Geiger Goes Tri-Mode on Chevy's Tahoe Hybrid with LPG Conversion

Geiger, German tuner of all things 'Murrican (and usually high-performance), has decided to try...wait for the pun...its hand at hybrid tuning with the Chevy Tahoe Tri-Mode (there it is!).

Instead of shooting for the moon with 1,000 horsepower or some such nonsense, Geiger has put its powers through a different filter to "get even more economic and environmentally compatible".

Using the Tahoe Hybrid's 6.0 liter V8 with cylinder deactivation / electric drive as a base, Geiger threw an LPG system into the mix (creating three forms of motivation, hence the "tri"). The LPG tank can hold 109 liters or 28.8 gallons.

Geiger says, "With this equipment, [we have] cut the effective fuel costs in half at the current price for LPG."

If you're living abroad and have €56,000 to cough up for a Tahoe Hybrid, you can probably spare the extra €4,000 for an LPG conversion. If these efficiency claims hold up, that might be money well-spent.

By Phil Alex

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Ford to Provide NYPD with Fusion / Escape Hybrid Patrol Cars

Not to be left behind in the quest to clean up our planet, the NYPD announced that it will be adding 200 hybrid vehicles to its fleet in the form of Ford Fusion and Escape Hybrids.

The announcement comes after officers across the five boroughs began testing copped-out Nissan Altima hybrids this time last year.

NYPD spokesman John McCarthy explains, "These [Altimas] were the first hybrids outfitted with a police package being used for patrol. We wanted to see how they held up after being subjected to use on patrol. After a year of use, the feedback has been positive."

With the new purchase, hybrid fleet vehicles in the Big Apple will number more than 400. The result is saving money on a variety of levels: the hybrids' brakes last twice (or even three times) as long as those of standard cruisers, and the vehicles are two to three times more efficient.

By Phil Alex

Via: NYT [Opening Photo: flickr /av8pix]

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VIDEO: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid hits the Nurburgring

Remember the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid that was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show this past March? Well, Porsche has released a new video of its hybrid racer with which it will compete at the Nürburgring 24 hour race on 15/16 May.

Williams Formula 1 pilot Nico Hülkenberg tested the orange and white liveried 911 GT3 R Hybrid on the Nordschleife in the lead up to the third round of the VLN Long Distance Championship. Check out the video after the jump.

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First Pre-Production 2012 Opel Ampera EV Rolls off the Line

The first pre-production 2012 Opel Ampera, or the European market version of the Chevrolet Volt, rolled off the line at GM's assembly plant in Warren, Michigan, on Friday, April 23, marking an important milestone in the project.

General Motors said that the it build more pre-production Amperas in the coming months. The pre-production vehicles will not be sold at dealerships, but used for testing and validating the production intent design as well as developing the final vehicle software and control.

"We're right on target for producing the Ampera for European markets later next year," said Andrew Farah, Vehicle Chief Engineer for the Ampera "There's still work to be done, but being able to drive an Opel Ampera off our pre-production line is a great accomplishment for the teams here and in Europe."

The Opel Ampera is the sister car to the Chevrolet Volt sharing the same extended-range electric drivetrain, interior and basic sheet metal, but with some minor unique styling cues up front and at the back of the car.

Like the Volt, it can deliver up to 60 kilometers of pure electric
driving before a small displacement petrol engine /generator kicks in to recharge the battery and extend the range to more than 500 kilometers. It is scheduled to go on sale in Europe by the end of 2011.

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First Pre-Production 2012 Opel Ampera EV Rolls off the Line

The first pre-production 2012 Opel Ampera, or the European market version of the Chevrolet Volt, rolled off the line at GM's assembly plant in Warren, Michigan, on Friday, April 23, marking an important milestone in the project.

General Motors said that the it build more pre-production Amperas in the coming months. The pre-production vehicles will not be sold at dealerships, but used for testing and validating the production intent design as well as developing the final vehicle software and control.

"We're right on target for producing the Ampera for European markets later next year," said Andrew Farah, Vehicle Chief Engineer for the Ampera "There's still work to be done, but being able to drive an Opel Ampera off our pre-production line is a great accomplishment for the teams here and in Europe."

The Opel Ampera is the sister car to the Chevrolet Volt sharing the same extended-range electric drivetrain, interior and basic sheet metal, but with some minor unique styling cues up front and at the back of the car.

Like the Volt, it can deliver up to 60 kilometers of pure electric
driving before a small displacement petrol engine /generator kicks in to recharge the battery and extend the range to more than 500 kilometers. It is scheduled to go on sale in Europe by the end of 2011.

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Official: BMW to Launch All-Electric Megacity Vehicle in 2013

The BMW Group will be bringing its first series-production electric-drive model (codenamed Megacity Vehicle) to the market in 2013, the company announced on Thursday.

"With this innovative vehicle, designed from the ground up, we will be creating new benchmarks for electric mobility from 2013 on, said BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofer. "Our Megacity Vehicle will be significantly lighter than conventional cars and, in terms of sustainability, will set a new standard across the entire value-added chain."

The car is currently being developed as part of BMW Group's "project i" programme and will be available under a sub-brand of BMW, comparable to the firm's "M" badge. In other words, expect to see something in the likes of 'E' or 'EV' series.

Even though details remain sketchy, the Bavarian automaker has confirmed that the finalized Megacity will make extensive use of ultra-light yet high-strength composite CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced plastic) materials to dramatically reduce weight thus increasing its range and performance.

Previously, Reithofer had noted that aside from a fully-electric drive, the Megacity will also be offered with the option of a high-efficiency combustion engine.

*Opening Photo: BMW's 1994 Z13 Concept

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2010 Beijing Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt MPV5

After we showed you some of the designs a few days ago, the plainly-named Chevrolet Volt MPV5 crossover concept has rolled silently out of the gates.

Big things first: power comes from GM's lithium ion T-battery and a 1.4 liter engine generator, as one would expect. The battery will provide 51.5 km / 32 miles per charge, while the gasoline generator contributes an extra 482 km / 299.5 miles.

So, what is it other than a smaller Orlando with a Volt nose-job and power train? An expander, that's what. This model is GM's next step in creating a new sub-brand within GM, much like Audi's upcoming e-tron line.

Other fun facts: the Volt MPV5 sits on 19s, seats 5, and is extra aerodynamic "thanks to its closed grille and aero-optimized lower air dam,...a full-underbody belly pan, along with rocker claddings, creased tail lamps and specially designed blades on the rear quarter".

It also offers more passenger space all-around, a glass-panel roof, and even provides up to 1,764 liters / 62.3 cu ft of cargo space with the back seats down (863 liters / 30.5 cu ft seats up).

While this new Volt vehicle is neat (and definitely important), it would have been nice to see a modern take on the Volt's face (which is SO 2008).

By Phil Alex

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Jaguar XJ Limo Green Hybrid Study with Range Extending 1.2-liter Gasoline Engine

Jaguar will use the upcoming "World Mobility Forum" exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany (April 15-18), to show off its XJ "Limo Green" hybrid study that was teased for the first time last September.

The 2011 XJ-based Limo Green makes use of a Chevy Volt-like hybrid powertrain with a range extending gasoline engine that was developed in conjunction with Lotus, MIRA and Caparo.

The vehicle uses an electric motor producing 145kW and 295 lb-ft of torque for propulsion. A lithium battery pack offers about 30 miles or close to 50 kilometers driving range with a full charge.

Once the battery is depleted, a Lotus-developed 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline unit kicks-in to produce enough energy to power it for another 600 miles or about 970 kilometers.

The XJ Limo Green prototype is said to return a combined fuel economy of 5.0lt/100 km (equal to 57mpg UK and 47mpg US) with CO2 emissions of juts 120 g/km.

Even though the study is billed as a one-off concept, it is believed that Jaguar will use the technology on its future production models.

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BMW and SGL Team Up for Washington-Based Carbon Fiber Plant

BMW (holding a 49% stake) and SGL (holding 51%) have joined forces to create SGL Automotive Carbon Fiber LLC, which will be located in Moses Lake, Washington. The joint venture will build a $100 million "state-of-the-art carbon fiber manufacturing plant" and help create 80 local jobs.

According to SGL ACF LLC, the end result will be carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) "used for BMW Group's upcoming Megacity Vehicle." They're referring to what will be the end result of BMW's Project i, a mode of transport "designed for fully electric, zero-emission driving."

Why build in Moses Lake? Mainly, energy costs in Washington state are highly competitive and there's access to renewable hydropower [re: it's green as grass]. Other factors included "favorable infrastructure conditions, existing utilities, a skilled labor force and ease of working with the local government."

Robert Koehler, SGL Group's CEO, talked about the project: "It will be the world's most cost efficient carbon fiber plant using state-of-the-art technologies. This significant investment further underlines our commitment to the U.S., where we already operate carbon fiber and composite materials plants...We will ensure that carbon fibers play a revolutionary role in lightweight automotive construction."

Friedrich Eichiner of BMW added, "With using CFRP components in our Megacity Vehicle, we take sustainable mobility a step further. By combining the know-how of SGL Group and our expertise in manufacturing CFRP components, we will be able to produce carbon fiber enhanced components in large volumes at competitive costs for the first time. This is particularly relevant for electric-powered vehicles such as the Megacity Vehicle."

With recent BMW trademarks including everything from an i1 and i2 to E8s and E9s, there's no time like the present to start speculating on what the first majority-CFRP BMW product will be. Being old-school, here's hoping the Isetta makes a comeback.

By Phil Alex

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Hyundai Reveals 2011 Sonata Hybrid, gets 39mpg Highway, can Reach Speeds of up to 62mph in Electric Mode

Hyundai's big reveal for the New York Auto Show was the all-new 2011 Sonata Hybrid that will compete head-on with the likes of the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid when it arrives in U.S. showrooms later this year.

The newest member of the Sonata family features a series of unique styling cues that set it apart from its conventional brethren. These include a new fascia with a small upper grille and a gaping-mouth (Peugeot-like) lower grille, revised headlamps and a redesigned bumper.

At the back, there's a reshaped bumper with sharp creases at the corners and revised tail lights. The so-called 'eco-spoke' alloys and beefier rocker panels round off the exterior tweaks that are said to help reduce the drag coefficient from the standard Sonata's 0.28 to 0.25.

Interior changes are limited to the unique trim and color choices, and the Hybrid Technology Display featured on a 4.2-inch LCD screen located between the odometer and tachometer.

Hyundai's first hybrid in the U.S. market features a proprietary parallel hybrid drive system called "Hybrid Blue Drive" that utilizes a 169HP 2.4-liter Theta II (operating on an Atkinson Cycle) linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission (and not a CVT as most Hybrids), a 30kW (151 lb-ft) electric motor and a lithium polymer battery pack located in the forward portion of the trunk.

Its two propulsion units develop a total output of 209 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and 195 lb-ft of torque.

The car's front wheels are turned by power coming directly from the gasoline engine, or the electric motor, or both together. Hyundai said that in all-electric mode, the Sonata Hybrid can reach speeds of up to 62mph (100km/h) which is significantly higher than the Ford Fusion Hybrid's 47mph and the Toyota Camry Hybrid's 42mph.

The South Korean automaker said that the Sonata Hybrid delivers a projected fuel economy of 39mpg highway and 37mpg city, compared to the Camry's 34/33mpg and the Fusion's 41/36 mpg.

Pricing and detailed specs are to be announced closer to the Sonata Hybrid's launch date.

[NY Show Photos by Phil Alex]

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