June 2012

Testing the Lotus Evora 414E hybrid — 60 mph in 4 seconds

(June 30, 2012) LONDON — Brimming with innovation, technology, performance and power, the Lotus Evora 414E is a series hybrid technology demonstrator which shows some of the headline technologies that Lotus Engineering has within its portfolio.

The Evora 414E is powered by two electric motor packs developing 408 horsepower driving the rear wheels through its Xtrac transmission with a battery pack that can be charged by the Lotus range extender engine or directly from mains electricity.

GM captures energy used in engine testing

(June 30, 2012) TORINO, Italy — As visitors to the General Motors Powertrain Engineering Center in Torino walk the halls, they can often hear the whirring of engines being tested. But what they can’t hear is the excess energy being transferred back to the grid.

Threatening wildfires force postponement of Pikes Peak Hill Climb

(June 30, 2012) Wildfires threatening the Colorado Springs area have forced postponement of the 90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which was scheduled for July 8, according to a report by AutoWeek. Organizers said they hope to stage the event later this summer.

Audi's all-electric R8 e-tron sets Nurburgring lap record

(June 30, 2012) The future of electric mobility at Audi is highly dynamic. This was pointed out when the R8 e-tron has set a world record for a production vehicle with an electric drive system on the Nürburgring Nordschleife — the toughest test track in the world.

Racing driver Markus Winkelhock (pictured below) piloted the high-performance, all-electric-drive sports car around the demanding 20.8-kilometer (12.92-mile) track in 8:09.099 minutes. With this Audi has achieved yet another milestone in its history, following overall wins at the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Le Mans.

Chevy Corvette roars into its 60th year

(June 30, 2012) DETROIT – On June 30, 1953, the first of a new kind of Chevrolet – indeed, a new kind of American car – rolled off an assembly line in Flint, Mich.

The car had only two seats. There were no roll-up windows, or exterior door handles, for that matter. Its body wasn’t stamped from steel but, rather, molded from reinforced fiberglass.

It's the law — All cars in France must have two breathalyzers

(June 29, 2012) LONDON — New French regulations require drivers to include two breathalyzers in vehicles when driving in the country. Motorists planning to drive in France must carry two breathalyzers in their vehicles from July 1, in order to conform to the latest safety regulations in French law, warns Comparecarhire.co.uk.

Honda begins leasing all-electric Fit in California

(June 29, 2012) TORRANCE, Calif. — Honda today announced the all-new 2013 Honda Fit EV will be available for lease beginning July 20 with a three-year lease price of $389 per month. The 2013 Honda Fit EV is the latest in Honda's diverse and growing range of alternative-fuel vehicles, and received the highest fuel-efficiency rating ever given by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with an adjusted combined mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe.

Toyota, BMW to work together on fuel cell system, sports car

(June 29, 2012) MUNICH, Germany — BMW and Toyota today announced the planned expansion of their existing cooperation initiated in December last year. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at a long-term strategic collaboration in four fields — joint development of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, collaboration on powertrain electrification and joint research and development on lightweight technologies.

Nissan's Canton plant to manufacture new Sentra

(June 29, 2012) CANTON, Miss. — Nissan announced this week it will add production of the all-new 2013 Nissan Sentra compact car to its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012. The addition of Sentra production, along with the planned November shift of the Frontier pickup truck and Xterra SUV to Canton from Nissan's operations in Smyrna, Tenn., will create 1,000 jobs, growing Canton's workforce to more than 4,500 strong.

First production 2013 SRT Viper auctioned for $300,000

(June 29, 2012) — The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer will receive $300,000 from auction proceeds of the first production-model 2013 SRT Viper GTS, following the Barrett-Jackson Orange County (Calif.) event last weekend.