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| Frankfurt Preview: BMW reveals Vision EfficientDynamics turbodiesel plug-in hybrid concept [w/VIDEO]
August 29, 2009 at 10:30 pm
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| Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Technology, BMW, Alternative Fuel, Diesel 
BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
After several months of speculation and official teases for the past week, we now finally have all the details on the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept that BMW will show at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of weeks. The speculation about the concept's powertrain has gone in several directions, almost all of which were correct. The new concept is a plug-in hybrid with a three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Conceived with the idea of melding the performance of a M3 with exceptionally low fuel consumption, BMW claims a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds while scoring 62.6 mpg (U.S.) on the E.U. combined test cycle.
There has been considerable speculation that future BMWs will go to smaller engines including a three-cylinder. The concept uses a 1.5-liter turbodiesel that is essentially half of the fabulous 3.0-liter found in the 335d. The triple is rated at a hefty 163 hp with peak torque of 214 lb-ft. The engine is paired with a six-speed DCT derived from the unit used in the M3 and Z4.
Adding fuel to recent reports that BMW would not continue developing the two-mode hybrid system that will debut soon in the X6, the concept uses a new strong hybrid system. The new system is a further development of the mild hybrid that is debuting in the ActiveHybrid 7. As in the 7, a more powerful 33-hp electric motor is sandwiched between the engine and transmission. A second 80-hp motor provides drive to the front axle. The total net output of the drive system is 356 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Continue reading more after the jump.
[Source: BMW]Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: BMW reveals Vision EfficientDynamics turbodiesel plug-in hybrid concept [w/VIDEO] Frankfurt Preview: BMW reveals Vision EfficientDynamics turbodiesel plug-in hybrid concept [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| VIDEO: That's Entertainment - Mini celebrates the big 5-0 with a bit of rock n' roll
August 29, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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| Filed under: Classics, Videos, MINI 
Mini's 50th Birthday Video - Click above to watch video after the jump
On August 26, 1959, the world caught a glimpse of a Mini for the first time. Little did company founders know that the Mini would later be named the second most influential vehicle of the 20th century, on its way to a half century of success. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Mini has been touring the world celebrating its big birthday with its dedicated fanbase. The massive party brought owners of all generations of the diminutive icon together from different walks of life, and the Mini crew recorded the events for posterity, and a music video as well.
Hit the jump to watch the video celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic brand. Appropriately, British punk band Twisted Wheel pumps out some Paul Weller and the Jam while 50 years of the Mini passes through your computer monitor. Happy 50th, Mini. At a half century, you look better than ever.
[Source: YouTube]VIDEO: That's Entertainment - Mini celebrates the big 5-0 with a bit of rock n' roll originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| REPORT: Production of Toyota Corolla transferring from NUMMI to Ontario
August 29, 2009 at 5:30 pm
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| Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota 
2009 Toyota Corolla - Click above for high-res image gallery
As even mighty Toyota finds itself with excess production capacity in North America and elsewhere, the Japanese automaker has finally made the decision to shutter an assembly plant. The loss of the Pontiac Vibe means that it wasn't viable to keep the NUMMI factory in Fremont, CA operating on its own, but the rest of the products it builds are still in demand to varying degrees.
We've already heard that production of the mid-size Tacoma pickup truck would be consolidated with its big brother the Tundra in San Antonio TX. The other remaining product from NUMMI was the Corolla sedan. The volume that had been produced in California will reportedly now come out Toyota's Cambridge, Ontario factory where the compact car is already built. It's not known at this time if the move will result in any additional jobs at the Cambridge plant. Thanks for the tip, Dave!
[Source: Montreal Gazette]REPORT: Production of Toyota Corolla transferring from NUMMI to Ontario originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra
August 29, 2009 at 3:16 pm
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| Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Japan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Work, Toyota  Still from 2007 Toyota Dealer Training clip - click above image to watch the video
Over the past couple of weeks, we've shown you the did-not-age-well 1989 Ford dealer training videos, and the completely laughable + hopeless late-Eighties Chevrolet dealer training clips. Interestingly, in the waning years of Ronald Reagan's America, the domestics weren't doing so bad. The Big Three still had over 70% of the U.S. market and sentiments like, "Mazda! Not in my parking lot" still existed in cities outside of Detroit. Fast-forward twenty years and, well, you know the story. Ford mortgaged the farm to keep the lights on while General Motors and Chrysler sought government shelter. Meanwhile, Toyota is the largest automaker in the world, bar none, though these days Volkswagen's nipping at their heels. And we'd bet that you've owned at least one "import."
Here we have a Toyota dealer training video from just two short years ago. In it, a Dan Cortez-style host tells a trailer-towing Tundra dealer/driver to "take off like a bat out of hell" and then engage the ABS (panic stop) with his hands off the wheel. And yeah, the Tundra is an impressive truck in the video. As the host says, "The domestics were asleep at the wheel." And you could make that argument in 2007. Too bad for Toyota that Ford came out with the 2008 F-150 and Dodge followed up with the 2009 Ram. Full video after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]Continue reading VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra VIDEO: Toyota Dealer Training: 2007 Tundra originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| REPORT: Chrysler could pull out of Global Engine alliance, put Fiat diesel in Ram
August 29, 2009 at 12:56 pm
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| Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Fiat, Diesel 
As Chrysler moves forward with its post bankruptcy product plans, it's looking increasingly like consolidation with new partner Fiat is the order of the day. Following the cancellation of the platform sharing deal with Nissan, it appears as if the company's interest in the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance could be the next victim. The agreement in question was formed early this decade between what was then DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi to produce common four-cylinder engines for the three automakers. Since then, variants of the engine design have turned up in cars as diverse as the Jeep Compass and Patriot, Hyundai Sonata and Mitsubishi Lancer.
Part of Fiat's rationale for getting involved with Chrysler was the expanding economies of scale for its own products. That means future Chryslers will almost certainly get Italian designed fours to go with the company's new Phoenix V6. It's not clear what the fate of the five-year-old Dundee, MI engine plant that supplies the Chrysler engines will be. If the alliance is dissolved, it could be taken over by Chrysler-Fiat and re-tooled to build Fiat-based engines.
Automotive News is also reporting that the Ram diesel could get a new lease on life. However, the planned Cummins 5.0-liter V8 could be replaced by - you guessed it - a Fiat diesel.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]REPORT: Chrysler could pull out of Global Engine alliance, put Fiat diesel in Ram originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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| Nissan prices 2010 Rogue at $20,340, offers new value package
August 29, 2009 at 10:49 am
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| Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Nissan 
2010 Nissan Rogue - Click above for high-res image gallery
Nissan has just announced updated pricing information on its smallest crossover, the Rogue. New for 2010 is a so-called 360° Value Package that adds such niceties as 16-inch aluminum wheels, privacy glass, auto-dimming rearview mirror with rearrview monitor, rear spoiler and chrome grille. At $1,040, the Value Package saves you a cool thousand bucks over the cost of these items if purchase separately.
Base versions of the Nissan Rogue will run $20,340 - a reasonable increase of $1,090 over the CUV's starting price in 2008 - its first year on the market - and stepping up to an all-wheel drive model will cost you $21,540. A top-of-the-line Rogue SL AWD with 17-inch alloys begins at $23,130. All Rogue models come standard with the same powertrain: a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated up to a CVT automatic transmission. Want to know more? Click past the break for the official press release.
[Source: Nissan]Continue reading Nissan prices 2010 Rogue at $20,340, offers new value package Nissan prices 2010 Rogue at $20,340, offers new value package originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 
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