Peugeot showcases 308 Diesel Hybrid HDi

Peugeot is showcasing its forthcoming 308 Hybrid HDi at this year�s Frankfurt Motor Show. Peugeot claim the vehicle is �the environmentally friendly car for the next generation� and plan to launch it in 2010.
If the reported vehicle CO2 emissions of just 90g/km and fuel economy of 83mpg are true, then the new 308 could potentially be the most fuel-efficient car in its class and surpass the green credentials of the established Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid. With such low emissions it would also be exempt from UK road tax and receive the full 100% discount from the London Congestion Charge.

The 308 demonstrator is powered by a 1.6 HDi 110 bhp diesel engine coupled with a 22 bhp electric motor providing a maximum power output of 132 bhp, which is broadly comparable to the 308�s 2.0 litre HDi 136 bhp diesel engine. The new engine has also been designed to meet the Euro V emissions standard which comes into force in 2009.

The vehicle is started by an ignition key but, unlike a conventional car, this does not start the diesel engine. Instead, on pressing the accelerator pedal with the gearbox in automatic mode, the electric motor initially powers the vehicle. The electric drive is solely responsible for starting and driving at low speed, with both units coming into play simultaneously when required (at higher speeds and during acceleration).

If chosen by the driver, the car can be driven almost exclusively in electric mode. However, the nickel-metal hydride battery (the most popular choice for hybrids) only provides around 3km of range. To maximise this range, kinetic energy recovered during phases of deceleration and braking is used to recharge the battery pack.

All the power-train modes are controlled by a Power Train Management Unit which informs the driver in real time of the operating mode by a schematic diagram on the vehicle�s colour multifunction display. Other information is also available, including the battery charge status.

With tightening emissions regulations throughout Europe and a growing political consensus that CO2 emissions need to be significantly reduced, the 308 hybrid should be welcome news to both motorists and the automotive sector. The only question is, with the Prius already selling like hot cakes, why Peugeot are going to wait until 2010 to launch what is likely to be a highly successful green car.

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Hall of Paris: Yamaha T-Max 500 ABS 2008

In directed from the Hall of the Motion of Paris it is with it appeal to that we more show you the sold �live� photos of the scooterone in Italy, Yamaha T-Max 500.
(more image after jump)

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Aptera three-wheeler - Reservations start now

Aptera Motors takes pride in evolving one of those Go-Green cars and their three-wheeled model is harnessing a lot of attention. You can reserve one for yourself via their website and choose between the all-electric or plug-in diesel hybrid model. The working prototype features some cool specs like 230mpg while driving at 55mph. Although when they had announced the car last year, they had proclaimed that the car would do 330mpg. Its drag coefficient is 0.11, plus the company's also claiming a 0-60 time of 10 seconds.

The Aptera three-wheeler will cost around $20,000 and the first Apteras will be delivered in "approximately 12 months."


















via gizmodo.com

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TOYOTA FCHV fuel cell hybrid vehicle covers 560 kilometers without Refueling

An improved version of its TOYOTA FCHV fuel cell hybrid vehicle successfully completed a long-distance road test today by traveling from Osaka to Tokyo on a single fueling of hydrogen. Covering approximately 560 kilometers, the entire trip was completed with the air conditioner on and with no need to stop for refueling. The TOYOTA FCHV used in the trip is 25% more fuel efficient than earlier versions, due to improvements in the TMC-developed, high-performance Toyota FC Stack fuel cell and to improvements in the control system for managing fuel cell output and battery charging/discharging.

TOYOTA FCHV also feature TMC-developed 70Mpa high-pressure hydrogen tanks capable of storing approximately twice the amount of hydrogen as the TOYOTA FCHV's previous 35Mpa high-pressure hydrogen tanks. These improvements make it possible to achieve a single-fueling cruising distance of approximately 750km.

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E-V Sunny Solar Energized Bike

Canadian company Therapy Products stake claim to the invention of the first solar bicycle. The E-V Sunny Bicycle is the first all solar electric bicycle driven completely from power derived from the Sun's Rays. The bike has light absorbing Solar panels built right into the Wheels , thus creating continual power from the Sun's Rays, and maintaining a constant charge to the batteries. A 500-watt front hub motor propels the bike. The variable speed electronic controller drives the bike to speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour.

The bike with all its peripherals weighs 75 lbs. and comes with 17 amp hr. batteries and a built in battery charger. The E-V Sunny bike costs about $1290. They also have a kit to converting your existing bike to a solar one that costs $795.
A word of caution, the website states that it is now taking orders "for delivery in September of 2006?, Sounds eerie.

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Victory Vision : First iPod compatible bike

Audi, BMW and Mercedes have all boasted about being iPod compatible, now it's the time for a bike to garner attention for this detail. What really steals the thunder from all these names is the Victory Vision 2008. No, it's not a bike-shaped iPod dock but a full-fledged, red-blooded bike that will make you swoon with desire. And it comes iPod connectivity. The music navigation controls are placed on the handlebars and the tracks can be viewed on the dashboard. The premium version also has a 4-speaker system, and you can have XM radio as well.
Audi, BMW and Mercedes have all boasted about being iPod compatible, now it's the time for a bike to garner attention for this detail. What really steals the thunder from all these names is the Victory Vision 2008. No, it's not a bike-shaped iPod dock but a full-fledged, red-blooded bike that will make you swoon with desire. And it comes iPod connectivity. The music navigation controls are placed on the handlebars and the tracks can be viewed on the dashboard. The premium version also has a 4-speaker system, and you can have XM radio as well.

There is no word on pricing and availability of Victory Vision 2008.

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Nissan ASV-4 fourth-generation Advanced Safety Vehicle

Nissan has developed its fourth-generation Advanced Safety Vehicle, known as the Nissan ASV-4. Based on the Advanced Safety Vehicle Promotion Plan by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Japan, the vehicle is designed to help reduce accidents by employing advanced vehicle-to-vehicle communications. Nissan will use the Nissan ASV-4 to test various technologies in preparation for commercial application. The preventive safety technologies deployed on the Nissan ASV-4 were developed to address specific high-risk scenarios that account for approximately 60% of traffic accidents in Japan.

The Nissan ASV-4 warning system employs vehicle-to-vehicle communications to alert the driver to take defensive actions in situations where an on-coming vehicle is not yet visible, but poses a potential threat to road safety.

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General Motors Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid

Boasting a 50 percent improvement in city fuel economy, General Motors will showcase its new Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid � the only hybrid full-size SUVs � at the 2007 State Fair of Texas, Sept. 28 � Oct. 21. The Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids, to be built at the GM Arlington Assembly Plant, will deliver a 30 percent gain in overall fuel economy and, during certain driving conditions, will run on pure electricity. The Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids� 6.0L V-8 engine is equipped with the GM Active Fuel Management system, which disengages half of the engine�s cylinders when full engine power is not needed, allowing the engine to move seamlessly from V-8 to V-4 on driving demands. Electric-only propulsion is available up to 30 mph, which is key to reducing fuel consumption in heavy stop and go traffic � like being caught in DFW metro area traffic.

Electric power assists the engine to save fuel during brisk acceleration or additional pulling power for towing. During vehicle deceleration, fuel is cutoff to the engine and the hybrid system�s battery pack is recharged via regenerative braking. Tthe 2008 Tahoe and Yukon boast vastly improved fuel economy over their gasoline-only siblings. Two-wheel drive models, for example, deliver 21 mpg in the city, a 50 percent improvement over their 5.3L non-hybrid siblings and comparable to the much-smaller 2008 2.4L-equipped Toyota Camry sedan.

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Sharp 8-inch LCD for in-vehicle applications with a contrast ratio of 2500:1

Sharp Corporation has successfully developed a new 8-inch LCD with 500 cd/m2 luminance for in-vehicle applications that achieves a contrast ratio of 2500:1, the industries highest. Till now, the market for LCDs for in-vehicle applications has been expanding centered mainly on rear-seat entertainment (RSE) systems to watch television, DVDs, etc., in the back seat, and car navigation systems. Recently, the trend to incorporate LCDs into the instrument panel has also been accelerating. These LCDs are intended to display read-outs from gauges such as the speedometer, as well as simultaneously display images that enlarge the driver's field of vision and provide visual guidance and safety warnings via connections with cameras and various sensors mounted on the vehicle. In this light, Sharp has successfully developed an LCD that features a contrast ratio of 2500:1, the industries highest, while maintaining the high reliability and durability demanded by in-vehicle applications.

Incorporating this LCD into the dashboard will enable improved readability, and the unprecedented deep, rich blacks of the display will make it possible to design high-end instrument panels in which the LCD integrates well into black-colored dashboard.

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Lamborghini Touring Car ''VICTORY'' by Hamann

HAMANN displayed Lamborghini Tuning Car 'VICTORY' during IAA 2007 in Germany.
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via AVING

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Luxury Cars most preffered by Women - Volvo S40 is the winner

Car- manufacturing folks watch out as it is understood that besides sophistication WE (women) are also looking for subtlety. Styling and aesthetics alone won't win us over. In other words, we are more practical than men when it comes to cars. Men tend to buy cars that are more testosterone-based and macho whereas women are into cars that are sophisticated and sensible. Safety is another top concern among female drivers, which explains why Volvo S40, whose reputation is built on safety, bags the honor of �the highest female ownership�. Not only did the S40 nail the top spot; the Volvo brand dominated the top 10 with three winners, which, along with the S40, included the V50 wagon at No. 7 and the S60 sedan at No. 9. Its is learnt that it doesn't really matter to women how fast it can go from 0 to 60. What does matter is that it aced the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's frontal crash test. Moral of the story - men are more likely to buy cars with their heart and women with their head!



If Volvo is synonymous with safety, Toyota's Lexus is synonymous with quality and reliability. Lexus had fewer Top 10 female-owned models than Volvo, but the Lexus was the No. 2 luxury brand overall, in terms of female ownership. FIY, the luxury car with the highest male ownership is the high-performance Audi RS4. All this is based on the results of J.D. Power & Associates' Power Information Network's (PIN) most recent survey of the cars with the highest percentage of female ownership. Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for PIN, noted that most of the models in the most popular luxury list purchased by women are at the entry level for their respective brands, all of which have MSRPs of under $40,000. You're not going to get that many single women buying an $80,000 vehicle. To some extent, the lower the price, the higher percent of female buyers. Now that�s a bit unfair to say, isn't it gals.?

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Toyota Mark X ZiO launched in Japan

The new Toyota Mark X ZiO embodies the refined quality and outstanding cruising performance characteristic of the acclaimed Mark X series, while adopting an interior based on a new concept that allows for flexible arrangements to suit the vehicle's use. A stylish new "4 + Free" concept creates a high-quality interior space that uses four independent seats that can accommodate four adults in comfort and luxury, as well as a flexible "free space" in the rear that can be changed according to the vehicle's specific use. This allows the cabin to be modified into various configurations to achieve a "three-mode cabin" that can be used like a sedan, a station wagon or a minivan. In addition, a 2.4-liter or 3.5-liter engine provides ample driving performance and the vehicle boasts safety at the top levels of its class2 as well as outstanding environmental performance. The ZiO is a vehicle that can easily support the lifestyles of adults seeking varied and exciting experiences. The new Toyota Mark X ZiO features a Pre-crash Safety System that uses millimeter-wave radar. When the millimeter-wave radar detects a high risk of collision, the Pre-crash Seatbelts provide superior initial restraint capabilities for occupants while the Pre-Crash Brake Assist system decelerates the vehicle to reduce the collision speed, contributing to less collision-caused damage. A Radar Cruise Control system detects and monitors the preceding vehicle and the lane, maintaining a fixed distance according to the preceding vehicle's speed within a preset range of speed.

The new Toyota Mark X ZiO interior uses illumination devices that produce light attractively, including the large LED ceiling light with its smoky lens and lights for other interior areas, including foot areas and doors, to create a new, mature style of interior space. A Super-live Sound System with a six-channel amplifier provides high-quality sound on par with live performance. With a monthly sales target in Japan of 4,000 units, the Toyota Mark X ZiO is available from Yen 2,560,000 ($22,306).

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New HondaJet Interior Design

Honda Aircraft Company announced a series of major advancements to HondaJet design and to the HondaJet sales and service network at the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. The company showcased a completely new interior design concept for the advanced light jet, along with new exterior color scheme studies, and an animated tour of the exclusive HondaJet sales and service facilities. HondaJet�s new interior concept was introduced with a special focus on human fit, ergonomic efficiency and safety for the customer. Honda has created a cabin environment befitting the company�s reputation for world-class engineering and attention to detail in the quality of materials, design and construction. HondaJet�s new cockpit design incorporated learning from extensive study on the human factors of pilots and pays special attention to the layout. The production version of HondaJet will also incorporate an all-glass avionics package developed for HondaJet by Garmin.



Honda Aircraft Company also announced a partnership with Flight Safety International to create a new flight simulator and pilot training program for HondaJet. Honda Aircraft Company, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. The company is on target to begin deliveries of HondaJet to customers in 2010.

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Renault has launched the new Twingo city-car

Fourteen years after its original launch on the continent, UK drivers can get their hands on a right-hand-drive Twingo for the first time.
Renault has already sold more than 2.4 million Twingos worldwide since its launch in 1993, and travellers to France and beyond will already be familiar with the original's quirky styling. Now looking a little more sophisticated, the new Twingo is the first vehicle to have a make-over in an extensive range renewal programme under the Renault Commitment 2009 plan.
The good news is that the Twingo still offers low emissions and adds to the increasing number of small urban run-arounds available in the UK. Although not the greenest in the class, the base Twingo does make the 'top 10' petrol and has a WhatGreenCar? rating of 37 (best in class 30).

The new UK Twingo is available in two engines sizes and trim levels; the Dynamique 1.2 16V 75 petrol engine, and the GT with the 1.2 TCE 100 petrol engine (also used for some cars in the Clio and Modus range). With CO2 emissions of 135 g/km and a combined fuel economy of 49.5 mpg, the Dynamique is the greenest of the two (WGC? rating 37), with the GT coming in a close second (CO2 140 g/km, 47.8 mpg, WGC? rating 38).

As well as having a reasonably good driving performance for cars with CO2 emission of 135-140 g/km (the GT provides 145 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm), both Twingos carry most of the now standard safety features including ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and driver and front passenger lateral airbags. Those looking to keep insurance costs down will also be pleased with the Dynamique�s insurance rating of 3E (GT rating is 5E).

In parallel with the current green marketing initiatives of most of the major car manufacturers, Renault recently launched its 'eco2' initiative that aims to reduce the lifecycle impacts of its vehicles from cradle-to-grave. To be an eco2 vehicle, models must meet three global environmental standards: be produced in an ISO-14001-certified plant, have tailpipe CO2 emissions of 140g/km or less (or are biofuel-compatible) and, in addition to being 95% reusable at the end of their life, at least 5% of the plastics they contain have been recycled. Both versions of the new Twingo meet Renault�s eco2 criteria.

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