Tesla Model S Vehicle Engineering Video - Part 3

Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 3 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.

Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Peter Rawlinson, talks about some of the features of Model S engineering at Tesla headquarters. He discusses the advantages of designing a car from the ground using Tesla’s proven electric powertrain, and how the result will be a drive experience to surpass any that have come before it.

Tesla Model S Vehicle Engineering Video - Part 2

Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 2 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.

Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Peter Rawlinson, talks about some of the features of Model S engineering at Tesla headquarters. He discusses the advantages of designing a car from the ground using Tesla’s proven electric powertrain, and how the result will be a drive experience to surpass any that have come before it.

Tesla Model S Vehicle Engineering Video - Part 1

Tesla Vehicle Engineering - Part 1 from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.

Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Peter Rawlinson, talks about some of the features of Model S engineering at Tesla headquarters. He discusses the advantages of designing a car from the ground using Tesla’s proven electric powertrain, and how the result will be a drive experience to surpass any that have come before it.

New World Record: Tesla Roadster Goes 347.2 Miles On One Charge

The owner of an all-electric Tesla Roadster from Texas has set a new record for distance traveled on a single battery charge: 347.2 miles or 555.5 kms.

The GPS log of the trip, completed on a closed circuit in California last week, has been posted as proof, but Tesla Motors hasn’t officially verified the new record.

The record is for a production vehicle — no extra batteries or special modifications allowed. The roadster is special in one way; it was the 1000th car to roll off the Tesla assembly line. (Hence its license plate: VIN1K.)

The car, which can reach 120 mph, didn’t set any speed records on this journey. The two-person driving team maintained a nearly constant speed of 25 mph.

The previous record distance traveled on one charge in a standard production Tesla Roadster was 501 kms or 313 miles set during the 2009 World Solar Challenge in Australia. Tesla Motors puts the official range for the roadster at 244 miles on a single charge.

Source: TylerVault

Mercedes is developing Mega City car to match rival BMW

According to a recent report, Mercedes is developing a new car to battle the BMW Megacity.

Tentatively dubbed the Megacity Mobility (MCM), the vehicle will feature aerodynamic styling which is being created by the company's Japanese design studio. Furthermore, initial reports suggest the car will use an electric powertrain and ride on the next-generation Smart ForTwo platform.

As we have previously reported, the 2013 BMW Megacity will feature a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) body and a 150 hp (112 kW / 152 PS) electric motor. It will be powered by a 35 kWh lithium-ion battery and have a range of approximately 100 miles (161 km).

Source: AutoCar

Toyota Prius US sales up 33 percent in December 2010

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., report hybrid sales in December rose 14.2% by volume to 20,522 vehicles, up from 17,964 units in December 2009. TMS 2010 full year hybrid sales dropped 3.3% by volume to 189,147 units (from 195,545 in 2009).

The Prius mid-size gas-electric hybrid posted best-ever December sales of 15,253 units, up 33% by volume over December 2009. Prius logged 140,928 units sold for the full year, up 0.9% from 139,682 units in 2009.

Prius thus represented 75% of all TMS hybrids sold for the year; 8% of all TMS vehicles sold in the US during the year; and 14% of all TMS passenger cars sold in 2010.

Source: Toyota Motor Sales

Renault suspends officials over 'electric car industrial espionage'

French car maker Renault suspended three senior managers in what a source close to the company said on Wednesday was a move linked to the suspected leaking of secrets on its new electric vehicle models and possible industrial espionage.

A Renault spokesman said on Tuesday that it had suspended three senior managers over unspecified ethical issues. Sources who asked not to be named told AFP that the suspensions were linked to the alleged leaking of company secrets.

"It centres on the electric vehicle," a source close to the car maker told AFP on Wednesday.
Renault aims to mass produce electric cars for the general market, a key strategic move for years to come as auto makers face up to demand for more environmentally friendly modes of transport.

"In late August 2010, an ethical alert was brought to the attention of the compliance committee," a Renault spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday.

"The investigation that followed led to the suspension of three Renault executives," she added, without giving further details. The spokeswoman added on Wednesday that Renault had not made any formal complaint in the affair.

Sources said that those suspended had all headed electric vehicles projects and one was a member of the company's management committee. They were required to leave their offices on Monday, the sources said.

Renault says it plans to launch electric versions of its Fluence model priced at about 25,000 euros (34,000 dollars) and its Kangoo Express for about 20,000 euros in mid-2011 and its smaller Twizy and Zoe models in late 2011 and 2012.

It forecasts that electric cars will make up 10 percent of the market by 2020. Along with its Japanese partner Nissan, it is investing 200 million euros a year in the programme.

Nissan has already launched an all-electric car for the mass market, the Leaf, in Japan and the United States, where it sold out on pre-orders.

The five-seat hatchback Leaf -- short for Leading Environmentally-friendly Affordable Family car -- is set to be launched in select European markets in early 2011.

In an earlier scandal in 2007, Renault brought charges for industrial espionage after a magazine published pictures and plans for two of new models it was developing.

Industrial espionage scandals have also struck elsewhere in France's huge, automotive industry, including tyre maker Michelin and auto parts maker Valeo.