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Ford to produce a 177hp 1-liter EcoBoost motor
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Corporate News, Transportation,
A few weeks back we hit you with the top 10 automotive technologies to look out for in the future. Well, the some of that future tech is hitting us faster than we thought. Ford, along with BMW, has set the ball rolling to move into the future now.
Like many manufacturers, Ford has taken a stand to achieve more miles per gallon. However, as many know, more miles per gallon usually means no power and no fun. Ford doesn’t believe that this needs to be the case. The birth of the 1.0-liter motor will likely come forth sometime in the next few months over in Europe, and soon in the US soon after.
Hearing that a car has a 1.0-liter might sound odd to us in the States, but the tune of 177 horsepower does not. Now, granted, not all 1.0-liters will be the same, but Ford has some plans for the Fiesta ST, which will turn the already peppy car into a cracked-out peppy go-kart driving experience. The standard Fiestas will feature a 3-banger producing a mere 100+ horses or so, but the ST version will have 177 horses. Given the power to weight ratio, that will be one hell of a ride. Here’s to you, Ford, in giving us MPGs and HPs in the same ride. Cheers.
Read More 
| Autocar
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Average fuel economy of new vehicles increases by 14% compared to four years ago
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Science, Transportation,
With the decline of the economy, the automakers took a huge hit in the United States. One could only wonder what outcome of such events would be. Looking past the rollercoaster economy, bailouts, and scandals, consumers have benefited the most as it pertains to the automotive industry by way of increased miles per gallon. As the economy slowly picks itself outta the dump, consumers are slowly returning to the market for new vehicles.
Over the past few years, regulations have passed which mandate more MPGs per vehicle. The old average hovered around 18 miles per gallong. Today, the average hovers around 21 miles per gallon, and is expected to reach 34 miles per gallon by 2016 (this being said among light duty vehicles.) However, regulations suggest that manufactures average 54 miles per gallon by the year 2025. Interestlingly, despite these increases, there has been a small decrease in fuel economy in hybrid vehicles.
Hybrids, naturally known for their great fuel economy, have seen an average of 3 miles per gallong decrease since their introduction into the market. However, we suspect that part of the reason for this is due to the larger hybrids that have been introduced into the market, such as the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid.
Click through to read the full press release, which includes a bunch of interesting figures.
Read More | The Detroit Bureau
Bleeding Edge TV 434: Cadillac CUE infotainment system tour
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2012, Features, GPS, Podcasts, Transportation, Videocasts, Videos,
In this episode we give you a look at the Cadillac User Experience, also known as Cadillac CUE. This is the new infotainment system that you can expect to find in the upcoming Cadillac XTS and Cadillac SRX as a standard feature, as well as an optional feature on the upcoming Cadillac ATS as well. Cadillac CUE offers a bunch of cool, new features that make driving more fun:
Connectivity: CUE seamlessly connects you to a world of content. Its available 3D GPS navigation system has map-integrated Doppler weather reports. It accesses every contact and song on your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone. It reads text messages aloud and streams Pandora Radio. With downloadable custom apps, its content possibilities are endless. With CUE, you are always connected.
Convenience: CUE starts with a clean, uncluttered design. From there, intuition takes over. Spread your fingers to zoom in closer on a map. Swipe to breeze through your music. Program the homepage to keep your favorites front and center. With fewer buttons and more intelligent controls, CUE also offers natural voice recognition, allowing you to effortlessly place phone calls and play music.
Control: Proximity-sensing technology detects your hand as it approaches the 8-inch LCD touch screen. When an icon is pressed, the screen pulses to acknowledge the command, keeping your eyes safely on the road. Even the gauge cluster is reconfigurable (select models), offering four display layouts that mix vehicle data, such as a speedometer and fuel gauge, with navigation, entertainment and 3-D vehicle image.
Big thank you to GoToMeeting and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! GoToMeeting provides rich, super-simple collaborative virtual meetings. As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like on the site.
Dude avoids extortion thanks to having dash cam installed in his car
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Cameras, Transportation, Videos,
For those that drive on a daily basis, we’re sure you all have your horror stories to tell, and we’re sure some are just too good to believe. That said, when the issue is pressed can you prove that what you say is true, or will it be our word against yours? We hate to give you a reality check, but the law may not always be on your side; even if you’re not at fault. Here in Washington, if you hit someone from behind, it’s automatically your fault. How could you prove that you were completely stopped and that the person in front of you rolled backwards into you? If you're like the dude in the video above, the answer is simple. Install a dash cam. Sure, it may seem nerdy, but at least it got him out of paying $500 for something that wasn't his fault. Check out the video above for the full story.
Ford’s creates a fake supermodel in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Mustang ad
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Misc. Tech, Transportation,
We’re always fan of interesting marketing technics, but this one takes that cake. Ford has unleashed a series of marking campaigns in this years Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine that feature the sexy Mustang in different colors alongside one beautiful model in a matching swimsuit. The model, Dalena Henriques, never shows her face, but it credited in each ad.
A quick Google search for Dalena Henriques brings up DalenaHenriques.com, no surprise there. The thing is, when you visit the site, every photo in her portfolio features her with the Mustang, with no face revealed. It then becomes obvious--Ford created a fake supermodel (and yes, they credited her as a "supermodel") of their own as an additional means to generate buzz.
Read More | Adweek
Three-cylinder BMW 3 Series to hit the streets in a couple of years
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Corporate News, Transportation,
A while back we hit you with a list of the top ten technologies to look out for in automobiles, and now we’re here to let you know that one of the items on that list is ready to be brought to market. BMW has long been the reigning champ in luxury compacts and it may soon be adding new bragging rights to its list.
We included the three-cylinder motor on our list due to the economy boost that the motors promise. Aside from luxury, BMW wants to add fuel economy to its 3 Series lineup. At the heart of most three-cylinder cars lies a hybrid motor to aid in power. BMW, however, is taking a different approach. Unlike its i8, which sport a hybrid combo, the company aims to provide relatively the same power and fun that the current 3 Series provides. The three-cylindered motors are expected to hit the streets within the next two to three years.
Read More | Autoblog
Mercedes-Benz improves the seat belt for the second time
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Corporate News, Transportation,
Mercedes-Benz has improved the seat belt again. If you haven’t been up to speed, the first improvement they made was placing motors on the B- and C-pillars of the car so that the seat belt can adjust tension. Now they’ve gone a step further to make buckling up easier. Future models will feature a buckle that lights up and out by about 3-inches extends when a passenger enters the vehicle. Once the belt is inserted, the buckle retracts back into position and the light fades.
Mercedes aims to put this into production as early as 2013.
Read More | Autoblog
Top 5 Hottest Hatchback Cars in the U.S.
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Editorial, Features, Transportation,
Europe always seems to get the best of breed when it comes to cars. Regardless of the make or model, Europe takes delivery of vehicles we can only dream of over here in America. Here in the States we’re often left with slightly bland, dumbed down, and unappealing vehicle selection. Even Ford, an American company, offers vehicles in Europe that we can’t get here at home like the Ford Falcon and Focus RS, which we’ll zone in more later in the article.
Europeans have a knack for the ultimate driving experience, and one thing we noticed during a visit over the Atlantic during the summer was their love of hatchbacks. No, we're not talking about some hokey-puck cheap car that you'd find a teenager racing around town in. These vehicles are actually pretty awesome. We've put together our list of five hot hatches to look out for and consider if and when you’re in the market. Read on!
Click to continue reading Top 5 Hottest Hatchback Cars in the U.S.
Tesla Model X electric crossover coming in 2014
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Corporate News, Transportation,
Tesla has announced the Model X, an all-electric crossover vehicle that it says will be put into production by 2014. Key features include rear Falcon Wing doors, which fold out Delorean-style (but how practical are Falcon doors inside a parking garage), and an average of 300 miles per charge. The plug-in CUV is based on the same platform as the Model S sedan, which also has yet to see the light of day, but should go into production this summer.
Click to continue reading Tesla Model X electric crossover coming in 2014
Read More | CNN
Nissan NV200 set to take on Ford Transit
Posted by Andrey Malskiy Categories: Corporate News, Transportation,
Along with Chevy, Nissan is aiming to take a stab at Ford this quarter. Among small business owners that need some sort of work van, the Ford Transit has been the van of choice since the 1970s. Heck, even thieves loved choosing the Ford Transit due to its peppiness and reliability. Nissan believes its new van, the NV200, could provide to be some friendly competition for Ford.
The Nissan NV200 features a 2-liter four-banger with a mounted CVT gearbox. Loading and unloading is simple, due to a low floor, and it can haul 1500 pounds. The cargo area can easily accommodate your standard pallet, if need be.
All that said, I’d still choose the Ford over the Nissan. Why? Well, while driving the Ford, I’ll know its legacy is laced in high-speed car chases, bank robberies, and solid reliability. However, if that’s not important to you the price might be the deciding factor. The Transit currently runs for a little over $22,000 and the Nissan is projected to be within that price range.
Read More | Autoblog
