The twenty million in tax credits will be handed out over the course of three years to Johnson Controls, a subsidiary of Parisian firm Saft Advanced Power Solutions.

But this cash isn’t just going to be lost–Saft et al intend to invest about eleven times that figure in the state and add just under eleven hundred jobs to the sagging state of Michigan by hiring at a plant in Holland.

Electric batteries, folks…seems more and more we’re getting away from the gas car and getting closer to a day without gas.  Hopefully, also, we won’t be surrendering a speed anywhere near fifty five miles per hour, either.

Related posts

• Win Chip Foose’s Custom 2010 Ford Mustang GT (3)
• Volvo to Cut 900 Jobs in Sweden (0)
• Volvo Stays with Ford (0)
• Volkswagen and Ford Lead The Way as the Consumer’s Choice (0)
• Vintage Cars Highlights Knysna Motor Show (0)

The C4 WRC is a hybrid race car which we might soon see in various races. The car has a 125kW electric motor at the rear axle attached to 990 lithium ion cells which produce 400-volts. The driver can choose which motor to use and when. S/he can couple both engines for more power. What’s innovative about the system is the regenerative braking which allows you to recharge the batteries while driving.

I’ll be interested to seeing a hybrid race car in action. We’re probably going to have more manufacturers looking into this solution for their racing models.

via Press

Related posts

• Peugeot Prologue HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid to be Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show (0)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Prius and Toyota Not Going to Go Separately (0)

The ecoFLEX will probably have a 2.0 CDTI ECOTEC engine which will get you some 118kW and 350Nm of torque. The overboost will get you 30 extra Nm for 15 seconds.

The Insignia ecoFLEX is still in development so we’ll have to wait for more official news from Opel. Here’s what Adam Opel’s managing director, Hans Demant said about the new car for now:

We designed the Insignia as a particularly efficient car from the beginning, By making a multitude of detailed improvements to the powertrain and to the road and wind resistance factors of the ecoFLEX model, our engineers are able to minimize consumption without affecting driving fun. Though we are still developing the new Insignia ecoFLEX with the 2.0 CDTI ECOTEC engine, we are confident it will emit CO2 gases well below 140 g/km.

via Opel press

Related posts

• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• Nissan Nuvu Is an Ugly Duckling at 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• Lamborghini Teaser Continues While Waiting for Paris (0)
• Citroen Reveals More Skin – Now is the GT’s Rear (0)
• Citroen GT Concept Car Returns (0)

It’s a concept car designed by Sacha Lakic and not only does it look good but it’s quite interesting too. Each wheel has 2 electric motors. One drives the wheel while the other one handles the suspension. The “Michelin Active Wheel” is the name of the system in case you will be interested in one for your current car.

The batteries that power the Venturi Voltage are 45kWh liquid-cooled polymer lithium batteries which will get you a driving autonomy of 320km at 90km/h. Top speed is at 150km/h so don’t try to make it fly if you’re lucky enough to get one.

via press

Related posts

• Opel Brings Insignia ecoFLEX at 2008 Paris Motor Show (2)
• Nissan Nuvu Is an Ugly Duckling at 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• Lamborghini Teaser Continues While Waiting for Paris (0)
• Citroen Reveals More Skin – Now is the GT’s Rear (0)
• Citroen GT Concept Car Returns (0)

There are two models available and Renault made sure both of them got enough room in Paris so their local potential customers will get a good look at them.

First there’s a Megane five-door hatchback and then there’s a new coupe available. Six Megane bodystiles are going to be available and all of them will have distinctive features.

Enjoy the images for now, and choose your Megane 3 later.

via Autoblog

Related posts

• Renault Megane RS Coming at the Geneva Motor Show? (1)
• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Renault Ondelios Concept Car Ready For Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)

While I’m sticking to my Mini obsession, I wouldn’t mind having a one night stand with this baby.

via Jalopnik

Related posts

• Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and Sportback Ralliart Coming to Paris (0)
• Lexus IS 250C at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)

The new Avensis was designed in France. Besides the obvious or not so obvious design changes, you’ll probably notice the car is 5 cm longer and wider than its predecessor. Under the hood we have three new Valvematic gas engines and two diesels. As for transmission you can choose between a 6-speed manual stick or the dual-mode Mutlidrive S automatic.

The Avensis won’t really impress you with anything in particular but if you are a Toyota fan, you’re going to definitely enjoy the new version.

via Autoblog

Related posts

• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot Prologue HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Opel Brings Insignia ecoFLEX at 2008 Paris Motor Show (2)

We’ve seen the new 2009 Lexus IS 250C but we were left wanting for more. The shots we came up with showed a convertible car that wasn’t looking like one at all. Well now we have the video above which shows us exactly how to fold the top. We imagined a button would do such a thing when pushed but we wanted to see it with our own eyes.

What do you think about the IS 250C now that you’ve seen it perform? Would you get this convertible or not?

Related posts

• Lexus IS 250C at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot Prologue HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)

The RC comes with a 1.6 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine placed in the back. It pumps some 218 horsepower and 206 lbs.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels. The 70 kW electric motor is placed between the front wheels and it powers the front wheels. The RC could be driven using any of those two engines independently or you can combine them for a great all-wheel-drive experience.

The RC might be a hybrid but it’s also a fast car. Both engines will get you to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. Like the Prologue the RC concept is a good car for saving money on gas. The new hybrid system will get you 52.3 mpg. Let’s just hope that Peugeot will send these concept cars to massive production soon.

via Autoblog

Related posts

• Peugeot Prologue HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Citroen Has Hybrid Race Car Ready (1)
• BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid to be Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show (0)
• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)

The Prologue has the new HYmotion4 system we’ll see in the RC concept later on. The CUV comes with a 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine capable to offer you some 163 horsepower for the front wheels. The rear axle will get power from a 27 kW motor. That’s right the powertrain is arranged from front to back.

You will end up with 200 horsepower from the combined engines and a 221lbs.-ft. torque for the front wheels and 148 lbs.-ft. to the back. That means you can choose to drive the HYmotion4 by using the front, the rear, or both engines. The Prologue is a car I would definitely drive. It’s the 57.4 mpg that attracts me to it.

via Autoblog

Related posts

• Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Citroen Has Hybrid Race Car Ready (1)
• BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid to be Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show (0)
• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)

It must be the doors. Or all those horses under the hood which will get you from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Would I drive it? Hell yeah! Where do I sign up? When is it going to be available? How much will it cost? I am ready to turn that piggy bank into little pieces…

OK I must admit the design is a little weird but I like weird.

Related posts

• Lamborghini Teaser Continues While Waiting for Paris (0)
• Citroen Reveals More Skin – Now is the GT’s Rear (0)
• Citroen Has a GT Teaser (0)
• Citroen GT Ready to Reveal Itself? (0)
• Citroen GT Concept Car Returns (0)

The Estoque is live in Paris as we speak so if you’re there you have to definitely go and check it out. From where I am watching it, and I am nowhere near Paris, the concept car is spectacular. And not because it bears that Lamborghini name.

via Autoblog

Related posts

• New Lamborghini for 2008 Paris Motor Show? (0)
• Lamborghini Teaser Continues While Waiting for Paris (0)
• Lamborghini Estoque Fully Unveiled (1)
• Lamborghini Continues the Teaser! (0)
• Citroen Has a GT Teaser (0)

The Nuvu will have an electric drivetrain, 2+1=3 passenger seats and a bubble-like design which needs some readjustments. The Nuvu could be useful in heavy traffic and by 2010 when it will enter production we’re hopefully going to have it redesigned.

Related posts

• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• Opel Brings Insignia ecoFLEX at 2008 Paris Motor Show (2)
• Lamborghini Teaser Continues While Waiting for Paris (0)
• Citroen Reveals More Skin – Now is the GT’s Rear (0)
• Citroen GT Concept Car Returns (0)

The IS 250C has a cool aluminum roof which retracts in about 20 seconds. How’s that for a mid-life crisis car? Hopefully you get one long before that.

Besides the retractable roof the IS 250C has the 2.5 ultra-smooth V6 powerplant the 250 has. Bundled with a 6-speed automatic transmission it will get you some 208 horsepower. Get that top down and enjoy the beautiful days.

via Autoblog

Related posts

• Lexus IS 250 C is Coming to the 2008 Paris Auto Show (0)
• How to Fold the Top of the 2009 Lexus IS 250C (0)
• 2009 Mitsubishi Colt Spotted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)

The Concept X1 is a CUV will join the curent X versions from BMW and I am sure the German manufacturer has great plans for it. And what’s there not to like? It’s a BMW which will get you places. Sure you might X5 and X3 ready to be picked up and driven home. But why not go all new with the Concept X1. We’d like to see some detailed features but we’ll have to wait a couple of days to see what Paris brings us.

via Autoblog

Related posts

• BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid to be Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show (0)
• Audi A1 Sportback Concept Leaks Out Before Paris Motor Show (0)
• Venturi Voltage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (1)
• The Citroen GT from the 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)
• Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Hybrid Concept at 2008 Paris Motor Show (0)