Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Report: Mazda RX-8 denied re-entry into Europe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/report-mazda-rx8-denied-re-entry-into-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/report-mazda-rx8-denied-re-entry-into-europe/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/report-mazda-rx8-denied-re-entry-into-europe/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mazda RX-8 R3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to the crew at Auto Motor und Sport, the Mazda RX-8 won't be coming back to Europe for the 2011 model year. Why? The rev-rific rotary can't pass the Euro-5 emission standards and a replacement won't arrive until 2013.

Mazda Germany exec, Joseph Alois Schmid, told AMuS that retrofitting the current engine would be too cost prohibitive and the Wankel can't adapt quickly enough to Europe's stringent emission standards.

Although a replacement is in the works - and a hydrogen version could arrive within the next few years - the next rotary mill will have to be significantly reworked to adhere to the new standards. But even a revised rotary could have problems in 2014, when the new Euro 6 emission rules take effect.


Gallery: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3


[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via TTAC]

Report: Mazda RX-8 denied re-entry into Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>euro 5euro 6Euro5Euro6europegermanymazdamazda rx 8mazda rx-8mazda rx8MazdaRx-8MazdaRx8Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19439824/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/14/report-mazda-rx8-denied-re-entry-into-europe/19439824/article-detail.xml 19439824 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mazdarx809128012-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/mazdarx809128012-630op.jpg <![CDATA[Suzuki to show A-Star Concept at New Delhi Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/suzuki-to-show-a-star-concept-at-delhi-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/suzuki-to-show-a-star-concept-at-delhi-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/suzuki-to-show-a-star-concept-at-delhi-motor-show/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for photo gallery

Next month at the New Delhi Motor Show, Suzuki will unveil the A-Star concept, which foretell's the automakers next global compact car. Why India? Well, local interests, of course. The production version of the car, likely the new Alto according to World Car Fans, will be built in India at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant beginning in October 2008. It will be sold globally (read: Europe, India and other non-US markets), and Suzuki plans to keep the vehicle's price low. Technical details are sparse, but reports state that the production version will be powered by a 1.0L Euro 5 emissions compliant engine. If you can read Japanese, you can check out Suzuki's official announcement here.

[Source: Suzuki, AFP, IHT]

Gallery: Suzuki A-Star Concept

Suzuki to show A-Star Concept at New Delhi Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-starA-Star ConceptA-starConcepteuro 5Euro5suzuki a-starsuzuki a-star conceptSuzukiA-starSuzukiA-starConceptTue, 11 Dec 2007 13:34:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1059869/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/12/11/suzuki-to-show-a-star-concept-at-delhi-motor-show/1059869/article-detail.xml 1059869 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/astar_lo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/12/astar_lo.jpg <![CDATA[Video in the Fastlane III: Bob's not big on the future of diesel in the U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/video-in-the-fastlane-iii-bobs-not-big-on-diesels-future-in-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/video-in-the-fastlane-iii-bobs-not-big-on-diesels-future-in-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/video-in-the-fastlane-iii-bobs-not-big-on-diesels-future-in-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We just got word of the latest GM FastLane Blog podcast, and in it Bob Lutz doesn't appear to be too keen on diesels. While admitting that GM is working on diesel powerplants for use in passenger vehicles sold in the U.S., he tries to emphasize the fact that diesels aren't a cure-all. Lutz sees only a 12-15% benefit to diesels over gas engines in fuel mileage given the stricter emissions standards for diesels that are now in place. With the new Bin 5 Tier II standards (not to mention the even stricter standards set by the California Air Resources Board) on the horizon, he thinks a diesel-powered car will cost $2,000 to $2,800 more than a gas-powered one because of extra emissions hardware, and that's on top of the $1,000 to $2,000 premium for diesels to begin with.

His bottom line seems to be that diesels can be better than gas engines for mileage, but that the added cost to meet new emissions standards are making them less attractive. While we've been heartened to see the promise of more diesels coming to the States, it's true that they don't really answer all of the concerns about a diminishing crude supply, nor the environmental impact of automobiles. They may reduce our use of crude, but there are costs associated with them that make them a temporary step at best. Renewable energy sources are a better option ultimately, but for the time being, diesels can help us reduce our dependency. It might sound like sour grapes a bit coming from Bob's lips, but he has a point. Click play and watch his thoughts on this issue for yourself.

Video in the Fastlane III: Bob's not big on the future of diesel in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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