Paris Motor Show releases and a new Dodge electric sports car

[Wouter Melissen]

Dear Ultimatecarpage.com visitor,

From next Thursday all eyes will be on the Porte de Versailles Expo center in Paris where the doors of the 'Mondial de l'Automobile' will open. Lamborghini has ensured there is plenty of anticipation and speculation by posting teaser pictures of what could be a brand new model. Other manufacturers have been a little more forthcoming with complete details of their Paris Motor Show releases.
German manufacturer Audi will unveil the all new S4 in both Sedan and 'Avant' guises. The big news is hidden under the bonnet; a brand new supercharged, direct-injected V6 engine. It offers 333 bhp and much improved fuel consumption figures. The environment is also high on the agenda at BMW and Saab. The Munich based manufacturer celebrate the introduction of the new 7-Series with a Hybrid Concept, which uses new technology that can be found in a production model as early as next near. The funky Swedes have created this 9-X Air Biohybrid Concept, which combines interesting styling with an E85-hybrid powerplant.
The legendary Rolls-Royce / Bentley aluminum V8 engine is nearing the end of its lifespan after a whopping 50 years of loyal service. The Bentley Arnage Final Series will be its farewell. With 500 bhp and 1000 Nm, it is still a great match for any 'modern' engine. The Fiat Group has recently brought the legendary Abarth marque back. In Paris they will debut the 500 esseesse, which surely brings back great memories.
Over the weekend Chrysler took the wraps off a range of electric engined prototypes. Among them were two 'electrified' versions of existing models and a very interesting Dodge. Clearly based on the Lotus Europa, the Dodge EV packs a 265 bhp and 650 Nm electric motor. The Chrysler range will be expanded with 'EV' powered production vehicles in the near future.

Enjoy the links:

2009 Audi S4 - Images, Specifications and Information

2008 Audi S4 Avant - Images, Specifications and Information

2008 Bentley Arnage Final Series - Images, Specifications and Information

2008 BMW Concept 7-Series Hybrid - Images, Specifications and Information

2008 Dodge EV - Images, Specifications and Information

2008 Fiat Abarth 500 esseesse - Images, Specifications and Information

2008 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia - Images, Specifications and Information

2008 Saab 9-X Air Biohybrid Concept - Images, Specifications and Information

Regards,
Wouter Melissen

[pimento]

Is it just me, or does the Dodge EV look suspisciously like a Lotus Europa?

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by pimento

Is it just me, or does the Dodge EV look suspisciously like a Lotus Europa?

It is not you.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

If you read the write up - it's actually based heavily on that vehicle.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

If you read the write up - it's actually based heavily on that vehicle.

yeah, but I'm wondering if it makes sense. the Europa is basically an Elise. the Tesla is basically and electric version of the Elise. I was expecting something more than a copy and paste work from Chrysler, even considering their financial problems, Tesla is such a little company in comparison.

[nopassn]

No mention of the 4-door lambo which will be rolled out? What about the Panamera, you'd think they'd be about ready to roll that piece of crap out, they've only been working on it for, like, 6 years now...

[NSXType-R]

Once again, does Chrysler really have the funds to be worrying about an electric Elise/Europa? Remember when they tried to make Wi Fi in every car? What will they come up with next?

[Dino Scuderia]

Heard and interview with the CEO of Chrysler this week...he basically admitted they have no clue about the batteries yet.

The car companies got approval for the 25 billion dollars yesterday...although they want more flexibility on how it is to be spent.

"Congress appears set to pass a $25 billion loan package to help companies meet new federal fuel-efficiency standards, but Detroit's Big Three auto makers will still face significant hurdles before they can put the funding to use.

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted 370 to 58 to approve a broad spending bill that includes $7.5 billion to start the loan program. The Senate is expected to pass the budget bill this week, and President Bush is expected to sign it.

Once the legislation passes, the Department of Energy would have two months to promulgate its own regulations, governing how and when auto makers and suppliers can apply for the loans and what criteria the government will use to approve those loans.

The basic rules as currently written, however, appear to restrict considerably the kinds of projects the auto makers could use the money for. The guidelines were set down in last year's energy bill that authorized the $25 billion in loans, and that bill states the money can only be used to overhaul plants that are at least 20 years old and will be upgraded to make vehicles that offer about a 25% improvement in fuel economy over similar models in their class.

Auto makers want the rules loosened to allow more leeway on how they can use the money.

Auto-industry experts expect the money could be used for a broad array of efforts to build more-fuel-efficient vehicles -- from smaller car designs from Europe to be built in the U.S. to the research and development for new hybrid-electric models.

David Cole, president of the Center of Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., said the legislation was designed to benefit U.S.-based auto makers over their rivals.

"At this point, anything the Detroit three can get in terms of loan guarantees is going to be a critical factor in what keeps them alive," Mr. Cole said."

Wall Street Journal

[digitalcraft]

Personally I think dodge is smart to go in this direction. Its the direction the market will be going. I hope this car gets a lot of positive response and a lot of airtime.

You start with the tech being accepted in a sports car and made 'cool', and then you use it for economy cars and make it common place and people buy it. Its still not that widely accepted in the US that its ok to have a small car for commuting, and only pansies drive electrics, so hopefully they can bend that public opinion with something like this.

[f6fhellcat13]

But dodge has built up its reputation these past couple of years on muscle, manliness, and repressed homosexuality. This car should be a Plymouth if it wants to have the right image. Maybe not Plymouth, but Jeep is Jeep, Chrysler is supposedly top of the range, and making it a Mercedes wouldn't make sense.
EDIT: Shame about the Bentley V8 dying.

[Dino Scuderia]

It's all kind of optimistic because Chrysler may not survive until 2010.

[nopassn]

Originally Posted by Dino Scuderia

It's all kind of optimistic because Chrysler may not survive until 2010.

Which reminds me... I wanted to rant about the gov't bailing out the financial sector for being ****-tarded for too many years... SEVEN HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS worth. But they won't throw the big three a dime... whores, the whole gov't lot of 'em. Except Bob Dole, he's hardcore.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by nopassn

No mention of the 4-door lambo which will be rolled out? What about the Panamera, you'd think they'd be about ready to roll that piece of crap out, they've only been working on it for, like, 6 years now...

I had a dream the Panamera was released on the web and it was so ugly.

Originally Posted by nopassn

Which reminds me... I wanted to rant about the gov't bailing out the financial sector for being ****-tarded for too many years... SEVEN HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS worth. But they won't throw the big three a dime... whores, the whole gov't lot of 'em. Except Bob Dole, he's hardcore.

I think a potential solution for the big three is raising taxes on competitive imports.

[Dino Scuderia]

Just in....

"Chrysler is expected to fire roughly 300 salaried employees as soon as Friday morning in a bid to meet a target of cutting 1,000 white-collar jobs by the end of September, people at the company said."

Wall Street Journal

[ScionDriver]

I like the idea of the EV from Dodge, but yeah when I saw this in USA Today yesterday I thought it looked like it was Europa-based but the article made no mention. I knew UCP would get to the bottom of it if I gave it a couple days.