Automotive Reviews Archives - Page 98 of 120

Bloom box: Fuel-cell technology's Holy Grail or its Holy Hype?

On 60 Minutes tonight a brand new energy company unveiled what was billed as a potentially revolutionary energy technology called Bloom Boxes. Based on fuel-cell technologies, Stahl unveiled the formerly secret company Bloom Energy thusly: “The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” The Bloom Box is said to be a device that can power approximately 100 houses. According to a press release, the Bloom Box was developed by NASA scientists and can be used in different ranges of temperatures which makes the way it can be used more expansive. Several competitors are also trying to develop similar devices

Bloom Energy: Could it replace current electric and other alternative fuel cars?

“The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Bloom Energy has operated for the past eight years. According to the 60 Minutes report, it has raised about $400 million from venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, and its early clients include Google, eBay and Walmart. Additional investors in Bloom Energy are diverse and its business relationships are posted on the company’s web site. But what was conspicuously absent from the 60 Minutes report was if the fuel cells could have a potential application in auto industry. The Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster are auto

News Service, Specialty cars

New Hot Wheels for Danica Patrick called Danicar

Patrick is credited as a co-designer of the new Hot Wheels and will be available as part of the basic 1:64 scale rather than on limited edition. Patrick recently crashed out her NASCAR debut early in a 12-car pile up at Daytona International Speedway. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and

Specialty cars

Best dirt cheap collectible cars, BMW to Ford, Buick to Volkswagen

In conjunction with Hagerty Insurance, which specializes in covering collectible cars, here are 10 vehicles presented as “Collectibles: Best of the Dirt Cheap.” The first on the list, with text written by Peter Valdes-Dapen, a CNNMoney.com senior editor, is the V8-powered Ford Mustang. “With demands for fuel economy rising, performance took a back seat in most late 1970s and early 80s cars,” writes Valdes-Dapen. “That made the 205 horsepower Mustang 5.0 HO a particularly desirable model for performance fans. Starting next year, Ford is bringing out a new 5.0-liter displacement V8 for the Mustang, which will bring more attention to the original.” AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used

News Service, Specialty cars, Sports Cars

Corvette ZHZ (2008) in auction for Haiti and children's music charity

Proceeds from the sale of the Corvette will benefit two charities: OxFam International and the Music for America Project. OxFam International works in more than 100 countries to overcome poverty and injustice (currently a part of our Heal Haiti Auction). The Music for America Project provides avenues for children to achieve their musical dreams. Additional details: Estimated value, $45,000; Current bid (increments of $2,500), $27,500.01; Mileage 24,717; Model Year, 2008; Location Orlando, Fla.; Warranty, Limited for first 60 Days or 2,000 Miles. For additional information or to bid, visit: CharityBuzz/Corvette James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this

Electric and Hybrid

Winter Olympics car commercials: Nissan raking up publicity for the green LEAF

Scheduled for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States and Europe, The LEAF, according to Nissan, “ushers in a new era of mobility.” Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales. But Nissan expects the car to be “competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle.” The Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF’s power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAF’s regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range

Sedans

Florida dealer tells Toyota customers to stop car payments and buy Nissan

General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. announced sales incentives in January aimed at luring Toyota customers to trade in their cars for a GM or Ford vehicle. But in Riviera Beach, Fla., Napleton’s Nissan, according to an article in the Palm Beach Post, is sending Toyota owners an official-looking mailing urging them not to make their next car payment and instead trade in their car. The letters are sent in envelopes marked with “TOYOTA RECALL NOTICE” in red, uppercase block letters, according to the newspaper. “Why spend another day driving a potentially unsafe vehicle while you wait for a correction remedy?” the letter reads, before saying the customer’s car qualifies for the Buyout Program the dealership is offering. The

Economy cars

Toyota Corolla recall: Power steering complaints add to manufacturer's global troubles

Shinichi Sasakim, Toyota‘s quality control executive, says drivers may feel as though they’re losing control over steering. Reasons for the issue are unclear, by Toyota representatives say they’ve received 80 power steering complaints. Since its debut in 1966 and considering sales through 2007, more than 35 million Toyota Corollas have been purchased, one about every 40 seconds. In the past four months, Toyota has recalled more than 8.5 million vehicles globally, including the Corolla, Camry and Prius, due to sticking gas pedals, accelerator problems and faulty brake programming. Meanwhile, Toyota president Akio Toyoda said he does not plan to attend a U.S. Congressional hearing into the carmaker’s safety recalls. Toyoda says he is entrusting the job to his U.S. based

Electric and Hybrid, Specialty cars

Tesla Roadstar Sport tests the Rocky Mountains (Video)

But that’s what Roman Mica, editor at-large of The Weekly Driver had in mind. and he had only question: Can you take an electric car across country and across the great Continental Divide in the winter and not be worried that it will run out of juice before you get home? Mica’s answer? Yes and no. To view for new car reviews and video content, visit: www.tflcar.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and

Electric and Hybrid, Specialty cars

Nissan Leaf orders will begin in April for electric car's December debut (Video)

Nissan received $1.4 billion in federal government loans to build the Leaf and its the battery packs in Tennessee. It will go on sale in Nissan showrooms simultaneously in the U.S., Japan and Europe. Nissan, which is anticipating about 20,000 potential customers to sign-up to purchase the vehicle, will announce the price for the Leaf in April. It’s expected the Leaf will cost about the same as the base-level Toyota Prius hybrid, which starts at $22,800. The Leaf’s pricepoint will make it more accessible to the general public than other electric cars on sale today, like the Tesla Roadster, the battery-powered sports car that retails for $109,000. Nissan will build the Leaf in Japan until 2012. Then production of the

Economy cars, Electric and Hybrid, Specialty cars

Tata Nano, world's cheapest car, set for U.S. debut in New York

The Nano, “the People’s Car” which debuted in India last year amid much anticipation as the newest offering of Tata Motors, is currently available in its native country. But the Nano (only one) will be make its first United States appearance as a “design achievement” at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York. The bright yellow edition of the Nano will be on display at the Great Hall of the museum, located at 2 East 91st Street in Manhattan. The Nano will be on display with accompanying literature and pictures through mid-April. “The Cooper-Hewitt is showing the Tata Nano because, as the world’s most affordable car, it is a design achievement and it has public fancy,” said Cara Mc-Carty,

Electric and Hybrid, News Service

Toyota continues goal to restore customer faith after massive recall

James Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Sales, USA, Inc., writes in USA Today (Feb. 15) that he reassures consumers the Toyota community is doing all they can to handle the recall situation swiftly and responsibly. The op-ed piece begins: “For 50 years, Americans have trusted Toyota to provide vehicles that are among the safest, most reliable on the road. “We recognize that of late we have not lived up to the high standards our customers expect from us. We take our commitment to the public very seriously and are working hard to make things right. The piece is entitled “Firmly focuse on safety” and its sub-titled: “Unintended acceleration is rare; Toyota is working to restore trust.” To

Sport Utility Vehicles

Mazda CX-9, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review (Video)

Quickly successful when it first debut in 2007, the CX-9 raised the standard for three-row crossover SUVs. From its dynamic styling and safety to versatility and performance, Mazda‘s flagship crossover SUV continues to impress automotive critics and customers is its fourth year of production. For the 2010 model year, the CX-9 receives a significant exterior and interior facelift, added options and reinforced safety features. Many mid-sized crossover SUVs strive for the utilitarian look. The Mazda CX-9, however, is designed to evoke a strong pride of ownership. Without sacrificing versatility or efficiency, the CX-9 strives for the sophisticated appearance of a vehicle costing two to three times as much. Its smooth and flowing silhouette, prominent wheels and tires, muscular fenders and

News Service, Sports Cars

Danica Patrick unhurt as NASCAR debut ends in smoky crash

Patrick had moved from 27th to 21st when Josh Wise banged into rookie Colin Braun, starting a chain reaction of wrecks in turn four of the 69th lap. Patrick, She boxed in traffic, couldn’t see because of surrounding smoke and ricocheted off Wise’s car. Patrick then kidded across the grass and settled into a stop with heavy damage to the right-front fender of her GoDaddy.com Chevrolet. “I literally couldn’t see a thing,” Patrick told reporters. “That’s the problem. If we could figure out how to have the tires make no smoke, there would be a lot less crashed race cars, but unfortunately that’s the inevitable of what’s going to happen here. “It’s also the product of racing so close together.

Electric and Hybrid, Sport Utility Vehicles

Lexus RX, 450h, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The RX 450h no longer attracts a “wow-factor” response because it initiated a new vehicle segment. Instead, it garners attention for the same reasons as its siblings — class. In short, it deserves the manufacturer’s luxury brand high praise reputation. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (5) An increase of 27 horsepower to 295 is one of the numerous changes this year. The vehicle is also 400 pounds heavier. The new statistics don’t make a lot of acceleration difference. The hybrid won’t win a drag race off the line. But when a powerful, steady burst is necessary, the 450h is quicker than some SUVs I’ve driven equipped with V8s. Braking/Steering/Handling (6) Steady, firm braking with a surprisingly small turning radius. When

Automotive News, Electric and Hybrid

Winter Olympics: Organizers embrace 'green' automotive technology with cell fuel and GM vehicles

Twenty fuel cell buses are being operated by BC Transit in Whistler, site of many Olympic events. The buses are built by New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg and operate on fuel cells provided by Ballard Power Systems, with hydrogen storage provided by Dynetek Industries in Calgary. The hybrid drive system came from ISE Corp. in San Diego, California. Each low floor bus can carry 60 people and has a top speed of about 55 mph. The buses are twice as efficient as diesel powered counterparts and have zero tailpipe emissions. B.C. Transit’s new $89.5 million Whistler Transit Centre offers the world’s largest hydrogen refueling station. The station is a joint venture involving the Canadian and British Columbia governments, the Resort

Previous Next