Driving Sports

Fisker Performing Track Testing in SoCal

Fisker Automotive, Inc. and Quantum Technologies announced today they are performing initial vehicle testing and fine tuning the battery software management system for the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid production car. These initial test track developments are taking place in Southern California.

Three Fisker Karma prototypes have been built, and are currently undergoing testing for the electric powertrain developed by Quantum Technologies. Concurrently, the Fisker Automotive engineering team is working on crash test simulation. Further validation and certification on the vehicles will be performed over the coming months.

Gale Banks Touts Clean Diesel

When consumers understand the advantages of today's clean diesel power, it turns conventional thinking about diesel on its head, explained Gale Banks, chief executive officer of Gale Banks Engineering, and a featured speaker at the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo. The conference runs through Wednesday, May 14, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel.

"With clean diesel power, drivers can have approximately 30 percent better fuel economy and 50 percent more torque, as well as reduce emissions by up to 25 percent, when compared to gasoline-powered passenger car engines. With clean diesel no longer are fuel economy and performance mutually exclusive," Banks said.

Green Fools, er, Fuels

I love this planet we live on just as much as the next guy. In fact, I was raised on a small island, primarily populated by hippies back in the 70s. That really helped give me what I believe to be a pretty healthy respect for the Earth. So when I say that hybrid cars and biofuels are merely publicity stunts go awry, it really catches some of those around me off guard.

As an automotive journalist that lives in the eco-friendly Northwest, one of the most common questions I get is, "what hybrid car should I buy?" To that, I instead suggest riding a bike or -- if that person really needs a car -- buying a used Toyota Echo (an economical car nobody bought because it was tinny and very uncool) or a mid-90s Honda that gets near 40mpg. If they want new, to check out the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa or one of the PZEV Subarus. And for God's sake, never get on an jet (nobody talks about that issue over here, do they? At least the Swedes are doing something about it.)

Still, Toyota (and now the Big 3) has managed to spoon-feed the American population that hybrids aren't just good, they're your moral responsibility. I don't know what is worse, a large corporation bending ignorant masses to their will or "do gooders" driving around in converted Volvos espousing that, somehow, biofuels will save us all (and sporting the bumper stickers to prove their piety.)

Recently, our local paper ran a piece called "Bio-debatable: Food vs. Fuel" and it's a very good read. But the best part was the graph titled, "How green are biofuels?" which puts the smack down on many people's assumptions about the "green" benefits of biofuels. Highly recommended reading, and really the whole reason I started this blog entry.

Living green takes more than buying the "right" car, that is probably the least important decision in a massively complex issue, but has somehow become the cornerstone for this misguided green movement. (Yes, you can quote me on that.) If you're serious about living green, buy locally-grown produce, walk or bike as much as possible and never, ever, use a jet for transportation. You can then own any car you want and you'll make a bigger impact (for good) on this Earth than 100 biofuel- or hybrid-driving hypocrites.

Graph, courtesy of Seattle PI.

Vortex Race Performance Exhausts the Winning Strategy for Diesel and R3 Rally

In a BMW120 diesel Fin McCaul finished first in the diesel and R3 class of the Pirelli International Rally held 19 April, 2008, which is the first round of the British Rally Championship. In terms of achievement this merits high enough to be called very exceptional. The next rally will be the Jim Clark Rally. The Vortex team is confident that their rally race exhaust technology will make the difference and that Fin has an excellent chance to carry on winning and lift the silverware.

Pombo Takes First VW TDI Cup - Series Sponsors Announced

Rising star Mark Pombo won the first Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race on Sunday at VIRginia International Raceway.  With a best lap time of 2:15.686, Pombo, 25, from Duluth, GA., raced against 28 other up-and-coming drivers to secure his win in the race.

“Winning the first race of the Jetta TDI Cup is definitely a highlight of my racing career so far,” said Pombo.  “It’s a competitive field of racers, with each of the drivers at the top of their game.  I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this win without the support of the Volkswagen cup series team and Cates Engineering.”

Xtreme Motorsports Announces Electric Sand Car

Xtreme Motorsports of California announced that it has completed the engineering & manufacturing plans for the industry's first completely electric sandcar.

With the ever-rising concerns by California Air Resource Board (CARB) of new emissions laws within the sandcar industry and the growing concern about future climate change, Xtreme Motorsports has completed the engineering and production plans for the first "Zero Emissions Sandcar" (ZES). Utilizing the latest in motor & controller technology from Azure Dynamics, a leader in providing solutions for the electric car industry, along with advanced Lithium Ion battery technology from AEVehicles, these new Sandcars are the most exciting line of vehicles for the consumer we have put out to date.

VW Announces TDI Cup Drivers

Thirty up-and-coming drivers to launch new environmentally responsible race series

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today the selection of 30 drivers to compete in the all-new Jetta TDI Cup series. The drivers were chosen at a driver selection event April 3-6 at the Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz.

“We’re offering a unique opportunity for some of the best and brightest drivers to get their start in a factory-backed racing series,” said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Through an exhausting driver evaluation process, we looked at a variety of factors including driving ability and potential, media and communication skills and overall fit, to choose the 30 best drivers to help promote Volkswagen and the introduction of our all-new 50-state clean diesel Jetta TDI, and ultimately themselves.”

$110/bbl Oil Making the Market for Alternative Fuels

At DrivingSports, we think that as long as a car is fast and fun to drive, we don't really care if it runs on gasoline, diesel, alcohol, nitromethane, or sunshine and daisies. With oil pushing $110 a barrel and a gallon of gas retailing at about $3.30, Americans are now spending more than 5% of their annual incomes (or about $135 per month) on filling up their tanks. That's up from 3% in 2004 and 4% in 2005.

Clearly, something is going to have to change if we want to continue to enjoy our cars - and we have no plans to buy a bus pass anytime soon. For years the case for more fuel efficient vehicles was held back by the supposed cost to manufacturers while the case for alternative fueled vehicles held little appeal to a market happy with gasoline. But as a recent report shows, that's all changing right now. In fact, according to a new study published this week by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, three quarters (74%) of American consumers are ready for alternative fuel vehicles.

Toyota Hydrogen-Powered Vehicle Takes on Alaska

Toyota revealed a significant achievement in its ongoing hydrogen-hybrid fuel cell development program at a press conference recently. A 2,300 mile trek in a Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV) from Fairbanks, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia along the Alaska-Canadian (ALCAN) highway confirmed substantial progress in reliability and durability, cold-weather operation and extended range capability of Toyota's hybrid fuel cell system.

"When our Torrance-based product planners and engineers heard about Toyota Motor Corporation's (TMC) plan to run a distance of 348 miles from Osaka, Japan to Tokyo on a single tank of hydrogen, they thought it was a great idea…that probably didn't go far enough in showing how far this new system had advanced," said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager.

Silent But Deadly - "Zero" Electric Dirt Bikes Hit the Market

Zero Motorcycles of Santa Cruz, California today announced the Zero X, a no-compromise electric motorcycle that has race winning performance without the obnoxious noise and pollution of regular gas motorcycles. Its electric drive system provides incredible torque, delivering all you would expect in a full-fledged high performance motorcycle.

"I rode the Zero X prototype in a demonstration motocross race in Las Vegas in 2007 and was very impressed," said National Motocross Champion, Hall of Famer and TV commentator Jeff Emig. "I'm expecting the production version to have a huge impact in the motor sports industry."

Recession Fears Take Toll on Auto Buying

With more than 250 million automobiles, Americans can be said to be among the most "car-oriented" people in the world; home to nearly one out of every three passenger vehicles, the United States has long been known as the single most important auto market in the world.

But that may be changing now, as the economy hits the skids and record numbers of American consumers are foregoing automobile purchases for the foreseeable future.

In fact, according to a March poll conducted by TechnoMetrica's AutoView (the company's automotive research division), demand for new automobiles among American consumers hit a new 14-month low, forcing their Auto Purchase Outlook Index down an unheard of 23 points, or 26%, to reach 65.6 (vs. 88.8 in February).

Ford Unveils Fiesta - Shows off WRC Focus

Ford of Europe unveiled their new "Fiesta" this week at the Geneva Auto Show - the little hatch comes in three and five-door versions.

"Sustainable mobility imposes a huge challenge for society and the automotive industry, and there is still a long journey ahead of us," said John Fleming, Ford of Europe president and CEO. "Further out, we're working on a range of affordable new petrol engines under the Ford EcoBoost name. These use a combination of direct fuel injection and turbocharging technologies to deliver better performance, emissions and economy from smaller displacement engines."

New Hybrid Technology on Display in Geneva

By now, you've noticed that I like to jump on technological issues as they come floating down the news stream. The reason is simple: This stuff is what we'll all be driving in 10 years, and I want driving to stay fun.

Really, I don't have any commitment to gasoline, as long as there's some around to power my classic cars. The next new car I buy could run on fresh air, sunshine, and daisies for all I care, so long as it's fast and handles well.

This year's Geneva Auto Show seems to be where every company in the world is announcing advances in a couple of key areas: diesel performance and lithium-ion battery technology. Sometimes together in one package. The diesel-electric hybrid idea dates back to the early 20th century, and in fact, most railroad locomotives still use a diesel-electric combination of powerplants. It's likely that your next  sports car will use a turbo-diesel in combination with an electric motor to get you off the line fast and  maintain a healthy top speed. Which is fine with me - my big-ass rattle-can pickup truck turns mid-15s on the strip. 

So we keep a finger on the pulse of the new technology around DrivingSports HQ. Here's the latest, a new hydrogen fuel cell car from the Italians:

Pininfarina unveiled its new concept car, the Sintesi, featuring Nuvera's Quadrivium(TM) drive, at the Geneva Motor Show today in Geneva, Switzerland.

      

Mercedes Announces GLK Hybrid SUV

Mercedes-Benz will announce the diesel-electric-powered Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID to their SUV line-up at the Geneva Auto Show next week. This proof-of-concept study illustrates the possibilities of the company's "TrueBlueSolutions" strategy in the compact SUV segment.

The Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID achieved this goal by combining the new BLUETEC four-cylinder diesel engine generation with a hybrid module. This combination generates an overall output of 165 kW/224 hp, and a torque of 560 Nm. Superior performance can be taken as read in view of these figures. And yet the Vision GLK BLUETEC HYBRID returns a fuel consumption of only 5.9 l per 100 km. (39.87 MPG)

With fuel prices expected to hit $4/Gallon by Spring in the United States and the promotion of clean diesel engines through racing series such as the VW TDI Cup, this looks like a timely announcement from the venerable German automaker.

IRL Gets All Tipsy on Ethanol

Ryan Hunter-Reay is "an environmental freak." His words.

"I'm full on recycling all that stuff," the IndyCar Series driver said. "I'm a surfer, so I'm in the ocean and see the pollution and how it affects that. Being with ethanol, we're firsthand green."

No comment was made on how IRL fuel tastes with cranberry juice and a wedge of lime, however.

The IndyCar Series, which is the only motorsports series to use 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in its Honda Indy V-8 engines, is taking another step in improving racing's environmental footprint and being a proponent of a less oil-dependent future.

VW Jetta TDI Cup Dates Announced

Volkswagen of America and SCCA Pro Racing have announced the eight dates comprising the 2008 schedule of the new Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race series.

Making its debut on American shores this summer, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series is an innovative approach to motorsports. The Jetta TDI Cup is composed of 30 factory-prepared and managed 2008 clean-diesel Jetta TDIs, piloted by talented drivers aged 16 to 26, who are relative unknowns in the industry. Volkswagen's goal is to find the driver with the most talent and help them break into the world of professional motorsports.

Hyundai Hedges Hydrogen Hunch

Hyundai's new hydrogen-powered, zero-emission concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), debuted in North America at the 100th edition of the Chicago Auto Show this week. Developed at Hyundai's Design and Technical Center in Chiba, Japan, the i-Blue concept illustrates the design direction for a future FCEV production model. The all-new i-Blue platform features Hyundai's third-generation fuel cell technology, currently being developed at Hyundai's Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, Korea.

VW Touts Two-Pedal DSG Success with New 7-Speed

Five years ago Volkswagen presented the first production dual-clutch transmission in the world: the 6-speed DSG. Since then over one million 6-speed DSGs have been sold. In just the first eleven months of last year 364,000 were sold. This is now being followed up by another transmission: the world’s first 7-speed DSG to be produced in high-volume. For many car drivers this could signify the best reason yet to turn away from conventional transmissions. VW Claims the new DSG can do everything better than a manual gearbox. It is more fuel efficient, sporty and comfortable.

Mazda Expands Green Focus in ALMS

MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development used the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) Winter Test to unveil their 2008 colors, reflecting the addition of two new partners. BP and Yokohama Tire Corporation have joined the B-K Motorsports Lola B07/46-Mazda MZR-R LMP2 team with multi-year partnerships.

“BP and Yokohama will be active partners in our ALMS program as we enter our sophomore year with our Mazda MZR-R powered program, and we look forward to our most successful ALMS project yet,” said Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality, and the man behind MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development.

Auto Industry Flashes the Green at Winter Auto Shows

Every year at the various Auto Shows around America, representatives of the big three U.S. automakers give a short presentation to the local media about their new cars.  Two years ago, the talk was all about big - bigger cars and SUVs with bigger engines than the year before. This year, the trend is mostly in the other direction, and you’ll be able to see the difference at this winter's Auto Shows.

Back in November, I went to the Los Angeles Auto Show to get an early look at the 2009 prototypes and concept cars. Every manufacturer at the L.A. Auto Show wanted to talk about green. Not just the color of money, but about alternative fuels, hybrid engines, and clean transportation.

Subaru Introduces Diesel Engines in Europe

Subaru has introduced two models of their Legacy line using diesel power in the company's signature flat-opposed "Boxer" engine design. We're salivating just looking at the specs:

• Legacy  Sports Tourer and Outback
• Two-litre  horizontally-opposed engine develops 147 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque
• Almost  50 mpg Combined for Sports Tourer with 151 g/km CO₂
• 126 mph top speed and 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds  for Sports Tourer
• Moving sound levels of 70.5 dB (A) lower than  Rolls-Royce Phantom’s 72.0 dB (A)
• Standard equipment includes HID headlamps with pop-out washers, electrically-folding door mirrors, front projector foglamps, CD player with MP3 facility, dual-zone climate control with rear outlets and cruise control
• On  sale Feb ’08

All the factory-supplied info you need to know after the jump. All the info you want to know, that is, except for when we'll be able to get one of these Green machines here in the USA...

"Karma" - What goes around, comes around

As of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, California-based Fisker Automotive continues to maintain that their exotically styled plug-in hybrid will begin shipping at the end of 2009 with a starting price of $80,000.

Fisker claims the Karma will deliver 50 miles of range on electricity alone, after which a gasoline or diesel engine takes over to extend range up to 600 miles. Promising performance figures include zero-to-60-mph sprints of less than six seconds and a top speed beyond 125 mph. An optional full-length solar roof can charge the battery and keep the Karma cool when parked.

Check out the video, over at KBB.com, here.

Automotive X-Prize

After tackling space travel, the X Foundation now has its sights set on improving gas mileage here on Earth. Due to be announced in January is a new competition to create 100MPG cars. Personlly, I think that bar is awfully low since even the Prius is supposedly going to get that type of MPG in a couple years. Still, any improvement is good, right? In addition to being thrifty, of the expected entrants are even downright fast.

CNet News.com has the scoop (and pics) here.