One thing that we haven’t seen from any of the startup green car makers to date is traditional television advertising. That’s partly because most of these companies are operating on minimal budgets and what money they do have is being dedicated to trying to get their vehicles on the road. Fisker Automotive is a different case. With a star designer at the helm and venture capital cash in the bank (for now at least), the fledgling manufacturer has begun running its first TV spots. The initial ads appeared on local Los Angeles stations last week. If a company like Fisker is going to advertise, LA would be the place to do it. The area is home to large numbers of high dollar, high performance cars and plenty of environmentally aware people with money (or it did until about six months ago). These are precisely the people to whom a car like the Karma would appeal. With a goal of 15,000 sales a year, Fisker is going to have its work cut out finding buyers in in this economy. Watch the ad after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading VIDEO: Fisker runs first Karma TV ads in LA
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Fisker
VIDEO: Fisker runs first Karma TV ads in LA originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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VIDEO: Fisker runs first Karma TV ads in LA - Green Cars
Posted on March 13th, 2009 under Green Motoring, Mini.
Click the MINI Cooper D for a high res gallery
Last summer we had a ball driving the
MINI Cooper D in the ABG Garage. The torquey little 1.6-liter diesel proved to be a willing yet thrifty performer in the engine bay. While we still can’t get the MINI D in the U.S. market, BMW is reportedly considering building a high performance version of the diesel. On the gasoline-fueled side of the family, the 208 hp John Cooper Works model heads the lineup. A MINI senior engineer told AutoExpress in Geneva last week that a diesel-powered version of the JCW MINI would be a “good idea” but didn’t actually confirming anything.
Of course, we’ve heard similar claims from automaker officials many times over the years and then waited fruitlessly as nothing happened. If MINI does indeed produce a JCW diesel it would likely bump power from the current 110 hp to something in the region of 150-160 hp. Even at that level, real world mileage would likely remain somewhere in the mid-40 to 50 mpg (U.S.) range.
All Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Filed under: Diesel, MINI
Will MINI build a John Cooper Works diesel? “Good Idea” originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Will MINI build a John Cooper Works diesel? "Good Idea" - Green Cars
Posted on March 12th, 2009 under BMW, Green Motoring, Mini.
Five years on from its launch, the Mini is preparing for its first new generation model. Due for launch in late 2006 (Cooper and Cooper S) and early 2007 (One), the new car features only modest styling changes, the designers sensibly sticking to the formula which has helped make the model such an international success. It is slightly larger, in order to meet future safety requirements.
The principle changes are a revised suspension system and the introduction of new (British-built) 1.6-litre petrol engines for the Cooper and Cooper S versions. The Cooper will use a 120hp unit and the S a twin-turbocharged version of the engine, increasing power to 175hp, enabling 0-62mph acceleration in 7.1 seconds. Notable improvements in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are also achieved. Mini One will use a revised version of its current 1.4-litre petrol engine and a new diesel engine sourced from Peugeot-Citroen. Prices will range from £11,595 for the One to £15,995 for the Cooper S.
Posted on November 21st, 2006 under Mini, New Car Launches.
