Based on the same vehicle platform as the Tesla Model S sedan, the TVP (Tesla Vehicle Platform), the Model X actually turns out to be sport crossover with a low center of gravity and nimble tight handling. Obviously, the torque from the electric power train helps assist in some aggressive lane changes.

Check out more news on the Tesla Model X.

The 7-passenger Tesla Model X comes standard in rear-wheel-drive but the company does offer an optional Dual Motor all-wheel-drive architecture. The second motor increases torque by 50% and allows for all-road and all-weather capability. With AWD, the Tesla Model X Performance version can run from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds – that’s sports car performance right there.

The Tesla Model X will be available with two battery pack versions including a 60 or 85 kWh battery allowing for a range of up to 300 miles (for the 85 kWh model).

Before you get inside the Tesla Model X, it’s the way you open the rear passenger doors that will probably turn some heads. Known as ‘Falcon Doors’ the doors open up and out (even in tight parking spots) allowing you ample room to just step inside the all-electric crossover. Once you’re inside there easy third-row access and quite a bit of room for a total of 7-passengers. The driver seat is the most stylish with a Tesla Touchscreen 17-inch, high-res, multi-touch display and a high-res speedometer right in front.

The Tesla Model X will enter production in late 2013 and will start being delivered in early 2014. When you can order yours? Today, if you’re sold on it. The Model X will be priced comparable to a similarly equipped Model S but the company will give out more details as production nears.

- By: Omar Rana

The Tesla Model X will make its world debut at the SpaceX facility tomorrow – but before the covers come, we have some interesting bit of information for you. Word has it that the Tesla Model X will feature something called ‘Falcon’ doors.

Check out more news on the Tesla Model X.

What are falcon doors you ask? Basically the doors ‘lift up and fold – like the wing of a bird.’ The feature allows rear passengers to have minivan-simplicity of entering and loading the rear part of the Model X with car seats and cargo.

To see what it really looks like – you’ll have to wait and see tomorrow 8:00 pm EST.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoWeek

Known as the Bladon Jets Engineering Center, the facility will employ 15 people and will house equipment used for the production of the small gas turbines. Each engine produces around 95-hp.

The Jaguar C-X75 Concept was powered by four 195-hp electric motors – one for each wheel – producing a total of 780-hp and a peak torque of 1,180 lb ft. On battery power alone, the C-X75 has a range of 68 miles. After power from the lithium-ion batteries ran out, the C-X75 Concept was to use two gas micro-turbines that produce a total of 188-hp and extend the range to 560 miles. Mated to a single-speed transmission, the Jaguar C-X75 Concept ran from 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph.

Of the 250 units that don’t get the turbine, Jaguar will fit them with a 4-cylinder turbo engine produced by Formula One team Williams.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoExpress

General Motors has just released its Super Bowl XLVI commercial for the Chevrolet Volt for the big game on Sunday.

Titled ‘Aliens’, the 30-second spot shows the curiosity about the Volt and its electric powertrain extends to extraterrestrial beings from galaxies far, far away.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

“The INFINITI EMERG-E will be the first car from the brand to have not only a range-extender drivetrain offering vivid performance with zero emissions capability but also one mounted in a mid-ship package for optimal handling,” Infiniti said in a statement.”

The electric car sports car concept will debut in Geneva for the first time and will eventually enter production – Infiniti just hasn’t confirmed when.

- By: Omar Rana

Sales of the Chevrolet Volt dropped sharply in January with GM only selling 603 units. Blame for the drop in sales goes to the negative publicity the Volt has received from a government safety investigation.

January 2012 turned out to be the worst month for the Volt since August, where it was only delivered to 302 customers. During the fourth quarter of 2011, GM averaged monthly sales of 1,259 units.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

GM executives say that they are unable to gauge the demand for the Chevrolet Volt until May or June due to the availability being tight and some dealers still receiving their first batch.

In 2011, a total of 7,671 Volts were sold, way short of GM’s 10,000 goal.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

The Chevrolet Volt has been under a lot of scrutiny after a crashed Volt’s battery shorted by coolant caught on fire three weeks after a test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ever since, the Volt has become a top-topic for right wingers.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Bob Lutz, who conceived the Volt with a team of advanced engineers, has now written an article asking right wingers to stop attacking the Volt.

Some of the points Lutz points out:

1. Not one Chevrolet Volt has ever caught fire in normal use or in accidents. Not a single one.
2. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even after the highly artificial crash test (placing the car on its back, even though it did not roll over in the test) nevertheless awarded the Volt NHTSA’s highest crash-safety rating: 5 stars. Volt is supremely safe.
3. The crashed Volt, its battery shorted by coolant from the period unjustifiably spent “feet up,” caught fire three weeks after said test. (I submit that this would provide adequate time for surviving passengers to exit the vehicle.).

Check out Lutz’s article on Forbes here.

- By: Omar Rana

Tesla has released a teaser for its new Model X crossover, which will make its world debut on February 9 at the Tesla L.A. Design Studio in Hawthorne, California.

The teaser shows shows the Tesla Model X’s grille and some of its sleek profile.

Check out more news on the Tesla Model X.

Tesla has sent out invitations to registered Tesla fans for the even. CEO Elon Musk tweeted about the Model X crossover on Friday saying that ‘most cars are pretty blah. This is not.’

We’ll find out more on how ‘not blah’ the Model X is. Sales of the Tesla Model X crossover are scheduled to start next year.

- By: Omar Rana

In light of the concerns of fire with the giant laptop batteries powering the Chevrolet Volt, nearly everything came to a halt as the plug-in electric hybrid was under heavy scrutiny after a Volt randomly combusted after a crash test. But after a hearing in front of a U.S. House panel with the U.S. National highway Traffic Safety Administration, nothing out of the ordinary was found and as a result, operations with the Volt restarted, complete with a new marketing campaign.

“The world is learning from Detroit again. And we couldn’t be prouder,” said GM’s CEO, Dan Akerson in a full report after the hearing.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

In terms of the new marketing campaign, GM will be releaseing a new television spot that will first appear on News Corp’s Fox News channel.

Check it out after the jump.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

 - By: Chris Chin

Source: AutoNews

This bit of news is sure to be a bit upsetting to the purist. Reports are saying that BMW is planning on introducing their first ever MPV/people carrier/minivan crossover…or whatever you may to call it. BMW? Minivan? You can’t be serious…!

BMW insiders have apparently told some reporters that they’ll be expanding the “i” lineup, even before the original i3 and i8 have reached production. Supposedly called the i5 MPV, the new addition is said to be powered by a small three-cylinder gas engine that acts as a “range extender” and a rear-mounted electric motor.

Click here for more news on the BMW i3.

But before this new i5 comes about, the i3 is said to be on track with its launch next year, followed by the gas-electric hybrid i8 sport sedan.

Other details were withheld, but the last hint for the i5 was that its starting price could hover around $65,000.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: InsideLine

New technology is in the works via OnStar and PJM Interconnection that will allow Chevrolet Volt owners to use renewable energy to charge up their EV’s.

PJM Interconnection’s role in the system is to collect data on the percentage of renewable energy that is available on the grid, and then transfer it on to the OnStar cloud, dubbed the Advanced Telematics Operating Management System. The ATOMS system would then manage the charging from there.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Google’s ‘Gfleet’ is being used by OnStar and Google to test the technology on 17 Volts. “This demonstration shows that in the near future customers will have a real signal of demand for renewable energy,” said Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of planning and business development. “As customers configure their Volts to favor renewable energy for their charging cycle, this real demand signal will influence utilities to tap into renewable sources.”

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

BMW is searching for a group of 700 people throughout seven U.S. markets to be “Electronauts” for the automaker’s trial launch of the 2012 ActiveE All-electric vehicle, based on the 1 Series Coupe.

The all-electric bimmers will be leased to the enthusiasts for 24 months at a cost of $499/mo after a $2,250 down payment. Markets included in the testing are the metropolitan areas of New York, Boston, Hartford, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Europe and China will also have test markets for 2012, and over 1,100 models will be available overall.

Participants will have their vehicle’s data recorded, and will add their own information, as well. An instructional course will be provided on how to operate and charge the ActiveE with the AeroViornment station.

Reservations can be made at www.bmwusa.com/ActiveE, and data from the trial will be available on www.BMWActivateTheFurture.com.

By: Alexandra Koken

But this isn’t the Tesla Roadster. Nope, that ended production not too long ago. This is the PG Elektrus. It’s virtually an up-to-date rendition of the Tesla roadster except more expensive, uglier, and lighter—thanks to a carbon fiber body.

Made in Germany by manufacturer PG and Michael Fröhlich, the PG Elektrus uses an electric motor mated to a lithium ion batter. But the real neat part is that apparently the PG Elektrus features a solar panel on the trunk that absorbs sunlight and converts it into electricity to help charge the battery. Or at least, that’s what the company supposedly claims.

The electric motor is also said to produce the equivalent of 272hp and 258 lb-ft of instantaneous twist. The magical 60 comes up in less than three seconds for a top run of about 186 mph. PG says the Elektrus is capable of up to 217 miles in normal conditions.

Only 667 Elektrus’s will be produced for the hefty price of $312,400. So if electric sports cars are your fancy, time to bust the piggy bank.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: CarScoop

In order to tap in to a niche market, GM has decided to try and grab buyer’s attention with a modified version of the Chevrolet Volt model.

In certain regions throughout the U.S., car-pool stickers are offered up on some models, such as the Toyota Prius. To try and grab a bigger piece of the market, the Volt will now be released modified to be able to drive in carpool lanes with only one driver, something very few models qualify to do.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

The new model will probably come badged as a special edition, only for release in California. Given the states proclivity to all things ‘green’ and the 30% of sales that went to the state last year, it’s probable that the new Volt variant will be a success.

Check out the vehicle’s mentioned in this article:

• Toyota Prius V
• Chevrolet Volt

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: USAToday

Honda delivered its first 2013 Fit EV electric-cars to the city of Torrance today – the move is one of the first major steps in the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program. The Honda Fit EV will go on sale to the retail market with customers in California and Oregon this summer.

The delivery was celebrated with the presentation of the key to Torrance Mayor Frank Scotto by Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda.

“This is an exciting day as we take another important step toward Honda’s comprehensive vision for reducing CO2 emissions while at the same time advancing our relationship with the city of Torrance,” said Steve Center. “Honda has a long history with electric vehicles starting with the introduction of our first battery-electric car, the EV Plus, nearly 15 years ago. With Honda’s extensive experience and the real-world feedback from the city of Torrance, we will be even more prepared for the further customer adoption of electric vehicles.”

Refresher: The Honda Fit EV is powered by a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 92 kilowatt coaxial electric motor, the Honda Fit EV produces 123hp and has an estimated driving range of 123 miles on one charge. Additionally, using a 240-volt charer, the Fit EV can recharge complete in as little as three hours. Prices for the 2013 Honda Fit EV start at just $36,625 with an estimated lease price of $399 a month.

- By: Omar Rana

In just 10 short weeks, the Toyota Prius v managed to outsell the Chevrolet Volt that was available for all of 2011.

GM sold 7,671 units in 2011, and 7,997 in its first 13 months, while the Prius v hit dealers in October 2011, and by the last week in December 8,399 had rolled off Toyota’s lots.

With a 220,000 unit sales goal for all Prius variants, Toyota is looking to boost its sales by 60% from last year. Missing its goal by 10,000 units last year, GM struggled with production and availability, along with crash fire investigations. In addition to these issues, the Prius starts at $26,400, while the Volt has a price tag of $39,145, another contributing factor to the quick success of the Prius.

Overall, Hybrid sales make up just 2.2% last year’s auto sales, down from the previous year’s 2.4%. While Nissan missed its sales goal of 10,000 units for last year, 9,674 Leaf models were still sold.

Check out the vehicle’s mentioned in this article:

• Toyota Prius V
• Chevrolet Volt

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Free Press

Cynics perhaps have been waiting for this news: auto industry executives do not think electric cars and hybrid cars will make a dent in the US and Europe.

A KPMG survey included 200 execs, finding that two thirds of them do not believe in the significance of said cars. In short, their numbers suggested to them that electrics and hybrids will only account for six percent of sales in the US and Europe in 2025, not even a drop in the bucket.

This does not stop manufacturers from investing heavily in this emerging auto trend: 81% of execs see more companies working harder on batteries, and 85% see such interest in electric motors. 76% think that electric vehicles are going to be more heavily developed and researched. What does this translate to?

Toyota has sold many more Priuses than they ever dreamed of, and this may or may not indicate anything. According to Gary Silberg KPMG’s auto industry leader, “[the executives] are hedging their bets.” So the auto industry has no more clue about the future of transportation than the average consumer it seems; they have a different perspective, but are they better off?

- By: Sawyer Sutton

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson agreed yesterday to testify in front of a U.S. House panel next week regarding how safety regulators handled the investigation into Chevrolet Volt crash fire risks.

“Dan has agreed to testify at the hearing, and he looks forward to doing it,” GM spokesman Greg Martin told The Detroit News. This will be Akerson’s first testimony on Capitol Hill since he took over as CEO of GM in September 2010.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is also expected to hear from David Strickland, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25 and will be titled “Volt Vehicle Fire: What did NHTSA know and when did they know it?”

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews