Triciclo Pompéo - ethanol powered three-wheeler made for Brazil

There are plenty of people who would love to have the fuel mileage of a 250cc motorcycle, but choose not to ride one because of the inherent safety problems and the lack of weather protection. Brazilian company Triciclo thinks that they have the answer to this issue, and it's called the Pompéo. Using a small motorcycle engine which is capable of running on either gasoline or ethanol (important for the Brazilian market), the Pompéo is said to have decent performance due to its low weight. Also important is the fact that the machine - which looks kind of like the front half of a car - is fully enclosed, meaning that the occupants will stay dry no matter what the weather outside. Seat belts provide a measure of safety lacking from the typical motorcycle, although in some countries it will be classed as such regardless. Finally, the cost is said to be in-line with a 400cc motorcycle, meaning the Pompéo should be quite affordable.

We love the idea of the Pompéo and hope it reaches success in Brazil. Currently, there are plans to export the vehicle, but nothing is said of the European or North American market as of yet. Be sure to watch the short video after the break.

Gallery: Triciclo Pompeo

[Source: World Car Fans / Triciclo]

Venture Vehicles to design and build 100 mpg three-wheeled road-going jetfighter

Venture Vehicles has announced that they will develop a two passenger, three-wheeled vehicle powered by either a pure plug-in electric or plug-in hybrid petrol-electric powertrain. Under the working name of VentureOne, the new vehicle is to be designed and built in California based on the existing Carver three-wheeler already available in Europe.

Even with its single front wheel and its narrow form, the VentureOne arguably has more in common with a conventional car than a motorcycle due to the fully enclosed cabin, upright seating position, steering wheel, foot pedals and gear stick. The vehicle is actually the same height and length as a MINI Cooper but the driver sits as high off the road as they would in a BMW 3-Seriers.

Despite the VentureOne's height and narrow body, it will be very stable while rounding bends due to its most astounding feature, the ability to tilt the driver and passenger over as it corners. Like a motorcycle, this means that there is no 'overturning torque' on the wheels and the resultant forces always pass through the centre-line of the vehicle. The Carver three-wheeler pioneered the unique tilting design which allows the front wheel and both in-line passengers tilt up to 45 degrees while cornering even as the rear two wheels, anchored by the motor, remain firmly on the ground.

Carver describes the corner tilting sensation as "You steer it like a car, but when cornering it banks like a motorcycle while you feel like you are flying a jetfighter. The thrill of this tilting capability combined with the handling of a sports car makes for an exhilarating driving experience unlike any other."

Will BMW bring four cylinder engines back to the U.S. market?

For the past several years, BMW hasn't sold any vehicles in the United States with fewer than six cylinders. With BMW scaling back production of V8 and inline six engines, is the time approaching when four-cylinder Bimmers will return to our shores? Inside Line definitely seems to think the four banger will be back soon, probably in the 3-series and 1-series. The European spec 120i and 320i both use a normally aspirated, direct injected 2.0L that produces 167 hp and pushes a 320i from 0-62 mph in a respectable 8.2 seconds. The 320i is rated at 38.6 mpg (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle, which would probably amount to mileage in the low 30s on the EPA cycle. BMW project director Oliver Friedmann told Inside Line while the gas four cylinders could do well in the U.S. he didn't think Americans were ready for the the four cylinder diesel in the 123d and 320d. Personally, having driven the 123d I'd have to disagree on this count. I think that Americans would actually prefer the superior torque of the diesel and a real world 37 mpg. BMW hasn't yet responded to a request for comment from ABG.

[Source: inside Line]

European parliament scales back CO2 emissions limits

It looks like European automakers are winning their battle against the proposed European Union limits on automotive CO₂ emissions. While the European Commission had proposed a limit of 120 g/km for the vehicle fleet by 2012, manufacturers where claiming the limit was too aggressive. The members of parliament apparently agreed, with the Industry and Energy Committee voting 35-21 to slow things down. Instead of having the entire fleet meet the requirement, only 60 percent of vehicles will have to pass the new threshold in 2012. Over the next several years, through 2015, the rest of the vehicles will meet the standard as well. Extremely low emission vehicles with less than 50 g/km of CO₂ will also be given extra credit counting as 1.5 vehicles in the sales weighted averaging. All electric vehicles will count as three cars until 2015. In a further move sure to make environmentalists apoplectic, the fines for exceeding the limits were slashed from the EC's proposed €95 per gram of CO₂ over the limit to €40 per gram.

Loremo unveils definitive skin for its high-mpg model

Click above for high-res gallery.

Aspiring German automaker Loremo has unveiled the newest images of their production intent model. Although they're only 3D renderings, they already show what the production model should look like. After the initial prototypes, the car gets the definitive shape, which is slightly more conventional in shape than before but also offers more interior space for its occupants. The long tail is still there, kept for aerodynamic reasons to keep the drag coefficient at 0.20.

Regarding powertrains, we will find three available, and they even disclosed approximate prices:

• LS: 2-cyl turbo diesel, 20hp, 2 l/100 km (117mpg U. S.). 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) under 20s. Top speed 160 km/h (95mph) - €15,000
• GT: 3-cyl turbo diesel, 50hp, 3 l/100 km (78mpg U. S.). 0-100 km/h under 10s. Top speed 200 km/h (125mph) - €20,000
• EV: Lithium-ion batteries, 20 kW (25hp), 0-100 km/h under 15s. Top speed 170 km/h (105mph) - €30,000

Gallery: Preproduction Loremo

General Motors opens new powertrain engineering center that will create E-Flex

On Friday GM officially kicked off use of its new Powertrain Engineering Development Center in Pontiac MI. The new $463 million facility includes 120 dynamometer test cells for exercising all manner of new drivetrains. Among those cells 20 are specifically dedicated to testing motors for electric and hybrid drive systems. Others are split among fueled and non-fueled cells for testing gas, diesel, and flex-fuel engines and transmissions respectively. A new quick connect pallet system allows technicians to assemble a test configuration outside the cell and then have it installed and running within 20 minutes. The photo above showse a technician connecting the 1.4L engine and generator combination that will serve as the Chevy Volt range extender.

Mercedes to bring A and B-Class to America?

Click above for more shots of the A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY

The move to smaller cars in the United States will cover nearly all vehicle classes, even touching such luxury car stalwarts as Mercedes-Benz. Fortunately for MB, the automaker already has a few small vehicles which it can consider selling in the States, and new rumors indicate that the automaker could be considering launching its A-Class subcompact and B-Class compact cars here. Buyers who associate the three-pointed star with luxury alone may be surprised by the A-Class, which is most certainly an economy car, albeit one of high quality. Interestingly, though, the B-Class was initially planned for the U.S. market but was dropped shortly before launch due to the poor Euro-to-Dollar ratio. That particular situation has only gotten worse, but the rising price of gasoline may prompt Mercedes-Benz to reconsider that decision anyway.

It would be pure speculation, but we wonder if Mercedes has some excess capacity at its SUV plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. If so, the automaker could retool the plant for the new small cars, a move which could alleviate some of the poor exchange rate issues. We'll cast our official vote for the A 160 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY that gets 52mpg (U.S.). In any case, don't expect to see the new models in the U.S. until 2011 or so.

Loremo unveils definitive skin for its high-mpg model

Click above for high-res gallery.

Aspiring German automaker Loremo has unveiled the newest images of their production intent model. Although they're only 3D renderings, they already show what the production model should look like. After the initial prototypes, the car gets the definitive shape, which is slightly more conventional in shape than before but also offers more interior space for its occupants. The long tail is still there, kept for aerodynamic reasons to keep the drag coefficient at 0.20.

Regarding powertrains, we will find three available, and they even disclosed approximate prices:

• LS: 2-cyl turbo diesel, 20hp, 2 l/100 km (117mpg U. S.). 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) under 20s. Top speed 160 km/h (95mph) - €15,000
• GT: 3-cyl turbo diesel, 50hp, 3 l/100 km (78mpg U. S.). 0-100 km/h under 10s. Top speed 200 km/h (125mph) - €20,000
• EV: Lithium-ion batteries, 20 kW (25hp), 0-100 km/h under 15s. Top speed 170 km/h (105mph) - €30,000

Do American cars in Europe sip less fuel?

Autobloggren reader Ron asked us one question: why does it seem that American cars in Europe sip less fuel? As he compared what look like identical models on either side of the Atlantic Ocean and consumption figures seem to differ.

First problem is finding two identical models. Then, pollution regulations are different in the USA compared to the EU. As a general rule, the EPA focus on exhaust air quality while the EU aims about quantity and has longer terms for other pollutants. As a consequence, injection systems might be tuned differently. Some people might think that gasoline is different. Europeans have two different types of gasolines: 95 and 98 RON which are more "premium" than the ones sold in the U. S. but, provided the fact that the injection systems are ready for the gas type, mileage should not affected (remember the "don't use premium if not needed"?). Perhaps the most important factor to consider are the differences between the mileage test procedures. The current EU test cycle is considered to give considerably higher results than the latest 2008 EPA test procedure. Finally, make sure that the numbers you are comparing are in the same units. Numbers from the UK are typically expressed in miles per Imperial gallon. One Imperial gallon is 1.16 US gallons.

Ford to retool 3 truck plants for small cars starting in December

In conjunction with the announcement of an $8.7 billion loss for the second quarter, Ford confirmed what had been suspected for some time with a major shift in production capacity from trucks to cars. Starting in December of this year, three truck plants will be retooled so that they can build cars instead. In addition six new models will be coming over from the European lineup and Mercury will live on. Like other automakers Ford will be consolidating production of large trucks into fewer plants. The full-size Expedition and Navigator SUVs will shift from the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne MI to the Louisville, Ky plant that builds the Super-Duty pickups. The Michigan plant will retool to build to build a vehicle based on the European Focus platform. As previously announced the Cuautitlan Assembly Plant in Mexico will shift from building F-series pickups to the new Fiesta at the end of next year. A second plant in Louisville that currently builds Explorers will switch over to building Focus based vehicles as well.

In other product news, we already knew about the Fiesta and the Euro Focus coming in 2010 as well as the Transit Connect van in 2009. Ford has confirmed that Mercury will get a new small car in 2010. What platform this will be built on is unknown. Ford will also introduce what they are calling a "whitespace" vehicle based on the Focus architecture. This will be in a segment that Ford doesn't currently occupy, and the best bet would be the C-Max MPV. This vehicle is a small van similar to the Mazda 5. The full Ford press release is after the jump.

Tata Nano to come in diesel, electric flavors

click above for more images of the Tata Nano

Those in emerging markets hoping to get their hands on the cheapest car in the world may soon have a few more option boxes to consider checking. Chairman Ratan Tata has said in the past that an electric-only version of the Tata Nano is likely, and now industry sources are saying that a diesel engine is also in the works. Displacing 800cc and including common-rail injection from Bosch and a Honeywell turbocharger, the diesel engine has been designed by German powertrain specialist FEV, the same firm that India's Mahindra reportedly contacted for help with its latest diesel hybrid engine.

We don't yet know what kind of fuel mileage the diesel would offer, but the twin cylinder gas engine standard in the Nano is good for 54 U.S. miles per gallon and the diesel should better that figure somewhat, though most likely for a slight increase in price.

Toyota tops '07 CAFE numbers, will increase Prius capacity

The numbers for last year's combined fleet fuel efficiency for all automakers in the United States has been tallied. The winner? Um, Lotus. But, they don't really count. Too small. For manufacturers that actually offer a full line of automobiles, Toyota with 29.69 mpg just barely edged out the likes of Honda, which posted 29.49, and Hyundai with 29.37. All those Prius hybrid sales surely helped push Toyota to the top this year. Not surprisingly, the Detroit 3 didn't even come close with 25.16 from GM and 25.15 from Ford. DaimlerChrysler propped up the rear with a dismal 23.97 average figure.

Toyota has no plans to give up the mileage crown. In fact, the Japanese giant will increase capacity of its upcoming third-gen Prius sedan by an astonishing 70-percent at the Tsutsumi factory in Japan, allowing for the production of 480,000 hybrid sedans per year. For 2010, Toyota plans to bring its Mississippi plant online, which will further serve to increase capacity. We have a feeling that it'll have little trouble selling every one it manufacturers.

Cobalt XFE selling faster than planned

compact car. Relatively easy tricks such as revised gearing, Chevrolet apparently has a hit on its hands in the form of the new XFE model of its Cobaltlow rolling-resistance tires and some computer reprogramming was enough to boost the XFE to 36 miles per gallon on the highway, up from the standard model's 33 mpg. GM says it took just eighteen months to make this new version a reality, and rumors indicate there could be more XFEs on the way.

Nancy Libby, a spokeswoman for Chevrolet, says that demand for the car surprised the automaker, as it had estimated that the XFE would make up just two to three percent of Cobalt sales. In actuality, the XFE model accounts for eight percent of sales and sits on the lot for just eighteen days on average -- lowest of any Cobalt model. Perhaps the best news of all is that other automakers are observing the success Chevy has had with the XFE, and the concept is spreading across from GM to both Ford and Chrysler.

Redesigned Fords to boast best mileage in class

Every automaker currently selling cars in America is now doing all that they can do to increase fuel efficiency. Even on models which were already launched, redesign time is the perfect opportunity to make another attempt at raising fuel mileage. Such is the case at Ford, as product chief Derrick Kuzak's new mandate for his engineers is to make every new or redesigned Ford the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class, starting with the revised Fusion due for 2010. Currently, the base 2.3 liter four cylinder engine is mated to a five speed automatic transmission. That combo is able to offer up 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway. While that is decent, it's not class leading. So, we are expecting a significant bump when the next Fusion appears with both a hybrid model and an enlarged 2.5 liter engine with six speed automatic. We got the chance to sample this powertrain in the 2009 Escape and found that it both increased performance and decreased fuel consumption. Sounds like a winner.

Moscow Show Preview: Mazda unveils new Kazamai concept

As oil wealth has suddenly taken root in Russia in the last couple of years, the Moscow International Auto Show has suddenly become an event that automakers are paying attention to. With that in mind, Mazda will stage the world premiere of its latest concept in the Russian capitol next month. The Kazamai is the latest in a series of concepts that feature the "Nagare" (or "flow") design theme, and is intended to demonstrate what Mazda calls "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom." Mazda hasn't released many details yet, but the Kazamai does seem to point in the right direction for a small crossover. Power will reportedly come from a new-generation direct-injection engine. The body structure will follow the pattern set by recent production modes such as the Mazda2 and Mazda6, with reduced weight and aerodynamic lines. More next month as we get closer to the show.

British Motor Show Preview: Ford to intro 42mpg Fiesta Zetec S

We're only a week away from the British Motor Show and we've got some info on the sportier version of the new Fiesta. The Zetec S will be officially unveiled in London with a brand new 1.6L four cylinder rated at 118hp. In the Fiesta the new engine will get you up to 62 mph in 9.9 seconds. Along the way the Fiesta Zetec S consumes gasoline at the rate of 41.6 mpg. Carbon dioxide emissions are rated at 139 g/km. All of this bodes well for what we can expect when the Fiesta debuts in North America in early 2010. Like the Mazda2 with which it shares its platform the Fiesta is actually lighter than the previous generation model. More than half of the Feista structure is made of high strength steel giving it increased strength at a lower mass. Ford still hasn't revealed which engines wil go into the US Fiesta but this 1.6L seems likely to be part of the lineup.

Tires: Low resistance keeps you rollin' rollin' rollin'

Low rolling resistance tires aren't just for hybrids anymore. In search of every improvement to fuel consumption figures they can find, FoMoCo is shoeing its entire 2009 compact SUV line up in eco-rubber. They expect the 16-inch Michelin Latitude Tour tires, like the one pictured to our right, to net an extra one mpg on its 4-cylinder Escape. While that may not sound like a lot, it should dozens of gallons of fuel over the tires'lifetime.

Ford isn't the only automaker taking advantage, either. GM is using low-resistance Bridgestones on its full-size pick up hybrids and claims a 2 mile-per-gallon improvement. If you want to try out low-resistance treads on your own vehicle, just remember that fuel savings aren't the be all and end all of tire technology. Low resistance tires don't flex as much as regular tires and can add a few feet to emergency stopping distances. They are also not recommended for driving off road. The environmental qualities of the tech are undeniable though. Michelin says the 570 million energy-saving tires it has sold in the past 15 years have saved 2.38 billion gallons of fuel from being burned. Just thinking of that fact almost makes you want to sing, "Rollin' rollin' rollin'..."

Kia Forte specs released: 33 mpg gas 39 mpg diesel

Kia has released the specifications for the new Forte, the Korean marque's new compact sedan. While the car is slightly larger the current Spectra (wider by 65 mm and 25 mm longer), the announced specs manage to reduce fuel consumption.

In its home market in South Korea, the Forte will have two powertrains available, one gasoline and one diesel, spotting the same engine size, 1.6 liters. The gasoline version will have 124 HP and produces 159 lb/ft of torque. Mated to the automatic transmission, it will provide 33 mpg or 7.1 l/100 km, which improves the Hyundai Elantra's fuel economy (a close corporate relative) by 15 percent. Regarding diesel, the engine has 128 HP and will reach mileage of 39 mpg (or 6.1 l/100 km). A 2.0 liter will follow on directly, and may be the only engine we get in the US when the Forte arrives on North American highways and byways in 2009.

Ford's future engine lineup to focus on fuel economy

Over the next decade, Ford will be putting the focus (no pun intended) on fuel efficiency for all of its powertrains as fuel prices continue to climb. The EcoBoost engines that debut next spring with a 3.5L V6 are expected to become the workhorses of the fleet, but virtually all of Ford's engines will be downsized. When the new F-150 pickups arrive later this fall, they will feature gas V8 engines only. However, sometime in 2010 the 3.5L EcoBoost will likely become the standard engine in place of the 4.6L V8 that's been around since the early '90s. A 4.4L V8 diesel will also join the lineup, giving a 20 percent mileage boost over the current 5.4L V-8. Much like the long-gone 302 cu. in. V8 was once the staple of Ford's engine lineup, the 3.5 will power most of the company's larger cars and CUVs . Many of these will even feature a 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder in place of the existing normally-aspirated 3.0L and 3.5L V6es.

Among the smaller cars like the Focus, Fiesta, and Fusion (and the Mondeo when it arrives) even smaller four-cylinder engines will provide motivation. The new Fiesta has 1.25L and 1.4L gas engines in Europe and the 1.4L will probably be the base US engine at launch, though the 1.25L is possible as well. Ford product development chief Derrick Kuzak has said that a 1.0L EcoBoost is possible for the Focus in 2012. To help get the most of the engines, Ford is expanding 6 speed automatic transmission availability. A new 6F35 mid-sized unit is debuting now in the Escape and will be added to the refreshed Fusion at the end of this year. Another smaller 6-speed automatic will debut in the Focus next year, followed by a dual-clutch transmission in 2011.

Ford will also add an upgraded version of its hybrid system to the Fusion and Milan sedans when the refreshed versions debut at the end of this year, and Ford also has a field test program with Southern California Edison for plug-in hybrid Escapes.

Fuel sipping station wagons sold in Europe

Do you have a small family and a dog? For many Europeans in that or a similar situation, station wagons are the ride of choice, despite the SUV and minivan craze. Buying a station wagon often means that you're buying a fuel efficient vehicle which can carry lots of stuff, and some of these vehicles can even seat seven. The key to an fuel-saving family hauler is finding that elusive combination of being compact in size, roomy inside and fitted to a efficient powertrain. Compact minivans, SUVs and CUVs sometimes fit these qualifications, as we discussed when we posed a list of European fuel saving people carriers. That list included some station wagons that seat seven, and today's list expands on that and shows the 20 most fuel-efficient station wagons on sale in Europe. Don't think all of them are made by European automakers. Find the full list after the jump.