Fisker executives have chosen the 2009 Geneva International Motor Show for the Fisker Karma S and Karma S hardtop concept European debuts. Fisker’s electric vehicles will fit in nicely with the show’s green theme. This year, the entire Hall 3 area will be dedicated to eco-friendly vehicles and automobile products.

“The full size, four-place Fisker Karma fuses the traditional and timeless styling of former Aston Martin and BMW auto designer and Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker, with Q-DRIVE(R), a new, clean-energy powertrain, to become the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid car. The Karma will be able to reach 100 km/h (62mph) in six seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h (125mph), while being able to achieve an average annual fuel consumption rate of 2.4 l/100km (100mpg). It also features new materials and technologies not seen before on any production vehicle, such as a 26cm (10.5″) haptic touch-screen control panel and environmentally friendly interior trim.” (Source: PR Newswire)

The 79th annual Geneva International Auto Show will begin on March 5, 2009 and runs through March 15, 2009.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

The Washington Auto Show is off and running and the Green Car Journal awarded its Green Car Vision Award to the Chevrolet Volt. Other finalists for the award were the super sleek Fisker Karma, the Honda FCX Clarity, the MINI E and the Mitsubishi iMiEV.

“The Volt offers a bold and far-reaching approach that promises to bring an exceptionally fuel efficient model to consumers at reasonable cost. When the Volt launches in late 2010, it will deliver exactly what many consumers are asking for – a car capable of driving on zero emission battery power most of the time at pennies per mile, with over 100 mpg possible on longer journeys when electric power from its range extender engine-generator is needed.” (Source: Green Car)

Although the Volt has a delivery date of late 2010, General Motors has had to stop production of the Volt engine facility due to financial woes. If January sales are any indication of what GM can expect this year, the Volt may end up being pushed back to a 2011 release.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, chevy

The doors of the 2009 North American International Auto Show closed last week and despite the problems that the auto industry is facing, the show was a success. Many companies, including Nissan North America, pulled out of the show due to financial woes. Other companies, including Honda, scaled back on the glitzy events. However, more than 650,000 people attended the show, there were more exhibitors in attendance than the 2008 show had and 53 vehicles were unveiled.

There were several eco-friendly vehicles debuted during the show. Green motoring enthusiasts and the press were anxious for Toyota’s reveal of the 2010 Prius. This third-generation Prius was met with positive feedback from show attendees.

Other worldwide production green reveals include the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, the official production version of the 2010 Honda Insight and the sexy Fisker Karma sports car. On the concept front, show attendees were wowed by the Chrysler 200C EV Concept, the Jeep Patriot EV Concept, the VW BlueSport Concept and the Mercedes-Benz BlueZero concept.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

The 2009 Washington Auto Show kicks off next. The event will run from February 4 – 8 and this year’s theme is “Driven by the Environment”. In advance of the show’s start, the Green Car Journal will be announcing the winner of the 2009 Green Car Vision Award. The five finalists for the award are the Chevrolet Volt, the Fisker Karma, Honda’s FCX Clarity, the MINI E and the Mitsubishi iMieV.

One green highlight of the show is that the EcoCAR will be on display during the show.

“EcoCAR Students are designing and building advanced propulsion solutions that are based on the vehicle categories from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) regulations. Teams explore a variety of cutting-edge clean vehicle solutions, including full-function electric, range-extended electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell technologies. In addition, they will incorporate lightweight materials into the vehicles, improve aerodynamics and utilize alternative fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel and hydrogen.” (Source: Washington Auto Show)

For more information about the show, including hours and admission prices, visit the Washington Auto Show website.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

The Geneva International Motor Show is going to be one of the “greenest” major motor shows in history. The organizers of the event have dedicated Hall 3 to green products and now Bentley has announced that they will be adding a bit of green to their offerings.

“Displaying its green-performance credentials, Bentley will unveil a high-performance sports car at the Geneva auto show in March with an engine that can run on E85 ethanol blend fuel. Bentley said the adaptation to running on green fuel was achieved by an enhanced engine management system and from newly developed transmissions and drivelines.” (Source: ANE)

Okay so it is E85 and not some fancy electric system, but it is a step in the right direction. The Automotive News Europe goes on to explain that this luxury sports car will be a step above the super sexy Continental GT Speed. The Speed has 610 horsepower! The definition of a “step above” is yet to be released by Bentley but I am wondering if we will be seeing a 650 horsepower E85 vehicle in the future.

Of course, the price of a Bentley is the same as a price of a small house where I live so I won’t be signing up to buy one. It is still nice to see this exclusive auto manufacturer making a nod towards more eco-friendly driving options.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

When I received a press release with the following headline, “Could a Green SUV Revive U.S. Auto Plants & Save UAW Jobs?”, I immediately thought of an SUV riding to our rescue like a knight in shining armor. Perhaps that is a bit dramatic of me, but I reserve the right for a little drama every now and then.

It is apparent that the U.S. is in love with its sports utility vehicles. Last year, gas prices fell along with Toyota Prius sales but the Toyota Sequoia sales jumped (see November Auto Sales for more information.) AFS Trinity Power Corporation is hoping to address this love of the SUV in a more environmentally friendly way.

If you are a regular reader of The Green Motorist, then you may recognize the company; AFS Trinity Power Corporation is the maker of the XH-150 SUV prototype. The company decided to pull out of the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show after show organizers refused to allow the use of the 150 mpg estimate on its banners, even after the company offered to clearly state that this was an estimate.

Despite the issue with the LA Auto Show, AFS Trinity has not stepped back from its push to get this prototype to market.

“AFS Trinity is in the process of applying for $2.5 Billion of the $25 Billion DOE “green retooling” funding, which new DOE regulations specify is to be spent for ” … reequipping, expanding, and establishing manufacturing facilities in the U.S. to produce advanced technology vehicles and components that demonstrate meaningful improvements in fuel economy.” (Source: PR Newswire)

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

The 2009 Geneva International Motor Show kicks off on March 5 and runs through March 15. This year marks the 79th anniversary of the event and the show will have a noticeable green tint. The organizers of the show have dedicated Hall 3 to companies that are showing electric, alternative fuel and similar products.

One of the vehicles likely to be in Hall 3 is the Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport Air Concept.

“The clear removable top of the i MiEV SPORT ‘AIR’ will be premiered at the forthcoming 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Taking a step beyond being merely ‘green’, this all-electric zero CO2 emission sports concept builds upon the fundamentals of the EV by marrying:

- the powerful acceleration and high torque inherent to electric motors,
- the safe driving dynamics that stem from i MiEV’s lithium-ion battery pack located within its long wheelbase and the low centre of gravity.

The i MiEV SPORT ‘AIR’ is a new-age “pocket rocket” and signals the direction in which the Mitsubishi sports EV may take in the future.” (Source: NewsPress)

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Mitsubishi

Okay, a Tesla Smart Car is wishful thinking but the luxury electric vehicle company will be providing batteries for Daimler’s Smart EV. This announcement was made last week at the North American International Auto Show. The agreement has Tesla providing Daimler with the battery pack and charger for 1,000 of the new Smart electric vehicles, which will be available in the United States in 2010.

Other Tesla news from Detroit:

Tesla founder Elon Musk “detailed the company’s ambitious plans to develop a range of EV models and build a factory in San Jose, California, capable of building 20,000 cars a year.

This would cost between $300-400 million, Musk said. It would involve production of a new pure EV model, the Tesla S, a sedan model, with a family of different body styles to follow including a crossover, wagon and minivan.

This is likely to cost around $50,000 – less than half the $109,000 roadster - and is said to offer a 225-mile range on a single charge of its Lithium Ion batteries.” (Source: Newspress)

Sign me up for the Tesla crossover!

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, electric vehicles, smart

Although many auto manufacturers either withdrew their attendance from the 2009 North American International Auto Show or scaled back their presentations, the show has still been the site of some exciting green motoring news. Volkswagen, hot on the heels of the Jetta TDI’s success, revealed the Concept BlueSport – a 42 mph roadster.

“Volkswagen defined just two objectives in the car’s development: maximum driving fun and minimal fuel consumption. And so a midengine sports car was implemented that makes no compromises, that aims at low weight and maximum agility right from the start. Although it is best in its class when it comes to body rigidity, the Concept BlueSport weighs in at less than 1,200 athletic kilograms.” (Source: Volkswagen)

The engine is a 4-cylinder, 2.0 liter TDI with 132 kW of power at 4,200 RPM. The Volkswagen Concept BlueSport accelerates from zero to 60mph in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 140 mph. Current fuel efficiency ratings are at 35 mpg in the city, 50 mpg on the highway and a combined 42 mpg.

This fuel efficiency is achievable, in part, using the Eco mode system. Eco mode is automatic start-stop system and braking energy regeneration” system. The fuel efficiency ratings listed above are while the vehicle is using the Eco mode system.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Volkswagen

The Fisker Karma S Plug-in Hybrid hardtop convertible concept was revealed at the North American International Auto Show this week and the car is a beauty. The sedan version of the vehicle, the Fisker Karma, was revealed at the Detroit show in 2008 and is a finalist for the 2009 Green Car Vision Award. Henrik Fisker has wowed NAIAS attendees again this year with the Karma S (Sunset).

“The open-air Fisker Karma S concept shares its aluminum spaceframe architecture and clean Q-DRIVE® powertrain with the Fisker Karma sedan. Designed and engineered by Quantum Technologies exclusively for Fisker Automotive, Q-DRIVE® provides 50 emission-free miles on a single charge to its lithium-ion battery pack, and up to 403hp from two electric motors. The power retractable hard top, a first for Fisker, glides neatly into the trunk and a unique design language sets the Karma S concept apart.” (Source: Fisker Automotive)

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Luxury Hybrids