Honda’s Thinking Green

The all new, 2011 Honda Insight, which can be purchased at Rhode Island Honda Dealers, was ranked number 24 out 33 Affordable Small Cars. The Insight is powered by an Integrated Motor Assists (IMA) System, which has an electric motor that creates acceleration power and produces like a generator to charge the battery during braking or coasting. The Insight's four cylinder engine and Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), helps conserve fuel.

Like the Nissan Leaf, which can be found at Nissan Hartford, the Insight received high scores on all crash tests. They received five stars in front and side drive crash tests, four stars in front passenger, side rear passenger and rollover two-wheel drive crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Insight it's highest ranking of "Good" in front offset and side impact crash tests. It also comes equipped with anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution, multiple threshold front airbags, front side airbags, LATCH, vehicle stability assist and side curtain airbags.

Another nice Honda to check out is the 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid, which can be purchased at Manchester Honda Dealership. It was ranked number 17 out of 33 Affordable Small Cars. It comes with one engine. A 1.3 liter four cylinder gas engine that is paired with an electric motor. It creates 110 horsepower and 123 pound feet of torque. It also comes with a Continuously Variable Transmission.

The federal government gave the Civic Hybrid three out of five stars overall. It received four stars in front and rollover crash tests and two stars in side impact crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Civic Hybrid it's highest ranking of "Good" in front end, side impact and rear crash protection tests. The hybrid also comes standard with more safety features than most small cars. Some include; six airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist. Not to mention vehicle stability assist with traction control.

The Insight and the Civic Hybrid have pretty much the same protection package. It consists of three years or 36,000 mile basic warranty and a five year or 60,000 mile powertrain warranty. The only difference is is that Honda covers the Insights Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) battery pack with a warranty. You have to check with your local dealership to find out the length of the warranty though.

New Porsche 918 RSR

Well Porsche is back in the top class of Prototype racing!

From the sublime to the ridiculous...

From the GM Cadillac Media blog - Cadillac announced today it will return to racing in 2011 with a race-prepared version of its CTS-V Coupe competing in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge, North America’s top production-based racecar series.

The move returns Cadillac to a series where it competed previously, from 2004 to 2007. Competing in the GT Class with the CTS-V Sport Sedan, Cadillac captured the Manufacturer’s Championship in 2005 and 2007 and the Driver’s Championship in 2005.

Cadillac will field two teams in the upcoming SCCA World Challenge GT Class with a racecar based on the CTS-V Coupe. The CTS-V line, which also includes the CTS-V Sedan and CTS-V Wagon, was recently named to Car and Driver magazine’s 10 Best list for 2011.

“Returning to racing in the SCCA World Challenge is a great way to demonstrate the performance and capability of the CTS-V Coupe,” said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing. “The racecars in this series are production based, which allows us to validate our performance against the best of our competitors on the track, and not just the showroom.”

Cadillac is working with Pratt & Miller, a New Hudson, Michigan, engineering firm which specializes in motorsports, to develop the CTS-V Coupe racecar. While some of the production CTS-V components will be modified due to the unique demands of racing or to meet the SCCA series’ technical rules, every effort is taken to maintain as much production content as possible.

“The SCCA World Challenge lends itself well to a natural transfer of knowledge,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president for performance vehicles and motorsports. “The series will become a key test-bed for Cadillac. We anticipate using what we learn on the racetrack to ensure V-Series stays on the cutting-edge of performance.”

The first event in the SCCA World Challenge is set for March 25-27 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Johnny O’Connell (inset photo), a three-time champion of the America Le Mans GT1 series, and Andy Pilgrim, who won the 2005 SCCA World Challenge GT class in a Cadillac, will be behind the wheel of the CTS-V racecars.

Introduced for the 2003 model year, the CTS-V has quickly earned a reputation among luxury sports car buyers. For the 2011 model year, Cadillac added the CTS-V Coupe and the CTS-V Sport Wagon to the CTS-V Sport Sedan, creating an impressive family of performance vehicles. The CTS-Vs feature Brembo brakes, a supercharged 6.2L V8 delivering 556 horsepower and a Magnetic Ride Control suspension system that can read and react to the road 1,000 times a second.

Started in 1944, the SCCA organizes and supports racing at all levels from amateur to professional. The World Challenge series is designed to provide teams, manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers a competitive production-based race series in which to prove their products. The races follow a 50-minute maximum time limit, with the number of laps and total distance determined by track configuration, lap times and race conditions.

And now for something completely different... (boy is this an understatement) I give you the first Nissan "Leaf" owner.

Read more at this link to Speed's report of this rollout event for the Leaf.

2011 Calypso sports car concept is Inspired by a shark

Calypso is a concept sports car with aggressive and strong but yet simple design line inspired by the sharks. The cutting edge simple design of this single-seater sports car has made it unusual from others. But the key amazing feature of this car is the pulled out rear-view mirrors from the cars hood which will not only improve aerodynamics but the visual elegance of this car will also achieve a new level. This extraordinary rear-view mirror also includes left and right indicator light that allows easier and better sight for the other drivers. Altogether, the combination of stylish white body with black tinted glass, this car will be appreciated by any sports lovers.

2011 Honda RA-X Two Seater Concept Sports Car

Honda RA-X is the latest concept sportscar inspired by the beginning of motorsport competition during the 60s and hence was named as RA similar with the first F1 cars in distinctive white and yellow colors. This two-seater concept car comprises MR engine and back transmission with a capacity of over 350 hp, while the position of the exhaust pipes positively reminds the RA300 F1. The design features innovative smooth crossing lines in the surface that forms a theoretical X. The car’s engine can be seen through a glass and predominates at the back side of the engine vent with optical technology-led groups forming a triangular shape. The inlets are merged with optical groups on the front and the dimensions of the car are: length 4050 x height 1163 x 1940 Wide.

2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Pics

With the M35h, Infiniti duplicated Lexus' brainstorm of planning a hybrid framework for representation as opposed to hard and fast fuel economy. Thusly, the hybrid utilizes Infiniti's 3. 5 liter V 6 coupled to an electric engine to generate a joined together 360 horsepower. For what Infiniti calls a hybrid appearance sedan, fuel economy isn't horrible either at a gauged 25/30/27 mpg (city/hwy/combined).

The hybrid framework utilizes a lone, 50 kW (67 horsepower) electric engine powered by a lithium ion electric storage device to convey motive capacity straightforwardly to the seven speed programmed transmission.


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid




2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid

As a result of the engine's in a split second unoccupied 199 pound feet of torque, it can be clutched in without kicking the motor on to propel the M35h for up to 1. 2 miles at speeds up to 62 mph. Doubtlessly the engine can do something greater than propel the auto also, becoming a generator when decelerating to charge the electric cell.
2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid




2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid


2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid info

The Optima hybrid lands in showrooms in right on time 2011, with a cost looked for to be roughly $26,000 significance the Optima hybrid might go in as the most reduced estimated mid size gas electric sedan on the financial sector (the restrained openness Nissan Altima hybrid begins at $27,530, while the Ford Fusion hybrid costs $28,990). That situations the hybrid close the top of the Optima's go, with costs for the routinely powered poses stretching from $19,690 to $26,690.



2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


Kia and Hyundai can offer their hybrid poses at such easy costs, to a limited extent, on the grounds that their full parallel hybrid framework utilizes a modular go at, piggybacking the hybrid hardware onto existing motors and powertrains in this case, a 2. 4 liter four barrel motor, modified with Atkinson cycle operation for preferable effectiveness, and an off the ledge six speed mechanical. Consolidated output from the gas electric framework is 206 hp and 195 lb ft of torque.

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid


2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

Peugeot RC HYmotion4 Concept Racing Car

With Citroen, Peugeot RC HYmotion4 is a field that is increasingly cluttered with hybrid concepts using a new system that can take the road to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Fortunately for Peugeot, they have managed not just recycle or rebadge an existing model, but have incorporated this technology into an boldly attractive four door GT coupe.

Peugeot has joined sister-brand Citroen by releasing a concept vehicle based on the new HYmotion4 AWD hybrid system. The new concept is according to Peugeot, a ‘Touring Car Coupe’ that features a number of engineering and technological ideas expected to make their way, if only gradually, into both of the carmaker’s future production models. Unlike the hybrid systems used by current production vehicles, this concept has no direct mechanical connection between the electric and internal combustion drive systems. This way, the RC can operate in either rear, front, or all-wheel-drive modes. That means it can also operate using internal combustion, electric only or blended mode combining both. Propelling this concept is a rear mounted turbocharged 1.6 liter engine driving the rear wheels and producing 218 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. Up front, an electric motor provides up to another 132 lb-ft of torque and provides a governed combined production of 313 horsepower. This sort of power pays of with acceleration to 62 mph in a mere 4.4 seconds. The electrons are stored in a lithium-ion battery pack of an as unreleased size, but having the electric motor at the front instead of the rear axle means that more kinetic energy can be recaptured through the regenerative braking process. According to Peugeot, the RC can get 52.3 mpg with a minimum output of just 109 g/km of CO2 emissions.

Other Hymotion4 concepts in the mix for the future include Peugeot’s Prologue, which previews an upcoming 3008 crossover, as well as the Citroen Hypnos and C4 WRC rally car. These concepts, according to the manufacturer, are a synthesis of ideas that demonstrate a commitment to both respecting the environment and driving pleasure. If all of the technology that is used within this concept lives up to the manufacturer claims, the French may have the inside track in future hybrid production.

Audi Q5 Hybrid trouble

Audi was originally reported that it would offer Q5 hybrid as launch model, it was later reported that Audi suspended the plan because of unsatisfying crash test result for the nickel metal hydride batteries.


In 2009, Audi announced it would resume the Q5 hybrid development.

Production version would be on sale in 2012 for Japanese market.


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid


Audi Q5 Hybrid




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