Commercial Trucks auto news

NHTSA institutes braking rules for large trucks, aims to cut stopping distances by 30%

The current standard for big rig braking is that a vehicle traveling at 60 mph needs to stop in 355 feet or less. It isn't entirely clear on what sort of distance most new heavy trucks need to brake from that speed, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is sharply reducing that distance for 2012 and beyond, with a new standard of 250 feet. NHTSA says the increased braking capabilities will save 227 lives per year, while averting over 300 serious injuries.

In theory, insurance companies will also receive a boost, as fewer accidents would save $169 million in property damages per year.

NHTSA says that the new standard will help usher in the newest brake technology into U.S. truck fleets. The government agency says that increased truck safety standards have resulted in fewer truck-related traffic fatalities in the U.S., as 2008 saw a 12% drop versus 2007. Hit the jump to read over NHTSA's official press release.

Continue reading NHTSA institutes braking rules for large trucks, aims to cut stopping distances by 30%

REPORT: Ford Transit Connect to be built Stateside in 2012

A welcome splash of news for the UAW and the U.S. economy: Ford will commence production of the Transit Connect at a U.S. assembly plant by mid-year 2012. Currently built in Turkey on a version of the Euro Focus platform, the next generation Transit will also migrate to the FWD compact platform that will underpin the next Focus both hear and abroad. Ford plants in Wayne, Michigan and Louisville, Kentucky will be retooled to build cars on that architecture, meaning the that Transit could join them.

With an electric version joining the 2.0-liter four-cylinder in 2010, an outside analyst predicted 60,000 units would be reasonable by 2013. Ford isn't quoting any production numbers yet, preferring to see how the current version -- that just went on sale this month -- fares.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Transit Connect

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile penetrates unsuspecting home

Giant wieners can do a lot of damage, it seems. Just look at what happened in Racine, WI today, for example. There, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile penetrated a home's closed garage door in a decidedly non-consensual manner. Fox6Now.com reports that the Wienermobile's driver took a wrong turn down a dead-end street. Subsequently faced with a scenario in which there was nowhere to stick the enormous 27-foot wiener, she decided to back up the street and start fresh. Unfortunately, she mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the brake, a course of action that simply did not cut the mustard. In the end, it was a long day filled with hard lessons, as demonstrated in the attached photo gallery. Thanks for the tip, Tony!

Gallery: Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Penetrates Home

VIDEO: Tight Fit: Japanese bus company makes the most of its parking lot

Here in the States, unless you live in a city like New York, Chicago or Boston, chances are that on any given day, parking isn't one of your bigger challenges. In smaller, more densely populated countries like Germany or the U.K., finding a spot can be a big issue, and the solution often costs a lot of money.

One motor coach company in Japan is skipping the big cash solution, and instead, it is just driving its buses over the edge. Well, at least a significant portion of them. The company has installed special rear-view cameras in their vehicles so drivers can get a terrifying inch-by-inch update on their progress as they back up to the edge of their parking lot's precipice. A small metal ridge embedded in the asphalt is the last line of defense keeping the tour buses from falling down a very steep embankment. Talk about your nerves of steel parking jobs. Hit the jump to view the video of these massive motor coaches coming inches from taking the Nestea plunge. Hat tip to Musouka!

Source: Japan Probe]

Continue reading VIDEO: Tight Fit: Japanese bus company makes the most of its parking lot

First Drive: 2010 Ford Transit Connect, the right size for a smaller economy

After relying on full-size E-series vans for commercial cargo carrying since the dawn of time, Ford is finally ready to offer North American businesses a more practical alternative. The Transit Connect is a compact, purpose-built van that's been available overseas since 2002, and Ford has sold more than 600,000 of the squat little haulers to businesses abroad over the past seven years. The company hopes that what's good for Europe is good for the States, so the first batch of U.S.-spec models are on their way to dealerships as you read this.

While the E-series vans are more than capable of carrying out their prescribed duties, for most, it's like using a sledgehammer to push a tack into a cork board. The Big-Es were simply more vehicle than necessary for most small businesses, especially those operating locally, delivering flowers, catering and plumbing. That's where the Transit Connect comes in.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Transit Connect

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Ford Transit Connect, the right size for a smaller economy

Franco-Italian Relations: Ferrari F355 - Citroen 2CV hybrid [w/VIDEO]

This is surely one of the most original/bizarre/impressive/controversial hybrids we've seen in quite some time. In fact, it's likely to be so controversial as to single-handedly effect Franco-Italian relations. After all, how does one explain away the melding of one of Italy's favorite sons (F355) and a variant of France's iconic people's car, the 2CV fourgonnette?

In any case, while we're not sure as to the condition of the Fezza before it received its Tin Snail conversion, we're just going to hope that it was a write-off and enjoy the metalwork madness that has resulted. Far from a cut-n-shut operation, this conversion looks to have taken some serious craftsmanship and man hours, as aside from the basics (four wheels, an engine, headlamps, etc.), there isnt exactly a whole lot of commonality between the two vehicles.

Admittedly, our Italian is on the rusty side, but from what we can gather from the various websites linked below, this is also likely the costliest 2CV ever built, having apparently tallied 180,000 Euros to build (in excess of $250,000 USD). Why a Citroen? Our Italian is a bit shaky, but judging by the car's website, it appears to be some sort of amusement/promotional tool for the Nimik Rally Team, which runs (what else?) Citroen racers.

High-res gallery below, video of the build (complete with a howling Janis Joplin soundtrack) available after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Daniel!

Gallery: Nimik Citroen 2CV - Ferrari F355 hybrid

Continue reading Franco-Italian Relations: Ferrari F355 - Citroen 2CV hybrid [w/VIDEO]

Remember your Roots: Lamborghini Toro tractor concept

Lamborghini Toro concept - Click above for a gallery

Most automakers try desperately to hold on to their roots. Just look at all the anniversaries we've been celebrating lately and you'll know what we mean. Lamborghini, on the other hand, seems keen to leave them behind. That's probably because Lamborghini's roots are actually in agriculture. As any sportscar aficionado worth his salt will tell you, Ferruccio Lamborghini started out building tractors and only got into the sportscar business to piss off Enzo Ferrari. The gap between its tractors and sportscars was bridged only by the LM002 sport-ute, known as the Rambo Lambo. But one aspiring designer is keen to resoil Lamborghini's past and present into one vehicle, and you're looking at it right here.

Called the Lamborghini Toro, it's the brainchild of aspiring Canadian designer Jason Battersby. Taking cues from Lambo's own agricultural equipment and its supercars, the Toro cuts a mean profile to envision what an integrated product would look like. Of course it's just a series of conceptual renderings, which you can view in the gallery below. But a small town farm boy can dream, can't he?

Gallery: Lamborghini Toro tractor concept

Chrysler unveils new electric minivan for U.S. Postal Service duty

Chrysler is celebrating Earth Day today by unveiling the first four of what will be a fleet of 250 battery powered minivans for the US Postal Service. The U.S.P.S. will be using the vans for variety of duties at locations around the country - including daily home delivery.

The vans themselves are based on the concept Town and Country EV that was unveiled last Fall by Chrysler. However, because of the duty cycle used by the Postal Service - which generally amounts to only about 18-20 miles per day on a fixed route - these vehicles are being built without the range extender seen on the concept. However, the electric drive portion of the vehicles, including the motor, electronics and A123 System lithium ion battery pack is identical. The head of Chrysler's ENVI division Lou Rhodes told Autoblog Green this morning that Chrysler is marketing this battery-only version of the van to commercial fleet customers who typically have a shorter range requirements. The extended-range version will be focused on retail customers.

The initial batch of vehicles include a pair of right- and left-hand drive versions, and the total fleet will include a mix. The Postal Service will be using the vehicles for whatever applications they have in different regions of the country. The intent is to evaluate the usability of electric vans, as well as the interaction between the vehicles and the infrastructure. In addition to the post office, Consolidated Edison (Con Ed), Duke Energy, DTE Energy and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) will participate in the test program.

Gallery: Chrysler EV USPS mini-van

Bright IDEA comes to Washington, DC as a 100-mpg* plug-in hybrid van

A Bright IDEA arrived in Washington, D.C. today (man, there's a joke that just writes itself). But seriously, folks, the IDEA is a new design for a plug-in hybrid from the Rocky Mountain Institute's Bright Automotive, was unveiled in Washington, DC today and it looks like, well, what does it look like? From Bright Automotive's official images in the gallery below, this thing reminds us of some of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz's Bionic Concept that was inspired by the boxfish. In much the same way, the IDEA looks so slippery it might be more at home in the water than delivering vegetables in a downtown somewhere. For its part, Bright promises that the IDEA offers functionality and fuel savings in a 100 mile-per-gallon PHEV.

Incidentally, we are less-than-enthused by Bright's calculations to get that 100 mpg number - and Bright is basing the fuel savings ("$6,000 per year!") on gas at $3.50 a gallon, something that experts are predicting will not happen anytime soon. For a good discussion about the 100 mpg claim, read the comments in this earlier post. We're not against plug-in hybrids in the least, but they really are a case of "your mileage may vary." You can learn more about the van over at Bright Automotive.

Gallery: Bright IDEA

Nissan NV200 Vanette rolls out for sale carrying new images, info

Last month, Nissan unveiled the production compact NV200 minivan (Nissan still refers to the vehicle as a Vanette, seriously) at the Geneva Motor Show, and today, the Japanese automaker has officially announced that sales have begun. The first deliveries in Japan, which is the first market getting access to the van, will happen in mid-May.

Nissan will offer two separate styles of NV200, one for commercial use, called DX, and one to haul people and their belongings called the Wagon 16S. Both machines use the same exterior sheetmetal, featuring an oddly arrayed set of character lines that break up the slab-sided and top-heavy proportions dictated by the van's shape.

Differences between the two models are most apparent inside. The Wagon model offers seating for seven, while the DX can swallow 4.1 cubic meters (145 cubic feet) of stuff. We'd be surprised if the NV200 didn't make it to the U.S. market within the next few years, as Nissan has made it clear that it has global aspirations for this vehicle. Check out our galleries below and see the official press release after the break.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Nissan NV200

Continue reading Nissan NV200 Vanette rolls out for sale carrying new images, info