vLane Blog

Articles Matching “Green”

• What the…? Audi's e-TRON concept

  Banovsky on September 14, 2009

  Ok, so Audi's going to show this, their R8-based electric car concept, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, tomorrow. Why do we think it might be special? Audi keeps saying it'll be "electricity, untamed."

  

  The 2009 Audi e-Tron concept

  Though it looks like some low-rider enthusiasts mounted the rims, everything else is essentially a smoothed-over R8. Audi's microsite, at electricityuntamed.com (thanks, stergios!), gives facts that electricity "travels at speeds more than 670 million mph."

  We'd be happy if this Audi was faster than a Tesla Roadster. Just sayin'.

  

  Click for more photos!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Future, Green, News, Audi, WTF, Sports car, Concept, Coupe, 2009, Germany, Electric car, e-Tron

• Upcoming: #carchat 24; August 19 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on August 19, 2009

  This week, we're talking about the amazing turn of events, apparently based in Twitter chatter, that led to the demise of the (lame) Buick CUV. We also talk about other models we'd kill with 140-character tweets, and our predictions for the North American Car of the Year 2010. That and more on this week's #carchat!

  If you're confused, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 8PM EST August 19, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions and participate.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 8 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics for next week, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."

  This week:

  • Discussion: Can we give #GM credit where credit is due in listening?
  • Discussion: What other vehicles, from any manufacturer, would we kill via Twitter?
  • Discussion: Predictions for North American Car of the Year 2010
  • Discussion: Our first cars (thanks, @sassygirlzmom!)
  • Help-A-Shopper: Carl Acampado

  So click through and read a few links, see some photos, and check out a video related to tonight's discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Industry, Future, Green, WTF, Concept, Crossover, Advice , Humor, This week, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Chevrolet, Detroit, Twitter, vLane, Buick, Bob Lutz, Fritz Henderson, LOL, Jalopnik

• Future Buick CUV to be a plug-in hybrid

  Banovsky on August 6, 2009

  Remember our Future of GM series? The one where we talked about the upcoming Buick CUV? Turns out, our analysis was pretty much dead-on.

  

  The as-yet-unnamed (rebadged Saturn Vue) 2010 Buick crossover SUV

  The teaser shot GM released along with some details shows a clearly reworked front-end from the current Saturn Vue. GM CEO Fritz Henderson's assertion that he's not a fan of badge engineering is getting weaker by the second, as this new model is undeniably a re-badged Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid.

  With that model due out in the market next year before Saturn was sold means the development work on the Buick must nearly be completed.

  Look for this mystery Buick early next year in showrooms.

  Click through for the GM release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Saturn, Future, Green, SUV, Crossover, Technology, SUV, Detroit, 2010, 2011, Buick, Fritz Henderson

• Driven! 2011 Chevrolet Volt and 2012 Ford Focus EV

  Banovsky on August 4, 2009

  This guest post was prepared by esteemed green car expert John Voelcker, editor-in-chief of GreenCarReports.com. He also drove both the Volt and Focus EV test mules…lucky guy!

  

  The 2011 Chevrolet Volt prototype (nee-Chevrolet Cruze)

  Well, the big day has come and gone: Now we've driven a 2011 Chevrolet Volt prototype. More than 18 months before buyers can walk into a Chevy dealer and test one, we got behind the wheel.

  What's the Volt like? It's remarkably ... unremarkable.

  And we mean that as praise. General Motors has managed to build a radical car that seems so normal it'll make the average American driver completely comfortable with electric drive.

  For half an hour today, we drove a Volt "mule" – a Volt powertrain installed in the body of a 2010 Chevrolet Cruze subcompact – around the roads of the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. It uses "production-intent" components and, said vehicle line executive Frank Weber, provides about 80 percent of the capabilities of the final car.

  Click through for more.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, Feature, Ford, Ford, Chevrolet, EV, Grant, Detroit, 2011, Cruze, Electric car, Guest post, Focus

• 2010 all-electric Nissan Leaf

  Banovsky on August 4, 2009

  Welcome to the future. This is the first look at Nissan's world-leading all-electric car, on-sale here in America in late 2010.

  

  The 2010 Nissan Leaf

  
  

  Here are some stats:

  • Fully-electric powertrain
  • 107 horsepower, 206 lb-ft of torque
  • More than 100 mile (160 km) range
  • Priced close to $30,000
  • Slightly larger than a Volkswagen Rabbit
  • Top speed of over 90 mph (140 kph)
  • Equipped with an advanced IT system that provides driver support, range information, etc.

  Click through for more photos and the official release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Wagon, Technology, Nissan, 2010, US, Electric car

• Tiny Tuner: Gazoo Racing Toyota iQ

  Banovsky on July 30, 2009

  This is a customized Toyota iQ microcar to be sold in limited quantities from this November, in Japan.

  

  The Gazoo Racing Toyota iQ

  Unlike the Smart fortwo, the Toyota iQ has seen a little bit of tuner attraction. This version is lowered, with an exhaust, 16-inch wheels, and a snazzy bodykit.

  And although it's unlikely to come to North America exactly as you see here, it may arrive on our shores as a Scion. And that has us excited.

  Click through for a video…and yes, it sounds awesome.

  [via paultan.org]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Japan, Misc, Toyota, iQ, Coupe, Smart, 2009, MPG, LOL, Gazoo Racing, iQ

• Link: vLane guests at the Local Motors blog

  Banovsky on July 30, 2009

  We're honoured to have been asked to contribute to the Local Motors blog. You can read our piece, "The Problem with Cars and Sustainable Design," here.

  

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Future, Green, Link, Discussion, Local Motors, vLane, Electric car, Design, Guest post

• Community review: 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

  Banovsky on July 27, 2009

  Especially with car buyers trying to save every last penny, our vehicle reviews are an invaluable resource. Every now and then, we'd like to highlight some of the great reviews our community members write at vLane.

  

  Toyota Highlander Hybrid

  Reviewer Herman says of the 2009 Toyota Highlander that:

  I was immediately impressed with how logical and intuitive the layout of the car was. There was no fumbling around to figure out how to adjust the seats, turn on the headlights, change radio stations, turn on the air conditioning, etc. Everything was where I had expect it to be.

  From there, Herman enjoyed an often overlooked feature in more luxurious vehicles, the "smart key":

  I'm always fumbling around to find my keys, but with the smart key system, I was able to leave the keys in my pocket and when opening the door, making contact with the touch sensor in the door handle automatically unlocked the door for me. Once I was in the car, I just needed to depress the brake and push the power button and was ready to get rolling. It's a small convenience, but one that I got accustomed to having very quickly.

  Click over to read the whole review, and don't forget to submit your own!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Green, SUV, Crossover, Technology, Toyota, Advice , Review, Discussion, Hybrid, SUV, 2009, US, vLane, Community review, Highlander

• Ford confirms 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine

  Banovsky on July 21, 2009

  To meet more stringent fuel economy standards for 2015, car manufacturers have to make smaller engines…much smaller engines.

  

  We drove the European Ford Fiesta

  Ford's twin-scroll EcoBoost turbo technology allows for smaller engines to make big power. The new motor will displace 2.0-litres and deliver "at least" 230 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Our guess for the first vehicle to get the new motor? The 2011 Ford Explorer.

  News:

  • Driving the European Ford Fiesta
  • 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost
  • The Ford Taurus SHO is Back
  [via Edmunds]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, News, Misc, Ford, Detroit, US, 2011, Engine, EcoBoost

• Recap: #carchat 19; July 15, 2009

  Banovsky on July 17, 2009

  Social media is such a cool thing that we're constantly evolving how we communicate. Take #carchat: the first few originated out of a spirited conversation.

  

  Since #carchat is ever-evolving, we've included the recap here on vLane as a discussion thread, and we feel it suits the nature of the discussion well — and you can see that we had a huge response over two hours — despite Twitter being down over the first hour!

  Anyone can join us each week at 8PM EST on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."
  
  
  
  
  

  We had:

  • Ask the Expert: Seth Leitman, clean energy and electric vehicle expert
  • Discussion: GM and Chrysler updates
  • Discussion: What's good interior design?
  • Discussion: Maybe we'll talk some #NGM talk…

  So? What are you waiting for? Click through to the recap.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Event, Government, Industry, Future, Green, WTF, Diesel, Concept, Misc, Open-Source, Advice , Humor, This week, Discussion, Social Media, Local Motors, Grant, Twitter, US, vLane, Cash for Clunkers, Car Allowance Rebate System, Opinion, Electric car