Iconic coupe ruined for the sake of green technologyOpen Letter to the Green Car Community
I saw this today and as an enthusiast, my heart sank. One of the least known classic coupes from the late ’60s, the Toyota 2000GT, has been bastardized in the name of the environment.
The 2000GT was a limited production model designed by Toyota, first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965. In collaboration with Yamaha, the car was built between 1967 and 1970.
At the time, the 2000GT was a bit of an anomaly. Toyota was …

Hybrid concept is the annual EyesOn Design Award winner in DetroitThe beautiful Lexus LF-LC Concept has won the annual EyesOn Design Award for the best concept car at the Detroit Motor Show.
What do you think? Is this a new design direction for Lexus? Or are we looking at the next LFA?
The “Eyes” have it: Lexus LF-LC named top design concept at Detroit Motor Show
The Lexus LF-LC Hybrid Sport Coupe Concept has proved a head-turning success at theDetroit motor show (NAIAS), being honoured with the annual EyesOn Design Award for …

Without a doubt, there’s a bias against diesel engines in the U.S. With all the talk about hybrids and their advantages, you hardly ever read anything about all the advantages of diesel engines. In fact, about 95 percent of American cars and trucks are gas-powered. But the fact of the matter is that diesels are far superior to regular gas engines and even—believe it or not—hybrids.
Have you ever read about the terrific gas mileage that people in OTHER countries are getting? Have you ever wondered why vehicles on the market …

Improperly positioned hose clamp may cause a fireUPDATE: This from Fisker today regarding the Karma recall
Anaheim, California, USA – January 2, 2012: Fisker Automotive announced today that a majority of all customer cars and dealer-held vehicles affected by the recall involving A123-supplied battery packs have already had brand new battery packs fitted or the confirmed repair to the hose clamp assembly undertaken and are back in service – just 2 weeks after Fisker was first made aware of the issue.
The remaining customers have been contacted and appointments are being made for …

We may wonder where our predicted jetpacks are, but we have something close – cars that we can plug into our walls to charge up, no gas needed (at least not all the time). You’ve heard that electric cars are more efficient and intrinsically more environmentally friendly, but what are the realities of buying an electric car?
First, let’s get our facts straight. Efficiency is defined as “the ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a …

You can’t help but think about cars in the seemingly distant past when you see Cadillac’s Ciel Concept.
The Ciel, pronounced “C-L”, is an expansive four-door convertible…yes, I said four-door. And those doors are full size, including two in suicide style. Did we say this car is a beast?
“Large, expressive luxury is innate to Cadillac and the Ciel recalls that heritage, while suggesting where the brand can go in the future,” said Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac. “Authentic luxury is driven by experiences, not just products, and Ciel is …

Presided Over by the Auto Industry by Megan Hannay
I’ve spent better part of seven months working social media into an industry known for being a bit more…”traditional” when it comes to marketing tactics. But even the automotive world is beginning to turn on to social media marketing. In fact, some brands, like Ford, are now hailed as social media marketing models.
One of the most intriguing trends I’ve observed is the extra push that marketing teams for eco-friendly vehicles have made towards social media debuts. The Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt, Ford …

Exotic car buyers should grab their checkbooks now.Why the hurry? Because Porsche is only making 918 of their über green exotic, the 918 Spyder. This is the ultimate for those well heeled few who not only want a blindingly fast super car but want to brag to their friends about its near zero impact on the environment. So go, quickly now, grab your checkbooks and give Porsche a ring. We’ll wait.
Actually, we won’t. Quite simply, this car is amazing. And we don’t mean Bugatti Veyron amazing. The 918 Spyder won’t …

2012 Volkswagen TiguanMidyear refresh marks brand identity
Beating at the heart of so many Volkswagens is the companies powerful yet efficient 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder diesel. The 2012 Tiguan has been revealed, although it’s more of a mid-year refresh than an all new design. But what’s missing? The diesel!
The Tiguan would be a perfect candidate for VW’s little diesel. No, its not a stump-pulling SUV but excellent efficiency and low end torque would make a great VW marketing pitch. Buyers in snow-bound environments or those who fjord muddy roads on a regular basis …

A hybrid beast for the trackOn the opening day of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Porsche introduced the 918 RSR, a hybrid race car that could easily appear on any Le Mans-style starting grid.
Utilizing the same drive train as the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, the 918 RSR packs 563HP 6.2L V8 which will bump the rev limiter at an unsightly 10,000RPM. In addition to the V8, the 918 RSR has two 75 kilowatt electric motors, one positioned at each of the front wheels. Combined, this gasoline/hybrid power …