Indianapolis Is Scrapping Dozens Of Pininfarina-Designed EV Hatchbacks When It Should Have Sold Them To Me Instead

Illustration for article titled Indianapolis Is Scrapping Dozens Of Pininfarina-Designed EV Hatchbacks When It Should Have Sold Them To Me Instead

Image: Blue Indy

Blue Indy was a car sharing program in Indianapolis, Ind. which operated for almost five years, securing around 11,000 users and generating around 180,000 rides. Now Blue Indy is dead, and many of its unique Pininfarina-designed Bolloré BlueCar units are sitting in junkyards waiting to be scrapped. Why scrap perfectly good cars when they could have been sold to me instead?

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The program made use of some 250 examples of the built-in-France BlueCar. It is an interesting-looking three-door hatchback that caught my eye when I visited Indy a few years ago. I was interested enough to plunk down around ten dollars for a short drive around the city. I’ve wanted one ever since, but sadly the Bolloré is not sold here.

While a bit austere, the car is plenty good enough for a city commuter. It’s built to be cheap and easy to operate. While the French version is around 12,000 euros, the U.S. version I drove was equipped with more airbags and air conditioning not found in that bargain basement European spec car, and as a result probably cost a bit more.

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The U.S. version is stated to have a range of about 120 miles and a top speed of 70 miles per hour. The electric motor is a 50 kW unit (around 67 horsepower) which is certainly enough, and it is powered by a 30 kWh lithium polymer solid-state battery mated to a supercapacitor. It’s plenty good enough for what I would use it for in my daily commute needs.

Despite around $6 million in taxpayer funded subsidies—and my $10—the Blue Indy experiment never really caught on, and never produced a profit. The program cost not only in infrastruture, but the city blocked off 450 parking spaces for the Blue Indy program. According to the IndyStar, the project cost about $50 million, with the company investing $41 million, the city contributing $6 million and Indianapolis Power & Light Co. covering the remaining $3 million.

It was a revolutionary idea back in 2014 when it was first introduced, and hoped to put Indy on the map as a mobility-leader. But, alas, no such luck.

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Blue City, the company in charge of the Blue Indy project has relocated what appears to be about half of its better condition BlueCars to Los Angeles to be added to the Blue LA fleet, a similar car sharing service there. The remaining BlueCars were shipped off to a nearby scrap yard for dismantling and shredding. Which truly sucks.

Indianapolis, it’s not too late. Please sell me one of your old BlueCars. I will love it dearly for all the rest of my days. I have been looking for a compact three-door electric car with love-it-or-hate-it Italian styling and a small price tag. Right now the closest I can get is the Mini Cooper SE. I was really hoping the Honda Urban-e concept would make it to production (and the United States market) unchanged, but sadly the on-sale version doesn’t interest me in the slightest.

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Better yet, just drop one of them off to me here in Reno on your way to Los Angeles. It’s easy, right off I-80. Just push it off the back of the truck, I’ll collect it.

You know what, though? The best idea is to just sell all of the ones in the scrap yard (the ones that haven’t been smooshed by stacking them three-high like chord wood) and I’ll create a one-make racing series for compact EV hot hatches. There can be a class for stock BlueCar, and there can be an upgraded class with a goddamn Tesla P100 motor up front or something. Sprint races for everyone, 8 bucks a lap!

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Yeah. Let’s do that. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of my own infrastructure. 

Driven: Golf still a spunky Rabbit 45 years later

golf

golfVolkswagen’s Golf is well into its 7th generation with its 2020 model | Larry Edsall photos

If you remember when Volkswagen introduced its Golf hatchback to the American automotive marketplace, you might not want to admit it. That’s because it was 45 years ago, when the hatchback was badged for U.S. distribution as the Rabbit.

Fast forward to 2020 and the Golf is well into its seventh-generation platform update and available in six different versions — Golf, Golf GLI, Golf R, e-Golf, SportWagon and Alltrack. 

Actually, for 2020 that just-plain Golf actually is the Golf TSI and is priced at $23,195 with a 6-speed manual transmission and at $23,995 with an 8-speed automatic.

But as always has been the case with the Rabbit/Golf, the basic version is a spunky little blast to drive. While the 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine is small, it also is turbocharged so it provides 147 horsepower and, at just 1,400 rpm, 184 pound-feet of torque. 

About the only choices you have as the buyer involve transmission and color —blue, white, black or gray.

There are no other options, but there are accessories, such as various roof racks or a tablet holder that fits on the back of the front seat. 

But who needs options when the TSI is a lot of fun and affordable as well just the way it is?

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Seats are comfortable and heated up front. There’s a standard power tilt-and-slide sunroof. A push-button starter. Power windows.  Forward collision warning. Blind-spot mirrors. Rear traffic alert. Touchscreen controls for audio, with Bluetooth and VW’s Car-Net and wi-fi, with a Car-Net app for your Apple Watch or Android Wear should you be into such devices. There’s even a way to have the car tell you where off-street parking is available. 

While small in footprint, VW says the 2020 Golf is solid of body, thanks not only to a higher percentage than usual of high-strength, hot-formed steel, but to laser clamp welding that uses a “wobble seam” pattern to maximize weld strength. 

Golf has always had sure-footed and responsive suspension and steering, and the 2020 Golf gets VW’s XDS Cross Differential System, an electronic substitute for a mechanical limited-split setup. Wheels are 16 inches in diameter with 11.3-inch vented discs up front and 10.7-inchers at the rear.

The turbo responds quickly and the steering response may be even quicker. The result is a relatively inexpensive car that is still fun to drive.  

Pity, however, that we couldn’t do more driving. As we were heading out for a long drive that day before the car went back, a start/stop error and engine computer warning lights illuminated on the dashboard. Rather than risk serious damage, our long drive was shorted to less than 10 miles as we returned home. Last we saw, the Golf was being driven to a local VW dealership for service.

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The report from the dealer was that there was nothing wrong, but that sometimes under heavy loads the “electric panel control” warning light illuminates. The day it happened was our first triple-digit temperature day of the year (it hit 104) and I had switched to max a/c as I headed down my street.

2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI

Vehicle type: 5-passenger hatchback, front-wheel drive

Base price: $23,995 Price as tested: $24,915

Engine: Turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-4, 147 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm, 184 pound-feet of torque @ 1,400 rpm Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 103.8 inches Overall length/width: 167.6 inches / 70.8 inches

Curb weight: 3,012 pounds

EPA mileage estimates: 29 city / 35 highway / 32 combined

Assembled in: Mexico

For more information, visit the Volkswagen website.

Nissan’s Getting Ready To Take Another Swing At Trucks

Illustration for article titled Nissans Getting Ready To Take Another Swing At Trucks

Screenshot: Nissan (YouTube)

Truck YeahThe trucks are good!

Holy crap, not only are we getting a new-new Nissan Frontier pickup truck for the first time since the Curse of the Bambino was broken, it actually looks like it might be kind of cool. It also looks a bit like the mid-sized truck Nissan already sells outside the U.S. as the Navara.

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Nissan dropped a grand transformation plan to “prioritize sustainable growth and profitability” today, along with a teaser video featuring a fresh lineup of vehicles. (Whoa!) Most prominently featured, and obviously the most exciting is a new Z sports car. But there’s also a pickup truck flashing by a few times in there:

“Enhance:”

Illustration for article titled Nissans Getting Ready To Take Another Swing At Trucks

Screenshot: Nissan (YouTube)

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Illustration for article titled Nissans Getting Ready To Take Another Swing At Trucks

Screenshot: Nissan (YouTube)

Wait, two trucks!

I believe the first of those two silhouettes teases a revised Titan half-ton truck, while the second is the next Frontier. The fact that they appear the same size in the video is, I think, just a trick of photography to make the size of these vehicles harder to discern.

Or, maybe Nissan’s going to have two different mid-sized truck designs! (No.)

You get a peek at the fronts, too:

Illustration for article titled Nissans Getting Ready To Take Another Swing At Trucks

Screenshot: Nissan (YouTube)

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We know Nissan has been planning to re-up the U.S. Frontier for some time, and the “new model coming soon” is why the 2020 Frontier is a strange transitional item with the old body/new engine.

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However, Nissan already revealed a new Navara truck to the world years ago. The rest of the world’s Navara, until this generation, looked the same as the U.S.’s Frontier. It was simply the Frontier equivalent for other markets.

Since the current Navara came out around 2015, I’ve asked several Nissan reps versions of: “So is this pretty much the new Frontier?” The reply has consistently been “no” but I never put a lot of confidence in that.

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(I posed a similar question to Ford’s people about the Ranger, asking of the 2020 U.S. market Ranger would pretty much be the 2015-style sold-overseas Ranger. The company maintains it’s not the same, but fundamentally, it totally is.)

All this to say: I started writing this post excited to proclaim I’d been wrong, and Nissan’s teased Frontier is in fact unique to the U.S. market. But the longer I look at the silhouette, the more I feel like maybe it is just a tweak on the Navara. Or, perhaps the current Navara will be updated at the same time and the two trucks will remain brothers.

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Significant revisions on both the Titan and Frontier would be huge for Nissan. Americans love to buy trucks (gotta be able to haul pool toys once a year!) and car companies love to sell trucks (sweet, sweet profit margins) so a couple of sexy new pickup platforms could be the ticket back to Moneytown, USA for the artists formerly known as Datsun.

We largely rejected the Titan XD, Nissan’s impressively bold experiment in creating a nonstandard-sized pickup, but if the company takes another swing and is aggressive on pricing with some truck models in sizes people want, the automaker could be on to something.

Discover the history of TV and movie Batmobiles in new documentary

batmobile

batmobileThe dramatic Batmobile driven in ‘Batman Forever’ | Warner Bros.

The Batmobile is one of the most iconic vehicles in pop culture, but it isn’t just one car. Batman’s ride has taken on many forms over the decades, appearing in comic books, animation, live-action movies,� and even Lego. A new documentary on the Batmobile takes a closer look at some of the best-known versions.

Streamed by Warner Bros. earlier this month, the documentary starts with the Batmobile� from the 1966 television series, which starred Adam West as the Caped Crusader. This car started out as the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept, and was modified by famed car customizer George Barris for the role.

[embedded content]

The next major evolution occurred in 1989, with the version seen in Tim Burton’s “Batman.” A similar version was also used in the sequel, 1992’s “Batman Returns.” The car, which was based on a Chevrolet Impala, set the tone for Batmobiles in both the comics and the 1990s animated series and remains popular with replica builders.

The documentary also highlights the Batmobiles from 1995’s “Batman Forever” and 1997’s “Batman & Robin” which, like the movies themselves, never proved as popular as their predecessors.

For 2005’s “Batman Begins,” the Batmobile got a radical redesign, becoming the tank-like Tumbler. In the movie, it was a discarded military prototype rather than a vehicle purpose-built for superhero work. The documentary stops with this early-2000s Batmobile, and does not include the versions from 2011’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” or the followup “Justice League.”

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The� next Batmobile goes in yet another different design direction. Set to appear in “The Batman,” it looks like an old American muscle car with a mid-mounted engine. It was designed by Ash Thorp, the same person who designed Ken Block’s “Hoonifox” Fox-body Ford Mustang.

This article was originally published by� Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.

British pick Porsche as their lust brand

porsche

porscheBritish car owners would be eager to have any of the Porsches in their driveways | BuyaCar.co.uk photo

Porsche is the automotive brand to which British car owners aspire, according to a survey this month by BuyaCar.co.uk, “the online car supermarket.”

“Porsche dominated the list,” the company said, “named by over twice as many drivers as second-placed Aston Martin and third-placed Tesla combined.”

The survey asked more than 500 car owners, “What car do you dream of owning one day?” Drivers identified 46 different brands and 90 different models. 

There was a second question, “Do you think you will own it?” More than half of those desiring a Porsche said they believe they will, indeed, have ownership someday.

In contrast, of those selecting Lamborghini as their aspirational automobile, none said they actually expected to achieve ownership.

“It seems that Porsche hits the sweet spot of being sufficiently exotic to inspire dreams of ownership but also often as affordable as a more mainstream executive type car, if you are happy to go for a used model – as customers of BuyaCar always do,” said Andy Oldham, chief executive of BuyaCar.co.uk.

While Porsche was the favored brand, respondents included cars ranging from the Bugatti Veyron to the Kia Niro and vintage Citroen 2CV.

The 10 brands with the most votes were:

  1. Porsche (18.0 percent)
  2. Aston Martin (7.9)
  3. Tesla (6.6)
  4. BMW (6.4)
  5. Jaguar (6.2)
  6. Audi (5.1)
  7. Bentley (5.1)
  8. Mercedes-Benz (5.1)
  9. Ferrari (4.2)
  10. McLaren (2.9)

Hyundai Dealer Abandons And Tows Customer Cars, Blames Coronavirus

Illustration for article titled Hyundai Dealer Abandons And Tows Customer Cars, Blames Coronavirus

Photo: Getty

Car dealers don’t have the best reputations, but you usually can expect them to hold on to your vehicle. Someone should have told that to this now-disavowed Hyundai dealer who allegedly abandoned customers’ cars, then had them towed leaving the owners on the hook for storage and fees.

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Around a dozen customers who attempted to service their cars at Nissani Hyundai in Culver City had their cars towed away to an off-site facility, according to the LA Times. Some were then asked to pay thousands of dollars in fees to get their property back. The owner of the dealership blamed the coronavirus shutdown in the state of California. The customers and Hyundai corporate aren’t buying it, however.

Hyundai says the only story here is that of a franchisee who couldn’t be trusted to treat customers respectfully and who used the pandemic as cover for shoddy practices.

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Once corporate was made aware of the situation, Hyundai stepped in to try and make things right.

Jim Trainier, a representative for Hyundai said-

“As soon as Hyundai learned of this situation and of these storage fees being charged to our customers, we quickly took steps to get all Hyundai cars out of E3’s facility and sent to a nearby Hyundai dealership where the service work would be made and our customers would be well taken care of,”

The report also explains that this isn’t the first time the Nissani dealer group has been caught doing unscrupulous activity. Last year Nissani was ordered to pay $2.4 million in back pay penalties. On April 6, Nissani voluntarily ended its franchise agreement with Hyundai.

The whole story is completely bonkers and worth a read.

Would you buy a car from the Blood brothers?

Fitch

FitchRacer-turned-auto safety advocate John Fitch put his spin on several cars, including the Olds Toronado | Mr.choppers photo

Back by popular demand, another installment in our series on car companies with unusual names that we found while paging through the nearly 1,800 pages of The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. 

Actually, this is the third in the series. The first installment was on car companies that shared their names with sports. The second covered car companies from Affordable to Black. 

Here’s the next segment of the alphabet: 

Blood — Brothers Maurice and Charles Blood badged their cars, built in Kalamazoo, as “Michigan” models rather than using their family’s name. However, after a falling out in 1905 with their business partners, the Fuller brothers, the Bloods did label their final touring cars with the Blood badge.

Brough Superior also produced cars. This is one of them

Brough Superior — Though famous for its motorcycles, which are cherished by collectors, Brough Superior of Nottingham, England, also produced some 4-wheeled machines in the late 1930s. Its cars used Hudson 6- and 8-cylinder engines, though in 1938 it produced one example of the Brough XII with a Lincoln V12.

California — Since 1900, 10 companies have used the name California, including California Ace and Californian Six.

Chicago — There have been 5 Chicago and 1 Chicagoan automakers since 1895, starting with the Chicago Motor Vehicle Co., which entered one of its motorcars in the 1895 Chicago Times-Herald Race, which is recognized as the first auto race in the United States.

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Classic — Since this website is part of ClassicCars.com, we have to mention the following automakers: Classic Automotive (both of them), Classic Cars of Coventry, Classic Coachcraft, Classic Connection, Classic English Racing, Classic Factory, Classic Glass, Classic Illusions, Classic Images, Classic International, Classic Motor Carriages, Classic Motors, Classic Replicars, Classic Replicas, Classis Reproductions, Classic Roadsters, Classic Sports Cars — again, there were two separate companies — and Contemporary Classics.

Janos Csonka was an auto producer in Budapest from 1899-1912 | Gwalton photo

Csonka — No, not the fullback on the famed and undefeated Miami Dolphins pro football team, but Janos Csonka put his name on a car company in Budapest from 1899-1912.

Deere (yes, as in John Deere) — In 1906 and 1907, farm implement producer John Deere partnered with former Blackhawk automaker W.E. Clark to produce around 200 cars sold under the Deere brand.  In 1917, Deere’s grandson, launched his own car company with plans to produce 1,000 vehicles.

Detroit — They don’t call it the Motor City for nothing. Detroit (or Detroiter) has been the name of 10 car companies, the first one founded in 1899 by one Henry Ford, who in 1902 was replaced at the helm by Henry Leland, who later would found Cadillac. Ford eventually returned with a company bearing his own name.

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By following the directions in a 31-week British magazine series, a car like this one could be built back in 1900 | Bonhams photo

English Mechanic — The Encyclopedia points out that English Mechanic wasn’t a real car company but rather a series of articles that ran from 1900-1913 in the magazine The English Mechanic and World of Science & Art. In those articles, engineer T. Hylder-White detailed how to build your own motorcar. There is no record of how many people actually followed his directions, but at least 4 such cars are still in existence.

Everybody’s — We’re not sure everybody could afford an Everybody’s, but the 2-seat runabout was produced in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1907-1909. 

Every Day — This was a Canadian brand produced from 1910-1912 in a factory that later produced fire engines.

Famous — This brand apparently did not live up to its name as Famous Manufacturing of East Chicago, Indiana, lasted only from 1908 to 1909. The company event changed its vehicle’s name from Famous to Famous Champion, “but this did not help sales,” the Encyclopedia reports.

Fitch — Racer-turned-auto and highway safety advocate (he created those water-filled, energy-absorbing barrels that have saved thousands of lives), John Fitch devised a series of modifications for the Chevrolet Corvair criticized by Ralph Nader. He also did mechanical and design modifications to the Oldsmobile Toronado and Pontiac Firebird. 

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Flirt — The Encyclopedia points out “there was nothing flirtatious about this car,” which was built in Turin, Italy, in 1913-1914. The brand took its name from the first letters of the Latin words Fortis Levis Juctunda Rapida Transeat (strong, light, cheerful, speedy, it goes), though apparently for only 2 years.

Frisbie — Marine-engine manufacturer Russell Frisbie founded the Frisbie Motor Co., in Connecticut in 1901 and produced cars into 1909.      While Russell and his cars may not be widely remembered, a relative started a pie company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and also loaned the family name to a toy that looked like an inverted pie plate that could be flung back and forth.

Frontenac — There were several auto-making companies named Frontenac, but the one on which we focus was based in Indianapolis and in operation from 1921-1924. What makes it special? It was headed by Louis Chevrolet after he and his brothers sold their family name to Billy Durant and his General Motors corporation. 

This list gets us through the first of the Encyclopedia’s three volumes, so there’s more — much more — to come.

A youthful — and European — perspective on cars and driving

My name is Lars Madsen. I’m 25 years old and studying for a Masters in Business Administration degree at Southern Danish University in Denmark. Besides the study and student work in a great small company, I have a huge interest in cars and automobiles. My whole life I have been interested in cars, almost ever since I could walk.

I am honored to have been offered the opportunity to write a little column here on the ClassicCars.com Journal. For my first installment, I’ve chosen to write about myself and my car and about where I hope to be in the future when it comes to cars and the automobile industry.

My car, as you may have noticed in the pictures, is a little white hatchback. It is not very special, but it really means something to me. It is a Ford Fiesta, a 1.0-liter Ecoboost version with 125 horsepower.

“What?” you say? “That is the size of a bottle of milk!”  You are right!

But 125 horsepower is quite a handful in a 1.0-liter engine and car car with a curb weight of 2100 pounds. You might wonder why I don’t ride a bicycle. Bikes are very popular and common form of transportation in Denmark. It is simply because I love cars. I live and breathe for cars. It is my biggest passion.

Why do I drive a brand new Ford and how can I afford it when I’m studying? That is because it is not brand new. My car is 7 years old, but I still think it looks new. You could say it is a less costly version of a (Ford-era Jaguar X-type), but still as fast as one. I have had this car almost since I earned my driver’s license. It has been the perfect car for me. I have driven more than 100,000 kilometers (thats 62,000 miles for you Americans) so far. It still pulls like Lamborghini from the 1970s. Or was it a new Lamborghini? I can’t tell the difference any more. Everything is left in the dust no matter what — I might just be joking.

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There is just something appealing about this little pocket rocket which still makes me keep it to this day. That appeal is the Focus FIA World Rally car. My car has some rally car DNA. It has a spoiler on the back and factory body kit all around the skirts. All in all, it has a very aggressive look considering it only puts 125 horsepower to the ground. But that’s what I like so much about it.

I live in the third biggest city in Denmark, called Odense. I study at the university here, so I mostly ride in the city center or urban areas. There are often tight curves which are quickly followed by traffic lights. This is where the small engine upfront combined with the low weight of the car makes it like go-kart on the streets. It is a dangerous combination and you quickly get addicted. Don’t do small light cars, kids. But it really suits the city environment, and is also a big reason why I don’t want to change car at the moment. It is perfect and has a bit of charm as well. Just look at the design for such a small little car! Reminds me of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage with the headlights.

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When it comes to investing, this car is not going to be a hot shot for the speculative guys out there. It is not like if I keep this for a longer time, people are standing in line to knock on my door, asking if they can purchase it. If you are looking for a more potent car for investment and joy, take a closer look on the Ford Fiesta ST 200. It debuted as a special edition just before the launch of the newest generation of the Ford Fiesta ST.

The interesting thing about the model I’m driving is the engine. Some people have pulled 200 horsepower out of it and say it still runs perfectly. Would I recommend pulling 200 horsepower out of the engine. Absolutely not, only if you have a wish on blowing up your engine faster than you are able to blink your eyes.

But I might be wrong. This video with Chris Harris says something different. Maybe it is possible, but as I said, there is enough power to go quickly around the city with a smile on your face.

.

What are my plans for the future? Investing in a new car. Maybe, I would like to speculate in various different cars, starting with some of the cars I have already written about elsewhere. There are so many cars out there that are so interesting and really worth looking into.

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I am personally very much into BMW at the moment and am looking like a crazy man on the internet for a good one. There is really one BMW that has my full attention — the fantastic BMW 135i coupe from 2009. It offers the best from BMW in my eyes. Am inline 6-cylinder with 306 horsepower and rear-wheel drive. So much power in a such a small car! It’s like a design devil came up with when he was asked what kind of proportions his car would have. But for now, it’s just looking.

There is one year left here at the University and after that I hope comes a new car. Will it be a BMW? We will see when the time comes.

Stay tuned…

For GREAT deals on a new or used Nissan check out Gulfport Nissan TODAY!

2015 BMW i8 – First Drive

CARPHOTO-3637

2015 BMW i8 Details:

228hp/236 lb-ft 1.5L i-3 turbo engine | 129hp/64-369 lb-ft electric motor
375hp, 420 lb-ft | 0-60mph in 4.2sec
3270 lb | 94mpg est | Front-, rear- or all-wheel drive
Carbon fiber/aluminum passenger cell
Lowest center of gravity of any BMW

2015 BMW i8 passenger side rear view 08
2015 BMW i8 steering wheel 15
2015 BMW i8 driver side view 10

Electronics: Full LED lighting (laser lights in Europe) | DDC | Electric steering | HUD | BMW Connected Drive | BMW i Remote phone app

+ Pros: First proper hybrid performance car | Amazing MPG | Great acceleration and handling | Acoustics | Flat cornering

– Cons: Storage space | Odd brake feel

2015 BMW i8 passenger side front view 02 Photo 5/106 | 2015 BMW i8 – First Drive

It’s difficult to know where to start when dealing with a new automotive concept – a true mid-level sports hybrid – but let’s dive in and confirm the BMW i8 looks great, drives even better and confirms there’s a future for driving enthusiasts in a new, greener world.

We say this with huge relief because we were concerned that the purity of the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept – first seen at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2009 – might have been tainted by its short 38-month gestation period. Yet the design looks as fresh now as it did when Ethan Hunt drove it onto the silver screen in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
2015 BMW i8 interior 03 Photo 6/106 | 2015 BMW i8 – First Drive

2014 BMW i8 Preproduction – First Drive

In fact, two things came to mind when we saw it in bright Californian sunshine (a location chosen because it’s the largest single market for a performance hybrid, with 70,000 plugin hybrids sold here to date): firstly, it looks astonishingly similar to the original concept; and secondly, it simply looks astonishing.

We’re all used to squinting at concept cars to imagine what the production vehicle will look like, and yet the BMW i8 was barely diluted. It keeps many of the bold features the designers originally envisioned, with seemingly only the transparent doors sacrificed to the homologation process. Fortunately, it does get a lightweight scissor door arrangement that adds a theatrical element to your arrival and departure.
2014 BMW i8 rear three quarters 02 Photo 7/106 | 2014 BMW i8

Put the i8 on Santa Monica Blvd, Pacific Coast Highway or I-405 freeway and you still see the unadulterated concept. Driven alongside Camrys and Altimas, it looks sensational. In truth, it makes everything look rather hackneyed. Even the Porsche 911 and Ferrari 458 appear mundane alongside it.

So while its styling is like nothing else on the road, what’s it like to drive?
2015 BMW i8 backseats 05 Photo 8/106 | 2015 BMW i8 – First Drive

If you’re like us, your experience of hybrids is limited to the unpleasant Prius and entertaining BMW ActiveHybrid 3. Neither of these made a compelling case to buy one, so would the i8 be any different?

The answer is a resounding yes. Thanks to BMW’s holistic approach, everything works. The i8 was designed to be a hybrid, rather than modified to run on electricity, so there were almost no compromises.
2015 BMW i8 driver side rear iew 06 Photo 9/106 | 2015 BMW I8 Driver Side Rear Iew 06

Perhaps its single greatest attribute is the CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) and aluminum construction, seen inside the door apertures, allowing the BMW i8 to tip the scales at 3270 lb. In turn, this means the brakes can be smaller and lighter, the acceleration better and the economy previously unimaginable.

Although US testing was incomplete at the time of writing, European data suggests 0-60mph in 4.2sec, yet with a combined fuel economy of 94mpg. Take a minute to absorb that implication…
2014 BMW i8 trunk Photo 10/106 | 2014 BMW i8

It’s like low-fat ice cream tasting better than the full fat.

BMW has achieved its witchcraft with a combination of gasoline and electric motors, with each playing a vital role.
BMW i8 key fob crop Photo 11/106 | BMW i8 key fob

In city driving or up to 75mph, the 129hp electric motor gets you moving (unless you’ve selected the Sport driving mode via the shift lever). It allows you to travel up to 22 miles in relative silence using a two-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. The petrol engine kicks in above 75mph, or if you need more acceleration in Comfort Mode, or when you select Sport Mode. It drives the rear wheels through a six-speed auto, giving you sporty RWD characteristics but with the assurance of all-wheel drive when needed.

We can thank the carbon construction for the i8’s unique engine – a 1.5L, three-cylinder derived from the new Mini Cooper but turbocharged for this application. As such, it develops a surprising 228hp.
2014 BMW i8 digital instrument cluster Photo 12/106 | 2014 BMW i8

While many people shuddered at the prospect, we knew that a three-cylinder engine meant plenty of torque. And with electric power to fill in the torque gaps, and less weight to propel, BMW found the perfect powerplant.
2015 BMW i8 front seats 20 Photo 13/106 | 2015 BMW I8 Front Seats 20

The only remaining question was how it would sound. Initially, we were impressed by the noise but discovered it was enhanced by the audio system. Having learned nothing from the F10 M5, BMW has done the i8 a disservice because everybody will assume the engine sound is poor. Yet watching several cars tackle Malibu’s canyons, we can assure you the engine sounds great. It has an unusual note with plenty of bass and certainly doesn’t need enhancement.

Accelerating hard in eDrive while attempting to plug a gap in traffic, the two-speed transmission seemed to hesitate before the demons were unleashed. Fortunately, that trait was invisible in Comfort or Sport, where the i8’s operating system makes the best use of its available power sources and provides rapid, instantaneous, seamless acceleration from any speed.
2014 BMW i8 center console Photo 14/106 | 2014 BMW i8

In fact, seamless best describes the i8’s operation because, apart from some minor vibration when the petrol engine fires up, the driver is unaware of the activity happening behind the scenes, relying on the iDrive display to keep you informed.

The logic systems decide what propulsion system you need, when to charge the battery and by how much, which wheels to drive, etc. Having used the electric Mini E and ActiveE research projects, as well as its ActiveHybrid production vehicles to develop the operating system, BMW has created a remarkably efficient machine.
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While the ability to run emissions-free is extremely attractive, it’s more useful to European cities that limit vehicle use. It will, of course, save you significant money at the pumps and BMW is developing several plug-in charging solutions for customers, including its own solar-powered carport.
2014 BMW i8 cluster Photo 22/106 | 2014 BMW i8

The batteries can also be charged on the engine’s overrun or with regenerative braking. The latter creates an unusual pedal feel, where the first portion of the brake pedal travel is sharp and communicative. But the harder and longer you push, the more wooden they feel. It’s not that the four-piston front brakes won’t stop you; they’re very effective. However, you’ll need to get accustomed to the pedal feel.

Similarly, the steering is excellently weighted but utterly numb. It does exactly as you command, but you’d have little idea if the tires were in trouble. And despite wider 215/45 front and 245/40 rear Bridgestone S001 tires on all US cars, the i8 looks and feels rather under-tired.
2014 BMW i8 front three quarters 05 Photo 23/106 | 2014 BMW i8

This might be psychological since BMW endowed the i8 with an extraordinarily competent chassis. The handling was superb, with a natural lean towards slight understeer. However, it was generally very neutral, with small amounts of oversteer possible after severe provocation. What’s more, the car cornered incredibly flat, body roll seemingly alien to its DNA.

Surprisingly, BMW hasn’t provided the driver with a Dynamic Damper Control button. Yet the i8 is equipped with DDC as standard – it simply adjusts automatically to the driving mode, road surface and your inputs. That said, it was rather stiff on surface streets, but seemed to be more forgiving as speed increased. Some of Mailbu’s roughest canyon roads upset the car’s composure slightly because the suspension seems to have a short travel, but it was generally an exemplary and entertaining drive. While not a track car, the i8 will be an enjoyable companion for anybody with a regular commute that involves challenging roads.
2014 BMW i8 interior view 02 Photo 24/106 | 2014 BMW i8

As usual, BMW went to extraordinary lengths to ensure the car was perfectly balanced. Placing the batteries down the spine of the vehicle and surrounding them in refrigerant to avoid the danger of fire from overheating.

With the engine at the rear, the weight distribution is a commendable 47/53%, making it almost ideal. And with much of its weight concentrated below the floor, the i8 has the lowest center of gravity of any BMW built to date.
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The only meaningful downside we could discover was the wide sills that make egress slightly awkward. The side windows don’t lower fully, leaving an inch of glass to knock your elbow on. And there’s a distinct lack of storage space. The rear luggage compartment might take an overnight bag but there are no door pockets, with only a couple of stowage areas in the console and a small glovebox. However, BMW has come to your aid with a line of tailor-made Louis Vuitton luggage designed to slot into all the available space, including the rear seats that even young children might find constricting. A rear luggage area might have been more useful, but BMW has tried to make the i8 as flexible as possible by offering four seats. So we look forward to seeing the first Thule roof box mounted to this sportscar.

Not only is the car good looking, fun to drive and remarkably efficient, it also benefits from a raft of support services called 360? Electric. This will include a BMW i Wallbox for home charging (with the solar-powered carport also announced) and a ChargeNow card for a cash-free payment option at public charging stations. There are also a number of efficiency systems to reduce the amount of time you waste looking for parking spaces. Furthermore, BMW is offering easier maintenance, repair and breakdown services.
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And there’s an app for that. Your phone can monitor the battery’s charge, telling you how long it needs to be plugged in, when it’s ready and how far you can travel.

The technology even extends to laser headlights, which sadly won’t be available in the US because the ancient laws hadn’t predicted it might be an option one day. However, the Europeans will enjoy the range and clarity of the beam.
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With a base price of $137500, you have to ask what the i8 is competing against. You have to assume it will attract Tesla drivers who want more visual drama and driving excitement. It should also attract Porsche 911 Carrera owners, who won’t get the same visceral sportscar feel, but will enjoy its technology and their contribution to the reduction of global warming.

As a city car, the i8 has few peers. It can slip silently and emissions-free through any metropolis, casting a stylish shadow. Yet it’s also able to pick up and go at the press of a button or moving the shift lever.

Santa Paula Chevrolet

The Dos and Dont’s of New Car Shopping

Even if you’re just saving a few bucks monthly on a payment, we all want to find the best bargain we can easily possibly get. It’s our human nature to think like we’ve vanquished a enemy and gotten them to provide us with a deal they didn’t wanna give. Sometimes we’ll spend more on gas getting the deal than we shall actually save, but the idea is that we’ve argued our way into wealth by paying less that we initially thought we were going to. When buying a car, everyone knows there is room to negotiate the sticker price. If they give you the deal, they’re making profits and you’re getting the shaft,. That is the fact of the matter. Every single time.

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So, how can you get a great deal with a new car? Firstly, you have to do your homework. Not merely where you live but in addition check out both nearby markets and also other places across the country. Before heading in the dealer, your plan is to be as informed as you can talk about the vehicle you would like. Don’t let any feature become a surprise, realize it inside and out. You need to understand the features that come stock on every car. For example, if they say that the vehicle is going to are more expensive because it has a CD player, you will know that really, all cars of that model come with a CD player- can’t sneak one past the old gipper.

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The way to achieve that is to call dealers prior to actually go in. The worst thing to do is usually to show up on the dealer uninformed. Call the Nissan Moreno Valley and talk to a guy about the car you want. Once they start gabbing about deals and request you to come in, you need to just hang up the phone. But take note of every one of the info they offer you and then call Metro Nissan Redlands and ask tall of the same questions. IF there are any differences, things they promise Nissan corporate mandates they can or cannot do, you understand someone is blatantly lying. Then you can phone some other dealers and find out the facts – inform them you heard two different stories from different dealers and you can contact them out on it.

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When you have what you think are the options and all the info and the features you want, and also you know the package and features you want, after that you can go to the dealer and perform the negotiating having an informed background. The dealer will know that they can can’t mess around with you when you come prepared. If you demonstrate that you’re also knowledgable, they’ll know they’re dealing with somebody that did research and won’t be fooled, remember, they are fully aware the behind the curtain facts, and. They’re going to let you obtain the best deal you will get because they know thy must at least just close a deal with you and they can get that sale. Also when it comes to trading in a vehicle, there is a lot wiggle room there, many thousands of dollars even. Use that to your advantage as well.

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