Hyundai unveils concept vehicle Nuvis at New York International Auto Show

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Hyundai’s all-new, homegrown Hybrid Blue Drive architecture helps define the Nuvis concept. Hyundai‘s proprietary parallel hybrid drive system mates the already fuel-efficient 2.4-liter Theta II engine to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW (205 N-m) electric motor for maximum fuel economy. Hybrid Blue Drive has an all-electric mode and a parallel drive mode, meaning the wheels are turned by power coming directly from the gasoline engine, or the electric motor, or both together, as conditions demand. This parallel hybrid drive architecture will serve as the foundation for future Hyundai hybrid drive vehicles, starting with the next-generation Sonata in the

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Honda Fit, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Add it all up, and once again Honda has taken a good car that would have fared well without upgrades and innovation and made it more attractive. It was and remains arguably the finest entry level car in the United States. It’s hard, though, to classify the Fit as entry level. It’s Honda’s smallest vehicle. Yet, with a price range from $13,950 to approaching $20,000 (with all options), it’s an entry level car on par with other brands priced well into the $20,000 range. The Fit is still fit, for sure. But it’s now a more well-rounded “athlete.” It’s hard

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Saturn Sky (Convertible), 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Needing a little “bling” in its lineup, Saturn finally convinced parent company General Motors a sports car could elicit positive results. Although the Sky convertible wasn’t exactly unique when it came out a year ago, it provided Saturn with definite eye appeal. And even if car shoppers didn’t buy it, at least they were taking a good look at the attractive Sky, a better version of the Pontiac Solstice, another GM product. The American car-buying public has a fascination for convertibles. They represent a vehicle most people feel they want, yet can’t justify the purchase, simply because in most cases

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Acura sets car industry precedent with new safety rankings

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Acura has become the first automobile manufacturer to simultaneously earn top government and IIHS safety ratings for every vehicle in its line-up. In late March, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as part of its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing, awarded the 2009 Acura TL performance luxury sedan a 5-Star rating — its top rating — for side impact crash safety for both front and rear passenger seating positions. In November 2008, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2009 Acura TL performance luxury sedan its top safety rating of “GOOD” for Frontal Offset Crash Test,

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Shelby, Tesla, Datsun (?) among world's top-10 fastest electric cars

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“Below, we’ve listed the world’s top 10 fastest electric cars, based on the best available information (and a little creative license). Note that our criteria does not take into account a variety of important factors like charging time, availability and cost. All cars are simply ranked by the time it takes them to get from 0-60 mph. “Most of the machines shown here are either not available or otherwise out out of the realm of possibility for most, but then again, so are most high-performance gas-powered cars, but that doesn’t keep us from admiring them.” And here’s the list: 1.

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Ferrari unveils new web site with Formula 1 season

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As one of the first companies to build a presence on the ‘net in the early 1990s, Ferrari’s goal now is to ensure the millions of tifosi and enthusiasts who log on to the Ferrari website each day will live the Ferrari experience online. Through its new www.ferrari.com portal, Ferrari now offers site visitors to the site now enjoy more content and a better internet relationship with Ferrari headquarters in Maranello, Italy.  The new sites boasts a wide range in a revised and freshened graphic design and unique content. Apart from its numerous interactive sections with exclusive images and dedicated

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Tesla debuts prototype of Model S, its new, all-electric sedan

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Founded in 2003, Tesla‘s debut vehicle is the $109,000 Roadster sports car. The 300th Roadster was recently delivered to its owner and the waiting list includes more than 1,000 wannabe owners. The Model S, which Tesla touts as the first mass-manufactured all-electric car, will cost $57,400, or $49,900 after tax credits. Elon Musk, Tesla Motors’ chief executive, and chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, debuted the Model S to a gathering and industry analysts and the media March 26 in Hawthorne, Calif. According to a report in the New York Times, Musk said, “When gas savings are taken into account, buying

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Mercedes Benz Will Unveil New Hyrbrid In 2009

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Based on the S350, the S400 BlueHYBRID uses a 3.5-litre engine, an additional magneto-electric motor, and a seven-speed automatic transmission configured for the hybrid module. The system is a mild hybrid, with the electric motor boosting the gasoline engine during acceleration, along with an auto-stop function that switches off the engine when stopped, such as at traffic lights. Mercedes-Benz said its high-voltage lithium-ion battery is the first worldwide to be introduced in a series-production vehicle. When compared to a conventional nickel/metal hydride battery, the new battery has a higher energy density, better electrical efficiency, more compact dimensions and lower weight.

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Volkswagen Tiguan, 2009: Weidel on Wheels

As someone whose first two vehicles were Volkswagens, I remain a fan of the German automaker, and I’m not alone in my admiration. Volkswagen rose to prominence in the 1960s and continued to grow for two decades. The line began to falter in the early ‘90s, but Volkswagen has refocused and made a successful turnaround. In the past decade, Volkswagen has kept rolling out hits. The latest is the 2009 Tiguan, a compact sport utility vehicle recently driven for a week. Like many of its predecessors, the Tiguan has received high marks in many areas. It’s understandable because VW is

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Cadillac, Autonet debut new Wifi router for 2009 CTS sedan

The companies jointly debuted the new router at the New York International Auto Show, April 10 – 19 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The partnership will deliver the first internet entertainment system for Cadillac, and one of the first in the luxury auto market. Branded as Cadillac WiFi by Autonet Mobile, the system is based on the company’s latest generation mobile router, a new smaller unit that allows consumers to easily transfer it from car to car via a new docking station. The system is one-third smaller and incorporates an internal WiFi antenna which fits the sleek new Cadillac

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Tata Nano: New York Times test drives India's new $2,000 'People's Car'

The Times had its reporter, Nick Kurczewski, in Pune, India, to test drive the Nano. It’s the estimated $2,000 car some industry experts believe could be as important to the automotive industry as the Ford Model-T and the Volkswagen Beetle. “The Nano has a 32-horsepower, 624-cc, 2-cylinder engine mounted in the rear. Access is given to the engine via a removable panel underneath the foldable rear seat. Despite being a fraction of the size of most economy-car engines, the all-aluminum engine provides reasonable pep. Engine noise is also far less than one might imagine given the size and simplicity of

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Ford Escape, 2009: Weidel on Wheels

When Ford unveiled the Escape eight years ago it offered an extremely functional compact sport utility vehicle, and it was an instant hit. The Escape had impressive sales for the next several years, but Ford made a giant tactical error. It didn’t offer any major improvements, and competition grew and gained ground. Realizing significant changes were overdue, Ford authorized a redesign in 2008. There were plenty of positives, including a tougher-looking exterior, enhanced performance and improved ride capability. While the Escape’s changes are good, more consumers are turning to less expensive and more gas-friendly SUVs. And the choices are many,

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Tata Motor's Nano (You Tube debut video)

After much anticipation, reservations for the Tata Nano, the India-manufactured car some automobile experts believe will be as influential as the Model T Ford and the Volkswagen Beetle, will be available for March 23 in more than 400 dealerships in India. The Nano, billed as the world’s cheapest car and nicknamed “The People’s Car,” will cost an estimated $1,945 or 100,00 rupees, the currency of India. According to Tata Motors representatives, full production of the Nano will take 1 1/2 years and only a limited supply of the vehicle will be available this spring. Ratan Tata, who conceived the car,

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Cadillac CTS-V, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

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The new CTS-V includes GM’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension that monitors road conditions and adjusts the suspension as needed. Standard equipment is varied and so are the more than $10,000 in available options, Recaro seats to a navigation system, steering-linked headlamps to Alcantara (suede-like) micro- wrapped shift lever and steering wheel. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (10) Impressive numbers, for sure: 6.2-liter V8 with 556 horsepower and manufacturer claim of 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. If you like power and speed in a luxury sedan, what’s not to like? It doesn’t get much better than this. Braking/Steering/Handling (8) Smooth, smooth,

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Lexus IS350, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

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But Lexus has largely left well-enough alone. The IS350 is a four-door sedan with more desire to be a two-door sports coupe. It’s positioned in a competition market segment, matched largely against the Infiniti G series, Cadillac CTS and perennial favorite BMW. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (8) It’s a four-door sedan with a six-speed automatic transmission that advances with sports car speed. There’s a 306 horsepower V6 and the standard 0-60 mph test is performed in 5.6 seconds. How many sedans can match that? A manual transmission is not available. Braking/Steering/Handling (6) Competition is fierce from industry leaders, including

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Buick, Jaguar dethrone Lexus in J.D. Power reliability survey

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For the past 15 years, Lexus had been the most reliable brand in the Vehicle Dependability Study. The  study measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2006 model year) vehicles. The study was redesigned this  to include 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle. Buick was ranked sixth last year; Jaguar placed 10th in 2008. Lexus followed the Jaguar-Buick tie, with Toyota and Mercury following closely. The J.D. Power research details owners of Buick and Jaguar models reported an average of 122 problems per 100 vehicles, compared to 126 problems per 100 vehicle for Lexus owners.

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