Chrysler exec says all its vehicles will be hybrids

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Chrysler president Jim Press saw what hybrid technology did for Toyota, and now the 37-year auto industry vet wants to repeat that success with the Pentastar brands. Press informed attendees at a seminar in New York recently that Chrysler would one day utilize hybrid power in each and every Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep. Of course, the charismatic exec had no timetable for Chrysler's full immersion into the land of hybrid hyperbole, but we would guess that kindergarteners may be ready for college by the time this happens. Before Press finished, he also mentioned an intention to sell as many Chryslers in other markets as the Auburn Hills-based company sells in the States.

While it's easy to kick Chrysler when it's down, the privately-owned company has to aim high or it won't have much of a chance. From the day Press entered Chrysler's hallowed halls, he's had a consistent message that the company would have plenty of alternative powertrains for its vehicles. Maybe we'll see Press one day driving down Woodward in a Dodge Zeo. OK, probably not.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

 

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Geneva '08 Preview: VW Golf TDI Hybrid hits the web

Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Green, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen

Click image for a gallery of the Golf TDI Hybrid

Auto Bild has decided to "help" Volkswagen introduce the VW Golf TDI Hybrid concept that the automaker will be unveiling in Geneva a few days from now. So, how does it look? Pretty impressive. The car mates a 75 PS (74 HP) 3-cylinder TDI (presumably the 1.4L used in the Polo BlueMotion), a 27 horsepower electric motor and a 7-speed DSG to average 69 mpg (3.4l/100km) in the European cycle with carbon dioxide emissions of just 90 g/km. The electric motor is powered by a trunk-mounted NiMH battery. Based on the Google Translation of the page, we glean that the Golf TDI Hybrid is a full hybrid capable of running on electric power, diesel power or a combination of the two. It also uses regenerative braking, a stop/start system, and one of those energy monitor videogame screens that gives you a graphical representation of the powertrain's activity. Visually, the car sports a new Vivid Blue finish and employs narrower grillework, a lowered suspension, and low-rolling-resistance rubber to help maximize aerodynamics and fuel economy. We'll bring you full details from the show next week.

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[Source: Auto Bild via German Car Blog]

 

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<em>MT</em> claims Holden Coupe 60 is really 3-year-old Pontiac GTO replacement

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Coupes, GM, Pontiac, Misc. Auto Shows, Holden

Spot any similarities? Holden surprised and delighted when it rolled out the Coupe 60 at the Melbourne Auto Show this past week. Motor Trend put two and two together and dug up some three-year-old photos that show off essentially the same car wearing a Pontiac suit, instead. The nose on the original concept shows what GM was planning for the next-gen GTO at the time. We're glad the prototype styling was deemed too expensive for production; the world wasn't ready for a modern interpretation of the 1982 J2000.

The Coupe 60 started life as Pontiac's replacement for the sales-proof GTO, but Motor Trend reports that development stopped when GM went full bore at getting its next-gen full-size GMT900 trucks to market early. The reappropriation of this past work to create the stunning new Holden show car could signal a return of the Monaro, which could trickle down to North America as another page in the G8 brochure, or a new GTO, but don't start holding your breath yet.

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[Source: Motor Trend, Photo: Motor Trend]

 

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Rumormill: Adam Carolla to host <em>Top Gear</em> USA?

Filed under: Lifestyle, Celebrities

Recent news about NBC's quest to create a Top Gear for the United States has brought forth rumors of potential hosts. First, names like Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfield were offered up to great debate. Now another name with an extensive hosting resume but no previous ties to the peacock network is heading up the leader board. That name is Adam Carolla, formerly of Loveline and The Man Show. Carolla is no stranger to the land of automotive enthusiasm, either. He owns a BRE replica Datsun 510 that once graced the cover of Grassroots Motorsports. The rest of the horses in his stable aren't too shabby either, like an E30 BMW M3, for instance. No official word has come out of NBC on the matter, but an excited Carolla decided to spill the beans on his radio show, anyway.

[Source: 97.1 Free FM via VW Vortex, Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty]

 

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Geneva Leakage: Remaining 2009 VW Scirocco pics surface

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen

Click above image to view all new high-res shots of the VW Scirocco

As we say in the biz, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, so you might as well squeeze out what's left. After two official images of the yet-to-debut 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco hit the web the other day, a couple of sites have decided just to publish the whole lot of pre-release images. There are seven in total now (VW will likely release dozens more after the car debuts in Geneva next week), including a pair of interior pics that show, surprise, surprise, a cockpit that appears remarkably similar to the one in the Golf and Jetta. Despite that, the deeply bolstered tan leather seats are stitched with a nifty retro pattern that makes us want to crank the cassette player to 11. There's more info about the 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco that we'd like to tell you, but it's embargoed until Monday. It's highly unlikely, however, that this tube of toothpaste won't be squeezed dry by then.

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[Source: Carscoop, The Car Connection]

 

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Not quite official: Infiniti dealer posts FX teaser online

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Infiniti

A certain sales manager from a certain dealership in Long Island was kind enough to take a little bit of the wind out of Infiniti's sails ahead of its unveiling of the redesigned FX CUV. The detailed headlamp shot above was posted on an Infiniti FX forum (who knew?), and pretty much confirms the styling tweaks the new fascia will get, particularly when you imagine it on the set of spy shots we've seen already. The only thing that's left to the imagination is the reconfigured rear end, which will likely sport some new tail lamps and a redesigned bumper. We'd be remiss not to point out that it's not in the dealer's best interest to include his name and contact information in his forum signature, lest Infiniti's corporate communications folks come calling.

Thanks for the tip Jonathan.

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[Source: InfinitiFX.org]

 

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Recalled Ford owners urged to get cruise control fixed

Filed under: Recalls/TSBs, Safety, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

If you drive a Ford product built before 2005, do us all a favor and give your dealership a call. Ask them if your car or truck is one of the 10 million vehicles out there recalled for repair of a cruise control switch. Trust us, this is not something you want to ignore, as there have been fires, lawsuits, and deaths attributed to this issue.

Word from Washington is that federal safety officials are concerned as less than half of the recalled vehicles have been returned to dealerships for repair (come on people, we told you about this in August, 2006!). This has triggered a rare "consumer advisory" from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who are urging motorists to take action. Ford is also re-notifying owners. The NHTSA is also quick to point out that there is no need to schedule an appointment for the repair as some dealers are even providing quick drive-through services for the fix.

The long list of recalled vehicles has been included after the jump.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

The full list of affected vehicles from the NHTSA:

• 1993-2004 Ford F-150


• 1993-1999 F-250 (gasoline engine)


• 1993-1996 Ford Bronco


• 1994-1996 Ford Econoline


• 1997-2002 Ford Expedition


• 1998-2002 Lincoln Navigator


• 1998-2002 Ford Ranger


• 1992-1998 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car


• 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII


• 1993-1995 Ford Taurus SHO with automatic transmission


• 1994 Mercury Capri


• 1998-2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer


• 2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac


• 1992-1993 and 1997-2003 Ford E-150-350 gasoline or natural gas vehicles


• 2002 Ford E-550 gasoline engine vehicles


• 1996-2003 Ford E-450 gasoline or natural gas vehicles


• 1994-2002 Ford F-250 through F-550 Super Duty trucks (gasoline engine)


• 2000-2002 Ford Excursion (gasoline engine)


• 2003 Ford F-250-F-550 Super Duty, Ford Excursion


• 1995-2002 Ford F-53 motor home chassis


• 2002-2003 Lincoln Blackwood

 

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