Changing attitudes on vehicles and driving
OK, listen up. GREEN is not the colour of nerds
Range Rover “SUV of the future”:
Having shed more than 300 kilograms over the previous-generation model, the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover will also get a hybrid variant. The system is reportedly based on the company’s new 3.0-litre diesel V-6 powertrain. Like all other 2013 Range Rovers, the diesel-electric relies on a ZF eightspeed automatic, but its transmission integrates an electric motor. Care has been taken to keep the 1.7-kWh battery pack low in the chassis, but it’s protected by a highstrength cradle, so officials say you can high-center the entire vehicle on a rock without fear of gashing its costly lithium-ion cells. Even more impressively, wading depth is also unaffected by the hybrid powertrain.
Dart Aero gets to the point:
On the economy-vehicle front, Chrysler is getting serious about fuel efficiency with its newly announced turbocharged Dart Aero, which it says will deliver 4.8 L/100 km on the highway when equipped with the sixspeed-manual-transmission option. The automatic Dart Aero delivers 4.9 L/100 km on the highway. Its four-cylinder engine is assisted in achieving those numbers by aerodynamic enhancements that include lightweight aluminum chassis components, active grille shutters, underbody aero kit, a lowered profile and low-rolling resistance tires. In addition to the high fuel mileage, the Fiat 1.4-litre MultiAir Intercooled Turbo fourcylinder engine found under the hood is no slouch in the power department, making 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
Nissan, FedEx team up on e-van project:
Nissan is in the final development phase of its second mass-production zero-emission vehicle, the e-NV200 compact van, saying electric vehicles are ideal for urban delivery applications, offering a breakthrough type of mobility for entrepreneurs. Nissan and FedEx Express engineers began working together in December 2011 by co-testing the e-NV200 prototype on the streets of London, England. The test recently expanded to Yokohama, Japan, to obtain additional real-world driving feedback that will help Nissan meet customer requirements in advance of the start of production, expected to commence in fiscal year 2013. FedEx says its participation in the project reflects its commitment to improving the environmental impact of its global vehicle fleet.
Hydrogen-fuel-cell Tucson to enter production:
South Korean automaker Hyundai will begin in December series production of a hydrogen fuel-cell electric car based on its compact tall wagon Tucson. It will sport Hyundai’s own ix35 fuel cell and will enter production in December at the company’s Ulsan factory in Korea. Like Honda is doing with its electric Fit, Hyundai will build only 1,000 copies between then and 2015, which it will offer for lease to public and private customers. Post-2015, the company expects to produce an additional 10,000 units. Hyundai says its production model will get 10 per cent better economy and range than its prototype ix35 fuel cell vehicle, saying it will feature a range approaching 600 kilometres per tank-full of hydrogen, which the fuel-cell stack converts to electricity.
Ferrari debuts hybrid super car chassis:
Ferrari will unveil its most powerful road car ever at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, in January: a gasolineelectric hybrid that will replace the limitedproduction Enzo super car. Industry journal Automotive News quotes sources saying the as-yet-unnamed model will deliver 900 horsepower, combining a new V-12 direct-fuelinjection gas engine with an electric motor, part of a high-performance hybrid system the company calls HY-KERS (for hybrid kinetic energy recovery system). A low-weight/highstrength carbon-fibre chassis of the vehicle was unveiled in September at the Paris Auto Show. KERS uses electricity created during braking to spin up a flywheel.
Canada’s “Cowtown” embraces car sharing:
Known as Cowtown among Canadians, Calgary might soon also be called Carsharing Town, if initial response to Daimler North America’s Car2go vehicle sharing program is an indication. Since the launch of Car2go in Calgary in July 21, more than 15,000 people have joined the city’s first large-scale car-sharing program, making it the fastest growing Car2go city worldwide. Collectively, more than 40,000 trips have been taken with Car2go throughout Calgary within its first two months of business. To accommodate the growing demand, Car2go will introduce an additional 150 cars to the Calgary network, giving members access to 300 fuel-efficient Car2go-edition Smart Fortwos, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.