Online Find of the Day: K20-powered Honda Insight recalls '88 CRX Si

Online Find of the Day: K20-powered Honda Insight recalls '88 CRX Si: "

Filed under: Hybrid, Honda

Honda Insight with K20A2 Swap - Click above for high-res image gallery

We miss the first-generation Honda Insight. The aluminum-bodied hybrid represented a no-holds barred quest for fuel efficiency with innovative weight saving techniques, an aerodynamic design and a tiny 1.0-liter gasoline engine. As a result, the two-door garnered an EPA-rated 70 mpg highway and 61 mpg city - a far cry from the 43 mpg highway of the much larger current car. Of course, the Insight of yore also begged to be modified, even if it wasn't done that often. Still, some tuners simply couldn't resist the thought of plopping a high-horsepower engine into a featherweight chassis, which is exactly what CincyStreetScene forum member Cheezoto did with his first-gen Insight.



A 210-horsepower K20A2 lifted from an Acura RSX Type S is now bolted in place of the old IMA lump and motor, and the seller promises the swap was done as cleanly as possible. There are no check engine lights, and the gauges, anti-lock brakes and cruise control all work as they should. The seller did the swap himself back in 2007, and the engine now has around 45,000 miles on it. The chassis, meanwhile, sits at a shave under 300,000 miles.



Surprisingly enough, the asking price is a reasonable $9,900. Considering that a non-modified 2000 Insight will set you back close to $9,000, we'd say this sounds like a deal. Head over to CincyStreetScene for a closer look.

[Source:

CincyStreetScene]

Online Find of the Day: K20-powered Honda Insight recalls '88 CRX Si originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: WaveJet is personal water propulsion powered by batteries

Video: WaveJet is personal water propulsion powered by batteries: "

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in

WaveJet demonstration - Click above to watch video after the jump

Some call it a powered surfboard, we call it an innovative water propulsion system.



Technically, WaveJet is a patented Personal Water Propulsion (PWP) engine designed for use in a range of watercraft, including surfboards, kayaks, kiteboards and light boats. Powered by an integrated twin-lithium-ion battery pack, WaveJet can crank out 20 pounds of thrust, has a continuous run-time of more than 30 minutes and recharges via a standard wall socket. Wavejet is supposedly two to three times faster than paddling a surfboard by hand and can even be used in shallowest of waters.



With WaveJet, surfers can surf, kayakers can kayak and lifeguards can save lives, all of which can be accomplished without wasting precious wave or human energy (or, granted, fossil fuels in some situations) fighting strong currents. Sound innovative? Hit the jump to check out a lengthy video of Wavejet in action.



[Source: Wavejet via Gas 2.0]

Continue reading Video: WaveJet is personal water propulsion powered by batteries

Video: WaveJet is personal water propulsion powered by batteries originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo starts production of C30 Electric; 250 due by end of 2012

Volvo starts production of C30 Electric; 250 due by end of 2012: "

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Volvo, Europe/EU

Volvo C30 Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery

Today, Swedish automaker Volvo announced that production of the C30 Electric has commenced. Initially, the battery-powered C30 will be manufactured and delivered to customers throughout Europe, including Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. Volvo says that approximately 250 C30 Electrics will be built by the end of 2012. That number, according to the automaker, could increase if needed.



The Volvo C30 Electric is being built on the automaker's assembly line at its factory in Ghent, Belgium. The vehicle is then transported to Göteborg, Sweden for installation of the electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and other model-specific electronics.



Volvo says that the C30's effective operating range is around 150 kilometers (93.2 miles). The C30 tops out at about 130 kilometers per hour (80.8 mph) and acceleration from 0 to 50 km/h (0 to 31 mph) is listed at four seconds. Though those numbers seem reasonable, the C30 Electric's price tag does not. Volvo plans to charge lessees around $2,100 a month for the C30 Electric and the automaker says that there will be no option to buy one. So, Volvo is basically asking lessees to dish out $76,674 for a three-year rental.

Gallery: Volvo C30 Electric

Photos copyright (C)2011 Sebastian Blanco / AOL



[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo starts production of C30 Electric; 250 due by end of 2012

Volvo starts production of C30 Electric; 250 due by end of 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: On board the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC at the Sodegaura Forest Raceway

Video: On board the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC at the Sodegaura Forest Raceway: "

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Racing

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC - Click above to watch videos after the jump

On Thursday, the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC will hit the tarmac during a demonstration event prior to the 79th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is precisely why the engineers behind Nissan's electric racer have been getting the machine out on the track for some shake-down action.



With its trick carbon fiber bodywork and three-door layout, the Leaf Nismo RC certainly looks sinister, but its stripped-straight-from-the-road-going-Leaf powertrain isn't the type of electric drivetrain needed to rip 'round a track with authority.



Ideally, Nissan says that its Nismo Leaf RC could compete in inter-city events where typical vehicles have always been too loud or in indoor races where a zero-emissions vehicle makes perfect sense.



While patiently waiting for the Nismo Leaf to hit the track at Le Mans, check out Nissan's latest pair of videos after the jump. Hat tip to Dan!



[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: On board the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC at the Sodegaura Forest Raceway

Video: On board the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC at the Sodegaura Forest Raceway originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buick LaCrosse with eAssist priced from $29,960*

Buick LaCrosse with eAssist priced from $29,960*: "

2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist - Click above for high-res image gallery

As expected, Buick has announced that its new 2012 LaCrosse with eAssist is priced identically to its more powerful V6-powered sibling. That means that $29,960 (*plus an $860 destination charge) will get the buyer either 25 city and 37 highway miles per gallon (along with about 180 horsepower) or 303 horsepower (along with fuel economy that's not yet EPA rated but should be close to last year's 17/27 mpg rating).



For what it's worth, the new eAssist-equipped LaCrosse is thriftier on the highway than the smaller Lexus HS 250h (35/34) and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (41/36 mpg) but not nearly as frugal as either of those competitors in the city.



The departing 2011 LaCrosse, you'll remember, was available with either a 2.4-liter Ecotec rated at 182 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V6 rated at 280 horses. In other words, the standard four-cylinder has been replaced with the mild hybrid powertrain while the optional V6 (available for no extra charge) has received a 23-horsepower bump. Parsimony or performance at your prerogative.



So, buyers will have the option of significantly improved fuel economy or horsepower - two highly desirable traits. Of course, there's a catch. Last year's base LaCrosse, which carried with it an MSRP of $26,995, is no longer available. That means the least expensive LaCrosse for 2012 is about $3,000 more than it was in 2011. That said, at least buyers will clearly get more for their money. See the complete press release after the break.

[Source: Buick]

Continue reading Buick LaCrosse with eAssist priced from $29,960*

Buick LaCrosse with eAssist priced from $29,960* originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps adds real-time public transit updates [w/video]

Google Maps adds real-time public transit updates [w/video]: "

Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, USA

Google Maps live transit updates - Click above to watch video after the jump

Starting today, Google Maps for mobile and desktop applications can alert you when your chosen form of public transportation is on time or, more likely, running way behind schedule. Google has partnered with transit agencies to integrate its live updates in four U.S. cities: Boston, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco; and two European cities: Madrid, Spain and Turin, Italy.



When you click on a transit station within Google Maps, the live transit update service will alert you if there are delays related to your trip. Google says that it's currently working with public transit partners in more cities to provide live data across the U.S. Google's live transit updates are available in the latest version of Google Maps for mobile (requires Android 1.6+), as well as Google Maps on all supported desktop browsers.



Here's a random factoid: in 2009, the average train in Japan was apparently 23 seconds late. Of course, that's unacceptable in Japan, a nation which prides itself on its amazing public transportation system. Could you imagine waiting an excruciating 23 seconds for a bus or train to arrive? Hit the jump to watch video of Google Map's live transit update.



[Source: The Official Google Blog]

Continue reading Google Maps adds real-time public transit updates [w/video]

Google Maps adds real-time public transit updates [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MIT students develop liquid fuel for electric cars

MIT students develop liquid fuel for electric cars: "

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in

A group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology students may have come up with the perfect solution to our electric vehicle charging woes. Instead of relying on lithium or nickel, the new battery design stores its electrons in semi-solid flow cells. Charged particles are suspended in an electrolyte solution and pumped between compartments used for storing or releasing energy. The tech supposedly makes the batteries up to ten times more efficient than their traditional counterparts, and even more importantly, the new tech is cheaper to produce. Estimates say that the design could cut the size and expense of current batteries by as much as 50 percent.



That's all well and good, but the really cool part is that charging the cells is as simple as pumping the drained fluid out and pumping fresh charged fluid in. That means that getting on your way could take as little time as a standard gasoline fill-up, greatly reducing the inconvenience and range woes associated with modern EVs. An operational prototype is expected to be completed in the next 18 months or so.



[Source: Brammo | Image Copyright 2011 Zach Bowman / AOL]

MIT students develop liquid fuel for electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA’s Main Artery, Interstate 405, to Close for 53 Hours in July—Yet William Mulholland Still Sleeps

LA’s Main Artery, Interstate 405, to Close for 53 Hours in July—Yet William Mulholland Still Sleeps: "

Oh, William Mulholland. You brought water to the LA basin, thus allowing a sprawling megalopolis to flourish. Your Saint Francis Dam’s failure washed away—among others—the picturesque little towns of Fillmore and Santa Paula; the torrent didn’t stop until it reached the sea. Yet the City of Los Angeles, she honored your rise from ditchdigger to head of the Department of Water and Power, even as the farmers of the Owens Valley cursed you for absconding with their lifeblood. Los Angeles named a meandering ridge road for you. One which became legendary for its spectacular vistas and multimillion-dollar estates. But oh, William Mulholland, come July, righteous fire shall rain down upon your name, for the planned destruction of the Mulholland Drive Bridge over the San Diego Freeway shall force the the Interstate to close for a planned 53 hours.

A ten-mile stretch of Interstate 405, between I-10 and US 101 will be closed from the evening of July 15th until the small hours of July 18th, so highway workers can dismantle the south side of the bridge and get a jump on construction of a northbound carpool lane. Traffic is going to be an even worse nightmare than usual. A year later, once reconstruction of the south end is complete, another closure will once again earn you the ire of Greater LA’s motoring public, Mulholland. May you rest easy in your Glendale plot, knowing that what you created shall fill the populace with a special sort of loathing. Though you know as well as we do that in Los Angeles, they forget. They forget, Mulholland. They forget.

"



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Touring the New Volkswagen Factory in Chattanooga

Touring the New Volkswagen Factory in Chattanooga: "

When Volkswagen unveiled the long anticipated new mid-size sedan at the Detroit auto show back in January I was somewhat surprised that it kept the Passat name since the new 2012 Passat, you’ll soon be able to only buy in North America, is quite different from the new European Passat.

VW is determined to more than double its sales in this country by 2018 and in order to do this it needs a car that is competitive with the top-selling Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It’s worth remembering that the US Honda Accord is bigger and subtly different from the Accord sold elsewhere so it’s a natural solution for VW to follow the same strategy with the 2012 Passat by designing a bigger car for Americans and constructing a factory in this country – it’s in Chattanooga where the 2012 Passat is being made.

VW made the decision to build the factory in 2008 and will have spent close to $1 billion by the time the factory is completely finished. Construction started just over two years ago and the first robot started work a year ago, but it’s only now that customer-ready cars are being completed. There were 85,000 applicants for the 2,000 jobs, which shows how important this factory is to the region.

After a walk around tour of the new VW factory yesterday we witnessed first hand how much effort VW is putting into the assembly process with the latest environmentally friendly buildings and state-of-the-art processes. There are also plenty of quality control systems in place.

Watching robots weld body panels and clean their own welding tips at regular intervals is uncanny. As always, it amazes me how reliable cars are considering the incredible complexity involved in their assembly.

Seeing how components, such as seats and bumpers made elsewhere by suppliers, arrive by truck just in time to meet up with cars going down assembly lines is a lesson in logistics. The three different engines for the new Passat come from Mexico, Poland and Germany but are dressed in Chattanooga with wiring and plumbing.

Volkswagen claims that the paint shop is one of the cleanest ones in the world with a filter system that absorbs all excess paint fumes so none gets into the outside environment. The factory walls are insulated and the roofs painted white to reduce cooling costs.

If you ever get the chance to tour a modern car a factory you should take the opportunity. I am often more in awe at the people who design factories than the people who design the cars that are made in them.

Related posts:

1. Revealed: The New Volkswagen Touareg
2. Volkswagen Unveils Golf Cabrio Concepts
3. LA Auto Show: 2012 Volkswagen EOS convertible

"



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Michael Dunlop wins Superstock TT

Michael Dunlop wins Superstock TT: "Michael Dunlop has won this years IoM TT Superstock Race by 18.62 seconds"



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