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Best Green Hotels in USA: San Diego’s Hotel Solamar

Kimpton's Hotel Solamar in San Diego is Green Seal certified

San Diego’s Hotel Solamar is the city’s first downtown hotel to become Green Seal™ certified, and one of just 20 in all of California to earn this top rating for social and environmental responsibility.

The Hotel Solamar is operated by Kimpton, which is [...]

2011 Nissan Leaf Electric Car Named European Car of the Year

2011 Nissan LEAF plug-in all electric car wins European Car of the Year award

The 2011 Nissan LEAF has been named the 2011 European Car of the Year, the first electric car to win the prestigious award. The Nissan LEAF award comes just two weeks after its top competitor for world headlines, the [...]

Hybrids and Electric Cars Headline Los Angeles Auto Show

Green hybrid and electric cars are the big news at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which opens to the press on Wednesday, November 17th and to the public two days later. You’ve been hearing a lot about the extended-range plug-in hybrid-electric Chevrolet Volt, and all-electric Nissan Leaf. They are the headliners, for sure. But several other introductions will be making news, too.

Honda 3R-C three-wheel concept all-electric vehicle

Honda is introducing a new all-electric concept car, plus a new generation of its gas-hybrid technology that’s produced the Insight and the CR-Z sports coupe, the world’s first hybrid with a six-speed manual transmission. Honda president and CEO Takanobu Ita is hosting the news conference, which signals to us auto observers that something very big is being announced. It is unlikely the news will be that Honda is putting into production the 3R-C all-electric three-wheel vehicle shown at the Geneva Auto Show earlier in 2010.

Toyota is introducing a plug-in electric version of its popular RA4 SUV. The RAV4 EV concept uses lithium-ion battery technology from start-up Tesla, which is modifying the design to be more aerodynamic. Toyota has been testing prototypes of the car, which is scheduled to be introduced in 2012.

Mitsubishi is showing its i-MiEV, which is predicted to be one of the next electric vehicles to be available in North American dealerships.

2011 Car of the Year Finalists Include Electric Cars, Hybrids and Sportscars

Which 2010 or 2011 model gets your vote of the most desirable vehicle of the year? The best green car? There are three important awards being announced at the press preview days of the important 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show next week.

First, is the title of Automobile of the Year, awarded by Automobile Magazine. [...]

Happy 125th Birthday to the Automobile, Born Aug. 26, 1885

Gottlieb Daimler 1885 patent design for 'riding car'

The automobile was born on August 26, 1885. That is the day Gottlieb Daimler filed a patent for his ‘riding car’, the world’s first vehicle with an internal combustion engine. The world would never be the same, and 125 years later, engineers and designers are still tinkering with the size, power and performance of the cars we drive and ride. Daimler put a motor on a two-wheel vehicle, so purists might say this is the first motorized bicycle or the first motorcycle, not the first car. Let’s not quibble. This was the start of motorized personal mobility.

World's Most Beautiful Cars are At 2010 Pebble Beach Concours

2010 Pebble Beach Concours features classic cars like a 1937 Horch 853 and concept cars like the Porsche 918 Spyder

The 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the 60th anniversary of what has become the most famous and most prestigious vintage and antique car show in the United States, perhaps even the world. The Pebble Beach Concours is this weekend, August 13-15, attracting thousands of classic car fans to Monterey and Carmel, California, to see historic models from brands including Bugatti, Pierce-Arrow, Cadillac, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce and Aston-Martin.

Pebble Beach also is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo with a display of rarely-seen vintage roadsters from Alfa’s own museum plus privately-owned vehicles, dating back to 1910. The show always includes a ‘best in show’ award. Last year’s winner was a 1937 Horch 853. Horch is one of the car and motorcycle manufacturers which merged to become the Audi brand.

Pebble Beach also is where manufacturers show off their newest models. Last year, Bentley introduced its new flagship model, the Mulsanne, at Pebble Beach. This year, the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours debuts two brand new models, one from Porsche, the other from Jaguar, both making their first appearance in North America.

2011 Audi R8 Spyder V10 is Top Car for Summer

2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 V10 rated top 'wish list' car for summer

What’s your dream car for a summer road trip? Mine would be a fast, sexy roadster, preferably a convertible, preferably a two-seater, probably in red, with enough trunk space for a weekend bag for each of us. The 2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 V10 tops the list, according to the August issue of the Robb Report.

This is a high-revving 5.2 liter V-10, with enough torque and power to launch you zero to 60 mph in four seconds. Of course, since it is an Audi, it is packed with the Bavarian auto-maker’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive. And it costs in the neighborhood of $160,000 for the manual and $170,000 for the R Tronic clutchless sport transmission. One neat feature – there’s a microphone imbedded into the driver side seatbelt, for hands-free Bluetooth telephone conversation over the roar of the engine, even with the top down. And with 10 cylinders, this puppy knows how to bark. Top track speed is 195 mph.

Read more about the 2011 Audi R8 Spyder V10 that’s not in the Robb Report article on the top ten cars of summer –

Chevy Volt Buyers Can Get Free Charging Units

Chevrolet Volt buyers eligible for free home charging stations

The long-awaited Chevrolet Volt goes on sale Fall 2010. A real problem for owners of electric cars and plug-in hybrids is that recharging stations are still limited. General Motors and its partners will reduce what’s called range anxiety by making 15,000 charging stations available [...]