MINI News - MINI succumbs to the green labels trend and introduces MINIMALISM

MINI succumbs to the green labels trend and introduces MINIMALISM

Filed under: Diesel, MINI, European Union

BMW has announced a new green label for MINI cars. It’s called, wait for it, MINIMALISM. Similar to many other eco labels in other European markets, MINIMALISM can be found on cars that would otherwise be the base model with a few additional improvements that reduce fuel consumption. The first MINI MINIMALISM is nothing but a Mini Cooper D with a PSA-sourced 1.6-liter diesel engine good for 110hp. BMW also applied the complete array of techniques - longer gear ratios, a Stop & Start system, a gear change indicator, improved aerodynamics, low-rolling resistance tires and and an electric oil pump - to lower fuel consumption down to 3.9 l/100 km and get this MINI to emit jsut 104 g/km of CO₂, just 3 above the new Honda Insight. The brand has been just released in France, a place where most of the MINI models already qualify for the Government’s premium for cleaner cars.

[Source: MINI France]

MINI succumbs to the green labels trend and introduces MINIMALISM originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]mini cars, mini news, mini models[/tags]

Chevrolet News - GM Lordstown assembly likely to go down to a single shift

GM Lordstown assembly likely to go down to a single shift

Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, Chevrolet, GM

After a sales spike for the Chevy Cobalt last spring that saw General Motors add a third shift to its Lordstown, OH assembly plant in an attempt to keep up with demand, the plant is now set to drop to a single shift. The sales meltdown that came in the fall caused GM to first slow down the line rate and then cut the third shift late in the year. With no improvement in sales expected anytime soon, the layoff notices for the second shift will likely come soon and be effective in April. The plant has already been on extended shutdown for all of January and inventories remain high. The bad economy is hammering sales in every segment right now. Later this year the plant will be re-tooled to start building the new Chevy Cruze next spring.

[Source: Detroit News]

GM Lordstown assembly likely to go down to a single shift originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]

Audi News - AutoblogGreen movie review:

AutoblogGreen movie review:

Filed under: Diesel, Audi, Racing

2008 marked the tenth year of Audi’s Le Mans racing program and in that time the company has become one of the most successful manufacturers of all time in that category. To mark its tenth year - and the final year of the R10 TDI - as the factory representative in sports car endurance racing, the German Automaker teamed up with NFL Films to create a documentary titled Truth in 24. The film, which has had a few selected screenings, will make its big debut in early March when ESPN broadcasts it in the run up to the 12 Hours of Sebring.

We had a chance to watch an advance copy of the film and anyone who has ever seen the work of NFL films will be familiar with the style. It’s about far more than simply the action on the track. The film covers the 2008 trek to the June classic in Le Mans. When the R10 debuted in 2006, it was a groundbraking race car. It was purpose-built for the round-the-clock French race and took advantage of a section of the rule book that encouraged alternative fuels. Thus, Audi engineers tapped into the corporate knowledge of diesel engines to produce the amazing new 5.5L twin turbo V12. Continue reading after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading AutoblogGreen movie review: Truth in 24 [w/VIDEO]

AutoblogGreen movie review: Truth in 24 [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]audi cars, audi news, audi models[/tags]

Toyota News - Further evidence of twin Prius models for 2010?

Further evidence of twin Prius models for 2010?

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota

It’s been prognosticated that Toyota will keep its current-gen Prius around for the foreseeable future to share showroom space with the latest version of the iconic hybrid hatchback, which just recently debuted at the Detroit Auto Show. Toyota had in the past downplayed those rumors, but the Japanese Nikkei is once again reporting the two-Prius strategy, which leads us to believe that there may be some background fire to go with the smoke, at least in Toyota’s home market of Japan. We’re just going to have to wait and see what happens in U.S. showrooms when the new Prius finally makes its appearance later in the year.

Why would Toyota want to keep its older model around anyway? The answer to that question may have something to do with the automaker’s cross-town rival, Honda. With a new competitor coming in the form of the new Insight, which is expected to be priced well below the Prius, Toyota could decide to keep the old model around a bit longer as a price leader.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Further evidence of twin Prius models for 2010? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]toyota cars, toyota news, toyota suv, toyota[/tags]

Mazda News - Mazda3 to get stop/start and DSG to reduce fuel consumption

Mazda3 to get stop/start and DSG to reduce fuel consumption

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Mazda, European Union, Japan, UK

Two of the most promising green technologies that are currently infiltrating the automotive market are so-called stop/start systems and DSG transmissions. We’re happy to report that the new Mazda3 is slated to get both of these eco-friendly features, with Mazda’s proprietary Smart Idle stop/start coming before the end of 2009 on both the 1.6L and the 2.0L gasoline-fed four cylinder engines. That technology isn’t planned to make an appearance in the European diesel models with their high-tech catalytic converters.

Mazda also says that it’s planning to introduce dual-clutch gearbox technology in the 3, its most popular model. We’re not yet sure what powerplants will be mated to the slick-shifting new transmission, or whether DSG will be paired with stop/start for the ultimate in affordable, current fuel-saving technology. Another unanswered question is if either of these bits will migrate from Europe and Japan to the United States, though we can certainly hope

[Source: Autocar]

Mazda3 to get stop/start and DSG to reduce fuel consumption originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]mazda cars, mazda news, mazda models[/tags]

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