Pheonix Motorcars is determined to make electric cars no matter how bad the business is currently going. The company was saved last year when it struck a partnership with the state of Hawai but know it will need some more restructuring. Filing for bankruptcy was the inevitable solution but the future could be brighter. Pheonix Motorcars’ CEO said that its company “has not abandoned the alternative fuels transportation space.” In the mean time former drivetrain supplier UQM has won the $5.3 million arbitration so we’ll just have to wait and see how Pheonix Motorcars will look like in the future. We’re still hoping for those electric vehicles to arrive soon.

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After careful deliberation of their restructuring plan, Chrysler has announced that they and Fiat SpA will be forming a new company for a global strategic alliance. Under the new terms, Chrysler and Fiat will fully optimize their respective manufacturing footprints and the global supplier base, while providing each with access to additional markets. Fiat powertrains and components will also be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites.

“This partnership transforms Chrysler into a vibrant new company with a wealth of strategic advantages,” said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO of Chrysler. “It enables us to better serve our customers and dealers with a broader and more competitive line-up of environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient high-quality vehicles. Benefits to the new company include access to exciting products that complement our current portfolio, technology cooperation and stronger global distribution.”

Chrysler initiated discussions with Fiat more than a year ago to develop plans for a global product alliance. Over the past several months, these discussions have evolved and expanded. Chrysler and many of its stakeholders worked tirelessly to agree upon concessions that will result in a significantly lower cost base and enable fulfillment of a broader strategic alliance.

“Even though total agreement was not possible, I am truly grateful for all that has been sacrificed, on the part of many of Chrysler’s stakeholders to reach an agreement in principle with Fiat,” said Nardelli. “My number one priority has been to preserve Chrysler and the thousands of people who depend on its success. While I am excited about the creation of the global alliance, I am personally disappointed that today Chrysler has filed for Chapter 11. This was not my first choice. ”

Chrysler also will file a motion under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code requesting the swift approval by the Court of the agreement with Fiat and the sale of Chrysler’s principal assets to the new company. The benefit of this type of filing is speed. It should allow a leaner new company to emerge in a matter of 30 to 60 days, well positioned for long-term viability.

During the restructuring process, the government will provide sufficient debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to allow continuation of “business as usual.” The company will seamlessly honor warranty claims, pay suppliers and keep our dealer body operating to continue to serve our valued customers.

Chrysler’s Mexican, Canadian and other international operations are not part of any bankruptcy filing.

(Source) Press

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Only Gotham Dream Cars (GDC) can perhaps help you fulfill your dream of driving a Lamborghini as they will hold their first-ever Legends Dream Car Tour on June 9 and 10, 2009. These set dates will give car enthusiasts the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive the latest Lamborghinis alongside famed Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni.

“The Dream Car Tour allows people to escape for a day while driving the cars of their dreams,” said Noah Lehmann-Haupt, Founder/CEO of Gotham Dream Cars. “We created the Legends Dream Car Tour to offer enthusiasts the chance to blow off some steam and at the same time have an up-close and personal experience with automotive legends. We are excited to announce Valentino Balboni will be our inaugural Grand Marshal, and welcome enthusiasts to meet, drive with, and commemorate Lamborghini’s most legendary driver in an adrenaline packed, four hour drive.”

The Legends Dream Car Tour will consist of morning and afternoon sessions on June 9 and 10, and include breakfast or lunch and a meet and greet with Balboni. Participants will then hit the road and switch between five of the newest Lamborghini models including the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder and the ultra-powerful Murcielago LP 640 Roadster, and even spend time riding shotgun to Balboni. Seats for the tour are $1495, with non-driving passengers welcome free of charge.

(Source) Press

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Much has been said about the 2010 Porsche Panamera. Apparently, the people behind it are taking no choices as they have selected Mobil 1 as the factory and service-fill endorsed motor oil for all their models. Scheduled to be introduced in Fall 2009, the new, four-door Panamera represents Porsche’s first-ever luxury Gran Turismo.

The Panamera will be available as the Porsche Panamera Turbo, which features a 4.8-liter turbocharged Porsche engine with advanced direct fuel injection (DFI) technology, and delivers more than 500 horsepower.

In addition, all models of the Panamera will be among the first Porsche vehicles to be equipped with automatic engine start/stop functionality, which helps enhance fuel economy by allowing the engine to shut down and minimize idling during common daily driving conditions, such as, being stopped at an intersection or in traffic.

The 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo will be available first in Europe starting in September, with roll out to other markets, such as the United States, to begin in October. Beyond the Panamera Turbo, the other models in the Panamera family include the Panamera 4S and Panamera S.

(Source) Press

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If you happen to notice the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion carrying a new look, don’t be surprised. NASCAR fans will see a different look for the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion this weekend when David Ragan hits the track at Richmond International Raceway for the Russ Friedman 400 presented by Crown Royal.

Taking a break from the traditional brown UPS paint scheme, Ragan’s car will feature a special UPS Freight design to promote the Richmond, Va.-based division of UPS. The design incorporates the gray of UPS Freight with new brown and gold trim using a unique paint formula that includes crushed glass to make the vehicle sparkle.

In addition to the special UPS Freight paint scheme, the UPS Freight Charlotte Service Center will be featured on the wing of Ragan’s No. 6 Ford as part of UPS’s “Maximum Center” program. UPS launched the program this year to recognize UPS operating facilities for accomplishments in service, safety and performance.

To view the new UPS Freight paint scheme for the No. 6 car, log on to racing.ups.com.

(Source) Press

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Earlier this week I had posted an entry regarding the clamor for OriginOil since it carries the fuss about how algae is the next best thing in vehicle oil alternatives. Apparently, the Associated Press found their story worth covering as well, placing OriginOil in the limelight today.

During a visit to OriginOil’s Los Angeles headquarters earlier this month, a film crew interviewed both CEO Riggs Eckelberry and Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Vikram Pattarkine, regarding the company’s recent technology breakthrough to extract oil from algae in an efficient single-step process. A time-lapse video of the extraction process was then sent out to the Associated Press’ newspaper affiliates, which encompass more than half of the world’s population on any given day.

The recent AP Television segment, entitled “Could Algae Be Oil’s Next Competitor,” features commentary from Riggs Eckelberry on OriginOil’s “single pass, cost-effective process” to inexpensively crack algae’s tough exterior and release the oil inside, which can be viewed here.

“Oil, for the first time, is going to have a competitor,” said Eckelberry. “It’s not going to be the OPEC cartel against the rest of the world – it’s going to be local fuel production in all these countries, including the U.S.”

(Source) Press

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With electric cars hitting the market, the next problem is how and when to recharge them. Charging stations are still not that dispersed but hopefully this Smart Charger Controller can help. Developed at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the controller automatically recharges electric vehicles during times of least cost to the consumer and lower demand for power. Widespread use of these devices could help advance a smart power grid.

Electric vehicles will ultimately reduce the nation’s dependency on oil. While the new vehicles will serve as an additional source of power demand, they also could contribute to an even “smarter” grid if equipped with controller technology.

Electric vehicles will become widely available starting in 2011. The current Administration supports a goal of one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. A previous PNNL study showed that America’s existing power grid could meet the needs of about 70 percent of all U.S. light-duty vehicles if battery charging was managed to avoid new peaks in electricity demand.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory where interdisciplinary teams advance science and technology and deliver solutions to America’s most intractable problems in energy, national security and the environment. PNNL employs 4,250 staff, has a $918 million annual budget, and has been managed by Ohio-based Battelle since the lab’s inception in 1965.

(Source) Press

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With Summer practically here, most families are bound to be headed to the woods or some far off place to spend quality time off from reality. And while that may be the dream of anyone, travel time may take its toll and get everyone bored on their RVs. But now, thanks to KVH, TracVision Satellites are priced lower, making them available for viewers while on the road or in far off places.

KVH is pleased to announce that a breakthrough price reduction on its award-winning TracVision satellite TV systems for RVs is making it even more affordable to enjoy hundreds of channels of live satellite TV while saving hundreds of dollars.

“RV owners are focused on refitting their current coaches and getting outstanding value when choosing the accessories they’ll take along,” observes Bob Cooper, KVH’s national sales manager for land mobile products. “With KVH’s TracVision systems, you receive the industry’s highest quality satellite TV solutions with outstanding digital performance, a choice of in-motion or stationary designs, and full compatibility with DIRECTV as well as DISH Network’s TurboHD and ExpressVu’s HDTV programming. Our new prices ensure that recreational vehicle enthusiasts receive the best satellite TV solution available at even more affordable prices, making TracVision the perfect combination for RV owners who are hitting the road in 2009.”

These domed TracVision mobile satellite TV systems offer RV owners unmatched benefits, including the highest signal gain, reception superior even to competing, larger 15″ high antennas, and totally automatic satellite switching via the remote control.

(Source) Press

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Fuel Cell Powered Concept Scooter
The Man with the Exploding Arms
Into The Blue 2 Movie Review–I Can’t Believe This Exists
Roxio PhotoShow Touch for Windows 7 Released
GeckoSystems Unveil New Personal Car Mobile Robot

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1937 Bugatti Type 57S Coupe

Bonham’s Paris auction recently sold a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S coupe for $4.4 million. The startling thing wasn’t its rusty trim. faded paint and worn interior – it’s that the car’s condition likely hiked up its selling price. A decade ago, a buyer probably would have sent this Bugatti in for a megabuck restoration. According to Rob Sass, a vintage-car expert whose writing has appeared in the New York Times and Sports Car Market magazine, a sympathetic mechanicals-only restoration is the trend these days. “Under the circumstances, restoring the car might well be cause for regret,” notes Sass. Some of this may be due to the influence of PBS’s popular Antiques Roadshow, where objects excavated from attics and basements are brought to experts who often warn owners about cleaning their finds – and possibly polishing off thousands of dollars.

Does that mean every rusty heap is now a preservation-class classic? Hardly, it is the cars that were rare, valuable, and important to begin with that are most valued, cars whose histories are worth preserving in their unaltered, often imperfect, original states.

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Citroen DS

At the forefront of technology, French auto giant PSA Peugeot-Citroen group is already previewing a number of concept vehicles carrying diesel engines and electric motors under its Hymotion4 nickname The carmaker has now substantiated that its first diesel-electric hybrid will arrive on the market in 2011 in the upcoming Citroen DS5 which is the third model in Citroen’s new range of cars, which will include a smaller DS3 and DS4.

As for the DS5, which will launch the diesel-hybrid system, it is predicted to be a premium hatch/crossover due for launch in 2011. Its styling will be shaped by the DS Inside Concept from last month’s Geneva Motor Show, though it will be larger than the show car

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G-Power M6 Hurricane CS

G-Power engineers took an already awesome BMW M6 and turned it into the G-Power M6 Hurricane CS. Their goal was to produce the ultimate BMW. The V10 SK III RS twin-supercharger engine develops 750 hp / 552 kW, which permits this coupe to achieve a top speed of 367,4 km/h. 0-100 km is achieved in less than 4.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 9.6 seconds and 300 km/h comes in 26 seconds. According to the company, the engine can develop over 900 hp.

The carbon-ceramic break system guarantees a full stop! G-Power also made a multipart widebody kit for a more aggressive look and the wheels are 21-inches with Michelin tires. If you are interested owning a superior BMW, you can buy one this one for 360,000 euros ($480,096).

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Nissan seems very interested in making electric cars in the future but for these to sell successfully it really needs cities to be prepared, electrically speaking, to get the new cars. Probably nobody in their right mind would buy an electric vehicle without knowing that the city has the much needed infrastructure to power it.

That’s why Nissan has been signing partnerships with various cities around to world to get those city-wide charging stations installed. The last city on Nissan’s list is Seattle. Not only will Seattle be ready for electric cars but the city gets its power through lots of renewable means which will make the future Nissan cars even more eco-friendlier.

via autobloggreen

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Leigh Aerosystems is a company that wants absolutely to develop a two-seat flying car which is going to be called the High Road. It’s not the first flying car concept so let’s see what this version has to offer:

• FAA certification for instrument flight operations
• 100LL fuel
• 180 mph cruise speed at 15,000 ft.
• 20,000 ft ceiling
• 500 mile range

Impressed with any of that? What about road performance? Here it is:

• 25 mpg fuel consumption
• 500 mile range

High Road has passed its initial wind tunnel tests at the San Diego Air and Space Museum 12 ft tunnel so we’ll be looking forward to a finished product. Would you be interested in a flying car?

via Leigh Aerosystems

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Audi E1

Latest reports indicate a new mini car from Audi will be set up to do battle with the likes of Ford’s Ka, Toyota iQ and the Fiat 500. The car is expected to be called the E1 and it is to be the introduction to a range of new ‘ecological’ models’, which will cover everything from minicars to performance models. Power is expected to come from a 600cc turbocharged two-cylinder engine -either petrol or diesel.

This car will be underpowered for extended highway use, but with CO2 emissions under 100g/km and about 80mpg (2.9L/100km) fuel efficiency, according to AutoExpress, the E1 will be a low-tax, easy tool to get around any major city. An electric powertrain is also being considered, but as yet no details on its capabilities are available.

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