2010 Washington DC Auto Show

[baltobernie]

Today was press day, with lots of new cars and old politicians.

The electric Fiat 500. 190 kW (equiv. to 255 bhp), 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.2, top speed >110mph, range >100 miles. You know it's got to be good because it uses Paraflu!









Hey, these sure look like 4 x 98mm! Where's my socket wrench!?



Well, if I can't have the 500, how about this consolation prize?



Or this?

[pope]

Where did they hold it, in the basement of the Capitol?

[mdrburchette]

I like the color of that electric 500 and those wheels sure would look good on my 72.

[baltobernie]

Where did they hold it, in the basement of the Capitol?

Hey, it's a cheap camera, OK?
Held at the Washington Convention Center, but since the show is not yet open to the public, they employ minimum lighting except where and when they're holding press conferences.

[pope]

Our North American International Auto show in Detroit just ended so they should be sending you the bright lights in time for the show. Mike Bouse and I set the Audi display on fire. They had to clear the joint for a couple of hours. Maybe he'll elaborate.

[mbouse]

har har ahr... yes, i did attend the Detroit show. the Fiat models were great! i now understand why the basic 500 has a five point seat belt! i took bunches of pictures, but they aren't any different than the video offered at the FLU website. Although, in comparison to the video at http://www.flu.org i can say that the models were wearing something different. Pope's mom has some competition.... mama mia!!

Actually, there was a fire on Thursday at the Audi display. Literally cleared Cobo Hall for several hours while authorities investigated. Originally i had heard that someone wearing a FIAT FREAK T-shirt had set a car on fire... but i was later told by Bobb Rayner that it was some faulty electrical wiring in the ceiling above the Audi display that caused substantial smoke. no flames were seen; and the show was reopened the same afternoon. i am guessing Audi will soon be releasing their own version of this:


Anyway, back to the show... the re-badged Lancia (now Chrysler...yuck) is a very, very nice looking car. Famously beautiful rear end! in comparison, Chrylser displayed yet another boring rendition of the 300; looks like the same car as last year and the year before.

i specifically visited the "info" booth at the display to affirm what i already knew they would tell me concerning the Fiats. NOTHING! Fiat sent no literature, there are no dealerships announced that will be carrying the cars, no pricing has been established, no options list... nothing! all they would say is that the 500 will be available for sale in the USA in december of 2010.

[baltobernie]

I agree Mike, B-O-R-I-N-G. They had the Golden Globe Haiti autographed car at the show, and Raynor's new black 500, but nothing else at the regular display. My buddy at Chrysler PR was not there yesterday, so no first-hand info from me, either.





Anybody know why there would be an Paraflu -filled coolant tank in the engine compartment of the 500 Elettra? I thought it was all-electric.

[pope]

How much do you think it will cost to scrub all those names from the hood of that car.

[mbouse]

wow, didn't take that ugly thing long to get setup in DC..

do those batteries need coolant?

[baltobernie]

How much do you think it will cost to scrub all those names from the hood of that car.

They clear-coated it!

[baltobernie]

do those batteries need coolant?

I dunno; batteries, controller, motor, A/C ? Some aftermarket EV conversion controllers require liquid cooling. Beau coup amperes moving around.

They wouldn't let me open the hood of the Nissan Leaf, but I was told that there are no maintenance items in the entire drivetrain. Resistance cabin heating, BTW. I'm seriously considering one, depending on price.

[mbouse]

unless the hood was already up... you're not allowed to see ANY engine in Detroit. we're lucky to be able to see how many bodies fit in the trunks.