: GREEN for Driving Enthusiasts

Tim Allen drives the Jay Leno electric Focus

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:18:13 GMT

Nice job of driving - you can tell he knows cars by the way he handles the turns. And the new course record. Note Tim's comment about doing >190 in a Mustang race car.

Tim is also looking a little... old. And the gut will keep him out of any sequel to Galaxy Quest - he can't play Kirk if he can't take his shirt off.

Complete video here (since the embedding feature from NBC.com is inconsistent): http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/video/clips/tim-allen-racing/1164175

Fisker gets $528M from the Dept of Energy

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:08:10 GMT

Fisker was awarded a $528 Million Dollar Loan yesterday from the U.S. Department of Energy. That will fund the creation of a line of plug-in electrics. Interesting to note that the car which is planned is estimated to cost $39,900 (after tax credits) - this isn't their existing car, which is a very high-end car in the market and costs well over 100k.

It is also projected to save ~821 million gallons of gasoline thru 2016. That's not much in the overall total usage in North America - but it is a good start. What we'll get will be a comfortable modern car that is reasonably quick, offers instant torque, a good driving experience, and the equivalent of extremely high milage.

Fisker Automatiove Press Release follows:

FISKER AUTOMOTIVE AND US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AGREE TO TERMS FOR $528.7M LOAN

Funds awarded to develop affordable plug-in hybrids made in USA
At least 5,000 direct and indirect US jobs to be created or saved
An estimated 821 million gallons of gasoline will be saved and 8 million tons of CO₂ offset from sales of Fisker plug-in hybrids through 2016

IRVINE, CA – Sept. 22, 2009: Fisker Automotive and the US Department of Energy have agreed to terms for a loan of more than half a billion dollars to create affordable, fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid electric cars.

A majority of the low-interest funds will go toward Project NINA, which will see the design, engineering and assembly of Fisker Automotive(www.fiskerautomotive.com)’s next-generation plug-in hybrids, starting at about $39,900 after tax credits. The remainder will help finalize development of the Fisker Karma, the technology leading plug-in hybrid that will enable the company to develop such lower cost models.

Fisker Automotive expects to create or save at least 5,000 US jobs among auto suppliers and thousands more to manufacture a plug-in hybrid in the U.S.

Project NINA – inspired by the ship belonging to explorer Christopher Columbus -- is symbolic of the automobile industry’s transition from old world to new.

By 2012 Fisker Automotive is expected to launch a family oriented, user friendly plug-in hybrid featuring cutting edge technology, radical styling and world-class quality. Global sales are predicted to exceed 100,000 units annually. A significant percentage will be exported, helping to balance the US trade deficit.

“This conditional loan represents a significant step in America’s future,” said Henrik Fisker, CEO. “With it Fisker Automotive can rapidly develop affordable clean cars that satisfy our passion for driving and help restore the US as an auto industry leader.”

All Fisker automobiles prove eco-friendly vehicles can be stylish, functional and exciting.

They combine the low energy-cost and tailpipe-emission free benefits of an all-electric car with the unlimited range of a gasoline powered car.

The funds are part of the US Department of Energy’s $25-billion Advanced Technologies Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program, created by Congress in November 2008 to help promote the development of energy-efficient, advanced-technology vehicles.

Fisker Automotive has already created hundreds of jobs by partnering with Tier 1 US automotive suppliers to develop the Karma. The company has also recruited a network of 45 premium retailers to market and service its vehicles. With Project NINA, that network is expected to grow to more than 100 US retailers, in addition to those in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The Fisker Karma’s real-world, annual average fuel economy can exceed 100mpg, significantly more than that of today’s hybrids. Its exclusive Q-DRIVE^® powertrain is expected to deliver an emission-free 50 miles per full charge of its Lithium-ion battery, and a total extended range of more than 300 miles through the use of its gasoline powered engine/generator. If driven fewer than 50 miles per day and fully charged overnight it is possible the Karma can use as little as one tank of gas per year. More than 1,500 of the plug-in hybrids have already been ordered.

It is estimated some 821 million gallons of gasoline will be saved and 8 million tons of CO₂ offset from sales of Fisker plug-in hybrids through 2016, based on SAE J2841 Electrical Usage Statistics.

ABOUT FISKER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

Fisker Automotive is a privately owned, premium American car company with a vision to lead the automotive industry into the next-generation of automobiles with high-end design expertise and eco-friendly powertrain technology. Global headquarters are in Irvine, California, USA.

The company was created in 2007 to leverage the design capabilities of Fisker Coachbuild, LLC, founded by auto design veterans Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler, and the PHEV powertrain capabilities of Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ-QTWW), a major Tier 1 supplier of clean vehicle technologies to the automotive OEMs. Previously, Fisker, CEO, was design director for Aston Martin and president and CEO of BMW’s DesignworksUSA. Koehler, COO, led design operations at Ford, Aston Martin and BMW.

Jay Leno show tonight - the Electric Focus

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:12:36 GMT

The special one-off electric Ford Focus built for guests to race around Jay Leno's new test track is a one of a kind car. And not because it's a preview of the electric Focus Ford will sell here in North America in 2011 - it's not.

It is a current European-spec Focus converted to full electric power.

It is not the Focus we'll see here - that Focus will be an updated version with a new body and interior, based on an updated version of this chassis.

It is unique because it's a sporting Focus with electric power built for handling. With the exception of the Tesla and Fisker, the electric cars we have seen to date are pretty dull - and handling was never part of their intent, much less engineering. This one is differnet - it's based on the Focus ST suspension, which normally underpins a very highly regarded turbocharged 5-cylinder drivetrain. With off-the-shelf extra-large brakes added from Ford of Europe's parts bin, plus spome special shock and spring tuning to handle the different weight balance, the electric Focus will be put to work on Jay's new show highlighting green energy and giving guests a chance to compete for best lap times (or worst!). Drew Barrymore is first in the car tonight.

But we also believe it could be much more than this - it might actually be possible to offer a handling suspension similar to this as an option on the production car. Somewhere there is a Ford Exec who looked at this car and had the same thought. Let's encourage it. It's inevitable that sporting electrics will happen as electrics gain ground in market share - but here at DrivingEnthusiast.net we see this type of option as a means of building market share for electrics - for enthusiasts who love driving *and* efficiency and want to combine the two in a way no other current product does.

Meanwhile, the Jay Leno Show tonight is one not-to-be-missed. IT's been an interesting week watching the show develop -

Ford Press Release follows:

ELECTRIC FORD FOCUS READY TO RACE TONIGHT IN "THE JAY LENO SHOW'S" GREEN CAR CHALLENGE

Background: A battery-electric Ford Focus will appear tonight, Friday, Sept. 18 on "The Jay Leno Show" (NBC, Monday through Friday, 10-11 p.m. ET) in a segment they call "Green Car Challenge." The battery-electric Ford Focus will be used throughout the first season of the show, driven by celebrity guests who accept the challenge.

SUMMARY / PHOTO CAPTIONS:

A one-of-a-kind battery-electric Focus will make its television debut tonight on "The Jay Leno Show's" "Green Car Challenge." Celebrities who accept the challenge will be at the wheel, driving quickly to establish a fast lap time that future guests will try to beat. The "Green Car Challenge" will be a regular segment on "The Jay Leno Show."

The electric Focus to be driven by celebrity guests on "The Jay Leno Show" is one-of-a-kind vehicle, based on the European five-door production Focus ST, modified into a battery electric vehicle (BEV) as part of Ford's BEV test fleet. The Focus BEV foreshadows many of the same systems that Ford will begin selling to consumers in an all-new electric Ford Focus, scheduled to go on sale in North America in 2011. The new Focus BEV is one of four electrified vehicles Ford is introducing now through 2012 as part of the company's commitment to deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency with every new vehicle it introduces.

"The unique Focus BEV for "The Jay Leno Show" started life as a European production Focus ST, built in Germany in July. The car was delivered to Ford's world headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., where engineers went to work, removing the traditional engine and gas tank and installing an entire electric powertrain – all in six weeks. With Recaro racing seats, a full roll cage, a five-point racing harness and wearing a unique (and fitting) "Electric Orange" paint scheme, the battery-electric Focus ST is ready for racing.

With a sophisticated electric powertrain, the zero-emissions Ford Focus BEV delivers nearly as much torque at the wheels as a 2010 Ford Mustang V-6. It also stores enough energy to power an average household for 24 hours.

Thanks in part to the battery placement, the race-ready Ford Focus BEV has a nearly ideal 50/50 weight distribution for improved racetrack handling. The front springs and dampers come from the performance-minded Ford Focus RS, a popular, high-performance European production model. The rear dampers and springs are unique to Leno's Focus BEV.

The car is specifically tuned to perform on the track built alongside "The Jay Leno Show" studio at NBC. To help improve performance, Ford created a similar track at its proving ground in Michigan so the vehicle would be ready to handle the tight turns.

Besides an ability to perform on the track, the Ford Focus BEV boasts the impressive statistics of a conventional battery electric vehicle, with a range of nearly 80 miles on a charge and peak power of 141 horsepower (105 kilowatts).

VEHICLE SPECS:
Powertrain: Permanent magnetic electric motor
Power: 141 hp / 105 kw
Torque: 236 lb.-ft. / 320 Nm
Redline: 7500 rpm
Batteries: 98 air-cooled, 60 A-h Lithium-ion batteries
Capacity: 23 kilowatt hours
Transmission: Single-speed gearbox

Steering: Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Front suspension: MacPherson-type struts
Rear suspension: Independent short-long arm (SLA), control blade multi-link system
Brakes: Front: 12.6 in / 320 mm ventilated discs
Rear: 11.0 in / 280 mm solid disc
Anti-lock system

Wheelbase: 104 in / 2640 mm
Overall length: 171.7 in / 4362 mm
Overall height: 58.9 in / 1497 mm
Overall width: 72.4 in / 1840 mm
Curb weight: 3,421 lbs

HST Intl - all-electric Mustang with 1000 ft/lbs of torque and a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:51:42 GMT

HST International is still here... they changed their domain and didn't have the old one forwarded (dumb!). Go to: http://www.hstintl.com/ Be sure to download the brochure: http://www.hstintl.com/tjaarda_evx.pdf

Their announcement last year and demonstration of all electric Mustang (how about a Mustang with 1000 ft/lbs of torque and a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds?) made headlines - as it should. This is the long term future of cars in general... and with the right kind of development electrics could have the same or more performance potential than gasoline powered cars.

Let's face it, folks, a move to this technology is coming - and we need to learn how to master it.

These folks mastered the art of building one, now lets see how they master the art of staying alive in this economy.

Reference: original blog posting and press release: http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/2008/04/17.html#a2370

First Volt prototypes on the street

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:09:31 GMT

Andrew Farah, GM's Volt Chief Engineer, shows off the first Volt prototype to be built with the final bodywork and chassis. Note that the Volt program is ahead of schedule, which will allow more time for refining the engineering and software.

Conflicted GM drives the electric evolution forward

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:55:02 GMT

There is a good article on MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31146562/ about the Chevrolet Volt and how conflicted GM is about building it. While they are 100% committed to doing so, they continue to worry about its acceptance in the marketplace and about the financial viability of building an all-new product which will not and cannot be profitable - yet. Only a very small portion of the car buying public will consider a Volt and this will not cover costs, much less any profit. And the Federal Government “green” subsidiary of $7500 per car (tax refund after the initial purchase price of approx. $40,000) does not tilt the equation. Lutz points out that the car needs to be $15-20,000 less to work - but those prices will come down as the technology gets better and production rises.

As an aside, Lutz also points out that they have been concerned that the Camaro is the wrong car at the wrong time - certainly the liberals at the Obama administration think so. It's a highly visible car right now, it's on the covers of all the magazines (indeed, a "pony car" war is taking place in their pages), and as MSNBC points out GM has provided a display model front and center at the Detroit airport for everyone to see. GM might have been smarter to keep a low profile.

In our humble opinion, the Camaro is the wrong car at the wrong time. We like some aspects of the car, but it's too big and too heavy for a car a driving enthusiast can enjoy and actually use. Let’s face it - it's gigantic, a full-size car. It's also the only platform that GM had to build a Camaro on, just like the Challenger was built on the only available platform (and is even larger). But at least GM spent the money to develop an up-to-date suspension, 6-speed transmissions across the board, and gearing that provides good acceleration combined with low highway revs. But the worse part about the Camaro, Challenger, and even the so-slightly-smaller Mustang is that by building them on such large platforms, the automakers might have sealed their fate. There is no money anywhere for a smaller rear wheel drive platform, and none of these three cars can be shrunk any further on the current platform because of architectural constraints inherent in those platforms. In other words, there is no long-term future for these platforms and there is nothing in the pipeline to build a replacement on. GM canceled a small rear wheel drive platform a few years ago that would be been ideal, and Ford did the same earlier in the decade when a whole raft of future products were canceled just because Little Billy Ford attempted to sweep under the carpet the long range planning Jacques Nasser had in place. Plans that included a little brother to the DEW platform, the size of a BMW 3-series rather than the 5-series-sized Lincoln LS. Nasser was right, and Little Billy's knee-jerk reaction to being bettered left the company devoid of product plans for many years (plans which, BTW, also included the European Fords coming to North America much earlier then when they'll finally arrive).

When it comes to the long term future of the Mustang, what we want to see is a car the same size as the Fox-body Mustangs. With a hatchback body and engines ranging from a 4-cylinder thru a twin-turbo V-6 at the top. No V-8 - and yes you saw that right. The upcoming Coyote V-8 is not going to match the emissions, fuel economy, or the acceleration of a proper EcoBoost V-6 engine. Instead, it will have extra weight (all over the nose, in a car with a weight balance problem to begin with), it will have slower acceleration, and (for those of you who like to thumb your nose at society) it will have far less modification potential. In a car about 170 inches long, with the practicality of a hatch and a weight of about 3200 pounds, we'd have something sustainable. Unfortunately, though, there isn't a dime in the budget to create such a platform.

Getting back to the point, the technology will improve over time and the entire electric experience will become more mainstream. The types of developments we'll see in the next year or two will only serve to accelerate the rise of fully-electric cars. A current example is the phenomenal sales of the Hybrid Fusion - a powertrain in just its second generation (and, we should point out that GM has nothing in their product line that nears the sophistication of a Ford-style hybrid: GM's hybrid technology is laughable).

The entire hybrid marketplace is still in its infancy but is growing quickly. Nissan has just entered the market with a hybrid Altima, and is reportedly developing a dedicated Prius-type car (believing like Toyota that you have to look the part to be a follower of the religion). Chrysler has made progress in electric development - but on a shoestring budget (at least until the rest of the lawsuits are thrown out by Monday and the Fiat partnership is finalized). GM has other uses for the Volt powertrain as well, most notable a stunning Cadillac that attempts to the Lutzian angst about product “sexiness and desirability”.

The next step is so-called “plug-in” hybrids. Ford has been running fleets of Escapes in this configuration for the last couple of years. It’s apparently in their production plans (although the upcoming replacement for the Escape is probably dictating the timeframe), and there is also a hybrid or fully electric Focus coming at some point after it enters North American production.

But what about cars for the driving enthusiast? Boxy 4-doors, even with appealing technologies, aren't for us. But don't rule out this type of powerplant - it has fabulous potential for enthusiasts and could be very appealing with a little more development. Look at how the Tesla performs: its first generation technology (built on a shoestring budget) has created supercar-like acceleration and has preserved most of the dynamic handling attributes of the Lotus platform it's based on. Its engine produces maximum torque at 1 RPM thru 14,000 RPM: 276 lb/ft of torque and it's available to use as the driver sees fit. As is the 248 HP. And this from a 1st generation powerplant with "version 1.5" software. Incredible results from battery technology that is already out-dated.

A hybrid for driving enthusiasts would marry a larger-sized 4 or a small 6 cylinder engine with hybrid electronics to produce a car that could run solely on battery power for slow-to-medium speeds, or a coupling of gas engine with an electric motor to produce the full torque and horsepower combined output from of both engines. That is what Honda does with its hybrids already: Honda-type hybrids use small electric motors as a supplement to the gas engine. Thus making the total combined output of both available for acceleration. GM and BMW do this in large trucks and large cars respectively, in a simpler way with an electric motor in parallel to the transmission. Infiniti is about to offer such a system, debuting in the 2011 M-series cars, already demonstrated to the press in the G-series cars, and talked about for a future Nissan Z as well (all three cars sharing the same chassis makes this easy). Toyota has shown a Z-sized concept offering the combination of a gasoline V-6 with an electric motor acting as a supplement, producing over 400 horsepower combined (an earlier generation of this engine is already offered in a Lexus hybrid).

As far as a hybrid or all-electric sports car, there is a lot of development work to be done. Honda will introduce a 2-seat front wheel drive car next year that has some of the makings of a sports car – at least in Honda’s mind. Front-wheel drive does not yield a “sports car” in our humble opinion. We see it as more of a commuting car.

The Tesla is indeed a pure sports car and a side benefit of the all-electric powertrain is supercar-like acceleration: 0-60 in under 4 seconds (and more coming soon with an update to the software). However, as demonstrated in the current issue of Evo (the European enthusiast magazine), multiple laps will overheat the battery packs. Tesla has addressed this issue (which would presumably never come up in street driving) and has said that some sort of cooling improvement would be needed to make the Tesla into a track car. Driving Enthusiasts won’t accept issues that would prohibit us from using the car on the track (never mind how we’re supposed to get the car to the track in the first place). The Tesla (and everything else at the moment) has primitive batteries with limited range and power and this same issue is holding back both hybrids and pure-electrics.

The technologies involved and envisioned by the manufacturers is a very large and complex topic and to explain the many and varied technologies on the market today is outside the scope of this post. However, to help relate it and as background for the MSNBC article, we’ve prepared a chart showing today’s landscape as well as a couple of products coming in the next few years. Which of these technologies are temporary stepping stones, which become predominate, or (more likely) which are used for different types of vehicles in various stages of the evolution – all will be determined by market and political forces. While enthusiasts will probably have the option of a hybrid sports coupe in the form of a 370Z in 3-4 years, don’t look for an all-electric Z until the end of the decade, at least.

GM demos the Voltec Electric Propulsion System Drive

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:11:29 GMT

There is no doubt that alternative powerplants are a fact of life for our future. This is a good thing and alternative propulsion technologies don't necessarily mean that it's "1984" for driving enthusiasts, but we do need to get smart about them so that we can be better prepared to exploit them for our purposes. The first alternative powerplant cars have had nothing to offer driving enthusiasts - the Prius, for example, has terrible handling dynamics. But, like any new technology, things will change.

Port fuel injection is one technology that was not initially welcomed by enthusiasts - it was complicated, costly, and more involved to repair. Despite this poor initial reception, everybody had to admit that emissions and drivability improved significantly and the performance potential of the engine improved. We're going thru this same thing now with Direct Injection. Aftermarket direct injectors are currently not at all widely available - but there will be.

The future of electric cars, whether hybrid or full-time electric, holds a lot of promise for driving enthusiasts. Electric engines make their full torque at 1 RPM and up - and they can easily make several hundred lb-ft of torque. That's a lot of power and it's continuous across the entire rev band. Imagine the potential for acceleration from any speed.

Just look at the Tesla for an example: 248 HP and 211 lb ft of torque in a lightweight 2690 pound sportscar. 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. 14,000 rpm redline. The power and weight alone are exotic enough to get sports car enthusiasts excited. And this in a first-generation electric car (with 2^nd-gen electronics), from a brand new company, using an existing chassis. Now imagine what could happen with a larger development budget and a dedicated chassis.

There are issues for enthusiasts… the batteries run hot, for example. But then these are first-gen batteries, too. Again using existing technology. This car is not yet ready for a track event due to the cooling constraints… but that will not stop owners from enjoying the cars on back roads and road trips. The range is limited – perhaps 244 miles at best. But, again, this is first-gen stuff. Development will continue and we’ll see these constraints addressed more fully.

GM is getting into the game with the upcoming Volt – bankruptcy or bail-out the car will be on the market in late 2010. It’s not a car for driving enthusiasts… but it does represent a lot of new and very innovative technology and it’s aimed at the family sedan market. The current technology will find it’s way into an Opel and a Cadillac, and two more follow-on generations of technology are being engineered. Now imagine this same powerplant in a 2-seat sports coupe and you just begin to see the potential.

How long until there is a hybrid engine in a Camaro? Perhaps 10 years, guaranteed. A fully electric Camaro? Not on the current monster chassis, but certainly in the follow-on (and considerably lighter) car based on the new Alpha chassis.

Check out the video from GM showing one of the first public drives of the Volt. Call it political, since it obviously came out at a delicate time. But look at the technology - it clearly works and it works very well.

New blog: Honda S2000 Electric Vehicle Conversion

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:45:23 GMT

Here's an interesting and detailed new blog covering the conversion of a 2003 S2000 to full electric power. The builder/owner has the car fully up and running. 130-140 HP and 220 ft-lbs torque. No final data yet on range or performance.

Overall the conversion is entirely professional and the nicely done blog makes a very interesting read.

Links: suggest <right click> and <open in new tab>

Blog: http://s2kev.blogspot.com/
RSS feed: http://s2kev.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Video: Walk-around

Video: Drive

Drag Race: Chrysler EV versus Dodge Challenger

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:36:49 GMT

This new video illustrates an important point we've made on this blog about how future performance vehicles *must* change technologies - but *can* still increase performance and improve dynamics. The future is not at all dark for driving enthusiasts!

The video has the 1st-gen prototype of a Chrysler Corp electric vehicle, against an old-school and very traditional performance car. In a drag race held by the Los Angeles Times, the EV won.

The Challenger weighs well over 4000 pounds, and the EV is closer to a thousand less. The EV is a pre-production mule based on an adapted Lotus gasoline-engine product that isn't sold in this country. The 1st-gen Chrysler electronics will certainly improve before production and are ultimately limited by battery technology as with other electric vehicles. Battery technology is certainly the #1 investment area in automotive research these days.

Chrysler's strategy to show off it's three electric vehicles at this point in time is interesting. Whether it's to appeal to Nissan (a potential suitor, who itself hasn't shown much in the electric field - yet) or to the Government for bailout purposes, it's a smart move at this point in time.

GREEN for Driving Enthusiasts

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:25:50 GMT

Green powertrain technology for driving enthusiasts? Are we nuts?

To the contrary: look at the specs for the new Dodge EV: 268 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. from an all-electric powertrain in a lightweight sportscar. Similar acceleration numbers for the Tesla (but less torque), and it's in production today.

These are just the first steps in adapting electric motors to the benefit of driving enthusiasts. Remember that electric motors make all of their torque from 1 RPM upwards...!

This is new technology... lots of further development is needed. As with the current electric and hybrid offerings for "pedestrian" drivers, battery technology is the main obstacle and needs to jump forward - a lot. And designing a car from the ground up as an all-electric vehicle is a lot more optimum than adapting a present chassis so we shouldn't expect to see optimum offerings here immediately either.

But work is proceeding... all-electric powertrains (and even electric assist of gasoline engines, as Toyota is working on for the eventual Supra replacement) increase the performance bar for performance enthusiasts as well as all-around driving enthusiasts. As the technology is perfected, it offers nothing but benefits for us.

The Driving Enthusiast Network has been blogging about these developments for 4 years. And while we admit to some initial negativity and skepticism as to benefits of this technology in years past, clearly the world is evolving and we should too. This kind of technology is bring proven as advantageous to performance dynamics and desirable to driving enthusiasts. Driving Enthusiasts as always will show their inherent best traits by taking what is offered and improving upon it - and we'll confidently predict that we'll see customer-modified Teslas and Dodge EVs on the streets of California and in enthusiast magaiznes in the next few years. We're already seeing hybrid race cars and battery technology improvements will eventually yield an all-electric race car as well.

Don't forget: great horsepower and maximum torque across the entire powerband. Which in the Tesla is 14,000 RPM. You can't beat that!

A new blog category GREEN for Driving Enthusiasts has just been created to consolidate this information. Use these links (strongly suggest <right click> and <open in new tab>):

Look for a new tab specific to this area on our main site in the coming months.

Dodge EV all-electric sports car

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:39:19 GMT

Chrysler has announced several electric models moving to production including an all-electric sportscar for Dodge. No gasoline engine is provided: it's solely powered by an electric motor. It makes 268 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft.!! As with all electric motors, the torque is 100% available from 1 RPM all the way up. Incredible!

268 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft.!! In an extraordinarily light car. This couldn't be done with an all-gasoline powertrain.

This is a phenomenal announcement that goes a long way towards making electric vehicles for driving enthusiasts acceptable... desirable... advantageous... and one day the norm.

Interestingly, the chassis is from Lotus. Where else have we seen Lotus platform sharing? The Tesla - which is a direct competitor. But one which has far less funding and engineering expertise. Could the Dodge EV be a threat to the Tesla? We hope not... because the folks are Tesla are heroes in our books for all the great work they've done and for all the engineering obstacles they've overcome.

Chrysler Press Release follows, with information on this and the other Chrysler electric announcements this week.

Chrysler LLC Surges Forward with Production-intent Electric Vehicles

Company Introduces Three Advanced Electric-drive Vehicle Prototypes

One targeted to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010
Chrysler LLC to have approximately 100 electric vehicles on the road in government, business, utility and development fleets in 2009
Chrysler electric-drive technology to be applied to front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms
Dodge EV: All-electric Performance Sports Car
Jeep® EV: Wrangler Range-extended Electric Vehicle to allow customers to roam the planet and take care of it at the same time
Chrysler EV: Town & Country Range-extended Electric Vehicle
Chrysler and General Electric pursue joint project with U.S. Department of Energy

Auburn Hills, Mich., Sep 23, 2008 - Actions speak louder than words.

Chrysler LLC announced today that the Company and its ENVI organization have new production-intent, advanced electric-drive technology packaged in three different vehicles – one for each of its brands, Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge.

Chrysler will select one electric-drive model to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010. Additionally, approximately 100 Chrysler electric vehicles will be on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009.

The Company said that it is well into the development of advanced, production-intent electric vehicles, and that it will apply electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.

At its World Headquarters here today, Chrysler revealed its electric-drive prototypes – Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV – and demonstrated the driving performance and capability of each.

“We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer,” said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO – Chrysler LLC. “The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future, and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market.”

ENVI Organization
The development of Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles and Range-extended Electric Vehicles is led by ENVI – representing the first four letters of “environmental” – the Company’s in-house organization that was formed to focus on electric-drive production vehicles and related advanced technologies. The development of electric-drive systems for future Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles is maturing quickly.

“ENVI was created just over one year ago with the strategic intent to develop electric-drive vehicles quickly for Chrysler, and it is surpassing expectations,” said Tom LaSorda, Vice Chairman and President – Chrysler LLC. “With ENVI, Chrysler is developing technology to bring Electric Vehicles and extremely fuel-efficient Range-extended Electric Vehicles to market.”

Electric Vehicle Technology
Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles utilize just three primary components. These include an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor and a controller that manages energy flow. The electric-drive system is being developed for front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle applications.

“This technology provides customers with a vehicle that has zero tailpipe emissions and a 150- to 200-mile driving range – far exceeding most Americans’ daily commutes, as nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “Electric Vehicles provide the opportunity to fulfill social responsibility, reduce dependency on foreign oil, and eliminate monthly gasoline bills, while delivering performance and utility that our customers desire.”

Range-extended Electric Vehicle Technology
The Range-extended Electric Vehicle combines the electric-drive components of the Electric Vehicle with a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles – with no compromises in performance.

Range-extended Electric Vehicles offer environmental responsibility without giving up driving range, comfort or utility.

Dodge EV
The Dodge EV development Electric Vehicle is a two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive sports car that marries high performance with zero tailpipe emissions.

“The Dodge EV sets a new standard for what can be expected in electric-drive vehicles,” said Lou Rhodes, Vice President – Advance Vehicle Engineering, and President – ENVI. “The electric-vehicle technology enables a fun-to-drive performance sports car and helps redefine the vision of an environmentally responsible vehicle for the Dodge brand.”

The electric-drive system consists of three primary components: a 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor, an advanced lithium-ion battery and an integrated power controller.

The 200 kW electric-drive motor generates 650 N•m (480 lb.-ft.) of torque. The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor delivers outstanding performance, accelerating the Dodge EV to 60 mph in less than five seconds, with quarter-mile times of 13 seconds. The Dodge EV has a top speed of more than 120 mph.

Working with the latest advanced lithium-ion battery technology, the Dodge EV has a continuous driving range of 150 to 200 miles – more than triple the average daily commute of most consumers. Recharging the vehicle is a simple one-step process: plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet for eight hours. The recharge time can be cut in half to four hours by using a typical 220-volt household appliance power outlet.

The Dodge EV offers driving enthusiasts a performance sports car that can be driven to work every day – without consuming gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions.

Jeep EV
The Jeep EV development vehicle is a Range-extended Electric Vehicle that provides a glimpse into the future of a “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” vehicle with renowned Jeep Wrangler capability.

The Jeep EV combines Wrangler’s unmatched off-road capability with the ultimate “Tread Lightly” mindset by providing nature ambassadors with the ability to roam the planet and take care of it at the same time.

The Jeep EV Range-extended Electric Vehicle uses an electric motor, an advanced lithium-ion battery system, and a small gasoline engine with an integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. The 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor generates 400 N•m (295 lb.-ft.) of torque. With approximately eight gallons of gasoline, the Jeep EV has a range of 400 miles, including 40 miles of zero fuel-consumption, zero-emissions, all-electric operation.

“We are also exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of ENVI’s advanced electric-drive technologies,” said Rhodes.

The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor and the ability to precisely control each wheel independently results in off-road capability ideally suited for the Jeep brand, without compromising on-road driving capability.

Chrysler EV
The Chrysler EV development vehicle is a Range-extended Electric Vehicle that demonstrates another possible application of ENVI electric-drive technology in the segment-leading Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

“With the Chrysler EV, we are able to blend seven-passenger capability and the luxury of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan with electric-drive technology, demonstrating family practicality with zero compromise,” said Rhodes. “ENVI’s electric-drive development vehicles showcase our accelerated application of electric-drive systems into a wide range of vehicles in Chrysler’s future product portfolio.”

The Chrysler EV combines the electric-drive components of an Electric Vehicle with an integrated small-displacement engine and generator to produce additional electricity to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides all of the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle and extends the driving range to be equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles – without compromises.

The Chrysler EV uses a 190 kW (255 horsepower) motor, producing 350 N•m (258 lb.-ft.) of torque, providing 0 to 60 mph acceleration in approximately nine seconds. The Chrysler EV Range-extended Electric Vehicle can drive 40 miles on all-electric power, and boasts a range of 400 miles on approximately eight gallons of gasoline. This makes the Chrysler EV the perfect fuel-efficient family vehicle.

The knowledge and experience gained from the Chrysler EV will be applied to other front-wheel-drive applications in Chrysler’s portfolio.

Chrysler LLC Electric-vehicle Consumer Web Site
Chrysler LLC has launched a Web site – www.Chryslergoeselectric.com – to allow consumers to view the latest updates on Electric Vehicles and Range-extended Electric Vehicles from the Company. Content will include videos, photography and news, and visitors can sign up for updates. In addition, the site features a blog where consumers can interact directly with the Company.

Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement
Chrysler and General Electric are jointly pursuing a project with the United States Department of Energy to explore advanced energy-storage technology.

“Chrysler’s partnership with General Electric combines the electric-drive technology demonstrated in the Chrysler Electric Vehicles, with GE’s research and development of advanced energy storage systems,” said Klegon. “Our collective goal working with the DOE is to develop a new, integrated energy-storage system to make electric vehicle battery packs smaller and significantly less expensive than current designs.”

Chrysler and GE will develop and evaluate dual-battery solutions based on GE’s unique technology.

“One of the challenges with electric vehicles is finding a battery with the correct balance between power – for example, during vehicle acceleration – and energy for long driving range,” said Klegon. “We believe that combining two unique battery chemistries – one biased toward power and the other toward energy – into a single battery pack is very promising for a future Chrysler Electric Vehicle.”

Lotus Engineering develops a racing Honda Civic Hybrid

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:56:42 GMT

If you follow the history of Lotus Engineering, you'll find them involved in a number of interesting projects over the years. Here's another: development of an off-the-shelf Civic Hybrid into a race car.

Remember that in the Honda Civic Hybrid system, the electric motor acts as an assist when needed, not as the primary means of propulsion. Since lectric motors make 100% of their torque at 1 RPM and up (way up!), this is ideal in situations where extra power is seamlessly needed - such as acceleration out of a corner.

There are questions - such as keeping the batteries cool and keeping them charged by the engine and by regenerative braking. No doubt the race car is fully instrumented to monitor these data.

And no doubt this could be the start of using electric motors for motorsport, as discussed in this blog over the past few years. Electric motors could be a great benefit to driving enthusiasts - it's just a matter of development and time.

Lotus Press Release follows:

Lotus Engineering, the world renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus is collaborating with Oaktec to develop the performance of a Honda Civic Hybrid for stage rallying and circuit racing.

Recognised as a global leader in hybrid and electric vehicle development, Lotus Engineering is supplying technical expertise to Oaktec in developing racing technology that exploits the performance potential of the petrol electric Honda hybrid system. The Honda Civic Hybrid will compete on the racetrack with ultra low exhaust emissions and high fuel efficiency.

Lancashire based Oaktec, a specialist in energy efficient vehicle design, approached Lotus Engineering to investigate areas of battery and system control technology that enable maximum racing performance and efficiency from the hybrid drivetrain. The collaboration is in partnership with Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS), Motorsport Development and Honda UK. The project has won funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus Plc said: “Lotus Engineering has an enviable track-record in the global automotive industry for the successful delivery of hybrid vehicle programmes, applying advanced technologies on the road and now on the racetrack. Our dedicated Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies Group is working on a large number of third party client projects and the collaboration with Oaktec is yet another demonstration of our advanced skills and expertise in the area of hybrid vehicle engineering.”

The environmentally friendly Honda IMA hybrid technology used on the Honda Civic Hybrid is ideally suited to a motorsport application and has further potential to enhance power whilst retaining high fuel efficiency. The 1339cc Civic uses a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to complement the hybrid-drive in race and rally conditions. This CVT enables the car to be driven at constant full power making performance very accessible, and in tandem with the hybrid system gives excellent performance and efficiency.

Paul Andrews, Senior Partner of Oaktec said: “We have been developing the Honda Hybrid system for motorsport since 2004 and achieved a great deal of success in rallies around the UK, including a championship win in 2006 with a Honda Insight in the F1000 Class A Championship. Maximising racetrack performance from a hybrid drivetrain is a complex technical exercise but one that Lotus Engineering has the experience and expertise to help us deliver. We look forward to seeing our success on the rally tracks replicated in the race circuits. We will be breaking new ground with the project when Gavan Kershaw of Lotus Engineering and Jamie Corstorphine of Autocar magazine will race our Honda Civic Hybrid for the first time in the Dunlop Max Sport Cup at Rockingham circuit on 28th September.”

Phil Barker, Chief Engineer of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies at Lotus Engineering said: “Hybrid and electric vehicles are already established on our roads but to make them successful on the racetrack, a number of technical changes have to be employed. Working with Oaktec, we will create a revised electrical specification for more power and a control system that will allow a more aggressive regenerative braking strategy. Lotus Engineering’s work on the Honda Civic Hybrid will prove that you can still get high performance while using green technologies.”

About Group Lotus plc:
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd, which has two operating divisions – Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Its global facilities include those in Michigan, USA and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and offices in Germany and China. Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world’s OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party ‘niche vehicle’ engineering and manufacture worldwide. Lotus Cars builds and sells Lotus sportscars, Elise, Exige and Europa for global sale. The all new Lotus Evora was unveiled at the British International Motorshow in July 2008 and is scheduled to enter the market place in the second quarter of 2009.

About Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS)
EEMS, the Energy Efficient Motorsport programme, is an industry initiative supported by Motorsport Development UK and funded by the BERR (formerly DTI) and four regional development agencies. Its aim is to put energy efficiency at the heart of modern motorsport and to promote the development expertise of the UK motorsport industry. It provides support for a range of projects developing energy efficiency in racing as well as running events to widen knowledge. http://www.eemsonline.co.uk/

ABC News: The Volt Revealed

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:38:18 GMT

This is interesting - I have been tracking several "green" developments on this site and in this blog with a special interest in future performance applications of electrically-powered cars (remember that an electric motor makes tremendous torque - and delivers all of it instantaneously).

The future is electric and hydrogen... probably in that order. And the sooner we get a performance variation of these vehicles the sooner the general population of driving enthusiasts will embrace this powerful technology. Look for for us to start a "Green Performance" section on the DrivingEnthusiast.net network in the near future.

Congrats Tesla - first two dealerships open

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:55:22 GMT

Tesla has announced that their first two dealerships in California are open for business. Roadster production is indeed proceeding, although at a slow pace until September when an upgraded powertrain and the new gearbox (finally!) will be ready to go and production will ramp to 100 cars/month.

Online articles (suggest <right click> and <open in new tab>):

Meanwhile, the Governator of California has announced that the production of the upcoming 4-door Tesla "Model S" will take place in a new factory to be built in California:

http://www.gov.ca.gov/press-release/10038/

Toyota reports lithium-ion production in 2009... is this the key to the next Supra?

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:38:10 GMT

Toyota announced this week that litium-ion battery production would begin in 2009, and that 2 brand new hybrids (all-new cars, additions to the line) would be announced next year in addition to the on top of the already announced next-gen Prius. One of the 2 is a Lexus, the other a Toyota.

You'll remember that in August of 2007, AutoWeek reviewed it's understanding of Toyota's plans for the next few years and said that production of the next-gen Supra, based on the FT-HS hybrid sports car concept from the 2007 Detroit show, would go into production in the summer of 2009. While nothing in the way of prototypes has been spotted yet, and while it's not confirmed that the car will be named Supra (but the statements of several Toyota Executives confirm that a response to the 350Z is very desirable), production of a new generation of high-energy batteries would be a key and necessary step in the production of a sporting hybrid.

The concept is shown below, it is roughly 350Z-sized and is powered by a combination of a hybrid powertrain and a 3.5 liter V-6. The net yield is 400 HP.

AutoWeek says Toyota FT-HS in summer 2009

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:19:57 GMT

AutoWeek says the Toyota FT-HS ( http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/2006/12/27.html#a1930 will go into production in the summer of 2009. The car will feature a hybrid drivetrain with a 3.5 liter V-6 and 400 HP.

The concept is pictured to the right. The FT-HS is the spiritual successor to the Supra. If this type of car goes into production, it will be smaller, lighter, better handling, and more powerful than the last Supra, although of course it won't have the ultimate HP potential of the infamous Supra TT. Nonetheless, it will truly move the state of the art forward. Art being both performance and hybrid.

Continue at source: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/FREE/70820009/1528/newsletter01

New Supra coming together?

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:09:29 GMT

There is a lot of discussion on various websites and in magazines worldwide about what might be a new Supra, thought to be announced at the Tokyo Auto Show this year. Enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting - or hoping - for a new Supra.

Note that it's only discussion - other than the concept car shown to the right there has been zero official word from Toyota - and zero spy photos of running prorotypes (which there should be by now if production is indeed planned).

So take all of these reports from all of these sites for exactly what it is: speculation.

So now lets speculate.

SPECULATION MODE: ON

Toyota has taken a very brave step. This is a car that will be the same size as the current 350Z, and aimed at the same market. There will be a base engine of 3.5 liters that will directly compete with the 2009 370Z. That makes sense, and this would fill one of the holes in the traditional sporting Toyota (MR2, Celica, Supra) lineup.

The brave step is the optional hybrid engine - where Toyota is using technology to increase total available power rather than just build a car dedicated solely to fuel economy. The output of 400 HP is plenty for what will be a fairly small car. More importantly, it's the torque curve and drivability of that engine that would be of interest to enthusiasts. There will be lots of power and torque across the board, delivered nearly instantaneously. 0-60 MPH times will be fabulous.

Why do I like this idea? First, the bravado of Toyota in bringing it to market. But second the strategy: performance enthusiasts don't like hybrid cars currently because none of them have been built for enthusiasts. The current crop of hybrids is largely (and necessarily) econo-boxes or small SUVs - many with unusual or downright weird styling in our eyes. And all of them easily out-performaned by otherwise equivalent but conventionally-powered vehicles.

The market is absolutely moving towards hybrid or alternative powerplants. We all need to accept that fact. Toyota's forward-looking vision tells us that driving enthusiasts have something to look forward to - that performance is not dead under any circumstances and can indeed be improved. And that we can reduce our dependency on unreliable middle eastern countries and still have our fun.

This could be an autocross car: imagine the instantaneous torque of electric assist. The car would be well-balanced because a ground-up design could optimize the weight of the battery packs in the back and the electric motor in the front. Yes, it will be heavier than the base V-6 car, but the trade-off will be significantly increased performance.

This could be a track car: imagine seamless, smooth, and linear flow of power across a wide range of RPM, available for long blasts down the straight and at any point in a turn. Couple that with balance and it'd be a good car for events for people who want to drive their daily driver to the event and then back home again.

Everything that we know about suspensions and driving dynamics applies equally here as it does anywhere else. Optimizing springs, bushing, swaybars, damping, and tires applies just as much here as it does anywhere else. Likely - speculation again - the car uses the same double A-arm suspension and multi-link rear as does the IS series. That is a very well designed chassis that would make an excellent basis for the Supra (it's also an evolutionary offspring of the last Supra!).

Very possibly first true hybrid sports car wil be the start of something great. There will be issues with it, things not entirely mature, and it will be a bit heavy for it's mission (but still less than a V-8). All that will optimize as evolution proceeds and probably picks up the pace. But it's very clearly the future, very clearly a brave move, and the only question now is which of we enthusiasts will be brave enough to buy one?

SPECULATION MODE: OFF

References on this site:

Supra blog: http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/categories/toyotaSupra/index.html
Supra blog post index: http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/categories/toyotaSupra/posts.html
Supra blog RSS feed: http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/categories/toyotaSupra/rss.xml

Lexus GS450H hybrid goes racing in Japan

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 14:18:16 GMT

WorldCarFans.com has the inside scoop on Lexus testing it's hybrid GS450H in Japan by taking it 24-hr endurance racing.

A very smart move by Lexus... one that has been echoed in the United States by both Honda and Acura with efforts involving the RSX, TSX, TL, and RL. The RL competed earlier this year in California: http://www.DrivingEnthusiast.net/sec-blog/2006/01/12.html#a1175

The purpose of course isn't just to win a race and get publicity - it's to demonstrate the engineering prowess of the manufacturer and the integrity of the hardware. The GS450H and the RL will never be used by anybody as race cars - but the outcome of the test demonstrates how well the technology holds up under adverse conditions and gets feedback into engineering to further improve the products.

This kind of simple investment translates directly into a better and longer-lasting car for the consumer. Very smart move... and if your favorite manufacturer isn't doing this you need to do some rethinking....

Continue at the link in the title to WorldCarFans.com

WorldCarFans is a very well-done site with excellent worldwide coverage of automotive events for enthusiasts. Note their blog and RSS feed.

Tesla specs and images now available!

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 18:51:54 GMT

Tesla motors has updated their website to show full images and specs of their Tesla Roadster, which goes on sale next summer.

Take a look at their performance specs - including the torque curve. This will be a great performer when it comes out, even better than the gasoline Elise it was derived from.

And note their new blog and RSS feed:

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog1/

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog1/?feed=rss2

Anybody need an electric Elise? Yes!

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 22:22:32 GMT

The Tesla Roadster was announced today and shown to the press. It's literally built from an Elise chassis, with a new fenders (but not roof) lights, front fenders, and rear bumper. The interior should look familar to any Lotus enthusiasts - it's pure Elise. The overall effect is actually handsome (especially in the red shown).

Press events being what they are, the level of fluf was high. Lots of talk about global warming, etc. I had thought that we were learning in this country that being green alone won't sell any car (except to Hollywood liberals)... and that electric or hybrid cars had to have their own very positive and clear merits outside of the propulsion system in order to find success.

But there is indeed merit to this particular electric car (and I'm definitely not a liberal) - as long as the conversion has been engineered well. Electric motors have all of their power across their entire range: this car will be extremely responsive and it could even be a great car for blasting around the cones. Electrics are quiet - it would be a pleasure to drive. Air conditioning and heating wouldn't be a problem - there are air conditioning systems that are entirely electric-based (as in the Prius) - although it's not clear what's being used here. And I noticed from their site that it will do 0-60 MPH in 4 about seconds! Lets face it, the world will move away from internal combustion in the next 20 years - and cars like the Tesla point the way to a very encouraging future.

More upsides:

It's an Elise - so it is very well engineered - at least underneath.
It looks like that have a great board, and serious financial backing.
You won't have to deal with having your kid or the next owner put a large-tipped and loud exhaust system - there is no exhaust.

Potential downsides are:

Do our emergency and police folks know how to deal with electrics in crash situations? Batteries leak, high voltage shock is a problem. Same issue here as in hybrids (be glad you don't have a hydrogen tank here under 5000 PSI!). I'll point out that this isn't the fault of Tesla - our entire infrastructure has to learn how to deal with this situation.
It's an Elise... any kind of crash at all will send your insurance company into a straight denial of repair (and policy renewal).

Unfortunately, the company's website didn't get updated today - they won't be showing pictures of their product until early Thursday morning. Visit their site then to see the car and the details. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of their announcement - particularly about the engine.