William Maley

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 4, 2012 With stiffer Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards on their way, Ford is looking at whether to add aluminum body panels on the next generation F-150. According to Ward's Auto, two sources say the company will utlize aluminum body panels, including doors and fenders on the next generation F-150. This comes as a surprise since steel has been the standard for trucks for decades. But this move coincides with a statement made by Ford's Group Vice President of Global Product Development, Derrick Kuzak. Kuzak said the company has a goal by 2019 to drop 700 lbs for each model. Source: Ward's Auto

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 4, 2012 One problem with modern vehicles is how heavy they have become. And in this era of tougher CAFE standards, automakers are looking at how to drop the weight down. Mercedes-Benz is going the extreme route if a report from Car Magazine pans out. Car reports that Mercedes-Benz is working on a special edition E-Class due out sometime in late 2015. The special E-Class is Mercedes’ answer to the Audi E-Tron and BMW i Series. The E-Class superlight as it’s being called will utilize a very stiff and light carbon fiber structure and come in a four-door notchback. The powertrain for this vehicle could be a 150 HP hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain in conjunction with a 50 HP electric motor. Gas/diesel engines and possibly a plug-in Hybrid version are expected to follow allow. Source: Car Magazine

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 4, 2012 At next week's Detroit Auto Show, Volvo will show of a XC60 Plug-In Hybrid Concept. The XC60 Plug-In Hybrid Concept will sport a brand new 2.0L turbo-four producing 280 HP. The gas engine is mated to a 70 HP electric motor giving a combined power output of 350 HP. 0-60 takes around 5.8 seconds and can get 50 MPG. Drivers can choose from three different modes how much of the available power from the gas and electric motor are used: Pure: All electric mode, range of 35 miles Hybrid: Mix of gas and electric power. CO2 emissions are 53 g/km Power: Maximum Power is available Volvo says the XC60 Plug-In Hybrid Concept can travel up 600 miles. No date has been set for production, but expect the XC60 Plug-In to arrive sometime in 2014. Press Release is on Page 2 Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept - a unique blend of gasoline and electric power At the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volvo Car Corporation will unveil an innovative gasoline plug-in hybrid. The Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is an electric car, a highly economical hybrid and a powerful high-performance car all rolled into one. At the touch of a button, the driver decides how the available power from the combination of the high-performance gasoline engine and the electric motor is to be utilized. "The technology in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is as ingenious as it is unique," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. "You can make really green progress on the road without compromising on any of the luxury car's renowned properties. No other manufacturer has succeeded in delivering fuel economy and electrical range on this level in a capable, spacious performance car with 350 horsepower on tap." "This world-class gasoline plug-in hybrid technology, featuring a state-of-the-art four-cylinder engine from our upcoming Volvo Environmental Architecture engine family, will reach our American showrooms in a couple of years. However, it is too early to say which model will be the first to feature this solution," Stefan Jacoby says. Pure Hybrid Power - three cars in one The driver chooses the driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel. The buttons give the car three distinct temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power. In Pure mode the car is powered solely by its electric motor as much as possible. The operational range is up to 35 miles (charge depleting range, U.S certification driving cycle) with zero tailpipe emissions in urban traffic. The range according to the European certification driving cycle NEDC is 45 km. Hybrid mode is the standard setting whenever the car is started. The gasoline engine and electric motor cooperate to provide maximum driving pleasure with minimum environmental impact. According to the European certification driving cycle NEDC, CO2 emissions are 53 g/km (2.3 l/100 km) - which translates into fuel economy of over 100 mpg. Using the U.S certification standards, which include emissions from the production of the electric energy, the combined fuel economy in continuous driving is 50 mpg. The car has a total operating range of up to 600 miles (960 km). In Power mode, the technology is optimized to create maximum possible power. The gasoline engine with 280 hp and 380 Nm (280 lb.-ft.) is combined with the electric motor with 70 hp and 200 Nm (148 lb.-ft.). The electric motor's instant torque delivery contributes to the car's acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds (0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds). Four cylinders with the same power as a six-cylinder unit The front wheels of the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept are powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine from the forthcoming VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) engine family. This engine produces 280 horsepower and maximum torque of 380 Nm (280 lb.-ft.). Power delivery to the wheels comes via a newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission. "In the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept we demonstrate that our forthcoming four-cylinder engines offer the same high performance as today's sixes. At the same time, their fuel consumption will be lower than in current four-cylinder engines," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Car Corporation. The concept car carries a "T8" badge, which emphasizes the combined 350 horsepower of the high-performance four-cylinder engine and the electric motor. This moves the car into territory previously occupied solely by eight-cylinder engines. "It's time to stop counting cylinders," Peter Mertens says. "Four-cylinder engines are the most effective way to quickly reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption without compromising customer expectations when it comes to driving pleasure and performance." Reduction of parts, weight and fuel consumption VEA is a modular range of diesel and gasoline engines. The gasoline versions come with direct injection, minimized internal losses and balance shafts for maximized comfort. Several levels of turbocharging open up for flexibility that encompasses the whole range from high power and torque variants to extremely fuel-efficient derivatives. In order to cover all customer requirements, certain engines will gain added performance via hybrid drive or other spearhead technology. The modular format is based on a standard of 500cc (30 cubic inches) per cylinder for optimum thermodynamics. It could also be used to develop three-cylinder engines. VEA offers several advantages The number of unique parts is reduced. This promotes manufacturing efficiency, quality assurance and efficiency of new development projects. The new powertrains are considerably lighter than present engines with similar performance. Fuel economy is improved by up to 35 percent compared to engines with similar performance. Modularity and compact transverse design are also ideal for future electrification developments. Integrated Starter Generator The engine in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept has no conventional starter motor or alternator. Instead, there is an Integrated Starter motor and Generator (ISG) connected to the crankshaft, which is located between the engine and the transmission. The ISG is capable of delivering an extra 34 kW (45 hp) during acceleration. It also charges the battery during braking. Charge the battery at home The rear axle of the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is driven by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower. It is supplied with power from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment. The battery pack is recharged from a regular power outlet, at home or at a parking place. Recharging time varies with the current. If 220V is available a full charge with 12A takes just 3.5 hours. With 110V/12A a full charge takes 7.5 hours. It is also possible while recharging the car to heat or cool the passenger compartment in order to make the start of the journey more comfortable. This also means that more battery power is available to propel the car. Constantly online The Volvo Sensus infotainment system in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept keeps the driver constantly updated on everything that makes the journey simpler, more efficient and more entertaining. A few examples of available information: Best route to the destination depending on whether the driver prioritizes low energy consumption, the fastest route or the shortest distance. Low Emission Zones where sufficient capacity is needed for running on pure electricity. Charging stations with access to renewable electricity. Locations along the route with access to quick-charging facilities. Mobile application The driver also can connect to the car via a mobile phone application. This offers convenient access to a wide range of data, such as the battery's charge level, remaining range, and the location and capacity of the nearest recharging station. Via the app, it is possible to verify if the charger cable is hooked up and it is also possible to pre-program the car's interior climate. "Creating an intuitive driver's environment that always gives you access to updated, useful information is an important part of our product development. This includes that you should be as updated when the car is parked as when you're behind the wheel," says Stefan Jacoby. Muscular appearance The Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is painted in a special white color and the 21-inch wheels enhance the muscular appearance. The interior features unique detailing and colors, such as sober dark-blue leather upholstery and inlays of blue-grey wood. The instruments have been tailored to give the driver all the necessary information about petrol and electricity consumption, battery charge level, remaining range and so on. Electric four-wheel drive The electric four-wheel drive in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is activated by pressing the AWD (All Wheel Drive) button. Instead of the mechanical power transfer of conventional four-wheel drive, the central control unit distributes power between the gasoline-driven front wheels and the electrically driven rear axle. The electric four-wheel drive system has been designed to provide better traction when starting and when driving on slippery roads, for instance in snow or mud. Saves battery power for later The driver can choose to save battery power for later in order to drive on pure electricity later in, for example, an urban green zone or in the heart of a city. When Save is activated, the generator charges and tops up the battery pack if necessary. The aim is to ensure sufficient battery power for about 12 miles (20 km) of driving on electricity.

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 3, 2011 2011 saw Chrysler rise up and build momentum and profits with models like the new Chrysler 300 and revised Jeep Wrangler. However, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is being cautious. In an email obtained by The Detroit News, Marchionne says 2012 will be another pivotal year. "Over the past 12 months, we successfully changed the conversation from Chrysler's survival to products and service that consumers expect and want from a great American automaker. What's past is prologue. The stage is set for another critical year in our drive to transform Chrysler." Marchionne said in the email that the progress Chrysler made in the past year proved the company is still viable. "Just two years ago, during the (Detroit auto show), many journalists wrote stories predicting our imminent demise. They underestimated the energy, the capabilities and the composure under crisis that sustain the people who comprise the soul of Chrysler. Now, the tone of coverage has shifted, focusing on our comeback story and on what matters most, our products. We didn't get caught up in the press clippings before, and we can't afford to bask in them now. We understand that there is a great deal of work ahead of us. Our effort to create a viable global car company is still a work in progress, with most of the paint still on the palette." Foremost in the Chrysler product introductions for 2012 will be the new Dodge Dart, which will play an important role in Chrysler's rebuilding efforts and give them a player in the small car class. But, Marchionne cautioned employees that serious challenges lie ahead in 2012. "As we begin 2012, uncertain global economic forces pose challenges to the entire industrial sector. And in a rapidly changing world, this year will inevitably bring other risks and opportunities not yet foreseeable. Let's remain open and flexible enough to continually rethink our response, while staying true to our values — a commitment to meritocracy and excellence, the search for and cherishing of change and most importantly, the clear acknowledgment that we are accountable for our choices." "I am proud to be with you in the reconstruction of a great Chrysler," Marchionne said. "You have shown tremendous courage in taking responsibility for the fate of Chrysler in your own hands. Your sense of purpose and passion has restored pride and credibility in our company. You are the authors of a remarkable story in 2011, and I look forward to continuing our journey and writing an exciting new chapter in 2012." Source: The Detroit News