Month: August 2011

Cadillac Ciel Hybrid Electric Car: A 2011 Luxury Concept

Cadillac today unveiled the Ciel concept, an elegant, open-air grand-touring car inspired by the natural beauty of the California coast. The Ciel – pronounced “C-L,” the French translation for sky – is a four-seat convertible that opens a new chapter in Cadillac’s design and product ascent, pushing the brand’s Art & Science philosophy into a new stratum. Ciel is a new expression of Cadillac’s historical grandeur, as well as a celebration of open-air motoring. “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 about the experience of the journey.”

Advantron Electromagnetic Motor Offers High Efficiency

Infographic showcasing Michigan company Advantron Technologies’ new electromagnetic engine with features like 90% energy efficiency, zero emissions, and a quote from CEO Ken Pierson about sustainability and energy independence.

Michigan’s Advantron Technologies has the answers on how to really make electric vehicles work. The company has developed a patented new electro-magnetic engine technology that has more horsepower than traditional combustion engines and is a direct drive system that can be used with any vehicle. Advantron CEO, Matthew Lebenbom commented, “Our technology allows for electric vehicles not only to provide green technology to the consumer, but also the excitement and power of the combustion engine”. He goes on to point out that “ so far our simulation and testing has shown that our patent pending motor generator design will allow us to reach our goal of a 700 -1000 mile range before needing complete recharging, as opposed to todays’ current 30-50 mile range.” Lebenbom continued, “It’s our company’s technology that will push the electric vehicle into main stream America. Our technology is what makes the EV business model realistic.”

Ford Increases Soy Content in Biofoam

Ford Not Only Goes Green. Ford Saves Green on Using Soy Oil for Rubber Car Parts.

Ford and Lear Corporation are taking another leap forward in sustainable technology with the introduction of new head restraint foam that has 25 percent of the polyol replaced with soy. Seventy-five percent of Ford’s North American vehicles feature bio-foam in the head restraints, including the Ford F-150, Taurus, Explorer and Fusion. All Ford Motor Company vehicles built in North America use bio-foam content in the seat cushions and backs.

Audi Urban Concept: A Lightweight Electric City Car

Audi urban concept EV

Audi is once again opening up new horizons: the Audi urban concept is a 1+1-seat, ultra-light car for congested urban spaces. In addition to a Sportback model, Audi is also presenting a Spyder variant. The Audi urban concept is not based on any previous model – its development is solely oriented on the strict principles of lightweight construction, efficiency and reduction. The result is a concept car with no unnecessary weight, and one that concentrates on the pure essence of sporty motion. The Audi urban concept has a sleek body. The wheels are free-standing, their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED lights. The highly concentrated look of the technical study, with its forward-urging lines, is dynamic and emotional : it lends Audi’s design language a completely new impetus.

Chevrolet Cruze Eco Averages 64 MPG Over 9,552 Miles

Behind the wheel of an unmodified Chevrolet Cruze Eco an Australian couple set a fuel-efficiency record for the 48 contiguous states. During the 23-day, 9,552 mile trip sponsored by Shell Oil, John and Helen Taylor averaged a remarkable 64.42 miles per gallon.
That is 50 percent better than the EPA estimate of 42 miles per gallon highway for a Cruze Eco manual, already the most fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered car in the United States, excluding hybrids and diesels. To achieve its segment-leading fuel economy, Cruze’s engineers focused on aerodynamic performance, mass optimization and powertrain enhancements
For example, the Cruze Eco was the first in the compact-car segment to offer an active air shutter that closes at higher speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow. Engineers also made more than 42 changes to reduce weight on the Cruze Eco, such as light-weight 17-inch wheels and tires save 21.2 pounds (9.6 kg) per vehicle.

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