Maybe this is wishful thinking and maybe we're optimists, but maybe, just maybe, Porsche could be ready to unveil to the world the final version of its supremely hot hybrid. We already know the company has given the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid a green light for a run down assembly lines, a legitimate supercar with a 700+ horsepower on tap despite achieving near 80mpg. But, we don't know the when nor the all-important how much. With Porsche promising to give "a new model its world debut" at the North American International Auto Show we can't help but hope that this is it. Want to be the first to find out? When the time comes you can watch the unveil yourself, live streamed at www.porsche.com/detroit.
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China's BYD came out of nowhere in early 2009 to debut a MID / phone running Windows XP, but consumer electronics are just one arm (actually spun off) of the relatively young mega-corporation. Its BYD Motors division has also been working on various plug-in vehicles for the past few years, and it's now set to roll into the Detroit Auto Show next month with two new models. Those include the all-electric e6 Premier crossover, and the S6DM dual-mode plug-in hybrid SUV, the former of which promises a range of 300 kilometers and a top speed of 140km/h, while the latter can eek out 60 kilometers solely on electric power or close to 500 kilometers when the 2.0L gasoline engine comes into play.
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Last year Nokia made something of a telematics coup, partnering with just about every major European manufacturer and doing everything it could to get its Terminal Mode in-car smartphone integration into more autos. Mercedes was one of those partners and now we're getting a glimpse of the result in the new C-Class. Merc has made some minor exterior updates to the car (not necessarily for the better, in our opinion), but on the inside comes an updated Mercedes COMAND infotainment system that, for the first time, offers full internet access. Using Terminal Mode the car interacts with a smartphone to provide the data, allowing dashboard surfing (while stationary) and the transmission of Google Maps points and directions right to the vehicle. There's also Bluetooth for streaming your tunes through the car's sound system and a USB port in the armrest to keep things charged while you decimate that slab. PR is below if you're looking for more details, or you can just wait for our impressions when we get to Detroit in a few weeks.
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It's a sure-fire bet that Toyota will unveil its upright Prius MPV at the North American International Auto Show in a couple of weeks, a rather more roomy and practical version of the hybrid that really started it all. And, of course, the plug-in model we tested in October will be surely rocking the floor. Now we're hearing that another as of yet unreleased Prius will be on display, simply referred to as a "Prius concept vehicle." Concept cars of course range from the mundane to the insane, and knowing Toyota we're guessing this one will fall squarely into the former category. Just the same we're hoping for a
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Remember the electric car with the ingenious hook of a reserve battery that can only be accessed in the case of an emergency by texting or calling the car's manufacturer? Well, it appears that the project is having a bit of trouble getting off the ground in the US, though it shockingly doesn't have anything to do with that flagship feature. As the story goes, upstart Bannon Automotive signed a deal with the car's
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So, are you confused about the presence of two MPG numbers on your newly delivered Volt? Fear not, the folks at GM are doing their best to educate the huddled masses about the Volt's industry-leading fuel
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Ford's new Wayne, Michigan plant is an exercise in smart production
Henry Ford, who founded Ford Motor Company in 1903 was one of the fathers of the assembly line, which to this day remains one of the most popular mass production techniques internationally. Today, Ford Motor Company has grown and changed greatly, but its spirit of innovation when it comes to production is certainly alive and well.
On Tuesday, we toured Ford Motor Company's retooled Michigan Assembly Plantin Wayne, Michigan and received a taste of the improvements Ford has been cooking up. What is clear is that the company has arrived at a production process that should make it very competitive in the near-term.
Image: On Tuesday we toured Ford Motor Company's new Michigan plant, which will create 3,200 high-tech jobs in the state.Credit: Jason Mick/DailyTech LLC
