Few vehicles trigger happier memories than the iconic Volkswagen bus, a practical van
that became an emblem of the free-wheeling '60s.
VW has toyed for years with the idea of bringing back this model, and this week it's
displaying its latest interpretation of the bus at the Geneva motor show.
Dubbed the Bulli, as the original bus was called in Germany, the concept vehicle
features cutting-edge technology and a zero-emission electric drivetrain, yet remains
true to the spirit of the bus launched in 1950.
While the Bulli is a show car, the company indicated it might provide the inspiration
for a new model that would join the VW lineup.
"This concept has the potential to establish a new people carrier next to the Caddy,
Touran, Sharan and its large counterpart, the Caravelle," Volkswagen said in a
statement, referring to its global lineup of family haulers.
The Bulli is equipped with an electric motor located forward of the front axle. Powered
by a 3,200-pound lithium-ion battery, it can store 40 kilowatt hours of electricity
providing a driving range of 186.4 miles.
But the vehicle also can be fitted with VW's gas and diesel direct-injection engines.
With a length of 156 inches, a width of 68.4 inches and height of 66 inches, the two-
toned Bulli is wider and shorter than the old bus.
"It's very cool-looking," said Jack Nerad, an industry analyst at Kelley Blue Book, the
used-car pricing firm. "There are retro elements to it, but it's not a retro design."
The Bulli's interior combines technological updates with nostalgic touches. Like the
old Microbus, as it was known in the United States, the Bulli concept has a single
bench seat in front.
Its updated console features a removable iPad offering Internet-based applications as
well as controlling functions, such as a Bluetooth hands-free phone and a navigation
system. U.S. guitar and amplifier maker Fender produced the sound system.
Like the old bus, the Bulli's seating system can be rearranged easily into a large
reclining surface, transforming the vehicle into a compact camper.
Analysts said they expected Volkswagen to launch a model based on the Bulli concept, in
part to fulfill its ambitious U.S. sales targets. The Wolfsburg, Germany-based
automaker aims to triple U.S. sales of VW cars by 2018.
Currently it offers the Routan in North America, a slow-selling model derived from
Chrysler's Dodge Caravan.
A production version of the Bulli is likely to appeal "to the same demographic that was
drawn to the minibus back in the day — the 18-to-34's," Nerad said.
"It would probably bag some aging boomers who were fans of the original Microbus, as
well."
2011年2月28日 星期一
2011年2月22日 星期二
BMW to Create Sub-Brand for Battery-Powered Cars
FRANKFURT — BMW, the German luxury car builder, said on Monday that it would create a sub-brand known as BMW i to market a line of battery-powered cars starting in 2013, and gave the most complete picture yet of how the vehicles made of carbon fiber and aluminum would look.
The information drip continued Monday with an event in Munich, broadcast on the Web, where the company, formally Bayerische Motoren Werke, showed off crucial details of the body design and the slanted "i" logo that will be used to market the cars.
BMW also said that at least two models, not just one, would be introduced in 2013: a four-seat, battery-powered vehicle intended for urban areas and known as the i3; and a hybrid sports car, the i8, that the company promised would be able to reach nearly 100 kilometers an hour, or 60 miles an hour, in five seconds, while burning no more fuel than a subcompact.
Additional BMW i vehicles will follow, BMW executives said.
"There is room for more products," said Klaus Drager, the head of development.
By deciding to label the new cars BMW i, BMW seems confident that they will enhance the image of its core brand — and not damage it by falling flat in a still unproved market for electric vehicles.
The new BMW brand name is not a total surprise. The effort to design and build electric cars, begun in 2007, has been known as Project i. The plug-in cars will retain the kidney-shaped grill design on the front end that is one of the most recognizable elements of a BMW, even though that grill is not needed by a battery-powered vehicle and will have no function.
The cars will also have computers that can be loaded with applications. BMW said that it had formed a venture capital fund to encourage the development of such applications. The fund, BMW i Ventures, already has a stake in MyCityWay, a start-up in New York that offers location-based information, like where to find parking.
BMW hopes to generate additional revenue with services that may also be sold to people who do not own a car, like high-end car sharing. BMW is betting that there is a market among young, affluent buyers for cars that are sporty and stylish yet guilt-free.
"This group has a keen sense of design and style along with passion for the environment," said Ian Robertson, the director of sales and marketing.
The information drip continued Monday with an event in Munich, broadcast on the Web, where the company, formally Bayerische Motoren Werke, showed off crucial details of the body design and the slanted "i" logo that will be used to market the cars.
BMW also said that at least two models, not just one, would be introduced in 2013: a four-seat, battery-powered vehicle intended for urban areas and known as the i3; and a hybrid sports car, the i8, that the company promised would be able to reach nearly 100 kilometers an hour, or 60 miles an hour, in five seconds, while burning no more fuel than a subcompact.
Additional BMW i vehicles will follow, BMW executives said.
"There is room for more products," said Klaus Drager, the head of development.
By deciding to label the new cars BMW i, BMW seems confident that they will enhance the image of its core brand — and not damage it by falling flat in a still unproved market for electric vehicles.
The new BMW brand name is not a total surprise. The effort to design and build electric cars, begun in 2007, has been known as Project i. The plug-in cars will retain the kidney-shaped grill design on the front end that is one of the most recognizable elements of a BMW, even though that grill is not needed by a battery-powered vehicle and will have no function.
The cars will also have computers that can be loaded with applications. BMW said that it had formed a venture capital fund to encourage the development of such applications. The fund, BMW i Ventures, already has a stake in MyCityWay, a start-up in New York that offers location-based information, like where to find parking.
BMW hopes to generate additional revenue with services that may also be sold to people who do not own a car, like high-end car sharing. BMW is betting that there is a market among young, affluent buyers for cars that are sporty and stylish yet guilt-free.
"This group has a keen sense of design and style along with passion for the environment," said Ian Robertson, the director of sales and marketing.
2011年2月21日 星期一
Cape Girardeau man builds his own electric cars
The future of the car as you know it could be getting a big charge from a man in Cape Girardeau.
Jack Rickard is getting a lot of attention in the world of electric cars and after you drive one, you can understand why.
I first met Jack in 2009 when we took a spin in his 1957 Porsche Speedster replica. It's a car that is totally electric and quite impressive.
We agreed to come back when he completed his next electric car and we did. Jack was just beginning to convert a Mini Cooper that now serves as his daily driver.
"We put in regenerative braking system in it and 112 cells or 700 pounds of batteries," Jack said. "It will go 100 miles and 100 miles an hour."
Jack has an entire garage dedicated to electric cars. It took him a year to convert the Mini. The Porsche we drove in 2009 is getting double the power. He did a electric prototype for the company that makes the Porsche replicas. And, his team added a Porsche Spyder replica that is also fully electric and would make James Dean green with envy. These cars may look like the past, but for Jack they are the future. He says it boils down to oil and the estimated two billion cars in the world by 2020.
"The rest of the world wants to drive cars just like we do," Jack said. "That's going to put a lot of pressure on the price of oil and really change the way we live in suburbia."
But why spend $15,000 converting a car to electric? Why not just buy an electric car? According to Rickard, it's not that easy.
"They've sold about 1,500 Tesla's at $150,000 a piece," he said. "There's the Chevy Volt, an electric car that runs on gasoline and the Nissan Leaf. You can't just go buy an electric car and you won't be able to for some time."
Plus, why limit yourself when you have the means to turn any car you fancy electric? Jack admits the mini was a real challenge. It's a modern car with all the amenities. It has satellite radio, air conditioning, heating, Bluetooth and an iPod adaptor. The real problem was fooling the car computer into believing it still has a gas engine, even though its engine is sitting about 20 feet away.
What it does have is 112 lithium ion phosphate batteries. Jack has crates of them from a company in China. He can't find an American company that sells them.
I took the Mini for a spin and it drives great. It has normal road manners and is extremely quiet. And, the Mini isn't going to be the end of Jack's electric projects, either. He is planning on tackling something really impressive next. We may be back to drive the world's first and only electric Cadillac Escalade!
Jack Rickard is getting a lot of attention in the world of electric cars and after you drive one, you can understand why.
I first met Jack in 2009 when we took a spin in his 1957 Porsche Speedster replica. It's a car that is totally electric and quite impressive.
We agreed to come back when he completed his next electric car and we did. Jack was just beginning to convert a Mini Cooper that now serves as his daily driver.
"We put in regenerative braking system in it and 112 cells or 700 pounds of batteries," Jack said. "It will go 100 miles and 100 miles an hour."
Jack has an entire garage dedicated to electric cars. It took him a year to convert the Mini. The Porsche we drove in 2009 is getting double the power. He did a electric prototype for the company that makes the Porsche replicas. And, his team added a Porsche Spyder replica that is also fully electric and would make James Dean green with envy. These cars may look like the past, but for Jack they are the future. He says it boils down to oil and the estimated two billion cars in the world by 2020.
"The rest of the world wants to drive cars just like we do," Jack said. "That's going to put a lot of pressure on the price of oil and really change the way we live in suburbia."
But why spend $15,000 converting a car to electric? Why not just buy an electric car? According to Rickard, it's not that easy.
"They've sold about 1,500 Tesla's at $150,000 a piece," he said. "There's the Chevy Volt, an electric car that runs on gasoline and the Nissan Leaf. You can't just go buy an electric car and you won't be able to for some time."
Plus, why limit yourself when you have the means to turn any car you fancy electric? Jack admits the mini was a real challenge. It's a modern car with all the amenities. It has satellite radio, air conditioning, heating, Bluetooth and an iPod adaptor. The real problem was fooling the car computer into believing it still has a gas engine, even though its engine is sitting about 20 feet away.
What it does have is 112 lithium ion phosphate batteries. Jack has crates of them from a company in China. He can't find an American company that sells them.
I took the Mini for a spin and it drives great. It has normal road manners and is extremely quiet. And, the Mini isn't going to be the end of Jack's electric projects, either. He is planning on tackling something really impressive next. We may be back to drive the world's first and only electric Cadillac Escalade!
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