New Energy Automotive

Archive for January, 2012

Fiat has not been one of the most prolific brands in the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but if you have had another interesting development. The first was the 2012 Fiat Punto, which premiered a slight restyling based on the Fiat Punto Evo, now fully painted bumpers. The other novelty, if it is more important because the changes have been quite old, comes from the Fiat Panda 2012.

The second-generation Fiat Panda inherited the spirit of the original, such as car size and reduced cost to the city for basically trying to provide the most functionality possible within a relatively large size and well spent. It was a bestseller in Europe, but his seniority was beginning to take its toll (was released in 2003). Is this new model a great relief to meet the expectations?

Well, the Fiat Panda 2012 does not change much in terms of philosophy. Continue to present their cubic forms that can remember a small minivan, with the intention that the small exterior size best take advantage in terms of interior roominess. In this regard, it has grown slightly in both length (now 3.65 meters) and width (1.64 meters). The driving position is slightly raised, also the style minivan.

Its five doors give an added versatility and good access, and thanks to this very special form of the bodywork, its interior space in both front seats in the rear is pretty good and well spent. Despite its small size, do not spend too much trouble on the inside in relation to space. Yes it should be noted that the front seats are a bit stiff, and their headrests, quite hard. We thought that perhaps could be improved a little comfort in this.

Also inside you notice some differences with his brother, the Fiat 500. This, conceived more as fancy car (seen in their interior and exterior design, its best finish or its customization possibilities and range of engines), while the Fiat Panda hopes, once again, to position itself as an economy car battle daily access to the Fiat range. This is reflected in details such as its interior plastics, seemingly less work and more coarse. Nevertheless, taking into account the price and the orientation of the model, it would be unfair to put too many drawbacks in this regard.

On the outside, and beyond its outline, the changes in the 2012 Fiat Panda themselves are noteworthy. Now your design is nice and modern, emphasizing the front headlights. Appear (as in the previous Fiat Punto Evo) areas of the bumpers and side moldings black plastic, unpainted, which may not be as aesthetically pleasing, but it may be more appropriate for those little touches and frictions of parking in urban territory.

As for engines, are also present in the range of 0.9 TwinAir two-cylinder, 65 and 85 hp and Start & Stop system, as well as the well known 1.3 Multijet 75 bhp. Despite not wanting to eat you spot the Fiat 500 and a position in the commercial arena in a different way, it will have various finishes and customization or equipment (including the Blue & Me with TomTom) or panoramic sunroof that without certainly gain in luminosity and spaciousness. In a few weeks, the Fiat Panda 2012 will be available at all dealers in the Italian brand.

8 years on the market are sufficient to confirm the success of the adventure on Segment A of Fiat and the return of the classic Panda name dating from the early 80′s. The third generation of this urban utility has already started its sales in Europe. However, with the aim of offering an option with a much more competitive cost, the above model will be marketed in some European countries, including Spain, under the name Fiat Panda Classic.

The first movement of Fiat goes to simplify a range of finishes only called Classic which will be available to drive 4 × 2 and 4 × 4 and 1.2 69 hp engine petrol, 1.3 Multijet 75 hp diesel 16 v, 1.2 69 CV EasyPower (LPG / petrol) and 1.4 77 hp natural gas. The price in Italy Classic Fiat Panda will be cheaper € 9,050, however in the first phase of release (do not know how long) will be offered a substantial discount to acquire Classic allow for only € 7,900.

With this offer so interesting Fiat intends to maintain its market share in the segment A of 15.7% in 2011, across Europe, and only 38% in Italy where the Fiat Panda has a great success.

Fiat has introduced a new model called Strada Cabine Dupla that explores more terrain transport capacity of this model. It’s a pick-up that will be sold in several South American countries starting with Brazil.

His body bears the name of double cab though it’s a two door cab, what happens is that it has a roomier interior than typical of this number of hits and four seats. The large rear window gives rise to a cargo box has a capacity of 580 liters if we take as a reference surface and the maximum height of the cabin. It has the classic opening removable tailgate plan to facilitate the entry of objects in the box.

Dupla Cabine design is practically modeled by the simple cabin mate, including its large gray plastic protections surrounding the perimeter. One of its major facilities is access to both the cab and cargo box support thanks to several feet beneath the rear windows and tailgate, complemented by a handle placed where the car ends. As if the box is carried in a heavy or bulky there are some bars that protect the back window.

La Cabine Dupla certainly will sell the finish Adventure incorporates a long list of equipment: power steering, central locking, integrated turn in the mirrors, fog lights, trip computer, air conditioning, radio CD MP3, alloy wheels and so on.

Apparently this model was attached to a 1.8-liter gasoline engine and 112 horsepower, which can also run on ethanol producing 114 hp. The range will also be incorporated, although later, the 86 hp 1.4i also can run on either gasoline or ethanol. In both cases transmission is five-speed manual and front wheels.

The versatility of the Cabine Dupla is diminished by their lack of driving all four wheels but at least a limited slip differential offset Locker. If one wheel loses grip in difficult terrain Locker distributes the force to the wheel with grip.

The slight pick-up are in many countries, especially South America, the ideal solution for professionals for its versatility and economic conception. In Europe the existing supply is lower. Perhaps for this reason Fiat has decided to export to the European market one of the models that until now was manufactured in Brazil and intended solely for the local market and the Americas.

The Fiat Strada currently only marketed in Italy, backed by over 127,800 units sold and is the second most important trading model for Fiat on aggregate global sales, second only to the Ducato. Bodies will ship with simple cabin, large cockpit and cabin staff, the latter specifically accommodates four adult passengers in comfort while carrying a load of 650 kilograms.

The range will be divided into three levels of exterior finish, interior and equipment, depending on what it will be. The options range from the spartan and lacking in detail to the flashy Working Adventure Trekking and protections that look much more attractive and aggressive, new tires and more.

Fiat Strada prices for the Italian market will range between 12,900 and 16,000 euros, before taxes. The only mechanism available is a 95 bhp 1.3 Multijet and 16 valves and 200 Nm of torque. Their consumption of 5.3 litres/100 kilometers few combined cycle aims to be one of the claims of this vehicle and one of its biggest advantages over other pick-up of larger size.

To better navigate difficult terrain the Fiat Strada is equipped with most advanced electronic differential which is presented as an alternative to AWD, in fields where it is obviously not essential to use a 4 × 4. Must remain front-wheel drive.

The Fiat Strada will be manufactured in Brazil and know if between the intentions of Fiat is its expansion to other European countries, besides Italy, where sales have already begun. The truth is that it presents a very interesting alternative, because of its versatility and affordability.

Still you doubt that the future of the automobile goes in large part by China? Surely the fact known to serve a few days ago things clear. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers has announced that the Asian giant 18,264,700 units were manufactured and sold a total of 18,061,900 units in 2010. These are two astronomical, especially the second.

At a stroke, China has beaten the previous record set in annual sales by the U.S. in 2000, when placed 17.4 million units. To get an idea of ​​the current differences between traditional markets (Europe, USA and Japan) and growing (with China as the prime example), in the U.S. sold 11.7 million units in 2010, nearly 32% fewer units a decade earlier while sales in China rose just 32% compared to 2009.

A few weeks ago we saw part of the explanation of why both sales have ballooned in the last 12 months. The Chinese government decided to abolish the aid to buy a new car from January 1, 2011, causing tens of thousands of people rushed to make purchases in the last weeks of the year. For example, in the month of December there were 1.86 million transactions, roughly double the total cars sold in Spain throughout the year.

And all this is going more and more, as there are still a huge margin increase. If you look at the ratio number of cars sold / capita, we see that China is still far behind the advanced countries like USA or Germany and even Spain. In the coming years is expected that the trend remains upward, though not as high as on-year increases in 2010.

The situation experienced in the last weeks of last year esra very difficult to repeat because China has not posed a system restore aid for the purchase of new cars. Therefore, the growth forecast for 2011 is 10-15%, which could place the end of this year sales above 20 million units, a figure unthinkable only 10 years ago.

The Ford Focus Ford Focus SW 5p and have occurred in European version at the Geneva Motor Show 2010. The design known as five-door version only receives changes on the model for the U.S. market, since it is a global product that is sold in over 120 markets. However, it is totally new wagon variant called Focus the SW (Station Wagon).

In addition to its exterior and interior design that follows the trail of Kinetic Design and certainly not go unnoticed, for better or for worse, improved grades and increased driving dynamics, Ford Focus 2011 released new EcoBoost engines four-cylinder direct injection turbo.

The Ford Focus Wagon is new and the brand itself is a variant expected high demand in Europe, where they estimate will take one third of total sales of the model. The design of this version is quite different from the C-pillar over the 5-door, offering a much larger trunk, more headroom as a result of the lower roof and drop functionality, aesthetics though perhaps not of the like everyone in this back.

Inside, the perceived quality at first seems better than the current model, incorporating a much more modern and less sober along with numerous gadgets, though at first glance may seem a little odd in its center console or details as trapezoidal air vents that break the tradition that hitherto had all generations of the Focus.

The chassis of the new Focus looks to get back one of the references of the category in terms of ride quality and dynamic behavior. We’ll see if he succeeds, because the expectations are high, but released a new power-assisted steering and a redesigned rear multi-link train, plus Torque Vectoring Control system, or whatever it is, an electronic differential to improve traction.

The body of the European model also receives a greater proportion of high-strength steels, which influences a 10% increase in torsional rigidity over the previous generation Focus, on sale yet. Motors for Europe are also new bill and promise greater efficiency, significantly reducing consumption.

In gasoline, the range will start with the 1.6 Duratec Ti-VCT atmospheric versions of 105 and 125 hp. A step up are the Ecoboost, also with displacement of 1.6 liters and power outputs of 150 and 180 hp. In diesel, will be available in Duratorq TDCi 1.6-liter displacement (95 or 115 hp) or 2.0 liters (115, 140 or 163 hp). PowerShift automatic transmission and 6-speed double clutch will be offered only in combination with the 2.0 TDCi any power.

Other innovations of equipment that will equip the third generation Ford Focus will be a rear view camera for parking (monitored on the central screen), belt warning for all seats, boot system and handsfree key (similar to that available in the current model), recommended gear, a system to recognize traffic signs, radar information for visibility in blind spots, adaptive cruise control, semi-automated system for parking and Ford SYNC and MyFord.

Once we know the four-door sedan versions and C-MAX MPV and Grand C-MAX, after learning how to be the European Ford Focus 5-door and SW (the most popular variants) and just needed to unveil the Focus Coupé in 3 gates, and the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet, though probably for this latest version will have to wait a lot.

Ford expects the new Focus is once again the model talisman and an annual production of approximately 2 million units worldwide by 2012. For the European market, it is estimated that 60% of the demand corresponding to the five-door version. Here in Europe and the United States will go on sale later this year 2010.

The drop in enrollment in 2011 was quite pronounced, which does not benefit anything commitment to improve energy efficiency and therefore reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases, while a low number of registrations involves a progressive aging of the fleet in the country . Faconauto still points to the crisis and the pursuit of savings as the main reason that the average emissions of vehicles sold in 2011 has fallen by 3.7%.

The Spanish customer vehicles would have opted for smaller, more modest mechanical, on the other hand are also becoming more efficient by improving the current technology and the natural tendency of the automotive industry towards models whose emissions are lower and lower . The average emissions during last year he would have located in the 135 g / km of CO2.

We know that carbon dioxide is not the only one that carries serious environmental problems, but the data is positive if we consider that we would be very close to the European Union’s commitment to achieve by 2015 to reduce emissions to just 130 g / km.

Another important fact is that over 39.57% of sales in 2011 were consistent with vehicles whose emissions were below 120 g / km. In other words, nearly 40% of sales were exempt from payment of registration tax and 29.6% were at the stage of between 121 g / km and 140 g / km.

At the top of pollutants would fall 19.65% and 9.6% with emissions between 141 and 159 g / km and 160 and 199 g / km respectively. Only 2.07% correspond to vehicles whose emissions exceeded 200 g / km, which means a decrease of 43.27% compared to 2010.

It is a fact that the downward trend on aggregate emissions will be maintained by their own natural renewal of cars driven by Spain and the efforts of manufacturers to reduce the consumption of their vehicles. The big question is how much emissions would have fallen if sales had not fallen by 18% compared to 2010? Unfortunately we’ll never know .

The NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is a prototype that shows the new design language that Toyota will introduce its upcoming models from 2015. It also includes the latest technologies in security mark, man-machine communication and efficiency. And above all, announces a new hybrid module with a 2.0 petrol engine larger, powerful and efficient than the current 1.8.

The NS4 is a saloon of 4.65 meters long, half way between the current Pries (4.46) and Aventis (4.71) that impresses with its futuristic, aerodynamic line. Maintains front wedge distinguishes Pries, but with a much sharper nose, large air intakes at the base of the bumper and headlights LED light and stylish narrow. The front reminds Alfa Romeo and adds a steeply-raked windshield that shapes your figure and accentuates its sportiness.

This prototype includes a plug-in hybrid engine mechanics 2 liters of gasoline to be released in the next high-end hybrid Toyota to 2015 depending on brand and provide sports performance to enjoy driving, but with even more fuel consumption and emissions lower than in the current model.

The prototype NS4 is also a showcase technological innovation and features Toyota is developing for the future. Stresses the roof with transparent solar cell panels that let in sunlight to temper the interior in cold weather and also uses the energy produced to cool it when left parked in the sun, thereby reducing the work of air conditioning and energy consumption. Besides, crystals termoreflectantes block ultraviolet rays to protect occupants in a much more efficient than the current.

As for safety includes a bonnet with a few sensors to detect impacts and back up to better cushion the impact and reduce injuries to pedestrians in a collision. The headlights are also intelligent and regulated so as not to dazzle alone when it comes to road car in front.

Pre-crash system incorporates radar and three cameras to detect risk of injury activate the brakes if the driver does not react. Finally, add an advanced interface that connects the driver to the car and the road, and project information on a touch screen very easy to use and intuitive to help you drive more safely.

Toyota introduced the Pries in Detroit also C, compact and economical version of the Pries that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show last as Aqua and Toyota already offer information on the Japanese sample post.

The Monde Ford Fusion is the American and the two models are virtually identical in the next generation, who come to Spain in the first half of 2013.

The new Monde out for front-end design that is inspired by the Aston Martin and features a large grille honeycomb, a hood with the nerves very marked and narrow headlights creating a cutting edge modern design and attractive. Otherwise, keep the current style, but with more features highlighted body for added character.

So far Ford has only announced that the Fusion Hybrid will have a version and a plug-in hybrid Energy or (PHEV). Although it is normal that the new Monde also has both the time for Europe only confirmed the hybrid variant.

The Fusion Hybrid’s hybrid mechanics share the C-Max and Grand C-Max hybrid to be manufactured in Valencia. Combine an Atkinson cycle 2.0 engine with automatic transmission, electric motor and a lithium-ion battery capacity of 1.4 kWh, slightly higher than the Pries (1.3 kWh). The estimated consumption is five liters in city and 5.3 highway, correct figures for the size and weight of the Monde. And will move up a couple of miles below 100 km / h only with batteries.

Energy version or plug-in (PHEV) Fusion 2.0 shares the same engine, but with lithium ion batteries about 10 kWh that will circulate between 30 and 60 miles on electricity alone, ideal for commuting by city and surroundings: the home to work and back. Ford announces a consumption of 2.2 liters per 100 kilometers starting with charged batteries (100 first kilometers). From there and until they turn into an outlet to recharge, consumption will be the gasoline engine.

It is probably the most impressive prototype Detroit and received the award for best concept car of the show. It is a coupe of 4.63 meters long and 2 2 squares that are two innovations: the new Lexus design language that applies to their models in a couple of years and the third generation of its hybrid technology. Y represents the new philosophy of the brand: sportiness and hybridization.

The LF-LC is the work of Catty, a design studio located in Newport (California) and aims to propose a different aesthetic sofistique image of the Japanese, one of his unfinished businesses.

Highlights over the entire front grille with honeycomb wedge forming two planes and headlights made ​​of LED lights that create a very impressive face, both as sporty elegance. The rear is also resolved with class. But the whole car, with the long nose and short rear, and fluid strokes combined with more marked, shape a sporty design that is surprisingly captivating and seductive beauty instantly.

With respect to mechanics, Lexus just community that includes the third generation of its hybrid technology, with an improved electric motor, high voltage batteries and and a new more powerful petrol engine with Atkinson cycle, such as the Pries. Lexus has not announced the date of manufacture.