Freightliner's ecoFRED motorhome chassis now ready for orders

Filed under: Hybrid, Daimler

Freightliner is now taking orders for its new ecoFred motorhome chassis, the first of its kind in the large RV market. The new chassis uses a Cummins 6.7-liter diesel inline-6 with an Eaton automated-manual transmission. In between the auto-clutch and the gearbox is a motor-generator that provides regenerative braking, auto-stop and electric drive capabilities. Electrical storage comes by way of a lithium ion battery pack although the capacity andSource: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed

Finding ways to cover innovation

MediaShift’s Mark Glaser interviewed David Nordfors, who runs the Research Center for Innovation Journalism at Stanford, which seeks to find ways to help business and technology reporters cover innovation.

Here is an excerpt:

What was your impetus for starting the Innovation Journalism program?

Nordfors: We aren’t able to have a public discussion [about innovation] because journalism is organized in those same darn verticals as the rest of society. So you have oneSource: Talking Biz News RSS Feed

2011 Infiniti M wraps tons of tech in an attractive wrapper, hybrid coming in mid-2010

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Infiniti, Luxury

2011 Infiniti M - Click above for high-res image gallery
Take a look over Infiniti's current line-up and two vehicles stand out: The M and the QX. Both vehicles have been soldiering on while the brand's volume models (G and FX) have undergone major redesigns, leaving Infiniti's flagship sedan and hulking SUV toiling away unchanged since 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Tonight, that changes.
We'll probably see a mildly Source: Autoblog RSS Feed

Gartner Inc. Buys AMR Research for $64 million

IT research firm Gartner, Inc. will buy supply chain research company ARM Research for $64 million in cash. Trading Markets has the wire:

The acquisition is expected to expand Gartner’s suite of research offerings and also complement its consulting and events business. AMR Research’s sales team is also expected to enhance Gartner’s ability to further penetrate the market opportunity for syndicated research.

Gartner CEO Gene Hall said, “AMR Research is an excellentSource: Business Pundit RSS Feed

Not-so-shocking admission: Zap kills Xebra, slows development of Alias

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Zap, USA

Our sleuthing colleagues over at The Truth About Cars have dissected electric car maker Zap's latest 10-Q filing, and they unearthed the following little tidbit: "The decrease of $1.5 million (in revenue) is primarily due to the phase out of our three wheeled Xebra vehicle with reduced selling prices."
We can't say that we're particularly shocked that Zap has found it difficult to continue moving its little three-wheeled XebraSource: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed

U.S. Fiesta unveiled early by Ford Canada?

Filed under: Ford, LA Auto Show, Green Daily

2011 Ford Fiesta U.S.-spec - Click above for image gallery
Did our friends in the great, frostbitten north just jump the gun by half a week and reveal the 2011 North American Ford Fiesta ahead of its upcoming LA Auto Show debut? Boy we kinda hope not. Well, specifically, we hope the the little five-door fire cracker we've come to know and love (largely thanks to the well-executed Fiesta Movement) doesn't get this new grille. It's by Source: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed

High price for a hybrid: Lexus sets MSRP for LS 600h at $108,800

Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus

2010 Lexus LS 600h - Click above for high-res image gallery
Lexus' LS 600h may look modest on the outside, but the 2010 version of the hybrid sedan will set you back a cool $108,000, plus an $875 delivery fee, when it arrives at dealerships soon. The flagship LS line was given a mid-cycle refresh earlier this year and the hybrid version was upgraded with the same ECO mode that boost efficiency and can also be found on the 2010 Prius for aSource: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed