Not content with the one e-tron sports car, Audi showed a second e-tron concept
car at the Detroit auto show. As with the first one, the second e-tron is an
uncompromising purist compact sports car with all-electric drive. The Detroit
showcar Audi e-tron is the name of this 3.93 meter (154.72 in) long and 1.78
meter (70.08 in) wide but just 1.22 meter (48.03 in) tall two-seater; just a few
months after the debut of the Audi e-tron at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Coupled with the Detroit showcar Audi e-tron's low gross weight of around only
1,350 kilograms (2976.24 lb), high-torque power units driving the rear wheels
guarantees commensurate road performance, according to Audi. Two electric motors
with a combined output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 2,650 Nm (1954.54 lb-ft)
accelerate the coupe with ASF-design aluminum body from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14
mph) in 5.9 seconds. The Audi e-tron accomplishes the sprint from 60 to 120 km/h
(37.28 - 74.56 mph) in 5.1 seconds. The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron is able to distribute its electric motors' high
torque between the wheels entirely as required. Its "torque vectoring" is said
to be the key to precise and excellent traction. Thanks also to its low weight,
short wheelbase and optimal weight distribution for dynamic handling, Audi says
its e-tron has the drivability of a go-kart.Lithium-ion batteries, located for an optimal center of gravity behind the
passenger compartment and ahead of the rear axle, make an effective energy
content of 45 kilowatt-hours available. This makes an operating range of up to
250 kilometers (155.34 miles) realistically possible, according to Audi.As previously with the first e-tron concept car shown in Frankfurt, Audi bases
all components in this electric vehicle on an integral concept with many novel
details: a heat pump as an efficient means of heating up and maintaining the
interior temperature. The drive system, power electronics and battery have
thermal management - crucial for maintaining a high operating range coupled with
outstanding interior comfort.
Expect e-tron to be the name of Audi's line of electric vehicles.NAKANO: BACK SEAT DRIVING
. The New Jetta?Volkswagen used the forum of the North American International Auto Show in
Detroit to introduce the NCC, AKA the New Compact Coupe. This coupe is fitted
with a hybrid drive that VW claims is very fast and yet economical. VW says its
combined fuel consumption is 4.2 l/100 km (45 mpg). CO2 emissions is rated at 98
g/km. Top speed: 227 km/h (141 mph), with a relatively short 8.1 seconds needed
for the classic sprint to 60 mph. These values were made technically feasible by a high-tech alliance: a TSI
engine (gasoline powered with 110 kW / 150 PS), an electric motor (20 kW / 27
PS) and a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). In the first half of the year,
Volkswagen will launch its first hybrid model on the market under the VW label -
an SUV with full-time all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the NCC is a good indicator of the next
generation Jetta.WOLF: BACK SEAT DRIVING
GREEN APPS FOR YOUR CAR
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) never fails to provide a sneak peak of cool
new technology. Among the items introduced at CES this month is a new device and
software that can turn a Garmin Nuvi into a fuel saving device, as well as an
automotive diagnostic tool. The new ecoRoute HD device plugs into the vehicle's
onboard diagnostics and transmits data wirelessly to the Nuvi. This can tell
drivers how greenly they are driving and how they can improve and also lets
drivers choose routes based on fuel economy as opposed to distance or fastest
time. Garmin has announced an expected availability date of March 2010. Another
interesting bit of tech: General Motors has announced they will launch the Volt
with charging apps for the iPhone, Blackberry and Droid that will allow users to
schedule their battery charging for the cheapest charging times. Wondering why you haven't seen more of the start-stop technology used in hybrids
in regular gasoline vehicles? Mazda and other automakers blame the EPA's
city-test mode, saying it only allows for one stop, which does not show the MPG
benefits of the technology in their official ratings. Luckily, the EPA is
listening and is currently taking public comments on proposed testing changes
that would better evaluate the stop-start technology. Sounds like drivers are
really starting to embrace clean diesel technology and understand the fuel
efficiency benefits it provides along with better power than hybrid and electric
vehicles. Volkswagen of America Inc. announced in December that its line of
clean diesel TDI models sold 41, 278 models-approximately 20 percent of the
company's overall sales volume for the year. - Ailis Aaron Wolf, 40mpg.org
NAKANO: BACK SEAT DRIVING
THE TRAFFIC GUY RIDES AGAINNew Laws for 2010It's the beginning of a new year, and that means LA Car's Reed Berry, AKA The
Traffic Guy, informs drivers about all the noteworthy new car laws in
California. Did you also know, however, that Reed makes the rounds on radio
stations throughout the state. Here in the Southland, he frequents The Tim
Conway Jr. Show on KFI-AM 640, but his radio romps go way back.In 1988, Reed co-hosted his first talk radio show, The Friday Special on
KIEV 870 AM in Los Angeles. Later, he co-hosted L.A.'s Travel Show on
KIEV, The Weekend Special which aired on KNDI 1270 AM in Honolulu and
The Kenny & Reed Show on KRLA 1110 AM in Los Angeles. As one of southern
California's most popular traffic school instructors, Reed became known as The
Traffic Guy and was frequently asked to be a guest on local, national and
international radio programs to discuss driving-related issues. In 1998, Reed co-created and co-hosted the first talk radio show in America for
and about drivers, Traffic Jam, which was heard Saturdays on KRLA 1110 AM
in Los Angeles through the summer of 1999. Each show featured experts from the
world of driving as well as a "Celebrity Driver of the Week". The celebrity
guest on the very first show was none other than the ultimate car enthusiast,
Jay Leno, Bob Barker, Walter Matthau, Howie Mandel, Steve Allen, Dennis Franz
and Casey Kasem were also featured as celebrity drivers on the show, just to
name a few. Because it was a live call-in show, listeners would phone in
throughout the broadcast to discuss issues, ask questions and win prizes.Traffic Jam was a unique and popular show which received much media
attention. The program was featured in the Los Angeles Times, Orange
County Register, The Daily News, Pasadena Star-News,
Talkers magazine and in the internet radio columns LARadio.com and
RadioDigest.com. Reed and his co-host were interviewed for local television
news programs and were guests on Great Day America, a national television
talk show that aired on PAX-TV. In 1999, Reed received an Award of Honor from RADD (Recording Artists, Actors
and Athletes Against Drunk Driving) for using the radio show to promote safe,
sober driving. Reed continues to make guest appearances on radio programs around the country.
He is a regular contributor to The Larry Marino Show on NewsTalk 590 KTIE
in Southern California's Inland Empire. You may have also heard Reed on The
Brian Whitman Show on Talkradio 790 KABC, both in Los Angeles. If you turn on the radio and hear a traffic-related issue being discussed,
there's a good chance the guest expert being interviewed is Reed Berry, "The
Traffic Guy".To read Reed's report on the new laws for 2010, click
here.
A
JOURNAL OF LOS ANGELES & ITS CAR CULTURE
That
was LA Car's subtitle when it started back in 1997. Its original website
address was about five times the size of lacar.com. Since then, La Car
became LA Car. Its subtitle became
Reporting From Car Culture Ground Zero, then From The Heart of Car
Culture, to The Cars and Culture of Southern California and back. At
all times, however, we aimed to chronicle the Southland's automotive spirit - much like
one's own
journal or diary.
LA Car has always been a great source
to come back to from week-to-week, to see what articles and reviews have been
added to our rather staggering database. With Back Seat Driving, a.k.a.
BSD (not to be confused with two similar, well-worn abbreviations, BS and BFD) and Hot
Wires - Hot & Tender News From the Car Culture (co-located with Back Seat
Driving, and updated at least daily), we give you some reasons to
come back more often (all opinions, by the way, are those of the respective
author). So, go
ahead and bookmark www.lacar.com. We'll be
sure to always provide a link to Hot Wires and the latest Back Seat
Driving blog entry. In the meantime, welcome to the journal and journey from
the heart of the car culture. - Roy NakanoVisit the publisher and executive editor's Facebook page at
facebook.com/backseatdriving
For the story behind LA Car's shift knob avatar, go to
Kool Knobs for LA Car
For
past Back Seat Driving and LA Car Blog entries, click the
Archives.
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