Canadians are more likely to go electric when buying a new car compared to Americans, says research from a new study.

Conducted by Synovate, a global market research firm, the company polled 1,800 new car buyers in the U.S. and 800 new car buyers in Canada. The study dealt with current petroleum based power-trains (internal combustion, diesel, flex-fuel, natural gas) and electric power trains (hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery and fuel cell).

In the study, Synovate asked respondents about what type of engine they would like in their future vehicle. They found that Americans had a stronger preference for internal combustion engines (61 percent) than Canadians (53 percent). When it came to a hybrid engine, the neighbors tied with 64 percent stating their preference.

But when it came to other electric technologies such as plug-in hybrids, Canadian respondents came out with a stronger preference (34 percent) than Americans (27 percent). The results were similar when it came to pure battery electric vehicles as well (29 percent Canadians versus 24 percent Americans).

According to Stephen Popiel, senior vice president of Synovate Motoresearch, “Canadians clearly want “greener”, more environmentally friendly vehicles. We seem to be more driven than Americans on reducing emissions while they are more concerned about fuel costs.” Reaffirming their green ways, Canadian respondents were more likely to be looking for ways to reduce their CO₂ levels (28 percent) than American respondents (23 percent). The American respondents were more likely to be looking for ways to minimize fuel costs (64 percent Americans versus 58 percent Canadians).

On the subject of Flex Fuel, Canadian respondents did not see E85, the blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, as an option. The Canadians surveyed were much less familiar with E85 (16 percent familiarity in Canada versus 26 percent in the USA) and have a weaker preference for E85 (21 percent in Canada versus 31 percent in the US).

Where do car aficionados go for on vacation? The V8 Hotel in Germany is open and revving to go, offering patrons a place to rest their heads – on everything from a Morris-Minor to a Mercedes.

The Meilenwerk, also know as the V8 Hotel – gives car lovers the perfect accommodations for the auto obsessed among us. Built inside the city’s old Boblingen Airport, this uber-cool hotel also has a suite built on three levels within the building’s former control tower. It features 34 rooms in total, and a handful of suites are spruced up with special themes that showcase some pretty wild décor. For example, the Zeppelin Suite featuring a sauna, terrace and landscape views over the old airport grounds.

You can also take one of the specialty car-furnished rooms for a test drive as well. Spend the night with a Cadillac or take the Mercedes-Benz through a car wash in another room. There’s even a Morris-Minor garage where you can spend the night.

“All kinds of people come here, so it’s not just for car enthusiasts, but of course there are those that are interested in car history and the automobile industry’s connections to the region too,” says hotel employee Heike Petzold. “We’ve even had a few celebrity guests, but I can’t say who they are as I’m not allowed.”

Along with the trendy details and antique accessories used to decorate the rooms, some of them also feature original parts from the automotive world.

Room rates vary with season, but the popular Zeppelin Suite will set you back around $489 per night.

[Source: The Daily Telegraph via Autoblog]

This past weekend was Formula Drift’s fifth event of the season, taking place out in scorching Las Vegas. To combat the heat, the event actually took place late at night and was fittingly named “Round 5: After Dark.” With the championship now coming down to the wire, teams have been swapping out motors and finding new ways to gain an advantage against the more consistent teams as familiar faces such as Samuel Hubinette, Rhys Millen and Tanner Foust are barely in championship contention; with Tanner Foust being the closest in third place.

But the weekend would belong to the dedicated team from Falken Tire, once again sweeping the podium with a first, second and third finish. Sitting on top however wouldn’t be Daijiro Yoshihara or Vaughn Gittin Jr., both of which had secured event wins this season, but rather their teammate Tyler McQuarrie in the Nissan 350Z convertible. Gittin Jr. would got himself in a Mustang vs. Mustang tandem battle against Tony Brakohiapa but the skilled veteran Gittin took third place and maintain the points lead.

The final tandem battle of the night pitted McQuarrie against Yoshihara – with Yoshihara having been amazingly consistent throughout the season, while McQuarrie battled ups-and-downs but stayed persistent and optimistic. All his hard work would finally pay off as he took the win after Yoshihara’s S13 had mechanical troubles.

This is McQuarrie’s first career victory in Formula Drift and is just icing on the cake for another fantastic weekend from Falken Tires.

Official press release available after the break.

Continue Reading…

Couldn’t get your hands on one of the 20 Lamborghini Reventóns in the world? Or just couldn’t afford the steep $1.25 million dollar price tag? Well have no fear, you can get your hands on a Lamborghini Reventón in remote controlled form thanks to De Agostini.

The 1:10 scale RC car is powered by a two-stroke 3cc gas engine with a two-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. To give the RC car the proper performance worthy of the Lamborghini tag, independent suspension, hydraulic shocks and disc brakes are also included.

The model is amazingly close to the real life vehicle with plenty of attention to detail. No pricing has been released, but production will be limited to 65 – roughly three times more than the real deal. We’re going to guess its limited production will make it worth a pretty penny.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Reventón RC Car

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Honda may drop both the Civic Hybrid and the Insight from its lineup in Canada. According to a recent report by Monvolant, the two hybrids will be eliminated from the product plan – likely in response to dismally poor sales. This would then leave the new CR-Z as the only hybrid in Honda Canada’s lineup.

When the Insight launched over a year ago, Honda Canada projected sales of 10,000 units. But poor press, a high-dollar asking price and competition from the significantly more fuel efficient third-generation Toyota Prius may all be contributing factors to the fact that just 748 Insights have been sold so far this year. Worse still are Civic Hybrid sales, with just 643 units moved in 2010.

With such low Honda hybrid sales you’d expect the Prius to be conquesting a lot of buyers, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with just 2,272 third-gen Prius models sold in Canada so far this year. While there are no hard facts surrounding why Canadians are turning away from hybrids, possible factors include the higher price of the cars in Canada, the lack of large urbanized cities (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal stand out as exceptions) and the colder climate often means hybrids don’t perform up to their lofty MPG targets.

[Source: Monvolant via AutoBlog Green]

BMW is currently considering bringing to market two higher-performance versions of the X3 crossover, if the newly released second-generation model is successful. News comes via BMW insider SCOTT26 posting on yet another BMW forum.

Currently the most powerful X3 in BMW’s lineup is the rather potent x3 xDrive35i, using the single-turbo inline-six motor to make 300-hp and 300 ft-lbs of torque and deliver an incredibly fast 0-60 mph time of just 5.5 seconds. That time would likely drop by a tenth or two with a xDrive35is model, which would take after the Z4 sDrive35is and 335is models to deliver a bump to around 320-hp and 332 ft-lbs, with limited overboost delivering closer to 370 ft-lbs.

Then, if that model proved a success, BMW would then consider an X3 M. This model would reportedly be powered by a version of the motor that will be found in the upcoming 1 Series M Coupe.

But don’t get too excited yet, as the product planning folks haven’t made any decisions and will have to wait at least a year or two to see how the second-gen X3 is received.

In addition to these models, SCOTT26 insists the X4 is still under consideration, which would deliver an X6-inspired coupe-like model, derived from the new X3.

[Source: XBimmers]

Pagani’s successor to the Zonda, code named the C9, will continue to rely on AMG for motivation, but in a new twin-turbo format. According to a new report by AutoCar, the Zonda successor will rely on the 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine currently used in Mercedes models like the SL600 and SL65, making around 690-hp and 737 ft-lbs of torque.

The choice of engine is part of a larger plan by Pagani to expand into the lucrative U.S. market.

The Zonda model never met EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) or DOT (Department of Transportation) regulations and so it could not be driven in the U.S. Using this new engine, the new emissions regs won’t be an issue (although don’t expect good fuel economy) and an all new chassis made of carbon-titanium is being designed to meet DOT rules.

Pagani is expected to debut the C9 at the Geneva Auto Show next March with sales to begin later that year.

[Source: AutoCar]

Contrary to several reports, Hyundai has confirmed that the Veloster compact sports coupe/hatchback will not debut at the LA Auto Show later this year. Speaking about the rumor, Hyundai rep Dan Bedore commented that, “there is no truth to this.”

And while the Veloster will not debut in LA, Bedore did confirm that “We will have a very important North American product debut at the LA Auto Show.”

As for what that product is, we’re expecting debuts for both the new Elantra and the 2011 Accent in the near future. Although rumors have also suggested Hyundai may show a concept car that will set the company on the path towards it’s 50-mpg CAFE goal. This could be a version of the Blue-Will Concept that would rival the Toyota Prius.

The Veloster may beat all these products to market, wit rumors suggesting the 40-mpg highway model will first appear at the Paris Auto Show in a month’s time.

Infiniti will officially debut the production version of the M35 hybrid at the LA Auto Show later this year and it’s likely to be followed by more hybrid models from the Japanese luxury automaker. According to an Automotive News interview with Ben Poore, VP of Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury arm is currently studying what other models could use the hybrid setup.

Included in the list of most likely candidates are the G sedan, as well as the EX and FX crossovers. According to Nissan North America product planning boss Larry Dominique, the M’s hybrid system will work in all three of these platforms and was designed that way from the start.

The hybrid system that will debut in the M35 h will deliver a significant increase in fuel economy. According to Infiniti’s own engineers the M35 should deliver anywhere from a 60 percent to 90 percent improvement over the standard gasoline-powered model. Impressively, the new Infiniti hybrid powertrain is also touted to be both lighter, simpler and less expensive than, say, Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which delivers a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy.

[Source: Automotive News]

While General Motors initially abandoned their performance projects division at the height of the economic crisis, GM has re-instated their mandate, but with a new mandate; compact cars.

“We have a tremendous opportunity in the small and compact car market,” said Jim Campbell, Vice President of GM’s performance vehicles and motorsports. “Small cars and compact cars are going to be more and more important going forward, and we’re looking at efficient performance,” he said, citing GM’s NASCAR, ALMS and Grand-Am road racing teams as integral parts of any future compact performance car effort.

Campbell said that the primary focus will be on Chevrolet and Cadillac, but that other brands would not be ignored. Prime contenders for special attention appear the be Cadillac’s V-Series lineup and the Chevrolet Cruze and Aveo. Enthusiasts have been clamoring for a Cruze SS to replace the much-lauded Cobalt SS, while Cadillac’s CTS-V has been praised by a number of global automotive media outlets.

[Source: Automotive News]