Already a lot of fun to drive and environmentally efficient, the popular MINI Cooper will soon gain even more favor with environmentally conscious drivers as the electric-powered MINI E debuted at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Based on the MINI Cooper and powered by a 150kW (204 horsepower) electric motor, the MINI E will boast a range of 150 miles due to the use of a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The zero-emission vehicle is nearly silent, with power delivered to the front axle through a single-stage helical gearbox.
Since entering the U.S. market as a 2002 model, the MINI Cooper has enjoyed tremendous popularity as a premium compact vehicle that delivers excellent fuel economy. Now, 500 select private and corporate customers in California, New York and New Jersey will have the opportunity to experience a completely emissions-free MINI.
With 162 lb-ft. of torque on tap, the MINI E will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 95 mph. To match the handling and driving enjoyment of the MINI Cooper, the suspension has been tuned to match the even weight distribution of the MINI E, which weighs in at 3,230 lbs.
MINI E will initially be available as a two-seater, with the latest lithium-ion battery technology specifically engineered for the MINI E. The battery unit combines high output and ample storage capacity in the form of three battery elements stored where the rear seat would normally be, leaving a small storage area behind.
Using similar technology as the power supplies for mobile phones and portable computers, the MINI E can be plugged into any standard power outlet to charge. Charge time varies depending on voltage and amperage, and for U.S. owners all MINI Es will include a wall box that can be installed to enable higher amperage to allow the MINI E to be fully recharged in 2.5 hours.
The BMW Group, which manufacturers MINI automobiles, plans to use the experience gained from 500 electric vehicles on the road in real-world driving conditions to move toward “medium term” series production of an all-electric vehicle as part of its Number One strategy.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Electric MINI E Bows at LA Show
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Mercedes to go Green. ALL Green. No Petroleum by 2015.
In less than 7 years, Mercedes-Benz plans to ditch petroleum-powered vehicles from its lineup. Focusing on electric, fuel cell, and biofuels, the company is revving up research in alternative fuel sources and efficiency.
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British Steam Car Hits the Road En Route to 170 MPH at Bonne
The British Steam Car, a potential Land Speed Record breaker, wasn’t belching its intense fire when it revved up on a track for the first time today, so there was no need for the firefighters’ services. Still, loose talk about dangerous infernos from Matt Candy, the vehicle’s project manager, was bound to get their attention.
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Chrysler To Turn Vehicles Into Wireless Hotspots
People who buy Chrysler vehicles next year will have the option of turning their cars and trucks into wireless Internet hotspots. The wireless Internet will come as a dealer-installed option and will work over cellular telephone links. It will come with a monthly fee which has not yet been determined.
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Ferrari Building a Smaller, Lighter, Quicker Enzo
The go-fast gurus at Ferrari are working on a successor to the jaw-dropping Enzo that could be the lightest, quickest two-seater ever to roll out of Maranello.Ferrari sees lighter cars as the best way to reach its goal of increasing fuel economy 40 percent and reducing emissions 25 percent without compromising its reputation for performance.
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10 Easy Hypermile Tricks That Save You Gas
Can you afford not to drive? Most of us depend on cars for some part of our daily lives. By using some easy Hypermile (or fuel efficient driving) tricks you can beat your car’s EPA rating and save some dollars. Here are ten easy things you can do to boost your MPG…
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Monday, March 3, 2008
Ford Fiesta: small car coming to America, still a Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta global small car is coming to the Geneva Motor Show and America, will still be called the Ford Fiesta. Pics and details.
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Top 12 Green Cars: The Un-Dirty Dozen
Four Honda models made the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's annual list of the most environmentally-friendly cars.
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A Supercar Faster than a Lamborghini but Made of Wood
This car features 600 HP, weighs just under 1150 kg, comes with a V-8 4.6 liter engine, has a top speed of 240 MPH, and oh yeah, is made of wood. This wooden supercar, known as the Splinter, can go from 0-60 is just over 3 seconds and is eco-friendly.
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Toyota unveils sexy new hybrid sports car (FT-HS)
The car manufacturer launched its Future Toyota Hybrid Sports (FT-HS) concept today, and said the vehicle would provide both ultra high performance and ultra low fuel use and emissions. Toyota's manager of product development Doug Soden said the new vehicle showed that hybrids could be made not only for the masses but from a sports perspective...
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Honda Re-Captures Lost Heat, Blows Highway Hybrids Away
Honda just dropped a bit of a bombshell on the world with it's announcement that their heat-harnessing hybrids recapture more lost energy than even Toyota's hybrid drive during highway driving.
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James Bond Fanatic Creates Underwater Car (W/Cool Pics)
Cinema audiences gasped as Roger Moore's 007 took his white Lotus Esprit for a surprise dip to evade the enemy in the film The Spy Who Loved Me. The famous scene, shot using a model, triggered the imagination of countless gadget-lovers, who wondered if such a car could be made.
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Saturday, February 9, 2008
2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 officially revealed, 425 HP
The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 was officially revealed moments ago -- official numbers are the same as it's big brother the Dodge Charger SRT8 -- 425 horses under the hood from the 6.1-liter Hemi engine, and a zero-to-sixty time of somewhere around 5 seconds.
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Next Dodge Viper killed by Chrysler, 2011 to be last model
Chrysler's new owners at Cerberus have killed the next generation Dodge Viper, dooming the high-horsepower beast to an end of run in 2011 and ceding the American automaker supercar war to GM with their new Chevy Corvette ZR1. Jalopnik mourns the 600-HP snake, may it rest in peace.
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CarTorrent - Peer-to-peer networking for cars
Researchers from UCLA are working on a wireless network that will allow cars within 300-1000 feet of each other to talk to each other, simultaneously downloading information in the shape of road safety warnings, entertainment content and navigational tools (i.e. traffic jam ahead). Toyota and BMW are on board helping to bring the project to life.
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Ferrari Enzo-crashing Gizmondo exec free from jail
Somebody hide the super cars! Stefan Eriksson, the Ferrari Enzo-crashing executive and member of the Swedish mafia, was just released from an LA jail where he's been held for the past two years after being found guilty of charges of embezzlement.
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BMW Travels At High Speed Down a Private Airport Runway...
And "the car ran off the 85-foot-high embankment at the end of the runway", "was airborne for 200 feet", and when it smashed into "the large tree, the car split in half, scattering wreckage over an area of 200 square feet." All five young men inside the BMW were killed.
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Monday, January 21, 2008
2009 Mercedes GLK unveiled
Revealed at a 1920's brass band extravaganza at the Detroit Auto Show, the GLK is Mercedes' new mini SUV. It's already a favorit of Kim Catrall, who drives on in the Sex and the City movie.
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BMW Reveals 400-horsepower Sport Activity Vehicle -- X6
At the Detroit Auto Show, BMW showed off its high-clearance, slope-roofed vehicle based on the 5-Series platform -- the X6. It's got some nifty ground-control devices to defy physics and make it a sporty drive, BMW says. Best thing is the optional 400-hp, twin-turbo V8 engine. In your face Porsche Cayenne S.
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75 Tips to Keep Your Car in Top-Notch Condition
((4)) 'Don't fill up if you see the tanker' - If you happen to see a gasoline tanker filling the tanks at your local gas station, come back another day or go to a different station. As the station's underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment. Sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors...
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Thursday, January 17, 2008
The 620+ HP 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1 officially revealed!
This is it. The speculation can now end - this is the 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1, powered by a supercharged LS9 6.2-liter V8 engine, the ZR1 produces over 100 HP per liter. That's right, the new supercharged supercar from the General has over 620 horses under the hood and approximately 595 lb-ft of torque. Here's all the exclusive pics and details.
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BMW goes green with the new Diesel 535d
At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, BMW was prominently displaying their diesel engine technology, particularly the latest 3.0L twin turbocharged in-line six cylinder. At the time, BMW spokesman Daniel Kammerer told us that BMW would be introducing that diesel engine to the U.S. market later in 2008.
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5 Things you need to know about the new Corvette ZR1
This cocktail party cheat sheet might come in handy this week. Among the weirder things: the Ferrari Enzo's front brakes are the new Corvette's rear brakes, and a special paint coating for the roof cost GM over $60,000 per gallon.
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Ugliest Car - Aurora ...Put a Bag on That Car
Andy Saunders saw the image of the Aurora in 1993, and it took him several years of detective work to find what happened to the car. The Aurora may have had the most unusual pedigree in the history of the auto industry. It was created in the mid-1950s by a Catholic priest, Alfred A. Juliano. He began a quest to design a car that addressed
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2010 Ford Mustang GT spied, sporting GT500 wheels?
Jalopnik was the first to bring you pictures of a heavily camouflaged 2010 Ford Mustang and now they're going up-powered. They're the first to bring pictures of a similarly camouflaged 2010 Ford Mustang GT...and it appears to be sporting GT500 wheels.
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Revolutionary air car runs on compressed air
A French company has developed a pollution-free car which runs on compressed air. India's Tata Motors has the car under production and it may be on sale in Europe and India by the end of the year. The air car can be refueled in minutes from an air compressor and can go 200 km on a 1.5 euro fill-up -- roughly 125 miles for $3.
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What's the Worst Place in a Car to Put An LCD? [PICS]
What do geeks do at a car show? Check out the LCD screens, of course. We just got back from the car showroom at CES and found some pretty awful examples of "pimping your ride." Take a look at the most ridiculous places these gearheads put their screens, and let's make fun of them together.
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2008 Detroit Auto Show - Unofficial Cheat Sheet
Jalopnik's cheat sheet of all 45 debuts at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, starting on Saturday night. Everything from Audi to ZR1.
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Virginia Considers Ban On Driving While Texting
Virginia is considering a pair of bills that would ban texting while driving a car, bicycle, motorcycle, moped or even an electric wheelchair. Lawmakers in four other states, including Maryland, are considering similar proposals. Currently in VA this is already illegal for anyone under 18, but if this passes, it will be for everyone.
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BMW Reveals 400-horsepower Sport Activity Vehicle -- X6
At the Detroit Auto Show, BMW showed off its high-clearance, slope-roofed vehicle based on the 5-Series platform -- the X6. It's got some nifty ground-control devices to defy physics and make it a sporty drive, BMW says. Best thing is the optional 400-hp, twin-turbo V8 engine. In your face Porsche Cayenne S.
read more