February 28th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

February 28th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Japan

Now that hybrid cars have taken the top sales spots in Japan for the last few months, that country’s Transport Ministry is reportedly launching an investigation to determine whether it’s wise to require hybrid automobiles to emit an artificial sound when operating with the internal combustion engine switched off. The thinking is that hybrids may be more dangerous to the blind due to their quiet operation under electric power.

According to an unnamed official, the government’s 13-member panel - consisting of a diverse group of scholars, vision-impaired groups, consumers, police and automobile industry officials - “decided to consider introducing a sound-making function” on all hybrids at its first meeting on Thursday, July 2. The panel hasn’t yet decided what sound hybrids should make. We’ll cast our unofficial vote in the direction of cowbells.

The issue is well-known in America, where the government has launched Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Acts in each of the last two years to study the supposed problem. Naturally, there is some opposition to artificial noise generators on hybrids. “On the other hand, we should pay attention to residents (along roads) as hybrids are excellent in reducing noise,” added the Transport Ministry official.

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: AFP via Google]

REPORT: Japan could require hybrids to emit sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-07-30 12:50:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

February 28th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Originally posted 2009-10-19 21:41:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

February 28th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Ask Autoblog, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups

In our post on truck payload capacities, one of our
readers asked about the physical differences between trucks rated for different payloads. I’ll take a crack at
describing this, but space limitations necessitate painting with a broad brush. Feel free to add additional info in the
comments. To start, we can break things down into three basic categories - single-rear-wheel trucks under 8500 lbs GVWR
(half-tons and some “light” 3/4-tons), single-rear-wheel trucks over 8500 GVWR (all “true” 3/4-tons and some 1-tons),
and dual-rear-wheel trucks (the remaining 1-tons).

Continue reading Ask Autoblog: What determines a truck’s payload capacity?

Ask Autoblog: What determines a truck’s payload capacity? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-04-23 02:01:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

February 28th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: China, Buick, GM

It took General Motors eight years to sell one million Buicks in China, but the second million came in only three. Brisk auto sales in the land of the Great Wall are part of the reason for the increase, but the General has also stepped up its product lineup with new offerings, including the Regal, LaCrosse, and Park Avenue. Shanghai GM’s two-millionth Buick was a red Regal, delivered to a customer in the southern city of Guangzhou.

While those vehicles have brought some high-end class to GM Shanghai’s Buick operation, they haven’t come close to the success of the smaller Excelle. Shanghai GM has sold 900,000 copies of the Excelle sedan, hatch, and wagon since 2003, and sales are still going strong with 94,000 units moved in the first five months of 2009.

While Buick has struggled as a brand here in the States, the marquee has enjoyed blockbuster success in China. Buick was a smash success in China in the 1930s, as provincial presidents and emperors chose the brand over more austere offerings from the likes of Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz, and it appears some of that goodwill has been projected into modern times.

Continue reading GM hits two million Buick sales in China

GM hits two million Buick sales in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-07-30 12:49:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

February 28th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

February 24th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Spy Photos, Trucks/Pickups, Volkswagen

Volkswagen has just sent out one of its latest models to tackle the Nürburgring. While that in and of itself is not necessarily newsworthy, the fact that it was their upcoming midsize pickup truck, is. While the firm’s new Scirocco GT24-CNG is set to contest the 24 hour race at Germany’s Nordschliefe, spotting their new production truck at the track was a bit of a shocker.

The track is a great test of a car’s handling, power delivery and braking, spanning some 73 turns over its sinuous 18 miles, but the truck isn’t expected to be offered in any performance versions as far as we know. Perhaps it was being used as a parts delivery vehicle?

Whatever the reason for its presence at the track, the shooters at Brenda Priddy and Co. caught it for our entertainment. When the truck goes on sale in South America, South Africa, Australia and Europe, it is likely to be called the Robust and will be built at the VW plant in Pacheco, Argentina. No times have been posted for this Green Hell Hauler, but we admit we’re more than a little curious.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Spy Shots: Volkswagen pickup prototype runs the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-04-22 20:58:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

February 24th, 2010 by Byron Thurman

February 23rd, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Motorsports, Ford

Back in June we reported on Ford’s plan to offer Mustang body-in-white kits to racers in the fall. So as the leaves begin to change, word comes down from Ford Racing spokesman Jesse Kershaw that the order books are now open for several different competition kits. The body-in-white is available for just $4,995, but in addition to the body, Ford is also offering interior, exterior, seat and roll cage kits. Ford is keeping costs down by limiting the ordering period to eight weeks, and once the ordering period closes on November 15, Ford will build all the bodies in a batch at FoMoCo’s Flat Rock, MI plant with deliveries beginning in the first quarter of 2010. Currently Ford is planning to offer the kits on an annual basis to licensed competitors and you can get all the details in the press release below the fold.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford opens the order book on Mustang competition kits

Ford opens the order book on Mustang competition kits originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-09-19 21:05:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

February 23rd, 2010 by Byron Thurman

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Ferrari, Design/Style

Ferrari P4/5 Competizione - Click above for an image gallery

Remember Jim Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5? Unveiled at Pebble Beach back in 2006, the re-bodied Enzo was designed by Pininfarina to mimic the classic lines of the legendary 1967 Ferrari P4 racecar. With just a single example built, the P4/5 is truly a one-off design. Or so we thought. According to Glickenhaus’ statements on the FerrariChat.com forum, he is undergoing preparations to construct a race version that would make its competition debut at the 2010 Nürburgring 24 hour race from May 13-16. Currently the plan is merely just that - a plan - and Glickenhaus admits that much has to be done before his vision becomes a reality. “There are a LOT of stars that would have to align for this to happen but it’s not impossible,” he stated.

The P4/5 Competizione, as it is being called, would be based on an entirely new car and would not be a conversion of the P4/5 road car. Glickenhaus hasn’t given specifics about exactly which car would be used as the platform, but he did hint that it will “have a Ferrari chassis/vin#/engine and gearbox.” The renderings you see here are merely Photoshopped versions of the road car, but an updated sketch and additional specifications should be coming in the next few weeks.

According to Glickenhaus, the leading factor preventing the proposal from coming to fruition is finding a major sponsor. Our guess is that time might become an issue as well, as eight months is a relatively short time to develop, build, and test a competitive racecar. Still, we wish Glickenhaus the best of luck, and hope to see another one of his dream cars on track in the near future.

[Source: FerrariChat]

Ferrari P4/5 Competizione version in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Originally posted 2009-09-30 22:02:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter