that Volt could show up in Paris in October.

GM has 200 engineers and 50 designers working long hours to make the ER-EV happen by its late 2010 production target, and there are another 400 people working on components. GM is also constructing a new 530,000 sq-ft facility to build the Volt's 1.4L engine and working on getting incentives for the planned construction.

Gallery: Chevy Volt Concept


[Source: Detroit News]

GM employees to get sneak peek at production Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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