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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21518 messages, Last post on Dec 05, 2009 at 10:07 AM
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jul 01, 2008 5:09 pm) Toyota has acquired bigger portions of Fuji which not only owns Subaru but also is a major battery maker. With such acquisitions Toyota is preparing itself to have the capacity to produce a far larger volume of hybrid batteries. |
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I did read that they raised their stakes in Fuji Heavy Ind. That was a very smart step, especially since GMs virtually none existant. How long would one guess it would take them to produce a lith-ion battery for the masses at an affordable price? Keep in mind that it was Toyota who said that it would take time to overcome the shortcomings of the battery, mainly overheating issues and costs. Lithium technology is not cheap.
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jul 01, 2008 7:30 pm) As I posted earlier, I see Toyota and Honda as the biggest winners, with the Germans coming in strong, but late to the game. And, I keep saying it, because it's true... Hyundai! Hyundai! Hyundai! (at raceway park... LOL.) The General better get to serious work. TM |
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jul 01, 2008 5:09 pm) Besides hybrid power that can't be built beyond 250k units a year due to supply restraints, what other plans of action does Toyota have substance? The same can be asked of Nissan and Honda. What is in the works that is superior to what the domestics have and will have in the future? Well... IMO Hemi, the first steps towards achieving something are sometimes the most important steps, as long as they are in the right direction. So, with that in mind, we can look at this interesting, but very tiny, "step" in the right direction.  VW’s 238mpg 1-liter Car to see limited-edition production TM
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jul 01, 2008 3:33 pm) Looks like a total redesign/reengineer to me! You design for the task.  Regards, OW |
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On the Isuzu-Toyota issue, that may make sense for them only if GM kills it's 15 year contract with them for designing the Duramax diesel. As to that "throwback" V-Dub, for 238mpg, where do I sign up? |
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Replying to: tagman (Jul 01, 2008 9:52 pm) And what does VW do? They wait 6 whole years to introduce this concept car! SIX YEARS!!!! And when they introduce it how many will there be on the roads? Only one thousand! Woope doo, sounds more like a high school science project than a plan from a very large Multinational auto manufacturer. And now you have BMW whining about CAFE: Earlier this year, the Bush administration surprised a lot of green activists by actually surpassing the already challenging CAFE standards for 2011-2015. While automakers like Toyota, Ford, and GM are quietly going about the business of hitting those targets, BMW is speaking up and saying that the targets are unattainable. The German automaker has asked the Bush administration for an alternative plan that helps out the hardest hit automakers, and the new rules are a punch to the gut for the Bavarian Motor crew. While the corporate average for cars and trucks is 35.7 mpg and 28.6 mpg by 2015, BMW has to hit 37.7 mpg and 31.7 mpg, respectively. The reason for the disparity is the sliding scale the government used to account for differences in size in each automaker's lineup. Since BMW doesn't sell pickup trucks and it has plenty of small and midsize offerings, BMW has to hit higher fuel economy standards. What the CAFE numbers don't take into account is the fact that all BMWs are RWD, and there isn't a four cylinder engine to be found (in the U.S., yet). The Bush administration says its final fuel economy numbers will become public by the end of the year, and if companies like BMW don't get special dispensations, look for there to be smaller engines on the horizion, or bigger fines. So what happened to BMW's rumored third division that will include FWD fuel efficient cars? Why is such a division not a priority right now? What about that Green Car of the Year 118d Series? So far I've heard nothing about such a car in North America? WHY NOT!! And last but not least we have MB with a low volume 2015 DiesOtto HCCI S Class that may be introduced years after lower priced high volume HCCIs are introduce by Honda and GM. Woopey Doo! The Volks at German automakers should wake up and just smell the coffee because right now the auto markets are changing far faster than what notions executives of MB, BMW, Audi and VW have about the markets. This belated German response is strikingly similar to the belated response of the Big Three with regards to their trucks, SUVs and small cars.
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Replying to: dewey (Jul 02, 2008 7:52 am) Funny how small things look at 50K feet...the ground comes up fast if you don't have a reserve chute and your market did a hook turn! Hook turn - A sudden turn close to the ground used to build up speed for a spectacular turf surf and gentle landing. When misjudged can result in smashed bones and a lengthy stay in hospital.  Regards, OW
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