Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GM launches Facts and Fiction site to correct what's written on the bathroom wall]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/05/gm-launches-facts-and-fiction-site-to-correct-whats-written-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/05/gm-launches-facts-and-fiction-site-to-correct-whats-written-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/05/gm-launches-facts-and-fiction-site-to-correct-whats-written-on/#commentsFiled under: ,



There's a lot of smack talk about Detroit automakers these days, and while some of it is spot on, other myths are no more credible than what's written in the men's john. General Motors is apparently tired of fielding questions surrounding this bathroom fodder and the embattled automaker is busting out its own Sharpie to dispel what it feels are untruths. GM has created a Web 1.0 site called GM Facts and Fiction on which are several statements often said in the media and around the water cooler that its feels are untrue. For example, much talk has come up concerning government bailouts, and GM Facts and Fiction counters that the federal money would not be a bailout but rather low-interest loans earmarked for developing fuel-efficient vehicles. Other topics of purported myth include fuel economy, product desirability and the Chevy Volt. Hit the link below to see GM's latest five fact-and-fiction posts, and let us know if you think the automaker is on the mark or just scribbling lavatory graffiti of its own.

[Source: GM Facts and Fiction]

 

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]]>fuel economyFuelEconomyGMGM fact or fictionGmFactOrFictiongovernment bailoutsGovernmentBailouts2008-09-05T15:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Canada giving Ford C$80 million for new facilities]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/04/canada-giving-ford-c-80-million-for-new-facilities/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/04/canada-giving-ford-c-80-million-for-new-facilities/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/04/canada-giving-ford-c-80-million-for-new-facilities/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The Canadian government and Ford have agreed on a deal to provide the Blue Oval $80 million worth of incentives over five years towards new and upgraded facilities. The deal specifically applies to Ford's Essex engine plant, which currently produces V8 engines for SUVs and trucks. Upgrades will be made to convert the plant to flexible manufacturing, which will enable Ford to keep the plant open by producing a number of different powerplants on one line. Flexible manufacturing will also help Ford shift production to meet whatever demand dictates, which is something Detroit automakers desperately want but generally don't have and can't afford to create. In return for Canada's hard-earned Loonies, 750 CAW jobs will be saved and or created.

Ford will also build a new center to research engine efficiency and fuel technologies using the Canadian money. The facility will work on hybrids and other alternative powertrains for Ford, which is a green feather in both Canada and Ford's cap. Outspoken CAW boss Buzz Hargrove wasn't in the mood to thank the Canadian government for its generosity, though. He feels the government should have stepped up long before thousands in the region lost their job.

[Source: Reuters]

 

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]]>canadaessex engine plantEssexEnginePlantflexible manufacturingFlexibleManufacturingford2008-09-04T15:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[Kuwait orders 150 Dodge Charger police cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/kuwait-orders-150-dodge-charger-police-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/kuwait-orders-150-dodge-charger-police-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/kuwait-orders-150-dodge-charger-police-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Kuwaiti cop-issue Chargers

Choosing them for their portrayed image of "strength and power," officials in Kuwait have ordered 150 Dodge Chargers to be modified as police vehicles. As the Charger is the leading volume vehicle for Chrysler LLC in the Middle East, the choice doesn't come as much of a surprise. Delivery of the cop cars, however, isn't expected to take place for another couple months. In the meantime, the lot of them are heading to Canfield Equipment Service in Michigan where they'll be fitted for their new Kuwaiti roles in traffic, security, and emergency response. (Here's hoping none of our readers get a chance to check them out from the back seat once they're in service).

Gallery: Dodge Charger Kuwait Police


[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Kuwait orders 150 Dodge Charger police cars

 

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]]>ChargerCop CarCopCarDodgeKuwaitLaw EnforcementLawEnforcementMiddle EastMiddleEastPolice VehiclePoliceVehicle2008-09-03T17:03:00+00:00<![CDATA[400 owners <em>can</em> be wrong: NHTSA closes Tacoma unintended acceleration investigation]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/400-owners-em-can-em-be-wrong-nhtsa-closes-tacoma-unintended/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/400-owners-em-can-em-be-wrong-nhtsa-closes-tacoma-unintended/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/400-owners-em-can-em-be-wrong-nhtsa-closes-tacoma-unintended/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As is usually the case when complaints of unintended acceleration are levied against a vehicle, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded that no specific vehicular defects have been found in 2004-2008 Toyota Tacomas. The mid-sized truck had been under fire from over 400 owners who claimed their trucks had accelerated without them touching the gas resulting in 51 crashes and 12 injuries. According to Toyota, however, the truck features a drive-by-wire system and its computer records any event of a mismatch between the gas pedal and the engine's throttle. None of the trucks involved in accidents reported any such codes. The NHTSA has closed its investigation and believes that driver error is the most likely cause for the vast majority of complaints while a few could be attributed to loose floor mats.

While the fact that the Tacoma has received so many specific complaints is worrisome, we are not big believers in unintended acceleration and tend to agree that publicity of the issue may well have attracted more erroneous claims. Debris stuck under the brake or pedals that are just closer together than some drivers are used to remain possible explanations, but could hardly be considered defects.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

 

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]]>sudden accelerationSuddenAccelerationtoyota tacomaToyotaTacomaunintended accelerationunintended-accelerationUnintendedAcceleration2008-09-03T14:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Lutz agrees with McElroy, calls for moratorium on U.S. crash test standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/lutz-agrees-with-mcelroy-calls-for-moratorium-on-u-s-crash-tes/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/lutz-agrees-with-mcelroy-calls-for-moratorium-on-u-s-crash-tes/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/lutz-agrees-with-mcelroy-calls-for-moratorium-on-u-s-crash-tes/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to view video of the 2008 Smart fortwo crash test

Anybody who watches Autoline on Detroit or reads our Autoline on Autoblog posts will know that John McElroy is a certifiably nice guy. Bob Lutz is known more as a brash talker who isn't afraid to make his views known, regardless of what others may think. Both of them, though, are very closely attuned to the auto industry. The head product-honcho at GM and our very own Mr. Nice Guy share the opinion that the Feds should suspend their ever-increasing crash-testing standards for a few years. If a car is safe enough for our European relatives, it should be safe enough for us, right? In reality, this is not the case, as the U.S. standards differ enough from those across the pond that a car sometimes needs to be designed specifically to pass one or the other. For this reason, the Chevy Beat won't be sold on U.S. soil.

To complete the deal, McElroy also suggests doing the same for environmental standards. As with crash tests, though both the U.S. and the European regulations are strict, they don't quite match. Therefore, many cars -- especially those equipped with diesel engines -- can't be sold in the States despite being available in Europe. Lutz doesn't specifically touch on this point, but we'd hazard a guess that he'd go along with it as well.

[Source: Wards Auto]

 

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]]>crashcrash testingCrashTestingeuro ncapEuroNcapsafety2008-09-03T09:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[GM claims $450k lost to improper employee discounts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/02/gm-claims-450k-lost-to-improper-employee-discounts/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/02/gm-claims-450k-lost-to-improper-employee-discounts/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/02/gm-claims-450k-lost-to-improper-employee-discounts/#commentsFiled under: ,

When the land was flowing with milk and honey, GM didn't get medieval on folks who took just a little more than their fair share. Now that GM's diet has been pared back to a few nuts and the occasional berry... well, every nut counts. So when The General performed a random audit and found that employees had allegedly been sharing their employee discounts with ineligible buyers, instead of a big "whatever," GM initiated lawsuits.

Based on the known records, GM is trying to recoup $450,000 plus court costs and attorney's fees from at least nine court cases. In addition to offering the discounts to those who shouldn't have had access to them, GM said the the employees were using the discounts "for their own financial gain."

Some of the employees being sued no longer work for GM. Attorneys for the defendants have suggested that shady dealers simply used the employees' information to give the discounts to other buyers without the employees' knowledge or consent. At this point, no dealers are named in the lawsuits, so it's up to the employees in question to prove their innocence. And for now, when it comes to pennywise, GM isn't playing around...

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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]]>court casecourt casesCourtCaseCourtCasesemployee discountemployee discountsEmployeeDiscountEmployeeDiscountsgmgm employee discountGmEmployeeDiscount2008-09-02T09:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[In New York City, garage is spelled with a $]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/01/in-new-york-city-garage-is-spelled-with-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/01/in-new-york-city-garage-is-spelled-with-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/01/in-new-york-city-garage-is-spelled-with-a/#commentsFiled under: ,



We're sure there are plenty of reasons some people would want to live in New York, but it's hard to see why a car guy would want to. Forget the traffic, the kamikaze cab drivers and astronomic insurance rates. Even if you can put up with all that, where the heck are you gonna park a car?

The New York Times' story, "The Ultimate Luxury: A Garage," gives us even more reason to shun The Big Apple as a place of residence. Apparently, New York houses, condos and apartments with garages command about 5% more than those that don't. In some neighborhoods, add 25%. So that means if you have a condo worth $1 million, adding a garage could get you at very least $50,000 more than your car-hating neighbors. One real estate broker estimated that a six-bedroom townhouse he's selling will bring an extra $1 million because of its car accommodations. The townhouse is priced at $18.75 million.

So why aren't real estate owners on a garage-building spree? Because convincing the city's Department of Buildings that you need a curb cut is a long, trying process. The government agency approved only 54 new Manhattan curb cuts in 2008; three less than last year.

And then there's the anecdote of one family paying $6,600 a year to put their car in a public lot. That's enough to convince this bunch of car guys that there are better places to call home.

[Source: New York Times]

 

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]]>new york carsnew york citynew york garagesnew york parkingnew york parking costsNewYorkCarsNewYorkCityNewYorkGaragesNewYorkParkingNewYorkParkingCostsparking2008-09-01T14:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[<i>WSJ</I>: Big 3 seeking $25 billion from Feds]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/i-wsj-i-big-3-seeking-25-billion-from-feds/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/i-wsj-i-big-3-seeking-25-billion-from-feds/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/i-wsj-i-big-3-seeking-25-billion-from-feds/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



No matter how you slice it, a proposed $25 billion loan from the Feds is a bailout, and that's exactly what Detroit's Big Three automakers are after, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Lobbyists for General Motors, Chrysler and Ford have met with White House officials, Rep. John Dingell and a smattering of Michigan Democrats to discuss the loan, with plans to unveil the proposal after Labor Day.

The plan includes lending $25 billion to automakers in its first year at an interest rate of 4.5 percent (about one-third of what the companies are currently paying), with the government having the option to defer any payment for up to five years.

Details are scarce, and naturally, GM, Ford and Chrysler reps aren't saying much, but if the automakers and the Feds are serious, expect more information to leak out before the proposal is officially announced.

[Source: WSJ, Photo by Tracy O | CC2.0]

 

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]]>25 billion25Billionbailoutchryslerfordgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgm2008-08-22T16:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Police and protestors clash at future site of Tata Nano plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/police-and-protestors-clash-at-future-site-of-tata-nano-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/police-and-protestors-clash-at-future-site-of-tata-nano-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/21/police-and-protestors-clash-at-future-site-of-tata-nano-plant/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Tata Nano

Raze 1,000-acres of farmland to build an automobile factory, and somebody is going to protest. Even in India. The automaker is Tata, and the protesters numbered at least 1,000 strong as they went head-to-head against police in eastern India yesterday at the future manufacturing site of the Tata Nano (rumored to be the world's cheapest car at just $2,380). The protests are rooted deeper than just "open space" issues. In fact, the real tension is between India's ruling party, and the communist-run government in West Bengal where the plant is to be located. The farmers are unwilling to part with their agricultural livelihood, while the government continues to promote industry. After blocking a highway for a few hours, the stick-wielding protesters were dispersed without injuries. Once again, progress wins out over pastures.

Gallery: Tata Nano


[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

 

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]]>clashfactoryfarmlandmanufacturingplantpoliceprotestsriottata nanotata nano successorTataNanoTataNanoSuccessor2008-08-21T14:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[Traffic deaths down, U.S. roads reach record level of safety]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/traffic-deaths-down-u-s-roads-reach-record-level-of-safety/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/traffic-deaths-down-u-s-roads-reach-record-level-of-safety/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/traffic-deaths-down-u-s-roads-reach-record-level-of-safety/#commentsFiled under: ,



Safer vehicles and increased law enforcement has resulted in the lowest driving fatality rate ever last year. There were 41,059 traffic deaths in 2007, down 1,600 from 2006. Fatalities are now at 1.37 per 100 million miles traveled, which is the lowest number since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started keeping track. The proliferation of safety technology, like side curtain air bags, stability control, and traction control, are apparently helping to make our roads safer, and good old-fashioned seat belts are being used more than ever. The "Click it or Ticket" campaign isn't the only way law enforcement has helped to lower fatalities either, as increased drunken driving patrols have lead to a 3.7% decline in deaths. Still, 13,000 people died last year as a result of drunken driving, which is 13,000 too many.

News on the safety front isn't as good for motorcycle drivers, though. A record 5,154 bikers lost their lives on U.S. roads in 2007, which is over 200 more than in 2006. Part of the reason for that increase is that there are more motorcycle drivers on the road, with 6 million motorcycles registered last year, up 2.2 million in the past decade.

[Source: Kicking Tires via CNN]

 

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]]>gas pricesGasPricesmotorcycle accidentsMotorcycleAccidentsNHTSAsafetytraffic deathsTrafficDeaths2008-08-18T19:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Industry sets fuel efficiency record in first half of '08]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/industry-sets-fuel-efficiency-record-in-first-half-of-08/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/industry-sets-fuel-efficiency-record-in-first-half-of-08/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/13/industry-sets-fuel-efficiency-record-in-first-half-of-08/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In light of the current pain at the pumps, fuel economy is on all of our minds these days no matter what kind of car you drive. That being the case, it might not be surprising to you that the car we're buying are getting more fuel efficient. Don't believe us? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just revealed that the U.S. auto industry set a new record in overall fuel efficiency during the first half of the 2008 model year by averaging 26.8 mpg through March. That's up from an average of 26.6 mpg through the entire 2007 model year.

While this is certainly good news for both consumers and manufacturers that need to meet the government's mandated CAFE standards, the numbers used by the NHTSA aren't really representative of the real-world fuel mileage you should expect to achieve on the road. The testing standards were initially created in 1975 and automakers get certain credits for creating flex-fuel vehicles, which can artificially inflate their miles-per-gallon numbers. Additionally, automakers earn credits for surpassing the CAFE requirements and can carry these credits forward for up to three years. Still, the numbers are somewhat worthwhile when comparing the current model-year with those of the past. Expect to see the year-end numbers set another new record as consumers continue choosing smaller and more fuel efficient models over larger, gas-guzzling choices.

[Source: The Detroit News]

 

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]]>2008 fuel efficiency2008 mileage2008FuelEfficiency2008Mileagecafecafe standardsCafeStandardsfuel efficiencyfuel mileageFuelEfficiencyFuelMileagenhtsa2008-08-13T09:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[U.S. Army declares Arizona car dealer a no-go zone]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/u-s-army-declares-arizona-car-dealer-a-no-go-zone/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/u-s-army-declares-arizona-car-dealer-a-no-go-zone/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/u-s-army-declares-arizona-car-dealer-a-no-go-zone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you believe the Johnston family, owners of Wildcat Mitsubishi in Tucson and Ideal Automotive in Sierra Vista, Arizona, they have a little communication and paperwork problem. If you believe the soldiers at the Army base in Fort Huachuca, the Better Business Bureau, the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, the Arizona Transportation Department, the police department, and at least one civilian customer, the Johnstons have a much larger number of far more serious problems.

The Army base has banned personnel from patronizing the dealerships, alleging its soldiers have been abused. Soldier James Tuman traded in an SUV and a motorcycle and got financing from Ideal Automotive to buy a used car. When he tried to return the car because of mechanical issues, the Johnston's wouldn't give him his money back, instead saying he could buy another car on the lot. When he threatened to complain, they said they'd declare the car repossessed, which could hurt Tuman's security clearance. Tuman ended up with no money and no car.

Other complaints against Johnstons range from financing auto loans without a license and issuing temporary tags with the wrong VIN numbers. The Johnstons say they are sorting things out... but until the Army et al sort things out with the Johnstons, you might want to give Wildcat and Ideal a wide berth.

[Source: Auto News, sub req'd]

 

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]]>arizonaarmydealerdealersdealershipdealershipsideal automotiveIdealAutomotivesierra vistaSierraVistawildcat mitsubishiWildcatMitsubishi2008-08-11T14:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[London congestion charge has failed to solve congestion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/london-congestion-charge-has-failed-to-solve-congestion/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/london-congestion-charge-has-failed-to-solve-congestion/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/london-congestion-charge-has-failed-to-solve-congestion/#commentsFiled under: ,

London Congestion Charge: FAIL. According to the most recent reports, traffic in London is exactly as bad today as it was before the C-Charge was ever initiated. London motorists have made their opinion about the system clear in recently voting out ex-Mayor Ken Livingstone, a man who championed the charges and had plans to increase their dollar amount and expand their coverage. The new mayor, Boris "Fast Lane" Johnson, says, "I have always thought that the Congestion Charge is a blunt instrument." Blunt and ineffective, it would seem. While the number of cars within the city limits have gone down, other factors have crept up like an increase in bike and pedestrian traffic that keeps motorists crawling.

There is one thing that the London Congestion Charge was good at: making money. Last year alone, the C-Charges racked up some £268 million (a whopping $536 million) in charges. While it may be hard to see that income go away, the fact is that it still takes Londoners an average of 2.3 minutes per kilometer to drive through the city, so expect to see some major modifications to the system in the coming months.

[Source: Reuters via Motor Authority]

 

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]]>boris johnsonBorisJohnsonc-chargeken livingstoneKenLivingstonelondonlondon congestionlondon congestion chargelondon trafficLondonCongestionLondonCongestionChargeLondonTraffic2008-08-08T14:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Switzerland considers banning <strike>sportscars</strike> <strike>SUVs</strike> everything]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/switzerland-considers-banning-strike-sportscars-strike-strik/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/switzerland-considers-banning-strike-sportscars-strike-strik/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/switzerland-considers-banning-strike-sportscars-strike-strik/#commentsFiled under: ,

Switzerland is not the most car-friendly place on earth. (Odd, then, that after Monaco, the mountainous country is one of the most popular residence choices for F1 drivers.) But this just puts it over the top. The Swiss Green Party is proposing legislation that would effectively ban supercars. Most sportscars, actually. And SUVs. More than a few luxury sedans, too. Even some small hatchbacks.

The proposed regulations would ban any vehicle over 4800 lbs in weight, producing more than 250 grams of CO2 per kilometer, burning diesel without a new-fangled particulate filter or possessing a front end deemed less than optimal for pedestrian impact. Many of the vehicles on the proposed list of non-compliant new cars would seem logical, according to the Green Party mindset: Aston Martins, Bentleys, HUMMERs, pretty much anything from Italy bigger than a Fiat Panda, most American cars offered in Europe... but wait a second, the Hyundai Getz? Kia Rio? Nissan Micra? Even the Dacia Logan. Somebody's getting carried away in Switzerland, and we hope with the country's populist approach to governance that the Swiss populace will keep their tree-hugging elements in check. Otherwise, we might be riding bikes to next year's Geneva show.

[Source: Asphale.ch via AutoblogGreen]

 

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]]>swissswiss ban carsswiss proposalSwissBanCarsSwissProposalswitzerlandswitzerland ban carsswitzerland green partySwitzerlandBanCarsSwitzerlandGreenParty2008-08-07T12:59:00+00:00<![CDATA[Daimler considering cancelling hybrid 'ute]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/daimler-considering-cancelling-hybrid-ute/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/daimler-considering-cancelling-hybrid-ute/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/07/daimler-considering-cancelling-hybrid-ute/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to enlarge the Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid

Batteries are an integral part of any hybrid automobile. No batteries means no electric assist, which means no point in lugging around all that extra hardware. So Mercedes-Benz is in a world of hurt as it alleges that Cobasys, the chosen battery supplier for the upcoming ML 450 hybrid SUV, has decided not to fulfill its obligation to the German automaker. You might recall that General Motors had problems with leaky batteries from Cobasys, reportedly leading the automaker to consider purchasing the supplier outright from its current parents, Chevron and Energy Conversion Devices.

For its part, Mercedes-Benz has sued Cobasys and petitioned the court to order Cobasys to supply the batteries in had committed to. Cobasys CEO Thomas Neslage has denied that his company ever agreed to supply the batteries in the first place. If this situation isn't resolved in a timely manner, Mercedes-Benz may be forced to delay the introduction of its first-ever hybrid vehicle.

Update: Mercedes has told AutoblogGreen that cancellation is a worst case scenario and the company is still planning to introduce the ML450 Two-Mode hybrid in late 2009. A mild hybrid S400 is also arriving earlier in the year.

[Source: Tuscaloosa News, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

 

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]]>2009 ml 450 hybrid2009Ml450Hybridcobasysmercedes-benzmercedes-benz ml 450 hybridmercedes-benz ml-classMercedes-benzMl-classMercedes-benzMl450Hybridml 450ml 450 hybridMl450Ml450Hybrid2008-08-07T07:56:00+00:00<![CDATA[Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/saudi-arabia-threatens-nissan-boycott-over-israeli-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/saudi-arabia-threatens-nissan-boycott-over-israeli-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/saudi-arabia-threatens-nissan-boycott-over-israeli-ad/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to watch the video

Saudis may be known for a lot of things, but let's face it - comedy is not one of them. Israelis on the other hand... have you seen The Zohan? In any event, it's not surprising that people in Saudi Arabia are outraged at something from Israel, but this time it has nothing to do with military actions or residential construction, and to be fair, while talk of boycotts is filling the air once again, they're not actually blaming Israel itself for anything. Instead, Nissan is the boycott target.

The spate was started by a commercial Israeli TV that depicts Arabian oil sheikhs getting medieval on a Nissan Tiida. The implication is that the car's fuel efficiency is harming the sheikhs' business interests. The Saudi regime, along with other oil-producing Gulf states, is threatening to boycott Nissan - which itself is collaborating on the development of the Project Better Place electric car system in Israel - if the automaker doesn't apologize.

Follow the jump to watch the commercial - which, strangely, we could only find in Arabic with Russian subtitles - and leave your thoughts in the comments section below (just please keep it tasteful).

[Source: Haaretz]

Continue reading Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad

 

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]]>boycottisraelnissan adnissan ad israelnissan commercial israelnissan israelnissan tiidaNissanAdNissanAdIsraelNissanCommercialIsraelNissanIsraelNissanTiidasaudi arabiasaudi boycott nissansaudi nissanSaudiArabiaSaudiBoycottNissanSaudiNissan2008-08-06T15:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[VW, Porsche talks stumbling over labor issues?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/vw-porsche-talks-stumbling-over-labor-issues/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/vw-porsche-talks-stumbling-over-labor-issues/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/06/vw-porsche-talks-stumbling-over-labor-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Porsche wants to purchase Volkswagen, this much we know. But before that happens, the huge labor union at VW needs to agree on terms with Porsche management. This, as you may imagine, is proving a bit more difficult than Porsche had hoped, prompting the automaker's senior labor leader Uwe Hueck to lash out at the heads at VW. Not surprisingly, his initial attack received a response from Bernd Osterloh, the head of VW's labor union. It seems that some major sticking points exist that the organized Volkswagen employees are not too keen on, causing them to believe that they would be relegated to second-class status. Whether or not these negotiations will keep Porsche from purchasing a controlling stake in Volkswagen seems up in the air at the moment, though we wouldn't be surprised if some sort of deal were made sooner rather than later.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

 

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]]>lower saxonyLowerSaxonyporschevolkswagenvolkswagen labor unionVolkswagenLaborUnionvw labor unionVwLaborUnion2008-08-06T08:32:00+00:00<![CDATA[Endangered Species: Europe's sportscar makers worried about the future]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/endangered-species-europes-sportscar-makers-worried-about-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/endangered-species-europes-sportscar-makers-worried-about-the/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/endangered-species-europes-sportscar-makers-worried-about-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the European Union tightening restrictions on carbon emissions, danger has been spelled out in big bright letters for the sportscar-makers we know and love. The bulk of the world's best supercar manufacturers - including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Aston Martin and Porsche - reside in Europe, but while industry executives continue to campaign for exception and protection, things don't look good. There are, however, a few solutions that could keep the exotic automakers in business and unmolested.

Firstly, both automakers and lawmakers agree on the need to reduce weight, which helps neither emissions nor performance. However, weight reduction itself won't bring the supercars below the 120g/km target touted by the EU. One possible solution would be to give niche automakers an exemption, noting that the few cars they produce are rarely driven anyway. According to Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann, exotic automakers like his "are representing Europe to the world" and "are a species to protect", much like an art form. That's something we car lovers can appreciate, and if it strikes a cord with the lawmakers it could help some of the smaller independent automakers like Aston Martin and Lotus, but it won't help the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, which are part of bigger auto groups Fiat and Volkswagen, respectively. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has argued that it would be unreasonable to force low-polluting little Fiats like the Panda and the 500 to bear the burden of their more polluting cousins from Ferrari and Maserati simply because they happen to be under common management.

At the end of the day, these exotic sportscars are not the big problem, though they do make easy targets. If European Union bureaucrats ignore the former and focus on the latter, Europe's most famous automakers could be legislated right out of business.

[Source: Reuters]

 

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]]>co2emissionseueuropean sports carseuropean unionEuropeanSportsCarsEuropeanUnionlegislationlow volume emissions exemptionLowVolumeEmissionsExemptionniche automakersNicheAutomakersregulations2008-08-05T19:32:00+00:00<![CDATA[Traffic Enfarcement: What's wrong with this picture?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/traffic-enfarcement-whats-wrong-with-this-picture/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/traffic-enfarcement-whats-wrong-with-this-picture/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/traffic-enfarcement-whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The script for selling one of these "automated revenue enhancement devices" to a municipality might go something like "and the best feature of the Robthepopulace 3000 is that it never makes a mistake - machines don't lie!" Tell that to Thomas, who received a citation in the mail after a South African traffic camera nabbed his VW Polo "clearly traveling in excess of the 60 km/h limit." Right. Technically, the camera is not lying, but machines are incapable of interpreting on their own, otherwise the fleece-bot would have noted that while the car was indeed traveling in excess of the limit, it was on a hook! Thomas got the ticket because his car obscured the plate of the tow truck dragging his little Polo somewhere. While the picture doesn't lie, the government agency drew a false conclusion and stuck to it. We wonder if the amount of the ticket could be deducted from Thomas's income tax to ensure fairness. Now that's just crazy talk. Thanks for the tip, Erwin!

[Source: Daily WTF]

 

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]]>automated cameraautomated fineAutomatedCameraAutomatedFinesouth africaSouthAfricaspeeding ticketSpeedingTicketticket robotTicketRobottraffic cameratraffic citationtraffic fineTrafficCameraTrafficCitationTrafficFine2008-08-05T17:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[AutoblogGreen for 08.05.08]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/autobloggreen-for-08-05-08/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/autobloggreen-for-08-05-08/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/autobloggreen-for-08-05-08/#commentsFiled under: ,



In Lansing MI yesterday Democratic presidential aspirant Barack Obama outlined his plans for an energy policy, including have at least 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015, having at least half of federal government vehicle purchases be plug-in capable by that time. Tesla picked up a new design director from Mazda and ABG takes a look at the math behind all these on-board hydrogen generators.

 

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