General Motors’ current crop of midsize hybrid sedans are rarely mentioned in the same breath as hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima – let alone the standard-bearing Toyota Prius and its main competitor from Japan, the Honda Insight. According to The General, much of the blame for the slow sales of the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura hybrids is due to the small mileage improvement of the mild hybrid powertrain compared to a standard four-cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission. No kidding, right?

Fortunately, GM apparently has a plan to address its midsize hybrid shortcomings. Speaking to GM-Volt.com, Chevrolet head Ed Peper said:

What we are trying to work towards is ‘Yes,’ we will have other hybrid vehicles (besides the Volt) but we are trying to work towards a dedicated hybrid… We think that’s probably a better way for us to go longer term.

And now for the fun part: Speculation. If GM were to develop a new dedicated midsize hybrid model, it seems likely that it would use its sophisticated 2-Mode Hybrid system in lieu of the mild belt-alternator-starter system currently employed in the Malibu and Aura hybrids. The first production instance of the 2-Mode system in a front-drive application is expected in either the Cadillac SRX or the Chevy Equinox, possibly in 2011. A dedicated hybrid sedan could soon follow using the same drivetrain.

[Source:Autoblog]

General Motors has finally added the 2-Mode Hybrid powertrain to its top-level GMC Yukon Denali. There aren’t any mechanical changes to the gas-electric drivetrain that’s been available since 2008 in the standard-grade Yukon and its platform mates, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. All of which means we’ll see a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engine with 332 horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque and up to a 6,200-pound towing capacity.

According to GM, the hybrid hardware is mostly contained in the 2-Mode Electrically Variable Transmission, which features twin electric motors powered by a 300-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack. Expect EPA fuel economy ratings of 21 city, 22 highway for two-wheel drive models and 20/20 when equipped with four-wheel drive.

As far as mechanical changes go, the Denali Hybrid will bring the first application of GM’s MagnaRide suspension system to the Yukon. As you’d expect in a top-level SUV, the Denali Hybrid will come fully loaded straight from the factory – the only three options will be a sunroof, rear-seat entertainment DVD system and side blind spot alert mirrors. Hit the jump for the full press release.

PRESS RELEASE:

GMC YUKON HYBRID LINEUP EXPANDS WITH UNIQUE YUKON DENALI HYBRID

New for 2010

* New exterior colors: Taupe Grey Metallic and Sheer Silver Metallic replace Blue Granite Metallic, Silver Birch Metallic and Deep Ruby Metallic
* USB connectivity in center console, enabling stored audio files to play through the audio system and battery charging for some handheld devices

The GMC Yukon Hybrid broke ground with the world’s first production 2-Mode full hybrid propulsion system, which on the 2WD model offers 21 mpg in city driving – a 50-percent improvement over non-hybrid models. The lineup now includes the distinctive Yukon Denali Hybrid, which infuses a new level of luxury into the efficient utility vehicle.

Along with exceptional fuel economy, the Yukon Hybrid and Yukon Denali Hybrid deliver full-size capability – up to 6,200 pounds (2,812 kg) of towing capacity (2WD) and standard eight-passenger seating capacity.

Yukon Hybrid models are built on GM’s full-size SUV platform, which incorporates features such as a fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a premium interior that bolsters the vehicle’s comfort, quality and capability. Wide front and rear tracks enhance handling and lower the center of gravity for a more confident road feel.

The Yukon Hybrid was designed with safety in mind. It delivers a 360-degree safety system of occupant protection and crash-avoidance technology, with features such as standard StabiliTrak stability control system with rollover mitigation technology. For 2010, the long list of standard safety features is enhanced with the addition of front seat-mounted side air bags on all models.

Yukon Denali Hybrid details

The Yukon Denali Hybrid rides on unique 22-inch, eight-spoke, flangeless chrome wheels that make a stylish Denali appearance statement.

Inside, designers filled the cabin with luxurious amenities such as standard 12-way power, heated/cooled leather-appointed perforated front seating and heated, second-row, leather-appointed bench seating. Buyers may choose an Ebony or Cashmere interior. The only three options on this fully equipped vehicle are a sunroof, rear-seat entertainment DVD system and side blind zone alert mirrors.

Enhanced connectivity includes standard OnStar with Directions & Connections and Turn-by-Turn Navigation, navigation radio with rear camera system, a Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound System and three years of real-time XM NavTraffic.

A comprehensive safety package of crashworthiness and crash-avoidance features includes front- and side-impact air bags, anti-lock brakes and StabiliTrak with traction control. The Yukon Denali Hybrid also is equipped with GM’s MagnaRide suspension, the first application of this advanced technology in a Yukon. MagnaRide uses magnetic particles in the shock absorber fluid to adjust the damping rate of the shock absorbers – based on road conditions and vehicle dynamics – to help keep tires in contact with the road.

Patented, industry-leading hybrid technology

The Yukon Hybrid’s fuel-saving performance is derived from GM’s advanced Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) and 300-volt nickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System (ESS), which work with the standard 6.0L V-8 gasoline engine with Active Fuel Management (AFM) and late intake valve closing (LIVC) technology. GM’s hybrid technology system not only enables the Yukon to launch and drive up to 27 mph (43 km/h) on electricity alone, it allows the Vortec 6.0L V-8 engine to operate in its more economical V-4 mode for longer periods.

As part of the vehicle’s emission control system, the ESS is warranted for eight years/100,000 miles.

In the Yukon Hybrid and Yukon Denali Hybrid, the hybrid system itself generates the electricity to propel the vehicle. When the brakes are applied or the vehicle is coasting, the electric motors in the hybrid system create electricity and store it in the 300-volt battery. This electricity helps move the vehicle.

The hybrid system provides seamless, dependable power on demand in an efficient package. In fact, its electric motor is less than half the size of those in single-mode hybrid systems. This technology was developed and is still used in fleets of hybrid transit buses in more than 70 North American and European cities. Scaled down for use in passenger vehicles, the two-mode system delivers fuel savings where it is needed most – in large vehicles with high levels of capability. The two-mode system was first introduced on the 2008 Yukon Hybrid. It is a core part of GM’s energy diversity efforts, centered on reducing dependence on petroleum, improving fuel economy, reducing emissions and minimizing the automobile’s impact on the environment.

Quiet and smooth

Integration of the hybrid system on the Yukon is seamless – the battery pack is beneath the second-row seat – and delivers a quiet driving experience. Contributors to this include:

* Specific exhaust system and resonator tuned for the 6.0L engine’s Active Fuel Management operation
* Additional engine intake induction tuning for reduced interior noise and pleasing sound quality
* Low-rolling resistance, “quiet-tuned” P265/65R18 tires for reduced road noise
* Electrically driven 300-volt air conditioning compressor reduces vibration and allows the standard, tri-zone HVAC system to cool the passenger compartment even when the gasoline engine is shut off
* Electrically driven 42-volt variable-assist power steering reduces vibration and provides up to a 0.5-mpg fuel economy improvement by reducing parasitic losses common in belt-driven hydraulic systems
* Energy Storage System (ESS) cooling system internal fan is tuned to be quiet at low vehicle speeds.

Along with quietness, the Yukon Hybrid also delivers exceptional driving smoothness, thanks to specifically tuned shocks.

Trailering performance

In addition to increased fuel economy, the Yukon Hybrid’s electrically variable transmission also provides tremendous trailering capability, enhancing driving smoothness and quality when towing.

Electric drive is enabled up to 27 mph (43 km/h), saving fuel even when the truck is towing a trailer.

The EVT incorporates grade braking and tap up/tap down shift control. It also benefits towing on curves or lower-speed back roads, as exceptionally smooth gear transitions eliminate the “shift shock” torque disruption that can occur during abrupt shifts, such as when slowing or braking.

In addition to the eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on the Yukon Hybrid’s Energy Storage System, GM’s five-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty continues to make GM a better choice for customers. GM’s coverage focuses on the complete ownership experience and includes other provisions that competitors do not offer, including transferability to the next owner, more complete coverage of parts, and coverage for new and certified used vehicles. In addition, GM offers complementary courtesy transportation and roadside assistance.

[Source Autoblog]

In Possible Future Scenario #317-B, San Francisco industrial design firm Mike and Maaike presents the atnmbl (get it? – “autonomobile”). Less a car than an autonomous, seven-person mobile living room, the atnmbl is billed as a complete redesign of the car for those who believe that the ideal driving experience is not driving.

Essentially an all-wheel-drive Internet sitting room, the solar and electric atnmbl asks you where you want to go and then takes you there. Speed and acceleration are “irrelevant considerations,” time savings is the key – that is, unless you ask the atnmbl to take the scenic route. Since you’re not driving, you’ll need something to do during the trip, hence the Internet browsing screen and open-source software architecture to download apps, social networking capabilities, and… a bar.

Mike and Maaike don’t predict seeing the atnmbl until 2040, which gives you some time to enjoy having to leave your couch to go camping. As for such a thing actually materializing, coming from the folks who designed the Google Phone, and with, perhaps, the ears of Google’s muckamucks, well, hey, who knows. In the meantime, you can read what the firm has to say about its creation after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE:

The End of Driving.

We always wanted to design a car, it just never felt right. The current climate gave us the final push–with the car industry lost, an urgent focus on global warming, awareness of oil dependency, and the economic down turn, the stars have aligned. It is time to sow seeds, to experiment. Armed with a small design studio, we set out to design a concept car which questions current obsessions of speed, styling and driving in search of an optimistic new future. And it quickly became clear to us:

A shift must take place from styling cars to redefining them.

Speed has been the driving factor for car design, styling, and engineering for a century. Most vehicles on the road today are capable of reaching 120 mph yet they are mostly used at moderate speeds and sitting in traffic. It’s time to look at performance in a new way. Our vision is a new focus on quality of time while in traffic and transit. Dismissing the need for extreme MPH and acceleration as irrelevant, performance can be measured by time savings instead.

Driverless cars, once a fantasy requiring new roads and infrastructure, are now technologically possible, even inevitable. GPS, sophisticated sensors, and navigation databases will allow driverless vehicles to operate on the same roads we have today. The shift from a driving infrastructure to a riding infrastructure has deep implications for society, yet it is currently being defined almost exclusively by engineers and the military. Positive design visions are desperately needed if this technology (and other robotic technology) is to have a positive impact on society.

The Autonomobile
ATNMBL is our vision of a concept car for 2040 that represents the end of driving. Upon entering ATNMBL, passengers are presented with the question: “Where can I take you?”. There is no steering wheel, brake pedal or drivers seat. ATNMBL drives by itself. About the size of that parking space you couldn’t fit into, electric powered with wrap-around seating for seven, ATNMBL offers living comfort, views, conversations, entertainment, and social connectedness. The vehicle is designed from the inside out with elements influenced by architecture and domestic interior spaces.

From the outside, ATNMBL looks like micro-architecture. Large windows, a pitched roof and asymmetrical from every view, it is designed without any reference to automobiles of the past. In contrast to today’s automobiles, where much of the car’s space is reserved for engine and drive train, ATNMBL’s mechanical components are densely packed and simplified, providing dramatically more interior space in a vehicle that is shorter than most cars on the road today. Electric motors in each wheel provide all-wheel drive. Electric power is stored underneath the seating and floor with additional power provided by solar panels on the roof. Within a gridded pattern on the front and rear is an array of headlights, tail lights and sensors.

Passengers enter ATNMBL from the curb side through an electric glass sliding door into a standing-height entryway. Inside, the seating arrangement is a direct reference to the familiar living-room setting of a couch, side chair and low table. Riders are oriented towards each other and to the view outside through the large floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides. Centrally oriented is a large flat display that features live trip information, maps, and entertainment. The display can slide up to reveal a bar behind. A new and comprehensive sense of control is introduced through voice recognition and a touch screen remote control (or one’s personal phone), offering riders a wide range of trip planning, ride sharing and performance settings that can be very detailed for those who want elaborate control or extremely simple for those who would rather just relax and enjoy the ride.

Summary of Features:
- fully electric powered plus solar assist
- driverless navigation via GPS, Lidar, radar, stereo camera, accelerometers
- wrap-around seating for 7
- voice recognition and remote for real-time control/ input
- large display for info, searches, browsing, communication
- open-source software with downloadable apps for carpool and carshare through social networking, pre-loaded trips, city tours, virtual drivers, etc.
- live trip info on mini display
- electric door, standing height entryway
- all wheel drive with motors in each wheel
- very few mechanical parts (drive by wire)
- bar

The list of life-enriching benefits is long: accessibility for young, old, and disabled (no drivers licenses), no searching for parking (it will drop you off and park itself), fewer cars will serve more people, less energy use, people will save hours each day (think autonomous check-ups and grocery pickups). Most importantly, there will be far fewer fatalities and there will always be a designated driver.

About Mike and Maaike
Mike and Maaike is an industrial design studio that takes an experimental approach to design, creating progressive solutions for high and low tech products, furniture, wearables, environments, and vehicles. Maaike Evers is Dutch; Mike Simonian, Californian. Their distinct backgrounds and unique approach create strong conceptual foundations and a clear point of view. Equally inspired by the tradition of craft and the potential of industry, Mike and Maaike have designed and developed complex high-tech products as well as artful and personal objects. The studio, which has received recognition and awards from design publications and museums around the world, is based in San Francisco. Mike and Maaike partner with people, organizations and companies who value an informed, experimental approach to design and the unexpected results it brings. They recently collaborated with Google to develop Android-based smart phones

[Source:Autoblog]

Ever notice that you your bladder seems to shrink when its cold outside? Apparently, the Toyota Prius feels your pain, and while we don’t have any good solutions to report for your own personal problems, Toyota has found an easy fix for its hybrid. Unlike previous generations of Toyota’s fuel saver, the new 2010 model won’t have an underperforming bladder when it’s cold outside.

Since its introduction back in 2001, Toyota has equipped the Prius with a synthetic fuel tank bladder that collapsed as gasoline was slowly pumped out of the tank and into the engine. Due to complaints that the last-gen car wasn’t able to take its full 11.9 gallon fuel allotment whenever the temperature was below 70-degrees, the third-generation Prius comes equipped with a more conventional rigid fuel tank made from lightweight resin. In order to retain its coveted low-emissions rating in California, the latest Prius also reportedly features an improved vapor-recovery system that will help reduce hydrocarbon emissions.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

In an interview with German magazine Motor Zeitung, Porsche’s R&D director Wolfgang Dürheimer discussed the possibility of electrifying the iconic 911 sports car. Legendary Porsche tuners Ruf first showed a battery-powered prototype 911 called the eRuf last fall and then revealed a second-generation version (pictured) at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The eRuf Greenster was a major improvement over the original and Dürheimer praised the achievement of the smaller company.

Dürheimer doesn’t rule out an electrified sports car in the future, but feels the technology is not quite ready for Porsche prime-time. The problem revolves around the size and weight of the batteries, and even discarding the conventional powertrain leaves the Greenster with a deficit of at least 500 pounds compared to a normal 911… and no luggage space to boot. As battery technology progresses, however, we can certainly expect a battery-powered sports car to emerge from Zuffenhausen in due course.

[Source: Motor Zeitung]
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Electric drivetrain aside, the Tesla Roadster isn’t the most practical sports car on the market. Like its Lotus counterpart, the Roadster is lacking space for both passengers and parcel, something Tesla CEO Elon Musk is all-too-happy to admit. But as you’d expect from the plucky upstart and its confident chief executive, Tesla has big plans to expand beyond the Roadster and Model S sedan, and it’s got the Porsche 911 in its sights.

Although we’ve known for some time that Tesla plans to base future models on the Model S platform – ranging from a base model to a full-fledged GT – the automaker’s been tight-lipped about the specifics of future sports cars. However, Musk let it slip during an interview that a 911 Turbo shares a space in his garage with a Roadster, and he loves its ability to schlep the kiddies to school in its diminutive back seats. Inspired, Musk said that the next Tesla sports car would be a 2+2, boasting 10% more room for rear-seat passengers and 50% more trunk space than the 911, along with all-wheel drive. Additionally, the Model S’ flat architecture means that styling won’t be completely influenced by the drivetrain, allowing for “greater functionality with avant garde, aggressive” styling. Although this new coupe’s future is largely dependent on the success of the Model S, if Tesla can keep the lights on and continue R&D, we might see the GT as early as 2012 or 2013.

[Source:Autoblog]

Add serial entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin to the list of people interested in getting a crack at the 2,000 or so automotive dealerships that are scheduled to be shut down by either General Motors or Chrysler in short order.Unlike most other interested parties, though, Bricklin’s plan would also include his Visionary Vehicles venture purchasing up to 300,000 new vehicles from the two beleaguered automakers, which would then be upgraded with luxurious interiors and *ahem* a hydrogen hybrid drivetrain. Presumably, they wouldn’t be gullwinged ’safety’ cars like his short-lived SV-1 1970’s wedge (above).

We’re not completely sure what Bricklin’s proposed hydrogen hybrid powertrain would entail, but he tellingly says that everybody else says it’s a scam. Yep, you guessed it: an onboard electrlyser would supposedly extract hydrogen from water. According to Bricklin, “I know I have a product that I can put on cars that will make them get 100 percent better mileage.” We’ll see how it all works out in about 90 days, which is when Bricklin says his first prototype will be ready.

“I really believe this is why I was put on this Earth,” he said in a recent interview. “All those mistakes, and all those lessons, and all those experiences have led me to know exactly how to take advantage of this technology.” We’ll see.

[Source: Boston Herald]

Last week, Volkswagen and Chinese automaker BYD signed a memorandum of understanding to work together “in the area of electric mobility” and vehicles that use li-ion batteries. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu (yes, the guy who likes to drink battery fluid) and VW’s Martin Winterkorn signed the MOU in Wolfsburg, Germany. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board for Technical Development at Volkswagen, said in a statement (available after the jump) that, “Hybrids and electric vehicles will play an increasingly important role [for VW], of course. Particularly for the Chinese market, potential partners such as BYD could support us in quickly expanding our activities.”

Perhaps VW was kicked into action by another German automaker taking a look at another EV automaker?

PRESS RELEASE:

Volkswagen and BYD sign memorandum of understanding

Partnership in the area of electric mobility to be explored
Wolfsburg, 25 May 2009 - During an informational visit by the Chinese carmaker BYD “Build Your Dreams” – led by the Chairman of the Board of Management, Wang Chuanfu – a memorandum of understanding was signed last week by Mr Wang and Dr Winterkorn.

Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board for Technical Development at Volkswagen, insisted on personally providing the delegation of Chinese top managers with information. The visit, which took place first at the Elektrotraktion Technology Centre in Isenbüttel and then at the test tracks in Wolfsburg, featured technical discussions and test drives with a variety of vehicles such as the Golf twinDrive and the prototype for an electric vehicle. “Volkswagen will consistently expand its successful ‘BlueMotionTechnologies’. Hybrids and electric vehicles will play an increasingly important role, of course. Particularly for the Chinese market, potential partners such as BYD could support us in quickly expanding our activities,” emphasised Dr Hackenberg.

Afterwards, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Dr Martin Winterkorn, and the Chairman of the Board of Management of BYD, Wang Chuanfu, signed a memorandum of understanding. The objective of signing a memorandum of understanding between Volkswagen and BYD is to explore the options for partnership in the area of hybrids and electric vehicles powered by lithium batteries.

[Source:Autoblog]

If you poll owners (and reviewers) of the Smart ForTwo you’ll find one consistent gripe: the transmission. The automated manual gearbox herks, jerks and is about as dynamically pleasing as petting your dog with a broom.

Apparently, Smart is listening, and in addition to tweaking the software on the 2009 ForTwo, the automaker is offering 24,622 owners of 2008 models the same transmission fix. Letters are being delivered to let owners know about the free software upgrade, and while the fix supposedly makes a difference, the few people we’ve talked to who’ve driven the 2009 model assure us that while the shifting is better, it’s still very far from perfect.

[Source:Autoblog]

In a historic move that’s sure to irk their archrivals in Toyota City, Honda’s new Insight has become the first-ever hybrid vehicle to top the sales charts in Japan. By shifting some 10,481 units last month, the teardrop-shaped model became Nippon’s best-selling car in April, a feat no gas-electric car has managed previously. That’s according to the Japan Automobile Dealer’s Association, which tracks vehicle sales (in the interest of full disclosure, the group’s findings exclude 660cc “kei” cars).

Those 10,481 units vaulted the Insight from its slot as Japan’s 21st best-selling model in March, a major jump that’s likely down to production ramp-up and increased consumer awareness (Honda launched the car on February 2). The Insight, which starts at 1.89 million yen ($19,190) outpaced its brother, the Honda Fit/Jazz hatchback, while Toyota’s Vitz (Yaris) finished in third, Ironically, Toyota’s Prius rung up in 21st place, but the third-generation model isn’t expected to go on sale until May 18, and Toyota has already cut the iconic model’s base price in order to be more competitive with Honda’s upstart. Press release after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE:

LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT FOR INSIGHT IN JAPAN
Insight is first hybrid to become Japan’s best-selling vehicle

Honda’s new Insight ranked as the entire industry’s best-selling new car in Japan for April 2009, with sales of 10,481 units. It is the first time that a hybrid model has topped the new car sales tables in Japan.

The Honda Fit (or Jazz as it is known in Europe) was Japan’s best-selling new car for calendar year 2008 and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Fit was also the industry’s best-selling car for March 2009, its fourth consecutive month at the top, until it was displaced by Insight to become the industry’s second best-selling car in April 2009. It is the first time Honda has occupied the industry’s top two best-selling car positions.

Since its introduction on February 6, 2009, the all-new Insight has been very well received by a wide range of customers due to its excellent environmental performance and affordable pricing.

Insight sales in Japan
Sales of Insight began February 6, 2009

Cumulative Sales
(since sales start)

Monthly ranking among new vehicle registrations in Japan

February 2009 Sales Result
4,906 units 10th

March 2009 Sales Result
4,088 units 21st

April 2009 Sales Result
10,481 units 1st

* excluding mini-vehicles - under 660cc

Source: Japan Automobile Dealers Association

# # #

[Source:Autoblog]