2012 Ford Focus

Ford is unveiling the all-new third generation Focus at the North American International Auto Show this week and under the "One Ford" strategy put in motion by CEO Alan Mullaly it will again be a global design. After launching in late 2010 with a four cylinder gasoline engine, a battery powered Focus Electric will be added to the lineup in 2011.
 

Audi e-tron concept

Audi has unveiled a number of new green production and concept vehicles at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Among those are flex-fuel and clean diesel variants of the A4 and an battery powered concept based on the R8 sports car.
 

Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT2

General Motors' Corvette Racing team has announced its next generation car for the American Le Mans Series. For the remainder of the 2009 ALMS season and on to 2010, the all new C6.R Corvette will move from the GT1 class to the GT2 class. The team that was the first to race with cellulosic ethanol in 2008 will continue running the biofuel although the team has also investigated other options including hybridization.
 

Audi R15 TDI

The combination of a world-wide economic crisis and increasing concerns about the environment have triggered many questions about whether motorsports is relevant anymore. Scott Atherton, CEO of the American Le Mans Series discusses the economics of racing and his series attempts to promote "Green Racing."
 

Bentley Continental Supersports

Bentley announces that by 2012 it will introduce an all new powertrain and all of its existing engines will be flex-fuel capable. The transformation to a greener lineup begins with today's introduction of the Continental Supersports, the first production flex-fuel supercar.
 

At the Geneva Motor Show in March Bentley will unveil its first ever flex fuel car. The Extreme Bentley is claimed to be the fastest most powerful production car ever created by the British luxury brand.
 

The two cellulosic ethanol companies that General Motors invested in early in 2008 are headed in opposite directions. Coskata has reached a deal with US Sugar on a feasibility study for an ethanol plant using its gasification technology. Meanwhile Mascoma has released between 5 and 10 staff including company president Colin South.

Archer Daniels Midland has announced a new agreement to create a half billion dollar joint venture with a Brazilian partner to produce ethanol from sugarcane.

The second largest producer of ethanol in the United States has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection largely as a result of falling corn and ethanol prices. VeraSun Energy found itself on the losing end of an attempt to hedge against rising corn prices earlier this year, but prices reversed. Corn prices have dropped to less than half of the $8 per bushel that VeraSun was contracted to pay.

The four-cylinder, 2.2L i-DTEC

While supporting increased efficiency requirements, Honda executives sounded less than thrilled with the structure of the new  rules during a conference call this week to discuss automotive fuel economy. John German acknowledged that the regulations will lead to higher vehicle costs to pay for new technology that is needed. On the technology front, Honda is persuing a number of fronts including hybrids, CNG, and biofuels but remained non-commital on plans to introduce its diesel engines to the US market in 2009.

Photo: CNN

One of the few publicly traded cellulosic ethanol companies will now focus on capturing methane from landfills, amid a market of drastically faultering ethanol prices.

New data showing corn prices tracking closely with the world price of crude oil may largely put an end to the food vs fuel debate with ethanol. There has been no significant change in consumption of corn for ethanol production, but the price of the crop has dropped significantly right along with oil prices. 

Ford will officially unveil the 2010 Fusion along with the Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ at November's Los Angeles Auto Show. For the first time the new mid-sized sedans will be offered with an optional E85 flex-fuel V6. The updated cars will also have the option of a revamped hybrid drivetrain.

In the largest investment in cellulosic ethanol in the state, Mascoma Corp. with the help of federal and state government agencies will construct a near $50 million cellulosic ethanol production plant in Michigan.

Ford ECOnetic badge

In the leadup to the 2008 Geneva Motor Show Ford has outlined it's European Sustainability Strategy.  The company plans to follow a number of paths in an effort to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.  The heart of its plans is cost effectiveness.