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Nov 14
Nissan NV Food Truck concepts to feed media at 2011 LA Auto Show
in Nissan
Nissan’s NV vans, the company’s first entry into the commercial vehicle segment in North America, will be taken a step further at the 2011 LA Auto Show. The company has teamed up with The Grilled Cheese Truck and Coolhaus Truck  to combine their takes on two food classics with a pair of custom-outfitted Nissan NV vans.
The two vans will be put to work on the streets of LA and inside the  Convention Center’s West Hall where they will be providing sandwiches (cheese and ice cream respectively) to media attending the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Nissan NV food truck concepts come with custom fold-out serving windows, work counters and full exterior graphics.
“Since its introduction last spring, the Nissan NV van is proving itself in a wide range of commercial uses, from construction to delivery services, in both Standard Roof and High Roof body styles,” said Joe Castelli, vice president, Commercial Vehicles and Fleet, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). “The Nissan NV High Roof model is especially adaptable for food truck and catering use thanks to its 76.9-inch tall interior, which provides the flexibility for the mobile chefs to comfortably move around inside while creating their gastronomical delights.”
The Nissan NV truck is offered in three well-equipped models including NV1500, NV2500 HD, NV3500 HD. All are available with either a 4.0-liter V6 or 5.6-liter V8.GC_Driver_HiRes-627x314

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Nissan’s NV vans, the company’s first entry into the commercial vehicle segment in North America, will be taken a step further at the 2011 LA Auto Show. The company has teamed up with The Grilled Cheese Truck and Coolhaus Truck  to combine their takes on two food classics with a pair of custom-outfitted Nissan NV vans.

The two vans will be put to work on the streets of LA and inside the  Convention Center’s West Hall where they will be providing sandwiches (cheese and ice cream respectively) to media attending the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

(more…)

Nov 14
2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG unveiled ahead of LA Auto Show
in Mercedes Benz
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG will be making its public debut later this week at the 2011 LA Auto Show but the Stuttgart automaker has just released all the images and details of the new SUV.
“Like its predecessors, the 2012 ML63 AMG sets new standards in terms of performance, exclusivity and an outstanding driving experience – plus the efficiency factor, which is acquiring ever greater emphasis at Mercedes-AMG,” said Ola Kallenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “As the inventor of the high-performance SUV, we remain true to the philosophy which we introduced in 1999 with the 2000MY ML55 AMG and continued with the 2007MY ML63 AMG.”
So let’s get right down to the fun stuff. Power for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG comes from a 5.5 liter V8 biturbo engine making 518-hp at 5,250 rpm with a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft between 1,750 – 5,000 rpm. That allows 0 to 60 mph to come in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Buyers can add the AMG Performance Package, which increases output to 550-hp at 5,750 rpm and 560 lb-ft between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. The package allows a 0 to 60 mph of 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 174 mph. The AMG Performance Package also adds an engine cover genuine carbon fiber, calipers painted in red and the AMG Performance steering wheel in Premium leather/DINAMICA.
The engine is mated to a AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission with engine deactivation through one of the three driving programs. In ‘Controlled Efficiency mode (C) the ECO stop/start function activates and shuts down the big V8 when the vehicle is at a stand still. Other driver programs include Sport (S) and Manual (M).
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, which is 99 pounds lighter than its predecessor, also gets something called the ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM for active roll stabilization. The system is standard and features active stabilizers on the front and rear axles to make-up for body roll during rough cornering.
On the inside, the new ML63 AMG comes standard with basically everything including AMG exclusive illuminated door sills, AMG sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, COMAND system with hard-drive navigation & SIRIUS real-time traffic & weather, 10-way power front seats w/door-mounted controls plus driver and passenger memory with 4-way lumbar support, Harman/Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system, HD radio, Bluetooth audio streaming, 7 inch display with central COMAND controller, 4.5″ color instrument cluster display, power lift gate, power sunroof and heated & active ventilated front seats
The 2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG will hit U.S. showrooms in the first quarter of 2012.

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The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG will be making its public debut later this week at the 2011 LA Auto Show but the Stuttgart automaker has just released all the images and details of the new SUV.

“Like its predecessors, the 2012 ML63 AMG sets new standards in terms of performance, exclusivity and an outstanding driving experience – plus the efficiency factor, which is acquiring ever greater emphasis at Mercedes-AMG,” said Ola Kallenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “As the inventor of the high-performance SUV, we remain true to the philosophy which we introduced in 1999 with the 2000MY ML55 AMG and continued with the 2007MY ML63 AMG.”

(more…)

Nov 11
Pioneer bringing Siri-like control to the car
in - Car Stereo, - GPS Systems, - Gadgets

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The problem with most voice-recognition systems in modern cars is the stilted, unnatural commands required to execute even the simplest functions. Cadillac is supposedly working on bringing more natural voice commands to market with CUE, but Pioneer and its new Zypr voice-to-cloud platform aims to take it a step further.
Utilizing a tethered smartphone or embedded modem, the new system listens and acts on commands based on conversational direction. Say, “Play some music” and Zypr responses with “Which artist?” or “Which source?” Tell the system “I’m in the mood for Thai” and it will list off the nearest restaurants, provide Yelp ratings and allow you to get directions and email the address to your friends. Facebook and Google integration is also part of the package, and since it’s all handled in the cloud, the expansion of sources and options is infinite. And Zypr won’t just be limited to cars.
Pioneer wants the technology to find its way into every consumer electronics device on the market (for obvious licensing reasons), and with Apple’s Siri functionality on the iPhone 4S putting a new emphasis on natural speech recognition, consumers will be demanding similar tech in almost everything they own within the next few years.

The problem with most voice-recognition systems in modern cars is the stilted, unnatural commands required to execute even the simplest functions. Cadillac is supposedly working on bringing more natural voice commands to market with CUE, but Pioneer and its new Zypr voice-to-cloud platform aims to take it a step further.

(more…)

Nov 11
Honda Micro Commuter Concept is an EV for the urbanites
in - Electric Cars, Honda

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Joining the Honda Small Sport EV Concept and the Honda AC-X plug-in hybrid at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will be the Micro Commuter Concept.
According to Honda the Honda Micro Commuter Concept is:
A micro-sized, futuristic, electric city commuter which will become a highly accessible form of mobility for more people. This vehicle will offer the joy of a new type of communications between people and mobility and an exterior that the owner can enjoy customizing more casually. The collaboration of Honda’s motorcycle and automobile R&D centers made it possible to load the MOTOR COMPO two-wheel EV commuter in this vehicle.
We’ll have to wait until the 2011 Tokyo Show for more details

Joining the Honda Small Sport EV Concept and the Honda AC-X plug-in hybrid at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show will be the Micro Commuter Concept.

According to Honda the Honda Micro Commuter Concept is:

A micro-sized, futuristic, electric city commuter which will become a highly accessible form of mobility for more people. This vehicle will offer the joy of a new type of communications between people and mobility and an exterior that the owner can enjoy customizing more casually. The collaboration of Honda’s motorcycle and automobile R&D centers made it possible to load the MOTOR COMPO two-wheel EV commuter in this vehicle.

We’ll have to wait until the 2011 Tokyo Show for more details

Nov 11
Report: Lithium-ion battery packs being investigated after Chevy Volt catches fire
in - Electric Cars, - Hybrid Cars, Chevrolet
Electric powertrains are by no means new to the automobile industry because Toyota had invented the gasoline electric hybrid back in 1997. And although their functionality has been undoubtedly successful, a new investigation has popped up involving electric powertrains, more specifically with their battery packs.
This new investigation pops up after a Chevrolet Volt battery caught fire three weeks after a side-impact test at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s testing center in Wisconsin. The fire engulfed the car and others surrounding it.
You may be thinking, well, what could’ve caused that and how come it hasn’t happened to other cars such as the Toyota Prius? Well, for starters, the Toyota’s hybrid powertrains have been utilizing a nickel-metal battery. The Chevrolet Volt on the other hand uses a lithium ion battery. That said, the Volt’s incident has forced a team of investigators from the NHTSA to conduct a private and thorough investigation of lithium battery packs in the application of automobiles, which means the Nissan LEAF will too be scrutinized.
Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.
“As manufacturers continue to develop vehicles of any kind — electric, gasoline, or diesel — it is critical that they take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of drivers and first responders both during and after a crash,” said the NHTSA in a statement.

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Electric powertrains are by no means new to the automobile industry because Toyota had invented the gasoline electric hybrid back in 1997. And although their functionality has been undoubtedly successful, a new investigation has popped up involving electric powertrains, more specifically with their battery packs.

(more…)