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Next BMW M5 to cut CO2 emissions by 20%, no hybrid

The next generation of BMW's 5-series sedan is expected to debut early in 2010, perhaps at the Geneva Motor Show. The new M5, however, likely won't be launched until the 2011 Frankfurt show. According to Albert Biermann, development boss of the M division, when it does arrive, it will cut CO2 emissions by 20 percent compared to the current model. To do that, BMW will follow an increasingly common path with direct injection, turbocharging and revised gearing. The M5 will apparently use a version of the 555 hp turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 from ... Read more →

Chrysler to cut weight of next-gen Jeep Liberty by 600 pounds! Sam Abuelsamid

The Jeep Liberty is not a particularly large vehicle, but Chrysler engineers managed to pack a lot of mass into it nonetheless. The current Liberty weighs in at nearly 4,300 pounds! At the ...

Coming Soon to an Automobile Near You: Plastic engines? Jeremy Korzeniewski

Automakers and consumers alike all want lighter cars. "Adding lightness" has a lot of desirable effects, most notably in overall fuel efficiency and performance. While numerous efforts have been made ...

Greenlings: How does weight affect a vehicle's efficiency? Sebastian Blanco

Over the last few decades, the average weight of a vehicle sold in the U.S. climbed steadily after we got over the oil embargoes of the 1970s. Today, though, auto companies are putting a lot of ...

Megacity will be BMW's first to use carbon fiber "on a large scale" Sebastian Blanco

The idea that BMW's line of electric vehicles will cater to the same premium buyers as the company's other vehicles seems more assured with today's announcement that it has established a joint venture ...

Axon Automotive unveils plug-in hybrid 23 days ago on Autoblog Green

Axon Automotive has once again shown off its pre-production plug-in hybrid, this time at the Milton Keynes Science Festival. Two versions of the lightweight city car are planned, the first using a small-bore gasoline-fed engine that's purported to deliver 83.3 mpg U.S. (100 mpg or 2.8 l/km in ...

SABA Motors to offer sub-$50,000 Carbon Zero roadster 25 days ago on Autoblog Green

Looks like Silicon Valley is home to yet another start-up electric car company, this one with an eye to bring a roadster to market with a low-$40's price tag. That's Chevy Volt and Coda EV country! SABA Motors is just a few short weeks from finishing its first prototype and plans to compete next ...

REPORT: Bentley considers going hybrid, rules out hydrogen 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Bentley is on a mission to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions. According to Auto Express, once the firm's Continental Supersports hits the market (and, we may add, after it actually becomes flex-fuel capable), the next step in the green train may very well be hybrids. To reach that ...

VIDEO: Developing the E-Wolf e1 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

The development of the E-Wolf e1 - Click above to watch the video after the jump Together with the introduction of the E-Wolf e1 during the Frankfurt Motor Show, E-Wolf released a video about the development of the unusual vehicle. The video explains how the car was developed to present the ...

Audi shows off lightweight aluminum/carbon fiber A5 prototype 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

As much as we like the Audi A5 with it's lovely lines and proportions and good driving dynamics, we have to admit that it's a bit porky. The lightest version currently available in the U.S. market is the 3.2-liter V6 quattro at 3,737 pounds. To date, the A5 has not been the beneficiary of Audi's ...

Meet the MAX: Homemade biodiesel-powered Lotus Seven replica 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Generally speaking, purchasing an eco-friendly automobile is an expensive proposition. One way to reduce that cost is by going homemade. Such is the case with Jack McCormack from Kinetic Vehicles, who decided that he would love to have fun, practical, affordable and high-mileage two seater under ...

Avant Concept: Buick's new look at the small premium market [w/VIDEO] 1 month ago on Autoblog Green

Need further proof that the premium car market is looking to downsize? General Motors' latest entry on its recently-launched Lab website is the Buick Avant, which the automaker developed to study the future of scaled down models for its upper-level brands. Innovative ideas abound with the ...

REPORT: GM considering hybrid Corvette, other mileage tweaks 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Is GM really considering a hybrid Corvette? Tom Stephens says it's a possibility. Who is Tom Stephens? He's GM's vice chairman of global product development, so he should know. To be fair, he says that a hybrid would only be considered if the Corvette's very livelihood depended on it. Now that ...

Frankfurt 2009: E-Wolf e1, the no-compromises racing EV with a driver weight limit 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

The e1 and e2 are two lightweight sports cars that recall the Lotus 7, this time fitted to an electric drive. The models come from Germany, and are the result of the work of E-Wolf, the Saxony Lightweight Center and the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology at the Technical ...

Frankfurt 2009: Mazda MX-5 Superlight makes us wonder how we'd spend our other two wishes 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

If you're one of the many enthusiasts out there oohing and ahhing over the pair of pre-production Mini concepts that debuted in Frankfurt today, know that the BMW division isn't the only one here with a tempting speedster on display. Amidst all the exciting and pivotal new vehicle debuts at the ...

Tesla Roadster on four teacups, plus... Jonas Brothers 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Some days our inboxes contain things we just didn't expect to ever see. Take, for example, the pictures in the gallery in this post. Apparently, this display, at the William Ashley China store in Toronto, is intended to "encourages consumers to rethink, reduce and re-use." Really? What we ...

REPORT: Lexus could go even smaller than LF-Ch concept? 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

Lexus doesn't currently play in the small car segment in any of the markets it competes in. That's set to change in short order, as evidenced by the LF-Ch concept that the premium Japanese automaker is slated to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. Interestingly, Lexus could reportedly ...

Lotus announces Elise Club Racer, 31 mpg sports car 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

One of the upsides of Colin Chapman's philosophy of "adding lightness" is that Lotus sports cars are typically very efficient relative to their performance levels. Such is the case with the Elise, which is one of the lightest cars on the market today. At the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, ...

What are the promises and pitfalls of carbon fiber? 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

For the last century or so, cars and trucks have predominantly been formed from one material in particular: steel. It's not hard to see why – steel is relatively inexpensive, highly abundant and easy to form into somewhat complex shapes that can be repaired with mostly basic tools. ...

REPORT: Gordon Murray's T25 to seat three; be larger inside that iQ, Fortwo 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

There's no guarantee that Gordon Murray's innovative T25 microcar will ever see the light of day. The designer has no intention of actually building the automobile himself – instead, Murray hopes to sell the rights to build the car using his equally impressive (or so we hear) iStream ...

Gordon Murray's T25 will get turbocharged 660cc engine; could come from Apple, Virgin or Sony 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

It's been a few months since we last heard from Gordon Murray, designer of the legendary McLaren F1 supercar and upcoming (hopefully) T25 city car. Back in February, Murray mentioned that his firm had received interest from over a dozen international companies that could license the car's design ...

XP Vehicles refused DOE loan, invites you to take action! 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

When last we left the company behind the inflatable car concept, we were questioning whether or not they are full of hot air. Now, with the recent loan refusal from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program (ATVMP), it appears we aren't alone in our ...

Pulled Ahead? Scion dealers saying iQ headed for U.S. in 2010 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Last we heard, Toyota was planning to bring the diminutive iQ to the American market badged as a Scion in either late 2010 or early 2011 as a 2012 model. According to AutoWeek, that date may have been moved up a few months as a major Scion dealership (which declined to be named) has confirmed the ...

EVstores helps MyCar finally make it to market [w/VIDEO] 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

After overcoming myriad mountains and monkey-wrenches, the MyCar CV.2 is now officially available and being delivered to customers. Most recently rescued by London electric vehicle retailer EVstores, after the NICE Car Company went into administration (and later emerged as an Axiam-only ...

Angry SAM electric locusts set to swarm out of factory 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

If you would like your electric car to have a look reminiscent of a large angry locust, live in Europe and don't have a need to exceed 90 Km/h (55 mph), you're in luck! Though a year later than had been originally projected, copies of the re-engineered SAM should begin rolling out of a Polish ...

Two new GM concepts go back to the Bare Necessities (w/VIDEO) 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

General Motors says that it's learned a lot since the Chevy Volt concept was introduced a few years back. Paramount among these new revelations is that not all green vehicles are created equally, and not all customers looking for an eco-friendly ride really want the same thing. Some want a ...

Ilmor Engineering touts new fuel efficient five-stroke engine design 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Well-known British tuning and racing company Ilmor Engineering has announced an intriguing new test engine that's reportedly capable of returning diesel-like power and efficiency figures while running on standard gasoline and lowering emissions. Displacing just 700cc and yet putting out 130 ...

Next-gen BMW 3 series to get turbo three, better aero, hybrid powertrain 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

The next generation of BMW's 3-series looks like it will get some major revisions when it arrives in about two years. The new model is expected to be the first in the range to get new turbocharged three cylinder engines in both gas and diesel variants. The three-cylinder engines will likely be ...

Frankfurt Preview: Mazda MX-5 Superlight 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Mazda will display a concept version of the MX-5 Superlight at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show that combines eco-consciousness with enhanced performance. Mazda isn't pretending we'll get to see the MX-5 Superlight on the road any time soon – they say this is "a pure show car" and you ...

Ratan Tata: All future Jaguars and Land Rovers to feature aluminum construction 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Jaguar has been touting the aluminum-intensive construction of its XJ sedan since the previous-generation model was introduced back in 2003. According to the automaker, the use of aluminum in lieu of steel can lead to an impressive 40 percent reduction in weight. That's bound to have positive ...

STUDY: Heavier cars get worse gas mileage. Who knew? 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Newsflash: Over the last few decades, cars have gotten both heavier and more powerful in addition to getting somewhat better fuel mileage. No shocker, right? Still, it's interesting to actually sit down and take a good look at the data to see what additional information can be gleaned. For ...

Boulder Electric Vehicle makes trucks with Killacyclers [w/VIDEO] 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

If an experienced and knowledgeable team counts for anything in the world of electric vehicle startups, then there is a good chance we may see new American-made delivery trucks on our streets next year. Boulder Electric Vehicle, whose staff includes members of the Killacycle crew (both Bill ...

Quicc! Diva wins "Car of the Future" 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

The Dutch website dedicated to electric and hybrid automobiles, ZERAuto, has been conducting a poll, asking its visitors to rank their favorite ride and offering 12 very nice entrants to choose from. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Netherlands-based DuraCar Quicc! Diva grabbed the top spot and ...

Is XP Vehicles' inflatable car just a lot of hot air? 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

It's has been a while since we heard any news about the inflatable car from XP Vehicles but it seems they are still out there and still planning to take the auto industry by storm. Freshly featured on the cover of Product Design & Development (PDD), the concept vehicle that doesn't employ ...

VIDEO: Jaguar extols the glory of aluminum 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Jaguar has long been a proponent of aluminum construction for automobiles. In fact, the current-generation XJ uses an aluminum-intensive chassis that's held together by loads of epoxy and over 3,000 rivets, which allows the big Jag's underpinnings to achieve a 40 percent weight savings over a ...

Electric airplane to debut at Oshkosh [w/VIDEO] 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

It isn't the first electric airplane we've seen, nor is it the fastest. It's not even the first one to be shown at the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. What makes the Yuneec E430 unique is that it may be the first fully-enclosed battery-powered aircraft to actually go into commercial production. ...

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Featured Galleries

  • 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom
  • Smart ED production
  • Tesla Roadster audio recording for video games
  • Production i-MiEVs in the UK
  • Hyundai 2.4L direct injected Theta II
  • Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid bus
  • Chevy Volt hits the streets in Royal Oak
  • 2010 Nissan LEAF
  • 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid
  • Renault Fluence ZE concept
  • Governor Schwarzenegger with the Zero S
  • Peugeot Concept HYbrid3 Evolution

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