[Toshi]

I think a diesel swap in a Prius is an silly idea, to put it lightly. The engine is already on the Atkinson cycle and its lack of low end torque/undersized nature for the car in a non-hybrid application is already compensated for by the electric bits.

 

[Toshi]

We test drove a Tesla Model S yesterday, a Performance package but non-Signature 85 kWh variant, in particular. And we liked it. My conclusions:

Both my wife and I came away from the test drive more impressed with the Model S than we thought we'd be, and that's no faint praise as we we came into it well informed.

She wants to wait for the Model X for herself, in hopes that it would address her concerns (low back seat cushion height, "3rd row" jumper seats only good for pre-teens, outward visibility) but thinks that a Model S would be a great car for me: Rewarding on the daily commute, big enough to ferry the imminent kid/future additional kids in a pinch, and unique enough to tickle my funny bone.

A Model S with the small battery pack would be twice the price of, say, a Nissan Leaf--a car that I have test driven and like in its own right. The long and short of this review is that the Model S indeed feels like twice the car.

Read the complete tome at either Google+ or NASIOC, with readability probably better at the latter link.

 

[syadasti]

 

[stevew]

thanks for making hybrids ghey.

 

[syadasti]

thanks for making hybrids ghey.

Latent homosexuality is a prerequisite for making monster trucks and other useless redneck creations.

 

[I.van]

Autoblog: LA display confirms diesel Mazda6 for US

If true, this is very interesting. Not VWAG/BMW/Merc. 173 hp. 310 ft-lbs. of torque.

According to the internetz, there have been a few issues with the new Mazda CX-5 diesel consuming a lot of oil. If you google it you should be able to find more detail.

 

[Jm_]

If you sell cars in Europe you have to have good diesel options. I remember reading its something like 50% of cars sold that are diesel.

That sounds good on paper, but when you think about a barrel of crude and how it's cut, you can't have diesel engines everywhere. Traditionally it's worked somewhat well with most commercial transportation being diesel and private being gas. I like diesel, but as we're shifting to more of the vehicles and coming up with better ways to manage the emissions, it creates new problems if we have too many. Diesel doesn't lend itself well to small-displacement stop/start hybrid engines either. Too many issues with the compression and ignition. Since it only takes like 20hp to go 60, the small engines make perfect sense, and all performance comes from batteries and electric motors.

 

[Whoops]

small gas turbines + electric generator = win

 

[DaveW]

Looks like the new Mitsi hybrid is going to be pretty well priced in NZ.
Pity it's one of those mock offroader things so beloved by parents dropping kids off at school.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/lifestyle-vehicles/8098760/Hybrids-predicted-price-to-stun-NZ-market

 

[syadasti]

Prius V scores at the bottom of the barrel:

Of those tested, the Honda Accord and Suzuki Kizashi earned top marks.

Interestingly enough, the IIHS has gone out of its way to highlight the poor performances by the Toyota automobiles it tested. The Camry and Prius V were both called out for poor performances in the small overlap, deeming them "the worst performers of the midsize group." This, despite the fact that both models were new for 2012. Interestingly, both vehicles previously earned Top Safety Pick status, showing just how tough the new small overlap test really is.

IIHS also called out the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta for a poor performance, noting that its driver airbag module actually detached from the steering column during the crash test. The IIHS notes that the detachment occurred "relatively late in the crash and didn't affect the dummy's movement," but it still marked down the Volkswagen as a result.

 

[Toshi]

2012 Honda Insight, brief rental car review

Pro:

- good mileage
- engine drone not bad at all
- auto climate control even on the base model
- cheapest rate to rent from Zipcar, $8/hr inclusive of fuel and insurance
- good steering response, although I wouldn't call it communicative

Con:

- horrible visibility both front and rear, with a high dash, high cowl, and short, far away windshield, big a pillars, b pillars right in my field of view when head checking, and a useless split rear window
- driving position just feels off, even with the telescoping wheel
- huge interior panel gaps
- really cheap feeling interior in general, and visually distracting to boot, especially the green and blue speedo deal
- lots of road noise

Thumbs down. The others in this neighborhood must feel the same way, as the three other non-Insight Zipcars were booked during my requested time, but not this one...

 

[C.P.]

Avis to Buy Zipcar for $500 Million...

 

[eric strt6]

For Toshi and Family. The Prius Camper

 

[Toshi]

I do believe that was suggested in the first pages of this very thread.

 

[eric strt6]

I do believe that was suggested in the first pages of this very thread.

yeah but this is a production 2013 version

 

[Toshi]

The USDM Leaf changes for the 2013 model year are now official: http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/presskits/us-2013-nissan-leaf-press-kit

Changes:

- now built in Smyrna, TN rather than in Japan
- new, stripper S trim that doesn't interest me
- 6.6 kW Level 2 charger
- heat pump!
- black leather and 17"s
- option of the previously-seen-on-Infinitis Around View Monitor
- marginally increased range via aero and regeneration, marginally increased cargo volume

Pricing TBD. Basically all of this is straight from the JDM playbook, only we get 6.6 kW chargers and they don't! Actually, I'm not sure whether theirs are still built in Japan or not.

 

[Pesqueeb]

- new, stripper S trim that doesn't interest me

 

[Toshi]

It has steelies, no navi, no heat pump, and no LED headlights. I suppose some people out for TCO and TCO alone would want that, but I'd want those toys.

 

[Pesqueeb]

I thought maybe it came with a chrome pole and a disco ball?

 

[Toshi]

Those accessories are reserved for the stripperS trim. Subtle distinction there.

 

[Pesqueeb]

My mistake.

 

[IH8Rice]

yeah but this is a production 2013 version

it still hasnt changed from when i posted it...and its still hideous

 

[Toshi]

In other, unrelated news, the new 4WD diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee variant is said to get 20/28 MPG. I see precious little reason to choose one over a Lexus RXh or Toyota HiHy aside from the towing capacity.

 

[Toshi]

2013 LEAF info up officially: http://www.nissanusa.com/electric-cars/leaf/ . Note the MPGe:

130/102 city/hwy MPGe, which works out to 117 MPGe combined! That's a big step up from 106/92/100 last year. Props to Nissan for improving their efficiency year to year while simultaneously lowering prices.

Update 2: The 2013 LEAF has semi-official 5-cycle range estimates now: 66 miles at 80% SOC, 84 miles at 100% SOC, 75 miles when the two are blended.

 

[Toshi]

Tesla Motors Q4 financial results

CN:

- $306M revenue, GAAP loss of 79 cents per share, with 2,400 Model S deliveries accounting for both figures
- Now up to 5,000 Model S per quarter production run rate, with 6,000 new reservations in the quarter and 15,000 net reservations outstanding
- Profit before non-cash expenses expected now in Q1 2013! Similarly, cash flow from operations should be near the break-even point in Q1.

So the sea of red ink may be near its end. Of course, there's still years of profitable quarters ahead of Tesla before their investors can recoup their initial investments. It's nevertheless good to see production at a rate of of 20k/yr along with 9 months-and-growing of outstanding reservations.

 

[Toshi]

BMW i3 and i8 development mule test ride: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/first-rides-bmw-i8-hybrid-sportscar-and-all-electric-i3

Highlights for the i3:

- £38,000 estimated price
- 140 miles on Euro test cycle (LEAF pre-'13 gets 109 miles on this test, for reference), exact pack kWh not specified
- 168 hp and 185 ft-lbs pushing 1250 kg from 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds
- optional range extender, the engine sourced from BMW's C 650 GT scooter, which sounds like it'll maintain charge alone for up to 200 miles
- skinny LRR tires! 155/70-19 and 175/65-19 stock
- no B pillar, no door frames courtesy of the carbon fiber shell
- high seating position, big glass area, and "excellent visibility", praise be

Sounds good to me, especially given winter testing per the article and the like. (There are LEAF winter testing videos, too, but it's still good to see all the bases covered.)

 

[SkaredShtles]

I dunno - the 60 grand sounds kinda "meh"...

 

[syadasti]

I dunno - the 60 grand sounds kinda "meh"...

Companies don't tend to do currency conversion to price their products for bikes, electronics, cars, etc when you go from market to market.

 

[Toshi]

I dunno - the 60 grand sounds kinda "meh"...

Companies don't tend to do currency conversion to price their products for bikes, electronics, cars, etc when you go from market to market.

Plus we don't have VAT. I'd reckon $45k US. Where/when'll it'll be sold is another matter.

 

[IH8Rice]

looks like VW is actually building their 260mpg car but only 250 of them

http://jalopnik.com/vw-will-build-250-of-their-260-mpg-diesel-hybrid-451011844

 

[DaveW]

Post for Syadasti (and Toshi! )

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21759258

big corporates bull****ting, who'd a thunk it.

 

[syadasti]

Post for Syadasti (and Toshi! )

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21759258

big corporates bull****ting, who'd a thunk it.

Similarly Honda, Hyundai, Ford, etc - a lot of brands in the US cheat on their sticker EPA ratings and have been caught and/or sued. Over the years there have been real-world magazine tests like the VW diesels vs hybrids and the result challenge the stickers too.

 

[Toshi]

Post for Syadasti (and Toshi! )

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21759258

big corporates bull****ting, who'd a thunk it.

That's where independent data, such as those of Consumer Reports, come in handy. They even point out the worst offenders in terms of window sticker vs. observed mileage, as well as pointing out which vehicles exceed their ratings:

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/02/reality-check-will-your-car-actually-achieve-the-advertised-40-mpg.html

 

[Jeremy R]

i too am excited that Mazda is bringing their awesome diesel to the US. their gas engine gets 40mpg so im hoping this would be significantly higher (though early reports say 43mpg ) and it blows other small 4cyl diesels away in the torque category.


the "new" Hilux actually got last place on pickuptrucks.com shootout w/ the new Ranger (of course not coming to the US) winning.

results:
http://special-reports.pickuptrucks.com/2012/08/global-pickup-shootout-results.html

overview:
http://special-reports.pickuptrucks.com/2012/08/global-pickup-shootout-overview.html

I know you posted this last year, but it really PISSES me off that none of those trucks are sold here.
I would kill for a smallish truck that drives like a car and gets great mileage. Hell, those things even look good too.

 

[eric strt6]

well just looking at the CR mileage list I will say that the real world results that I am getting in our Jetta Sportwagen TDI is very close to what they list. We do get around 47-48 mpg on the freeway

 

[IH8Rice]

I know you posted this last year, but it really PISSES me off that none of those trucks are sold here.
I would kill for a smallish truck that drives like a car and gets great mileage. Hell, those things even look good too.

i agree 100%. there is still a demand (albeit small) for a small/mid-size pickup stateside. the Tacoma and Frontier are really dated imo and they are really the only two in the market in that class.
Ford said theyll never bring a small truck like the new Ranger stateside again probably because itll eat into the country's #1 selling vehicle for the past 28 years, the Fseries.
Dodge has answered a lot of people'e request by finally bringing a oil burner into their 1/2ton truck. im sure itll only be a matter of time before chevy and ford do the same.

 

[Toshi]

CAFE footprint rules will ensure that no small trucks come stateside. Paradoxically, it makes more sense for a corporation to make bigger vehicles.

 

[bean]

well just looking at the CR mileage list I will say that the real world results that I am getting in our Jetta Sportwagen TDI is very close to what they list. We do get around 47-48 mpg on the freeway

Generally we can only get 40-42 on the highway in ours. It's slightly disappointing because I kept hearing numbers like yours before we bought it, but it does meet the EPA rating which is what I based my pre-purchase calculations on.

 

[bean]

Tesla Motors Q4 financial results

CN:

- $306M revenue, GAAP loss of 79 cents per share, with 2,400 Model S deliveries accounting for both figures
- Now up to 5,000 Model S per quarter production run rate, with 6,000 new reservations in the quarter and 15,000 net reservations outstanding
- Profit before non-cash expenses expected now in Q1 2013! Similarly, cash flow from operations should be near the break-even point in Q1.

So the sea of red ink may be near its end. Of course, there's still years of profitable quarters ahead of Tesla before their investors can recoup their initial investments. It's nevertheless good to see production at a rate of of 20k/yr along with 9 months-and-growing of outstanding reservations.

I've seen a few Model Ss around town. I wasn't expecting them to be nearly as large as they are. Very cool cars though.

 

[CBJ]

Saw one in Austin. Best looking American car in a very long time. I would love to have one if I had a place to charge it.