ಮಂಗಳವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 31, 2012
2012 NAIAS Detroit Auto Show: Part 3, Coda
Coda, you have a lot of work to do. Your car does not look like it is worth $15,000, much less $40,000.
Coda's biggest problem, I think, is that their car looks like an old Toyota from about 2001.
Coda's second biggest problem is that this thing is put together about like a Chrysler from 2001, or worse. Look at the loose headliner fit. That's not me pulling on it, that's some guy who got into the front seat after I got into the back, and said, "hey, check this out!".
The interior can charitably be called functional. Hard plastics, wide gaps, and cheap feel abound.
The "high-tech" PRNDL knob. It feels about as cheesy as it looks.
The powertrain cutaway was interesting. Here is where most of the $40,000 is: in the wide, flat battery pack slung under the body.
The face of Coda. Notice the huge gap between the hood and the headlight/fascia. It screams "cheap".
I have no idea how Coda is going to make it. With elegant and refined electric cars in the market such as the Leaf and Focus, as well as the half-gas Volt, Coda looks very weak. They claim to have a 150 mile range, which would be world class. But who will spend $40,000 on an ugly car, made mostly in China, with an unproven record and a minuscule dealer network?
2012 NAIAS Detroit Auto Show: Part 2, Tesla
Model S front suspension. Notice the extruded aluminum tubes and cast aluminum suspension arms. This is not a cheap high volume chassis.
Rear suspension and powertrain.
Charging port nicely hidden in rear tail lamp assembly.
Interior with huge LCD and touch screens. I wonder if they are protected against daylight glare?
Sadly, the car was too mobbed at the moment for me to get a clear picture of it. Here is someone elses.
2012 NAIAS Detroit Auto Show, Part 1
One of the more interesting design models at the Michelin design challenge display.
Michelin sponsored city of the future display, with 3 concept cars that weren't drawing much attention.
Coming soon, much much more...
ಸೋಮವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 30, 2012
California ZEV Mandate Rolls On as ACC
ಗುರುವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 26, 2012
Purpose for Choosing Chicago Professional Movers
Hybrids Losing To Efficient IC Engines
Mike Jackson, chief executive of the retail chain AutoNation Inc., said that 75 percent of customers come into his showrooms and want to talk about hybrids. Only about 2.5 percent of AutoNation sales are hybrids.
"What happens from the 75 percent consideration to the 2.5 percent commitment?" Jackson said.
"They look at the price premium for the technology, which is already subsidized and discounted, and say, 'The payback period is too long; not for me.'"
At the point of purchase decision, people notice that the payback time for the hybrid-electric powertrain is on the order of 5 or more years, and the practicality of the vehicle is reduced because of the packaging of the batteries. They also notice that one of the more efficient non-hybrid vehicles, while not as efficient as a hybrid, is pushing 40mpg on the highway.
Hybrid sales slowed last year to 2.2 percent of U.S. sales, from 2.4 percent in 2010, according to researcher LMC Automotive.
ಗುರುವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 19, 2012
Fiat agreed to provide 1 lakh diesel engines to Maruti Suzuki
Then the two auto giants contracted to supply Fiat's 1.3 litre-multijet engine - approved by Fiat India Automobile, which is a joint venture between Fiat and Tata Motors - to Suzuki's Indian arm, Maruti Suzuki India.
The JV Company will deliver up to 100,000 engines yearly to Maruti beginning January this year for a time of three years. The production of multijet 1.3 litre engines for Maruti Suzuki will commence in the fourth week of January at Fiat India Auto's Ranjangaon plant in Pune, and supplies will start again at the earliest. The supply of these engines got stuck on pricing issues.
This development will give a relief to Maruti, which has over 1,10,000 consumers waiting in the queue to get delivery of its largest selling car, Swift. The company is gearing up to raise production at the Manesar plant to deliver more diesel cars.
A senior Maruti Suzuki offical told ET, "Swift will absolutely get favored treatment, and we are confident of crossing 20,000 units of Swift in a month. And with the new Swift Dzire in the pipeline, extra deliver of engines would be of huge help to make our customers sooner."
Starting January, Suzuki Powertrain - a subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki - will begin producing 5,000 more units a month, and the extra 8,000 engines from Fiat's Ranjangaon plant would mean, there will be extra 13,000 more diesel engines at the removal of Maruti Suzuki, which would help the carmaker clear some of its backlog.
ಬುಧವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 18, 2012
Tornado Helmets!
ಮಂಗಳವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 17, 2012
Mercedes: Be Like Che
ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 13, 2012
MP’s demand to reduce the car cover cost
ಗುರುವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 12, 2012
Obama Campaigns On Insourcing
President Barack Obama held up Ford Motor Co. as an example of companies that are contributing to the economy by bringing jobs back into the U.S. — and that should be rewarded for their efforts.
"You've heard of outsourcing. Well, these companies are insourcing," Obama said Wednesday in a speech, surrounded by business executives, state and local officials and union leaders.
Advantages of Hiring Chicago Movers while Relocating
ಸೋಮವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 9, 2012
2013 Nissan Pathfinder: Unibody!
Ford Introduces New midsize Car to Challenge Japan
Ford Motor Company did with its new Fusion sedan, to be introduced Monday at the yearly Detroit auto show.
The current Fusion ranked third in sales among all cars in the United States last year. Everything was changed on latest version that goes on sale. In this “blue oval” Ford badge was embedded into the hood of the car.
That attention to detail amazed even William Clay Ford Jr., the company’s executive chairman. “At earliest, I thought the blue elliptical was center.” Mr. Ford said in an interview. “But it’s really pretty beautiful.”
The new look is just one aspect of Ford’s all-out bid to gain share in the competitive midsize car segment dominated in recent decades by the Japanese automakers. To further differentiate the Fusion, the company will offer four engine options, including a plug-in hybrid it promotes as the most fuel-efficient car sedan in the world.
The revamped Fusion underscores just how hard Detroit’s automakers are approaching to freeze their turnarounds with enhanced passenger cars. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler accounted for 60 percent of trucks and S.U.V.’s sold in the United States in 2011 and makes most of their income from larger vehicles. But they still remain in one-third of the car market.
That will change, if their Detroit show models attract new customers. Besides Ford’s Fusion, G.M. will reveal a new small Cadillac, as well as its own contender in the midsize market, the
Mr. Farley said that the family sedan is still remains in the heart and soul of the American garage. The plan is so suggestive that it invites customers to seem beyond the surface to our quality and our fuel wealth.
ಭಾನುವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 8, 2012
Review: Mexican Coke
So I bought a couple of bottles to try.
I'm not a trained taster, and I didn't do a scientific grade double blind study. But to my taste, the Mexican coke tasted sweeter, and felt stickier, than what I was used to. I wouldn't pay extra for it.
However, the glass bottles were a revelation. They feel wonderful in the hand, hefty and cold and perfectly curved and balanced. I wouldn't pay more for Mexican Coke, but I would pay more for American Coke in these retro glass bottles!
ಮಂಗಳವಾರ, ಜನವರಿ 3, 2012
BMW introduces 2012’s new mini cargo
BMW plans to introduce a new version of the Mini cargo called Clubman in March at the Geneva Motor Show. The small van based on the 3.96 meter long and Clubman will have only two seats. Instead of sitting in the rear bench is there a long load floor. The rear side windows are replaced by a sheet metal roof. The car will appeal especially delivery services in the city who need an agile car.
Creating the Mini Cargo sounds similar to a easy adequate method. Auto Motor und Sport reports that the work-ready shipper will be based on the clubman with the back bench seat removed in support of a long cargo floor. The rear area windows will be abandoned for sheet metal.