naias

Ford unveils next-gen Ford Focus

DETROIT--Small cars are in vogue, and Ford unveiled arguably its most important model in the category Monday, a redesigned Ford Focus scheduled to start shipping in North America and Europe early in 2011.

Executive Chairman Bill Ford said at the North American International Auto Show here that fuel efficiency is the single most important feature in the new model. The car will be available with a 1.6-liter or 2.0-liter direct-injection engine that improves fuel economy 10 percent to 20 percent over the current Focus, the company said; the 2.0-liter model has up to 20 more horsepower than … Read more

Tesla to supply battery pack in Daimler electric cars

Updated at 1:35 p.m. PT with corrected information on the supply arrangement and additional details.

Tesla Motors has signed a deal to supply power train components to Daimler for an electric version of the German auto giant's Smart mini-car, called the Electric Smart EV, which is expected to be available within two years.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, announced the deal at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Tuesday. On Sunday, Tesla unveiled a higher-end Sport version of its Tesla Roadster electric sports car.

Tesla will supply the battery pack and on-board charger … Read more

Tesla debuts zippier Roadster Sport

For all you well-heeled auto fanatics, there is good news: Tesla Motors has made a faster car.

The luxury electric carmaker on Sunday lifted the curtain on the Tesla Roadster Sport at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Tesla said it has begun taking orders for the $128,500 sportscar, which will be available in late June.

The Roadster Sport has a bit more zip off the line than the original rocket-like Roadster, Tesla's first electric car favored by tech tycoons and Hollywood types.

The Sport accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 … Read more

Big 3 U.S. auto giants plug electric cars

Rather than focus solely on muscle cars, embattled U.S. automakers General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler touted a coming generation of electric vehicles at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Ford on Sunday detailed a multi-prong electric car strategy, saying it will have an all-electric commercial van by 2010, an all-electric passenger car by 2011, and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012.

The firm, which is healthier financially than GM or Chrysler, partnered with Magna International to develop an electric passenger car that can go 100 miles on a charge from lithium-ion batteries. Ford will add hybrid … Read more

Toyota to build electric town car, plug-in hybrids

Toyota Motor Sales announced an expanded commitment to electric vehicles on Saturday, disclosing plans to manufacture an all-electric city car by 2012 and a wider fleet of gas-electric hybrids.

At the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Toyota showed off a concept car called the FT-EV, a battery-powered four-seat compact car. Although it's concept car, Toyota said it will release an "urban commuter" electric car in 2012.

Based on an existing car sold in Japan called the iQ, the FT-EV runs entirely on batteries and has a range of about 50 miles. Like many all-electric … Read more