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[Geneva Preview: Mitsubishi i MiEV SPORT AIR concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/geneva-preview-mitsubishi-i-miev-sport-air-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/geneva-preview-mitsubishi-i-miev-sport-air-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/geneva-preview-mitsubishi-i-miev-sport-air-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a hi-res gallery of i MiEV Sport Air renderings

In March at the Geneva Motor Show, Mitsubishi will unveil the i MiEV SPORT AIR concept, which refines the ideas first displayed in the Tokyo 2007 i MIEV Sport show car.

Details are thin at the moment, but the styling has obviously been tweaked, there's a "clear cutaway" roof, and power comes from a stronger electric motor. The focus with the i MiEV SPORT AIR, as with the preceding i MiEV Sport, is on a more dynamic driving experience.The official press release talks of a low center of gravity and "instant torque" almost as much as it does zero emissions motoring. One wonders whether Mitsubishi has a production version in the pipeline, ready to follow the regular i MiEV. After all, why else would they make a second, more refined-looking version of a 2007 concept?

Gallery: Mitsubishi i MIEV Sport Air


[Source: Mitsubishi]

Geneva Preview: Mitsubishi i MiEV SPORT AIR concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airgeneva 2009Geneva2009i mievi miev sport airIMievIMievSportAirsportMon, 26 Jan 2009 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Compressed air car on track for production this year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/compressed-air-car-on-track-for-production-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/compressed-air-car-on-track-for-production-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/compressed-air-car-on-track-for-production-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Guy Negre's compressed air vision has crossed our desks before. The vehicle, which uses a motor powered by 4,000 psi of compressed air stored in carbon fiber tanks, will actually start production in India soon - after 15 years in development - thanks to some help from India's biggest automaker, Tata, which itself just unveiled the world's least expensive car called the Nano. The MDI Citycat and Minicat are built from lightweight materials and offer large passenger and luggage space with zero emissions motoring. The energy required to refill the compressed air tanks reportedly costs about $2, and there are optional propulsion units to extend the roughly 90-mile (at speeds of 40mph or below) range of the vehicle so you aren't stuck if your air car runs out of breath.

We wonder if the MDI Citycat and Minicat might actually increase the demand for compressed air. We can just imagine someone finding a way to make money selling high-octane squeezed atmosphere. Regardless, 100 miles of zero emissions sounds good to us, and MDI is also considering setting up local factories in various markets to virtually eliminate transport costs and pollution, too. With Tata's large resources and the insatiable demand of the burgeoning Indian market, these clever cars stand a good chance of success.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Compressed air car on track for production this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airair carAirCarcarciticatgreenguy negreGuyNegreindiamdiminicattatazero emissionsZeroEmissionsTue, 08 Jan 2008 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear's back, with Hammond, airing Jan28]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/top-gears-back-with-hammond-airing-jan28/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/top-gears-back-with-hammond-airing-jan28/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/13/top-gears-back-with-hammond-airing-jan28/#commentsFiled under:

The Hamster's back! We're pleased to report that after a miraculously brief recovery period following his mishap with a 300-mph jet-powered dragster, Richard Hammond is back in action, and so is Top Gear.

Richard was on hand today for the filming of the program's annual awards ceremony. While we never did get the point of awarding more than one Man or Car of the Year prize, Richard's colleagues presented him with one of their Man of the Year awards for his epic recovery and to welcome him back. And he sure deserves it. The folks at Lego, the skill-building toy to which Hammond previously attributed his rapid recovery, also presented him with a toy-block replica of the jet car that sent him plowing the field, as well as a replica of the Top Gear set, complete with little Hammond, little Clarkson, little May and little Stig.

And now with Richard back in action and with no further ado, the news you've all been waiting for: the new season of Top Gear is confirmed to air on January 28, only a month and a half away. Of course that's only if you get BBC2, but we won't be surprised to find the episodes popping up online at the BBC's website and intermittently on YouTube et al.

Welcome back, Richard, and welcome back, Top Gear. We've all missed you terribly.

For those coming late to the story, check out these...
Related posts:

[Source: Top Gear]

Top Gear's back, with Hammond, airing Jan28 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airawardbackceremonygearhammondhamsternewreturnsrichardseasontopyearWed, 13 Dec 2006 18:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Saab sponsors Reno air show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/saab-sponsors-reno-air-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/saab-sponsors-reno-air-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/14/saab-sponsors-reno-air-show/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nurturing (or exploiting) its aerospace roots, Saab is sponsoring the Reno National Championship Air Races currently underway in the Nevada desert as part of its "Born from Jets" marketing campaign.

The air show features the Thurderbirds (the US Air Force aerobatics squad) along with the Saab Performance Driving Team in from Sweden who will be demonstrating the 9-3 Aero V6 Turbo sport sedan on the runway during the show. Saab will also be on site with a unique trailer that sets up as an aircraft hangar-like exhibit featuring interactive displays of Saab's line-up.

Saab was founded in 1937 as Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company Limited) and branched into cars ten years later. Today the automotive division is owned by GM, while the aircraft company is owned separately. Fortunately you don't need a pilot's license to drive a Saab, or the local country club parking lot would look more like the set of Top Gun.

[Source: GM]

Saab sponsors Reno air show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerospaceairair forceaircraftAirForceairshowcargmjetrenosaabshowthunderbirdsThu, 14 Sep 2006 18:34:00 EST