Autoblog

Canada announces alignment of emissions standards with US

Zach Bowman — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:45:00 EST

Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister, has announced his country will adopt the United States Tier 3 emissions standards for passenger vehicles. Kent (shown above) says doing so will reduce air pollution from new vehicles by around 80 percent compared to the old Tier 2 standards currently in place. The Tier 3 standards will include tighter limits on the amount of emissions from new cars and light trucks as well as reduce the amount of sulfur in gasoline from 30 parts per million to 10 parts per million.

The Global Automakers of Canada, an industry association comprised of 15 different manufacturers, has come out in support of the move, saying the new standards are a step toward reducing emissions to the benefit of all Canadians. The group also said the move will help spur automakers to embrace new technologies. And since most new cars and trucks sold in Canada are also available in the US, the necessary recalibrations should be quite easy to perform.

The Canadian Fuels Association and Toyota have also voiced their support for the policy change. For more, check out the official press release from Environment Canada below.

Continue reading Canada announces alignment of emissions standards with US

Canada announces alignment of emissions standards with US originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW invests $27M into new California R&D center

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Volkswagen

Volkswagen has spent another $27 million of the $4 billion it has earmarked to advance its plans for U.S. market growth. The money went toward a 64,000-square-foot development and emissions lab called the Test Center California in Oxnard, about 45 miles north of Los Angeles. There, 50 permanent engineers and instructors will work on government compliance, powertrain, parts analysis, dealer service and training, and emissions and quality testing.

The building itself isn't energy neutral like the new Lamborghini prototype development center in Emiliana, Italy, but it does its part with 2,500 solar panels on its roof and parking structures and is gunning for LEED certification. Being a group initiative, it will tend to VW, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, and Bugatti.

We're told, in a line straight from the Death Star, that the "facility is expected to be fully operational this fall." Scroll down to the press release below for the rest of the news.

Continue reading VW invests $27M into new California R&D center

VW invests $27M into new California R&D center originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Falcon future unsure as Ford expected to cease AU manufacturing in 2016

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Australia

Ford hasn't said anything about it, but those who predict and those who do business with Ford in Australia expect The Blue Oval to cease production there as of 2016. The primary reason cited is the arrival of Euro 5 emissions standards on November 1, 2016, which are too stringent for the company's bread-and-butter Falcon sedan and Territory crossover to pass. It's been said that it would cost Ford millions to reengineer and retool, but sales of the Falcon sedan have been down for so long now that Ford announced earlier this month that 440 people would be let go from its two plants there.

In fact, Ford's Aussie position has been under threat for years. In 2007 the company announced it would close its Geelong engine plant at a cost of 600 jobs, only to reverse the decision a year later and keep the plant operating. Meanwhile, the value of the Australian dollar, cautious consumers and tariff reductions in the overall market have made imports tougher competition and depressed margins. It is the Falcon's troubles that are especially painful, though, causing a planned production cut of 25 percent in November.

In view of Ford's moves and the company's silence on its plans, suppliers have been rewriting their business plans for a future without Ford Australia, letting go of workers and going into receivership. Ford's departure would mean the loss of 3,000 jobs directly, with more to come in the supply chain and incidental industries. Also lost should this come to be: the legendary rivalry between the Falcon and General Motors' Holden Commodore, not to mention that between Ford Performance Vehicles (the FPV GT from 2008 is pictured above) and Holden Special Vehicles.

The front- and all-wheel-drive Ford Taurus range is expected to replace the rear-wheel-drive Falcon, and an as-yet-unnamed crossover would fill in for the Territory. Ford has had a manufacturing base Down Under since 1925 - leaving the country would mean only General Motors and Toyota remain as domestic producers.

Falcon future unsure as Ford expected to cease AU manufacturing in 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some cars to be as clean as electric train travel by 2020

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, UK

Ex-Ford engineer Richard Parry-Jones is now chairman-designate of the UK's Network Rail. Having looked into the futures of both car and train development, he believes that by the end of this decade the most Earth-friendly internal-combustion engine cars will be about as polluting, on a per-passenger basis, as high-speed electric trains.

Parry-Jones says carmakers are targeting 40g/km of CO2 tailpipe emissions by 2020. If the "average" occupancy of 1.6 people-per-vehicle stays the same in eight years, that would equal 25 gm per person per kilometer and put such cars in the same environmental category as the cleanest mass transit.

Since the emissions of electric cars and trains is usually given as zero, we're assuming he means diesel-electric high-speed trains; life-cycle emissions wouldn't be a valid comparison since those aren't factored into a car's tailpipe number. According to The Guardian's table of emission numbers by transport, right now you'd have to load four folks in a small diesel topped up with ultra-low sulphur fuel to get down to 42 grams per passenger per kilometer (gpkm), which would put you right with one of Virgin's Voyager class diesel-electric trains at 75-percent capacity. If you want to go all the way low, though, you'll need a 50cc two-stroke and a passenger: at that point you're rocking just 19.5 gpkm. Slowly.

Some cars to be as clean as electric train travel by 2020 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW plan to provide 4,000 cars to Olympic dignitaries in London triggers controversy

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., BMW, UK, Luxury

The problem when a bunch of bigwigs want to do something good for the environment is that they won't stop being bigwigs in order to do it. Getting a lot of VIPs together means a lot of private jets and limousines, and next thing you know, you've got a situation like the 2009 climate change conference in Copenhagen, when it only took a few days for 15,000 delegates to create as much filth as the town of Middlesbrough's 142,500 inhabitants.

According to the UK's Daily Mail, the 2012 London Olympics may be headed down the same carbon trail, with sponsor BMW planning to ship 4,000 cars to The City for use by dignitaries. Games organizers had promised that this would be the cleanest Olympics ever, and London mayor Boris Johnson said in 2009 that he wanted London to be the cleanest city in the world by the time the games arrived. Even though 200 of the BMWs are electric and all fall below the 120g/km emissions limit, the promise could still be difficult to fulfill with 3,800 more limos on top of the extra rides already called into service, especially once you factor in shipping them from Germany.

Some perspective, though: the addition of four thousand BMWs is being compared to London's aim for clean games; the extra metal really isn't that many cars considering we're talking about an event of this size. Only 250 vehicles will be allotted exclusively, the rest will be in shared service, and many will simply be displacing cars that otherwise would have been called into regular service. And, on the bright side: their use of BMWs will leave more room on buses and trains for the rest of you...

BMW plan to provide 4,000 cars to Olympic dignitaries in London triggers controversy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California low-carbon fuel regulation ruled unconstitutional by judge

Dan Roth — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Federal judge Lawrence J. O'Neill of the U.S. District Court in Fresno has stopped implementation of a California law that favors fuel producers with lower greenhouse gas emissions as part of the production process. The New York Times reports the judge has ruled that the regulation is an over-reach on California's part, one that attempts to regulate what goes on outside the borders of the state (it "unconstitutionally discriminates against out-of-state producers").

The intention of the law was to crank down greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the start of the next decade. The laudability of the goal isn't in question, but the ruling holds that it's unconstitutional for California to discriminate, and the state cannot dictate farming methods for biofuel raw materials or the source of electrical energy for refineries. Ethanol, trucking, and farming interests all opposed the law in the first place, as well.

California low-carbon fuel regulation ruled unconstitutional by judge originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inside Line pits Ford F-150 SVT Raptor versus... a leaf blower?

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Performance, Truck, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Off-Road, Fiat

You've probably heard the line about modern engines being cleaner than most lawn equipment, but chances are you can't put a source with that little tidbit. Inside Line recently took it upon itself to put that piece of common wisdom to the test by enlisting the help of an emissions lab in a little internal combustion show down.

Jason Kavanagh and Dan Edmunds pitted the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor against a Fiat 500, a two-stroke leaf blower and a four-stroke leaf blower. Who was left standing as the cleanest of them all when the smoke settled?

Believe it or not, the big-bad Ford took the honor of being the cleanest belle at this ball. Inside Line found that there were fewer hydrocarbons in the vehicle's exhaust than were present in the ambient air in the emissions lab, meaning the truck was actually cleaning the air as it ran.

That trick actually made the Raptor cleaner than the 1.4-liter four-cylinder in the Fiat, unless you're only measuring carbon dioxide, which is direct result of the amount of fuel burned. That left third place to the four-stroke leaf blower and dead last to the big two-stroke. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Inside Line pits Ford F-150 SVT Raptor versus... a leaf blower?

Inside Line pits Ford F-150 SVT Raptor versus... a leaf blower? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Land Rover Defender to soldier on until 2017

Zach Bowman — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Land Rover, UK, Rumormill, Diesel, Off-Road

Autocar reports that the Land Rover Defender will be around a good bit longer than we thought. The vehicle may stay on dealer lots until at least 2017 thanks in part to a new 2.2-liter diesel engine that can meet more stringent EU6 emissions standards. Originally, a successor to the long-running Defender was expected to show up as soon as 2015. Land Rover also says that there may be a loophole in the emissions legislation that could keep the standard from applying to the globe-crushing SUV until a much later date.

But emissions legislation wasn't the only thing pushing the Defender out the door. With its abrupt, vertical grille, the vehicle couldn't help but fail new pedestrian collision tests. Even so, Land Rover may have found another exemption that may save the Defender from the ire of lawmakers until 2020 on that front. Given the small number of Defender vehicles running around, we can't help but think that's all good news.

Land Rover Defender to soldier on until 2017 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz S-Class EV in the cards?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Electric, Luxury

Increasingly stricter environmental dictates are making the rich man's camel pass though the eyes of smaller and smaller needles to get to regulatory heaven. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is going to have to shrink somewhere in order to make it into the future, and it seems the company plan for that is to make an electric version, possibly even with lithium-sulfur batteries powering plug-in fuel-cell technology from the F-125! concept showed off at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

The hitch in this case is that if we ever see such a car, Daimler's R&D chief believes 2020 or 2025 would be the window for its appearance. The technologies aren't concept-only, or as out-there as using thorium for power, but scaling up to passenger car sizes and standards might be a decade or more out. The return: an S-Class with an emissions-free range of 621-miles.

That might sound like overkill, but as of now only one S-Class undercuts the European average for vehicular CO2 emissions. With the noose tightening in 2015 and even tighter strictures in 2020 and 2025, Mercedes (and plenty of other automakers) will need to position itself for 2025 and beyond.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class EV in the cards? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mythbusters answers which is greener, cars or motorcycles?

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Motorcycle

Using portable emissions equipment, a wide sampling of cars and bikes from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and with the help of Dr. Kent Johnson of UC Riverside, the Mythbusters team claims they proved motorcycles are dirtier than cars.

Doing so meant gathering data in real-world driving conditions along a 75-percent freeway, 25-percent city driving loop in and on the vehicles from different eras. The results of that test proved one thing that everyone should already know: motorcycles use less fuel than cars.

They also produce less carbon dioxide than cars, which accounts for 90 percent of a vehicle's emissions. Where cars pull ahead, though, is in the amount of other noxious gases they produce. The Mythbusters found that bikes produce tons more hydrocarbons, which are carcinogenic; nitrogen oxides, which cause acid rain; and carbon monoxide, everyone's favorite odorless deadly gas. Astoundingly, the 'busters claim bikes produce up to 8,000 percent more carbon monoxide than cars. Yes, 8,000 percent.

A controlled test on a track using a small displacement, fuel injected modern bike didn't give two wheelers the help the 'busters thought it would.To give bikes another chance, Jamie and Adam built an aerodynamic frame to make the modern bike sip even more gently through the wind. The result, predictably, was that the emissions got a little better, but were still worse than the car's. See the videos for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Mythbusters answers which is greener, cars or motorcycles?

Mythbusters answers which is greener, cars or motorcycles? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: EU working to ban gas and diesel-powered cars by 2050

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Ford, Electric, Diesel

According to new reports, the European Union will announce plans to ban all fossil fuel-powered cars in Europe by 2050. The detailed plan will be outlined in the European Union's Roadmap on Transport, which will come out on Monday. By 2030, the EU plans to have reduced fossil fuel traffic by half, particularly in urban areas.

The EU hopes to achieve its goal by ramping up focus on hybrid technology in the next couple decades to make a smooth transition to all-electric power by the middle of the century. A big part of the shift seems to be moving away from personal transportation and toward public conveyances wherever possible.

The EU says the overall goal for the project is to reduce traffic-related C02 emissions by 60 percent in 2050. A big part of the reduction will come from the effort to achieve zero-C02 transportation in major urban areas, where people travel by car 75 percent of the time.

For its part, Ford Motor Company has already come out with a response to the legislation, criticizing the EU's plan, and we wouldn't be surprised to see more statements from other automakers follow suit soon. You can read Ford's response in their official press release after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Marco!

[Source: NU.nl (translated) via Autoblog.nl | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Continue reading Report: EU working to ban gas and diesel-powered cars by 2050

Report: EU working to ban gas and diesel-powered cars by 2050 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: House panel attempting to block EPA from regulating tailpipe emissions

Chris Shunk — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

The Clean Air Act of 2007 gave the Environmental Protection Agency the right to regulate tailpipe emissions due to their dangers to public health. The law also gave states like California the right to set their own emissions policies; a move that could force automakers to meet several different standards in the U.S. alone. That led the federal government to essentially adopt California's standard, resulting in a mandate of 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016.

The Detroit News reports that Fred Upton, R-MI and Ed Whitfield, R-KY have sponsored a bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee that would overturn the Clean Air Act. The proposed measure would remove emissions regulations authority from the EPA and individual states, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration instead having sole authority to set corporate average fuel economy standards. "We feel it is not right that California should be dictating standards for the rest of the country," said Whitfield.

The move may be well-received by automakers, since the current regulations in place will cost OEMs billions of dollars. In fact, experts claim the stiff regulations currently on the books will cost automakers up to $52 billion over the next five years. That's a lot of cabbage, but the Obama Administration claims fuel economy improvements will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil and save car owners up to $3,000 over the life of the vehicle.

The sponsored bill has been given the go-ahead by the Energy and Power subcommittee, and The Detroit News claims house Republicans plan to fast-track the bill through Congress.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Clinton Steeds - C.C. 2.0]

Report: House panel attempting to block EPA from regulating tailpipe emissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz will do the 'unthinkable' to go green

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Mercedes-Benz

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS - Click above for high-res image gallery

At the Mercedes press conference during last week's Paris Auto Show, the company rolled out its CLS - the car everyone was really there to see - for dessert. We couldn't have our pudding without eating our meat, though, so there were five courses served before it: the Smart Ad Lib, Smart scooter, Smart bicycle, Mercedes A-Class E-Cell, and a 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel S-Class, throughout which time Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche and Smart head Annette Winkler took a good thirty minutes to stress the consumer and environmental friendliness of the brand's offerings.

This will not be an isolated incident, either. Zetsche said "We want to be efficiency world champions ... and we will be," and to do so will require initiatives that were "previously unthinkable," such as the hybrid S-Class and the coming four-cylinder. While there's no timeline placed on his pronouncement, it is clear that if M-B is going to stay with BMW and Audi in the emissions and efficiency stakes it will need to take a sledgehammer to conventional ideas of the brand.

Audi has laid out its electronic initiatives and BMW has its Efficient Dynamics, but so far Mercedes has only laid out a range of different projects under no particular umbrella, such as an all-hybrid S-Class line, more efficient ICE engines, and a new range of small cars for America. We wait to see if there is one particular way M-B will ultimately go to fulfill its aim... and if that way will include euthanizing Maybach...

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Mercedes-Benz will do the 'unthinkable' to go green originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More speculation on Bentley and Audi sharing next-gen V8

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Bentley, Luxury

2011 Bentley Continental GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bentley hasn't let much slip about the V8 that will be available in the 2011 Bentley Continental GT. However, each article that appears about Audi's use of the engine has one more little bit of information on it. According to what has been written we can piece together that it will be a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 550 horsepower. Bentley, though, hasn't given any indication of power output yet, though the 550 number was mooted in reference to next year's RS7 Sportback. If that were true for a V8 Continental GT, it could be uncomfortably close to the base V12 output.

Regardless, the latest news has the V8 will reduce CO2 emissions by 40 percent compared to the W12, listed as 396 g/km. Bentley said during the release of the second-gen Continental that the V8 would have "a class-leading CO2 emissions-to-power ratio," but even with that in mind, 40 percent is still a huge jump. Unless they're talking about simply piling on a huge amount of emissions equipment, there figures to be a serious rise in the Conti's EPA mileage rating, currently at 13 miles per gallon. It still wouldn't break 20 mpg, but it would be close closer, and not inconsequential.

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental GT

[Source: What Car?]

More speculation on Bentley and Audi sharing next-gen V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Show off your environmental (un)friendliness with the Puff illuminated pollution meter

Zach Bowman — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Now this is clever. Designer and artist Karolina Sobecka has worked up an interesting project for the World Maker Faire in New York City aimed at making motorists more aware of their carbon emissions. The system is made up of two devices - a cartoon-like cloud that attaches to the vehicle's exhaust pipe and an iPhone app that monitors the vehicle's emissions. The more carbon the car spews, the more the cloud changes color so that both the driver and everyone in the nearby vicinity knows exactly how much pollution is being spewed into the atmosphere.

The concept is pretty neat, but we don't exactly see too many car owners jumping at the chance to stick a massive, absurdly-colored cartoon cloud on the rear of their vehicle. The iPhone app sounds like a pretty fun toy to play around with from time to time, though. Unfortunately, most vehicle owners probably know just how bad their chariot of choice is for the environment - the trick is making them care. Head over to Makezine to have a look at an interview with Sobecka.

[Source: Makezine]

Show off your environmental (un)friendliness with the Puff illuminated pollution meter originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Canada reveals first-ever vehicle emissions standards that looks awfully familiar

Eric Loveday — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:38:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Canada

Following the lead of the United States, Canada has reportedly chosen to employ a fuel economy regulation program for the first time ever, and it's virtually identical to ours. According to the Times Colonist, the differences between the two countries' programs are so minute that you could essentially say Canada has copied our new Corporate Average Fuel Economy guidelines that require automakers to achieve a fleet average fuel economy of around 35 mpg by 2016. Prior to this, Canada did issue emissions guidelines, but it apparently didn't actually require compliance from automakers.

The guidelines for Canada's new emissions standard require automakers operating in that country achieve a CAFE number of 35.5 mpg by 2016. Starting in 2011, vehicles will also have to meet stringent greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) ratings, and a failure to meet the standards will result in monetary penalties. The GHG requirements will become more stringent as time passes. Sound familiar?

Okay, so Canada's new requirements are practically identical to our new U.S. regulations, and that's great because automakers will only have one standard to meet across both countries. Well, almost. It's not yet known if Quebec and British Columbia will adopt the new Canadian standards or attempt to regulate vehicle emissions on their own. Regardless, the new Canadian emissions standards will for the most part allow automakers to make one vehicle that can be sold in both countries with no emissions related modifications needed. Now, if we could just get a few more countries on-board, those pesky European and Japanese cars we've been longing for could make their way Stateside some day. Except for the issue of differing crash standards. Oh, well...

[Source: Times Colonist | Image: TKOwned via CC2.0]

Report: Canada reveals first-ever vehicle emissions standards that looks awfully familiar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: India's "King of the Road" being retired due to stricter emissions regulations

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Suzuki, India

The Ford Model T, Volkswagen Beetle and Fiat 500 are all fondly remembered by the populations of the countries that spawned them as the vehicles that finally made the masses mobile. You can add the Maruti Suzuki 800 that that list as well. The little hatchback from India was first introduced in 1983, and it quickly became known as the "King of the Indian Road." To date, over 2.5 million Maruti 800s have been sold.

That enviable streak is reportedly set to end in very short order as India rolls out a new set of emissions standards that the old 800 is simply unable to achieve. Though it could be retrofitted to meet whatever standards are thrown its way, Maruti has said it has no plans to upgrade the car, choosing instead to slowly phase it out as newer designs take over in its place. Cars like the Tata Nano, perhaps? Time will tell.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Report: India's "King of the Road" being retired due to stricter emissions regulations originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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International racing organizations meet to discuss environmental responsibility

Eric Loveday — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:33:00 EST

2009 24 Hours of Le Mans Start - Click above for high-res image gallery

Aside from the thrill of the race, motorsports are useful because the race cars they showcase often pass their genes down to the everyday vehicles that we drive. In an effort to perhaps hold its position as a trendsetter, or just to be more green, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) held a meeting to discuss alternative energies that can be utilized in all major categories of racing. The meeting, held at the Automobile Club de Monaco, brought together the heads of four international of motorsport federations, including motorcycles, powerboats, automobiles and aeronautics. FIM chairman Robert Rasor commented on the gathering by stating,

This was an interesting meeting and we expect to work together with the other motorsport federations and join forces to develop a common strategy towards the environment and its protection and promote the use of alternative energies.

Understanding that even motorsports can have an impact on the environment, either directly or indirectly, is a step in the right direction. Working together, the groups will draw from learned expertise and move towards a greener racing environment quickly. Here's hoping their efforts do more than slowly trickle down into vehicles that we drive day in and day out.

[Source: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme]

International racing organizations meet to discuss environmental responsibility originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volvo will build an Electric C30 test fleet, but no word on public sales

Michael Harley — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Europe, Government/Legal, Technology, Volvo, Electric

Volvo C30 EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volvo has not made any official determination whether or not to sell its Electric C30 in the U.S. or Europe, says the automaker. However, the company will build a 50-vehicle test fleet for use in Sweden. Each of those vehicles, highly instrumented and fitted with telematics, will feed data back to the company's research group for analysis. The company has the capacity to build more than 50 cars, but no decision to expand production has been made at this point.

The automaker also discusses the difficulty in meeting EU regulations (CO2-focused) vs U.S. regulations (emissions-focused). While consumers have been receptive to environmentally-friendly powertrains, Volvo would be required to build unique platforms for each market - a cost U.S. consumers are not willing to bear at this point.

UPDATE: Volvo contacted Autoblog to clarify the number of Electric C30's that will be built for testing, where the vehicle would be sold, and its reasoning for not bringing the vehicle to the U.S. in the near future. The article has been updated to reflect this new information.

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Volvo C30 EV

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Report: Volvo will build an Electric C30 test fleet, but no word on public sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi TDI good at a lot of things, but suicide apparently isn't one of them

Chris Shunk — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Audi, Diesel

Killing yourself is a bad idea. And trying to kill yourself by running a hose from the tailpipe to the cracked window of an idling Audi TDI diesel isn't only a bad idea; it's apparently unlikely to get the job done. That's the message we get from the four-ringed automaker's ~~interesting~~ disturbing ad. We aren't clear as to what market this spot aired in (or if it's intended solely for Internet consumption), but the commercial features the Audi A5 and an actor playing part of the dangerously depressed. The man pulls out a hose, feeds it into the A5's exhaust and places the other end into the cracked passenger window. He then turns the car on and waits in vein for the afterlife. The controversial one-minute spot isn't a quick guide to euthanasia but instead Audi is apparently demonstrating (avoided) death by emissions as a way to graphically illustrate just how clean its diesel technology is.

Hit the jump to view this very disturbing, very not-ready-for-U.S.-consumption spot. For the record, we have absolutely no idea whether or not the TDI in the Audi A5 is so clean that you safely can run a hose from the exhaust to the window, let the car idle until it runs out of gas and live to tell about it. In other words, under no circumstances should you try this at home, with or without a clean diesel.

UPDATE: The original video was yanked from YouTube, but we've found another that you can view after the jump.

Continue reading Audi TDI good at a lot of things, but suicide apparently isn't one of them

Audi TDI good at a lot of things, but suicide apparently isn't one of them originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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