Treeduck

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne was officially announced at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but the luxury automaker was keeping quiet with the details regarding its newest land-yacht's power train and tech. However, with the 2009 Frankfurt auto show, the veil has been pulled back and we're finally able to share the goods.
Let's just get this out of the way: 752 pound-feet of torque--that's how much twist is generated by the Mulsanne's 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine. There's also 505-horsepower being generated, but we can't get past that number: 752.
The engine isn't the only generator of huge numbers. Try "2,200-watt Naim for Bentley premium audio system with eight DSP modes and 20 speakers" on for size. Feeding that audiophile quality audio system is a 40GB hard-drive-based audio system that features navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and multimedia connectivity options.
Bentley's PR guys and gals probably won't admit it, but much of the Mulsanne's tech appears to be repackaged Audi technology, which makes sense as both automakers are mostly owned by the Volkswagen Group. For example, the infotainment system appears to be a reskinning of Audi's MMI system and features a leather-lined MP3-player drawer in the center of the dash that houses what appears to be Audi's Music Interface. A Drive Select system with four vehicle dynamic modes (including a user customizable mode) is remarkably similar to the system that we're starting to see on, you guessed it, Audis. This technology sharing is fine by us; after all, the Rolls-Royce Phantom shares more than a little tech with its distant BMW relatives.

Each 6.75-liter V-8 features a numbered plaque, just in case you want to track down the bloke who hand assembled your motor.
However, Mulsanne represents a level of extreme luxury that can't be found in any Audi we've ever seen. Plush carpet, fine leather, and high-quality wood and metal finishes can all be customized in any way that the customer likes. There are over 114 paint colors available, 24 leather colors, and dozens of wood veneers available, and that's before we get into custom bespoke options. Each Mulsanne is handmade in Crewe, England and carries a plaque on the body and a numbered plaque on the engine declaring its handmade bona fides.
Check out our Bentley Mulsanne photo gallery for a closer look and more details, and stay tuned to our continuing coverage of the 2009 Frankfurt auto show.

Small is clearly in, as these concepts show. And since concept cars are a bellwether for upcoming automotive trends, expect downsizing to be commonplace among new cars. Most of these concepts are lightweight city cars, easily maneuverable and economical. Mini's entrants add a sporty flavor, while Citroen and Hyundai go for the futuristic. Mazda showed off a stripped-down version of its MX-5, more weekend racer than everyday driver.
Originally posted at Frankfurt Auto Show 2009

Early next decade, BMW of North America plans to sell an electric "megacity car" as a subbrand of BMW, similar to the brand's M high-performance cars. But further details are skimpy.
BMW already is preparing for that launch. Its yearlong trial with the Mini E electric car has opened the auto marketer's eyes to the maze of regulations facing plug-in electric cars.
"We are learning a heck of a lot just about the sheer infrastructure," says Jim O'Donnell, CEO of BMW of North America. "When we bring out another electric car, we will be in a great position because we know all the wrinkles."
BMW has 450 Mini E electric cars running in a yearlong trial in metropolitan New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles.
There should be more cars on the roads. But after more than six months of addressing regulatory hurdles, Mini has yet to get approval to install more than 30 additional fast-charge boxes in New Jersey. With a 240-volt box, the Mini E can be recharged in three hours rather than the 21 hours needed using 110-volt power.
"If you are in a house with a normal supply and you want to bring a 240-volt [charger], you have to have an agreement from the power utility," O'Donnell says. "New Jersey is the most difficult because there are so many local authorities."
An inspector from each municipality has to approve the installation to make sure it complies with local codes. The cost of the box ranges from $1,500 to $1,800. The box had to be approved by Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
What O'Donnell calls "the New Jersey problem" is compounded because "all the components are certified, but they say the system isn't certified," he says.
A BMW spokesman says the Mini E experience is a prelude to a more widespread launch of electric vehicles.
"We are dealing with only three metropolitan areas of the United States," he says. "Think about when you start to build the national network and all those local codes."
(Source: Automotive News)

When we reviewed the new Nissan 370Z Coupe last year, we applauded the company for doing a sports car model update right. Rather than bloating out the car, Nissan reduced size and weight, at the same time putting in a bigger engine. But there was no equivalent convertible model. Nissan remedies that lack for the 2010 model year with the all new 370Z Roadster, and we got to drive it.
2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster photos

On a sunny California morning, we followed a route that let us slam the 370Z Roadster through turn after turn. The top was open to provide a nice view of the forest canopy overhead, the scent of redwood trees was in the air, yet our attention was all on the road and the car. Holding the engine speed at around 5,000rpm in third gear, lighting up the brakes on each approach to a turn, maybe a downshift to second if the turn looked particularly tight, the 370Z Roadster acted just like the hard-top model on which it is based. A bit of understeer became apparent, but that was easily tamed with more throttle, the rear-wheel drive helping the nose correct toward the line for which we aimed.
Transmission tech
Like the 370Z Coupe, the Roadster's six-speed manual transmission comes with the SynchroRev Match feature. Nissan hasn't yet brought the dual-clutch technology from its GT-R down to other models, but SynchroRev Match is a nice little high-tech helper, automatically blipping the engine speed during shifts to make a smooth change. That feature, along with the gear indicator on the instrument panel, makes the 370Z line seem like a training sports car, but we'll take all the help we can get when we're piloting 3,500 pounds of metal, plastic, and rubber at speed down a mountain course.
The engine is the same for the Roadster or Coupe, the latest generation of Nissan's VQ series, a 3.7-liter V-6 using variable valve timing and lift to make 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. That emphasis of horsepower over torque is why we kept the engine speed high when thrashing the car, with a decent buffer before its 7,500rpm redline. At those speeds, the engine sounds supercharged, a nice turbine-like whine easily heard with the top down.
Dropped top
Speaking of that top, it's the major, and obvious difference between the cars. The 370Z Roadster uses a soft top, defying the rest of the industry's move toward retractable hard tops in an effort to keep the weight down. At up to 3 mph, the top can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button. Well, a long touch on that button, as it needs to be held down throughout the entire process. But it works easily, locking itself into position when put up, or stowing itself away when put down. Unlike the outgoing 350Z Roadster, which operated electrically, this one uses hydraulic power to do its disappearing trick. While Nissan assured us the hydraulic system was an improvement, we didn't notice any particular difference.

Nissan did some nice styling on the soft top.
But the 370Z Roadster has it all over its predecessor in style. First, the new top is cloth, which always looks classy, as opposed to the former's vinyl. And the rear window is glass. Then there's the profile; the rear makes a nice rake toward the back, rather than a quick drop-off, somewhat replicating the profile of the 370Z Coupe. Nissan mounted a rear wind deflector behind the seats, which does a bit to limit turbulence in the cabin. However, at 60 or 70 mph, conversation with our driving partner on this run involved a lot of shouting and repetition. To account for more extreme weather conditions in the cabin, Nissan makes ventilated seats, with heating and cooling, available in the 370Z Roadster, a nicety not offered for the 370Z Coupe.
During a technical presentation, Nissan claimed the suspension between both cars was the same, with some extra body stiffening for the 370Z Roadster. But as we assaulted the corners, the ride felt just a little rubbery. It's a fine distinction, and it had been a while since driving the 370Z Coupe, so the difference might have been psychological, but Nissan does expect an older, potentially more sedate buyer for the 370Z Roadster, which would explain some softer suspension tuning. But given that the car held the road just fine, we're not going to complain about extra comfort in the ride.
Electronics suite

A hard drive-based navigation system is available in the 370Z Roadster
When we tested the 370Z Coupe, we had a base version, lacking any significant cabin tech. As the 370Z Roadster we drove was done up in Touring trim, we got to check out the whole Nissan electronics suite. This modern system is based around a navigation system with maps stored on the hard drive, featuring integrated live traffic and weather. There's a basic Bluetooth phone system, and integrated audio sources include Bluetooth streaming and iPod connectivity. CDs can be ripped to the hard drive, which has 9.3 gigabytes reserved for what Nissan calls the Jukebox. Music playback comes through an eight-speaker Bose audio system, which would normally be a blunt instrument, but all these speakers only have to provide sound for two.
Basically, the cabin tech is the same kit we've seen in the latest Nissan Maxima, and in Infiniti models. The interface is easy to use and makes it quick to select letters and numbers from a virtual keyboard. What's most impressive is that Nissan makes the whole tech suite available in a small sports car.
Although convertibles are rarely thought of as serious sports cars, the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster offers the same kind of driving excitement as its hard-top brother. Open top driving is undeniably enjoyable in good weather with this car, but limited cabin and cargo space suggests it's not a very good choice as a primary car. Probably the best thing about the 370Z Roadster is that, unlike most two-seater convertibles, it will never get labeled as a chick car.

Tesla Motors and co-founder Martin Eberhard announced an agreement over who can claim to be a founder of the company on Monday.

Tesla founder Martin Eberhard on the road with his Tesla Roadster.
(Credit: Martin Eberhard)
Eberhard filed suit against the luxury electric vehicle maker in June, alleging that current CEO Elon Musk sought to "rewrite history" about Eberhard's role after Eberhard was ousted from the CEO position. Eberhard was seeking damages because comments from Tesla executives had harmed his reputation.
On Monday, a Tesla representative said that Eberhard and other principals in the dispute have come to an agreement. The company did not reveal any details of the resolution, except to say that there are now five, rather than two, agreed-upon "founders" of Tesla.
In addition to Eberhard, other founders include current CEO and chief product architect Elon Musk, current chief technology JB Straubel, Marc Tarpenning, and Ian Wright.
Both Eberhard and Musk, who have bickered publicly and through the courts, issued statements praising each others' contributions to Tesla.
An out-of-court resolution appeared to be Eberhard's best option for repairing his reputation after a San Mateo, Calif., judge in July dismissed that portion of his suit.

In 2002, Volkswagen designed a concept car that could go 100 kilometers on 1 liter of fuel, equivalent to about 235 mpg. This year, Volkswagen shows off the second generation of the 1 liter concept, the L1, with the intention of production by 2013. Using an extremely light and aerodynamic body and a diesel-electric parallel hybrid power train, the new L1 falls short of its fuel efficiency goal, requiring 1.38 liters of diesel to cover 100 kilometers, or 170 mpg. Still, not bad.

Volkswagen designers looked at glider design to evolve the L1 concept, resulting in a narrow body with two seats in tandem, the single passenger consigned to a rear seat. Access to the L1 is through a hinged canopy, which should inspire Top Gun fantasies for the driver. Furthering those fantasies are the camera-based rearview OLEDs, offering a 180 degree view behind the car. In keeping with the high-tech cabin, the speedometer and other instruments are all virtual. Although we didn't see a stereo in the cabin, there are volume controls on the steering wheel.
However much the cabin might inspire feelings of piloting a fighter jet, the performance will make the driver envy scooter riders. The L1 takes 14.3 seconds to get to 62 mph. However, the top speed is a reasonable 99 mph. To power the L1, Volkswagen developed a new .8-liter version of its TDI engine with only two cylinders. The driver can select between Eco and Sport modes: in the former, the engine produces 27 horsepower, while in Sport it peaks at 39 horsepower. Being a diesel, its torque is much higher, hitting 74 pound-feet at 1,900rpm.

Electric vehicles are the clear favored technology for concept cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. But Toyota, the leader in hybrid cars, thinks that the high cost of the lithium ion batteries will keep electric cars from penetrating the mass market for another decade.
Over the past three years, Toyota secretly tested lithium ion batteries as a potential replacement for the nickel metal hydride batteries now used in the Prius, according to a Bloomberg report
In its tests, Toyota concluded that lithium ion batteries were safe and reliable, but the higher cost doesn't justify a complete shift over for Toyota's hybrids, executives said. As a result, the company will remain with nickel-based batteries for most of its hybrid cars, according to the report.

Toyota will start testing plug-in Priuses that use lithium-ion batteries but is sticking with current nickel-based batteries for most of its hybrids.
(Credit: Toyota)
The lighter weight that lithium ion batteries offer over other battery types has led automakers to that technology for all-electric sedans such as the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle.
Toyota, too, this week unveiled a plug-in Toyota Prius based on the 2010 model that uses a lithium ion battery. It expects to start leasing them to fleet operators early next year. But when it comes to the "mass market," the company still considers costs and range of battery-electric vehicles a barrier until 2020.
"Electric vehicles of today are less costly than in 1990s, but if you compare them with the other vehicles out there they are still too expensive," Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada said at a news conference at the Frankfurt show. "Unless there is a very big breakthrough in battery costs I don't think electric vehicles can take a large market share."
Among the many electric-vehicle concepts expected this week are four sedans from Renault, including the Fluence ZE which can work with Better Place's automated battery-switching stations.

On seeing the new Toyota Auris Hybrid, we counted the doors and noted the hatchback, then thought, doesn't Toyota already sell a Prius? A glance at the specifications furthered our confusion, as the power trains between 2010 Prius and new Auris Hybrid are identical, a 1.8-liter engine coupled to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. In its press materials, Toyota takes the stance that the Auris Hybrid, or HSD as they call it, is the next logical step in the company's move to offer hybrid versions of all its models.

This shifter in the hybrid Auris is similar to that in the Prius.
(Credit: CNET)
If you're wondering what an Auris is, well, it's not sold in the U.S. Our nearest model is the Toyota Matrix. But Toyota sells the Auris just about everywhere else in the world, in both gasoline and diesel versions. It's a four-door hatchback based on the Corolla platform.
In hybrid form, the Auris gets the same power train settings as the 2010 Prius: Eco, Power, and EV. It reaches 60 mph in about 10 seconds, and it should get slightly less gas mileage than the Prius because of its inferior aerodynamic characteristics. Also similar to the Prius, it can be had with a solar roof that powers a cabin ventilation fan. Toyota also intends to make dashboard solar panels available that can be used to charge cell phones and other electronic devices. Now that's a step in the right direction.
For European environmental regulations, the most important thing about the hybrid Auris is that it emits less than 100 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
Originally posted at Frankfurt Auto Show 2009

One of the stars of the Frankfurt auto show next week will be the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. It will be the automaker’s flagship sports car, and it borrows cues from the classic 300SL of the 1950s, including the flamboyant gull-wing doors.

Mercedes released images of the car this week. The specs have been available for some time now. To rehash: the SLS AMG is powered by a 6.3-liter V-8 engine that sits on an aluminum subframe and makes 571 horsepower. Mercedes says the car can accelerate from zero to 60 miles an hour in 3.6 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 196 miles an hour. The transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual. With a wheelbase of just over 105 inches, the SLS AMG splits its weight 47 percent front, 53 percent to the rear.

In Europe, the price is expected to start at $258,000. Sales of the coupe in the United States will begin next year, Mercedes says. A roadster may follow,as well as an electric version. We will have more information from the floor of the Frankfurt auto show next week, so stay tuned.

The BMW X6 combines the agility, performance and athletic design of a big BMW coupé with the versatility and raised seating position of an SAV. Once again, BMW has defined a totally new vehicle concept. What’s more, the BMW X6 offers two world premieres: Dynamic Performance Control (fitted as standard), and the all-new Twin Turbo V8 petrol engine with High Precision Injection – the most efficient engine in its class.