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

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.

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

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

Many people consider BMWs and Mercedes Benzes to be completely different brands, therefore offering two distinct experiences. MB feels differently. In fact, they feel that there are enough undecided prospective Mercedes customers out there to offer four new compact cars next year.

Naturally the A and B Class front wheel drive compacts will be offered along with a CLC coupe to rival the BMW 1-series and a small GLC crossover to rival the BMW X1 and the Audi A3. Joachim Schmidt, director of MB’s global sales said that “In the midterm, we expect U.S. sales of 300,000 units for the Mercedes brand — especially thanks to our new compact-car family.”

The motivation behind the 300K mark is merely a mirror of BMW’s recent goal of 300,000. It is important to note that both BMW and Mercedes only include vehicles badged as BMW or Mercedes respectively; Minis, Rolls Royces and Dodge Sprinters are not included. This past year, BMW sold 2715 more cars than MB’s total of 245,192. The numbers are similar, but the news is that Lexus held the top US luxury spot for 11 years, but only sold 198,552 cars.

Back on the topic of the compacts, details currently are far and few between other than the B-Class will be offered with a range of powertrains one of which includes a US-exclusive plug in hybrid version a la the Chevy Volt. The competition between the CLC and the BMW 1-series makes sense, but the B Class and the GLC Class seem to be very similar and fighting for the same turf (Audi A3/BMW X1).

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: AutoNews

Five years ago, the words “Bentley” and “hybrid” would only deign to coexist in a joke, not in a fact, but now it seems that Bentley will be rummaging their fingers around the VW/Audi/Porsche cookie jar for plug-in hybrid parts. According to Bentley chief Wolfgang Dürheimer, the menial bits and pieces making up a hybrid powertrain do not constitute a “matter of differentiation” and that either the new twin turbo four liter Audi V8 or VW’s W12 would fit in the engine bay of a future hybrid Bentley.

This idea of the VW brand developing the technology for Bentley is certainly not new, a prime example of this is the VW Phaeton, which, mechanically is the basis for the current Continental.

The word “future” is important here because Bentley say that they will not be rolling out a hybrid form of any current Bentley.

In the future, there may also be a Bentley SUV, which Dürheimer says is pending board approval and that the design process is in its advanced stages. He suggested that the news will be out in the next few weeks. Like their cars, Dürheimer said that the new SUV “will be no Hummer…but it will be on the large side.” Expect to see both the aforementioned W12 and V8 play important roles along with the hybrid powertrain.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: CARandDRIVER

Given that the Chevy Volt is now mired in recalls, it seems that VW thinks that they can do one better with a Jetta plug in hybrid for the US.

Check out our original post on the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid.

The car will be largely based on the new Jetta Hybrid, will offer an electric-only range of 30-35 miles. Under the hood, there will be the same 1.4 liter turbo four popping out 150 horses.

VW is uninterested in spilling the beans too soon, but it would not be unreasonable to see a similar plugin powertrain make its way into the Passat and/or the Beetle.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: CARandDRIVER

Volvo finally unveiled their new plug-in hybrid version of the XC60 mid-sized crossover SUV earlier at the 2012 North American International Auto Show–their first ever venture into alternative powertrains for the North American market. Powered by a 280hp four-cylinder and a 70hp electric motor, the Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid churns out a total of 350hp.

“No other manufacturer delivers fuel economy and electrical range on this level in a capable performance car with a total of 350 horsepower,” said Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.

Now, we’re a little confused when Jacoby called his XC60 a performance car, since Volvo isn’t exactly a buy word in performance. But either way, the XC60 Plug-In Hybrid promises to deliver up to 35 miles on all-electric power with fuel economy well over 100 mpg’s on the European driving cycle.

Jacoby didn’t announce when the XC60 Plug-In will be available and at what cost. But I’m sure we can expect that information to pop up as 2012 rolls by.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

“In this digital age, cars are becoming another spoke in the wheel of our electronic connectivity,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales’ president and chief operating officer. “NS4 demonstrates Toyota’s take on the human connection to the car with technology that considers both emotional and rational relationships, person-to-car and car-to-society.”

Designed as a four-door package, the NS4 concept looks like something to come from Honda rather than Toyota (think Honda FCX Clarity), but that could possibly be the color that throws me off personally.

To emphasize the NS4’s idea of connectivity, Toyota formed alliances with Microsoft, Intel and Salesforce to develop the NS4’s Human-Machine Interface, which features a multi-touch screen that mimics the look and feel of a smartphone. Toyota says, besides being able to handle the NS4’s multimedia and vehicle-controls, the HMI system is capable of “learning” driver preferences and habits to predict driver responses in specific scenarios.

Toyota said that the NS4 could see production by 2015 should the concept get a green light from the corporate beancounters.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

Low emissions and high performance, that’s the name of the game for Infiniti at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The comany today released another teaser of its lightweight sports car concept that it says will be the first model to not only have a range-extender but also a mid-ship package for optimal weight distribution and crisp handling.

“Infiniti already enjoys a lead in high performance, low emission technologies with its Infiniti M Hybrid,” the company said in a statement. “But the purpose of the Geneva concept is to explore what might be the next stage in how to deliver a vivid, engaging and sophisticated driving experience from an electrically-propelled vehicle. The mid-ship mechanical layout could be a vital ingredient.”

More details on the Infiniti range-extender sports car concept will be revealed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Check out the video after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana