2016 Chevy Volt Will Have At Least 12% More Range

In a paper to the Society of Automotive Engineers International, GM’s Executive Director Larry Nitz said that the 2016 Chevy Volt has been the focus of more attention than any other drivetrain. This has resulted in 12% better energy efficiency and range, which could give the Volt up to 43 miles of pure electric driving.

“I can’t think of a powertrain we’ve re-engineered more extensively within a five-year period than this one,” said Nitz, GM’s Executive Director, Transmission and Electrification. If the 12% number rings true, that means the Volt’s overall driving range will increase from 380 miles to 425 miles; more importantly, it means an extra 5 miles of official driving range, for a total of about 43 miles per charge. Most Volt drivers ar able to do 80% or more of their driving in electric mode with just 38 miles of range, so the extra 5 miles should only bump that number further. I think Lutz would approve.

But will it be enough to sate the calls for more range from the current crop of Volt owners? What about the rumor that GM might offer different battery pack sizes for those wanting even more range? GM also claims to have reduced the drivetrain’s weight by 130 lb alone, and other weight-saving measures should bring it well below the original’s 3,874 lb curb weight, further improving the overall efficiency, along with an all-new three-cylinder range extender. But with the Nissan LEAF rumored to have 150 miles of range or more per charge, does the Volt risk falling behind the curb?

Beyond those details though, we have to wait for the Detroit Auto Show in January to see what the 2016 Chevy Volt is all about.

Lincoln To Get $5 Billion Dollar Makeover

Mark Fields, the new CEO of Ford Motor Company, is prepared to invest $5 billion dollars to rescue the ailing Lincoln brand. The goal is to triple Lincoln’s annual sales from today’s anemic 100,000 units to 300,000 units by 2020. But doing so will take far more than slapping a Lincoln badge on the back of existing Ford brands like the Mustang, Edge or Flex and calling it a day. It will take some effort from Lincoln to build excitement among its existing customer base, small as it is. At this year’s Chicago Auto Show, no one from Lincoln even bothered to make the trip over from Detroit to commune with the faithful.

Insider Car News reports the heart of the Field’s initiative is a new modular rear wheel drive chassis known internally as the D6 platform. Fields apparently believes bringing back rear wheel drive is just what Lincoln needs to take on Mercedes Benz and BMW in the uber-sedan market.

Lincoln has a long and proud heritage as a purveyor of fine motorcars going back to the 1930’s. But it has been little more than an afterthought in the American marketplace for at least a decade. Outgoing CEO Alan Mullaly was ready to kill the Lincoln brand completely, according to reports. Lincoln’s last attempt at a bold idea was wrapping a Ford F-150 in about a square mile of leather and calling it the Mk LT. It was the perfect vehicle if you needed to stop at Home Depot for a box of nails on the way to the opera while dressed in a tuxedo. Lincoln sold dozens of the things, some of which will probably end up in museums for their curiosity value.

Over the years, lots of manufacturers have announced their intention to take on Mercedes and BMW head to head. Lexus, Infiniti and Cadillac are a few that come to mind. Even Mercedes tried to out-do itself with its ultra-upscale Maybach brand. But when the road test results are in and the sales figures are tabulated, the traditional German brands always come out on top.

Field’s Folly is sending snickers through the boardrooms of car makers around the globe. Some suggest that Mullaly was right to consider closing down the division and that this new initiative will only postpone the time when Lincoln follows the likes of Plymouth, Pontiac and Oldsmobile into automotive oblivion.

Source | Photos: Insider Car News.

2016 Acura NSX Spotted by Nürburgring, Not on Fire

With turbos, engines, and electric motors all over, the successor to the original Honda (nee Acura) NSX super car has been highly anticipated since the 1990s. The last time Honda took a prototype of its upcoming NSX hybrid out to Germany’s storied Nürburgring, however, the sleek, low-slung exotic promptly burned to the ground in a fire caused by an exploding experimental battery.

This time, there was no such drama. Now in the final stages of testing, latest prototypes have been seen sporting a new lower front grille and new air vents in the bonnet. It seems aggressive and purposeful, and all indications are that the new car is nearly ready for prime time.

That’s a good thing, because Honda is expected to unveil the 2016 Acura NSX at January’s Detroit Auto Show. That’s the same show that saw the unveiling of the latest NSX “concept” back in 2012, and also the nearest “major” auto show to the Ohio facility where the NSX will be built, so it’ll be a fitting place for the production car’s debut.

You can see a few more “spy shots” of the model year 2016 Honda / Acura NSX hybrid, below, and head on over to AutoCar for the rest of the 14 picture photo gallery. Enjoy!

2016 Honda / Acura NSX Spied in Germany

---

• 

• 
• 
• 
• 

Source | More Photos: AutoCar UK.

2016 Chevy Volt Drivetrain Improvements Detailed

Engineers working on the 2016 Chevy Volt have used data collected from customers to design a follow-up to the best-selling plug-in car in America, and GM has detailed the first of those drivetrain improvements.

Among the improvements is a lighter battery with more storage capacity, the result of a joint effort between supplier LG Chem and GM, which share a once-controversial battery factory. GM claims efficiency improvements shaved 30 pounds off the weight of the battery pack, while increasing storage capacity by about 20%. While the company isn’t talking range estimates yet, 20% more battery capacity should translate to at least 20% more range, which would give the Volt over 40 miles of electric driving per charge. GM quotes the fact that about 15% of current Volt drivers regularly achieve more than 40 miles of electric range as well, perhaps as a wink-wink/nudge-nudge towards what to expect.

Also on tap for the 2016 Chevy Volt is a new two-motor drive unit that is 100 pounds lighter than the current unit, and as much as 12% more efficient. The system can also use both motors to propel the vehicle on electricity alone, improving acceleration under battery power by 20%. The Volt currently takes about 8.7 seconds to go from 0 to 60 MPH, and if GM gets it under 8 seconds, that’d be a mighty improvement in terms of driving enjoyment.

Also new for 2016 is a 1.5 liter engine, which adds more power yet supposedly sips less fuel, which could also boost the Volt’s fuel economy above 40 MPG (it currently sits at 37 combined). The new engine will eventually be built at GM’s Flint, Michigan engine plant, helping bring the Volt’s domestic content up above 70%, making it one of the most Murican cars you can buy.

GM also mentioned how they collected driving information from 300 volunteer Volt owners to decide where to make improvements to their plug-in hybrid. The data showed that more than 80% of the miles driven were on electricity only, and other surveys have shown that buyers would like more range, more room, and a lower cost. I imagine those three factors will play big with the 2016 Volt, as will the fact that owners have covered more than a billion miles, most of those on electricity alone.

For now that’s all the details GM is willing to divulge. As we get closer to the Detroit Auto Show debut, more features and improvements regarding the 2016 Volt are sure to leak out. What’s your wishlist for the new Volt?

Who really knows what Gen-2 Volt will be like?

Today is October 1, and you know what that means, right? There’s now just three full calendar months and less than two weeks until we see Volt 2.0 – press days start Jan. 12 in Detroit.

Yesterday there were points made in comments for and against the need for secrecy vs. transparency vs. something in the middle.

In that discussion it was observed informed followers of this space “have a very good idea what the next gen will be.”

OK, so here’s a double question:
1) Do you think GM will make the big reveal full disclosure and confirm the new Volt for 2016 production or hold back info? If they do hold back, what will that be?

2) Do you think you can really foretell right now what gen two will be in the absence of GM’s official confirmation?

The fantasy wish list includes:
More electric range – how much will it be, if any?

Better mpg in charge sustaining mode – what could this be?

More rear knee room.

Higher-performance option – quicker 0-60, etc.

Room for five – for those of you who need/want it.

Lower price or same price for much more.

Other speculation includes:

Different platform?

Larger battery ?

Different format battery from T-pack to seat five?

Different chemistry battery?

Two versions announced, Volt and Volt Lite?

Other changes?

What did I miss?

I’m sure I did miss some, what with all the pieces including one more I read yesterday saying “GM formerly announced” the new Volt “will” have “about 50-60 miles” electric range.

Oh, it will? It might, but sloppy separation between pure conjecture and reports from purportedly reliable hearsay have produced a state of affairs where uninformed writers do a quick read of someone’s speculative piece, and that’s what you get. Non-facts stated as certainty.

Anyway, let’s see who gets it right. This could have been a poll, but the subjective answers in comments can add nuances.

It has been reported GM may decide to let someone spill some minor beans leading up to NAIAS but we’ll see on that.

Otherwise, the answer to “one of the automotive world’s best-kept secrets” will be revealed January and we’ll see if rumors and speculation were accurate!

GM Exec: “Better In Every Way” 2nd Gen Chevrolet Volt “Media Encounters” Coming Soon – Video

 Last month GM teased us with a photo of the upcoming 2nd generation of Chevrolet Volt - a car that won’t be fully revealed until the 2015 Detroit Auto Show NAIAS.  However, a few new details on the road to that reveal came recently from Larry Nitz, who is GM’s Powertrain Executive Director, as well as “electrification” boss.

Larry Nitz Talks All Thing Chevy Volt In Recent Interview

More specifically, Mr. Nitz says that GM won’t be running fully darkon information pertaining to the next gen Volt in the short term, but that there “will be some specific media encounters along the way between now and January.”

Past these future-teasers, GM’s Powertrain exec says the Volt will be “better in everyway”, but qualifies that statement by also saying that pertains just to the “meaningful things that we think the customers really like”. 

Mr. Nitz prefaces this bold statement by highlighting things like range, performance and efficiency, but also notes later that charging times aren’t really a concern.

Reading the tea leaves presented to us, we take this to mean significantly more AER, but no fast charging on Volt 2.0.

Checkout the full Autoline After Hours interview with Mr. Nitz (from 15:15 for Volt-related topics), as it is interesting to get a first person account of the project from a GM exec directly…something of a rarity this past 2-3 years.

In case you don’t feel like sifting through the whole video, InsideEVs tipster Eric H provides a nice bullet-list of the tidbits to be had:

More 2nd Gen Volt Teasing Coming Soon

• Today’s volt is GM’s highest customer satisfaction vehicle.
• GM has collected anonymous data on about 2/3 of all volts or about 50,000 units.
• About 65% of overall driving is electric.
• About 82% of energy during commuting is from the electric plug.
• 81% of all trips have no engine start at all.  Some other plugins: only 10% of trips did not have an engine start
• The promises made are the promised that will be delivered to customers regarding Volt 2.0.  What people want will be delivered and we’ll hit it out of the park and sell in the numbers we want to sell.
• 60% of volt customers only charge on 110v rather than 240v.
• 50% of all volts are at home at any one particular time.
• 8 hour charge is perfectly acceptable for a majority of customers.
• Regarding customer education, we are going to do more to help the customer understand the proposition of the volt.  If someone can drive the volt for a couple weeks then they get it.
• There is a customer who drove 10,000 miles and only used 33 gallons of gasoline.
• “Volts plug in on average 10 times per week, not 7.  That surprised us.  We figured a once a day charge but customers charge more”

2016 Chevy Volt Will Get New Marketing Campaign

When Chevrolet unveils the redesigned 2016 Chevy Volt at the Detroit Auto Show next January, it will raise the curtain on an entirely new marketing campaign for it extended range electric vehicle. Chevrolet global marketing chief Tim Mahoney told Automotive News recently that Chevrolet will invite current Volt owners to use their social networks to tell others how satisfied they are with their cars. O

Over 90% of Volt owners say they would buy another one, and many came from brands like Toyota and had never even owned a Chevrolet before. That’s a major bragging point for GM, though the 2016 VOlt’s marketing efforts will go beyond just a few “evangelists” spreading the good word.

Mahoney said marketing efforts for the next generation Volt will be regionally focused, in areas where populations are denser. Previously, the Volt had no customer base, but now sales records will help the company target locations where the Volt is already popular. Mahoney points out that “there are clearly pieces of geography where (the Volt) makes sense. So you’ll see a focus on fishing where the fish are.” 

Volt sales were up 13% over July, 2013 last month and it is outselling the Nissan LEAF in some markets. Clearly Chevrolet hopes the redesigned car and revamped marketing strategy will propel the Volt to even greater sales success.

Source: GM

Production Smart Bicycle Launched at Detroit Auto Show

The production version of the pedal/electric Smart bicycle quietly debuted at this year’s Detroit Auto Show carrying a $2950 price tag. Along with the price, the bikes carried a features list full of clever, high-end components aimed at making the bikes both more durable, and more convenient, for its end-users.

First shown as a concept back in 2011, the Smart bicycle that bowed at NAIAS this year stays visually true to the original. For durability, the traditional bicycle chain is replaced with a durable belt drive system that can’t rust, won’t bind up/get thrown, and which (perhaps, most importantly) won’t tear up your pants if they happen to wander too close to the bike’s drive. An LED headlight, sturdy and aerodynamic front forks, and high-quality disc brakes mounted to wire rims with high-end Continental bicycle tires round out the “bike” hardware.

In addition to being a high-quality bike, though, the Smart bicycle is also an EV. Powered by an easily-removable battery (so you can charge it in your home or office) and a rear-mounted “Smart Drive” electric motor that’s visually similar to the Copenhagen Wheel. So equipped, the bike can be pedaled, pedal-assisted (where the electric motor boosts the rider’s own power), or pure EV modes.

According to Mercedes/Smart reps at NAIAS, the Smart bicycle will initially be available in 5 markets (she said Los Angeles, Portland, New York, Miami, and “one midwestern market”) starting this spring.

Source: Gas2.0

Tesla Detroit Predictions: Production Model X And First Battery Swap Stations

Update: The Tesla press conference was about as boring as could be. Besides updating sales and Supercharger information, nothing particularly new or exciting was announced. Detailed update coming soon-ish.

Just like last year, Tesla Motors is here for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to make some kind of big announcement. But instead of waiting another two hours, allow me to wildly speculate that Tesla’s announcement will either be the unveiling of the production Tesla Model X, and/or the opening of the first battery swapping stations in the U.S.

Why not just waiting until the press conference? Well frankly, I’m bored, and Tesla loves to do the “big bombshell announcement” thing, but this time I think I’ve got them figured out. First off, I seriously doubt the Tesla Model E is about to debut, as the Tesla Model X is the next car Elon Musk needs to promote as it goes on sale later this year. Rumor has it the Model E will break cover next year, at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.

So far, we haven’t seen a production model of the Tesla Model X, just the concept with its falcon-wing doors. I’d be fairly flabbergasted if those doors made it into production, though if anyone can do it, it’s Tesla. With the Model X launch just months away though, it seems almost certain a production version is about to break cover.

But that’s not all! Tesla’s other big announcement is probably going to be related to their battery-swapping stations. We haven’t heard much at all about battery-swapping since Elon Musk presented in late June, when the Tesla CEO promised to open battery-swapping stations by the end of 2013. Yet here we are, in 2014, and still no big announcement about the first battery swapping stations. I expect the press conference to announce when we can expect the first swapping-stations to open, if they haven’t already.

Well there you go, not exactly wild or dangerous speculation here, but I think I’m pretty much on the money. We’ll know by lunch time just how accurate my predictions were.

Source: Gas2.0

The Toyota FT-1, A New Supra By Any Other Name

Toyota dropped a bright red, Supra-sized bomb onto the stage at this year’s Detroit Auto Show- immediately stealing the show from Ford’s big F-150 reveal and turning everyone’s focus to the next Tokyo Auto Salon and talk of a new Supra.

Toyota’s suits talked a lot about stepping away from the focus groups to create the new FT-1 concept and injecting “passion” into the rest of the Toyota lineup. While the idea of a Formula-nosed Camry confuses and terrifies me, however, the idea of a Lexus LF-A informed Corvette and Porsche fighter from the land of the rising sun makes me giddy in the pantaloons. Almost certainly packing a hybrid drivetrain, this new Toyota is a Supra for the 21st century, or at least it seems.

Toyota will release the FT-1′s full specs tomorrow via a download on Sony’s Gran Turismo 6, when the car will become available for download. Until then, you’ll have to settle for these pics of the new Supra from the showroom floor from young DeMorro. Enjoy!

Source:  Gas 2.

Audi E-Tron Crossover Concept To Debut in Detroit

Consumers are enthralled by so-called crossover vehicles, which are car platforms stretched out into mini-SUVs. Recognizing that fuel-efficient luxury crossovers have the makings of a huge hit, an Audi E-Tron crossover concept will bow at the 2014 North American International Auto Show.

The two-door crossover concept is high-slung and wears sweeping lines, and speculation is that it will be based on the European-model Audi A3 plug-in hybrid that uses a 148 horsepower gas engine and a 101 horsepower electric motor with a 8.8 kWh battery pack. All-electric range ins for the A3 hybrid is 30 miles, and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 7.6 seconds.

That implies a sporting side to this new crossover concept, though it could also turn out to be a pure electric vehicle ala the canned Audi R8 E-Tron.We’ll have to wait until mid-January to get all of the details, though I’m digging what I see so far.

Source: Audi

Tesla Model X makes auto show debut in Detroit

Tesla isn't holding its Detroit Auto Show press conference until tomorrow, but there's a new Model X on the stand today. This one is white – and, in a nice touch, it's simply called "white" – and has an updated interior and new wheels. We doubt those wheels will ever make it to production, since they have carbon fiber spokes that are pure flair, not structural.

Inside, the surfaces, materials and colors are updated from the silver/gray model unveiled almost a year ago, with black and white featured in alternating fashion. The big touch screen in the dashboard is the same as in the S, but it "floats" (as you can see here) instead of being flush (see this). What we hadn't noticed before is the tight squeeze third-row occupants will feel on their knees (see this).

Tesla representatives told AutoblogGreen that this Model X is an updated design prototype, not even a beta version (the first beta is expected in 2014). That said, the minor evolution that we see here is getting closer to what the production model will look like.

Speaking of tomorrow's press conference, we were told it will mostly be a review of what Tesla accomplished in 2012, even though some of the numbers we're most interested in (i.e., sales) won't be revealed until February. Still, we did hear that the way pre-orders and production rates are going, Tesla is on track to sell 20,000 Model S vehicles in 2013. That's calendar year 2013, by the way, which for Tesla matches the Model Year. We like it when companies keep things simple.



Source: Autoblog Green

2013 Detroit Auto Show Preview: Diesels, Electrics And Hybrids

Next week is the annual Detroit Auto Show, one of the most important events on the automotive calendar and increasingly a place for car companies to show off new green technology. Given consumer tastes and the trends in the market, it should come as no surprise that the list of green cars, whether we’re talking compacts, diesels, electrics or hybrids, grows longer with each running of the show.

For 2013 there are some exciting new vehiclescoming onto the market, including some we never thought would be reported on here at Green Car Reports.

Once again, our team of reporters will be on hand in Detroit to bring you all the breaking news, plus live photos and video footage.

In the lead-up to the first press day on Monday, January 14, let’s take a quick look at some of thenew cars and concepts scheduled to be unveiled.

Concept Cars

Honda Urban SUV Concept: Honda will preview a sporty subcompact SUV in Detroit that’s based on the Fit platform and could hint at the new styling direction for the Japanese automaker’s small cars. Honda hasn’t revealed many details on the concept, apart from a sole teaser image, though the automaker does mention that it combines the spacious and functional interior of the Fit with a more rugged SUV design.

Via Motors X-Truck: Electric vehicle startups come and go, but it's harder to ignore one fronted by “father of the Chevy Volt” Bob Lutz. Yes, we are, of course, talking about Via Motors, which last year in Detroit debuted a Chevy pickup converted to electric power.

Via has started taking orders for the truck though deliveries are yet to happen, though that hasn’t stopped the company from announcing several new models. One of these will be an extended-range electric pickup with more than 800 horsepower on tap.

Toyota Furia Concept: We’re not sure if Toyota’s upcoming Furia concept will be a green car, but what we know from the few teasers released for it is that it will be a compact sedan with styling elements borrowed from last year’s NS4 plug-in hybrid sedan concept. We do know that Toyota’s Corolla sedan is due for an update soon, so perhaps this new Furia might be a preview.

Nissan Resonance Concept: Announced on Friday, we know very little at all about the resonance concept, other than the single line of info and moody picture Nissan has revealed. The Resonance crossover, says Nissan, fuses bold styling with a hybrid-electric powertrain... and that's about it. We'll bring you more when it's revealed on January 15.

Nissan's Resonance Crossover Concept

Volkswagen CrossCoupe TDI Concept: The CrossCoupe concept is nothing new, having initially appeared at Geneva last year, but could VW be hinting at something by showing it again in Detroit? Time will tell, but quoted European economy of 130 mpg certainly gets our attention.

Production Cars

When it comes to green cars that are actually coming onto the market in the near future, the list is surprisingly long. Some of the cars are redesigned versions of existing models or simply facelifts, but there are some exciting newcomers too.

2014 Cadillac ELR: The ELR can actually trace its roots back to the Converj concept car unveiled in 2009, which proved so popular it was almost immediately approved for production. GM’s bankruptcy at the time put those plans on hold but then in 2011 the Converj reappeared, this time labeled the ELR.

Now, finally, we get to see the production version GM first envisaged all those years ago. While no official details have been released, the car is expected to be powered by an upgraded version of the Voltec extended-range electric drivetrain found in the Chevrolet Volt. In fact, the ELR will be the first model after the Volt to utilize the system.

2013 Nissan Leaf: Nissan is getting ready to start production of its Leaf electric car at its plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. This will be the first time that the car is produced outside of Japan and we should be seeing one of the locally-produced versions in Detroit next week.

The U.S. version of the updated 2013 Leaf, whichrecently went on sale in Japan, will be built among Altima and Maxima sedans on the existing assembly line. You may recall that Nissan has already started production of the electric motors and lithium-ion batteries, and soon full Leaf hatchbacks will be rolling off the line too.

The rumored lower-equipment model is now confirmed, as the Leaf S. A 6.6 kW charger is optional on this model, and standard on higher trim levels. A host of other improvements should boost the Leaf's appeal.

2014 Mercedes-Benz E Class: The Mercedes-Benz E Class, in diesel and hybrid trims, is one of our favorite green cars as it offers not only generous space but plenty of luxury amenities too. The car has just been facelifted for the 2014 model year, receiving tweaked styling, new driver assistance systems and a new four-cylinder diesel option.

That’s right. In fall 2013, an E250 BlueTEC with 4Matic all-wheel drive will become available, offering a four-cylinder diesel to the E Class range. Rated at 190 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, the E250 BlueTEC promises good, if not scintillating, performance while maximizing fuel economy. The E400 Hybrid will continue unchanged.

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class leaked

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA Class: Mercedes-Benz is also set to debut its first compact car in the U.S., the long-awaited CLA Class. The stylish four-door coupe is expected to be revealed officially this month, though images of the car have already hit the Web. Based on the same front-wheel-drive platform underpinning the latest A Class and B Class sold overseas, this will be Mercedes’ only compact model in the U.S. until a GLA Class compact SUV joins it next year.

Hit the next page to see all the rest of the green car news surrounding the upcoming 2013 Detroit Auto Show. And remember, you can catch our full Detroit coverage at any time via our dedicated show hub.

2014 Jeep Cherokee EcoDiesel: The long-awaited diesel Jeep will be making its debut at Detroit, freshly equipped with Chrysler's 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine. With 406 pounds-feet of torque it'll tow with the best of them, yet 33 mpg is possible in highway driving. The Cherokee already sells well, and the new diesel model should widen its appeal further--in a diesel market expected to make up 10 percent of total vehicle sales by 2015.

And The Rest

Thomas Edison: Yes, thanks to Via Motors, American icon Thomas Edison will be making an appearance, in holographic form, at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The holographic presentation titled A Conversation with Thomas Edison will be presented during VIA Motors' press conference. In the presentation, a stunningly life-like hologram of Edison will engage in an interactive conversation with Via’s Bob Lutz about the future of the electric vehicle.

North American Car and Truck of the Year awards: Each year a group of journalists pick the bestcar and the truck offered in the North American market. This year there are a couple of interesting nominees from both the car and truck categories. For the car category, we have the Ford Fusion and Honda Accord, both of which offer regular gas models as well as hybrids and even plug-in hybrid models. Interestingly, in the truck category a Ford C-Max has made it into the final round.

2013 Nissan Versa: Though it’s not yet confirmed, there is a good chance that the U.S. version of the 2013 Nissan Versa will be revealed in Detroit. Nissan has confirmed that its next Versa hatchback will use the same platform as the Nissan Note sold overseas and will echo many of its styling cues. Meanwhile, Nissan will also be updating the Versa sedan for 2013.

Source: Green Car Reports