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 …

VW expects 43 mpg with optional 2.0L clean dieselVolkswagen has ripped the sheet off their all-new 2012 Passat, a car the German marque expects to make huge gains in the U.S. market for them.
With American drivers in mind, the new Passat is larger than its predecessor. In addition to features the car maker hopes will appeal to buyers, the base price of the car will start somewhere around $20,000. Those features include automatic climate control and a gadget mavens must-have of Bluetooth connectivity.
And I’m happy to report that one of …

And has news to announce in DetroitProbably one of the most significant pieces of news in this release was Porsche’s announcement that December was the seventh straight month in which it recorded double or triple digit monthly sales increases over the previous year. Incredible consistency considering what was happening in the auto market in general. Demand for the brand remained strong, with models such as the Cayenne and Panamera leading the way.
In December, the company sold 179 more Panameras for the month when compared to 2009. An increase of 34 percent.
Sales were …

Manufacturers shouldn’t forget about this important marketI like the direction Honda is taking this. As my headline implies, hybrid manufacturers need to appeal to enthusiasts. There’s no way around it. I think it’s safe to say that most car aficionados don’t like hybrids. You can throw me in that camp. A hybrid represents something less in the all-conquering name of high performance. Hybrids have a lot of batteries. Potentially, thousands of batteries. And all those batteries can add hundreds of pounds to a car’s weight. Not something you want in a …

As goes Audi, Volkswagen seems to quickly follow suit. We previously reported about the Audi A3 TDI that burned synthetic diesel fuel. Now Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI has been named the 2011 Urban Green Vehicle of the Year.
Even though the relationship is quite clear between the two makes, I love their approach. Sharing technology across all of the brands makes sense. Plus it saves VW a ton of money. But VW/Audi are not throwing all of their economy and ‘greenspeak’ behind hybrids and all-electrics. Yes, global warmists, you’ll undoubtedly hate this …