2010 VW Golf TwinDrive Electric Hybrid Concept Revealed

Volkswagen yesterday unveiled its new hybrid concept called the Golf Twin Drive. The uniqueness of this Twin Drive concept is the combination of a fuel-efficient diesel engine with plug-in electric hybrid technology. The electric motor stored in Golf's cargo hatch runs on an array of easily chargable lithium-ion batteries generating a respectable 82hp (61kW) of power. You won't need to worry once the electric-only range of 31 miles (50 KM) is crossed and the batteries get drained as the 122 horsepower 2.0L turbodiesel engine would take over from there.

It won't be right to compare the 2010 Golf Twin Drive with the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, as unlike the Volt, there would be no charging of the batteries by the engine. But the good thing is that you can still hook-up the car to a regular household power outlet and enjoy your beer while the baby gets all charged-up.

To further boost its travelling range, Golf will be loaded with two new innovative technologies, the regenerative braking to charge the batteries, and the start-stop system to shuts off the engine when idling in traffic.

By 2010, Volkswagen along with the German government would be developing a fleet of 20 Golf test cars fitted with the Twin Drive system. And VW promises to charge the batteries for the vehicle's electric motor using only 'renewable electricity' during the trial process. If you are confused by the term 'renewable electrictiy', not a prob, it just denotes the electric energy thats generated from renewable resources such as wind and hydro power.

Source: Autoblog

Indianapolis 500 pace car 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Unveiled

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car

Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway unveiled the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car. The first year for Camaro to pace the Indianapolis 500 was in 1967, the year the Camaro made its debut. Camaro has since paced the race in 1969, 1982, 1993 and 2009.

The Chevrolet Camaro SS Pace Car is equipped with a stock 400 hp 6.2L V-8, an RS appearance package and leather interior with Inferno Orange interior accents. The pace car also features unique design cues that further enhance the Camaro’s head-turning design. Features unique to the pace car include: 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo painted on doors and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests, 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo badges on front fenders, All-new front grille insert that Chevrolet plans to offer as a future Camaro accessory, Amber lens tail lamps, Complete safety strobe light system with custom interior light bar in the rear window (no rooftop light bar) and All-new GM Accessory floor mats with red and orange accent stitching.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car

Starting at approximately $23,000, and offering an EPA-estimated 29 highway mpg on the V-6-powered car, the all-new Camaro is a budget-friendly sports car that doesn’t sacrifice on performance. Despite the recent economic challenges, the Camaro has overtaken its closest competitor to lead the regular sports car segment in sales for the last six months. Chevrolet sold more than 6,000 Camaros in each of these months.

The public will get their first look at the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car when it makes its auto show debut at the Indianapolis Auto Show starting on Dec. 26.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car

Press Release:

Chevrolet Camaro SS to pace 2010 Indianapolis 500

Rally Stripe Paint Scheme Pays Tribute to ‘69 Camaro Pace Car

INDIANAPOLIS — Officials from Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway unveiled the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car at the Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum today.

“We’ve enjoyed a great partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the years, and are proud to once again have the privilege of pacing the Indianapolis 500 in a Camaro,” said Jim Campbell, General Manager, Chevrolet.

The 2010 Chevy Camaro Indianapolis 500 pace car is a 21st century sports car that looks to the future with a nod to both the car’s and the race’s heritage. The first year for Camaro to pace the Indianapolis 500 was in 1967, the year the Camaro made its debut. Camaro has since paced the race in 1969, 1982, 1993 and 2009.

This year’s pace car features an Inferno Orange Metallic paint scheme with White Diamond rally stripes that travel from the front to the rear over the top of the body, as well as extending to the instrument panel. The design is a modern interpretation of the original rally stripe that debuted on the 1969 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.

“Chevrolet has done it again with the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS Pace Car, it is simply beautiful,” said Jeff Belskus, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation. “The car’s tribute to ‘500′ history and its sports car feel will be a big hit with our fans, and it will look great leading the Indianapolis 500 field on Race Day.”

This year’s pace car is equipped with a stock 400 hp 6.2L V-8, an RS appearance package and leather interior with Inferno Orange interior accents. The pace car also features unique design cues that further enhance the Camaro’s head-turning design. Features unique to the pace car include:

2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo painted on doors and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests

2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo badges on front fenders

All-new front grille insert that Chevrolet plans to offer as a future Camaro accessory

Amber lens tail lamps

Complete safety strobe light system with custom interior light bar in the rear window (no rooftop light bar)

All-new GM Accessory floor mats with red and orange accent stitching

Starting at approximately $23,000, and offering an EPA-estimated 29 highway mpg on the V-6-powered car, the all-new Camaro is a budget-friendly sports car that doesn’t sacrifice on performance. Despite the recent economic challenges, the Camaro has overtaken its closest competitor to lead the regular sports car segment in sales for the last six months. Chevrolet sold more than 6,000 Camaros in each of these months.

The public will get their first look at the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS Indianapolis 500 pace car when it makes its auto show debut at the Indianapolis Auto Show starting on Dec. 26.

Chevrolet is one of America’s best-known and best-selling automotive brands, and one of the fastest-growing brands in the world. With fuel solutions that range from “gas-friendly to gas-free,” Chevrolet has nine models that offer an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, and offers two hybrid models. More than 2.5 million Chevrolets that run on E85 biofuel have been sold. More information can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. The 2009 racing season marked the 100th anniversary of the Speedway and the start of its Centennial Era, which continues with the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011.

For 2010, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will play host to the Indianapolis 500 on May 30, the Brickyard 400 on July 25 and the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 29. For tickets and information, visit www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

2010 Volvo C30 Facelift HEICO SPORTIV

2010 Volvo C30 Facelift HEICO SPORTIV

The new Volvo C30 stands for individualism and ecologi-cally friendly driving. Volvo tuner HEICO SPORTIV is sharpening this profile… in every respect.

“The future of our business model lies in the intelligent combination of performance-oriented products and ecological sustainability,” explains HEICO SPORTIV general manager, Holger Hedtke.

A philosophy that accompanies every step of the new Volvo C30 product development process. With the Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe, HEICO SPORTIV will be launching the economy model as the basis for the extensive individualization program.

2010 Volvo C30 Facelift HEICO SPORTIV

The standard factory specifications of the Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe already offer a wide range of innovative technologies such as start/stop driving with brake-energy recovery, reducing fuel consumption to 3.9 liters/100 km* (* Combined, in accordance with prescribed measurement technique (RL80/1268/EWG)). The Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe covers the classic zero to 100 km/h sprint in just 9.2 seconds, beating its series-produced counterpart by 2.1 seconds! A maximum speed of 200 km/h is also attainable, 10 km/h faster than the series version.

“This is our basic starting point for proving that ecologically friendly action and the pleasure of driving don’t need to be mutually exclusive,” says Holger Hedtke. “In doing so, aerodynamically optimized components such as the radiator grille or under-floor intentionally remain untouched.”

2010 Volvo C30 Facelift HEICO SPORTIV

The HEICO SPORTIV Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe features a remodeled design elements at the front and rear. The HEICO SPORTIV front spoiler – which replaces the original lower base section of the bumper – consists of fiber-strengthened polyurethane and is fixed using the existing anchorage points. The same applies to the rear valence which mimics the front spoiler’s laterally arranged air vents and has a centrally placed diffuser element. The rear valence serves to accommodate the HEICO SPORTIV four pipe stainless steel exhaust system.

The Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe is available from HEICO SPORTIV with a starting price tag of ca. EUR 29,900; the parts will naturally also be deliverable individually from spring 2010.

2010 Ford S-MAX with all-new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi engine

2010 Ford S-MAX with all-new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi engine

When the S-Max was launched back in 2006, the model was a winner for Ford of Europe from the start. It promptly took the European Car of Year Award prize and went on to be a sales success and a favorite of consumers and auto journalists alike. Now the S-Max is due for a mid-generation facelift and Ford needs to keep the model fresh without compromising its hard-won credentials with the public.

The 2010 Ford S-MAX will be available with significant detail changes to the exterior including a strongly sculptured bonnet and all-new front fascia, emphasised by the bolder graphic of the gloss black lower front trapezoidal grille. This gives Ford S-MAX a distinctive new presence on the road and a new lower front bumper which, on high series models comes with distinctive LED daytime running lights (optional for Trend series), further strengthens the car’s purposeful stance. From the side, Ford S-MAX is instantly recognisable and now stands out even more with its window profile enhanced by a chrome strip, which surrounds the whole glass area to enhance the car’s sleek and sporty lines.

2010 Ford S-MAX with all-new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi engine

The rear of new Ford S-MAX has also been re-designed with a more dynamically profiled tailgate, a lower fascia, and new LED tail lights that extend deep into the rear side flanks, creating an even stronger athletic appearance. Peer at the nose and slightly repositioned air intakes with adjacent foglights coming into view. Above them, a shapelier hood with twin design lines adds a sporty flavor to the otherwise bland van. Boosting its premium appeal while further distinguishing the new car is a horizontal satin chrome bar, which runs between the LED tail lights and is embossed with the distinctive S-MAX logo.

2010 Ford S-MAX with all-new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi engine

The Ford S-MAX offer an all-new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi engine. Featuring lightweight all-aluminium construction, the latest-generation high-pressure direct injection system, low-inertia turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing. The 2.0-litre EcoBoost SCTi engine has a maximum output of 203 PS (149kW) at 5,500 rpm, combined with maximum torque of 300 Nm, which is delivered across a broad 1,750-4,500 rpm range. With this new powertrain, the Ford S-MAX achieves 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 221 km/h (137 mph).

New BMW 320d

Grafica image, and wallpaper of BMW 320d EfficientDynamics announced pricing for its newest addition to the multiple award-winning Lancer lineup - the versatile five-door 2010 Lancer Sportback GTS and Ralliart. The Lancer Sportback carries with it similar distinctive and aggressive styling as the rally-inspired Lancer Evolution, yet with greater flexibility to accommodate active lifestyles.

Whether you like it or not, the X1 is a BMW and BMW cars cannot be taken for granted! So to learn more about it and know all the engines and options, hit the jump and study full details BMW has just released for the X1. But don’t think a brilliant engine will make this car fascinating, most of them are diesels and the only gasoline engine develops only 258hp! So…

• With its agile, versatile and modern character, the BMW X1 guarantees
a new driving experience in the premium compact segment. It expands and enhances the range of BMW X models by yet another innovative vehicle concept.
• Through its body design the BMW X1 demonstrates self-confident elegance, a versatile and sporting character, as well as spontaneous agility. For the first time the features and characteristics of a BMW X model are carried over in modern style into a unique vehicle in the premium compact segment.
• The interior of the BMW X1 is characterised by clear function and trendsetting, modern style. The driver orientation so typical of BMW
is additionally accentuated by the forward-pushing lines within the
cockpit area. Sophisticated materials and natural colours accentuate
the youthful and dynamic flair of the vehicle.
The economical Lancer Sportback GTS features Mitsubishi`s efficient 2.4-liter engine with 168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque. MSRP for the GTS with a five-speed manual transmission is $19,190, while the six-speed CVT automatic transmission with magnesium paddle shifters starts at an MSRP of $20,190.

The Lancer Sportback Ralliart is powered by Mitsubishi`s 2.0-liter MIVEC turbocharged engine that pumps out 237 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. All-Wheel Control (AWC) with Active Center Differential (ACD) is standard, as is the quick-shifting six-speed Twin Clutch-Sportronic® Shift Transmission (TC-SST) and magnesium paddle shifters that it shares with the high performance Lancer Evolution. The Lancer Sportback Ralliart starts at an MSRP of $27,590.

"Today`s new car buyers are moving toward smaller, fuel efficient cars, and yet, there is still a need for cargo capacity. The Lancer Sportback`s carrying capacity, coupled with a more aggressive design than contemporary hatchbacks, perfectly fills the void," explains Bryan Arnett, manager of product strategy of MMNA.

Mitsubishi designers created a dynamic and fluid shape for the Sportback that is instantly recognizable as a Lancer from the front, with its signature "jet fighter" grille, while being completely fresh from the C-pillar rearward. The sleek sloping rear door with integrated roof wing creates a visually distinctive shape while making the Lancer significantly more versatile. The door extends down to the rear bumper to make loading cumbersome objects like surfboards, camping gear and bicycles as easy as possible.

The Lancer Sportback`s overall length is just slightly longer than the Lancer four-door sedan, yet it gains substantial cargo-carrying flexibility--especially when the 60:40-split rear seats are folded flat by its one-touch auto-folding feature. To add still more volume, the rear cargo floor of the GTS can be cleverly lowered three inches, yielding 52.7 cubic ft. maximum cargo space. The roof will also conveniently accommodate a plug-in Thule® Sport Rack for additional flexibility.

Premium interior features like those found on the Lancer sedans are also part of the Sportback`s resume. Key components in the Ralliart version include a standard 140-watt CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers or an available 710-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium Sound System, in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability, plus Sirius Satellite Radio. A hard disc-drive navigation system with Mitsubishi`s exclusive Diamond Lane Guidance to provide route guidance is optional, as are Recaro sport seats that provide optimal support for the driver and front passenger.

Safety Features
Standard safety features in all Lancer models include an advanced dual front air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with occupant sensors, front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and side curtain air bags, plus a driver`s knee air bag. Active Stability Control (ASC) also comes on every Lancer Sportback, and the GTS is equipped with Reinforced Impact Safety Engineering (RISE), a unibody construction designed to help absorb energy in a collision. Every Lancer Sportback has a built-in Anti-Theft system with immobilizer key, and the Touring Package adds HID (high intensity discharge) headlamps.

Premium Warranty
The 2010 Lancer Sportback GTS and Ralliart have comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranties. The GTS comes with a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty with a fully transferable 5-year/60,000 mile warranty for subsequent owners, and a 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. The Ralliart offers a fully transferable 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain package and a 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. Both the GTS and Ralliart come with a 7-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty and 5-year unlimited miles Roadside Assistance benefits.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport 2010

In the year of its100th ceremony Bugatti has been called to be one of the featured marques at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Ettore Bugatti started his business in the Alsacian boondocks of Molsheim in 1909. The name of the company:Ettore Bugatti Automobiles i. Els.“. In 1956 the aggregation accomplished its activities. Exactly 50 years later, in March 2006, the aboriginal Bugatti Veyron congenital by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. was delivered – afterwards the Volkswagen Group had aquired the rights of the Bugatti marque in 1998 and started the re-launch of this acclaimed brand. To date over 250 of the planned Bugatti Veyrons are sold, 215 of them accept been delivered to barter worldwide. In June 2009 Bugatti started assembly of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, the accessible roadster. The sales after-effects are auspicious over 20 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport accept been sold, with aboriginal deliveries already started.

Press release

Continuing this year’s 100th ceremony celebrations Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. has called the celebrated Pebble Beach weekend to present a added highlight to pay accolade to this allegorical cast : The aggregation proudly unveils the Bugatti car « Sang Bleu » - an exclusive, one-off Grand Sport, honouring the marques adored heritage.

Innovation and Harmony

2010 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport « Sang Bleu » has ventured into new areas. Instead of applying two acrylic colours or acrylic and actual to highlight the two accent architecture the « Sang Bleu » alone concentrates on abstracts - carbon fibre and aluminum - an avant-garde aggregate never realised before. This different access opens a new ambit of « Art – Forme – Technique », the company’s amount values.

The colour aggregate commissioned for the Pebble Beach car is dejected carbon fibre with able aluminum. The beheld carbon fibre is brave in aristocratic dejected to accent the aesthetic volumes and surfaces of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. The rear airscoops are brave in the aforementioned nightblue – alms a affecting actualization from aloft – and appropriately fluidly accommodate into the all-embracing architecture aesthetics of this different model.

The rims are aggressive by the Grand Sport Auto and are accent in a Midnight Dejected and Diamond Cut two accent finish. The interior, distinctively and alluringly selcted for the Pebble Beach event, is akin in a anew developed Gaucho covering which blends with the arresting and authentic exoteric abstracts body creating an affected and adapted all-embracing appearance.

Featured Marque

In the year of its100th ceremony Bugatti has been called to be one of the featured marques at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Ettore Bugatti started his business in the Alsacian boondocks of Molsheim in 1909. The name of the company: „Ettore Bugatti Automobiles i. Els.“. In 1956 the aggregation accomplished its activities. Exactly 50 years later, in March 2006, the aboriginal Bugatti Veyron congenital by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. was delivered – afterwards the Volkswagen Group had aquired the rights of the Bugatti marque in 1998 and started the re-launch of this acclaimed brand. To date over 250 of the planned Bugatti Veyrons are sold, 215 of them accept been delivered to barter worldwide. In June 2009 Bugatti started assembly of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, the accessible roadster. The sales after-effects are auspicious over 20 Grand Sports accept been sold, with aboriginal deliveries already started.

2010 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Sang Bleu « Sang Bleu » is the latest in a band of centenary Bugatti models which accept won common acclamation in 2009. This different car stands – like the others - for the charge of the Bugatti of today to backpack the ethics and the aesthetics of Ettore Bugatti, the architect of this different marque, into a acknowledged future.

Honda CRX Reborn as CR-Z Concept

Don’t Ask Y: Honda CRX Reborn as CR-Z Concept

Probably the car the poky Insight should’ve been, Honda’s very sporty CR-Z gasoline-electric hybrid concept evokes the dearly departed CRX two-seater, right down to the glass panel on the hatchback. The name stands for “Compact Renaissance Zero,” which, according to Honda, is “intended to capture the idea of a renaissance in the design of compact cars that begins anew from fundamentals.” Um, okay. The car looks production-ready to us. Let’s have it. Honda will introduce the CR-Z at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, which starts October 26 at the Makuhari Messe convention center, and runs through November 11.

Via Jalopnik.

Photos courtesy of Honda.

Honda FCX Clarity: Lease the Future for $600/Mo.

Honda made good on its Tokyo Show promise today when it unveiled the fairly stunning FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The FCX Clarity’s powertrain consists of Honda’s V Flow stack, a compact lithium ion battery pack, a single hydrogen storage tank, and an AC synchronous electric motor driving the front wheels. Hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen combine in the fuel cell stack, where chemical energy from the reaction is converted into electric power (with water the only by-product). The energy is stored in the batteries and fed to the car’s electric motor, with extra juice produced through regenerative braking and deceleration further supplementing the fuel cell stack when the need arises. Range on a full tank is expected to be about 270 miles, and efficiency, says Honda, will be equivalent to 68 mpg.

American Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a lucky few retail consumers in Southern California starting next summer. The cost of a three-year lease, which is to include maintenance and collision insurance, is a piddling $600 a month. All in all, the Clarity is a far cry from the breadbox-shaped original FCX. Beyond its obvious purported earth-saving virtues, it’s spacious, luxurious, and, if we may, even a little sexy. Now, if Honda can solve the problem if establishing a hydrogen refueling infrastructure, we may have a winner.

More photos after the break, courtesy of Honda.