The Geneva Motor Show has kicked off and you can see tons of photos in my preview gallery. One of the most interesting appearances will be the Aston Martin V12 Zagato which makes noise that sounds so wrong feel so good.
There is an impressive arsenal of hardware from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, and some even more exotic -like the Alfa Romeo based Carrozzeria pictured above. Greener motoring will also be a big theme in this years show with more hybrids and electric vehicles.
The world's smallest car is being resurrected. A group of United Kingdom businessmen are reviving the Peel brand known for making the diminutive P50 and Trident models with a 21st century spin. -Photo Gallery-
The three wheeled Peel P50 measures just 54-inches long and 41-inches wide and holds the title from the Guinness Book of Records as the worlds smallest production car. The P50's first run went from 1962 to 1965.
Available at launch will be the P50 GAS. The miserly 49cc two-stroke gasoline engine making a mower-like 3.35 horsepower returns a claimed 210 mpg.
Two optional electric motors will also be available: the FUN models spin out 1.6 horsepower with 2.5 pound-feet, and the ECO model churns 4 horsepower with 16.8 pound-feet. Both have a 50 mile range.
The GAS and ECO versions are limited to a 28 mph top speed. The FUN model, well, won't come close to that.
Prices start just shy of around $11,000.
Is the Triangle ready for cars that plug in? Now I'll find out if I'm ready, myself.
I’m talking with Triangle folks who have started driving Teslas and Chevy Volts, put down money for a spot on the Nissan Leaf waiting list, or converted their own gas-burners into plug-in hybrids.
And starting today, I’ll get my own chance when Progress Energy lends me a Chevy Volt to drive for a few days.
I have a lot of questions about this car. And I’m especially interested in your questions: Are you thinking about buying a Volt or a Leaf or a Prius plug-in hybrid -- or one of the other e-car options that will become available in the coming months?
Post your questions below or email me (please include full contact information, which I will not make public), and I’ll post my answers. ... [MORE]
California is where they usually hold the national confab on cars that plug in. This year Raleigh is the host city for Plug-In 2011, a four-day conference and exposition scheduled July 18-21 at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Car makers are signing up folks who want to buy plug-in hybrids and electric cars. Are you on the list? Do you drive a Tesla? Are you planning to buy a Nissan Leaf or a Chevy Volt? Or even thinking about it? Or maybe you've rigged up a plug-in Prius?
If so, I'd like to speak with you for a story about the Triangle's eagerness for the e-car. Please e-mail me with your contact information, or call me at 919-829-4527.
Porsche has begun taking orders for its coming 918 Spyder, a plug-in hybrid with a 718-horsepower swagger and that power figure could rise. Meanwhile, production has started for the Fisker Karma hybrid.
Power comes courtesy of an angry 500-horsepower 4.0 liter V8 and a pair of torquey 109 hp electric motors. Yet the powertrain will deliver an economical 78 mpg according to Porsche. So it will be friendlier to polar bears and baby foxes than many other fuel misers on the market today unless you explore its 3.1 second 0-60 or its 199 mph top speed. Porsche believes it can achieve 94 mph solely on the electric power.
If this car does not make you consider going green, you must be dead. But the price may make you a different shade of green at $845,000. Even so you won't likely get yours before late 2013.
If the 918 is too rich for your blood, the Fisker Karma is not only cheaper at $95,900, but it will hit the streets sooner with dealers expecting demonstrator models as early as April.
The four-door was designed by CEO and executive design director Henrik Fisker who was involved with designing the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Aston Martin DB9 and BMW Z8.
The Karma is said to rip to 60 MPH from 0 in under six seconds yet deliver an average fuel economy of 100 MPG. The plug-in hybrid has an all-electric range of 50 miles or so before a gasoline engine provides power.
The company has launched a racy marketing campaign called "Pure Driving Passion" which aims to make being environmental sexy.
The 81st International Geneva Motorshow is underway exhibiting the dichotomy in the industry with full electric vehicles to 1,000 horsepower fuel swilling beasts. Many manufacturers are looking to bridge the gap between performance and economy? This year at Geneva there are a remarkable number of cars and concepts that could wean our thirst for oil.
Despite all the technology and exotic hardware, our favorite is old school. British car maker Morgan will be reviving a slightly more modern interpretation of its 1930's era three wheeler. Even with only 115 hp from a Harley-Davidson V-Twin engine, little could be more fun than rowing the gears in this 1,100 lbs roadster. It should scoot to 60 from 0 in around 4.5 seconds. This could be our kind of green machine.
For more from the Geneva auto show visit our photo gallery.
I added a gallery of images collected from day two at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. Highlights include a handful of classics on display from Lincoln, Mercedes and Fiat. Electrics and hybrids continue to get a lot of attention, but performance enthusiasts have not been forgotten.
Check out the gallery of the opening day action at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. Read on for a quick few highlights.
It looks like they were wrong about in that thing on who killed the electric car. They merely ticked it off.
Raleigh's new public charging stations for electric cars are a sign that the city will be ready for its share of new cars that don't need petroleum. (See today's Road Worrier column.)
Volt, Leaf and Focus Electric drivers will be doing most of their charging at home.
But if they need the security of a charging station downtown, a place to top off the battery, they'll have a few dozen options.
The first two stations are installed on West Hargett Street -- where you pay to park but not, for now, to recharge your battery.
