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Cosworth may offer KERS and transmission packages to F1 teams in 2013.

F1 business manager Mark Gallagher told F1 Fanatic they are considering the move to coincide with the move to four-cylinder 1.6-liter turbocharged engines.

Gallagher hailed the rules change, calling it: “a new era where new technologies and innovation will be rewarded.”

Source: F1 Fanatic

This was the year General Motors Co. and Nissan made good on their promise to bring mass-produced electric cars to the market. But don't count on seeing one in traffic soon. Sales so far have been microscopic and they're likely to stay that way for some time because of limited supplies.

GM sold between 250 and 350 Chevy Volts this month and Nissan's sales totaled less than 10 Leaf sedans in the past two weeks. Production for both is slowly ramping up.

It will be well into 2012 before both the Volt and Leaf are available nationwide. And if you're interested in buying one, you'll need to get behind the 50,000 people already on waiting lists.

The first electric car sales were marked with fanfare. The envy of green-car geeks across the country, new owners were treated like rock stars at dealerships. They were greeted by high-level GM and Nissan executives, followed by cameramen and interviewed by local reporters. When they got home, they blogged about their experiences, sent links of newspaper stories to their friends, and stopped to talk to anyone who expressed interest in their new wheels.

Jeff Heeren of Nashville, Tenn., became the sixth Nissan Leaf owner on Dec. 22. Nissan's advertising agency, Chiat Day, followed Heeren and his family around as they picked up their silver-colored Leaf, and have posted a video on the Leaf's Facebook page. Not surprisingly, Heeren is a fan. "What's amazed me the most in driving it is that it's just a car, like any other car," he said.

The Leaf is the only all-electric car on the market. It can travel about 100 miles on battery power before needing to be recharged. Using a standard outlet, that takes 16 to 18 hours. Nissan Motor Co. recommends that Leaf owners install a 220/240-volt outlet in their homes so they can recharge in about seven hours.

Japan-based Nissan initially sent only 10 Leafs to the U.S. and spokesman David Reuter said a second shipment of around 90 cars that arrived by cargo ship on Dec. 23 is on the way to dealers.

Nissan won't give estimates on how many Leaf sedans it expects to sell in the U.S. next year, but says it has capacity to make 50,000 annually at a plant in Oppama, Japan. Those will be sold in Japan, the U.S. and Europe.

The Volt goes about 40 miles on battery power alone before needing to be recharged. But it comes with a backup gas engine that GM says can extend its range to 375 miles as it kicks in to recharge the batteries on the fly.

The Volts are being assembled in Detroit. GM predicts it will sell 10,000 of them in 2011 and between 35,000 and 45,000 in 2012. By way of comparison, Chevrolet sold 187,250 Malibu sedans in the first 11 months of the year with sticker prices that start at $21,975.

Hybrids made up 2.4 percent of U.S. sales this year and the category that includes hybrids and electric cars is expected to double to 4.8 percent by 2013, according to consumer web site Edmunds.com. But electric vehicles likely will be only a small part of this total, said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at Edmunds, and she doubts they will be big money makers for the car companies.

Rumors that GM may end on Jan. 3 the $350-a-month lease promotion it began advertising this summer sent some Volt buyers scrambling to close early. Peter Schleck, an attorney in Rockville, Md., knows his Volt is heading towards Maryland on a freight train. But he's already signed the papers making him its official owner.

GM spokesman Rob Peterson says the Volt lease terms "will extend into 2011, but I don't have the specifics on how long it will be out there." He added that the company expects to honor the deal for people who have already put down a deposit.

Paul and Cari Sykes of Fort Worth, Texas, made a $1,000 deposit on a Volt earlier this month, expecting to pay $350 a month for a lease. They know their car is on its way — theirs was the 724th built — and they are both excited and worried that they may have acted a bit irrationally. They've never purchased a car at sticker price before, nor have they bought a car sight unseen. They've never driven the Volt. The closest they came was when the buyer of the first Volt in Granbury, Texas, let them join him in a test drive. As passengers.

"I've never done anything like this before," Cari Sykes said. "I hope I can say three years from now that I was part of the transformation, and will be ready to buy the next generation."
Felix Kramer is doing his part to boost electric car sales. The Redwood City, Calif., resident picked up his white Chevy Volt last week, and he is on the waiting list for a Nissan Leaf. Kramer is the founder of CalCars.org, a group promoting development of cars that get 100 mpg or more.

He said his family put 350 miles on the odometer in the first week and used only 2.4 gallons of gas. He's averaging about 35 miles on electric power per charge, right in the middle of the 25 miles to 50 miles he was expecting.

His son Josh, 20, was driving the Volt around town and was followed home off the freeway by a state trooper. Rather than giving him a ticket, the trooper peppered him with questions about the car.

Kramer said he's impressed by how quickly the Volt accelerates from a stop or on the highway. His only complaint: the loud beeping noise when the car is in reverse. "I'm going to find out if there's some way to change that," he said.

Shawn Lawless and the crew from Discovery channel's Orange County Choppers (OCC) have set a new record for the 1/4 mile by an electric vehicle. The record was previously held by Killacycle with a 7.82 @ 168 MPH.

Breaking the Guinness book of world records for the fastest electric vehicle/bike, the Orange county choppers sponsored 360 volt electric bike recorded a time of 7.77 seconds @ 168 MPH in the Quarter Mile at Quaker City Raceway.

Both bikes are powered by A123 M1 battery cells, 2,000 for Lawless, 1210 for Killacycle and both run custom rewound DC motors paired with a high current Zilla controller.

Killacycle uses 2 modified 6.7-inch Advanced DC motors while Lawless use a 13" DC motor, believed to be of GE origin, that was originally rebuilt for Denis Berube's S-10 and his Worlds Fastest EV dragster Current Eliminator V.

An exotic car dealer in the United Arab Emirates, Prestige Cars, has posted the Mansory Bugatti Veyron Vincero on its website which is up for sale. Not much information about the car’s existence but according to Prestige Cars, only 3 units were built. From the images, the Mansory Bugatti Veyron Vincero features chromed front grille and dark chrome across the front fenders and door panels,

Il 2010 dell’automobile è stato un anno all’insegna della Fiat e, più precisamente, dei mutamenti fatti al suo interno che hanno avuto un riflesso importantissimo sia sul mondo del lavoro italiano sia nella vita stessa del Paese. Le nuove regole introdotte dal suo amministratore delegato, Sergio Marchionne, hanno infatti coinvolto sindacati, imprenditori e politica. Ma procediamo con ordine. Il 2009 si era chiuso con l’anticipazione al Governo del nuovo piano industriale della Fiat. L’annuncio fu di un investimento di 8 miliardi di euro in due anni e della produzione di 11 nuovi modelli di auto tra le quali il nuovo Fiat Doblò, l'Alfa Romeo Giulietta, la nuova Fiat Panda e la nuova Lancia Ypsilon. Sugli impianti italiani Marchionne annunciò che a Mirafiori sarebbero state confermate le attuali linee di produzione, lo stesso sarebbe accaduto a Melfi, mentre a Cassino si sarebbe aggiunta la realizzazione della Giulietta. Su Pomigliano Marchionne accennò ad alcune difficoltà ed alla "necessità di programmare una nuova piattaforma". Termini Imerese sarebbe stata abbandonata dalla Fiat alla fine del 2011. L’inizio del 2010 vede anche la nascita del secondo polo automobilistico italiano. Il prestigioso e storico marchio Pininfarina, leader del design automobilistico italiano, si è smembrato ed ha ceduto un suo importantissimo ramo alla De Tomaso Automobili. L’accordo fu firmato proprio il 31 dicembre 2009 da Paolo Pininfarina e Gian Mario Rossignolo. L’affare fu concluso sulla base di 2 milioni di euro necessari per il rilancio dell’azienda. L’attenzione ritorna subito su Termini Imerese poiché sin da gennaio si comincia a discutere alle alternative. L’iniziativa parte da Simone Cimino, presidente fondo di private equity Cape Natixis, per riconvertire il complesso per la produzione di veicoli di piccole dimensioni con alimentazione ecologica che sarebbero usati in zone che richiedono un’alta valenza ecologica o turistica. Una settimana dopo, a metà del mese di gennaio, l’allora ministro per le Attività Produttive Claudio Scajola crea un "tavolo dell’auto" con la creazione di una task force per esaminare le soluzioni legate al futuro dell’insediamento industriale di Termini Imerese. Nel frattempo i lavoratori protestano in maniera anche clamorosa. Alcuni di loro, 14 della Delivery Email, azienda dell'indotto, salgono per cinque giorni e quattro notti sul tetto del capannone dello stabilimento, a 20 metri di altezza. Nei primi giorni di febbraio arriva una vera e propria doccia fredda per l’intero settore dell’auto: al vertice europeo di San Sebastian in Spagna si decide che nessun incentivo sarà più disponibile per l’acquisto delle automobili nel 2010. Nei primi giorni di marzo l’advisor incaricato per Termini Imerese, Invitalia, annuncia che sono 18 le proposte di interesse giunte. Comincia la preparazione una short list, cioè la selezione delle offerte più affidabili. A fine mese trapelano le prime indiscrezioni sul piano di sviluppo della Fiat, che prevederebbe un graduale spostamento della produzione dall’Italia verso l’estero. Un piano che Marchionne avrebbe ufficialmente presentato il 21 aprile. Scoppiano le prime polemiche. La presentazione del piano industriale della Fiat viene preceduto, nei primi giorni del mese di aprile, dalla nomina di John Elkann presidente della Fiat al posto di Luca Cordero di Montezemolo. Dopo una lunga attesa, finalmente, l’amministratore delegato Sergio Marchionne espone il piano: gli obiettivi del 2010 prevedono ricavi per 50 miliardi di euro, un margine operativo fra 1,2 e 1,3 miliardi, un utile netto intorno al pareggio e un indebitamento industriale netto intorno ai 5 miliardi. Sul fronte della produzione in Italia si prevede un investimento di 26 miliardi di euro, ai quali ne vanno aggiunti quattro in ricerca e sviluppo. Un impegno di 30 miliardi di euro, due terzi dell’investimento globale della Fiat e, di questi, 700 milioni di euro per Pomigliano d’Arco. La produzione chiuderà a Termini Imerese entro la fine del 2011 mentre a Mirafiori aumenterà da 100.000 a 170.000 unità ed a Cassino saranno prodotte entro il 2014 oltre 400.000 vetture. L’impegno è quello di mantenere le radici della Fiat in Italia anche se l’integrazione operativa con Chrysler è importantissima. Un piano B è pronto qualora governo e sindacati si opponessero ai progetti della Fiat ma, ha precisato Marchionne, «non è un piano molto bello». In ogni caso non è previsto alcun taglio al personale. L’obiettivo è quelli di produrre in Europa, tra Fiat, Lancia e Alfa Romeo, 34 nuovi modelli e 17 restyling. Una nuova city car sarà presentata nel 2013 e un modello di segmento B arriverà nel 2012. Nel 2013 toccherà ai restyling di Croma, Multipla e Ulisse. Ci sarà un incremento della produzione italiana dalle attuali 650.000 auto a quasi 1 milione e mezzo del 2014, insieme a 250.000 veicoli commerciali. Di queste ne verrà esportato il 65% a fronte del 40% attuale. L’obiettivo è vendere in Italia 6 milioni di auto, «il minimo richiesto per essere un global player competitivo». Alfa e Lancia sono rimaste al di sotto degli obiettivi e, quindi, entro il 2012, l'Alfa Romeo sarà presente sul mercato americano, probabilmente con una spider. L'obiettivo della Fiat è arrivare a un totale di 3,8 milioni di vetture prodotte: 2,2 milioni di Fiat, 0,5 milioni di Alfa, 0,3 milioni di Lancia, 0,5 milioni di veicoli commerciali; 0,1 milioni di Jeep e 200mila di contract manufacturing. Per raggiungere questi obiettivi di produzione la Fiat intende attuare il pieno utilizzo degli impianti. Marchionne ha infatti precisato: «I sei stabilimenti Fiat italiani hanno funzionato ben al di sotto della loro capacità» e quindi occorrono «misure correttive» a partire dagli accordi sindacali che «non sono più adeguati, dobbiamo ridefinirli». Nel giro di sei mesi avverrà il tanto atteso scorporo. Il settore delle auto sarà diviso dal resto delle attività del gruppo. Da un lato Fiat e Chrysler, dall’altro Iveco, CNH e motori e cambi di FPT. Nasceranno due diverse aziende, anche se saranno messe in atto una serie di sinergie per tutta una serie di attività. In entrambe le nuove società l’azionariato rimarrà immutato e, dunque, il controllo resterà alla famiglia Agnelli. A maggio la Sata di Fiat Group Automobiles a San Nicola di Melfi in provincia di Potenza, una delle fabbriche di automobili più produttive del mondo, sforna la 5 milionesima vettura prodotta nello stabilimento, una Punto Evo 1.4 da 105 CV Emotion, 5 porte, di colore rosso. Nello stesso mese suona il campanello d’allarme per lo stabilimento Fiat di Pomigliano d’Arco. Marchionne lancia infatti un ultimatum: «I tempi stanno diventando stretti. Il protrarsi della trattativa con i sindacati ha già provocato lo slittamento degli investimenti necessari per l'avvio della produzione. In assenza di un accordo che offra adeguate garanzie potrebbe diventare inevitabile riconsiderare il progetto per la produzione della futura Panda. Nei giorni successivi si susseguono gli incontri e, alla fine, Fim, Uilm, Fismic e Ugl firmano il documento sullo stabilimento di Pomigliano d’Arco proposto dalla Fiat. Il successivo 22 giugno si sarebbe tenuto il referendum di ratifica tra i lavoratori. La Fiom ribadisce invece il suo netto rifiuto alle proposte della casa torinese. Prosegue intanto nell'Unione Europea la flessione delle vendite di automobili, che è del -9,3% rispetto all’anno precedente. La Fiat ha venduto, sempre a maggio, poco più di 90 mila vetture pari a -7,8%. Poco dopo la metà di giugno i lavoratori di Pomigliano d’Arco si esprimono in linea generale a favore dell’accordo siglato il 15 giugno tra la Fiat e Fim, Uilm, Fismic e Ugl con questi risultati: 2888 si per una percentuale del 62,2 %, 1673 no con una percentuale del 36%, 59 bianche e 22 nulle. Le urne si erano aperte alle 8,00 e chiuse alle 21,00. Le sezioni erano 10. Hanno espresso la loro preferenza 4642 lavoratori su 4881 aventi diritto, circa il 95%. Il referendum non risolve tutti i problemi e nel mese di agosto in diverse fabbriche italiane della Fiat i lavoratori entrano in stato di agitazione: quelli di Mirafiori, della Magneti sospensioni di Rivalta, dell'Iveco di Pregnana Milanese a Rho. Nel resto del mondo automobilistico, nei primi giorni di agosto, la Volvo diventa ufficialmente “cinese”. La Ford, precedente proprietaria del marchio svedese, consegna tutti gli asset della Volvo alla Geely Holding Zheijang, per un controvalore di 1,8 miliardi di dollari. La Chrysler, intanto, chiude il secondo trimestre del 2010 con un utile operativo di 183 milioni di dollari, in crescita del 28% rispetto ai primi tre mesi dell'anno. In aumento anche i ricavi, +8% a 10,5 miliardi di dollari. Nel secondo trimestre Chrysler ha ridotto le perdite a 172 milioni di dollari contro i 197 milioni del primo trimestre. La disponibilità di cassa è salita, alla fine di giugno, a 7,8 miliardi di dollari, grazie al contributo positivo del cash flow del secondo trimestre di 474 milioni di dollari. «L'utile operativo nel secondo trimestre – dichiarò un soddisfatto Sergio Marchionne - conferma che il Gruppo Chrysler sta procedendo in linea con gli obiettivi annunciati il 4 novembre 2009, fermo restando il fatto che uno straordinario lavoro si prospetta davanti a noi. Secondo le attese, il 2010 si sta concretizzando come un anno di transizione e stabilizzazione. Il gruppo deve continuare il proprio percorso di crescita con rigore, massima disciplina e focalizzazione sugli obiettivi. Tutto procede secondo le attese per un aumento della quota Fiat in Chrysler al 35%». E sempre ad agosto la Pininfarina rafforza la sua presenza in Cina attraverso la definizione un accordo per l’apertura di un Centro Sviluppo Prodotto a Shanghai. Due accordi preliminari prevedono anche collaborazioni con la Tsinghua University di Pechino e la Tong Ji University di Shanghai. A settembre avviene il tanto atteso scorporo della Fiat: da un lato, in Fiat ci sono Fiat Group Automobile, Maserati, l’85% della Ferrari, la partecipazione in Chrysler, la componentistica (Magneti Marelli, Teksid e Comau) e i motori prodotti da Powertrain; dall’altro, in Fiat Industrial, ci sono invece CNH (macchine agricole), Iveco (camion) e FPT Industrial & Marine (attività di motori e trasmissioni per autovetture e veicoli commerciali leggeri). Le aziende Fiat riprendono l’attività all’insegna della cassa integrazione, il direttivo di Federmeccanica da mandato al presidente Pierluigi Ceccardi di comunicare il recesso dal contratto nazionale dei metalmeccanici che avverrà l’1 gennaio 2012. Mentre le relazioni tra Fiat e sindacati cominciano a rasserenarsi la frase di Sergio Marchionne «La Fiat potrebbe fare di più se potesse tagliare l’Italia, nemmeno un euro dei 2 miliardi di utile operativo previsto per il 2010 arriva dal nostro Paese», pronunciata nella trasmissione di Rai 3 "Che tempo che fa" condotta da Fabio Fazio, fa scoppiare un diluvio di proteste e scatena mille preoccupazioni. Marchionne, però, aggiusta velocemente il tiro: «Quello che ho cercato di fare è molto semplice: parlare con chiarezza. Quando dico che l'Italia, per il gruppo Fiat, è un'area in perdita, non significa che vogliamo andarcene dal Paese, come molti hanno voluto interpretare. Lo sforzo che stiamo facendo va esattamente in direzione opposta. Ignorare i problemi, o peggio ancora nasconderli sotto un facile ottimismo, è il rischio più grande che possiamo correre». Intanto le vendite della auto in Italia e in Europa calano ancora. Le ultime del mese di dicembre riguardano Termini Imerese che, grazie ai progetti della De Tomaso di Gian Mario Rossignolo, che produrrebbe auto di lusso, e della Cape Rev di Simone Cimino, che punterebbe sulle macchine elettriche. L’incontro finale avverrà il prossimo 15 gennaio. E riguardano anche lo stabilimento Fiat di Mirafiori dove, dopo una lunga trattativa ed una serie di scioperi, il 23 dicembre l’accordo viene siglato. Anche questa volta senza la partecipazione della Fiom e con le critiche della Cgil.
(Fonte: www.automania.it - 28/12/2010)

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S 2011 Pearlescent Metallic Grey With Golden Nuanced Colour Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S 2011 Pearlescent Metallic Grey With Golden Nuanced Colour Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S 2011 Pearlescent Metallic Grey With Golden Nuanced Colour With the gray color and metallic shades of gold into the car Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS Awards Edition which will

Ferrari must be one of the most popular supercar manufacturers around the world with top models such as the Ferrari Daytona and the Ferrari Enzo from yesteryear, and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the Ferrari California from more recent times. Ferrari cars have always been popular attractions at the top car shows around the globe. Whether it be a manufacturer support car show, like the

Tesla Motors Inc., the electric carmaker backed by Toyota Motor Corp., said cheaper batteries will make its Model S sedan profitable with much lower sales than Nissan Motor Co. is seeking for its Leaf car.

The $57,000 electric Model S, which uses cells similar to those in laptops, is designed to make money for Palo Alto, California-based Tesla at 20,000 annual deliveries, Chief Technology Officer J.B. Straubel said in an interview. Nissan Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn has said combined battery- car sales for Nissan and affiliate Renault SA may need to reach 500,000 vehicles a year to be profitable without government aid.

Nissan’s choice of a larger type of lithium-ion battery means “they will have a cost challenge that will be more difficult to solve,” Straubel said yesterday in an interview. “It will require a lot higher volume before they really get to a cost point that is internally sustainable.”

Tesla, which has yet to post an annual profit, has delivered $109,000 rechargeable Roadsters since 2008, powered by thousands of small lithium-ion cells similar to those used in portable computers. The Silicon Valley startup says such cells, supplied by Panasonic Corp. and other manufacturers, will remain more cost-effective for the foreseeable future than the larger lithium batteries in the Leaf and General Motors Co.’s $41,000 plug-in Volt, which both went on sale this month.

Not Comparable

Tesla’s battery packs may cost as little as $200 per kilowatt hour, compared with about $700 to $800 per kilowatt hour for so-called large-form cell lithium-ion packs, Martin Eberhard, a Tesla founder and former chief executive, said in an interview last month. Straubel declined to confirm Eberhard’s estimate or discuss the cost of Tesla’s battery packs.

Nissan’s electric vehicle strategy can’t really be compared with that of Tesla, said David Reuter, a spokesman for the Yokohama, Japan-based company’s North American unit. He didn’t elaborate.

“The Nissan Leaf product program will be profitable over its lifecycle,” Reuter said. He declined to say how long the product cycle would be for the $32,780 Leaf.

The company has been developing its lithium-ion battery technology over the past two decades, “so a lot of the investment has already been amortized through many years,” Reuter said.

Nissan fell 1 percent to 777 yen as of the 11 a.m. trading break in Tokyo. The stock has declined 4.1 percent in 2010. Tesla rose $1.32, or 5 percent, yesterday to $27.73 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading in New York. The shares have surged 63 percent since they began trading on June 28.

Higher Prices

Tesla’s Straubel conceded the Model S’s higher price will make it easier to turn a profit with fewer deliveries after it goes on sale in 2012. Still, cheaper batteries are the main reason, he said.

Tesla’s challenge is to ensure a high level of quality control in its battery pack and assembly processes as it tries to expand from supplying about 1,000 Roadsters a year to making 20,000 or more of the Model S, said Brett Smith, who specializes in alternative propulsion vehicles at the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“There’s a method to their madness,” Smith said. “Tesla is using cells that, while not exactly the same as those in laptops, can be made on existing lines that already mass-produce them.”

As a result, Tesla didn’t have to spend as much for battery research and development and lithium-ion cell production, Smith said. “Especially for a small manufacturer, there’s a logic to what they’re doing,” Smith said.

Source: Bloomberg

Nissan has announced plans to debut nine vehicles at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

The Leaf Aero Style concept boasts a new front bumper, extended side skirts, and restyled mirrors. Other goodies include LED daytime driving lights and unique wheels.

To highlight dealership accessories, the Juke Sporty Package has a rear spoiler, chrome accents, and 17-inch aluminum wheels.

Minivan enthusiasts can rejoice as the Elgrand Rider Premium concept has been "specifically tuned up for a higher level of driving performance." While Nissan declined to elaborate, the concept has quilted leather seats and wood trim.

Lastly, the NISMO GT-R RC is track ready as it boasts a slick tire-compatible suspension, an FIA-compliant roll cage, and a 120-liter safety fuel tank. It will be "able to compete in various production races held around the world." Hopefully, Nissan will release photos soon.

Other vehicles on display include the March Bolero, Serena Rider, NISMO Fairlady Z (aka 370Z), NISMO Elgrand S-tune, and Motul Autech GT-R.

Source: Nissan

Il matrimonio tra Chrysler e Fiat prosegue felicemente e quello odierno è soltanto un altro quotidiano giorno di convivenza: nulla di strano, dunque, se un’indiscrezione ha confermato che la trasmissione automatica-robotizzata doppia frizione dello scaffale del Lingotto sarà utilizzata anche da alcune autovetture americane. Dal 2013, infatti, accanto al nuovo cambio automatico sequenziale ad otto rapporti, che il Gruppo Chrysler utilizzerà sulle automobili di maggiori dimensioni (come, ad esempio, la nuova berlina di segmento F, Chrysler 300), scelto per una filosofia di limitazione di consumi ed emissioni di anidride carbonica, verrà utilizzato anche il nuovo cambio robotizzato sviluppato da Fiat Powertrain Technologies e codificato con la sigla alfanumerica C636: si tratta di una trasmissione doppia frizione a secco, che offre sei rapporti, che pesa circa 80 chilogrammi e che riesce a gestire e sopportare sino a 350 Nm di coppia massima (architetture meccaniche, dunque, a quattro cilindri o a sei cilindri). Il nuovo cambio, che all’interno della gamma Alfa Romeo viene denominato TCT, sarà disponibile per le automobili di segmento C e di segmento D commercializzate negli Stati Uniti e in Canada: nella lista, tanto per citare alcune delle vetture che ne verranno dotate, sono comprese le nuove Chrysler 200 (che pare non arriverà in Europa), Jeep Compass restyling, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Chrysler/Lancia Delta e Alfa Romeo Giulia. Non si esclude, infine, che anche le utilitarie di segmento B, come la nuova Lancia Ypsilon (che diventerà Chrysler) e la nuova Alfa Romeo MiTo, possano essere equipaggiate con il cambio automatico doppia frizione in Nord America. Ma perché aspettare tanto, cioè sino al 2013, per rendere disponibile una tecnologia che viene già utilizzata qui, in Italia, in Europa?
(Fonte: www.motorionline.com - 27/12/2010)

Brand Modification 2009

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/need-for-speed-hot-pursuit/id394732447?mt=8
 

A friend of mine was today to a Luxury Car Show, in Bucharest. And the cars he saw in there made me to show you the pictures he took. To give you an idea: Enzo, and many other Ferraris, Pagani Zonda, Corvette, Gallardo, Koenigsegg. See the gallery for more details! Thanks Nick for sharing the images with us!

It’s not a Supra, but… When it debuted in 2007, is was suggested that the Toyota FT-HS (Future Toyota Hybrid Sport) might fill the void left by the iconic turbocharged sports coupe. Toyota, however, suggests that this is not the case, but rather that the FT-HS will create a new market segment for an “attainable exotic,” with prices slated to start around the mid-$30,000 range. The gorgeous 2+2

Ford is redesigning its compact car with a renewed focus on “whole-earth” appeal–in more ways than one. International style, high-efficiency powertrains, and green-tech engineering should make it a strong competitor from Boston to Beijing. A full-electric version could prove popular too, especially if gas prices go through the roof again.We’ll spare you the drama, the new Ford Focus sedan

Being green on the road may be the best thing for the environment but it comes at a cost, the cost of driving an ordinary looking car. However there is an answer in the form of after market body kits by Exlusive Zeus. The new generation Honda Insight can be kitted to look like a sports car with the comfort of knowing that it will not contribute to harming our environment.

Now a days interior modification of the car has really grabbed the attention of the car enthusiasts and they are showing up with different innovations almost every day. The reason is simple. More innovations in the car’s interior materials. Car interior is a wide terminology but I will, for the sake of simplicity, stick myself to the car dashboard. Obviously the first thing of the car

With the new 2011 BMW M3 GTS special sport car tuning and modification, BMW M GmbH now presents a really outstanding vehicles performer characterized on the sporty BMW M3 Coupe car design also perfect for Clubsport events, exactly the cool car concept for the actually discerning buyer challenging the exceptionally utmost in terms of power and performance. 2011 BMW M3 GTS consistent

The flight in July over the US army Yuma proving ground by the Qinetiq ‘Zephyr’ has been ratified by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) as a world record for the longest unbroken time spent in the air by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The flight lasted 10 times longer than the previous duration record held by the RQ 4A Global Hawk.

• the absolute duration record for an Unmanned Air Vehicle – being filed at 336 hrs / 22 minutes
• the duration record for a UAV (in the U/1.c / 50-500Kg category) – time as above
• the absolute altitude record for a UAV (in the above category) – being filed at 70,740ft (21,561m)

Launched by hand, the aircraft flies by day on solar power delivered by amorphous silicon solar arrays that cover the aircraft’s wings and are no thicker than sheets of paper. These are supplied by Uni-Solar, the world’s largest producer of flexible solar panels. The solar arrays are also used to recharge the lithium-sulfur batteries that are used to power the aircraft by night and supplied by Sion Power Inc, a leading developer of the next high energy rechargeable battery technology. Together they provide an extremely high power to weight ratio on a continuous day/night cycle, thereby delivering persistent on station capabilities.

Around 50% larger than the previous version, Zephyr incorporates an entirely new wing design with a total wingspan of 22.5m to accommodate more batteries that are combined with a totally new integrated power management system. The entirely new aerodynamic shape also helps to reduce drag and improve performance. Zephyr’s ultra-lightweight carbon fibre design means it weighs in at just over 50Kg.

Previous records beaten include:

• Surpassing the previous world record for the longest flight for an unmanned air system (set at 30 hours 24 minutes by Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4A Global Hawk on 22 March 2001).
• Surpassing the Rutan Voyager milestone of 9 days (216hours) 3 minutes and 44 seconds airborne – previously the longest flight by an aeroplane without refuelling and set in Dec 1986. Quadrupling its own unofficial duration record of 82 hours, 37 minutes set in 2008

Chrysler Group commercializzerà in Europa il nuovo Dodge Journey con il marchio Fiat. Lo hanno riferito ad Automotive News fonti interne al gruppo torinese aggiungendo che il minivan sarà commercializzato con il nome Freemont. Il Freemont, spiega il sito europeo della rivista, è un elemento chiave del piano Fiat-Chrysler di Sergio Marchionne volto a tagliare i costi di sviluppo e aumentare l'utilizzo degli impianti delle due case. Il Freemont sarà una versione rebrandizzata del nuovo Dodge Journey svelato al Salone di Los Angeles nel mese di novembre e caratterizzato da piccoli ritocchi nel design degli esterni, dalla rivisitazione degli interni e dalla modifica delle sospensioni. Fiat farà debuttare il Freemont al salone dell'auto di Ginevra a marzo per poi lanciarne le vendite in Europa a giugno. Chrysler ha lanciato le vendite del Dodge Journey in Europa nel 2008. Nei primi 10 mesi, le vendite europee sono calate del 20% a 5.792 unità secondo la società di ricerche britannica Jato Dynamics. Il Freemont sarà dotato del propulsore diesel Fiat da 170 cv e 2 litri di cilindrata, prima applicazione di un motore Fiat in un veicolo Chrysler. Sull'attuale Journey è montato un diesel da 140 cv e 2,0 litri di cilindrata fornito da Volkswagen. Il Freemont sostituirà il Fiat Ulysse, che la casa torinese ha smesso di costruire questo mese. L'anno scorso, Fiat ha venduto 1.956 Ulysse. Per Fiat il Freemont avrà un maggior potenziale di vendita rispetto all'Ulysse perché offrirà la trazione integrale, di cui l'Ulysse non era dotata, avrà un motore diesel più potente dell'attuale Journey e potrà avvalersi dei 5.000 concessionari della rete di vendita europea della Fiat. Il Freemont sarà esportato in Europa dalla fabbrica messicana della Chrysler a Toluca, dove si producono sia il Dodge Journey che la Fiat 500 per il Nord America. Secondo i dati di Jato Dynamics, il Dodge Journey si è piazzato l'anno scorso al sesto posto nella classifica delle vendite dei minivan con 8.395 unità commercializzate, il 62% in più rispetto al 2008. Il segmento dei monovolume di grandi dimensioni in Europa è stato dominato dalla Ford S-Max e dal Ford Galaxy con vendite nel 2009 rispettivamente per 42.991 e per 26.103 unità.
(Fonte: http://europe.autonews.com - 27/12/2010)

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has started commercial operation of eco-friendly full-size electric buses on the Mt. Namsan circular routes as of December 21. It is the first time in the world that battery electric buses have been put into commercial operations.

SMG has worked on the project to develop full-sized electric buses with local technology over the last one and a half years, since it signed an agreement with Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hankuk Fiber for the development of electric buses in September 2009.

Electric bus services will not only improve air conditions in the city but also lead the technology of large-sized electric vehicles in the global electric car market, the City said.

The electric coaches serving on the Mt. Namsan circular routes are 11.05 meters long and run up to 83km with a single charge. They can be fully charged in less than 30 minutes with a high-speed battery charger. The electric bus, with its maximum speed of 100 km/hr, has a low floor and a 322-horsepower engine. It adopts a high-capacity lithium-ion battery and an energy saving system that can collect and reuse energy generated from brakes when running downhill.

Its body is made of a carbon composite material, not of iron plates, which considerably reduces the vehicle's weight while reinforcing durability. The electric buses are also equipped with automatic slant boards for wheelchair users. The bus is shaped like a peanut and decorated with designs symbolizing the Namsan Tower and landscapes of Mt. Namsan.

SMG has replaced five buses on the Namsan circular routes with electric vehicles. It plans to gradually substitute all 14 buses with electric coaches to minimize any inconvenience of citizens that may be caused by the introduction of the new buses. It also plans to build two more battery chargers on Namsan by March 2011, increasing the number from two to four.

SMG expects that the electric bus service has enabled Seoul City to move one step further toward a "Green-Car, Smart City." SMG has set a goal of putting a total of 120,000 electric vehicles in use in the city by 2020, which will account to 50 percent of all public transport vehicles, 10 percent of sedans and 1 percent of trucks and vans.

Ford Mustang GT modif with Combat Aircraft Concept

Auto Car Modification Paint Color In 2010The first thing you see when you look at a car is the color. The color of a car is one of the most important things for a car owner.It is very difficult to choose the right color for your car because of the wide variety of choices out there. It should not only be appealing to you but also it should make a statement and it is very important that

Continuing its 100th anniversary celebrations Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. has chosen the prestigious Pebble Beach weekend to present a further highlight to pay tribute to this legendary brand : The company proudly unveils the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Sang Bleu - an exclusive, one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, honouring the marques precious heritage.Innovation and HarmonyThe

Extreme Modification Auto Car Show Extreme Modifications Policy Car Concept Modifications Policy Car Concept

The Zonda C12 F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive reengineering of the Pagani car yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L V12. Power is increased to 602 PS (594 hp/443 kW) with a special clubsport model producing 650 PS (641 hp/478 kW). The company promises a 3.5 second sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h), a top speed over 215 mph (346 km/h

Lancer EVO Auto Car Modification

The NEC Group announced today that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) "Regional Development Subsidy for Enterprises Creating Employment and Adding to a Low-Carbon Society" is supporting the Group's capital investment in reinforcing its production capacity of electrodes for rechargeable high-capacity lithium-ion batteries.


This capital investment will be carried out by NEC Energy Devices, Ltd. (NECED; Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture), a wholly owned NEC Corporation subsidiary that develops and produces rechargeable high-capacity laminated lithium-ion batteries. NECED will leverage the subsidy to increase electrode production capacity by the 2012 fiscal year.


This expansion is a major milestone towards the NEC Group achieving a capacity of 10 million kilo watt-hours (kWh) per year in the 2012 fiscal year, compared with the current capacity of 2 million kWh per year. The NEC Group aims to continue expanding its production capacity to meet customer requirement.

Going forward the NEC Group will promote its smart energy and green business centered by advanced lithium-ion battery to hold a leading global position.

Designed for young families, the long-wheelbase C-Max has an expressive, dynamic exterior that shuns conventional people-carrier styling.the C-Max will premier at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).C-max Features:hands-free bootlid (you put your leg under the bumper and it opens), panoramic glass roof, park assist, keyless entry, start, front rear parking sensors, leather interior

Mitsubishi Outlander Simple PreviewMitsubishi does have some history with offering derivative "Sport" models, with the last being the Montero Sport that ran from 1997-2004. In this case, the all-new 2011 Outlander Sport is based on the Mitsubishi Outlander, a crossover SUV we've praised in the past for its agile handling. The Outlander Sport is 14 inches shorter, 2 inches shorter in height and up

Nissan has announced it will introduce an Information and Communication Technology system (ICT) for electric vehicles (EVs). The system will be implemented with the all-new Nissan LEAF, on sale now in Japan and the U.S., and in Europe early next year. ICT will help deliver greater convenience, comfort and security for EVs, as well as provide real-world data that will be important to realizing a low-carbon society in the future.

With the ICT system, Nissan LEAF owners are connected at all times to the data and information they need to optimize their EV experience. The NISSAN CARWINGS Data Center, an information control center, communicates with the car navigation system via the onboard Telematics Communication Unit (TCU). ICT has features unique to EVs, including EV usage history and battery conditions. Remote control for battery charging and climate control also exist. The system can be accessed by a dedicated Website for EV owners, via mobile phones, smart phones and computers to manage energy usage.

Onboard EV service (while driving)

"Expected reachable area map display" function: checks how far Nissan LEAF will be able to travel … accessible by a single touch of the screen.

"Charging spot update" function: automatically updates data to display the nearest charging station.

"Timer charging" function: charges the battery anytime one wishes, e.g., late at night when the electricity rate is lower.

Offboard EV service (before and after driving)

Remote control function: checks the state of battery charging, controls battery charging, estimates time to finish charging and shows a possible driving range, maintains the battery and makes failure diagnosis.

"Remote climate control" function: sets air conditioning via remote control so it can be turned on before one enters the vehicle.

"Electricity rate simulation" function: checks how much it costs for electricity after driving. Calculation function: calculates how much CO2 emissions were reduced by driving EV (predicted rate).

"Ranking" function: Nissan LEAF owners worldwide can compete with each other in electricity consumption, traveling distance and the amount of charge produced by regenerative braking.

"Route planner" function: Creates a driving plan while checking a possible driving range and charging station locations.

Based on the consent of EV owners, the NISSAN CARWINGS Data Center will retain historical driving, charging and electricity consumption information globally. Based on this data, it will analyze EV driving and charging data to measure how much CO2 is reduced through EV use and to evaluate clean energy usage.

The ICT system for EV was developed not only to provide driving support for EV owners, but also to contribute to a sustainable zero-emission society in the future. Nissan is working to help realize a sustainable low-carbon society using the ICT system in several demonstration tests. This includes the Yokohama Smart City Project, a low-carbon city project conducted with Yokohama City, and YOKOHAMA Mobility "Project ZERO" which is focused on how to create a smart mobility city.

In preparation for wide introduction of renewable energy in the future (for example, solar electric generation at home), EVs may be utilized not only for mobility, but also for energy management, depending on surplus electricity. The EV ICT system has functions which can start charging at times when surplus electricity is most likely to be generated.

Working towards being a global zero-emission leader, the Renault-Nissan Alliance has formed partnerships with more than 80 governments, cities and other organizations around the world. Nissan will utilize the data obtained by the demonstration tests in these partner countries and cities to actively participate in the creation of a zero-emission society globally.

The new BMW 650i Convertible is powered by a 400 horsepower 4.4-liter V-8 engine which makes peak torque of 450 lb-ft between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm and is mated to an 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission. The new 650i Convertible will go on sale in the spring of 2011 as a 2012 model for the United States. The current model 650i Convertible starts at $85,550.New BMW 650i Convertible Pictures

Buick Verano Simple PreviewProduced to see what dealerships would order, the Verano is likely to arrive in four trim-levels. Entry-level ‘1SB’ will be available from ($20,900 - $21,500.) Lower mid-spec 1SD ($22,100 to $22,700),Upper mid-spec 1SG ($23,300 to $23,900),and Flagship 1SL ($25,600 to $26,200.)spec for Buick Verano Entry-level ‘1SB’base model will feature electric front windows,

Infiniti Essence Cars DigitalInfiniti Essence Cars DigitalInfiniti Essence Cars DigitalInfiniti Essence Cars DigitalInfiniti Essence Cars DigitalInfiniti Essence Cars DigitalInfiniti Essence Cars Digital

Trentasei pagine più allegati. Il contratto di Mirafiori, destinato per unanime ammissione di tutti i protagonisti a modificare radicalmente il sistema di relazioni industriali in Italia, sarà sottoposto a referendum a gennaio, probabilmente tra il 18 e il 20 del mese. "Pomigliano è stato un sasso che ha cominciato a rotolare lungo un pendio pieno di neve. Mirafiori lo dimostra", dice il leader del Fismic, Roberto di Maulo, capofila dei sindacati favorevoli all'intesa. "Di Maulo ha ragione - risponde Giorgio Airaudo della Fiom - e per questo vogliamo provare a fermare la valanga. Il rischio è un modello aziendalista in cui i sindacati vengono usati come fornitori del consenso alle tesi dell'impresa".
Ecco i punti principali dell'accordo della discordia.
Orario di lavoro - Nella nuova società in joint-venture tra Fiat e Chrysler (che nascerà nel 2012) saranno possibili 4 tipi di orario a seconda delle esigenze produttive. Oltre all'attuale con due turni di 8 ore al giorno per cinque giorni alla settimana (5 per 2), è previsto uno schema con l'introduzione del turno di notte su cinque giorni lavorativi (5 per 3) e un altro schema con il turno di notte su sei giorni compreso il sabato (6 per 3). Al momento del passaggio da un sistema all'altro, "l'azienda avvierà un esame con i sindacati". La procedura dovrà durare "al massimo 15 giorni", dopodiché l'azienda applicherà l'orario da lei prescelto. Al momento del passaggio dal sistema "5 per 3" al sistema "6 per 3", "le parti valuteranno anche l'eventuale sperimentazione, per un periodo non inferiore ai 12 mesi" di uno schema che prevede turni di 10 ore (due al giorno) per sei giorni alla settimana. I lavoratori che lavoreranno dieci ore per quattro giorni potranno riposare i successivi tre. L'azienda avrà mano libera sugli straordinari: potrà ordinare ai lavoratori fino a 120 ore all'anno (oggi sono 40) e contrattare con i sindacati altre 80 ore per ogni lavoratore. I sindacati favorevoli sottolineano che "il ricorso massiccio ai turni di notte e agli straordinari produrrà un incremento in busta paga fino a 3.700 euro lordi all'anno". I contrari osservano che "far lavorare per 10 ore consecutive una persona in linea e poi chiedere anche l'undicesima ora di straordinario mette a rischio la salute".
Pause e mensa - Le tre pause di ciascun turno di lavoro saranno di 10 minuti ciascuna per un totale di 30 minuti. Oggi la loro durata complessiva è di 40 minuti. I dieci minuti lavorati in più verranno monetizzati: 45 euro lordi al mese. La pausa mensa (mezz'ora) non sarà a fine turno, ma la questione verrà nuovamente discussa quando nascerà la joint-venture con Chrysler. Nel caso di turni di 10 ore, le pause rimarranno invece di 40 minuti complessivi. Il nuovo sistema di pause entrerà in vigore dal 4 aprile 2011. Per i sindacati favorevoli "con i nuovi metodi di lavoro la fatica è minore e dunque il taglio di dieci minuti di pausa non è così grave". Per i contrari "anche la riduzione delle pause può diventare un rischio per la salute, così come dimostrano le più recenti indagini mediche".
Malattia e assenteismo - L'accordo collega assenteismo e malattia. Quando il tasso di assenteismo è giudicato eccessivo (il 6% a luglio 2011, il 4% a gennaio 2012, il 3,5% dal 2013) non si paga il primo giorno di malattia a chi si sia ammalato subito prima di un giorno di riposo o di ferie, negli ultimi 12 mesi. Sono escluse patologie gravi. "Un sistema per colpire i furbi", dicono i sindacati favorevoli. "Se un lavoratore è ammalato lo stabilisce il medico, non il caposquadra", ribattono i contrari.
Contratto e scioperi - "Il nuovo contratto non aderisce al sistema confindustriale" e dunque non prevede l'elezione dei delegati di fabbrica. Solo i sindacati firmatari possono nominare dei rappresentanti aziendali. I sindacati che sciopereranno contro l'accordo potranno essere puniti con l'annullamento dei permessi. L'azienda inoltre rinuncerà a trattenere le quote di iscrizione dalle buste paga (scaricando sul sindacato l'onere di raccogliere i soldi). I lavoratori che sciopereranno contro l'intesa potranno essere licenziati. Ognuno di loro avrà personalmente firmato il nuovo contratto al momento della nascita della joint-venture.
(Fonte: www.repubblica.it - 27/12/2010)

Anticipating steady growth in demand for pure electric and hybrid cars over the next 10 years, Japanese manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries are investing heavily in new production facilities.

Since 2009 they have spent more than $3 billion in Japan and, counting low-interest loans and grants awarded to Nissan Motor Co.’s overseas affiliates, an estimated $5 billion globally

All are hoping to compete for a global market in 2020 - depending on which forecast proves correct - of between 5 million and 15 million electric cars and hybrids.

Despite their dominance in hybrid batteries (mostly nickel-metal hydride types), claiming 95% of sales since the 1997 launch of the Toyota Motor Corp. Prius, and early lead in electric cars as lithium battery suppliers to Nissan and Mitsubishi Motor Corp. for the Leaf and i-MiEV, they anticipate strong competition from South Korea and China.

South Korea, for instance, has committed to spending $13 billion (15 trillion won) to become the world’s leading battery manufacturer by 2020. China, similarly, plans to support hybrid and electric vehicle infrastructure and sales through a 10-year investment program reported to exceed $15 billion (RMB 100).

The following is summary of recent facility investments by Japanese battery makers and their automotive customers:

NEC Corp., jointly with Nissan in June 2009, opened a $140 million (12 billion yen) line inside Nissan’s old Zama manufacturing complex west of Tokyo. When fully operational in 2011, the line will produce as many as 12 million lithium-ion cells annually, enough to make batteries for 65,000 pure electric and hybrid cars.

By late 2012, Nissan and NEC plan to expand lithium-battery production outside Japan into the U.S., U.K. and Portugal. Including planned capacity in France by Nissan’s ‘alliance’ partner Renault SA, total capacity will approach 90 million cells and batteries for nearly 500,000 cars.

To support the Zama operation, NEC Tokin Corp., an NEC subsidiary, invested an additional $129 million (11 billion yen) in a lithium-manganese electrode line at its Sagamihara plant west of Tokyo.

Also in June 2009, GS Yuasa Corp. began production at the first of two joint battery manufacturing ventures with Japanese automakers: Lithium Energy Japan. Jointly owned, jointly owned by Mitsubishi, the company currently has capacity to make 1.6 million cells on lines in Kusatsu (Gumma Prefecture) and Kyoto. A new plant in Ritto (Shiga Prefecture) is scheduled to come on stream in 2012 will add 4.4 million cells, bringing total capacity to 6 million, enough for 68,000 batteries.

Total investment in the three facilities: $608 million (51.7 billion yen).

Meanwhile, a second joint venture with Honda Motor Co. began operations this autumn inside GS Yuasa’s Osando plant near Kyoto. The venture, named Blue Energy Co., is believed to have capacity to make 2.8 million cells for around 30,000 hybrids and electric cars. Honda would not confirm planned production volumes.

Cost of the line: $294 million (25 billion yen).

Elsewhere, three of Japan’s electronic giants have also entered the market - Hitachi Ltd., Panasonic Corp. and Toshiba Corp.:

Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd., a Hitachi subsidiary, opened a new 3.6 million cell line in October 2009 in Hitachinaka (Ibaraki Prefecture). The new line raises capacity at the site to 4.1 million. Hitachi opened a 500,000-cell line in 2004.

Cumulative investment at the site: $176 million (15 billion yen).

To support the operation, Hitachi Maxell Ltd., another Hitachi subsidiary, invested $71 million (6 billion yen) in a new electrode line at the company’s Kyoto Works. The line began electrode production in February 2009.

Panasonic Energy Co., the battery-manufacturing division of Panasonic Corp., began lithium cell production in April 2010 at a new $1.2 billion (100 billion yen) ($1.2 billion) plant in Osaka. Initial capacity is 12 million cells. No details were provided about the automotive share.

In July 2010, Sanyo Electric Co., since December a wholly owned Panasonic subsidiary, opened a $153 million (13 billion yen) EV battery plant in Kosai (Shizuoka Prefecture) with capacity of 12 million cells. By 2016, Sanyo hopes to boost output to 120 million cells.

Toshiba will open a $294 million (25 billion yen) line at its Kashiwazaki plant in Niigata Prefecture this coming February. Initial capacity: 500,000 cells per month.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan’s largest diversified machinery manufacturer, completed construction of a plant inside its Nagasaki Shipyard and Machinery Works in November. Capacity at the plant, which will produce lithium batteries for forklifts, is 400,000 units.

Note that last January Primearth EV Energy Co., Toyota’s battery subsidiary, opened a new $353 million (30 billion yen) nickel metal hydride plant in northern Japan in Miyagi Prefecture. With the plant’s opening, the supplier has capacity to make 1 million nickel metal hydride batteries.

In 2010, it is expected to deliver more than 700,000 units, mostly to Toyota.

Paris is planning to test restrictions on gas-guzzling vehicles, likely including sport utility vehicles, as part of attempts to curb pollution.

Denis Baupin, an environmental official in the mayor's office, said Wednesday that sport utility vehicles and old diesel cars are likely to be targeted in upcoming test restrictions.

To any Parisian who drives an SUV, Baupin's advice is: "Sell it and buy a vehicle that's compatible with city life.

"I'm sorry, but having a sport utility vehicle in a city makes no sense," Baupin told RTL radio.
Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and Aix-en-Provence are among the cities planning to try restrictions on gas-guzzlers in late 2011 or 2012.

The Environment Ministry says officials in each city are still discussing precisely how the restrictions would work -- what types of cars would be affected, in what neighborhoods, during what hours or periods of the year. Exact penalties are also an open question.

Many other European cities, including London and Berlin, already have "low emission zones," with varying restrictions on the type of vehicles targeted.

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Sporty Hood InteriorMercedes-Benz unveiled in 2012, the CLS-Class, which celebrated its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show 2010. Building on the pioneering role of its predecessor with a new interpretation, the 2012 CLS-Class is equipped with front design that is reminiscent of the SLS AMG Mercedes-Benz with distinctive grille and sporty hood.Another peculiarity of

Sono dieci i punti dell'accordo firmato dai sindacati (ad eccezione della Fiom) e dalla Fiat per lo sviluppo dello stabilimento di Mirafiori. L'intesa prevede un investimento da oltre un miliardo di euro attraverso una joint venture tra Fiat e Chrysler. Ma di fatto esclude dalle rappresentanze sindacali la Fiom-Cgil, che non l'ha sottoscritta. Al posto delle Rsu torneranno a esserci le Rsa.
- un investimento in joint venture tra Fiat e Chrysler per oltre un miliardo di euro;
- la produzione a regime di 280mila vetture l'anno di Suv Chrysler e Alfa Romeo;
- il pieno utilizzo degli impianti su sei giorni lavorativi;
- il lavoro a turni avvicendati che mantiene l'orario individuale a 40 ore settimanali;
- la crescita del reddito annuo individuale di circa 3.700 euro per la maggiore incidenza delle maggiorazioni di turno;
- la possibilità di lavorare il 18esimo turno solo con il pagamento dello straordinario;
- il mantenimento della pausa per la mensa nel turno fino a che la joint venture non andrà a regime;
- la salvaguardia dei malati reali e un intervento volto a colpire gli assenteisti, al fine di tutelare coloro che hanno assiduità e puntualità nella prestazione;
- la compensazione di oltre 32 euro mensili per l'assorbimento della pausa di 10 minuti, resa possibile dal minore affaticamento del lavoro con l'introduzione della nuova ergonomia;
- il mantenimento di tutti i diritti individuali oggi esistenti e il loro miglioramento attraverso la prossima stesura di un Contratto Collettivo su molti punti migliorativo del Ccnl Metalmeccanici (scatti di anzianità, paga base, premio di risultato, ecc.).
(Fonte: www.corriere.it - 23/12/2010)

Toyota will stage the world premiere of the Prius family of vehicles at a press conference at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

In addition to the current third-generation Prius and Prius Plug-in vehicle (PHV), the first all-new addition to the Prius Family will debut along with a Prius concept vehicle.

The press conference will be held on Monday, Jan. 10 at 1:05 p.m. EST in the Riverview Ballroom at Cobo Center.

A live Webcast will be available at ToyotaNewsroom.com.

TTXGP expands the global footprint for the next generation of motorsports with its first national championship in Australia

The Australian FX-Superbike Championship is a national series covering 6 rounds, starting in mid March and ending in early November. In 2011 they will partner with TTXGP to include electric superbike racing for the first time creating an Australian national e-championship. Running to the TTXGP Rule book and incorporating both the TTXGP and TTX75 classes, the new eFX Championship will be an exciting addition to the TTXGP family. Australia has a very active EV community so we are sure to see thrilling racing on innovative platforms.

Commenting on the partnership Azhar Hussain, Founder and CEO of TTXGP said "we are very excited to be working with ARTRP and help launch a new national electric championship. eFXC/TTXGP will be a fantastic opportunity for anyone wishing to join the growing group of EV racers as well as sponsor a new, exciting, high profile race series. ARTRP is both pioneering and hugely successful; they make an ideal partner for TTXGP to work with and help nurture a fast growing electric race series."

Terry O'Neill the Managing Director of ARTRP (series promoter) comments "We are very excited to be part of the expanding world of TTXGP electric motorcycle racing. We have always been involved in innovative ideas to further motorcycle racing in Australia, we started by having the first motorcycle carbon neutral racing events in the southern hemisphere and now by encouraging the local EV patrons to get involved building and racing motorcycles."

"It seemed logical to be partnering with TTXGP and having spent a long time discussing with Azhar, our and his visions, the decision was simple"

The series will be nationally televised on the very popular free to air SBS Speedweek and also on the Fox cable network as well as be distributed with all TTXGP programming across the world. The TTXGP World Series will also be available in Australia.

eFXC/TTXGP winners will be invited to attend to the TTXGP World Series Final 2011 for a chance to become TTXGP Champions 2011.

eFXC/TTXGP dates for your calendar are as follows:-

2011 Australian EFXC/TTXGP-Superbike Championship
Test : Wakefield Park Raceway (NSW) 29th April - 1st May 2011 (AFXSBK Rd2)
Round 1: Eastern Creek Raceway (NSW) 1st - 3rd July 2011 (AFXSBK Rd3)
Round 2: Winton Raceway (VIC) 2nd - 4th September 2011 (AFXSBK Rd4)
Round 3: Wakefield Park Raceway (NSW), 8-9th October 2011 TBC

Related Web Link: EFXC/TTXGP

Sumitomo Corporation, Nissan Motor and NEC Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote a new membership-based charging service for electric vehicle (EV) users that will be available for the first time in Japan.

As per the MoU, the three companies will conduct a joint study to develop charging facilities which can provide continuous service to EV users and maintenance of charging equipment by working with existing service providers.

The companies will also establish a business model for the charging infrastructure that will give convenience to EV users by optimally installing standard charging facilities and quick chargers at key strategic locations, including provisions of charging facilities for residents of apartment buildings and monthly parking users.

Sumitomo also launched the New Business Development & Promotion Division, which is responsible for environmental businesses and is working on developing new approaches to realizing a low-carbon, recycling-based society.

Sumitomo will also support the widespread adoption of next-generation vehicles including EV through the second-life use of lithium-ion batteries for automotive use, the development of the system that facilitates Green IT and the auto lease business by its affiliate company, Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service Company.

Through the new service, Nissan intends to accelerate the development of infrastructure essential to promoting EV and achieve both greater convenience to users and business feasibility.

Through this new business, NEC will improve convenience for users with the establishment of a new infrastructure that takes advantage of networked charging facilities and ICT technologies to promote a whole new service that will contribute to the environment.

The first trial service is set to start within Kanagawa prefecture early 2011, in collaboration with the prefecture and its local governments.

General Motors is participating in the 2010 Guangzhou Auto Show, which began today, through its Shanghai GM joint venture. Under the theme of "Drive to Green and Leading Innovation," it is showcasing 23 production and concept vehicles. Among the products on display are the Sail electric concept vehicle, which is making its global debut, and the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle.

"GM is committed to delivering a range of advanced propulsion technologies and offering a portfolio of solutions that will allow our customers to choose the vehicle that best meets their needs," said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. "GM's expertise in batteries, electric motors and power controls will enable us to provide the best possible choices when it comes to vehicle electrification technologies."

Sail Electric Concept Vehicle

The Sail electric concept vehicle was developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in Shanghai. Based on the Chevrolet Sail that went on sale at the beginning of the year, it is an environmentally friendly small car that is targeted at ordinary Chinese families.

The Sail electric concept vehicle is powered by a lithium-ion battery with maximum output of 65 kW and maximum torque of 220 Nm. It has a maximum speed of 130 km/h and can go up to 150 kilometers on a single electric charge. It uses regenerative braking to produce additional energy. The Intelligent Charging Assisting System maximizes the energy conversion ratio.

Its simple contemporary design is aerodynamic. Inspiration has come from leaves, and is reflected across the exterior. The Sail electric concept vehicle features a simple yet modern interior along with a range of electronic amenities. It has adopted electric vehicle standards for safety set by SAE and ISO.

Chevrolet Volt Extended-Range Electric Vehicle

The Chevrolet Volt is the world's first extended-range electric vehicle that provides the benefits of an electric vehicle without the range limitations associated with other electric vehicles on the market. Powered by GM's revolutionary Voltec propulsion system, it provides maximum torque of 368 Nm, maximum output of 111 kW and a maximum speed of 160 km/h. It can run solely on electric power stored in its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery for up to 80 kilometers without consuming a single drop of petroleum and with zero emissions.

When the battery is depleted, its on-board engine-generator starts producing electricity to drive the Volt another 490 kilometers, giving the Volt a range of up to 570 kilometers. When launched in China in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Volt will be equipped with the OnStar system, which will offer a smart phone application co-developed by Chevrolet and OnStar. Owners will be able to control all vehicle functions and OnStar services on a 24/7 basis.

The Volt has received several awards in North America including Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year, Automobile Magazine 2011 Car of the Year, 2011 Green Car of the Year from Green Car Journal, and Best Innovation from Popular Mechanics magazine.

"The Sail electric concept vehicle and Chevrolet Volt are examples of industry-leading solutions being developed by GM and our partners globally," said Wale. "GM is also establishing battery electric vehicle demonstration fleets around the world to better understand driving patterns, battery charging, market needs and customer acceptance of electric vehicles. At the same time, GM is investing in start-up companies with innovative ideas to accelerate next-generation electrification technologies."

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