Hasta La Gadget!

BMW’s been teasing us with its vision for electric motoroing for years, and today, folks, the trend continues. The German automaker has unveiled two concepts from its upcoming i sub-brand: the city-dwelling i3 and a rehashed version of its i8. This is the first time we’ve officially seen the smaller of the two, as the car formerly known as the Megacity had only been spied in an official render and during routine testing at the arctic circle. It’ll haul four peeps with its 150km range (around 100 miles) and accelerate from 0-60mph in around 8 seconds. As for those with range anxiety, the German company will soothe such fears with an optional range-extending motor dubbed “REx.” Either variant could land in your garage in 2013, where you’ll be able top them up in 6 hours with a standard socket, or up to eighty percent in an hour if you’re rocking a spiffy high capacity charger.

The i8, which you’ll recall for its radical aerodynamic design and hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain, has received a bevy of aerodynamic tweaks and junked its oil burner, opting for a gasoline one instead. Engine swap aside, the sporty coupé apparently drinks only 2.7 liters per 100km — 87 mpg (!) for yanks — which is unreal in a car that’ll accelerate to 62mph in 4.6 seconds. Sound too good to be true? We’ll have to wait until 2014 to see if München can make good on those promises, but in the meantime feel free to peruse the galleries, videos, and PR after the break.

Continue reading BMW unveils new i3 and revamped i8 concepts, we await our automotive future (video)

BMW unveils new i3 and revamped i8 concepts, we await our automotive future (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey Leaf owners — that’s right, all 4,000 of you — it looks like Nissan took your complaints feedback to heart and is making a few standard additions its EV auto line. Prospective owners of the yet-to-be delivered 2012 models can look forward to the inclusion of a DC fast charge port that’ll have your roadster 80 percent juiced in under 30 minutes and some cold weather features — like heated seats and a battery warmer. The Japanese carmaker also announced plans to expand availability of the auto to Illinois and parts of the southeastern US, and will open reservations to the general public once existing orders are fulfilled. So that’s the good, now are you ready for the bad? These electric hatchbacks are getting a new, higher MSRP that takes the SV trim level model to $35,200 and the SL to $37,250. It’s an entirely reasonable price to pay for warm buns and, hey, you’re saving the planet.

Continue reading Nissan expands Leaf’s US availability, makes seat warmers standard

Nissan expands Leaf’s US availability, makes seat warmers standard originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So you think you’re a huge fan of the Dark Knight, huh? Not so fast. Do you own a full-sized Batmobile? Yeah… we didn’t think so. But, auto restoration guru Casey Putsch does, and to launch himself further into super-fanboy status, he upgraded the engine with a Boeing turboshaft — snatched out of a naval drone helicopter. According to him, this makes his collector’s item one of a kind, in true Bruce Wayne fashion. Sure, these discarded movie props are usually powered by a standard 350 (especially the older models), but that wasn’t enough for a dude’s dude who appraises and designs all types of vehicles for a living. Mods were also made to the interior, including an iPad in the dash which serves as the avionics system and keeps track of the important GPS coordinates — you know, stuff you’d expect Lucious Fox to toss in to track villains and such. For a look at this beast in action, check out the video after the break; meanwhile we’ll try to figure out how to cram a jet engine into a Tesla Roadster.

Continue reading Man builds turbine-powered Batmobile, brags about having the only one (video)

Man builds turbine-powered Batmobile, brags about having the only one (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Scion iQ, Toyota’s tiny EV car that could, got an official 2012 launch yesterday at the automaker’s annual dealer meeting in Vegas. The quiet, though far from specific launch announcement frees this 65 mile-per-charge roadster from its pre-production limbo. Shown off last March at the Geneva Motor Show, the Scion iQ had been put on indefinite hold while factory production in the carmaker’s disaster-stricken homeland ramped back up to speed. With all signs now set to go, the only red-light still lingering is the micro-subcompact’s undisclosed MSRP. Considering the recent bankruptcy of Norwegian Think’s EV offering, we’re glad to see Toyota looking out for its little guy.

Continue reading Toyota Scion iQ EV plugs-in for official 2012 launch

Toyota Scion iQ EV plugs-in for official 2012 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When we took a deeper look into the technology that makes a Porsche a Porsche, we experienced neck-snapping acceleration and yawn-inducing traction control, but never did we get the feeling that the car was actually driving itself. That could change soon, Autoblog catching the keys to a Porsche Panamera S test mule outfitted with something called ACC InnoDrive. ACC stands for Adaptive Cruise Control, while InnoDrive stands for (wait for it) Innovative Drive. It’s basically cruise control with a brain, having a fully mapped-out route and knowing not only the severity of upcoming turns but also elevation changes and posted speed limits. In other words: it figures out how fast it should be going and even stops when it should, letting you go the entire distance without having to apply loafer to pedal — assuming no intersections. Porsche isn’t saying when we might see this technology coming to a dearly expensive options package near you, but assures us its cars never completely drive themselves: “We will not touch the steering, trust us. That hands-on aspect is key to the Porsche experience.”

Porsche ACC InnoDrive handles all the pedals, takes the lead out of your foot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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