Car Tech: An automotive blog from CNET

4 versions of Fiat 500 here in '11

Automotive News — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:00 PDT

BALOCCO, Italy--Chrysler will build and sell four versions of the tiny Fiat 500 in North America starting in 2011: a hatchback, convertible, station wagon, and sporty hatchback.

A fifth model--a small, four-wheel-drive SUV--also is possible.

They will wear the Fiat brand, and no longer-term plans exist for ...

One mile, two cars, high speeds

Suzanne Ashe — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:46:19 PDT

What's faster the Porsche 911 GT2 or the Corvette ZR1? These two cars go head-to-head in a performance race to see which is quicker in a mile.

Fisker's good Karma

Wayne Cunningham — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:03:00 PDT

The Karma is a plug-in hybrid with four doors and a GT-style body.

(Credit: CNET)

Among the different alternative-fuel strategies playing out, Henrik Fisker is betting big on plug-in hybrids. At a recent dinner speech, he said plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, will be the dominant type of car for the ...

BMW 7 Series gets xDrive, M Sport package

Antuan Goodwin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:44:00 PDT

(Credit: BMW of North America)

BMW's flagship 7 Series will be updated for the 2010 model year with two all-wheel drive variants on the 750i and long wheelbase 750Li. In line with BMW's naming scheme, the new models will be known as the 750i xDrive and the 750Li ...

Bad Ass American Rides Pt. 4: '68 Dodge Charger on a Test Drive

Gary Spencer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:00:00 PDT

So far this week we've taken a look at some bad ass cars that have come from the good ol' US of A. So far we've seen some Chevys and some Fords, but I think it' due time for Dodge to represent. So here we go with video ...

Automakers scrap diesel plans

Automotive News — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:00:00 PDT

(Credit: Automotive News)

Mainstream carmakers have put the brakes on nine diesel-powered vehicles that had been scheduled for 2010.

Honda, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Toyota have halted diesel programs because of spiraling costs and other problems.

Financial problems halted the programs at some companies. Others, like Toyota, are looking elsewhere for fuel economy. "We are banking heavily on hybrids," said Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister.

Only German automakers--Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW--have followed through with plans to launch U.S. diesels on time. Most German diesels are in premium vehicles similar to vehicles built in large numbers for Europe and other markets. That volume reduces development and production costs per vehicle.

A diesel engine typically delivers fuel economy 20 to 30 percent better than that of a gasoline engine. But a diesel can add between $3,000 and $8,000 to a vehicle's price. Costly components include the turbocharger, the high-pressure fuel injection system and the complex emissions system, which is filled with precious metals. That cost seems to be a barrier for the mass-market brands.

Still, the new German diesels are selling well. The price of diesel fuel may be a factor. It has dropped from its high last summer of $4.85 per gallon--considerably more than gasoline--to $2.63 last week, a few pennies less than a gallon of regular gasoline.

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F-150 jet truck, all it needs is wings

Suzanne Ashe — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:41:00 PDT

Every man's got to have a hobby, but Chris Lentz fulfilled a lifelong dream by mounting a Czechoslovakian-built M-701 turbojet in the bed of an F-150 Ford truck.

The Motorlet M-701 runs on kerosene and puts out 1,962 pounds of thrust at 15,500 rpm.

BMW X1 confirmed for United States in 2011

Antuan Goodwin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:35:00 PDT

(Credit: BMW of North America, LLC )

BMW confirmed today that its BMW X1 crossover SUV will debut in the United States during the 2011 calendar year. The X1 will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive flavors powered by both gasoline and diesel power-train options.

BMW's

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BMWs show gas prices, weather

Wayne Cunningham — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:27:00 PDT

BMW's weather data shows up as a graphically rich three-day forecast for the current location of the car.

(Credit: BMW)

Keeping up with the trend of offering external data connections in cars, BMW announced the addition of gas prices, weather forecasts, and stock indices to its existing Google ...

New Forza 3 vehicle screenshots revealed

Antuan Goodwin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:21:00 PDT

(Credit: Turn 10)

Turn 10, developer of the upcoming Forza Motorsport 3 for Xbox 360, has released a new batch of screenshots highlighting a few of the vehicles we can expect to see when the racing sim is released.

Among the GT cars and LeMans racers, we find more familiar ...