General Motors has reported 2012 sales of the Chevrolet Volt increased by three times over 2011. GM sold 23,461 Volts in 2012 compared with only 7,671 in 2011. Although the year over year increase is very impressive the Chevy Volt is still a very low volume vehicle for GM. As an example the ultra low volume Chevy Corvette sportscar sold 14,000 units. The Volt only outsold it by 10,000 units. The Chevy Volt did outsell it’s main electric car competitor by more than two times. The Nissan Leaf only sold 9,800 vehicles in 2012. Although Nissan states it was a record year for Leaf sales and they are looking forward to building on 2012 this year. Chevy Volt drivers are reporting triple digit fuel economy numbers. This is due to the fact that the Volt has a gasoline engine that kicks in once …

  Cadillac has announced production of an all-new extended-range electric luxury touring coupe. The Cadillac ELR is based on the highly acclaimed Cadillac Converj Concept vehicle shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. Its sleek profile and sharp lines allow ELR to slip through the air with little resistance. Signature Cadillac styling cues are also evident in the dramatic grille, jewel-like headlamps and vertical LED taillamps. The ELR will be equipped with an electric propulsion system featuring a lithium-ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder gas-powered electric generator. Electricity is its primary source of energy, with the range-extending generator providing power when the battery is depleted. In keeping with Cadillac’s prestigious history of technical innovation, the four-seat ELR will offer something never seen before—the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving. GM has …

  Barrett-Jackson has announced many multi-million dollar vehicles to be offered at their annual Scottsdale, Arizona auction in January. The vehicle expected to garner the highest value is a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider. The super rare convertible is one of only 50 built and features a 3.0-liter V-12. The car has been certified by Ferrari as a matching-numbers example and has been shown at the most elite car shows in the country. It is being sold by Gooding & Company who currently holds a five-year record of selling the most expensive vehicle at the show. It’s estimated the car will sell for between $5.5 million and $7 million. Although it may go for more if the right buyers are participating in the auction. The Barrett-Jackson auction date is January 13th to 20th in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information visit Barrett-Jackson.com

  Fisker Automotive the maker of the Karma is searching for investors and business partners to help bring to market a second electric vehicle. The automaker gained notice late last year for introducing its beautiful Karma hybrid, which uses an electric battery to go about 53 kms before a gas engine kicks in and extends the range. Electric cars have a lot to offer in theory, however, car buyers have not been quick to purchase them. The other issue is the Fisker Karma is priced at over $120,000, which has a limited market to start with. Fisker needs about $500 million to launch a second vehicle, its Atlantic model, a $55,000, four-door rechargeable sports sedan. The design of the Atlantic and the engineering of its drive train is 90% done, Ormisher said. “The next big part would be moving in production equipment and that would …

  The world premiere of the BMW i3 Concept Coupe sees the BMW Group unveil a particularly nimble and emotive version of its concept for sustainable premium-class motoring with zero local emissions. The study presented at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show has been brought out in parallel to the ongoing development process for getting the first ever all-electric model from the BMW i brand ready for series production, and demonstrates the potential for conceivably extending the model range. The state-of-the-art, clean-cut and open design showcased by the BMW i3 Concept Coupe represents a pioneering form of urban mobility that makes sustainability awareness an intrinsic part of the premium profile. Beyond this, the three-door model employs the design idiom that has been created especially for the BMW i cars to convey an undeniable sense of dynamism and driving pleasure. The carbon-fibre body’s visual impact …

  In order for electric cars to be successful their driving range must be increased and their sticker prices have to come down. Full electric cars that have no gasoline engine backup to kick-in once the battery power has been depleted have a major drawback that is straining sales; driving range. Of the handful of pure electric cars most have a range of under 150 kms. Which is fine for those who only use their cars for grocery getting. However for the times when even those people need to travel further a pure electric car is not practical. Currently the Nissan Leaf has a range of 120 kms, the electric Honda Fit has a range of 135 kms, the electric Ford Focus has a range of 120 kms, the Mitsubishi MiEV has a range of 100 kms. Automakers are having a difficult time figuring a …

  Lamborghini has just unveiled its all-new 2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster. While the coupe is a gorgeous supercar, the convertible is a knockout. It should be noted the previous Murcielago Roadster was super complicated fasten the roof which was similar pitching a tent. The Aventador Roadster has two carbon fiber roof panels that simply snap on or off. When the roof is off the two panels store conveniently in the forward cargo area. Since they are made of carbon fiber they are extremely strong and light, weighing less than 10 lbs each. The mechanicals are all the same as the coupe. Both versions are powered by the same 6.5 litre V12 with 700 horsepower. The Roadster is also capable of a top speed of 217 mph with a 0-60 time of 3 seconds. No doubt the roadster has advantages over the coupe …

  Flood damaged vehicles could begin hitting the used car market in the next few months. Since Hurricane Sandy hit the U.S. East Coast, thousands of auto insurance claims have been reported. Most of which being varying degrees of flood damage. Going forward, car purchasers have to be vigilant and stay away from these lemons. They may be offered for sale at an attractive price without disclosing their flood damage history. While water damage is bad enough, these vehicles have been exposed to salt water which is very bad for both electrical systems and air bags. Auto buyers have to avoid these vehicles at all costs. Canadian car shoppers are not immune to these vehicles. Thousands of used vehicles are imported from the United States every year. As a result, many of these flood damaged vehicles may find their way into Canada. …

  When the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette arrives late next year, it will be powered by a technologically advanced, racing-proven 6.2L V-8 delivering an estimated 450 horsepower and helping produce 0-60 mph times in less than four seconds. The new Corvette LT1 engine, the first of the Gen 5 family of Small Block engines, combines several advanced technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously variable valve timing to support an advanced combustion system. “Our objective for the development of the all-new LT1 was to raise the bar for performance car engines,” said Mary Barra, senior vice president, global product development. “We feel that we have achieved that by delivering a true technological masterpiece that seamlessly integrates a suite of advanced technologies that can only be found on a handful of engines in the world. “What makes this engine truly special is the …

  For whatever reason, Canadians often refer to their provincial Service office as the DMV. It handles much more than ‘Motor Vehicles’ though. Yes, you can register a license plate there but you can also register a business or a baby. They deal with health cards, birth certificates, property liens, paying fines, and so on. Essentially, they’re the primary means of contact between a province’s citizens and its government. Having all this in one place is nice, but it doesn’t necessarily make the experience any more enjoyable. It’s busy, complicated, and a general inconvenience. There are some ways to make the process easier however; here are a few: Don’t go if you don’t have to There are quite a few services online both from third parties and the government. For instance, most Service office websites allow you to place an order online for driving …