Next Beetle takes evolutionary design step

The redesigned 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle will undergo an evolutionary styling change when production begins next year.


The redesigned 2012 New Beetle shares a vehicle platform with the Volkswagen Golf. The New Beetle will continue to be assembled in Puebla, Mexico.

In an interview last October, Stefan Jacoby, who at that time was the president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, said the next generation New Beetle would have more space for rear-seat passengers and better packaging. However, the overall dimensions of the vehicle would not significantly change.

Jacoby said the major complaint about the current car — aside from its age — is the cramped rear seat. Few changes have been made to the current New Beetle since it debuted in 1998. 

New Beetle sales peaked at 83,434 units in 1999 and have plunged considerably since then. VW sold 14,085 New Beetles last year in the United States, a 47 percent drop from 2008. Through September, sales are up 27 percent from last year, to14,747.

Volvo to launch EV in 2011

Swedish brand plans 1,000 electric C30s for Europe next year

Volvo Car Corp. will launch its full-electric C30 in early 2011 and plans to have a European test fleet of about 1,000 cars.

Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby told Automotive News Europe that Volvo's home market, Sweden, and its neighboring Nordic countries will get the electric vehicle first. He said the automaker also aims to launch the EV in the UK, Germany and Belgium.

“It will be in major European markets,” he said, adding that Volvo will target local governments as its first customers for the car.

Volvo said that C30 DRIVe Electric test fleets also will be operating in the United States and China starting next year.

The CEO said it is too early to say how larger the U.S. and China test fleets will be. He also declined to say when the car will be in dealer showrooms.

“We will not rush,” he said. “We need feedback from the fleets before we offer this to end customers.”

He said the C30 DRIVe Electric, which has a range of 150km (about 93 miles), is a mature product that has all the safety features that Volvo customers expect as well as go-kart-like responsiveness.

Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson announced

A classic name returns as rally legend Erik Carlsson has a 276bhp Saab 9-3 Aero named after him

Saab has revealed a 9-3 Aero Carlsson edition. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Erik Carlsson’s first RAC Rally victory (the first of a hat-trick, in his 750cc Saab 96), it evokes memories of Saab 900 and 9000 Carlsson sports saloons of old.
 
Equipped wih a 2.8-litre V6 turbocharged engine, it boasts 276bhp and 295lb ft of torque, enough for a 0-60mph sprint time of just 6.9sec, while Saab’s famed in-gear shove is present, with a 6.3sec 50-70mph time. Top speed is limited to 155mph.
 
Power is transmitted to the road via Saab’s XWD all-wheel-drive system, complete with an electronic limited-slip differential at the rear. Exterior flourishes include a set of 19in six-spoke alloy wheels, twin exhaust pipes, a rear spoiler and titanium-finish detailing.
 
Erik (who is now 81) should be used to having cars named after him by now, but he’s still apparently over-the-moon about the latest Saab Carlsson – ‘I’m very proud to have such a great car named after me,’ he said. ‘Anyone who loves driving and is as passionate about the Saab brand as I am, will be excited about getting behind the wheel of this car.’ And who are we to argue…
 
Just 96 will be made (a neat link back to Erik’s Saab 96), priced at £26,495, around 20 per cent cheaper than the price of the late Saab 9-3 Turbo X whose engine it shares.

Cruise ship passenger (mistakenly) arrested for prostitution

Florida news outlets this week are abuzz over the story of a cruise ship passenger mistakenly arrested at Fort Lauderdale's port on a prostitution-related charge.

Paola Londono, 31, of Orlando was taken into custody on Sunday at Port Everglades moments after stepping off an unnamed ship that had returned from a voyage to the Caribbean.

The Orlando Sentinel reports police confused Londono for a 24-year-old woman with the same name wanted in Florida's Osceola County.

Despite her pleas of innocence -- and the fact she looked nothing like the mug shot of the wanted woman -- Londono was kept locked up in a Broward County jail for more than 36 hours, according to the news outlet.

"Our database had two Paola Londonos in the system," Osceola County sheriff's spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain told the Sentinel. "How the names crossed is going to be something that we will be looking into."

The wrongfully arrested Londono, who was traveling with her husband, had her 9-month-old child taken from her arms when she was arrested, according to a lawyer quoted in the Sentinel.

"It was outrageous," the lawyer says, noting the two Londono's are five inches and 40 pounds different in height and weight. "These two people could not look more different."

Apple TV revamp expected as Google rivalry heats up

The competition between Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) in the digital living room is about to intensify.

Tech analysts expect Apple soon to revamp its under-performing Apple TV gadget, which plugs into a TV so you can watch movies and shows via iTunes, in order to take on the new Google TV service when it launches this fall.

Google TV is a new way of watching Web content on televisions, via a Google operating system of sorts. Google is partnering with Sony (SNE), Logitech (LOGI), Dish Network (DISH) and others on the service, which will make its debut on a new set from Sony. No specific date has been announced.

To gear up for the competition, tech analysts expect Apple to cut the price of Apple TV to $99 from $229. But is it too late?

"Google is proposing a solution that will change the way we watch TV," says James McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research. "This is something Apple needs to take very seriously."

McQuivey doesn't believe a price cut is enough. He thinks Apple has to offer more than iTunes viewing: Apple TV also needs to work with the more than 10,000 software apps that are available for the iPhone and iPad. "Apps are the new definition of the Apple experience," he says.

Unlike the iPhone and iPad, which can connect to a host of entertainment choices from the likes of Netflix, ABC and Hulu Plus, Apple TV owners' only option are downloads from iTunes.

Consumers looking to add Google TV to their living room will have a choice of a new flat-screen Sony HDTV or Sony Blu-ray player that has Google technology built in. Pricing hasn't been announced. For those who don't want a new TV or Blu-ray player, options include a set-top box from Logitech or a new box being offered for satellite TV from the Dish Network.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster believes Apple eventually will reinvent Apple TV as an all-in-one, high-def TV set with built-in Web connectivity. He sees it launching in 2012 at $1,800-$2,000. "Apple has a golden opportunity to be relevant in the living room," he says. "They're not today."

Apple in recent years has held an event in September in San Francisco to tout new iPods. Munster believes Apple will do the same this year, focusing on music and the Apple TV relaunch.

Apple had no comment.

Munster thinks both Apple and Google have their work cut out for them.

"People don't want another box in their living room," he says. "Google as a separate box is a tough sell."

Of the 220 million flat-panel TVs projected to be sold in 2012, Munster believes that 65% will be Internet connected and that Apple could have 1.4 million of those with a new Apple TV set. That would add 3% to Apple's revenue in 2012, he says.

San Francisco proposal would limit toys in kids' meals

A serious move is afoot to force fast-food giants to make kids meals more nutritionally viable if they want to sell them with kid-luring toys.

In San Francisco, newly proposed legislation would ban toys from most kids meals sold at McDonald's, Burger King and other chains unless the meals meet more stringent calorie and sodium limits. The legislation also would require fruit or veggies in each meal.

The $179 billion fast-food industry is watching with intense interest — aware that menu-labeling requirements that started locally in New York City several years ago have since been copied regionally and will become federal law in 2014 under the health care act.

Kids meals rank among fast food's big sales catalysts. Although kids meal sales are declining — because budget-minded parents sometimes opt for dollar menu items instead — the industry sold about $5.5 billion worth last year, researcher NPD Group reports.

Nothing gets kids more excited about eating out than a kids meal with a toy. That's what 36% of kids under age 6 say they like best about eating out, NPD reports. That compares with 16% who like the food best.

"Companies know it doesn't work to advertise food to kids — they want the toy," says Michael Jacobson, executive director of the consumer group Center for Science in the Public Interest.

For each kid who buys a kids meal, there's typically at least one parent — and often siblings — who make more profitable purchases, says Ron Paul, president of researcher Technomic.

San Francisco now emerges as the biggest city to place a stake in the ground linking kids meal toys and nutrition. Several months ago, Santa Clara County, just south of San Francisco, became the first local government to enact such a law, but it applies to a tiny number of restaurants. In San Francisco, it could affect hundreds.

"There's no fundamental conflict between a healthy meal and a happy meal," says Rajiv Bhatia, environmental health director for San Francisco.

He says chains could easily conform by making relatively small changes in ingredients or portion size, reducing the number of french fries, or replacing fries with veggies, fruit or salad.

Officials at McDonald's and Burger King declined to comment.

"This is just another example of San Francisco taking a bad idea and making it worse," says Daniel Conway, spokesman for the California Restaurant Association. "This ordinance will put restaurant employees in the position of playing food police."

More Saab products coming, Muller says

Saab's new Dutch owner, Spyker Cars NV, intends to spin additional models off its new Phoenix platform after it yields a redesigned Saab 9-3.

Saab dealers will receive the latest 9-3 in 2012, Spyker founder and Saab Automobile AB Chairman Victor Muller said today at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars here.

The dealers, who have been starved for product as former owner General Motors attempted to sell or liquidate the brand, also will obtain a Cadillac-based 9-4X crossover when it goes into production in April 2011 in Mexico.

Muller led the purchase of Saab earlier this year and quickly ramped up the automaker's plants to begin U.S. deliveries of a new 9-5 in recent weeks. The 9-5 was already in the pipeline as a platform developed by GM.

“Spyker's only contribution to the new 9-5 is the fact that it still exists,” Muller quipped, referring to his moves to save the Saab brand.

“There had been no cars delivered to U.S. dealers since February 2009,” he said.

Muller said the 9-3's Phoenix platform began as a GM platform for the 9-3. But Saab is now overhauling the platform and making design changes to the car.

Lamborghini predicts return to growth after H2 revenues fall 2.6%

Lamborghini, the Italian luxury sports car brand, remained cautious about 2010 when it posted a 2.6 percent fall in first-half revenues despite continued growth in Asia.

Lamborghini, a unit of Volkswagen's Audi brand, was severely hit by the recession last year, when sales fell 41 percent.

"2010 is a transition year for Lamborghini," CEO Stephan Winkelmann said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that market recovery and brand repositioning would help it return to growth.

The maker of supercars said revenues fell to 152.9 million euros ($199.9 million) in the first half when it sold 674 cars, down 18 percent.

Lamborghini cars range in price from 180,000 euros to 400,000 euros.

Car sales more than tripled in China, its second-biggest market after the United States, to 86 in the period. Lamborghini has said it expects to sell more than 100 cars in China in 2010.

First-half sales in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan more than doubled.

The carmaker said it was heavily investing in the carbon fiber technology, which boosts power efficiency and helps reduce weight and car emissions.

Lamborghini competes head-on with Ferrari, owned by Italian carmaker Fiat.

Special Dodge Challenger pushes Mopar gear

To boost its Mopar service and parts brand, Chrysler Group is selling 500 Dodge Challengers equipped with Mopar performance parts.

Chrysler says the Mopar '10 Challenger, with a cold-air intake and functional hood scoop, is the first Mopar edition of one of its vehicles. Sales start in August.

The automatic-transmission version will be priced at $38,000, and the manual-transmission version will sell for $39,000. Prices include shipping. Both will be powered by Chrysler's 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.

The car will be offered in black with three accent colors: blue, red or silver. The accent colors will appear on side stripes and the baseball-style stitching on the steering wheel and seats.

Bill Gates, venture capitalist invest $23.5 million in EcoMotors

EcoMotors International has received $23.5 million from Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates and investor Vinod Khosla for engineering and testing of its trademarked Opoc engine technology.

EcoMotors said in a statement today that the investment marks a key advance in commercializing its opposed piston-opposed cylinder engine. The engine maker plans to use the funds for completing testing and building demonstration units.

Further details about the funding have not been disclosed.

EcoMotors CEO Don Runkle said it is terrific to have the support of prominent investors. He also said EcoMotors' engines will be built in Michigan because of the state's resources and talent. Runkle is a former executive of General Motors and Delphi Corp.

EcoMotors, based in suburban Detroit, says the Opoc architecture allows its opposed piston-opposed cylinder engines to use 50 percent fewer parts than standard engines, while providing 50 percent more fuel efficiency. Runkle says the company is working on its sixth-generation engine and the new funds may be used for the next engine configuration.

Touting the tech

Gates, also co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said in a statement that the technology may be a stepping stone in advancing affordable, low-emission transportation.

Khosla co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982 and was a general partner of the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, Caufield & Byers in California. In 2004, he founded venture capital firm Khosla Ventures of Menlo Park, Calif., to invest in various green technologies. The firm owns 47 percent of EcoMotors.

Opoc was conceived by Peter Hofbauer, former head of powertrain development at Volkswagen AG and now EcoMotors' chairman and chief technology officer, the company said.

Hofbauer designed the VW high-speed diesel engine that became the foundation for the clean diesel engine used in the Jetta and other VW vehicles, EcoMotors said.

PRESS RELEASE: Khosla Ventures and Bill Gates Invest in EcoMotors' Revolutionary opoc® Engine

Securing “Series B” funding from two prominent investors represents a major advance in the global commercialization of the opoc® technology.



TROY, Michigan, July 12, 2010 -- EcoMotors International CEO Don Runkle announced today that the Company has secured substantial Series B funding – sufficient to complete engineering and testing of the opoc® engine.



The two exclusive investors in EcoMotors' Series B are Khosla Ventures of Menlo Park, California and Bill Gates. The two principals, Vinod Khosla and Bill Gates, indicate their stakes in EcoMotors reflect a shared belief in the global potential of the opoc® technology and the impact it can have on transportation emissions because of its cost effectiveness.



“opoc® is precisely the kind of game-changing innovation that we at Khosla Ventures are passionate about,” said Khosla. “The only truly disruptive technologies are those that can provide not only payback in months but also economic and carbon benefits to large segments of the world's population without the need for subsidies or massive infrastructure investments. Among next-generation propulsion systems, the opoc® engine is broadly applicable and can provide lower carbon emissions than almost any other technology.”



“The opoc® engine can be an important step in providing affordable, low-emission transportation for the developing world,” said Gates. “EcoMotors has developed a promising technology that could help reduce levels of greenhouse gas emissions in a low-cost, globally relevant way.”



The revolutionary opoc® architecture of opposed pistons and opposed cylinders provides unparalleled benefits:



High Efficiency: The unique enginearchitecture – which offers true modular displacement capability — delivers up to 50% greater fuel efficiency compared with conventional engines of similar output, along with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Half the weight and half the size of conventional engines: Theopoc® engine provides unparalleled power density and flexibility in automobile and truck design as well as other engine applications.

Low Cost: With50% fewer parts than a conventional engine, the opoc® is less expensive to manufacture, to purchase, to operate and to tool up.

Established in early 2008, EcoMotors is quickly achieving critical mass in terms of changing the landscape of internal combustion power. Based in Troy, Mich., EcoMotors is commercializing the unique opoc® engine for use in cars, light trucks, commercial vehicles, aerospace, marine, agriculture, auxiliary power units, generators, etc. Anywhere conventional gas or diesel power is currently utilized, opoc® represents a better propulsion solution.



EcoMotors is led by Don Runkle (Chief Executive Officer) and Prof. Peter Hofbauer (Chairman and Chief Technical Officer).



opoc® was conceived by Prof. Peter Hofbauer – who formerly as Head of Powertrain Development at VW designed the original VW high speed diesel engine that became the foundation for the Jetta Clean Diesel that won 2009 Green Car of the Year honors. Don Runkle, as former VP of N.A. Engineering at GM, spearheaded the GM EV1 electric car along with countless other innovations.



EcoMotors is a Khosla Ventures portfolio company. Khosla Ventures offers venture assistance, strategic advice and capital to entrepreneurs. The firm helps entrepreneurs extend the potential of their ideas in breakthrough scientific work in clean technology areas such as solar, battery, high efficiency engines, lighting, greener materials like cement, glass and bio-refineries for energy and bioplastics, and other environmentally friendly technologies as well as traditional venture areas like the Internet, computing, mobile and silicon technology arenas. Vinod Khosla founded the firm in 2004 and was formerly a General Partner at Kleiner Perkins and founder of Sun Microsystems. Khosla Ventures is based in Menlo Park, California.