Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Euro, Paris Motor Show, Toyota

The Euro-only Toyota Avensis is reminiscent of the Lexus IS350 in the same way that you’d tell someone, “You kind of look like someone I know, but not really.” It’s the rising linear sideline, somewhat high and compact profile, and squared-off rear that do it. But that’s from a full-on side profile and around the back. Move around the front and it really just looks like a Toyota. The raked grille and molded lips in the front bumper are unexpected, as is the subtle sexiness of the wagon. Designed in France, the new Avensis grows a little over its predecessor by 5 cm in length and width. Under the hood, possibilities include three new Valvematic gasoline engines, and two diesels, while cogs can be swapped with a 6-speed manual or the dual-mode, Multidrive S automatic. Check out the exhaustive press release after the jump, and the high-res gallery of photos below.

Continue reading Paris 2008: Toyota’s new Avensis arrives

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Filed under: Euro, Paris Motor Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford, Lifestyle, Special/Limited Editions

Ford of Europe has an Individual Program that’s been rolled out for a number of old world offerings, and now the Kuga gets its turn in the wardrobe room. Inspired by the Iosis concept from 2006, the new body kit and 20-inch wheels clothe a specialized interior for the Kuga Titanium that features Ebony Nappa and Bond leathers with contrasting piping and high-gloss Piano White fixtures.

Down in front, the Kuga will benefit from a new 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder Duratec Turbo with 200 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque that comes out of the Focus ST. It should add some sporty to the spaciousness while returning 29 Imperial mpg. This gas engine is 64 hp up on the standard offering, the Duratorq TDCi diesel. Another first for the Kuga, it can be shifted with an optional 3-mode, 5-speed automatic transmission.

On another note, the Duratec puts out a more energetic sound thanks to new exhaust tuning. The Individual program and powertrain options will be available from the beginning of 2009, and the first Kuga Individual showcasing what customers will be able to do goes on display at this week’s Paris Motor Show. In the mean time, check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Ford reveals Kuga Individual package

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Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Legislation and Policy, European Union

Support for crop-based biofuels is falling in many parts of the world, including Europe. When the European Commission proposed that 10 percent of road transport fuel should come from renewable sources by 2020 it didn’t specify what types of renewable energy should be used. The European Parliament’s industry committee has now endorsed the 10 percent requirement. However, in a nod to environmentalists, the committee has decided that at least 40 percent of that should be provided by hydrogen or electricity from renewable sources or next-generation biofuels. Environmentalists still aren’t entirely pleased but the move to limit use of crop-based fuels is seen as a positive development. The committee’s decision will be used as the basis for negotiations among member states of the EU before passage of final regulations, likely some time in 2009.

[Source: New Scientist Tech]

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Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, European Union

It looks like European automakers are winning their battle against the proposed European Union limits on automotive CO₂ emissions. While the European Commission had proposed a limit of 120 g/km for the vehicle fleet by 2012, manufacturers where claiming the limit was too aggressive. The members of parliament apparently agreed, with the Industry and Energy Committee voting 35-21 to slow things down. Instead of having the entire fleet meet the requirement, only 60 percent of vehicles will have to pass the new threshold in 2012. Over the next several years, through 2015, the rest of the vehicles will meet the standard as well. Extremely low emission vehicles with less than 50 g/km of CO₂ will also be given extra credit counting as 1.5 vehicles in the sales weighted averaging. All electric vehicles will count as three cars until 2015. In a further move sure to make environmentalists apoplectic, the fines for exceeding the limits were slashed from the EC’s proposed €95 per gram of CO₂ over the limit to €40 per gram.

[Source: Euractiv.com]

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Filed under: Diesel

With the advent of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel and other emissions and particular matter reducing technologies, diesel is back in a big way in markets like the U.S. and down here in Australia. Of course the clear advantage diesel has over petrol in fuel economy is old news to the Europeans where favourable taxation rules have seen diesel passenger vehicles compete head to head with petrol vehicles for a long time. This huge market at home has meant that the European car makers have led the world in new diesel technologies like Common Rail and Turbodiesel Direct Injection.

But don’t expect the Japanese car makers to ignore a booming market - the share of new diesels in the U.S. car and light truck will likely double to around 7.5 percent by 2010. Japanese automakers have forged an early lead in petrol-electric hybrid technology in the US, leaving the German car makers counting on their reputation for cutting-edge diesel technology in a US market that is expected to shrink overall in 2007. And don’t expect the Germans to share the diesel market with anyone if they can help it. Bernd Gottschalk, head of the Germany car industry association VDA, said at the Detroit auto show, “The goal can only be to make life as difficult as possible for the Japanese.”

Related:

• Diesel V-6 could replace hybrid Honda Accord
• 2008 VW Jetta TDi coming with BlueTec and 50 state emissions
• Toyota to sell diesel hybrid in 2010

[Source: Playfuls]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Euro

It’s been almost four years since the Champ Car series has raced in Europe, but organizers are planning on bringing it back. 2003 was the last season the declining American open-wheel series raced in Europe, when French ace Sebastien Bourdais - now three-time Champ champ - won both the races at Brands Hatch in England and the Lausitzring EuroSpeedway in Germany.

The latest reports suggest that the 2007 season will include two new races in Europe, though not at the same venues as previous seasons. On September 2, Champ Cars will be racing around Holland’s Assen circuit, a former road track that has since been developed into a full facility. A week later, the second European race will be competing with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza when Champ Cars race at Zolder, once the site of the Belgian Grand Prix.

The two new European venues bring the Champ Car calendar up to a very full 17 races around the world, joined by events in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and China. By comparison, the competing IndyCar series also has seventeen races scheduled for 2007, though the Motegi race in Japan stands alone as the IRL’s only race abroad. If you were a driver aiming to climb up the ladder to Formula One, which would you choose?

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Tech

Here in the Autoblog New England office, we’ve been experiencing a spell of weather where temps fail to break the 30’s. It’s not the most extreme in the country, but it’s darn cold. The low temps are driving many folks to commit ritual torture to their cars. Being the comfort seekers we are, most people enjoy stepping in to a warm car. Nevermind that many cars have heated seats that can scorch your tukas in a jiffy, or that it’s far more efficient to just start and go, remote starters are quite a popular option/retrofit in these parts. That popularity leads to vehicles idling for extended periods just to spare a few minutes of slight discomfort.

Idling to warm up is murder on the engine. Condensation and acids build up in the oil, and an idling car attains zero miles per gallon. Squandering all that gasoline so you can avoid the five minutes it might take to start getting heat also spews out lots of CO2. That’s great if you’re trying to eradicate winter altogether in a few millennia, but it’s mainly selfish and wasteful. We were reminded this morning that there is an alternative.

more after the jump

Continue reading Remote start, kiss my gas - a better way to warm up

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Euro, Hatchbacks, Ford

The Ford Fiesta name might not raise a lot of excitement in the American market, conjuring up as it does images of pathetically underpowered golf karts that pale next to other Ford products sold here like the Mustang and F-Series trucks. But in Europe, the Fiesta is one of Ford’s top-selling cars. England’s Car magazine reports that Ford sold over 100,000 Fiestas just in the UK last year, some 30,000 more than its nearest rival. Superminis are big business for Ford of Europe, which intends to keep it that way with the anticipated launch of the replacement for the current car, which has been on the market for five years already.

We can’t tell much about the styling from this test mule, caught while undergoing cold-weather testing in Scandinavia, wearing body panels from the current version. But expect it to follow along Ford’s latest global “kinetic” design direction, as seen on the new Mondeo and previewed by the Iosis concepts. Also expect a small increase in size thanks to the new B-class platform it will share with the Mazda2, but nothing to mess with the success of the current Fiesta.

[Source: Car]

Continue reading Spy Shots: 2008 Ford Fiesta test mule

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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