Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - (Page 23) NOVEMBER 24, 2008 • 23 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Honda’s FC Sport mixes green and go Alysha Webb awebb@crain.com LOS ANGELES — It’s little, low and wide. Oh, and hexagonal. The Honda FC Sport debuted at the Los Angeles show. The fuel cell-powered sports car is “something to think about and to hope for” in the future, says Dan Bonawitz, Honda Motor Co. vice president of corporate planning and logistics. The FC Sport was designed at Honda’s advanced design studio in Pasadena, Calif. There are no plans for production, says Honda spokesman Sage Marie. The three-seater has double-hinged scissor doors for easy access. There’s storage space between the seats and above the fuel cell, says Bonawitz. The hexagonal styling was inspired by the structure of a human cell, say Honda designers. The goal, says Dave Marek, chief designer for advanced design at Honda R&D Americas Inc., is to show car enthusiasts that even though the industry is moving to greener cars, “there is hope for the future. You have an option.” c Fuel cell fun Name: Honda FC Sport Vehicle type: Fuel cell sports car Who designed it? Jason Wilbur, senior designer at Honda R&D Americas in Pasadena, Calif. What’s cool? Seating configuration, modeled after McLaren F1 3-seater Will it be built? No RICK KRANZ Redesign of Lexus RX series hard to see Mark Rechtin mrechtin@crain.com LOS ANGELES — Lexus division rolled out a redesign of its top-selling RX series at the Los Angeles show, but consumers may have trouble telling the RX 350 and RX 450h crossovers from their predecessors. The 2010 RX 350 gains an inch in wheelbase and 1.6 inches in length and width. It is slightly taller. The RX 350 is powered by a 275-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, up 5 hp from the current model. The automatic transmission gains a cog to become a six-speed with sequential shifting. The revised edition of the RX 450h hybrid uses an updated version of the 3.5-liter V-6 engine running on the Atkinson combustion cycle, which gains 27 hp over its predecessor. The Atkinson cycle closes the intake valves later than normal to improve fuel economy and emissions in hybrid powertrains. The revised model’s engine and electric motor com- bine to generate 295 hp. To further improve fuel economy, the engine of the RX 450h has an exhaust-heat recovery system that allows the engine to stop and start more efficiently when the vehicle is halted. An exhaust-gas recirculator also reduces pumping losses. The chassis of the RX 350 also has been redesigned. The rear MacPherson strut suspension has been replaced by a double-wishbone setup, which Lexus says improves handling and cargo capacity. The front MacPherson struts were re-engineered. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard, up from 17-inchers on the previous model. On the inside, Lexus gave the center console a mouselike interface with the audio and navigation systems, as well as standard voice command. The 2010 RX series goes on sale in the spring. In past years, the RX has routinely crested 100,000 sales, easily making it Lexus’ top seller since its introduction in spring 1998. Year-to-date sales through October are down 18.1 percent to 68,399. c BMW board boss Norbert Reithofer with Mini E electric: Got $850 a month? Then you can test one for a year. FRED PROUSER /REUTERS Mini electric: Jolt comes from sticker Diana T. Kurylko dkurylko@crain.com The redesigned Lexus RX 350: A bit bigger with a few more horses. BMW: Diesel 7 series could come to U.S. Diana T. Kurylko dkurylko@crain.com LOS ANGELES — BMW AG is considering U.S. sales of a diesel version of its redesigned 7 series, the company’s top U.S. executive says. “It wasn’t in our plans, but we’ll look at it,” Jim O’Donnell, president of BMW of North America LLC, said last week. Two weeks ago, U.S. dealers were in Munich to drive the redesigned 7 series, which goes on sale in the United States in March. About half the group drove a diesel. “They all told me they wanted it,” says O’Donnell. “One or two didn’t even know they were driving a diesel, and they were honest enough to admit it.” Dealers also drove the 730d with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine. “This isn’t even a diesel engine that we’re bringing into the States,” O’Donnell says. But Friedrich Eichiner, BMW board member in charge of corporate and brand development, says bringing a 7-series diesel to the United States is “a possibility.” The 7-series diesel, with highway mileage of about 45 mpg, would help BMW address not only future corporate average fuel economy regulations but also a growing demand for more fuel-efficient cars in the United States, Eichiner says. BMW’s new clean diesels, the 335d sedan and X5 xDrive35d crossover, go on sale in the United States next month with engines that use urea systems to meet emissions standards in all 50 states. c LOS ANGELES — BMW and Mini executives are convinced they’ll have more than enough takers to lease their electric two-seater for $850 a month in a one-year trial. That’s only $29 less than the monthly payment on a 36-month lease for a BMW 750i — the top of the brand’s line — but $500 more a month than the payment for a typical Mini Cooper S. “Of course it’s much higher, but we have to find out what we can charge — and this doesn’t cover the development cost of the car,” says Wolfgang Ambrecht, who heads Mini marketing worldwide. BMW needs 500 people for the Mini E trial: half in California and half in the metropolitan New York/New Jer- sey area. Those are the only three states where the Mini E will be available. “We don’t want only opinion leaders but normal, regular customers,” says Ambrecht. “On the other hand, if George Clooney is on our application list, we won’t be against that.” The British ambassador in Washington has expressed interest in leasing the Mini E, Ambrecht says. Jim O’Donnell, president of BMW of North America LLC, says that for the money, “You get a lot more than just a car for a year.” Those extras include insurance — but not BMW footing the bill for the electricity to power the Mini E. BMW says service is free, as it is for all BMW and Mini vehicles for a limited time/mileage period. The electric cars can be serviced at only eight dealerships in California, New York and New Jersey. If the Mini E breaks down, specialists will be dispatched, and the lessee gets a substitute vehicle until it’s fixed. BMW will supply a wall-mounted, 240-volt power box that enables the lessee to charge the car in about two hours. The Mini E goes as far as 156 miles on a full charge. What if you run out of electricity away from home? A full recharge could take nearly 24 hours if you rely on an ordinary 110-volt electric outlet for a recharge. The Mini E loses its back seats to its lithium ion battery. It also is more than 600 pounds heavier than a regular Cooper. Last week, Mini began accepting applications to lease the Mini E at www.miniusa.com. c Infiniti G37’s hard top retracts in 30 seconds The 2009 Infiniti G37 convertible debuted at the Los Angeles show, featuring a three-piece hard-top roof that retracts in 30 seconds. The convertible is based on the G37 coupe, which debuted in April 2007. To accommodate the retractable roof, Infiniti stretched the coupe, replacing the sheet metal from the end of the doors rearward. Other body changes include rear fenders that flare out to add 1.1 inches in width, a wider rear track and taillights that have what the carmaker calls an inner “circle of light.” Interior changes from the coupe include optional headrest audio speakers, wind deflectors and climate-controlled front seats. When the top is down, a pop-up bar Infiniti’s G37 convertible goes on sale in the spring. RICK KRANZ supports the second-row headrests. The car’s optional Bose sound system adjusts as outside noise, vehicle speed and hard-top position change. The convertible, available in standard and sport versions, goes on sale in the spring. — Chrissie Thompson http://www.miniusa.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 24, 2008 Iacocca tip: 'Equality of sacrifice' Ch. 11 would hit dealers hard â fast Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom Down the road and a continent away Used-vehicle demand shrivels O'Neill will lead Power GM tweaks production plan Mitsubishi: No to Detroit Ford will cut more output Nardelli: Chrysler is running on fumes GMAC on brink of bankruptcy, S&P warns Off with their heads! (But whose?) In defense (kind of) of Detroit Bailout Motors? Britain went down that road CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling Ford: We still want Mazda expertise Imports clog ports as sales plunge Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume Nissan expects Chrysler pickup deal will survive Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover It's time to put partisanship aside; Detroit needs help What GM needs is GMAC.2 'Buy American' talk won't help industry Readers weigh in on auto industy woes No one bailed out Oldsmobile It's time to move to mass transport We still need manufacturing Bankruptcy is a bet Let's get wages under control Will America be better off? First step: Bring the jobs home America owes it to GM to help The answer is simple: Leasing What about dealerships? Detroit 3 CEOs must offer to quit Oct. truck sales fall 17.4% Honda plant adds parts center They're sold on Camaro Drawn to Ferrari Japan poised to control key batteries Europe's worst month hits all automakers Dealers BMW: Diesel 7 series could come to U.S. Honda's FC Sport mixes green and go Infiniti G37's hard top retracts in 30 seconds Redesign of Lexus RX series hard to see Mini electric: Jolt comes from sticker Ford hybrid sedans aim at Camry After only 3 years, Ford revamps Fusion Hyundai plans new crossover, turbo engine Restyled Mustang: More refinement, horsepower Honda: Don't count on CR-Z gasoline variant '09 Nissan Z delivers more of what fans like Mazda3 gets new look, powertrains Nissan Cube joins the box brigade Infiniti upgrades powertrains Lincoln MKZ gets a makeover Porsche won't stall Panamera 2010 GLK priced below rival Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp Detroit 3 squeezed by credit, cash â politics Waxman could mean trouble for Detroit GM formulates a 'Plan B' if it doesn't get federal loan Infiniti replaces Igo Sharks vs. Jets, D.C.-style What's good for â uh, how'd that go again? Mazda deal imperils Ford training ground More like Toyota, Honda? Careful what you wish for Maybe he's Buck-a-year Bob now Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout Automotive News - November 24, 2008 Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom (Page 1) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom (Page 2) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Ford will cut more output (Page 3) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Off with their heads! (But whose?) (Page 4) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Off with their heads! (But whose?) (Page 5) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling (Page 6) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling (Page 7) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume (Page 8) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume (Page 9) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover (Page 10) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover (Page 11) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - 'Buy American' talk won't help industry (Page 12) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - 'Buy American' talk won't help industry (Page 13) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3 CEOs must offer to quit (Page 14) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Drawn to Ferrari (Page 15) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Japan poised to control key batteries (Page 16) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 17) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 18) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 19) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 20) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 21) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 22) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Mini electric: Jolt comes from sticker (Page 23) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Restyled Mustang: More refinement, horsepower (Page 24) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp (Page 25) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp (Page 26) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - GM formulates a 'Plan B' if it doesn't get federal loan (Page 27) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Infiniti replaces Igo (Page 28) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Infiniti replaces Igo (Page 29) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 30) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 31) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 32)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.