Honda’s “Affordable” Hybrid to be launched in 2009

I know you like the Honda FCX Clarity, but it costs too much. Well, according to Honda’s president Takeo Fukui, it seems that the company is going to launch a new global hybrid in 2009. The Honda’s next hybrid is top secret, even top U.S. engineers have not seen photographs of the vehicle.

Some informations unveiled by Takeo Fukui in an interview with Automotive News :

- it will have a global nameplate, like the Accord and Civic
- the engine will be based on the Civic’s, but will use a newly designed motor and engine control unit, smaller and lighter
- the hybrid car will be priced below the current Civic Hybrid (which means it will become the least expensive hybrid on the U.S. market)
- the new hybrid will take its design cues from the sleek, wedge-shaped FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle
- the new hybrid will probably use nickel metal hydride batteries

2009 Audi A4 to offer 2.0 TFSI

Good news for wageon lovers! Audi’s newest 2.0 TFSI Audi A4 has made its official North American debut at the New York Auto Show. The 2.0 liter TFSI four cylinder engine is the same engine that have won “Engine of the Yar” trophies three times. With a 211 HP along with 258 lb.-ft. of torque, the Audi A4’s base engine is capable of propelling the car to sixty in 6.5 seconds.

The incredible output of Audi’s new four-banger makes up for their decision not to offer the sedan’s 3.2 liter FSI V6 in the Avant. The 3.2 FSI V6 features the newest version of Audi’s Valvelift Technology (AVS) and offers up 265 HP. We’re going to see this one in dealerships this October, so keep in touch!

Scion Hako hit the jackpot

This is the Scion Hako concept:

It looks…well,it is…I mean,it resembles…it kinda reminds me of…Does it look like anything?I don’t think so!What got into Scion?It seems that they’ve noticed a “emergence of American vintage style among young Tokyo trendsetters”.But from this to designing a sporty…box there’s a long way.What you see is a xB that received a funny windshield,a new face and big hips.We were expecting a car to replace the tC not something to replace common sense.So,the Hako is a coupe that appeales to the youth or so says Scion.But who would want this car?I wouldn’t!I would get me a Lancer or a Genesis coupe.But that’s just me…

So,nowone would buy the Hako and some of us already got blind.GOOD ONE,Scion!

Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC, world’s cleanest diesel?

The BlueTEC ML320 SUV was recently unveiled at the 2008 New York auto show and according to the manufacturers, its AddBlue technology makes it the world’s cleanest diesel. The car uses a turbocharged diesel 3.2-liter V-6 engine which produces 210 horsepower and 398 lb-ft. ot torque and it represents the first use of AddBlue technology in the States.

What is the AddBlue technology? Well, AddBlue is a urea-based liquid which if is injected in the exhaust stream, it converts 80 percent of the nitrogen oxide into ammonia.

“These vehicles now have a urea injection [called AdBlue] which makes them 50-state [compliant],” Rob Moran, Mercedes-Benz USA spokesman, told Inside Line. “Bluetec enables a diesel to be as clean as a gas engine, in simple terms. For 2009, those SUVs become available in 50 states and become Bluetec, not CDI models. CDI is the 2008 model that is only available to be registered in 42 states.”

The ML320 has a 7 gallon tank for AddBlue which means it should be refilled every 10,000 miles. Mercedes-Benz will follow the ML320 BlueTEC with R-Class and GL-class BlueTEC models.

Dodge Challenger SRT700 from Hennessey

The guys over at Hennessey are mostly known for their modiffied Dodge Vipers but now it seems that the SRT8 caught their attention.

The stock version pulls 425 HP and 570 Nm aut of a 6,1 liter Hemi V8 but Hennessey proved that bigger is better.The monster engine got a turbocharger and bigger cylinders.Now,with 7 liters,it developes 725 HP and 1.016 Nm.Think about this:almost 900 cc per cylinder!The car goes from to 100 kmh in 3,5 seconds,or so say the Hennessey officials.The top speed is also impressive: 305 km/h.

This version is called SRT700 and is the most powerfull but there are some less spectacular ones.There is a 500 HP and a 530 HP version.But these versions only have intake and exhaust mods.