For those of you who find the regular SMART FourTwo either too mundane or not fuel efficient enough, I present the following. Not only does the car keep the same Euro chic image of the regular SMART FourTwo, but you also get the added benefit of a lithium-ion battery. With the electric SMART you also get a 0-60 of 7.1 seconds, top speed of 80MPH and a range of over 140 miles on single charge. The charge time is approximately 6-8 hours and you should get a duty cycle of around 1500 charges on the battery.

Want to know more about it? Discuss it with us on the EasyAutoSales forums and we’ll give you all the juicy information: Hybrid Technologies LiV “Dash” (SMART FourTwo)

This past weekend while the North American International Auto Show kicked off in Detroit I had my own little personal auto show.  I spend the weekend tooling around in a prototype of the Wheego Whip by RTEV.  It was a fun experience.  When I brought it home both of my kids exclained “cool.”  And boy did it generate a lot of attention and spark several a conversation over the course of 72 hours.

Nearly everyone that looks at the Whip says “Is that a Smart Fortwo?”  The answer is no.  The car’s platform and body is manufactured by Shuanghuan Automobile in China and then shipped to the US for final assembly at the RTEV manufacturing facility in South Carolina.  While the production car will eventually be capable of speeds of up to 60 mph, it will be launched as a Low Speed Vechicle (LSV).  LSVs are generally capable of speed up to 35 mph and allowed to travel on streets with that same speed limit.  The prototype I tested was an LSV.

The Whip is a “plug-in” all electric vehicle.  To charge it you literally plug the car into a normal 110 or 220 volt electrical outlet.  A single charge was getting me about 20 miles in the prototype.  The production vehicle is expected to get 60 on a single.

In place of the fuel input there is a male electrical receptacle.  It is so easy to charge that a fifth grader is capable of doing it.

The dash on the Wheego is straightforward.

Almost as straightforward as putting the car in forward or reverse.

Before the weekend was over we were using the Wheego as our main vehicle to run errands or ferry the kids to sports practices and sleepovers.  It’s fun to drive in a way that is a lot different from my power laden and gas loving 540.  I was mostly just hanging out in the right lane of four way streets while cars buzzed around me (in Atlanta a posted 35 mph means go 50).  But what I began to notice was that I was pulling right up to these cars at the next traffic light, pretty much making my way at the same pace.  And I spent not a penny in gas.

The Wheego Whip is expected to be available in May of 2009 at a price in the $20k range.

Lock up your GMs! Seem as if criminals have it out for you this year. Between Cadillacs and Hummers, GM hold 4 of the top 8 spots on this list. In fact, if you have any large American car, you might want to think about building a small shed to house it.

Car: Claims Per 1,000/Average Loss Payment Per Claim

10. Honda S2000 Convertible: 8.1/$13,624
9. 2005-2007 Dodge Durango: 8.1/$9,682
8. 2005-2007 Hummer H2: 8.7/$18,791
7. 2005-2007 Dodge Magnum: 9.9/$8,926
6. 2005-2007 Hummer H2 SUT: 10.0/$23,771
5. 2005-2007 Ford F-350 SuperCrew: 10.7/$20,138
4. 2006-2007 Dodge Charger: 11/$7,047
3. 2007 Cadillac Escalade: 11.3/$14,657
2. 2005-2007 Ford F-250 SuperCrew: 13.1/$19,250
1. 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 15.0/$13,060

For the same reason American car makers love to sell large SUVs and truck, thieves are seeking these behemoths out. They are large, cheap ways to get a nice car that will allow you to put expensive stereos, large rims and other accessories on that are easy to steal and resell without too much worry. Dropping 24s on your Hummer may say, “You’re ballin’” to your friends, but it says, “Come steal me” to every car criminal out there.

On the other hand, should be you be looking for the most inconspicuous (boring) cars on the road to protect your insurance premiums and pimped car stereos, you might want to check out the list below. To be honest, not all of them are boring or lame. Some of them just have excellent security systems and car-jackers know that it’s not worth the time to steal the car or there will be no way to re-sell the expensive parts off the car. As you can see, most of the cars are people carriers though with a preponderance of SUVs. The interesting thing is that whereas some of the cars are rather popular (Ford Focus, VW Beetle, Toyota Prius) some of the cars are the most obscure models available (Buick Terraza, Saturn Relay).

10. 2005-2007 Ford Freestyle
9. 2005-2007 Saturn Relay
8. 2005-2007 Toyota Prius
7. 2005-2007 Volvo V70
6. 2005-2007 Ford Focus
5. 2005-2007 Volkswagen (New) Beetle
4. 2005-2007 Buick Terraza
3. 2005-2007 Subaru Forrester
2. 2005-2007 Buick Rainier
1. 2005-2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Source: Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute

However, on the other side of the world, as American automakers get $15 billion in federal loans, Kia has been setting the auto industry en-fuego on fire with it’s aggressive push into small and innovative cars that rival their Japanese counterparts. Looking at what the Japanese have been doing for the last 20 years, Kia (and Hyundai) have been slowly and silently creeping up behind Toyota and Honda with great looking cars and industry leading warranties. With the new Optima, Boreggo, Soul and Forte, Kia is slowly and surely clearing a pathway to the top of the entry level car market.

Enter the new Z-car from Nissan, aesthetically pleasing and a heritage of performance and pure driving pleasure. The Z is an immovable object and an unstoppable force, at the same time.

Nissan has always kept some passion in the Z brand, and the new model
ignites something inside, demands attention.
This vehicle clearly states, before even being started, that it will not
be like any other “blast-from-the-past” remake of a classic.

Some will mock the design techniques, and ask for “this” or “that” until
the car looks the exact same as the previous model.
What would be the point?  When should there be designs for cars of the future?
So ensue arguments over such new designs.

The car is sharp, clean, and beautiful. First impressions? Now that’s a Z car.
I like this design, and would enjoy more forward thinking like this from all car manufacturing companies.
And I’ll bet if you sat behind the wheel for 5 minutes,
you’d forget about those “silly” headlights.

-J

This week, though, Jay Leno reviews his recent purchase of a 2009 Aston-Martin DBS. At 3480lbs, it’s a surprisingly light car (less than the new M3 or the C63 AMG) especially considering the fact that it packs a 6.0L V12 that puts out 510HP. With a standard 6-speed transmission (transaxle no-less to keep the weight balanced), it’s a real drivers car so its not like those new sissy-Ferraris with their sequential flappy-paddle gearbox. Let’s be honest though, when buying a car like this, ambiance and class strongly enter into the reasons you consider such a ride. With it’s drop-dead looks and amazing cache, the Aston-Martin is James Bond’s car for a reason. Sleek and mean looking, the DBS has menacing look that people LOVE, yet keeps it’s proportions in such a way that the car still looks like it could raise hell on a road course.

For all those who were fans of the Astons of old, cutting edge suspension technology like double-wishbones all around, electronic dampening and anti-squat/anti-dive management sound more like they should be on a Ferrari or BMW than a “proper English drivers car.” However, the tour-de-force of technology, driver’s interaction and experience, racy interior and real race-cred from the motorsports program means this is one of the most sought after sports cars in the world. Check out what Jay has to say about the car below (and don’t forget to turn it up when he lays the hammer down):

And some sweet desktop porn to keep you distracted from work:

In addition to the rumors of the new engine, there’s also talk of the new line of cars (the successor to the F430) being slightly smaller and lighter, to furhter take advantage of the small engine displacement. It will have similar features of the Enzo, with its extreme wedge shaped design and more agressive, supercar-like looks. Many have balked at the 360 and 430 designs, saying they strayed from the original wedge shape of the 355, 348 and 328. The Enzo and future derivatives should be a more welcome to those who long for the more stylish and refined supercar.

Source: TopSpeed, Rumors

No imitation. No fluff. Not looking to be trendy. No compromises. Porsche has always positioned themselves as the true “Ultimate Driving Machine,” no matter what BMW may tell you. So with their new slogan for the Panamera, “Four, Uncompromised,” Porsche now will take their fight to the super saloons of the world. Porsches are about as perfect a drivers car you can get on the street without the compromise of street legal track cars like the Zonda or Enzo. The Porsche 911 is a crisp drive with all the feedback one would expect, the quality one could want and relaibility one would desire from a finely crafted German automobile. Now, the Panamera comes along and offers all the 911 does and lets you take two more people along with you and your luggage.

Looking at the Pamera, you should have no problem with its long cabin and full rear hatch. The Panamera reminds me of CItroen C6, a car that only Europeans know about. However, it is a car known for for its ultimate style and supurb ride quality. Though it’s a bit quirky compared to most American sedans, I belive the people who would buy a Porsche will have no problem with it’s unique styling. Here at EasyAutoSales, as long as the drive is as inspiring as we expect, the Porsche Panamera is for us!

Though nothing has been officially been released about engines, based specifications should come with a V6 (standard and with hybrid capability), Porsche’s 4.8L V8 out of the Cayenne and either the twin-turbo V8 in the Cayenne or a V10 sourced and modified from the Carerra GT. It’s hard to imagine how inspiring the V6 will be, but anyone who has driven an underpowered car while autocrossing or around a race track knows the joy of truely flogging an engine that won’t forgive you if you can’t carry your speed properly. Plans for diesel version have also been mentioned, though as with the rest of the engines, nothing is set in stone.

Where as Porsche should sell a lot of these car to over excited parents looking to take their kids to school, no one can plan if this will be the next BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG. Worst case scenerio is that this car will turn into a VW Pheaton, one of the most well built cars ever to come stateside (based off the Bentley chassis noless), but a car that people just won’t understand. If that does happen, deep discounts should direct these cars into the hands of true enthusiasts. However, as the Cayenne has shown us, even a seemingly questionable production model from a company likst Porsche will be gold. Either way, I look forward to my first drive of the Porsche Panamera, even if it’s not with ‘4′ other people.

Recently we tossed up a poll about hybrid and electric cars. It’s unfortunate this car was not released a few days earlier, as it has an amazing combination of cache and practicality that could have topped our list. As much as I love the Fisker Karma (and all the great petrol powered cars out there), the Mini is a car I could get used to driving to and from work on a daily basis (and not feel too much of a “green hippie”).

As with all initial releases of concept Minis, this one has all the quirky styling queues you’d expect. Electrical plug logos around the car. An “electric” silver and yellow paint scheme. The front grill badge, side vents and a rear electrical “plug” logos are distinctively Mini. As for the technical bits, there’s a 260kg air-cooled battery which replaces the car’s back seats with the electric motor is up front, ensuring the weight distribution isn’t affected. This combination creates a 201HP Mini (162lb-ft @ 0 rpms) with 1465kg (3223lbs) to tow around. This translates into just over 8 seconds from 0-60MPH. Top speed is just 95mph which occurs at the Mini E’s 12,500rpm rev limiter. A full recharge should take about two and a half hours, with a 150 mile range achievable with combined driving.

For now, Mini is making 500 Es, which are being distributed to drivers in California, New York and New Jersey on a leasing scheme so that BMW can analyse their performance and make necessary developments. More from Mini directly below.

Source: Mini

A NEW EXPERIENCE – DRIVING PLEASURE WITHOUT EMISSIONS: THE MINI E
10/18/2008

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – October 18, 2008… The BMW Group will be the world’s first manufacturer of premium automobiles to deploy a fleet of some 500 all-electric vehicles for private use in daily traffic. The MINI E will be powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions. Specially engineered for automobile use, the battery technology will have a range of more than 240 kilometers, or 150 miles. The MINI E will initially be made available to select private and corporate customers as part of a pilot project in the US states of California, New York and New Jersey. The possibility of offering the MINI E in Europe as well is currently being considered. The MINI E will give its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008.

The MINI E’s electric drive train produces a peak torque of 220 Newton meters, delivering seamless acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 152 km/h (95 mph). Featuring a suspension system tuned to match its weight distribution, the MINI E sports the brand’s hallmark agility and outstanding handling.

By introducing the MINI E, the BMW Group is underscoring the resolve with which it works towards reducing energy consumption and emissions in road traffic. The BMW Group is drawing on its unique technological expertise in the field of drive systems to develop a vehicle concept enabling zero emissions without renouncing the joy of driving. Putting some 500 cars on the road under real daily traffic conditions will make it possible to gain widely applicable hands-on experience. Evaluating these findings will generate valuable know-how, which will be factored into the engineering of mass-produced vehicles.

The BMW Group aims to start series production of all-electric vehicles over the medium term as part of its Number ONE strategy. The development of innovative concepts for mobility in big-city conurbations within the scope of “project i” has a similar thrust, as its objective also includes making use of an all-electric power train.

The energy storage unit: cutting-edge lithium-ion technology engineered specifically for use in the MINI.

Based on the current MINI, the car will initially be available as a two-seater. The space taken up by back-seat passengers in the series model has been reserved for the lithium-ion battery. When in use in the zero-emissions MINI, the battery unit combines high output with ample storage capacity and a small footprint with power ratios that are unrivalled in this field of application so far. The lithium-ion storage unit will have a maximum capacity of 35 kilowatt hours (kWh) and transmit energy to the electric motor as direct current at a nominal 380 volts. The rechargeable battery is made up of 5,088 cells grouped into 48 modules. These modules are packaged into three battery elements that are compactly arranged inside the MINI E.

The energy storage unit’s basic components are based on the technological principle that has proven itself in practice in power supplies for mobile phones and portable computers. The MINI E’s lithium-ion battery can be plugged into all standard power outlets. Its charge time is strongly dependent on the voltage and amperage of the electricity flowing through the grid. In the USA, users can recharge a battery that has been completely drained within a very short period of time using a wallbox that will ship with every MINI E. The wallbox will be installed in the customer’s garage, enable higher amperage, and thus provide for extremely short charging times. Wallboxes fully recharge batteries after a mere two-and-a-half hours.

Driven by electricity: reliably, affordably and free of emissions.

A full recharge draws a maximum of 28 kilowatt hours of electricity from the grid. Based on the car’s range, a kilowatt hour translates into 5.4 miles. Besides the benefit of zero-emissions driving, the MINI E thus offers significant economic advantages over a vehicle powered by a conventional internal combustion engine as well.

The heavy-duty battery delivers its power to an electric motor, which transforms it into thrilling agility. Mounted transversely under the MINI E’s bonnet, the drive train unleashes its full thrust from a dead standstill. This provides for the car’s fascinating launch capability. The MINI E’s intense driving experience is augmented by its dynamic deceleration potential, which is also directly coupled to the accelerator pedal. As soon as the driver releases the gas pedal, the electric motor acts as a generator. This results in braking force, and the power recovered from the kinetic energy is fed back to the battery. This interaction ensures extremely comfortable drives – especially at medium speed with constant, but marginal, variation. In city traffic, some 75 percent of all deceleration can be done without the brakes. Making substantial use of this energy recuperation feature extends the car’s range by up to 20 percent.

Signature MINI agility in a new guise.

Weighing in at 1,465 kilograms (3.230 lbs), the MINI E has an even weight distribution. Minor modifications made to the suspension ensure safe handling at all times. The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system has been adapted to this model’s specific wheel loads.

The MINI E’s brake system comes with a newly developed electric underpressure pump. Its Electrical Power Assisted Steering (EPS) is the same as the one used in mass-produced MINIs. Both brake and steering assistance react to driving conditions and are thus extremely efficient. Even the air conditioning’s electrical compressor only operates if desired or necessary.

Design: unmistakably MINI, undoubtedly new.

At first glance, the MINI E is obviously an iteration of the brand. But its design, which is the blueprint for the zero-emissions two-seater, has been complemented by a number of visual cues that point to its revolutionary drive concept. All of the units produced for the pilot project will have the same paintwork and bear a serial number on their front fenders.

The MINI E’s coachwork sports an exclusive combination of metallic Dark Silver on all panels but the roof, which is clad in Pure Silver. What distinguishes the zero-emissions MINI is a specially designed logo in Interchange Yellow, depicting a stylized power plug in the shape of an “E” set against the silver backdrop. It has been applied to the roof, in smaller dimensions to the front and back, to the charger port lid, the dashboard trim, and – combined with the MINI logo – to the door jamb, in slightly modified form. The color of the roof edges, mirror housings, interior style cues and seat seams will match the logo’s yellow tone as well.

Moreover, the central gauge and the battery level indicator behind the wheel of the MINI E, which replaces the MINI’s rev counter, feature yellow lettering against a dark grey background. The battery level is displayed in percentage figures. The central gauge includes an LED display indicating power consumption in red and power recuperation in green.

MINI E customers will be part of a pioneering mission.

A 500-unit, limited-production MINI E series will be manufactured through the end of 2008. The project will thus attain an order of magnitude that clearly exceeds the size of currently comparable test series. Putting the MINI E on the road on a daily basis will be a pioneering feat to which both the drivers and engineers of the first zero-emissions MINI will contribute as a team.

MINI E customers will join forces with BMW Group experts to assist in the project’s scientific evaluation. MINI E engineers accord high importance to staying in touch with the drivers on a regular basis, as this will help them analyze driver behavior besides vehicle characteristics in order to gain the most accurate and realistic picture of the demands placed on a vehicle with a purely electrical drive in the select usage areas.

Special charging station and full service for every MINI E.

The cars will change hands based on a one-year lease with an extension option. Monthly lease installments will cover any required technical service including all necessary maintenance and the replacement of wearing parts. At the end of the lease, all of the automobiles belonging to the project will be returned to the BMW Group’s engineering fleet where they will be subjected to comparative tests.

The MINI E’s lithium-ion battery can be charged using a wallbox provided to MINI customers. Only lockable garages or similar buildings will qualify as homebases and power stations for the MINI E.

Maintenance by qualified specialists.

The electric drive’s high-voltage technology requires that maintenance work be done by qualified personnel using special tools that are not included in MINI service partners’ standard toolboxes. In light of this, a service base will be set up on both coasts, staffed by service engineers that are specially trained to perform maintenance and repair work on the MINI E’s electrical components. In the event of drive malfunction, these experts will provide professional support at the customer’s local MINI dealer or the service base’s specially equipped workshop. Technical inspections will take place after 3,000 miles (just under 5,000 kilometers) and at least after six months.

Production in Oxford and Munich.

The MINI E has already gone through the major phases of product development for mass-produced vehicles and passed numerous crash tests on the way. Aspects investigated besides passenger protection were the impact of collision forces on the lithium-ion battery and finding a non-hazardous location for it in the car. The MINI E’s energy storage unit emerged completely unscathed from all of the crash tests mandated by US standards, which are especially high.

Production of the approximately 500 cars will take place at the company’s Oxford and Munich sites and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2008. MINI’s UK plant will be responsible for manufacturing the entire vehicle with the exception of the drive components and the lithium-ion battery, with the brand’s series models rolling off its assembly lines concurrently. The units will then be transferred to a specially equipped manufacturing complex situated on BMW plant premises where the electric motor, battery units, performance electronics and transmission will be integrated.