Archive for the ‘Renault’ Category

The ZOE Z.E. concept car stems from a curious collaboration between French automaker Renault and luxury skincare company Biotherm (a division of L'Oreal). The ZOE Z.E. offers the usual complement of EV conceptual goodness -- it's battery-powered, boasts zero-emissions, is quickly rechargeable, and makes use of solar power -- but it also has a handful of spa-like amenities, including a hydrating a/c system.

Our fave feature, however, would have to be the car's aromatherapeutic element:  "An electric system diffuses essential oils, exclusive active substances adapted to the needs of the driver: dynamic in the morning, relaxing coming home...

General Motors will shut down the Saturn brand after Penske Automotive ended negotiations on an agreement to buy the brand and dealer network.

Penske was unable to find any global automakers to supply him with cars. The agreement between GM and Penske had been under negotiation since early June, and was expected to close today or tomorrow.

GM's chief executive officer Fritz Henderson issued a statement of deep regret today, saying:

Today we learned that Penske Automotive Group (PAG) has decided to terminate discussions with General Motors to acquire Saturn. This is very disappointing news and comes after months of hard work by hundreds of...

Better Place has never been afraid of thinking big. Heck, the company's basic premise -- that electric vehicles can be built with easily swappable batteries -- is one of the most outside-the-box ideas we've heard in a while. So it should come as no surprise that Better Place is now thinking even bigger: the EV startup plans to put 100,000 vehicles on the roadways by 2016.

Just a couple of months ago, that kind of statement would've been enough to make us ring up the men in little white coats, but given the circumstances, Better Place founder Shai Agassi may be on to something. For one, he's inked a deal with Renault to facilitate production...