Taxa Auto 2012

San Diego Police Dept bicycle brigade circa 1910's or 20's

Almost made it

but not quite

the Centaur, looks like swampy country fun... even floats!

Fisker Automotive Signs Supplier Agreement with BMW

Fisker Automotive announced today the signing of an agreement with BMW that will cover the supply of engines and other components for future Fisker models.

BMW will supply a four-cylinder turbocharged engine for the next generation of Fisker cars, code-named ‘Project Nina’, which are scheduled to go into production in the re-commissioned former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware at the end of 2012 and be on sale globally in 2013.

The agreement calls for up to 100,000 engine units per year at peak volume.

The first ‘Project Nina’ derivative will be a mid-size premium sedan utilizing Fisker’s EVer™ (electric vehicle with extended range) technology to deliver on Fisker’s corporate vision of Uncompromised Responsible Luxury.

Fisker ‘s CEO and Executive Design Director, Henrik Fisker, comments; “The BMW engine was an obvious choice for us, as BMW is known for producing the best and most fuel efficient gasoline engines in the world. We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with BMW."

Fisker’s Chief Operating Officer, Bernhard Koehler, adds; “This is an important agreement for Fisker. We are focused on building environmentally responsible cars that deliver Pure Driving Passion to our discerning customers. Who better to be a part of this exciting ‘recipe’ than BMW – the makers of the Ultimate Driving Machine?”

California-based Fisker Automotive recently established a European office in Munich, Germany and has publicly stated that both the Fisker Karma Sedan and ‘Project Nina’ lines are global vehicles with sales likely to be split equally in the US and Europe (40% each), with Asia (20%) providing the remainder.

BMW opens new Moses Lake carbon fiber factory

BMW's new carbon fiber factory in the United States has brought advanced, lightweight materials developed in Formula One racing one step closer to consumers' driveways.

The German carmaker opened the ultra-modern production plant in Moses Lake, Washington state, on Thursday to supply carbon fiber for its highly anticipated, all-electric i3 Concept car.

Built through a 2009 joint venture with materials specialist SGL Carbon, the $100 million (70 million euro) facility is powered entirely by locally generated hydroelecricity. It will produce up to 3,000 metric tons of carbon fiber annually.

"The facility has been erected in only 10 months and will be the most cost efficient carbon fiber plant using modern technologies," said Andreas Wüllner, Managing Director of SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers.

The fibers produced in Moses Lake will be woven into lightweight fabrics at a second joint venture site in Wackersdorf, Germany, before being formed into carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts and components at the BMW plant in Landshut. From there they will be transported to Leipzig, where series production of the i3 is due to start in 2013.

Electric era

The i3 urban vehicle will be the first model in BMW's new i sub-brand of lightweight, energy efficient models. The larger and sportier i8 is expected to be released in 2014.

"Carbon fibers are a key construction material for the automotive industry of the 21st century and will change the way we develop and build cars," BMW chief executive Norbert Reithofer said in a statement.

"It's a revolution in automotive design," Klaus Draeger, the company's head of development, said earlier.

Fiber of the future

Because of its lightweight properties and proven strength, carbon fiber has long been used in the construction of high-performance racing cars and aircraft.

When carbon fibers are woven, they weigh in around 50 percent lighter than steel and roughly 30 percent lighter than aluminum, making CFRP the lightest material that can be used in a car body without sacrificing safety.

The i3's carbon fiber passenger shell makes it 250 to 350 kilograms lighter than a conventional electric car. BMW said that means more dynamic handling and improved range.

Other benefits of CFRP include corrosion resistance and resilience in severe climate conditions. The material shows little change in shape and size regardless of temperature fluctuations.

"Carbon is the fiber of the future," said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, an automotive expert at the University Duisburg-Essen. "The heavy use in Formula One racing cars is an indicator that it will filter down to the mass market once the cost of production becomes more affordable. BMW is the closest to achieving solutions on a large scale."

Daimler & Volkswagen follow suit

BMW is not alone in the race to make carbon fiber vehicles easily available to consumers. In April of 2010 Daimler followed BMW's lead by forming a partnership with Toray Industries, a Japanese carbon producer. The group plans to begin mass production of carbon parts for the Mercedes-Benz brand in 2012 at a plant outside Stuttgart, Germany.

With no new plans to mass produce carbon fiber technology in car bodies, Daimler's efforts have focused on high end of the auto market. In 2004, Daimler began offering the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR with a carbon-fiber body to match its ceramic disc brakes and 377,000-euro price tag. About 2,000 of the vehicles were sold before production ceased in 2009.

Last, but certainly not least, Volkswagen became the latest German automaker to invest in a major carbon fiber producer when it announced in February of this year that it had purchased an 8.18 percent stake in SGL Carbon. While Volkswagen stated that it does not intend to increase its stake in SGL Carbon, the news certainly came as a surprise to BMW, which had previously bought into the company.

Volkswagen has been pouring resources into its XL1 concept vehicle, which debuted at this year's Qatar Motor show. With a prototype that can travel 100 kilometers on just one liter of diesel fuel, the vehicle is fitted with a lightweight passenger shell constructed of carbon fiber.

Despite the innovations and progress being made in carbon fiber production, Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management in Bergisch-Gladbach, said carmakers were yet to answer one major question: "A full carbon body could be quite difficult to repair. What will be key is if there's a strategy to deal with that issue."

Volkswagen Nils Concept Set to Debut at Frankfurt Motor Show

The tiny, single-seat Volkswagen Nils concept will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. It is supposed to offer sports car-like performance with zero emissions and silent propulsion.

Volkswagen says the Nils concept is designed just like a Formula 1 racer. Much like Audi’s Urban Concepts, the single seat is mounted in the center of the car, the engine resides just aft of the driver, and the 17-inch wheels — wrapped in low rolling resistance tires — are placed outboard of the body. Entrance into the cabin is provided by polycarbonate gullwing doors, one placed on each side of the car.The body has few sharp angles and two small rear fins to help with aerodynamics. Never mind the F1 inspiration: the look is more akin to a narrow egg placed on wheels.

The Nils is powered by a 15 kW electric motor – with a 25 kW over boost-like function – that draws juice from a 5.3-kWh lithium-ion battery. VW says that allows for a range of about 40 miles, and can be charged using a 230-volt outlet (the standard in Europe) in about two hours. According to Volkswagen, 73.9 percent of German commuters drive less than 15.5 miles on driving to work, making the Nils the right size and right range for urban commuters.

The Nils weighs only 1014 lbs, thanks to all-aluminum construction, and is expected to accelerate from 0-62 mph in under 11 seconds. The electric motor pushes out around 95 lb-ft of torque and sends powerto the rear wheels through a one-speed transmission.

To help quell nerves over the Nils’ diminutive size, the is equipped with a radar-based automatic braking system, a collision warning system, four disc brakes, and electronic stability control. The wing doors include a crash reinforcement section, and the aluminum space frame has been designed to act as a safety cell in the event of a collision.

The Volkswagen Nils concept will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

Source: Volkswagen