LA 2007: Volkswagen Space up! blue

We mentioned last night that VW was going to unveil a new variation of the up! concept vehicle. Well here it is. The new VW Space up! blue concept. the Space up! blue is a full zero emissions car and features the worlds first high temperature fuel cell. The new up! is the ideal city commuter car. When driven on full electric power, a range of up to 65 miles is possible. When combined with the fuel cell, a range of 220 miles is possible on one charge.

Also new to the up! is a solar panel which recharges the 12 lithium-ion batteries. It supplies a 150 Watts of energy. The new high temperature fuel cell is entirely new and was developed in house at Volkswagen in Germany. One of the key advantages is the lower weight and lower price. Thus making a turning point in the future of fuel cell development and mass production.

The overall size of the Space up! blue makes for an ideal city car that can seat four. Overall length is just 144.9 inches, width 64.2 inches, and a height of just 61.8 inches. The engine is housed in the rear of the car, with the batteries under the rear seat. Just like the classic air cooled beetle. The styling of the Space up! blue is totally California. One quick glance and you spot the references to the classic micro bus of the 60s. With the skylight windows in the roof

After seeing all three variants of the up! come on to the scene in that last month or so. I have to say that I think we will definitely see this car in production at some point in the next few years. Especially for VW to develop 3 concepts so quickly.

PRESS RELEASE:

To the Point: The space up! blue Clean Drive Revolution "Made in Germany"

Volkswagen presents the first car in the world with high-temperature fuel cell space up! blue covers downtown distances with pure battery drive

Wolfsburg / Los Angeles, November 2007.

Powertrain revolution in California: Volkwagen is presenting the space up! blue concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 14 to 25) as a world exclusive – a compact, self-confident zero emissions van in the style of the legendary Volkswagen Samba Bus. On board: the world's first high temperature fuel cell and an array of twelve lithium-ion batteries. When the electric motor (45 kW / 61 PS) of the space up! blue is driven exclusively by battery, a range of 65 miles is possible – enough to handle nearly all distances in downtown areas. In the scenario of tomorrow's world, the four-seat Volkswagen is advancing to become the ideal vehicle for anyone who wants to drive – completely emissions-free – to work, recreation, school or university or just shopping.

Energy is "refueled" either via an electrical outlet or by the Volkswagen high-temperature fuel cell. In the latter case, the car's range is extended an additional 155 miles. This makes it possible to drive up to 220 miles on a single "energy charge". Aside from this, the microvan utilizes another energy source: the sun. And indeed with a large solar panel on the roof. It supplies up to 150 Watt of energy that is also fed into the battery.

With its new high temperature fuel cell (HT-FC) Volkswagen is introducing a system that represents a turning point in research on fuel cells for mass production. That is because, the HTFC offers crucial advantages compared to all other fuel cell systems: considerably lower weight, significantly greater everyday utility, substantially lower price, and therefore clearly the better chances of becoming a reality someday as a mass produced technology. The high temperature fuel cell was developed at a dedicated research center founded by Volkswagen in Germany.

With its concept car being shown in Los Angeles, Europe's most successful car producer is introducing the third variant of its "New Small Family" within just two months. Like the city specialist, the up!, already introduced at the IAA in Frankfurt, and the space up! presented in Tokyo, the space up! blue is a small space wonder too. Over a length of just 144.9 inches, a height of 61.8 inches and a width of 64.2 inches, it offers the space of a considerably larger vehicle. The clever space concept of the space up! blue – which is 1,090 kilograms "light" despite the fuel cell and batteries – is largely due to the layout of the powertrain. Its emissions-free electric motor operates – as did the engines of the Beetle and the Bulli (Microbus) at one time – in the rear. Also housed in the rear, under the rear seat to be exact, are the lithium-ion batteries. The high temperature fuel cell, on the other hand, is located at the front of the car.

Source: VW

Volkswagen up! wins Autocar's Concept Car of the Year

The Volkswagen up! and its variant the Space up! and another that will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week has won the Concept Car of the Year award from Autocar magazine.

Autocar editor Charles Hallett said the up! was "a brilliant concept car – but, importantly, a concept car that will become a reality. We like to think of it as a 21st Century Beetle – a stylish car that will provide affordable motoring for all, both here and in the developing world."

VW has been pretty tight lipped about the upcoming up! variant that will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week. But what thing's for sure. It whould be a head turner. Look for updates later this week.

Source: Autoblog green.

BMW gives the 6 series a facelift and new pricing

BMW released a lengthy press release on the new revised 650I, so we'll cu to the chase and layout some of the more interesting details.

The only major upgrades outside are the restyled front end, and LED tail lamps. Inside you will have the choice of a Sport Automatic transmission which has the addition of paddle shifters, matched with a sport button for even quicker shifting for spirited driving. The shifter is now shift by wire. A system very similar to that in use on the 5 series.

The interior has been revised with new leathers, brushed aluminum panels and revised iDrive. A new Active Cruise Control has been developed that can work in dense traffic and can handle the car coming to a complete stop and resuming to its pre set speed from 0MPH. A new sport package will also be available with upgraded handling, and wheel options.

Power comes from a 4.8 liter V8 engine with 360 Hp. Up from this years 4.4 liter V8 with 325 Hp.

Source: BMW

ABT transforms the new VW Tiguan

The new 2008 VW Tiguan has not even hit US show rooms yet, but here's a taste of what's in store when it does thanks to our friends at ABT in Germany.

We should see the US debut of the Tiguan at NAIAS in Detroit come January, and should be a hit as a strong competitor to the Jeep Liberty and Toyota Rav4. And will be baby brother to the Touareg.

Press Release:

KEMPEN, Germany — Abt Sportsline wasn't satisfied with transforming the Volkswagen Touareg into a serious on-road powerhouse. Now, with the Touareg's compact sibling, the new VW Tiguan, about to hit the streets, Abt is at it again.

The exterior look is more aggressive, thanks to an aero body kit that bundles a front spoiler and grille with fender extensions, rear skirt with diffuser, and rear wing.

There are power boosts galore for the Tiguan's various engines. The basic 1.4-liter TSI four-cylinder is bumped from 150 to 200 horsepower. The 140-hp 2.0-liter TDI offers two different stages of tune, climbing to 170 hp in the first stage and 200 hp in the second.

Mechanical mods include new springs and adjustable dampers, plus upgraded brakes and a choice of performance wheel/tire combinations in sizes up to 20 inches.

Source: Edmunds

New drawing of redesign Subaru Forester emerges

Nothing official from Subaru yet. Other than the new Forester will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit come January.

That was until this artist rendering came to light over on edmunds. The styling definitely follows the style Subaru is going with these days. Detroit is coming up quickly, so we should see more from Subaru in the next few weeks.

Sourse: Edmunds Straighltine

Pains at the pump. Gas prices set to rise yet again

The US Energy Information Administration is warning the US public to prepare to see yet another increase at the pumps. We should expect to see an increase of 20 cents per gallon starting in the next couple of weeks.

The immeiate hit will be felt during Thanksgiving travels and should continue through the holiday season. OPEC will meet after the new year, and hopefully an increase in production is on the slate to be discussed.

Source: Reuters

Lexus Hybrid vs. Audi Diesel. Who will win the luxury war?

Lexus set out to beat the Germans at their own game by offering the LS600 Hybrid. A luxury car that offers hybrid technology. Mercedes, BMW, & Audi had created the ultra luxury cars with the big V-12s under the hood. So why create a hybrid? Well Audi has responded by offering a new A8L 4.2 TDI. The Lexus offers a 5.0 liter V8 that combines an electric motor that produces an additional 50hp over the gas version.


Auto Express from England recently paired the LS 600 H with the A8. In TDI form the A8L is the UK's most powerful diesel car you can buy. Where did they stack up. Well everything has lined up in favor of the Audi. Most noticeably in the pricing category. The Audi offered a £20,000 difference in price. With good reason too. The Lexus is the most expensive model to ever be offered by Luxury spin off of Toyota. The German marque is as well known for developing diesel power in luxury and sporting cars as Lexus is for its work in the field of hybrids.


Where the Audi has it all over the Lexus is in driveability. The Audi is actually fun to drive. It's responsive, and preforms exceptionally well with it's Quattro all wheel drive. The Lexus on the other hand lacks AWD, and is rather boring to drive.