MERCEDES APPRENTICES IN THE LIMELIGHT AT TEAM PRESENTATION

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart/Brackley, Germany/United Kingdom, Jan 28, 2010

On Monday 25 January, the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart saw the opening of a new chapter in the illustrious history of the Silver Arrows, as the livery of the new Silver Arrow was presented against the background of models from the past.


At 11.14am, four apprentices from the Mercedes-Benz factories in Sindelfingen and Untert�rkheim wheeled out a Formula One car from the 2009 season in the new Silver Arrow livery of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team.

�Incredible. That was an experience I�ll never forget,� said Simon K�ffner (22) from Haigerloch. �It was unbelievably exciting to be in one room or on stage with all the big names and to get a glimpse behind the scenes. I was really impressed by all the hard work that went into making the event go so smoothly.�

The presentation was also a very special occasion for 17-year-old Sarah Wurster from Aidlingen. �Today�s presentation made a big visual impression that will stay with me for a long time,� she said. �It�s not often that an apprentice can experience such an event at first hand, and it�s marvellous that my training at Mercedes-Benz has given me this opportunity.�

Claudia Lengerer (23) from Kirchheim was fascinated by the whole occasion. �I�m so proud to have seen all the stars and I was really pleased by how charming everyone was to us. Thank you to Mercedes-Benz for allowing me to be part of this occasion. I�ll never forget the day.�

�It was so interesting to get this close-up view of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team,� said Darko Turcan (19) from Stuttgart, the fourth member of the group. �I was also delighted by the chance to see what goes on behind the scenes and feel privileged to have played an active part in that days event.�

The four apprentices were selected by their supervisors as a reward for outstanding performance during their training period.

Copyright � 2010, fastfivecars. All rights reserved.

CELEBRITY GUESTS ATTEND MERCEDES GP PETRONAS TEAM PRESENTATION

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart/Brackley, Germany/United Kingdom, Jan 28, 2010

600 specially invited guests were in Stuttgart on Monday to celebrate the official launch of the new MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One team ahead of the 2010 season.


The presentation was attended by Michael Schumacher�s wife Corinna, AMG founder and ITR chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht, world boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko, former McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver David Coulthard, former Formula One driver and DTM star Ralf Schumacher, record DTM championship winner Bernd Schneider, plus Mercedes-Benz DTM drivers Gary Paffett, Paul Di Resta, Bruno Spengler, Jamie Green, Maro Engel and Mathias Lauda.

In addition to 200 representatives of the media, 200 Mercedes-Benz employees were also invited to attend the launch. They had been specially selected as a reward for outstanding service to the company or had been fortunate enough to secure one of the hundred tickets for the occasion that had been advertised on the Mercedes intranet � all of which had been snapped up within 21 minutes of going online.

The presentation of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team took place in a fitting location � the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart where examples of the legendary Silver Arrow from all epochs are on display. The Mercedes-Benz Museum was re-opened in May 2006 on the Mercedes-Benz World site. The nine-storey building comprises around 17,000 square metres of exhibition space.

Copyright � 2010, fastfivecars. All rights reserved.

Geneva Preview:2011 Kia Sportage

We're still short on details about the engine range, but chances are that the 2011 Sportage will be offered with the same 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter four cylinder engines coupled to six-speed transmissions as the Tuscon in North America, while in Europe, it will most likely get the same 1.7-liter and 2.0 liter diesels, and 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter gasoline units as the iX35.


Penned under the guidance of former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, the new Sportage carries the new Kia family look as seen on the Soul, Cadenza sedan and Sorento SUV, but it appears to have a more European flavor to it, with extra attention given to details.


The five-door crossover shares its platform with the also new Hyundai Tucson, known as the ix35 in Europe. It is longer and wider than the outgoing Sportage, something that should translate to improved cabin space.


This handsome-looking compact crossover is the next generation 2011 Kia Sportage that will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the upcoming 2010 Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March.
Source:carscoop

BMW Prepping Production Version Of Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

We brought you the first official details on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept straight from last year's Frankfurt Auto Show, but here's a quick refresher: it's a three-cylinder diesel, four-door, plug-in hybrid that promises M Division performance from its combined 356-horsepower, 590-pound-foot output.


The arrangement of the hybrid powertrain allows the diesel engine to drive the rear wheels directly or with assistance from a rear-axle electric motor through a six-speed gearbox, while the electric motor up front drives the front wheels on pure electricity, and all three systems can work in tandem for maximum performance. This delivers a range of possibilities for in-town and performance driving.


Reaction to the 356-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque plug-in electric (one lithium-polymer battery stack + two electric motors) with dedicated lighter-weight three-cylinder diesel range-extending engine mounted amidships has been off the charts. Now we're all waiting for more details and, of course, that sticky price issue.


According to the report on the Vision's production path, BMW is looking at turning the highly conceptual design into a production-ready car for 2013. Target volumes are about 5,000 to 10,000, meaning BMW is planning to make the car at least reasonably affordable. Despite the relatively high volume targets, the report indicates BMW is envisioning this car as a successor to the M1, a legend in its own right, and progenitor of the M Division.


We may be able to look forward to a preview of the new plug-in hybrid this summer, possibly leading up to a nearer-to-production concept preview at Paris. One thing that's for sure, according to the report, is that the long and clumsy Vision EfficientDynamics name will be making a quiet exit. And 2013 will be one interesting year for performance electrics.


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Tesla to kill the Roadster in 2011, new version coming in 2013?

As everyone's aware, the current iteration of the Tesla Roadster is built in Hethel, England by Lotus using Elise/Exige underpinnings. Judging by the quote above, that means the Elise/Exige is due to be replaced by a new model (good news for enthusiasts), but that leaves Tesla up a creek without the proverbial paddle.


The Model S is due to come out in 2012, which means Tesla might not have any revenue coming in until the all-electric sedan goes on sale. If there's a snag with anything in the launch of the sedan � design, production, engineering, you name it � then Tesla's in serious trouble. That might make investors wary when the upstart automaker finally begins offering shares.


So, bottom line: If you want the current Roadster, order now, or wait until the all-new Roadster goes on sale in 2013.
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Toyota Releases new Auris 2010 model range

On sale throughout Europe from early spring, the new Auris 2010 model range will make its European debut at this year's Geneva motor show.

Building on a solid reputation for roominess, comfort, practicality and reliability, the Auris 2010 combines marked improvements in exterior style, perceived interior quality and ergonomics with a wide choice of clean engine technologies and a more refined driving experience.


The Toyota Auris 2010 engine range features a choice of three petrol and three diesel units offering the performance- and economy-enhancing benefits of Toyota Optimal Drive. Complemented by the Auris HSD's full hybrid technology, this unique line-up will offer customers the most comprehensive range of powertrains in the C segment.
Source: Toyota

Honda Begins Operation of New Solar Hydrogen Station

Honda today began operation of a next generation solar hydrogen station prototype at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., intended for ultimate use as a home refueling appliance capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles.

Designed as a single, integrated unit to fit in the user's garage, Honda's next generation Solar Hydrogen Station has a reduced size, while producing enough hydrogen (0.5kg) via an 8-hour overnight fill for daily commuting for a fuel cell electric vehicle.

The previous solar hydrogen station system required both an electrolyser and a separate compressor unit to create high pressure hydrogen. The compressor was the largest and most expensive component and reduced system efficiency. By creating a new high differential pressure electrolyser, Honda engineers were able to eliminate the compressor entirely - a world first for a home use system. This innovation also allows the size of other key components to be reduced, making the new station the world's most compact system, while improving efficiency by more than 25% (value calculated based on simulations) compared to the solar hydrogen station system it replaces.

Compatible with a "Smart Grid" energy system, the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station would enable users to refill their vehicle overnight without the requirement of hydrogen storage, which would lower CO2 emissions by using less expensive off-peak electrical power. During daytime peak power times, the Solar Hydrogen Station can export renewable electricity to the grid, providing a cost benefit to the customer, while remaining energy neutral.

Designed for simple, user-friendly operation, the intuitive system layout enables the user to easily lift and remove the fuel hose, with no hose coiling when the hose is returned to the dispenser unit.


Engineered for an 8-hour, slow fill for overnight refilling of a fuel cell electric vehicle, the home-use Solar Hydrogen Station would replenish enough hydrogen for typical daily driving distance, meeting the commuting requirements of many drivers. As with the previous generation system, the hydrogen purity from the new station meets the highest SAE (J2719) and ISO (14687) specifications.

Installed at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, the new Solar Hydrogen Station will employ the same 48-panel, 6.0kW solar array that powered the previous system. The array utilises thin film solar cells composed of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) produced by Honda Soltec Co., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda that was established for the mass production and sales of solar cells capable of efficient renewable electricity generation. Honda's unique solar cells reduce the amount of CO2 generated during production as compared to conventional solar cells.

Designed to support the needs of the future owners of fuel cell electric vehicles, the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station was also designed to complement a public network of fast fill hydrogen stations. The Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle is capable of fast fill and offers driving range of 460 kilometres based on the European Driving Cycle. With fast fill public stations providing 5-minute fueling time for longer trips, and the opportunity of convenient nighttime slow filling at home using a solar station with a Smart Grid connection, the Honda FCX Clarity can cover a wide range of driving demands from the daily commute to weekend trips.

A key strategy in creating a solar hydrogen station for home-use was to create a new lifestyle with convenient, clean, energy-efficient and sustainable home refueling, by addressing the need for refueling infrastructure that can advance the wider use of fuel cell electric vehicles by consumers.

The combination of a fuel cell electric vehicle and the solar hydrogen station could help lead to the establishment of a hydrogen society based on renewable energy, resulting in a major reduction of CO2 emissions and greater energy sustainability.


Honda began operation of its first Solar Hydrogen Station at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas in 2001:

2001	3-unit system with hydrogen storage begins operation.
2003	New 2-unit system with an original Honda electrolyser and a new solar array utilizing prototype Honda CIGS solar cells offers improved system efficiency.
2008	Solar array fitted with mass production CIGS cells from Honda Soltec Co., reducing the size of the array by 20% and further improving photo voltaic (PV) energy efficiency.
2010	New single-unit station begins operation, improving to world�s best system efficiency � increasing the efficiency by more than 25% (value calculated based on simulations) compared to the previous solar hydrogen station system, for a world�s highest system efficiency.

via:world car fans