Filed under: Budget , Europe , Hatchback , Suzuki Suzuki Swift Sport "Rock am Ring" edition - Click above for high-res image gallery When you think of the N

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Manufacturing/Plants , Nissan , UK Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery Nissan announced today that it will add production of its new Leaf electric car to its plant at Sunderland in the UK starting in 2013. Nissan will initially install capacity for 50,000 cars a year at the UK factory. Last fall, the automaker announced plans to build a lithium ion battery plant adjacent to the car assembly plant. Construction of that facility will start next month. Production of batteries will start in 2012 with packs being used by both Nissan and partner Renault. Between Nissan and subsidies from the UK government, €468 million is being invested in the battery and assembly plants and 2,250 jobs will be retained. The British Leaf production capacity will be in addition to Oppama, Japan where Leaf production starts this year and Smyrna, TN, which will ramp up in 2012. The press release is after the jump. Thanks to everyone who sent this in . [Source: Nissan] Continue reading Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle at British factory from 2013 Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle at British factory from 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:03:00 EST.

Filed under: Coupe , Performance , Chevrolet 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon - Click above for high-res image gallery When we first told you about the new limited edition Corvette Z06 Carbon that Chevrolet plans to offer this fall, we had two measly photos to offer up from General Motors. In the run-up to this weekend's 12 Hours of Sebring, GM has shown the Z06 Carbon in public at the Corvette Corral, and now, more photos have now been released - including interior shots that you can find in our updated gallery . Only 500 examples of the full-blown Carbon will be built, and they include numerous carbon fiber body parts and chassis components from the ZR1. Perhaps the best part of the new model is the inclusion of the carbon-ceramic brakes and the magnetic ride damping system from the supercharged car. Of course, those that don't manage to get one of these limited edition models can put together most of the car by opting for the carbon fiber and Z07 packages. Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon [Source: Chevrolet] Pics Aplenty: 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon limited edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Sedan , Performance , Aston Martin , First Drive , Luxury 2010 Aston Martin Rapide - Click above for high-res image gallery The world's best-looking four-door sedan beckoned us from Miami. Enticed, we boarded a jet and paid the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide a visit. Our task was to shuttle Aston Martin's first four-sedan up the coast to Palm Beach - someone had to do it. Of course, we took the circuitous route and spent the day blissfully putting her through the paces as we leisurely motored our way north. Why did the British automaker design a sedan - and what is hiding under its skin? What is it like to drive? How are those rear-seat accommodations? Most importantly, how does the Rapide measure up to the Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte ? The answers and more after the jump... Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is always ready for its close-up First Drive: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide is always ready for its close-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Filed under: Etc. , USA Some new voices pronouncing predictions of peak oil have distinctly Arabic accents. Researchers from the University of Kuwait with the Kuwait Oil Company have published a new study titled Forecasting World Crude Oil Production Using Multicyclic Hubbert Model ( abstract here ) that names 2014 as the fateful year when conventional crude oil production will peak. That's pretty close to the 2015 date chosen by Sir Branson and his taskforce pals . The Kuwaitis arrive at their conclusion via an updated version of the Hubbert model that uses additional production cycles that consider political situations, new finds, technical innovation and other factors. Their world model is derived from an amalgamation of the individual models of 47 producer countries. While there are surely those who would disagree with their findings, it is a possibility that should not be ignored. If demand continues on its upward trend, those more optimistic forecasts for future electric vehicle sales may prove accurate. [Source: Miss Electric / MSNBC ] Kuwaiti study: Conventional oil to peak in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Carrying a passenger on a scooter reduces performance, makes cornering tricky and looks ridiculous. Leave it to the Japanese to turn it into a competitive sport. More

Filed under: Car Buying , Convertible , Coupe , Performance , Crossover , Audi , BMW , Canada Audi TT RS - Click above for high-res image gallery When Audi launched the TT RS , we were initially told that the automaker had no plans to bring it to the States. And while rumors have cropped up that suggest otherwise , we still don't have the official word from Audi about whether we'll ever get the chance to experience the 335-horsepower TT. However, our friends to the north can apparently rejoice - Audi will reportedly be bringing the TT RS to Canada, albeit in very limited numbers (250 units, to be exact). It is not yet clear whether those 250 units will be in coupe or convertible form - or both. Additionally, Monvolant reports that Canadian consumers will be able to spec a rear-wheel drive BMW X1 when the crossover goes on sale next year - a configuration that will not be available in the States. Canada is likely to only receive X1s equipped with BMW's 3.0-liter inline-six, good for around 260 horsepower. We aren't very upset about the fact that U.S.-spec X1s will only have all-wheel drive. However, if Audi is going to tease us by bringing 250 examples of the too-hot TT to this continent, the least it could do is spec a few for U.S. (or just Autoblog) consumption. Thanks for the tip, Martin! Gallery: Audi TT RS and Roadster Gallery: 2011 BMW X1 [Source: Monvolant ( translated )] Report: Audi TT RS headed to Canada in limited numbers, as is rear-drive BMW X1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Hybrid , Toyota 2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery In lieu of all of the current issues surrounding the Toyota Prius , the company has responded by preparing to send electronic data recovery (EDR) readers to the U.S. to determine actual data readings from vehicles claimed to be involved with either unintentional acceleration or braking problems . By the end of April, Toyota will have 100 to 150 EDR readers here for use in determining vehicle problems. The company plans to send 400 additional units as soon as they become available. The EDR reader can be connected to the vehicle's on-board diagnostic equipment and record useful data for Toyota to analyze. The data record includes accelerator pedal activity, brake pedal position, speed and countless other factors present during a claimed vehicle fault. The company currently has only one prototype EDR reader in use within the entire U.S., making assessment of problematic vehicles both time consuming and difficult. With the additional readers coming, the company will be equipped to quickly deal with and hopefully resolve any problems. The vehicle's on-board EDR, commonly termed black boxes, records real-time driving parameters in a method similar to flight data recorders. NHTSA has required that, beginning in 2013, EDR information be available to consumers through reader devices on vehicles equipped with EDRs. Currently, this data is only available to automakers and investigators or consumers by court order. Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius - First Drive Photos Copyright (C)2008 Brad Wood / Weblogs, Inc. [Source: Wards Auto - sub.

Filed under: Hybrid , Wagon , Hatchback , Specialty , Design/Style Valentin Technologies IngoCar - Click above for high-res image gallery Interested in a five-seat, four-door, sportwagen that "is brimming with innovation" and was designed in Elm Grove, WI? How about if the car were to get 170 miles per gallon? Yeah, that got our attention, too. The car in question is the IngoCar from Valentin Technologies . But how does this midsize passenger car wring that much distance out of a gallon of fuel? Here's how Valentin describes the powertrain: This extraordinary fuel efficiency is achieved by a revolutionary hydraulic-fluid drive. This hybrid gasoline/hydraulic drive system can deliver acceleration from 0-60 in 4 seconds. Using a small gasoline engine, fluid is pumped into an accumulator. The fluid then drives hydraulic wheel motors for shiftless acceleration. During braking, motors are reversed and pump the entire recuperated braking energy back into the accumulator. This innovative technology and the car's light weight give an estimated range of 1,000 miles for a full 6 gallon tank of fuel . Sound reasonable? It could work, but energy isn't free and we don't know how much of the energy spent to move the vehicle forward is recuperated back into the accumulator.

• What is it? The first major update to the Scion xB since 2007 • The basics: A boxy body and economical four-cylinder power • On sale: Now • Price: From $16,000 Toyota’s youth brand Scion has updated its boxy xB wagon for the 2011 model year, giving it an aggressive new look on the outside and adding more comfort and...