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November 21 2009
Pull Over: Broward County Sheriff gets a full-dress Challenger R/T
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Dodge, Police/Emergency
We like police cars. Seriously. Just not when they're filling our rearview mirrors, blue-and-reds ablaze. Then, our fanboy status diminishes markedly. In the meantime, however, we get pretty jazzed when a department does something a little different and cool. This week's example comes from the Broward County Sheriff's office, which appears to have added a fully-marked Dodge Challenger R/T to its fleet. Decked out in the BSO's familiar green-and-white livery, the muscular Mopar looks like it means business, ready to take down speeders and bust up meth labs with aplomb. We totally want to see it in person the next time we're down in South Florida -- just under our own, friendly terms. Thanks for the tip, Lee!
[Source: Law Officer Connect]
Pull Over: Broward County Sheriff gets a full-dress Challenger R/T originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsJourno experiences Volt's electric-to-hybrid transition, says it needs improvement
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, USA
We long ago had a chance to drive the Chevy Volt mule in all-electric mode, and more recently took a ride in the IVER (integration vehicle engineering release) version. We found the Volt's performance was rather impressive for a vehicle still under development. It was clear at that time that there was still room for improvement, though, and the question of how it would perform after the gas-powered generator kicked in remained unanswered since GM was not allowing anyone from outside the company to experience it. Would there be a sudden jolt of power during the transition or would it perhaps produce a howl reminiscent of the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz? Now it seems those questions are being addressed as GM has just started to allow media to drive the IVER and experience that change.
So how was it? According to Lindsay Brooke over at the New York Times, the initial moments, as the engine comes to life, are "inaudible and seamless." Very nice. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter the sound suddenly surged as the car became cognizant that its battery was lower than desired and attempted to quickly return to its preferred level by revving itself up. Clearly, there is still some refining to be done. The overall impression was extremely positive though, the regenerative braking in particular garnering some amount of praise. We look forward to soon gripping the wheel for ourselves and giving you our in-depth reaction. Thanks to wincros for the tip!
[Source: New York Times]
Journo experiences Volt's electric-to-hybrid transition, says it needs improvement originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsRare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction
Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Aston Martin
1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight - Click above for a high-res image gallery
With just 75 built between 1959 and 1963, the Aston Martin DB4 GT is a rare breed. Of those, a mere six are the coveted lightweight models that cut weight by using aluminum components (instead of steel) and delete items like the radio, speakers, and heater. It's not very often that one comes up for sale, but this January, RM Auctions will be offering a pristine example at their sale in Scottsdale.
The car going up for auction is chassis #0175/L, the last DB4 GT Lightweight built. It underwent a total restoration in the mid-Nineties where it received upgrades like Dunlop racing tires, Dayton wire wheels, and a four-point roll bar. The car wasn't competitively raced in the Sixties, but several owners have competed with the car in various vintage races at tracks like Lime Rock Park and Laguna Seca.
Sound like your kind of car? RM estimates you'll need anywhere from $950,000-$1,000,000 to take this ruby beauty home. If you don't have that kind of cash, then you'll have to settle for the press release after the jump and the high-res gallery below.
[Source: RM Auctions]
Rare Aston Martin DB4 GT Lightweight going to highest bidder at RM's Arizona auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsElk Horn, Iowa installs first electric car charging stations in new "Pony Express" lane
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, USA
Elk Horn, Iowa's website says it is located, "In the heart of Southwest Iowa's picturesque countryside." Google Maps shows just how remote the town is, so it is clear that to make this place a forward-thinking electric vehicle destination takes a bit of chutzpah. While most EV advocates and manufacturers see electric cars as urban runabouts for the near future, Elk Horn businessman Mike Howard thinks that it makes sense to build eight EV charging stations in town. Four - one is solar, the others are connected to the grid - are already installed and four more are coming soon. Howard told the AP that the stations are like some famous horse exchange locations from Western U.S. history, "This is a modern-day Pony Express," he said. Expanding out from Elk Horn, Howard wants to build more of the $6,000 stations along Highway 80 - all the way from Chicago to Denver. That's what we call ambition.
Currently, there are 96 EVs registered in Iowa, out of over 4 million total. At the very least, the one EV registered in Elk Horn - a converted Chevy S-10 - will never need to wait for an open outlet.
[Source: AP via Autopia]
Elk Horn, Iowa installs first electric car charging stations in new "Pony Express" lane originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsNovember 20 2009
FerrariChat: P4/5 Competizione still aiming for Nürburgring 24
Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Specialty
A few months ago, the internet started to rumble with rumors of a race car being built out of the incredible Pininfarina Ferrari 612 P4/5 that James Glickenhaus had commissioned at a staggering (but understandable) $4 million. A thread on Ferrari superforum FerrariChat.com put those rumors to rest -- Glickenhaus wasn't going to turn his P3/4 homage into a race car, he was going to build another car that he would take racing.
While the final product hasn't been revealed in full, the thread includes over 20 pages of Q&A between James and the rest of the F-Chat community giving several hints at what's to come. There are even several photo renderings depicting what the car might look like. What we do know is that this new P4/5 Competizione will not be Enzo/FXX/MC based -- it will be based on a Ferrari chassis and feature a Ferrari V8, with Glickenhaus saying that a V12 isn't practical because of fuel consumption.
Engineering has already begun on this dedicated racecar, which will hopefully get its maiden run at the Nürburgring 24 hour race next year. It will run in an open class that allows one-offs, as there are apparently no plans to homologate this retro-inspired racer. It's just Glick being Glick, building something for fun and bringing his teen memories of Ford vs. Ferrari back to life in endurance racing.
It could also be seen as a great opportunity for sponsors to get a ton of exposure. If the Competizione is anything like the road-going P4/5 in the publicity department, we'd say it's a safe bet you'll get a lot for your advertising dollars. We'll keep you posted as the car comes along, and we're already petitioning the higher-ups to include the Nürburgring 24 into our travel budget next year.
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[Source: FerrariChat]
FerrariChat: P4/5 Competizione still aiming for Nürburgring 24 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: Tesla IPO “Coming Soon”
Tesla Motors is on the verge of going public.
So says Reuters, citing two sources “familiar with the matter” who say an IPO filing from Tesla is coming any day now. No one’s offering specifics on when or how, but as Reuters notes, an initial public offering can take months. Tesla Motors has never commented publicly on IPO rumors and isn’t starting now.
“We don’t comment on rumor and speculation,” said company spokesman Ricardo Reyes.
That said, CEO Elon Musk said early last year that an IPO could come in 2008 or 2009. And he’s undoubtedly watched battery company A123 Systems, which saw its stock climb 50 percent on its first day of trading on Sept. 25. That company saw its third-quarter revenue exceed expectations but A123 still posted a loss.
More info when we have it.
Photo: Jim Merithew / Wired.com
Dutch Exodus: Spyker relocating vehicle assembly to the UK
Filed under: Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, UK, MISC
2010 Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder - Click above for a high-res image gallery
In these tough times automakers are doing everything they can to cut costs. For Spyker, that means moving its vehicle assembly from its home country of the Netherlands to Coventry, England. How does that save money, you ask? "With approximately half of our vehicles' parts and components sourced in the UK, and virtually all key suppliers being located there, moving closer to our suppliers and engineering partners will result in substantial savings and tangible efficiency improvements," according to Spyker CEO Victor R. Muller.
The assembly of the Spyker line, which includes various iterations of the C8 supercar, will move to CPP Manufacturing before the end of the year. CPP has worked with the Dutch manufacturer since its reincarnation in 2000, and even built Spyker's first prototype. Other portions of the company, such as engineering, marketing, and the race team will stay at the Zeewolde headquarters. Full details can be found in Spyker's press release after the jump.
[Source: Spyker]
Continue reading Dutch Exodus: Spyker relocating vehicle assembly to the UK
Dutch Exodus: Spyker relocating vehicle assembly to the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsOpel introduces updated Corsa ecoFlex with 98 g/km CO2
Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Opel
Opel is about to launch a heavily revamped version of the B-segment Corsa, although observers probably won't notice much difference on the outside. That actually isn't such a bad thing, since the Corsa is a pretty handsome little car. Under the skin, the car gets new powertrains and revised suspension setups for improved handling and ride.
Under the hood, the Corsa offers diesels in 1.3-liter and 1.7-liter sizes with the latter rated at 130 hp. The smaller engine is available in three power levels with the most powerful 95 hp version powering the new ecoFlex model. The ecoFlex gets an EU combined rating of 63.6 mpg (U.S.) with CO2 emissions of 98 g/km. That's a 10 percent improvement over the previous Corsa ecoFlex with significantly better performance thanks to 27 percent more power. Even the 1.7-liter still hits the sub 120 g level with a 119 g/km and 52.3 mpg (U.S.).
[Source: Opel]
Continue reading Opel introduces updated Corsa ecoFlex with 98 g/km CO2
Opel introduces updated Corsa ecoFlex with 98 g/km CO2 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2010 Acura ZDX starts at $45,495 with plenty of kit
Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, Hatchback, Acura, Luxury
If you're interested in picking up the 2010 Acura ZDX crossover, the bottom line begins at $45,495. There's a full press release with all of the details after the jump, but the main points are these: The ZDX will go on sale beginning December 15 with an MSRP of $45,495, plus destination and handling charge, which adds another $810.
The 2010 Acura ZDX will be available in three trim levels -- the base ZDX, ZDX with Technology Package, and ZDX with Advance Package. This being an Acura, even the base ZDX gets a ton of standard features, including premium items like the "world's longest panoramic glass roof," hand-stitched leather, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and that 300-hp 3.7-liter VTEC V6. And even with that much power on tap, Honda has figured out a way to give the ZDX class-leading fuel economy of 16/23 mpg.
For an extra $4,500, the Technology Package adds a 415-watt Acura/ELS Premium Audio System with 15-gig hard drive, a GPS-linked, solar-sensing, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start with Keyless Access, and Acura's Nav System with Voice Recognition, Real-Time Traffic, Real-Time Weather, a full VGA display and a new multi-view rear camera.
The Advance Package goes a step further by adding a blind spot information system (BSI), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Acura's Collision Mitigating Braking System (CMBS), an active suspension system, heated and ventilated front seats with Perforated Milano Premium Leather seating surfaces, premium brushed tricot headliner material and a sport steering wheel. All for another $6,050.
[Source: Acura]
Continue reading 2010 Acura ZDX starts at $45,495 with plenty of kit
2010 Acura ZDX starts at $45,495 with plenty of kit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFisker, Mission One Snag Design Awards
Say what you will about electric vehicles, the Fisker Karma and Mission One are sexy rides indeed. The judges at Spark agree and have honored the two EVs in the annual Spark Design and Architecture awards.
The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid and Mission One electric superbike snagged gold awards, joining the exhibits at the California Academy of Sciences, the videogame Tony Hawk: Ride and a long list of other winners in the international design competition.
Spark honors the best designs in everything from architecture to advertising, and the jury includes more than a dozen designers, creative directors and professors. They considered more than 370 contenders before naming 93 winners in four categories.
Photo of the Fisker Karma taking a lap at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca: Jim Merithew / Wired.com.
Photo of the Mission One at the Bonneville Salt Flats: Mission Motors.
REPORT: Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini not attending LA Auto Show
Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Lamborghini, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Spyker, Fisker, Luxury
Here's an unsurprising stat for you: 60 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. that cost over $100,000 find homes in New York, Florida and California. The majority of which are parked in garages in Manhattan, Miami and Los Angeles, respectively. So the revelation that Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini won't be attending next month's LA Auto Show is -- at the very least -- surprising.
According to a spokesperson speaking with The Detroit Bureau, Bentley has decided to skip the So. Cal. show, adding that the automaker is looking for "a better use of our resources." Ferrari and its sister marque Maserati are out as well, with an unnamed source telling the industry pub, "It's just the economy. We're cutting back on a lot of things."
Given the global economic climate and its affect on high-end automotive sales, the choice to scale back isn't such a shock, but for automakers that rely on the Southern California market, it's a disturbing sign of the times. As for the rest of the LA exhibitors, the luxury market's Big Three (Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz) will be in attendance, although it looks like the lower hall will only house Aston Martin, Spyker, Fisker and -- we'd assume -- Rolls-Royce.
[Source: The Detroit Bureau]
REPORT: Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini not attending LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsAll Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI
Filed under: Diesel, Audi, Volkswagen
As Audi begins to roll out the A3 TDI to its U.S. dealers in the coming weeks and the diesel version of the Q7 takes an ever larger share of sales, it's time to celebrate. This fall marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the first ever TDI engine. TDI, for the uninitiated, stands for turbocharged-direct-injection, and refers to modern diesel engines from the Volkswagen group. Today's TDI technology has evolved from that 20 year-old 2.5-liter five cylinder in the Audi 100.
Back then, the first TDI engines retained distributor type injector pumps, although the fuel was sprayed directly into the combustion chambers rather than a pre-chamber. Later, the company used something called Pumpe Düse - pump-injectors - for fuel delivery. This design integrated the high pressure pump and injector for each cylinder. These days, TDI uses common rail injection where a single pump pressurizes a single fuel rail that feeds all of the injectors. Regardless of the injector type, TDI has gone a long way towards improving the power output and reducing emissions of diesel engines. Audi and Volkswagen have built over five million TDI powerplants and remain committed to the technology. Congratulations on the double-decade milestone, guys.
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI
All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsEdmunds data suggests Honda Crosstour buyers don't know what it competes against either
Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda, Design/Style
The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour hasn't won too many fans amongst the automotive press, and while we're sure it fills the Accord Wagon space in Honda's lineup, the way the Crosstour has a foot both in the wagon and CUV realms still has us scratching our heads. Taking a peek at what's being cross-shopped against Honda's latest offering proves potential customers are in the same boat.
Fitting every car into a neat categorical box is a fool's errand, but the Crosstour is apparently making everyone wonder just where it belongs. According to early Edmunds' data, buyers seem to think the Crosstour competes most closely with the Toyota Venza, with ToMoCo's wagon-on-stilts being cross-shopping against the Crosstour more than any other vehicle. Other Honda models are also heavily considered against the Crosstour, according to Edmunds Auto Observer, as are a panoply of other cars. Luxury rides like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series wind up in the comparison column, as do more traditional crossovers like the Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota RAV-4.
While the Crosstour has been called lots of unflattering things, it's clear that figuring out whether it's neatly described as fish or fowl is more of a thorny chestnut. That said, none of this is exactly important if the car is generating showroom traffic and moving units.
[Source: Edmunds Auto Observer]
Edmunds data suggests Honda Crosstour buyers don't know what it competes against either originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments193 vehicles returned under GM's 60-day satisfaction guarantee
Filed under: Car Buying, GM
Last month, General Motors raised some eye brows when it announced its 60-day satisfaction guarantee program giving customers the ability to drive their vehicles for 60 days and return them with
But while 193 appears to be fairly insignificant when compared to overall sales, it also represents 30 percent of the 653 people who actually opted for the 60-day option in lieu of a $500 discount. While some would say that the 30% number is very bad for GM, we'd say that it isn't much of a surprise given the fact that those 653 customers obviously weren't very sure about their purchase decision to begin with.
GM appears to be pretty pleased with the fact that so few vehicles have been returned during the program, but the automaker also plans to learn from those who were dissatisfied with their product. Vice President of Global Product Engineering Mark Reuss told the Associated Press that he and other executives plan to call customers who turned in their vehicles under the program, calling it "about the best unfiltered consumer feedback we've had" and according to the report, Chairman Ed Whitacre came up with the idea to make the calls. GM's 60-day guarantee promotion is scheduled to end on January 4, 2010.
[Source: AP | Image Source: Joe Raedle/Getty]
193 vehicles returned under GM's 60-day satisfaction guarantee originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsREPORT: Ferrari working on radical new door opening
Filed under: Technology, Ferrari, Rumormill
As if scissor doors, gullwings, butterflies and those crazy Koenigsegg pivoters weren't enough to separate exotics from lesser cars, Ferrari is said to be working on another new door design that is both radical and practical. Go figure.Autocar came across a patent filing showing a few diagrams depicting this unique door setup. What sets it apart is the fact that the new Ferrari door includes part of the front fender and hinges upward like the butterfly door from a LeMans racer. Apparently the opening is large enough and shaped in such a way that "occupants can place their foot directly behind the front wheel."
According to the patent application, that will make ingress and egress much easier for passengers in low-slung supercars, though the new door design is said to work just as well on front engined cars as it does for vehicles with their engines mounted aft or amidships. Even better, this design and its unique hinges are reported to be "easy and cost-effective to make," which should make it easier for the Dodge Chargers of SEMA circa 2012 to get in on the fun too.
We're still seeing an issue with the A-pillar and windscreen, but it looks interesting. We'll be sure to keep an eye out for any photos of these funky doors, but for now we're stuck wondering how hard it was for Ferrari engineers to use the supplied British sports car diagram in order to submit their application form.
[Source: Autocar]
REPORT: Ferrari working on radical new door opening originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsREPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon"
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Green Daily
Rumors about Tesla's plan to go public have been circulating since 2008, but a down stock market seemed to put a damper on the start-up's IPO. Now, the word
For its part, Tesla continues to offer little guidance on the report other than to dismiss it as "rumor or speculation." We shall see...
[Source: Reuters]
REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsGoing Rogue in a Luxury Hybrid Snowmobile
When we heard that Sarah Palin got a $1.25 million advance for Going Rogue, we wondered how she was going to spend the loot. With a new wardrobe in the closet and donors clamoring to her PAC like cranky old people to a town hall meeting, we think it’s time for her to listen to her new pal Oprah and live that best life now.
We’ve got just the thing: a luxury snowmobile snow machine just perfect for a fabulously wealthy Alaskan former First Family.
The i-Scoob (Get it? No? Sound it out! Ice cube — good one!) is a concept from designer Jeff Darling. It’s a plug-in hybrid with a well-appointed interior that can also be hosed out. It’s designed to be as capable carrying precision instruments to measure the thinning permafrost as it is hauling bullet-riddled polar bear carcasses. Plus, there’s an electric-only feature for crossing those especially environmentally sensitive areas of the tundra on the way to a seal hunt.
It’s purely a concept — even in Alaska it’ll never see the light of midnight, but gosh is it fun.
Depending on the time of year, Darling said that on-board solar panels may be useful for when all other fuel sources are expended. “While there may not be much sun in the areas the i-Scoob would operate, every little bit helps,” he said. “Even if it takes a couple days to generate enough power to finish the journey it’s better than being permanently stuck.”
The passenger compartment of the i-Scoob is enclosed by a front-hinged capsule, and every hollow compartment is filled with foam for insulation and flotation. “Should the vehicle fall through ice into frigid water it will remain afloat,” Darling said. “The foam also helps insulate the drivetrain components and occupants from the harsh environment.” A glazed cockpit traps warm air from the sun, providing skeptics a real-life demonstration of the greenhouse effect.
Steering and acceleration are via joystick, while a radio and climate control keep passengers comfortable and entertained.
Images: Jeff Darling/diseno-art.com
REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon"
Filed under: Earnings/Financials, Tesla, Electric
Rumors about Tesla's plan to go public have been circulating since 2008, but a down stock market seemed to put a damper on the start-up's IPO. Now, the word
[Source: Reuters]
REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVIDEO: Deconstructing the end-of-the-world limo ride in 2012
Filed under: Technology, Videos
We're still early in the holiday movie season, but the clear early winner is the blockbuster world-ending thriller 2012. The pic cleared $65 million in its first weekend in the U.S. and a stunning $265 million around the globe. If you have already seen the movie or if you've just checked out the five minute clip we showed you last month, then you know this disaster flick is chock-full of CGI destruction on a scale we quite frankly have never seen before. And our favorite scene stars a Lincoln Town Car limo that somehow manages to survive (like the Panther platform upon which it is based) while the virtual world quite literally crumbles around it. It makes us wonder how that scene was made to look so damn real.
Well, we didn't have to wonder for long, because YouTube has come to the rescue with video of how the scene was created. A company called SWAY Studio created a simulator/program called Drive-A-Tron that works like a virtual stunt driving machine with very realistic-looking results. The simulator features a real steering wheel, along with brake and accelerator pedals to capture the action in real time. SWAY reconfigured the machine for the big screen action flick so the program could interact with moving terrain, and since the system features true to life engine, suspension and even tire inputs, the final product looks pretty damn real to us. Hit the jump to watch how the Lincoln Town Car limo scene was created. Pretty interesting stuff.
[Source: Raging Artists]
Continue reading VIDEO: Deconstructing the end-of-the-world limo ride in 2012
VIDEO: Deconstructing the end-of-the-world limo ride in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsAptera update: backstory uglier than we knew
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, Aptera
Electric automaker Aptera has had a very tough week, starting with news of a boardroom showdown last weekend over money troubles - which were then walked back a bit. During the week, we've been hearing that the problems run deeper than we expected, and Karen Pease from Gas 2.0 has put more pieces of the tale together.
First, it's important to know about Laura Marion, who is CFO at Aptera but she also worked at Delphi, where she was cited by the SEC (PDF) for a massive accounting fraud and ended up paying a $40,000 fine. Marion came to Aptera with Paul Wilbur, now Aptera's CEO, who had previously worked at ASC and Saleen (pretty much as those companies were going bankrupt). Wilbur was behind the firings last week, and the Gas 2.0 write-up (a must read) cites an anonymous employee who was liveblogging the recent firings saying that, "Paul Wilbur has just sacrificed the company to line his own pockets. Crap, I'm crying. [...] Seems to think suspending operations til govt$$ come in will make him a rich man. So sad for [Aptera founder] Steve Fambro, he's a great guy being ruined."
We asked Wilbur for a statement, and he sent AutoblogGreen a statement, saying, "We have assembled a world-class team that has the full support of our board. We and our board are confident that we have the people and resources needed to bring the most innovative electric vehicle to market as soon as possible." This story is not over, not by a long shot.
[Source: Gas 2.0]
Aptera update: backstory uglier than we knew originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMaybe Soup is currently being updated? I'll try again automatically in a few seconds...
