Odds Of Mythbuster: Are Modern Truck and Car Emissions Comparable to that of Lawn Blowers? [Video]

With government agencies enforcing stricter emission regulations every year and auto manufacturers doing their best to prove that their cars are as eco-friendly as possible, hyperbole is part of the game.

A common saying is that the modern cars are cleaner than lawn equipment and that the carbon dioxide emissions they release are actually lower than that present in the air that comes into the combustion chamber.

Edmund's Insideline decided to put the theories to the test. Since cars come in all shapes and sizes, they chose two examples from the opposite side of the spectrum: a Fiat 500 mini and a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Crew Cab pickup.

The diminutive Fiat is powered by a 1.4-liter four with 100HP, while the big and menacing-looking Raptor sports a 411HP 6.2-liter V8.

They also bought along two leaf blowers: one with a single-cylinder 50.8 cc two-stroke engine and the other with a 30cc four-stroke engine.

The contest took place at the Automotive Research Center of the American Automobile Association Auto Club of Southern California, which runs the FTP 75 emissions cycles test that is one of the primary standards in U.S. light-car emissions and fuel economy certification.

So what do you think? Are modern cars and trucks as clean as their makers claim them to be, beating even a common lawn blower? No spoilers here: just watch the video to find out the answer.

Marchionne Predicts 2013 Dodge Dart will be Certified at 40mpg, will get 9-Speed Auto

The Chrysler Group gave us our first taste of its sporty looking all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan on Tuesday with the release of a teaser photo gallery and the initial data on the car's specifications.

The Dart may prove to be one of the most important models in Dodge's recent history not only because it is the first Chrysler product to be based upon a Fiat architecture and in particular, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but also because CEO Sergio Marchionne told Reuters that he believes its fuel efficiency will be certified at "40 mpg or more by the end of the month".

The reason why that matters is that, under the deal made with the U.S. government to allow Chrysler to emerge from bankruptcy protection in 2009, the Italian company will receive the final 5 percent of stock if it develops a Fiat-based car that will be built in the U.S. and can get at least 40 miles per gallon.

The Italian group currently owns 53.5 percent of Chrysler. If the new 2013 Dodge Dart is certified at 40mpg or more, then Fiat can automatically raise its stake to 58.5 percent. The remaining shares of the company are held by the United Auto Workers [UAW] retiree health care trust.

The new Dart is based on a widened and elongated version of the Alfa Giulietta platform and will be offered at launch with a choice of three four-cylinder gasoline engines, including improved versions of the group's 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter World Gas engines that have been renamed to Tigershark, and the 1.4-liter turbocharged unit from the Abarth 500.

Autonews reports that the Dart will debut with a Fiat Group-sourced 6-speed dual-clutch transmission but in 2013, the range will be enhanced with a new 9-speed transmission currently being developed by the ZF Group.

The Dart will be manufactured at the Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.

Story References: Autonews

PHOTO GALLERY

Delay in Alfa Romeo's Return Brings Desperation To The Fiat Dealers in USA

Alpha Romeo

American fans of the Alfa Romeo brand are not the only ones to be upset by the Fiat-Chrysler alliance's most recent decision to delay the scheduled return of the Italian automaker to the States. So are the company’s newly launched Fiat dealerships that were expecting the brand to launch in late 2012.

While Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne never put it in ink, the company had told its 130 Fiat dealers in the USA that they would likely get Alfa Romeo cars as part of their franchise.

The Fiat-Chrysler alliance appointed a total of 130 Fiat dealers across the States, most of which already had a Chrysler store. The company gave dealers the permission to incorporate temporary showrooms in their existing Chrysler facilities, but required them to build separate and permanent stores by the end of 2012.

"Right now I'm pretty disappointed because I have a pretty big investment in Fiat," Carl Galeana, owner of Fiat of Lakeside in suburban Detroit, told Automotive News. "I built my store predicated on the fact there would be more than Fiat." Galeana added that the company had not told them about the new delay.

Another CEO of a Chrysler dealership with a Fiat store, who asked not to be named, told the news site: "This delay is not positive for dealers who have invested and committed to the Fiat franchise."

However, there are dealers who are not bothered by the absence of Alfa Romeo in their showrooms as they focus on the Fiat 500, 500C and the upcoming Abarth variants.

"Most of my customers are just happy with what we have," said Louis Perez, a salesperson at Fiat of Portland in Maine. "Fiat is a stand-alone vehicle anyway, and it works out well. We'll have an Abarth coming."

Alfa Romeo's revised plan calls for the arrival of the BMW 3-Series challenging Giulia in 2014, instead of 2012, while the company canceled plans to build a mid-size SUV in 2014.

A smaller crossover that was originally scheduled to enter the market in 2012 is now due in 2013, the same year that will (allegedly) see the introductions of the 4C mid-engine coupe and the MiTo subcompact.

In 2014, Alfa Romeo will present the two-seater Spider (originally planned for 2013) and the Giulietta compact hatchback, while the company's plan also includes a large rear-wheel drive sedan that shares its platform hardware with the next Maserati Quattroporte.

Story sources: Autonews [sub.req.]

The Manchurian Candidate: Jeep capitalizes on Fiat’s Chinese Operations, Wants to Build SUVs locally

Now that Sergio Marchionne has consolidated Fiat-Chrysler management into a smaller, leaner unified team, its members are working full force to maximize the group’s capabilities.

Jeep CEO Mike Manley travelled to China last Wednesday to negotiate the local production of Jeep models with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd., which already has a joint venture with Fiat.

“Fiat has a very strong partner there, so we will be discussing various options,” said Manley who is also Fiat Group’s head of marketing in Asia. “If I can localize Jeep you are going to see many multiples of what we sell today.”

Right now Jeep’s Chinese range is comprised of the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Patriot and Compass. Last year, Jeep sold 11,646 units in the country, all imported.

“For us to grow in China, you have to produce. The import duties are pretty high when you bring vehicles in,” commented Manley. He added that the Compass, Patriot and Wrangler would be the first Jeep to produce locally, if he does finalize the deal with Guangzhou Automobile.

“Our vehicles really play in the premium segment in China. The market is just too big an opportunity not to take advantage of it on a local manufacturing basis.”

Manley estimates that if the deal goes through and gets approval by the authorities Jeep could begin local production in 18-24 months. Moreover, Manley said the company plans to add a fourth model in 2013 that will be based on a front-wheel drive Fiat platform and slot in below the Compass and Patriot in Jeep’s line-up.

Story source: Automotive News

PHOTO GALLERY

Video: Jennifer Lopez Shakes it for the New Fiat 500C

Jennifer Lopez Fiat Video

While we were busy bringing you all the news from the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt, Fiat USA released their latest commercial for the newly launched in the States, 500C open-top city car, starring Jennifer Lopez.

This is the first but not the last ad to show the hot 42-year old pop star as Fiat has enlisted Lopez to promote the new 500 in more commercials that will appear gradually throughout the year. If you try hard, you may notice the 500 taking a backstage role in the promo...

“Jennifer fits perfectly with the brand not because of who she is but because of what she is – authentic, passionate, modern and a fighter determined to stand out from the rest," said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler Group LLC. "As you look at her career path, she embodies the FIAT philosophy, ‘Life is Best When Driven.’”

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Another Month, Another Delay: Alfa Romeo Won't Come to the States Until 2013, Cancels SUV Plans

Alfa 4C
In what has become something of a joke for those closely following the Fiat Group's plans to re-introduce Alfa Romeo to the States, the Milanese firm's CEO Harald Wester told journalists in Frankfurt that the company has once again pushed back the U.S. presentation of several key models.Wester also said that Alfa Romeo has canceled plans to build a mid-sized SUV at Chrysler Group's factory in Ohio.

In July, and following a string of delays that began in 2000, Fiat and Chrysler Group head honcho Sergio Marchionne said that Alfa Romeo would enter the U.S. market with the 4C sports car before the end of 2012, and launch a compact crossover model in 2013.

Now, Marchionne is claiming that the current debt crisis in Europe is forcing the company to reevaluate the timing of its new vehicle introductions.

"We are reviewing volumes and the timing of new products to see when it is really necessary to launch them," Marchionne said.

Under the new plan –which could very well be reassessed in a couple of months […]- Alfa will bring the 4C to the States in the first half of 2013, and the Ford Fiesta-sized MiTo hatchback in the second part of the same year.

In addition, the latest plan ditches the Jeep Liberty-based Alfa Romeo crossover and instead calls for a large rear-wheel drive sports sedan, loosely based on the next generation Maserati Quattroporte which will appear sometime after 2014.

Story source: Automotive News [Sub. Req.]

IAA 2011: Abarth Turns Fiat's 500 City Car into the 695 Competizione

A new version of the 500 city car was Abarth’s most important model at the 64th IAA. As you can probably tell from its name, the Abarth 695 Competizione is a hardcore version of the normal Abarth 500, and it also pays homage to the company’s race-tuned cars of the past.

The 695 Competizione, which can be considered a successor to the 2009 695 Tributo Ferrari, is powered by an upgraded version of the 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine delivering over 180-horses, according to the Italians.

The four-banger powers the front wheels via an electromechanical gearbox with two modes: the fully automatic “Street” and the manual-shifting “Track”, in which the driver changes gears only through the steering wheel-mounded paddles.

The Abarth 695 Competizione “borrows” the Tributo Ferrari's 305 mm Brembo brakes, specially calibrated dampers and dual-mode, sound and performance-enhancing exhaust.

Finally, the interior gets a roll bar in place of the rear seats, instruments by Jaeger, a navigation system with telemetry and two Sabelt sports seats up front

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IAA 2011: Fiat Ready to Conquer the City Car Segment with All-New Panda

Fiat Panda 2012

The most important debut from a sales point of view for the Fiat Group at the Frankfurt Motor Show is the brand-new, third generation Fiat Panda city car. With more than 6.5 million sales spread over two generations and 31 years, the Panda is one of Fiat's most successful models.

The 2012 Panda has been completely renewed and comes with a larger body, fresh looks, improved versatility and a new range of engines.

Available only as a five-door model, the new Panda has grown in length from 3,538mm to 3,650mm, in width from 1,578mm to 1,640mm, and in height from 1,450mm to 1,550mm.

And while the outgoing Panda was more or less for four passengers, Fiat claims that its successor can "comfortably accommodate up to five people" adding that is equipped with one of the "roomiest luggage compartments in its segment".

The Italian city car will be available with a choice of six different fuel-efficient engines including a pair of TwinAir 0.9-liter two-cylinder gasoline units in naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants producing 65HP and 85HP respectively, a 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline with 69HP, and a 1.3-liter Multijet diesel with auto stop-start technology.

Furthermore, Fiat will also offer a petrol/methane version of the 0.9 liter turbocharged unit and a petrol/LPG version of the 1.2-liter unit.

All engines are linked to a five-speed manual gearbox, with a semiautomatic “Dualogic” to be offered on the options list.

Production of the new Panda will begin before the end of the year with European sales to start immediately after.

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