Autos News

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This afternoon at 1PM Eastern Time Rob Peterson and Michelle Malcho with Chevrolet Communications, joined with Dough Wernert and Grant Kenny from ChevroletVoltage.com were holding a Facebook web chat discussing consumer questions regarding Chevy Volt and its performance. Few very interesting announcements came from the Chevy Team particularly about GM’s investment in better chargers not only for Volt but also for other electric cars.

“Has GM been investing in fast charge technologies like Nissan has with the leaf?” asked Josh Biro, a co-op engineer at Nidec Motor Company. Chevy Volt team first told that they are “looking at fast chargers… but nothing to announce today.”

However, little later, the team elaborated further and literally told the following. “One additional note to fast charging. GM is working with several other automakers and the SAE to develop a common fast charger interface. As Michelle mentioned, we are looking at for future applications, but nothing to announce today.”

Volt team also told that GM will start building Volts with MyLink starting in February. MyLink is Chevy Volt’s telematics system/infotainment system. It will allow users to control online services through apps, like Pandora Internet Radio or Stitcher Radio through voice commands or the touch-screen interface. It will encapable Volt to access internet via a smartphone with a 3G data connection through bluetooth.

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The ST-R features a 2.0 liter EcoBoost engine, FIA-regulation roll cage, uprated braking, and a track-tuned suspension. The Focus ST-R is Ford’s first global vehicle to join the turnkey race car family, which includes the Mustang FR500C, FR500S, Cobra Jet, Boss 302R and 302S. The brand new release ST-R was over a year in development to tune it for Ford Racing turnkey competition use.

“The competition debut of all our FR family of turnkey ready-to-race cars has not been the completion of the journey but the transition to a brand new release phase of the development process,” told Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “Our partnership with Multimatic Motorsports has led to past success with the FR500C and the Boss 302R and their contribution to the product that will take the track at Daytona later this week has been critical.”

The Focus ST-R will compete across several series including Gram-Am ST, World Challenge TC and the Canadian Touring Car Series. Ford also hopes to pit the brand new release racer in European motorsport series like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

The brand new release turnkey race car will be availcapable to order from Ford dealers in North America for both amateur and professional drivers. Ford plans to broaden that availability to other markets in Europe and Asia in the future, but has not given a time tcapable for that. The design of the Focus ST-R allows it to be built at any Ford factory which manufactures the world-popular Focus ST with only a few modifications, making it a race car with easy global reach. Customers need only add communications equipment and decals to be ready to race in most FIA-based competitions.

“This is a competitive turnkey race car that will allow our customers to compete successfully in multiple series around the world with minor modifications. And it shows the ongoing alignment of Ford Racing with our Performance Vehicles development group,” says Allison.

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine in the Focus ST-R gives it 250 horseStrength in a compact, lightweight, fuel efficient engine block. Strong torque levels are given in a broad, flat curve at 265 pound feet. The ST-R comes standard with a 6-velocity manual transmission specially revised to give faster shifting and maximum punch with each throw. The sixth gear has been tuned to longer runs for higher economy while maintaining velocitys.

Ford plans to expand the Focus ST-R concept to other models meant for sports drivers. The racers of this type obviously boost the public relations and recognition of the road models they come from, which has shown positive results for the Fiesta in RallyCross and X Games editions.

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The TES-ERA is a concept through and through. The Toyota Engineering Society (TES) had three requirements for the concept’s design: a 2-door gull-wing coupe based on the Sera (a coupe produced in the 1990s for the Japanese market), a race or sports focus with futuristic technology, and the car must be an electric using the Toyota Group’s existing drive train platforms. The requirements were then given to the engineering team who went to several sources to get design elements.

A Japanese grade school gived the color scheme and Milky Way paint theme sported on the exterior of the TES-ERA EV. The Lexus brand gived the base technology to Strength the electric car through Lexus RX hybrid system components. Engineering students and interns created the body concept while Toyota’s electronics design team gived the internal touch screen interfaces. The interior itself is simple and white, focusing entirely on those screens.

Much of the car is very flexible in design, allowing personalized changes to the interface inside (via the touch screen software), etc.

The car is Strengthed by a 15.7 kilowatt hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery pack that gives the concept a range of 80km (50 miles) in urban driving. When racing on the test track, the car got about 50km of range (31 miles) under those hard driving conditions. The two motors have a total output of 128 kilowatts (kW) or about 174 horseStrength.

The car was built by hand on a low budget as a conceptual trial and will not likely see production. It is, however, a working concept running under its own self-contained Strength. The following video showcases the car at the auto show:

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The declaration does not come from Carlos Ghosn, but from Igor Komarov, the President of the Russian company AvtoVAZ. If you’re wondering what does Russian with French-Japanese group, you must be know that since 2008 the Renault-Nissan is a shareholder in the former Lada.

More specifically, if in 2008 the Renault-Nissan became the owner of 25% of AvtoVAZ shares, French-Japanese group participation will increase to 50% (35% in Renault, Nissan 15%). After the negotiations were delayed for several months, it seems that the transaction will be completed in spring 2012.

So far, the Renault-Nissan group does not count in total sales and the brand of Russian AvtoVAZ, but after the transaction, the total number of cars sold will be added to those produced by the Russians. Since AvtoVAZ sales are growing Russian market, but also in other 45 countries, the president is confident that AvtoVAZ brand new release group Renault-Nissan-AvtoVAZ will soon climb on the 3rd spot among world’s largest car manufacturers.

It remains, however, to see who will be the development of the three giants at this moment, General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen, while the year 2012 promises to be quite pessimistic for the global automotive market.

Lexus launches brand new release product range from the GS family in Tokyo, Japan. Premium midsize sedan that introduced it, the GS250 “facelift” that gets a touch on the machine, then GS350 as the fourth generation with a brand new release look. One more GS450, only recently introduced on March 19, 2012.

But all three have in common the sedan grille design that is now more exotic with a sharp curve on both sides. What distinguishes the high-low radiator grille and air dam. This follows the model Lexus grille LF-LC at Detroit Auto Show, beginning in January 2012.

If only GS250 “facelift”, the other with the GS350 (also done on the GS450). Dimensions change from previous models, especially over a height of 30 mm, then the front wheels stretchy foot distance of 40 mm and 50 mm wider rear, thereby increasing the overall width of the car 20 mm. Widening is a benefit to the passenger cabin space expands. Toyota also improve the position of making it more ergonomic driver’s seat and not easily tired.

The brand new release Lexus is availcapable a total of 11 color options, including no Sonic Silver and two other color was developed with a brand new release painting technique. The GS 450h specially fitted with LED lights “hi / lo” thereby increasing the lighting at night the day. Then, LED rear lights also shaped the letter “L”, is also availcapable on the GS250 and GS350. A touch of luxury on the GS450h appear on the steering wheel is made of bamboo bamboo.

Then, on the interior (for all three variants), in the main console mounted 12.3-inch wide LCD screen with high resolution Remote Touch control system that functions like a second-generation “mouse” on the computer.

Machine
For machinery, special GS250 fitted with a 2.5-liter V6 4GR-FSE combined with the automatic transmission 6-velocity Super ECT. The technology is claimed to be capable to optimize the final gear ratio, so the uneven engine performance at every level of transmission.

GS350?re sitting behind a hood, a 3.5-liter V6-FSE 2 grams (GS 350) with “direct-injection 4-stroke gasoline Superior version (D-4S). In addition, at the air inlet (air intake) and exhaust ( exhaust system) is increased.

For the GS 450h, its driving force to marry the latest technology 3.5-liter V6 engine-FXE 2 grams with “direct-injection 4-stroke gasoline engine superior version” (D-4S), which already apply Atkinson cycle. Strength output reaching 295 PS at 6,000 rpm and 356Nm of torque at 4500 rpm. Not to forget the 147 kW electric motor capcapable of removing Strength to 200 PS. The car is claimed to champion “velocitying” but still fuel efficient and low exhaust gas emissions (carbon dioxide) and fuel consumption reached 18.2 kpl to 20.5 kpl.

Fun, the third brand new release model is equipped with three driving forces that have been regulated by a computerized system, the Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport S + S.

Price
Toyota offers every variant of the GS Series sold in three package options namely, Version L, M Sport Package and I. The price offered ranging from 5.1 million yen to 8 million yen per unit tax is included. Indeed there is no certainty of Lexus Indonesia when this product into Indonesia. But, meihat magnitude of potential, could be the end of the year!? Let us wait together.

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