Filed under: Minivan/Van, Mercedes-Benz
Travelers across American can expect to see a new addition to the airport rental, parking and hotel shuttle fleets with the availability of a new version of the familiar Sprinter from Daimler Vans USA. The new shuttle version differs from the existing passenger van with the installation of a hinged, bus-style passenger door that can be remotely activated by the driver.
The long body, high roof van is available in four seating configurations including the familiar perimeter style of airport shuttles or a commuter version with 16 forward-facing seats and an aisle down the middle with two seats on one side and a single seat on the other. Naturally, the existing cargo, chassis cab and passenger Sprinters remain available.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
Continue reading Airport Bound: Daimler launches new 16-passenger Sprinter
Airport Bound: Daimler launches new 16-passenger Sprinter originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Hyundai, Racing
The Millen family has quite a proud history at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, not quite up there with the Unsers, but certainly more than respectable. Rod Millen captured several class records at the Colorado mountain over the years, including an outright record of 10:04:06 set in a Toyota Celica in 1994 that stood for an astounding 13 years.
Last June, son Rhys took a Hyundai Genesis coupe to a class record in the two-wheel drive Time Attack class with a 12:09.397.
This June, Millen is headed back to the Peak with a new weapon that still wears a Hyundai badge and will still be slathered in Red Bull livery. There will be none of that production-based nonsense this time though. The younger Millen wants to take the overall record back from Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima. Millen is aiming to get the first ever sub-10 minute time at Pikes Peak and he and his team have built a new car dubbed the Genesis PM580. From the teaser video after the jump, we’re guessing that this unlimited class car will feature plenty of carbon fiber and plenty of power, presumably 5.8-liters worth of Hyundai V8 based on the nomenclature. The new car is set to be revealed on Monday, but for now you can watch the Millen family talk about the glory that is Pikes Peak. Check out the video after the jump.
[Source: Hyundai]
Continue reading Video: Rhys vows to bring Pikes Peak record back to Millen family
Video: Rhys vows to bring Pikes Peak record back to Millen family originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing
Chevrolet has just released the third installment in its ongoing series on the Corvette Racing program. One of the main justifications behind the program has been the technology transfer between the track and street versions of the Corvette. This episode takes a look at the newest special edition Corvette the Z06 Carbon. The Carbon adapts most of the cool carbon fiber bits from the top of the line ZR1 to the lighter normally aspirated 7.0-liter Z06.
Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles and chief engineer Tadge Juechter talk about the development of systems like carbon ceramic brakes on race cars and their eventual implementation on road cars. 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of Corvettes competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 500 examples of the Carbon will be available in late summer as 2011 models. Make the jump to watch part three.
Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon
[Source: Chevrolet]
Continue reading Video: Corvette Racing Series Episode 3 – From the track to Z06 Carbon
Video: Corvette Racing Series Episode 3 – From the track to Z06 Carbon originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: SUV, Technology, Lexus, Toyota
var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/autos/Why_the_Lexus_GX_may_be_rollover_prone_and_the_4Runner_isn’; The latest blow to the formerly sterling reputation of Toyota came this week when Consumer Reports gave the new Lexus GX460 a “Do Not Buy” rating. It’s not often that CR gives its worst rating to a vehicle and it’s never happened to a Toyota or Lexus product before. In light of recent recall woes, Toyota is taking this news very seriously and has stopped selling the Lexus GX while it investigates the issue.
The reason for the dire rating is what CR considers a major safety risk with the new GX. During the publication’s handling tests, the CR drivers experienced significant oversteer (the back end of the vehicle sliding sideways) before the electronic stability control intervened and brought the SUV back under control.
Cornering oversteer is something automakers try to avoid, except on high-performance sports cars. On SUVs with a high center of gravity, this is an especially serious problem because if the vehicle hits a curb, shoulder or other impediment while sliding it’s more prone to roll over. During a previous test with the Toyota 4Runner, which shares its basic platform with the Lexus GX, CR didn’t experience the same problem. Follow the jump as we examine some possible explanations for the disparity between these two SUVs.
Continue reading Why the Lexus GX may be rollover-prone (and the 4Runner isn’t)
Why the Lexus GX may be rollover-prone (and the 4Runner isn’t) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading about Why the Lexus GX may be rollover-prone (and the 4Runner isn’t)
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Videos, Hyundai, Racing
After struggling in his first season of Formula Drift competition with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Rhys Millen finally came good at Long Beach this week. Millen still hasn’t won with the Genesis, but he managed to get second place on the podium against over 50 other drivers.
After rushing to get the coupe ready for the season opener a year ago, Millen’s team spent this past winner thoroughly going over the car. Hyundai’s Lambda V6 now produces over 650 horsepower compared to the 480 hp it turned out last year. Vaughn Gittin Jr. grabbed the top spot on the podium with his new Ford Mustang. For those unfamiliar with drifting, you can check out Millen’s video primer after the jump along with the official press release.
[Source: Hyundai]
Continue reading Rhys Millen gets first Formula Drift podium for Hyundai Genesis Coupe [w/video]
Rhys Millen gets first Formula Drift podium for Hyundai Genesis Coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Technology, Ford
Over the course of 2010, Ford plans to aggressively ramp up its EcoBoost engine strategy with two new four-cylinder engines and the first rear-wheel-drive application of the boosted 3.5-liter V6. However, this is just the beginning as Ford is already hard at work on the next generation of EcoBoost engines. At the SAE World Congress on Wednesday, Dan Kapp, director of powertrain research and advanced engineering, and Bob Fascetti, director of large gas and diesel engine engineering, will be announcing that the next generation EcoBoost engines are adding cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems.
Just like the direct injection and turbocharging used on the current EcoBoost mills, cooled EGR is derived from diesel engines. Exhaust gas is routed back into the combustion chamber to reduce the combustion temperatures. Controlling the combustion temperature has a number of benefits, primarily allowing the use of a leaner air/fuel mixture, which would normally burn hotter and thus produce more nitrogen oxide emissions. Running the exhaust gas through a heat exchanger before sending it into the intake stream improves the cooling effect further.
Using cooled EGR will also allow the use of even higher compression ratios without getting into knock situations. Engineers will be able to downsize engines even further without sacrificing power and torque. Overall, Ford estimates cooled EGR will improve EcoBoost efficiency by an additional five percent, further closing the gap between gasoline and diesel. More power, less fuel – it’s a win/win scenario.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading SAE 2010: Next-gen Ford EcoBoost engines to get even more efficient with cooled EGR
SAE 2010: Next-gen Ford EcoBoost engines to get even more efficient with cooled EGR originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Chevrolet, GM, Electric
General Motors has provided another of its regular updates on the development of the Chevrolet Volt, focusing on its battery and powertrain. With a little over six months to go until the first production model rolls off the line, GM says it is making rapid progress on getting the Volt ready for final validation and certification. Over the past several months, the engineers have been accumulating test miles on the 80 pre-production IVER cars that were built last summer. The fleet has now accumulated over 500,000 miles, with some of the cars having run upwards of 20,000 miles while completing the durability tests.
The durability test cycle is an accelerated test that replicates the wear and tear that typically happens to a car over its lifecycle. According to chief engineer Andrew Farah, the Volt prototypes have met all their goals in both durability and performance. Farah told the attendees that the Volts are regularly hitting the 40-mile electric range target during normal driving, even at temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Read more about the Volt’s status after the jump.
Gallery: April 2010 Chevy Volt update
Gallery: Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Volt
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading GM updates us on the Chevrolet Volt’s battery and powertrain development
GM updates us on the Chevrolet Volt’s battery and powertrain development originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Mini, Electric
The 13-mile long Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of the most treacherous race tracks in the world, even on the best of days. Taking it on in the fog seems like a recipe for disaster. Nonetheless, that’s exactly what a BMW engineering team did recently with a very special edition of the Mini E. The team took one of the battery-powered Mini models and applies some weight reduction measures to the body and then installed the usual array of racing bits. The latter included new tires, brakes and a roll-cage.
The electric powertrain underwent some recalibration, likely to tone down the overly aggressive regenerative braking before ex-DTM race driver Thomas Jäger took to the ‘Ring. Jäger managed to set a reasonably respectable lap time of 9 minutes, 51.45 seconds with a maximum speed of 116.2 miles per hour. No word from BMW on how much juice remained in the battery at the end of the lap. Check out a highlight real of the lap after the jump.
Gallery: Mini E Race
[Source: BMW]
Continue reading Video: Race-spec Mini E laps Nürburgring
Video: Race-spec Mini E laps Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports, Peugeot, Diesel
Just in time to celebrate its bicentennial next month, Peugeot is expanding its diesel-powered racing efforts. The French automaker will compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for the first time this May with a pair of its new RCZ coupes. The Nürburgring race has become increasingly important in recent years, as automakers have begun to use it as a venue to do final prove-out of new performance oriented cars.
For this years race Peugeot will bring a pair of nearly stock 2.0-liter HDi FAP RCZs with 200 horsepower to the mighty ‘Ring. The only modifications to the cars are the removal of unnecessary equipment like audio systems and the addition of race safety equipment like roll cages, fire suppression, upgraded brakes and a rear wing. The four man driving crew for each car will consist of a mix of pro-drivers and Peugeot staff including PSA vice-chairman Stéphane Caille.
[Source: Peugeot]
Continue reading Peugeot to run a pair of diesel RCZ coupes at 24 Hrs of Nürburgring
Peugeot to run a pair of diesel RCZ coupes at 24 Hrs of Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Peugeot, Citroën
PSA Peugeot Citroën have announced that it will spend €175 Million to tool up one of its engine plants to build a new turbocharged inline-three cylinder engine. The Douvrin engine plant will have a capacity of 320,000 powerplants per year starting in early in 2013. The 1.2-liter engines will join a normally aspirated version that debuts one year earlier.
While PSA is one of the world leaders in diesel engine technology, this new engine is a gasoline-fueled unit. The high-volume commitment to a downsized gasoline engine is a sign of the increasing difficulty of meeting both new carbon dioxide emissions standards and nitrogen oxide standards that are part of the Euro VI package.
While PSA has no current plans to sell either Peugeot or Citroën vehicles in the United States, we are likely to see some three cylinder units coming from other automakers in the next few years including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and possibly Ford with a rumored 1.2-liter Ecoboost.
[Source: PSA Peugeot Citroën]
Continue reading PSA Peugeot Citroën to launch three-cylinder turbo in 2013
PSA Peugeot Citroën to launch three-cylinder turbo in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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