Convertible Leather Interior Heated Seats on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Ecotricity offering 1,000 free EV miles to new customers

Ecotricity is offering electric vehicle drivers in the United Kingdom an lengthy incentive for using green energy: 1,000 miles of free fast charging per year. Called "Green Electricity + Car," the program will power customers' homes with renewable power allow them to charge their cars through Ecotricity's national network of fast chargers, which the company has named the Electric Highway. It makes complete sense for Ecotricity. "To get the greatest environmental benefit from an electric car, it needs to be charged using 100 percent green electricity from the wind and the sun – otherwise you're still powering it from dirty fossil fuels," wrote Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity. Ecotricity, a UK-based producer of green energy, wants to bring fast charging to 90 percent of highway service stations around the UK in the near future and four fast chargers are installed per week under the Electric Highway campaign, the company says. Users can fast charge their EVs in 20-to-30 minutes. Ecotricity recently instituted a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until April 1, reducing energy costs below what's being billed by the country's "Big Six" energy companies. Green Electricity + Car coincides with Volkswagen bringing its electric e-Up! to the British market. Volkswagen Group (UK) Limited imports VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda brand vehicles and has signed a deal with Ecotricity as its official green energy supplier. Volkswagen Group customers purchasing an EV through one of its brands can take advantage of a new, reduced-cost Ecotricity tariff and a free smart meter installation. 08 February 2014 Green Electricity + Car Drivers of electric cars will receive 1,000 free miles every year with a new electricity tariff being launched by green energy company Ecotricity. Green Electricity + Car – will not only power customers homes with green energy but also their cars (either 100% electric or plug-in hybrids), plus they'll get free access to Ecotricity's national network of fast chargers[1] – the Electric Highway. This latest move comes after Ecotricity announced a price freeze for all gas and electricity customers until the end of winter (April 1st), making them cheaper[2] than the standard tariff of the Big Six energy companies.

Autoblog Minute: VW financial woes continue, Tesla Model X dazzles

Volkswagen sees its financial woes continue, and Tesla reveals the all electric Model X crossover. Autoblog's Greg Migliore reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Update: The post has been updated to show the complete range of estimated MPGe specs for the Model X P90D and not just the 92 combined MPGe. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Volkswagen sees its financial woes continue, and Tesla reveals its all electric Model X crossover. I'm Senior editor Greg Migliore and this is your Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Volkswagen has been removed from the DOW Jones Sustainability Index, or DJSI. A decision that takes effect on October 8th. Removal from this key index is yet another black eye for the embattled automaker and it [00:00:30] indicates VW's fall as a company leads the way in economic, environmental and social performance. Ever since the emissions scandal broke the world's top selling automaker's stock has struggled. Reports estimate VW's losses to be a staggering 30.8 billion dollars. Tesla rolled out the Model X this week. A live web-stream showed us what to expect. Like, how the Falcon Wing doors adapt to tight parking spots and low garages. Towing capacity [00:01:00] was also demonstrated. The CUV is said to be able to haul 5,000 pounds, while carrying 7 passengers and luggage. Still, there was no mention of how towing would affect battery life or the range of the all electric crossover. The Model X also boasts a giant air filtration system with a "Bioweapon Defense Mode," a feature that is said to protect passengers against bacteria, harmful gasses and as Elon Musk joked, possible apocalyptic events. [00:01:30] Stay tuned. According to early EPA estimates, the Model X 90D has a range of 257 miles with 90 MPGe city, 94 highway and 92 combined MPGe. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to check out my full weekly recap this Saturday. Plus I'll have some added insight into Mazda's new sports car. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Tesla Volkswagen Crossover Diesel Vehicles Electric Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video vw diesel scandal

Volkswagen bringing production GTI Clubsport to Frankfurt

"No plans for the car to be sold here." It's probably good I read that part of the email from Volkswagen before I looked at the photos and read the release for the car you see above. It's the production-spec GTI Clubsport. It's coming to the Frankfurt Motor Show. It's awesome. And I want one. I know, I'm kind of a GTI fanboy, but really, there's a lot to like here. The special-edition hot hatch is essentially a road-going version of the concept Volkswagen brought to Worthersee this year, complete with a more powerful engine. It produces 261 horsepower – a healthy increase over the 210 hp of the base GTI (or 220 if the car is fitted with the performance pack) – and can even crank out 286 hp for short bursts, thanks to an overboost function. Hitting 62 miles per hour takes six seconds flat with the six-speed manual gearbox, and that time is reduced to 5.9 seconds should you opt for the six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Even with these upgrades, VW says the GTI Clubsport will still return nearly 34 miles per gallon with the manual transmission. Volkswagen doesn't specifically mention any chassis upgrades, however. In its press release, VW simply says that the GTI Clubsport "has groundbreaking handling properties at high speeds and breathtaking cornering speeds." Cool. I'm sure it'll be a riot. A lot of the exterior is new: the front bumper, side sills, rear diffuser, roof spoiler, and aluminum wheels are all unique to the Clubsport. Buyers can choose between 18- or 19-inch rollers, the tailpipes are larger than those on a standard GTI, and the LED lights out back have a black/red, dark finish. Inside, the Clubsport comes with racing buckets covered in tartan fabric (of course) and there's Alcantara everywhere. Fellow GTI fans, get excited about this one – even if it's just another delicious piece of forbidden fruit. Still, I can't wait to see it live in Frankfurt next week. Related Video: VOLKSWAGEN TO UNVEIL MORE POWERFUL GTI CLUBSPORT AT THE FRANKFURT INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW New anniversary model celebrates the GTI's 40th birthday - 265 PS special edition accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds - An overboost function increases power to more than 290 PS for a short time - Expressive exterior design features new front bumper, side skirts, rear diffusor and multi-part roof spoiler Wolfsburg, September 9, 2015 – At the beginning of 2016, the iconic sporty compact—the Golf GTI— celebrates its 40th birthday.