Hasta La Gadget!

Back in 2010, Edison2 won the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE in the Mainstream class for its Very Light Car four-seater vehicle. Fast forward three years, and the Edison2 is back with the next generation of that winning vehicle, once again called the Very Light Car, but this time featuring an extra-sparse frame. You can check out a gallery of its prototype rendering, as well as pictures of its frame, after the break.

The design featured in the rendered images is reminiscent of the original vehicle, but with some updates that make it look both more robust and modernized while maintaining the signature look. The wheels are set outside of the body, most noticeable in the rear, which increases its ability to slice through air without making it so thin that it risks rolling or tipping.

Given its name, the car’s weight is its must poignant feature, with the original one coming in at less than 1,000 pounds. We’re assuming the next-generation version will likewise come in under that weight, but its final number hasn’t been revealed yet. You can get an idea for how little it will weigh, however, but checking out the pictures of its frame in the gallery below.

Aside from the lighter weight and the new design, the next-gen VLC also has improved suspension, featuring a design that is in-wheel for the purpose of being less complex with less parts. Following in line with that, Edison2 is also aiming at moving from the current 17-inch wheels to a larger 19-inch wheel design. We’re keeping an eye out for more details as they surface, so stay tuned!

[via Green Car Reports]

Edison2 shows off next-gen Very Light Car is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Fiat 500e will be sold exclusively in California for the price-tag of $32,500 MSRP. The first deliveries of this car are expected to occur this summer. You will be able to purchase a Fiat 500e at the starting price of $32,500, however, for those that are eligible for federal credits, state incentives, and FIAT rebates, you will be able to purchase this vehicle for as low as $20,500. You will also be able to lease the 500e for a down payment of $999 and monthly payments of $199 a month for 36 months.

The Fiat 500e has an EPA-certified range of 87 miles when it is fully charged, which Fiat claims is “best-in-class and better than all U.S.-market all-electric vehicles produced by high-volume manufacturers.” It also has an estimated 108 MPGe. There will be 25 dealerships all across California that will sell the 500e, and each will offer 4 charging stations that 500e owners can use. The dealerships will also help customers find other charging points, as well as offer locations of other charging stations on the customer’s route.

Fiat will offer its customers the “Fiat 500e Pass Program”, which allows 500e owners to choose an alternative car to use for up to 12 days each year. The owners will be able to choose from select cars offered by Enterprise Holdings, including the Fiat 500s, the Dodge Dart, the Chrysler 200, or bigger vehicles like a minivan or a pickup truck. The Fiat 500e Pass Program is only available for the first 3 years after you purchase your 500e.

There is also a smartphone app available for 500e owners. The app is available for both the iPhone and Android phones. It will provide you with details like real-time vehicle status and charge management, and will also allow you to track energy use, locate charging stations, prep routes, set up alerts, and more. The 500e itself has a 111hp/83kW electric motor that is able to deliver 147 lbs-feet of torque and is powered by a 24 kWh lithium battery. It is able to be charged in under 4 hours with 240 volts. The Fiat 500e is expected to be a huge hit in California.

[via Car Scoops]

California-exclusive 2013 Fiat 500e is priced at $32,500 is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

With the Cadillac ELR we saw the company blend luxury with electricity in a vehicle ready for sale in early 2014 – this week we’re being introduced to the vehicles Regen on Demand feature. This feature allows you to regenerate energy and store it as electricity for later use in the vehicle’s battery pack. This is done with the vehicle’s paddle shifters, an alternative to traditional performance vehicles use of steering wheel mounted paddles for upshift and downshift of their mechanical transmission.

With this new system, the driver will be taking part in the driving experience like never before – imagine being able to extend the length of time you’ll be able to drive without stopping to refuel or re-charge your car while you’re driving. How unimaginably far we’ve come from the crank-start cars of the past – how long until we just hop in and the car brings us wherever we want to go, no effort included?

“Regen on Demand enables ELR drivers to actively re-capture energy when slowing down, such as when approaching slower traffic or setting up for a tight turn. This allows the driver to take more active role in the electric vehicle driving experience.” – Chris Thomason, ELR chief engineer

Engaging Regen on Demand is simple: the driver simply takes his or her foot off of the accelerator and presses one of the vehicle’s two steering-wheel paddles. These paddles both generate energy and begin to decelerate the car – Regen on Demand will not bring the car to a full stop, but this feature is meant for coasting or, as Thomason mentions, setting up tight turns. This is also known as regenerative braking.

“Pulling back on the paddle to slow down allows the ELR driver to keep their foot close to the throttle, ready to accelerate. It provides a more engaged, satisfying driving experience, and when you consider the added benefit of re-capturing energy, it’s also a smart thing to do.” – Thomason

In addition to the Regen on Demand paddles on your steering wheel, you’ve also got a blended regenerative braking system. With this system you’ll be recapturing energy when your brakes are applied and your vehicle slows. At the point at which you need a massive amount of brake power, this vehicle blends in friction brakes so you can stop quick.

The Cadillac ELR works with an estimated range of about 35 miles (56 km) of pure electric driving and uses an advanced electric drive unit capable of 295 lb-ft of instant torque (400 Nm). The energy is stored in a lovely T-shaped battery pack, this pack charged up by the Regen on Demand system you’re reading about today, a standard 120V electrical outlet, or a dedicated 240V charging station. Depending on outside temperature, you’ll be able to completely recharge your battery in about 4.5 hours using a 240V outlet.

Have a peek at our Car Hub as well as the timeline below for more Cadillac excellence through the future – and keep on regenerating that electricity with the power you already generate. Let nothing go to waste!

Cadillac ELR introduces “Regen on Demand” for extended electric range is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Toyota and Ford are battling over numbers, each claiming to have the top numbers and the bestselling global nameplate. First Ford published its numbers, which put itself in the top slot, only for Toyota to follow up a short while later with its own numbers, which trumped Ford’s and bumped the latter company down to second place.

The problem stems with deciding whose numbers are correct. According to Ford, which is going with data by R.L. Polk & Co., its Focus is the top-selling compact car at 1.02 million sales in 2012. Toyota disagreed, and stated later that same day that its Corolla is top, with sales clocking in at 1.16 million, a fairly substantial jump over the 872,774 sales pegged by R.L. Polk & Co.

This isn’t the first time Ford and Toyota have butted heads over which manufacturer’s vehicle outsold the other, with both having claimed top 6-month global car sales last fall. That time around, Ford used data from IHS Automotive, which neglected to include certain derivative varieties of the Corolla in its report. Not surprisingly, Toyota took issue with the data and claim.

According to Toyota’s US Vice President Mike Michels, “Corolla registrations attributed to Polk come up short by nearly 300,000 units. This discrepancy is glaring and we have requested clarification.” No response has been provided yet, however. Until things are clarified, Ford is maintaining its claim as being in the top position, something that is no small success in light of Toyota’s long history of domination in the car market.

[via Bloomberg]

Toyota says Corolla outsold the Focus despite Ford’s claims is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Chrysler may have just achieved a new record, but it isn’t one any manufacturer wants: 6 recalls in one day. The surprising number of recalls are over a wide spectrum of issues covering many thousands of vehicles, with problems including issues with fuel lines, airbag warning lights that aren’t supposed to be on, problems with brakes, and more.

Going down the list, first up is the 2007 and 2008 Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty, of which 78,500 were recalled over a faulty heat shield that could loosen and rub against the driveshaft, eventually causing it to fail. Most of these vehicles are located in the United States, with others being in Mexico and Canada. Then there’s the 2011 and 2012 Chrysler 300, Challenger, and Charger, 119,000 of which were recalled due to the airbag light coming on due to the incorrect wiring harness being used in some models.

The 2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot is also affected, with 30,000 vehicles being recalled over an issue with deformed fuel lines that cut off gas from the engine, leading to a stall. This issue has resulted in one reported accident, but no one was injured. Most of the vehicles being recalled are located in the US, with others in Canada and Mexico.

And rounding out the recalls is the 2013 Dodge Dart, with 52 vehicles being recalled over bad calipers, all but six of them being located in the US (the others are in Canada). The 2013 Dodge Ram truck has a recall of 9300 over a parking brake that may not work, and finally, approximately 7000 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 diesel trucks were recalled due to problems with engine heat.

If you have one of the affected vehicles, you’ll receive a notification from Chrysler.

[via USA Today]

Chrysler rolls out 6 recalls over warning lights, fuel problems, and more is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.