Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Automotive Addicts

Automotive Addicts

BMW 1 Series M Coupe Literally Pushes Precision Driving to Great Heights

Posted: 29 Jun 2011 03:57 AM PDT


In the latest bit of propaganda to quench our thurst of that true automotive enthusiast passion that only a BMW can offer, BMW has literally pushed precision driving to even greater heights. As a follow-up to the previous "Walls" video, the all-new BMW 1 Series M Coupe attempts to push the envelope further by drifting around the world's highest helipad. We are more than certain we have not seen the last of these exclusive videos for one car that has attempted to singlehandedly bring back that rawness that we once cherished in BMW M vehicles. Enjoy!

[source: BMW Canada Youtube]

Video: Chevrolet Rolls out the ‘Collection’ for ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 04:09 PM PDT


Get a sneak peek of BumbleBee and the other Autobots rolling out into the streets to face off against the Decepticons in a new exclusive Chevrolet-Transformers ad below. The new ad not only features the Autobots but a few other 'choice' Chevrolet vehicles (in addition to a Ferrari 458 Italia and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG). The featurette video is truly amazing and makes me count down the hours before I get to see the new movie.

[source: Chevrolet Facebook page]

Video: Fifth Gear Runs Ferrari 458 Italia against McLaren MP4-12C

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 10:09 AM PDT


Fifth Gear isn't the least bit shy about comparing some of the most popular exotic vehicles against each other and at the same time having a little fun by getting them sideways. The latest steering wheels that Tiff Needell and Jason Plato get to wrap their hands around belong to the new Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren MP4-12C in a battle to find out which one comes out on top.

[source: Fifth Gear via Youtube]

Chevy Announces Yet Another Bumblebee Camaro

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:52 AM PDT


The 2012 Transformers Camaro. Image: © GM Corp.

Did you miss your chance to buy a Bumblebee Camaro in 2010 or 2011? Are you obsessed with Transformers, Decepticons and Autobots? Are you counting the hours until you can go see Transformers: Dark of the Moon? If so, Chevy has some good news for you: they're building a Transformers Camaro (in Bumblebee yellow and black, of course) for the 2012 model year, too.

The Transformers package will add $3,000 to the cost of a 2LT (V-6) or 2SS (V-8) Camaro. For your money, you get Rally Yellow paint with black stripes, 20-inch black wheels, summer-only performance tires, Autobot logos on the wheels and front fenders, black leather seating with yellow stitching, yellow stitched trim on the dash and center console and Autobot logos on the front headrests and center console. Just in case you wanted more, Chevy dealers can upgrade you to 21-inch wheels and a black paineted ground-effects package.

The 2012 Transformers Camaro. Image: © GM Corp.

Chevy dealers will begin taking orders in July, with deliveries beginning in September. Unlike the movie car, your Bumblebee Camaro won't configure itself into a giant, evil-fighting robot, but that's probably a good thing. Can you imagine how much insurance would cost on a real Autobot?

Source: Chevrolet

California Considers Mandating EV Sales

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:49 AM PDT


The Nissan Leaf EV. Image: Nissan Motors

Think you're free to choose whatever kind of vehicle you want? Think again, but only if you live in California. The Golden State, long obsessed with tailpipe emissions and fuel economy, is considering a measure that will require automakers to sell a dedicated percentage of electric vehicles in-state, or face fines of $5,000 per non-EV sold. By 2018, the pending legislation would require 5.5 percent of new car sales to be EVs; by 2025, that percent would jump to 14 percent.

In 2011, the California New Car Dealer's Association expects sales of 1.33 million new cars in California. It's likely that new car unit sales will increase between 2011 and 2018, but let's be conservative and use the 2011 numbers: by 2018, manufacturers will have to sell 73,150 electric cars in California. By 2025, that number climbs to 186,200 EVs, which begs the question of whether or not California's power grid can even sustain the 2018 EV target.

That's not to say combustion-engined vehicles will be outlawed in California, but if there's a fine to be paid, neither the manufacturer nor the dealer will be willing to absorb it. Would a Ford Mustang still be attractive if it cost $5,000 more? How about a Hyundai Elantra?

Electric vehicles have their place, but they're still not an equivalent replacement for gasoline-engined vehicles. Will EV technology improve over the next six years? Probably, but no one knows how much. Range will increase and costs will fall, but until you can build an EV with a 300 mile range (at highway speeds) and a recharge time equivalent to refueling a gasoline engined car (call it 10 minutes), they're simply not going to replace combustion-engined vehicles. All the state legislation in the world isn't going to speed up the development of replacement technologies.

Source: Left Lane News
Posted by Didik Rg at 6:12 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)