FYI: We'd have used "going green on the green" if Uncrate hadn't already beaten us to it. Clever tagline aside, what we have here is a solar-powered golf cart which uses 48 volts worth of batteries to power its 5.5 horsepower electric motor. According to the specifications, the roof-mounted solar panels increase its range by about sixty percent over regular electric golf carts. That solar installation offers three amps per hour and can completely charge the batteries in fifteen hours. Otherwise, a regular outlet can charge the vehicle overnight.

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Volkswagen has announced a recall of 340,000 of its U.S.-issue Jetta and Rabbit models that were manufactured in Mexico, due to a headlamp issue.

According to the German automaker, some headlamps installed on the affected vehicles may be missing rubber caps required by law to be placed in the sockets of the low-beam horizontal- and vertical-aiming screws. While VW says there's no danger resulting from the absence of the caps, owners are urged to bring their car in to their local dealer to have the caps installed.

It's been a while since we've seen such a large recall from Volkswagen, which is encouraging given the number of recalls we've been seeing from the likes of Toyota and Honda. Especially reassuring is that the recall seems to be for a relatively minor issue.

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The Malaysian Proton car dealers may go bust if the government fails to develop a foreign alliance for the national car maker.
Currently 180 Proton dealers have had losses over 20 million ringgit in the last financial year. This is due to the market share dropping from 60% to 30% with the arrival of more foreign [...]

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Well, we knew that Fiat was reintroducing the fabled 500. What many of us didn't know and do now thanks to CAR magazine's spies, is that the Italian auto giant is creating a tuned-up version of the little hot hatch à la MINI's Cooper S. They caught the above picture of the little Fiat testing at the Nurburgring in Germany.

The normal 500 has a small, but peppy 1.4 liter four cylinder engine that churns out a mighty-for-the-weight 150 horsepower. The Abarth will use 30 more horses that....

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Ford’s latest idea for the future of crossover vehicles is the Airstream, an ultra modern concept with a gleaming fuselage body. Visually the Ford Airstream concept pays homage to the riveted aluminum shell design of the celebrated Airstream travel trailers and motorhomes that have been traveling the highways of the world since 1931. The Ford Airstream prototype is powered by a plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell drive train called HySeries Drive. This fuel cell system is half the weight and cost of today’s units, operates under electric power at all times, delivers 41 miles per gallon and can operate in the dead of winter. Each of the concept’s bold orange-trimmed window graphics is a unique shape, and its doors are asymmetric. In addition to the driver’s side hatch, the passenger side features a power clamshell door that runs two-thirds the length of the vehicle. A 3-door hatch finishes the rear of the crossover. The red & white interior features a floating instrument panel, flush-mounted, touch-sensitive controls, pod-shaped swiveling captain’s chairs, and a sculptural, continuous cocoon-like rear-seating environment wrapped in bold red B&B Italia fabric.

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Shown above is a smaller, more affordable member of the Roller family based on the next BMW 7-series. The $250,000 sedan will use a modified and possibly twin-turbocharged version of the 6.0-liter BMW V-12 rated at nearly 550 hp. According to Rolls-Royce, the company aims for holes in the market, not its competitors, and the marque intends this car to fill the sizable space between Bentley's Continental Flying Spur and the Maybach 57. R-R hopes to move 3000 examples each year when it goes on sale in 2009.

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For discerning customers who take comfort in the classics, the Arnage is still ensconced atop the Bentley sedan lineup, costing almost half again as much as the arriviste, $176,285 Continental Flying Spur. Whereas the newer sedan's unusual (and Volkswagen-developed) W-12 engine hangs ahead of the front axle and drives all four wheels, the Arnage retains its conventionally located V-8--which traces its lineage back to 1959--and rear-wheel drive. For all the charms of that classic powertrain, its four-speed automatic transmission was merely old-fashioned--and not in an endearing way. For 2007, Bentley adds a new six-speed automatic by ZF with a manu-matic function. With the transmission's shorter first gear and two additional ratios overall, impetuous calls to the engine room are greeted with an enthusiastic, "Very good, sir!" The massive V-8 is still a low-revving torque monster, but now you're much less likely to catch the two turbochargers napping. Furthermore, both versions of the V-8 make an additional 50 hp, bringing the total to 500 for the Arnage T and 450 for the Arnage R. On California's Skyline Boulevard, through the hills north of Santa Cruz, we discovered a second significant upgrade to the '07 car. A sport button on the console stiffens the dampers, a relatively simple act that in corners makes the car feel as if it's shed one of its three tons. With it engaged, the Arnage sluiced through one tight corner after another with grace and agility that absolutely belied its size. And the stability control program is now more indulgent of the fun. The Arnage might be a classic choice among ultrasedans, but there's nothing staid about the way it drives.

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There's typically quite a bit of turnover on annual lists of automotive favorites, for the simple reason that cars are always getting better and last year's star might be this year's incentive-laden also-ran. But the Chrysler 300C, three years into production, has maintained its unchallenged domination for the title of Signature American Sedan. While Ford pushes Crown Vics designed by the ancient Sumerians and Chevy serves up anonymous front-wheel-drive Impalas, Chrysler offers Hemi madness in 340-hp or 425-hp flavors. For entry-level BMW or Mercedes-Benz money, you get a serious big-boy car with a tugboat torque curve and styling that still draws stares. And speaking of Mercedes, shared Merc parts baked into the 300C make it a better (and less expensive) car--check out the cruise-control stalk, pretty much straight out of Lindsay Lohan's $185,000 SL65 AMG. Nearly every car has an Achilles heel, some downfall that causes people to say, "Yes, it's a great car, but . . . " You're hard-pressed to find a major fault with the 300C. It's fast. It looks cool. It rides nicely, yet, thanks to its Mercedes-derived independent rear suspension and rear-wheel drive, doesn't mind getting chucked into a corner. Ah, but surely this is a gas-guzzler, right? Nope. In 5.7-liter Hemi guise, even with the all-wheel-drive option, the V-8's Multi-Displacement System allows the 300C to manage 24 mpg on the highway .... Click on Heading to Continue

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All-new, bigger and more powerful.

The Passat has been a solid performer for VW over the years, earning distinction as the perennial best-selling European mid-size sedan in America. Now a larger, more powerful, more mature Volkswagen Passat is staged to capture a bigger share of the market that includes the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The all-new 2006 Volkswagen Passat boasts powerful new engines, generous standard content and a beguiling interior mix of high-tech and haute couture. It looks poised to play a strong role in Volkswagen's surge back to prominence in the world's most important car market. Volkswagen is rolling out a full line of four-door sedans over the 2006 model year, ranging from the 2.0-liter Value Edition with nice leatherette upholstery to the more-powerful 2.0T to the V6-powered 3.6L. All-wheel drive is available. And wagon versions of the various models will roll out during the model year. All Passats come standard with the latest in safety features and electronics. Longer and wider than last year's model, the 2006 Passat offers more interior space, particularly for rear-seat passengers. A six-foot passenger can sit comfortably behind a six-foot driver. And while the previous model was among the safest cars in America, the structure of the new Passat is substantially stronger. The new Passat offers sportier handling than last year's model. The steering is very precise with steering effort that automatically adjusts to the situation. The new 3.6-liter narrow-angle V6 growls when pressed and delivers robust torque, allowing the Passat to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds. The six-speed automatic is smooth and responsive and the brakes are excellent.

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Smooth, comfortable, easy.

Though front-wheel drive, the Toyota Avalon is arguably the best rendition of a traditional big American car sold today. American cars should be this good. And it could even be argued that Toyota's flagship family sedan is in fact an American car. The Avalon was designed in Newport Beach, California, engineered by the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is built in Georgetown, Kentucky. This third-generation Avalon was completely redesigned late in the 2005 model year and comes with the latest in safety features (though electronic stability control is optional, not standard). Its styling is understated. It's more distinctive than the previous-generation Avalon, but it doesn't stand out, instead presenting a quiet look of grace and agility. Not everyone wants to pull up in a red Viper. Inside is a comfortable cabin lavished with tasteful materials and ergonomically designed controls that make this car easy to operate and pleasant to drive. This newest Avalon is significantly larger than previous models. The front seats are roomy and comfortable and special attention was paid to back-seat comfort. This is a car that will never annoy you. The Avalon is smooth and comfortable underway, quiet and serene. The suspension was tuned for ride comfort and it largely excels in this area. The newly designed double-overhead-cam V6 engine is smooth, quiet and powerful, while the electronically controlled five-speed automatic ensures smoothness and economy. Four trim variations are available, each representing slightly different priorities to broaden the Avalon's appeal. There are no significant changes for 2006. Avalon benefits from Toyota's reputation for quality, durability and reliability.

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Improved for 2006, the Mazda 6 is the sports sedan of front-drive midsize cars. While the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are designed for mass appeal or, stated more cynically, for people who don't like cars, the Mazda 6 is designed for the driving enthusiast. Mazda6, as the company calls it, is not for everyone, and that's just fine with Mazda. The Mazda 6 looks leaner than its competitors and the driving experience backs that up with agile handling and responsive engines. The Mazda 6 feels tighter in corners and holds the road better than Camry, Accord or Nissan Altima. It's lighter on its feet and stops quicker. In short, it's a better driver's car. Four-cylinder and V6 engines are available, each available with five-speed manual gearboxes or five- or six-speed automatics. The Mazda 6 comes in sporty 5-Door hatchback and Sport Wagon styles in addition to the four-door Sports Sedan. The 5-Door excels at carrying cargo, yet it doesn't look like a hatchback; in fact, it takes a sharp eye to distinguish it from the sedan. The wagon is truly a sport wagon, better than the hatchback in terms of driving enjoyment, and it offers excellent cargo-hauling versatility with a flat cargo area when the seats are folded and practical features such as a dog fence and a cargo net integrated into the cargo cover ......

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Two years ago, Subaru moved upscale with the Legacy sedans and wagons. For 2007, the carmaker hits its stride with premium technology, including and upgraded engine and a sporty new Legacy GT spec.B. The 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine has been upgraded to an impressive degree, with the introduction of a technology that's currently only available on some BMWs and Ferraris. Called Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive), it allows a driver to twist a knob to select one of three engine performance levels: Intelligent (economy), Sport (sport) and Sport Sharp (high performance). The Legacy GT spec.B is much like the WRX is to the Impreza, except it's far more refined; it's a gentleman's sports sedan, complete with a navigation system, exotic sound system and charcoal leather seats with smoky blue suede-like Alcantara inserts. It also has a six-speed gearbox, Bilstein suspension and wide, low-profile summer performance tires on 10-spoke, 18-inch alloy rims. The Legacy still comes in tamer versions, each with Symmetrical All-wheel-drive, standard on all Subaru models. The GT Limited uses the same engine as the spec.B, but an excellent five-speed automatic transmission is available, and its suspension is not so aggressive .....

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