Ford ups the ante in fuel economy wars

David Phillips is deputy managing editor of autonews.com.

Lost amid the squabbling over drilling permits on public land, Iowa wind farms, Massachusetts coal plants and high gasoline prices during Wednesday's heated presidential debate, another shot was fired on the front lines of the battle for energy independence.
Ford Motor Co. said earlier Wednesday that the 2013 C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid has been certified to go 620 miles on a tank of gasoline and single charge as rated by the EPA.
That's enough to top the range of the 2012 Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid by 80 miles, and the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, with a range of 380 miles.
(To be fair, the C-Max Energi has a larger fuel tank than the Prius plug-in hybrid and Volt.)
But Ford, raising the ante in the fuel economy wars, says the C-Max Energi plug-in will deliver as many as 21 miles of range in all-electric, and an EPA-certified equivalent of 100 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The Prius plug-in is rated at 95 mpg-e combined and the Volt is rated at 98 mpg-e combined.
Sales, no doubt, will be modest given the C-Max Energi's base price of $33,745, including destination. Federal income tax credits of as much as $3,750 can knock the price down to $29,995. And additional incentives will be available in select states.
Last month, Ford fired another volley at Toyota when the 2013 Fusion hybrid was certified by the EPA to deliver 47 mpg city/47 highway/47 combined in hybrid mode.
That's enough to beat the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg on the highway and 4 mpg in city driving.
Later this year, Ford aims to raise the ante further with the Fusion Energi plug-in, which it vows will become the world's most fuel-efficient mid-sized car, topping 100 mpg-e.
We're now well beyond the goal of the 80-mpg family sedan envisioned by the Clinton administration's Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles.
There's no doubt Ford will be trumped by a rival or rivals in coming months or years.
But while Washington dithers over the best energy policy, the auto industry is moving the needle forward on fuel economy.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121017/BLOG06/121019864#ixzz29mAJx3H7

Denso creates li-ion battery designed for stop-start vehicles

By  Danny King RSS feed

Toyota owns part of the company, but Suzuki gets the battery.

That's the gist of Denso's development of a lithium-ion battery pack that is designed especially for cars with fuel-saving stop-start systems. The 5.5-pound battery pack weighs less because it can capture regenerative energy from when the vehicle slows down and feed that power the alternator when the car is idling and the engine is shut off. Such batteries mark an improvement over the older lead-acid batteries that are customarily used with stop-start systems.

While Denso is minority-owned by Toyota, the new battery pack will first be used in the recently-launched Suzuki Wagon R. Denso hasn't said which other vehicles will be supplied with the battery pack further down the road. Until then, you can see Denso's press release below.

http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/13/denso-creates-li-ion-battery-designed-for-stop-start-vehicles/

Chrysler previews SEMA showcars

By  Zach Bowman RSS feed

Posted Oct 12th 2012

Chrysler is taking on the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in a big way, with a sprawling 15,300 square-foot display encompassing a total of 24 modified vehicles. We got a chance to preview some of those creations, including the plucky little Fiat 500C you see above. Designers decided to take a page from the West Coast custom scene with unique widebody fender flares. The 500 Beach Cruiser sits a full foot wider front and rear thanks in part to a set of prototype aluminum wheels. We dig on the louvers and the wooden surfboard rack, too (though with the canvas lid slid back, we're guessing it'd make for some interesting tan lines).

Of course, it wouldn't be a Mopar booth without at least one outrageous engine swap. The Dodge Charger Juiced fills that role this year with a Viper V10 crate engine worth a full 650 horsepower. Other stars include the Chrysler 300 Luxury, with its unique True Blue Pearl paint and Katzkin leather interior, as well as the 392-powered Urban Ram and carbon-fiber laden Dodge Dart Carbon Fire (which appears to be nearly identical to the car we showed you in spy shots last week). You can check out the full press release below for more information.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/12/chrysler-previews-sema-showcars/

2013 Fiat Panda 4x4 is 'go anywhere' in a small package

By  Jeffrey N. Ross RSS feed

Fiat has already dropped all of the info for its new Panda 4x4 mini utility, but the Paris Motor Show allows us to finally see this prospective future Jeep in the flesh. Claimed to be the only four-wheel-drive offering in Europe's A-segment, the 2013 Fiat Panda 4x4 promises to be a proficient off-roader in a very small package.

From the sounds of it, this latest Panda 4x4 is no softroader, with permanent four-wheel drive that maximizes off-road capabilities through a torque-on-demand system that features a pair of differentials. The Panda 4x4's electronic locking differential can apply the brakes to wheels losing grip and transfer that power to other wheels for optimal traction. Power comes from either an 80-horsepower, 0.9-liter TwinAir Turbo engine or a 1.3-liter diesel.

While giving off the rugged vibe with all its black plastic cladding, the Panda 4x4 still has a cute exterior design that displays its kinship to the Fiat 500. Speaking of the 500, the Panda 4x4 rides on the same 90.6-inch wheelbase as Fiat's iconic hatchback – despite having four doors – and it's also longer, taller and wider than the standard Panda.

We doubt the U.S. will ever see the Panda or the Panda 4x4, but it could very well be the basis for a new sub-Compass model in the Jeep lineup, so it will likely pay to keep a close eye on Fiat's cuddly little dirtmonger. Scroll down for the official press release with more details.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/27/2013-fiat-panda-4x4-paris-2012/

Chrysler 200 Lease Special

$197

per month

Now is the time to take advantage of special lease offers on select new inventory models!  Stop in today to schedule a test drive and learn more.

With approved credit. Restrictions may apply. Void where prohibited. Lease 39 months 10,000 Miles a year 39 cents each additional mile. $2999 Due at signing. No security deposit required.  Stock#1D21607. See dealer for full written details

Jeep Liberty 4x4 Lease Special

$199 

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Take advantage of special lease offers on select new inventory models!  Stop in today to schedule a test drive and learn more.

With approved credit. Restrictions may apply. Void where prohibited. Lease 39 months 10,000 Miles a year 39 cents each additional mile. $2999 Due at signing. No security deposit required.  Stock#1C2883. See dealer for full written details

2013 Nissan Altima Earns 5-Star NCAP Rating

FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The completely redesigned 2013 Nissan Altima has earned a 5-star overall vehicle safety rating as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA introduced more stringent tests and requirements in order to earn 5-star ratings.
"With the new Altima, we made available a suite of safety innovations, including intelligent headlights, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection, just to name a few," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. "The 2013 Altima is the whole package, offering class-leading 38 mpg highway, premium comfort and advanced safety features."
The Nissan Altima comes equipped with a variety of standard safety features, including the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System, driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags, Vehicle Dynamic Control, 3-point ALR/ELR seat belt system, LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones and Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Easy Fill Tire Alert, which sounds the car horn to notify a person filling a tire with air when the recommended tire pressure has been reached.
Available features include next-generation Safety Shield technologies, including Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Moving Object Detection systems using an innovative single rear camera.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.