article thumbnail

Ford and Dow partner to research use of advanced carbon fiber composities in high-volume vehicles

Green Car Congress

Ford Motor Company is partnering with Dow Automotive Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, to research the use of advanced carbon fiber composites in high-volume vehicles. Carbon fiber composites have been used in aerospace and racing cars for decades due to their unique combination of high strength and low mass.

article thumbnail

Toyota introduces next-generation B-segment hybrid with 112 mpg US; CNG hybrid and plug-in variants

Green Car Congress

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) unveiled the FT-Bh (Future Toyota B-segment Hybrid), a lightweight, next-generation small gasoline-electric hybrid concept car at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show. —Didier Leroy , President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe. Click to enlarge.

Plug-in 317
article thumbnail

GM to double models with 40 mpg highway or better by 2017; ongoing manufacturing efficiency improvements

Green Car Congress

Describing its product goals and tracking progress toward its 2020 manufacturing priorities in its 2012 Sustainability Report , General Motors reaffirmed its commitment to further reduce the energy used and the environmental impacts of building and operating an automobile. Earlier post.).

GM 275
article thumbnail

VW Unveils Up! Lite Concept at LA Show; Diesel Hybrid with Combined Cycle Fuel Consumption of 96 mpg US (70 mpg Highway)

Green Car Congress

models), incorporates a variation on the two-cylinder TDI hybrid powertrain from the L1 concept unveiled earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. L/100km (96 mpg US), with 70 mpg highway. The poewrtrain comprises an 800cc, 2-cylinder TDI (turbo-diesel), electric motor and 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG).

MPG 265
article thumbnail

Wirtschafts Woche: VW to make 250 XL1s, priced at $145,000 each

Green Car Congress

The lightweight XL1 (795 kg, 1,753 lbs) delivers NEDC fuel consumption of 261 mpg (0.9 The XL1 is aggressively optimized for efficiency in all areas of its design and technology—from materials (carbon fiber reinforced polymer monocoque); to powertrain (0.8L two-cylinder diesel, 20 kW electric motor and 5.5

Price 277
article thumbnail

Volkswagen unveils Golf GTE Sport PHEV concept: 0-100 km/h in 4.3s and 118 mpg

Green Car Congress

Featuring a carbon fiber body and a three power unit, all-wheel drive system, the 295 kW (396 hp) Golf GTE Sport accelerates from 0 - 100 km/h in 4.3 l/100 km/h (118 mpg) on the NEDC cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles. In the Golf GTE Sport, the four-cylinder unit is assisted by two electric motors, each producing 85 kW.

Concept 150
article thumbnail

VW brings Golf GTE Sport Concept plug-in hybrid to LA Auto Show

Green Car Congress

Unveiled at the annual Wörthersee festival in Austria earlier this year, the concept features a carbon fiber body and a three power unit, all-wheel drive system. l/100 km/h (118 mpg) on the NEDC cycle for plug-in hybrid vehicles. In sporty “GTE mode” all three motors work together.

Plug-in 150