Nissan has released a concept sketch of a new light commercial electric-vehicle based on the NV200 Concept.
“The low-cost multi-purpose vehicle would allow ambulance drivers to drive directly into the hospital or van and taxi drivers to enter urban areas where CO2 emissions are restricted,” Nissan said in a statement. “The van is one of four electric vehicles Nissan has announced for the future.”
At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan unveiled its production Leaf electric-car, which will be launched in Japan and the U.S. in late 2010. CEO Carlos Ghosn also confirmed that it will release a four-seater Infiniti electric compact car and a production version of the Nissan LandGlider concept.
Nissan Light Commercial Electric Van:
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While most people who retire spend their life golfing or living in a beach house, 101 year old Virgil Coffman likes living in the fast lane. The centenarian recently became the oldest known owner of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Which Camaro did he purchase? A 400-hp, bright yellow, Transformers edition Camaro SS.
“Impressed by the overall design, Virgil was ultimately sold on the cars’ easy handling. After owning nearly 40 cars in his lifetime, he follows the philosophy that if you want something, get it,” GM said in a statement. “These days Virgil says he can’t go anywhere without strangers asking him about his car and he’s already planning road trips for next summer.”
Coffman has officially became our favorite 100+ year old person.
Click through for a video to see Coffman behind the wheel of his new Camaro.
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A source close to General Motors said that Bob Lutz, the company’s marketing head, will become chairman of the supervisory board of Opel to help the restructuring plan. Lutz, 77, will not take a direct management role in Opel the source said. He is already a member of the Opel supervisory board, which meets three to four times a year.
Earlier this morning, it was reported that the current CEO of Opel, Carl-Peter Forster, is leaving GM of Europe after the Detroit automaker decided to keep Opel instead of selling it to Magna International.
GM said that it expects the restructuring of Opel to cost 3 billion euros ($4.42 billion USD).
- By: Omar Rana
2010 has certainly been a banner year for the GM by way of luxuriously and sleekly redesigned vehicles. We had the opportunity to test out the 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS, and we must say – there was little left to be desired. The ‘10 LaCrosse breaks Buick’s mark as the automobile for grandparents with its sleek design, premium interior, and superior handling. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also named the sedan a 2009 Top Safety Pick.
The Enclave SUV proved that if Buick creates a well-designed and well-executed vehicle, new car shoppers will give it a chance. Will the LaCrosse sedan be a similar success? Let’s find out.
Click through to read more and to view the high-res image gallery (at the bottom of the post).
Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS:
2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS Specifications:
Base Price: $33,015.
Price as Tested: $33,960.
Engine: 3.6L V6 VVT Direct Injection – 280-hp/259 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: 6-Speed Hydra-Matic 6T40.
Curb Weight: 3,948 lbs.
0 to 60 mph: 7.0 seconds.
Fuel-Economy: 17/27 mpg (city/highway).
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We’ve previously heard that Rolls-Royce is working on an electric version of the Phantom. Well, before the electric Phantom hits the streets, Roll-Royce will put out a hybrid version of the new Ghost. According to AutoCar, the Rolls-Royce Ghost will share its green-technology with the new BMW ActiveHybrid 7.
Engineering the Ghost hybrid will be fairly straightforward since the F01 7-Series and the Ghost share the same rear-wheel-drive platform. Joining the Ghost’s 563-hp 6.2L V12 will be a new electric-motor with a mild hybrid application. No electric-only driving will be possible. The hybrid Ghost will also feature automatic start-stop technology that will save fuel in the future. The 20kW/155 lb-ft electric-motor will sit between the 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.
Fuel consumption on the hybrid Ghost should be 15 percent better than its standard model, which manages an estimated fuel-economy of 17 mpg.
Click here for more news on the Rolls-Royce Ghost.
2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost:
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In what we think is a good decision, General Motors said that its other plug-in hybrid offerings will not have Volt branding on them to identify with the compact plug-in hybrid that will launch later next year. By contrast, Toyota is planning to make a family of hybrid vehicles that will carry the Prius badging.
“Our thought is to take the Volt technology to other products,” Brent Dewar, chief of global operations for Chevrolet said. “The Volt was the original vehicle that we started, but I wouldn’t see that as a brand marketing direction for us.”
Dewar said that the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid would pave the way for more vehicles based on the same Voltec technology; however, the Volt name will not be found anywhere on GM’s future electric-vehicles.
Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.
2011 Chevrolet Volt:
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According to a report by Spiegel Online, the head of General Motors’ European business, Carl-Peter Forster, is leaving the company after GM’s board of directors decided to keep Opel last week. A former BMW executive, Forster had strained ties with GM after being in favor of the Magna deal.
Forster was expected to head Opel under Magna International. His departure from General Motors would mark the first high-profile manager to exit as a result of GM’s decision to keep Opel and restructure it. Spiegel Online said that GM plans to replace Forster with Nick Reilly, who is the head of international operations based out of Shanghai.
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Wish that the new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG looked more like the old Gullwing? Well, ever since the launch of the SLS AMG at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the folks at Gullwing-America have been working on their own version of the new Stuttgart supercar – the Gullwing 300SL Panamericana.
After seeing the new 2011 SLS AMG coupe, Arturo Alonso, Gullwing-America’s chief engineer, went back to the drawing board and decided to add a new grille, ribs on the hood and fenders and other touches from the original Gullwing. The kit consists of seven body parts made from Hybrid Aluminum and carbon fiber.
Buyers can add two side vents, a set of chrome touches including a new grille frame, new oval dual xenon headlamps, 19 or 20-inch Gullwing America wheels and a sport tuned muffler system. Owners can also add racing stripes on the front fenders in any combination they desire.
Power still comes from the 6.2L V8 making 563-hp with a peak torque of 479 lb-ft of torque from the SLS AMG.
Click here for more news on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Make the jump for the high-res image gallery.
Gullwing 300SL Panamericana (Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG):
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While we still await the arrival of the road-going Mini Countryman Crossover, which has now been delayed to March 2010, Prodrive is reportedly prepping the vehicle for a possible WRC entry for Mini. According to a report by Autosport, a World Rally Car version of the Countryman is likely to be launched at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
The publication says that Prodrive has been working on a new generation Mini WRC for much of 2009, developing the parts required without actually working on a base model.
“Right now there is nothing to say and I don’t think there will be anything to say until the spring, said Technical director David Lapworth. “This is not an official statement from me, it’s just the way things look. That said, it’s going to be very difficult to keep this thing under wraps.”
- By: Kap Shah
Source: Autosport (via MotoringFile)
The German Design Council said that it will present a 2010 Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Audi A5 Coupe. What does the Head of Design for the Volkswagen Group, Walter de Silva have to say about that?
“The Audi A5 Coupé is the most beautiful car I’ve ever designed and is well on its way to becoming a design icon. I’m therefore thrilled by this accolade, as it also validates my hard work. The A5 Coupé clearly has an automotive personality all its own. It is an absolute highlight of Audi’s progressive and stylish design language. The A5 is naturally a very powerful and supremely sporty automobile. Yet it isn’t the least bit aggressive or arrogant.”
This prestigious design award will be presented as part of the opening ceremony of the International Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt on February 12, 2010. Audi sold some 112,000 units of the A5 Coupe worldwide between its launch in June 2007 and late September 2009.
Personally, we’re bigger fans of the Audi S5.
- By: Kap Shah
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