Latest Hybrid Cars

Toyota Plans to Introduce Hybrid

2011-01-01T22:43:00.001-08:00

Toyota Pirus Hybrid

Over the years, Toyota has emerged as a true leader in offering hybrid vehicles. In a startling revelation, the Japanese auto giant revealed yesterday that it was working hard to introduce at least a hybrid option across its entire lineup by 2020. Besides, it also has a plan of selling at least 5 million hybrid vehicles within the next five years at the rate of 1 million cars each year.
After the automaker launched its first hybrid model in 1997, it has already sold over 2.68 million gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles globally. Prius remains the best selling vehicle of the class. The hybrid business in Japan saw a surge last year following government’s subsidy approval favoring the hybrid vehicles.

Lotus Debuts ‘City Car’ Concept

2011-01-01T22:42:00.001-08:00

Lotus Cars, the British manufacturer of sports and racing cars, revealed its new Lotus City Car concept at the Paris Motor Show. This innovative concept car highlights the adaptability of the drivetrain technology and the exceptional capability of Lotus Design.
The company has used advanced hybrid technology from its engineering unit in this new concept car. This concept vehicle features a Lotus Engineering designed and integrated series hybrid drivetrain along with a single-speed transmission with low emissions, optimized performance and electric operating range for city use.

Toyota recalls Lexus HS 250h hybrid, halts sales

2010-06-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

After government tests show the hybrid could leak fuel in a rear-end collision, Toyota stops all sales and recalls 17,000 sedans, including 4,000 at dealerships.

Toyota Motor Corp. has stopped all sales of its 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid after government tests showed it could leak fuel in a rear-end collision.

The Japanese automaker said it was also recalling roughly 13,000 HS sedans that have already been sold and 4,000 that are still on dealership lots.

A remedy for the problem has not yet been determined, Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in a recall filing Friday, said that the defect "could result in a fire." A similar problem in the Ford Pinto that has been blamed on 27 deaths led to one of the most publicized recalls of all time, in 1979.

Why buy a hybrid?

2010-06-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Turns out, I was the fool.

Nevertheless, the hybrid market is what is it is – less than 3 percent of overall vehicle sales today – and the lack of hybrid incentives now available certainly isn’t going to help increase those numbers.

So, will EV incentives last forever?

Back in 2005 Anthony Pratt, then senior manager of global powertrain forecasting at J.D. Power, stated that by 2010 hybrid cars would top out at 3 percent of the market. I thought he was nuts, believing interest and concern in foreign oil dependence would swell into more intelligent American auto consumerism.

Instead, today, with most tax credits for hybrid vehicles are all but expired, is 3 % market share really that surprising, especially considering that, according to a search today, very few hybrid incentives are even available? The best deals I could find in my zip code – 90042 – were $1000 off a Chevy Silverado hybrid, or 0 % financing on a Nissan Altima hybrid. Of course, both those deals probably require Tier 1 Credit, and how many American consumers qualify for such deals at that standard? Moreover, incentives on non-hybrid versions provide much more cash back.

Consequently, seriously, is there any wonder why there hasn’t been a hybrid in the Top 10 best sellers for many months, and only one hybrid that is, or has ever been, in the top-selling ballpark?

Similarly, in yesterday’s Battery-only cars face avalanche of negatives, Neil Winton discusses the more significant struggle that EVs face. And, I’d argue that compared to hybrids, EV’s do face a much tougher sell to American consumers, except for the huge tax incentives that Congress is providing “for rich people who already have $30,000 to buy a second car,” as Winton calls them.

Nevertheless, even with those massive tax incentives – as much as $11,500 ($7500 feds + $4000 CA) – most powertrain analysts expect that after a decade – just as with hybrids – penetration will still be just a few percent. Unless, as Winton might reply, the government has unlimited EV tax money to spend on “rich people”.

GT1 battle to end in 2010

2010-06-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

The ACO has announced that the 2010 running of the Le Mans 24 Hours will be the final race to feature the GT1class, with a revised structure being put in place for 2011.

The class has already struggled for numbers in the Le Mans Series this season, although a number of cars are competing at La Sarthe this weekend – including three of the new generation Ford GTs as raced in the FIA GT1 World Championship.

However, the ACO has now revealed that it plans to run a single GT class from 2011-13 under the GT Endurance banner, with the regulations being based on the 2009 GT2 regulations, with a number of minor modifications.

The decision to drop GT1 has been taken for a number of reasons, including clashes on the respective race calendars and the fact that the new generation of GT1 machinery is designed for shorter sprint events.

GT Endurance will feature two classes within the class, one being a 'Pro' class which is open to all cars and drivers and an 'Am' class for cars over one year and with a minimum if two silver or bronze category drivers.

There will also be changes within the prototype classes, with the possibility of teams running hybrid cars at La Sarthe in future.

Despite the advent of new regulations, the current LMP1 and LMP2 cars will still be eligible which will allow teams to keep running their current cars for another year.

LMP2 will become a low cost formula powered by production series engines running to GT2 regulations. The costs of the category will be capped to keep costs down while the life of an engine will be extended.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

2010-04-20T01:57:00.000-07:00

Toyota Camry Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

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2,362 cc 2.4 liters in-line 4 front engine with 88.5 mm bore, 96.5 mm stroke, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder 2AZ-FXE

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Electric fuel with additional unleaded 87

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Fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 38 and EPA city (mpg): 40

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Multi-point injection fuel system

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17.2 gallon main unleaded fuel tank

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Power: 140 kW , 187 HP SAE

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Secondary power: maximum power (kw): 110, maximum power (hp): 147, maximum torque (ft lb): 138 and maximum torque (nm): 187

BMW ActiveHybrid 7

2010-04-20T01:55:00.000-07:00

BMW ActiveHybrid 7
BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

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Turbo compressor

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Engine: 4.4L V 8 double overhead cam with VVT ( 10.0 :1 compression ratio ; four valves per cylinder)

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Fuel: electric and/or premium unleaded

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Gasoline direct injection fuel system

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21.7 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 18.1

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Power: 455 HP ( 339 kW) @ 5,500 rpm; 515 ft lb of torque ( 698 Nm) @ 2,000 rpm

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Secondary power: maximum power (kw): 328, maximum power (hp): 440, maximum torque (ft lb): 480 and maximum torque (nm): 651

Mercedes S-Class Plug-in Hybrid Could Achieve 81 mpg

2010-03-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

Gone are the days when environmentalists shouted themselves hoarse demanding small and mid-sized cars that could give better mileage than luxury sedans. A recent report says that the new Mercedes S-Class Plug-in Hybrid could achieve a mind blowing mileage of 81 miles per gallon in the European hybrid cycle.

Mercedes S-Class Plug-in Hybrid

Mercedes development director Dr. Thomas Weber, in an interview with Car and Driver, has said, “Three years ago, everyone thought that there would only be small cars and that there would be no more large cars. But our plug-in concept demonstrated that an S-class could make 78 mpg (3.0 L/100km), so those questions stopped. With the next generation of S-class we are talking 81 mpg (2.9 L/100km), using a new-generation 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline engine-direct injection and piezo injectors-integrated with a 60-hp (44 kW) electric motor. In pure-electric mode, the car would have a range of just over 20 miles (32.2 km) at speeds of up to 68 mph (109 km/h). It is clear that we will have a plug-in hybrid in the next-generation S-class.”

Porche 918 Spyder concept

2010-03-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

Porche 918 Spyder concept at the Geneva Auto Show last week, the automaker undoubtedly bear hopes of a positive response, leading to a potential production car. And that's exactly what seems to have happened.

"Frankly, we were pleased that we were able to keep it quiet, and a lot went into that," said Dave Engelman, a Porsche spokesman.

Mr. Engelman posted that his boss, Bernd Harling, Publicity Chief for Porsche in the United States, had undergo a nondisclosure waiver before having a glance at the 918.

Toyota will announce recall of 300,000 Prius hybrids in U.S., Japan due to faulty brake system

2010-02-08T04:21:00.001-08:00

Tsuno/Getty

Japanese newspapers reported that Toyota is expected to announce the recall of 300,000 Prius hybrids in the U.S. and Japan.

Toyota will announce recalls for 300,000 of its prized Prius hybrids in the U.S. and Japan, the company's home turf, Japanese newspapers reported Sunday.

The latest embarrassment for the world's largest carmaker was triggered by complaints about a faulty brake system.

A voluntary or mandatory recall hasn't been formally announced, but sources said it could come as early as today.

Residents were reeling in Toyota, Japan - a city of 400,000 that's home to Toyota's corporate headquarters. "You can't really separate the town from the company," said Hideki Nagata, who works in auto repair.

The new Toyota snafu follows its recent recall of 8 million cars around the world because of sticky accelerator pedals.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/02/08/2010-02-08_300000_prius_recalls_in_works.html#ixzz0ewjxHDrk

on sale in the summer

2010-02-08T04:18:00.000-08:00

Honda will launch a new six-speed manual CR-Z hybrid coupe across Europe this summer and it will get its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The Japanese manufacturer is trying to hit that balance between high fuel economy, low emissions and driving enjoyment.

Honda hasn’t revealed details about the 2+2 CR-Z’s sporting credentials like 0-62mph time but carbon dioxide emissions are at 117g/km and it will manage 56.4mpg.
The new model is fitted with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine coupled to a Honda IMA hybrid system.

Toyota Hybrid Camry Details

2009-12-22T01:54:00.000-08:00

Ten days after it revealed the first locally produced Hybrid Camry, Toyota has today detailed the intricacies of the styling and design of Australia’s first hybrid vehicle.

The new front bumper shares styling cues with the third-generation Prius for both functional and symbolic purposes.

The larger, more rectangular lower grille directs additional cooling air into the hybrid-equipped engine bay, while the radiator grille and boot-lid are finished in satin chrome to differentiate it from petrol models.

The signature blue tinted headlamps likewise identify it as a member of Toyota’s hybrid family, while the clear-cover rear combination lamps include LED lights which use less power and contribute to lower fuel use.

To accommodate for the batteries positioned above the rear axle, boot capacity has decreased from 535 litres in the standard petrol model to 389 litres, but Toyota insists it is still large enough to carry four golf bags.

Aerodynamics have improved thanks to the front’s square corners which stop turbulence around the front wheels and send a smooth air flow down the sides of the vehicle.

Covers under the engine, rear floor and fuel tank create a flat underbody which contributes to a drag coefficient six percent lower than the standard petrol model (down to 0.27), making the Hybrid Camry Australia’s most aerodynamically efficient locally manufactured car.

Toyota Style Australia (TSA) corporate manager of design, Paul Beranger, said while the car was not styled in Australia, local design information was sent to Japan over the past two and a half years to develop a car with considerable Australian input.

“In the case of our new Hybrid Camry we provided specific DNA and hybrid information along with detailed Australian design trend information.

“Toyota Australia is communicating new and advanced technology to customers without alienating them from the basic image that Camry represents. We are integrating mainstream with new technology.

“We have to ensure that our car appeals to existing owners, as well as early adopters at a realistic price,” he said.

Beranger explained extensive local research three years ago asked prospective Hybrid Camry drivers whether they wanted to be seen to be driving a hybrid car or simply as another Camry owner, and found that they wanted their own identity without standing out as a market leader.

“Therefore hybrid differentiation and identification is important to the owner as it is a strong communication image for them.

“This will change as people become familiar with Hybrid as a mainstream model.

“So the design will evolve, but right now we know this design meets Toyota’s objectives by fusing the premium image of the conventional Camry with the innovation of a hybrid vehicle.”

Beranger said Toyota’s styling emphasis in Australia was shifting towards functionality, practicality and personality, giving each car its own character while at the same time strengthening the family resemblance across the range.

He admitted one of the more difficult tasks in developing Hybrid Camry for the local market was the increased focus on road and wind noise, which becomes more obvious with the quieter hybrid drive system in action.

2010 Toyota Hybrid Camry To Be Offered In Two Trim Levels

2009-12-22T01:52:00.000-08:00

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA’S upcoming Hybrid Camry will be offered in at least two specification levels, both pitched to the upper end of the mid-size market segment.

An up-spec Hybrid Camry with leather upholstery, power seats and a large integrated sat-nav screen was revealed to the media earlier today at Toyota Style Australia’s Port Melbourne headquarters.

At the Hybrid Camry’s official reveal 10 days ago, a car with leather trim, manually-adjusting seats, no sat-nav and a downgraded stereo system was unveiled by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, confirming that the company’s new hybrid will be sold in two slightly different flavours.

Both the cheaper model and the range-topper are equipped with dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, keyless ignition and rear parking sensors, and both share the same new bodywork.

The fresh front fascia design was penned at Toyota’s Japanese styling studios, but with local input. Toyota Australia consciously sought to develop a new face for the Hybrid Camry that showcased the car’s technology without alienating traditional Camry customers.

The sharper bumper design, blue-tinted headlamp clusters and narrower grille are certainly different, but don’t take the hybrid too far away from its conventionally-powered stablemates.

The redesigned nose offers aerodynamic improvements too. Not only does it funnel more cooling air to the engine’s radiator and the water-cooled power inverter, but its smoother lines work in conjunction with flat underbody panels to reduce the Camry’s coefficient of drag to 0.27; making it the slipperiest production car built in Australia.

A bootlip spoiler smooths airflow over the rear of the car and helps cut drag. The ten-spoke alloy wheels are the same design as that fitted to the Camry Ateva, but are shod with friction-reducing low rolling resistance tyres.

Extra sound-deadening has been added to the Hybrid Camry’s body, along with an insulated windscreen. Intended to keep the cabin extra silent during battery-only operation, the weight of the additional insulation is not considered to significantly impact fuel economy

Suspension settings and steering feel are also radically altered, the Hybrid Camry moving to electric power assistance and boasting a retuned suspension that’s described as a significant improvement over the standard car’s hardware.

The car’s hybrid battery pack has been relocated to the boot area, along with a conventional battery used to start the petrol engine and run the ancillaries.

Sitting between the rear wheels, the battery pack and its attendant cooling system severely reduces luggage space from the standard Camry’s 535 litres to just 389 litres. The 60/40 split fold function of the rear seats is preserved, but the pass-through area is only large enough to accommodate skis or a narrow surfboard.

The Chevy Volt’s 40-mile Predicament

2009-12-17T03:45:00.000-08:00

Chevy Volt Chief Engineer Andrew Farah last Friday crashed the weekly classic car night at Bob's Big Boy hamburger joint in Burbank, California.

From its inception, the Chevy Volt was designed to travel 40 miles without using a drop of gasoline. General Motors drew the line in the sand, citing studies that show the majority of US drivers, on average, travel less than 40 miles per day. In a refrain repeated over and over again by GM executives, and bandied about in advertising, the company has held firm to its promise of 40 miles of electric driving before the small onboard engine would be called into service.

However, one year prior to its release, journalists are discovering that the Volt will fall short of the 40 miles of all-electric range under a number of conditions.

Edmunds’ John O'Dell yesterday took a brief test drive of the Volt, and grilled Volt Chief Engineer Andrew Farah. O’Dell discovered that the 2011 will indeed deliver 40 miles of battery-only range on the EPA city cycle, a driving circuit with an average speed of just under 20 mph. But the Volt’s battery range will be diminished under these conditions:

Aggressive acceleration
Sustain high-speed driving
Exceptionally hot or cold ambient temperatures
Driving in hilly or mountainous terrain

O’Dell writes, “If you pull out of the driveway with a full charge, hop on an uncrowded freeway and motor away at 65 miles an hour, you won't get 40 miles on battery power alone.”

Toyota Will Sell Prius Plug-in Hybrid in 2011

2009-12-17T03:34:00.000-08:00

In two years, consumers will have at least three plug-in car choices from major automakers.

After years of taking a wait-and-see approach to plug-in hybrids, Toyota yesterday officially announced its plans to produce and market a plug-in version of the Prius in significant quantities. According to Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada, the company will sell "several tens of thousands" of plug-ins a year globally beginning in 2011.

The announcement comes as other global automakers, most notably General Motors and Nissan, intensify marketing efforts to promote their plug-in cars, which go on sale in late 2010. By the time the Toyota Prius Plugin Hybrid becomes widely available, consumers will have at least three choices from major global automakers for cars that primarily drive on batteries charged at home or work. The top three reasonably priced plug-in cars will represent a range of costs and electric driving range.

The most expensive is likely to be the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid offering up to 40 miles of all-electric range before an on-board engine sustains the batteries charge for an additional 300 miles. The Volt is likely to sell for about $40,000.

The pure electric Nissan Leaf will offer 100 miles of driving range, so 100 percent of its driving will be electric. As an electric car, rather than a plug-in hybrid, the Leaf will not have an engine, and therefore will be limited in range to about 100 miles before needing to be recharged. It’s expected to sell for about $32,000.

The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid will likely be the least expensive, perhaps in the high-$20,000s, but will offer the least all-electric range, approximately 14.5 miles at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. (Previously, Toyota said the Prius Plug-in would have an all-electric range of 12 miles.) Short commutes could be zero emissions, but the Prius Plug-in Hybrid will rely on its gas engine more than the other vehicles—although it will be fully recharged more quickly.

All three of the vehicles will be eligible for tax credits, as high as $7,500. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which will use a 5.2 kWh lithium ion battery pack—compared to the Leaf’s 24 kWh pack and the Volt’s 16 kWh—will not qualify for as high a tax credit as the other vehicles.

Electric cars from Ford, Mitsubishi and others will also be in the running.

Prius Plug-in Hybrid plug

In the race for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, Toyota will be able to leverage its commanding lead in conventional hybrids. In September, the company announced that cumulative global sales of the Prius topped 2 million units—far more than all other hybrid cars combined. Yet, GM, Nissan, Ford and others recently have taken aggressive steps to take a leadership role in the next generation of alternative vehicles, the plug-in hybrid and electric car. Toyota’s announcement about the Prius Plug-in Hybrid indicates that the company will not easily relinquish its market advantage—and perhaps more importantly, its image—as the leader in green cars.

Danish Prince Is First to Sample Fisker Karma Hybrid

2009-12-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Want to be the first non-employee to take a crack at Fisker’s new Karma hybrid? You’d better be the crown prince of Denmark. Seriously.

Given that the United Nations chose to hold its climate change conference in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, Fisker Automobiles decided it could gain some exposure by loaning a Karma to Denmark’s royal family. As a result, Prince Frederik used the slinky four-door hybrid to roll into today’s conference proceedings.

We’ve yet to have a crack at the Karma ourselves, but the sedan can purportedly travel 50 miles on electricity alone, before a small gasoline engine (which, at one time, was GM’s 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec I-4) comes on line to add an extra 250 miles of travel. Production will reportedly begin at a production line in Finland later in 2010.

New hybrid buses (quietly) travel Rockland's roads

2009-12-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

In the past several weeks, the county has been rolling out its new electric hybrid buses. Six of the buses have been rotating along different routes, such as the 59, 93 and 95, while 10 more buses undergo final inspections.

"By the end of the week, they should all be out on the road," said Irwin Cohen, Rockland's travel-demand management coordinator.

The buses, powered by a clean diesel hybrid electrical propulsion system, mark the county's first advance toward transitioning its entire Transport of Rockland and Tappan ZEExpress fleet of 66 buses to electric hybrid by 2016.

"It's exciting for those who use the system, and it's exciting for those who may not use the system but may benefit from the greener buses that use less fuel and cleaner fuel," County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said Tuesday.

The county spent $8.8 million — an average of $550,000 per bus — for the 16 hybrids, which were built by Gillig Corporation of Hayward, Calif. The Federal Transit Administration paid 80 percent of the cost, while the state Department of Transportation picked up 10 percent. The balance was covered by transportation funding that comes to the county from Mortgage Recording Tax revenue.

Nine more hybrids — six for TOR, three for Tappan ZEExpress — will arrive late next year. Federal stimulus money and federal grants will pay for them. Additionally, Coach USA and Monsey Trails, which serve commuters, have also ordered six hybrids.

Ford Fusion named 'Motor Trend' Car of the Year

2009-11-29T07:41:00.000-08:00

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Fusion is most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in U.S. for both hybrid and conventional gasoline models. Hybrid gets EPA 41 mpg rating city/36 mpg highway. Four-cylinder gas Fusion has best-in-class highway rating of 34 mpg. Fusion is now one of the ten best-selling vehicles in the USA and has been lauded by Consumer Reports for

Motor Trend's choice of the Ford Fusion as its 2010 Car of the Year isn't the most exciting choice, but it's further proof of how the Dearborn, Mich., maker can seem to do no wrong these days.

In brushing aside flashier cars, Motor Trend lauded Fusion as an "economical midsize sedan that doesn't cost much, yet won't bore you to tears." They liked the hybrid version and how Fords are coming packed with more electronic gadgets. They liked how the car comes in many different iterations -- an "impressive bandwidth." But consider the rivals:

The accomplishment becomes more impressive when measured against the competition -- namely, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, two of the best-selling cars in history. One of the judges, Arthur St. Antoine, said the Fusion is "a compelling sweep across one of the market's most hotly contested segments."

Fusion has done well in the marketplace, moving up to become one of the 10 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. market. And Consumer Reports recommends it for reliability. But the magazine rated Subaru Legacy as a better family sedan than the Fusion in the current issue. Lately, Fusion has been eclipsed by the hoopla surrounding the launch of the Ford Taurus, a larger and plusher car.

GM's Electric Cars Seek To Make Some Noise

2009-11-29T07:34:00.000-08:00

How quiet is too quiet when it comes to electric and hybrid cars?

General Motors will announce it's working with an advocacy group for blind people to answer that question, according to a USA Today report Wednesday. The move comes amid mounting concern that the growing number of environmentally friendly vehicles may pose a threat to pedestrians, particularly the vision impaired.

As the report notes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded in September that more pedestrians and cyclists are being struck by hybrid cars than by conventional vehicles.

Congress is currently considering a bill - the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act - that would mandate a solution to the problem.

GM will work on a technological fix with the National Federation of the Blind, seemingly getting a jump on their competition. Toyota and Nissan say they’re still studying the issue and Tesla isn't ready to give up on its noiseless running - an attribute they market to consumers.

GM plans to outfit the new Chevrolet Volt with a new pedestrian warning system - a short horn pulse comparable to a telephone ring that would go off as the driver operates the turn signal, according to the report.

Top 10 Best Hybrid Cars

2009-11-25T09:21:00.000-08:00

Best hybrid cars

Hybrid cars were introduced by various automotive industries as a result of the need for more efficient and environmentally sound cars. Even though everyone has heard about hybrid cars, but there still exists confusion about how they operate and what are the components does it need to function properly.

Basically hybrid cars are operated by three main sources such as, a well performing battery, an electric motor and a gas engine. Each of the sources is very important for the performance of the car. The main benefit of using hybrid cars is that, it proves to lower the harmful emission and better the gas mileage. A lot of difference in their function exists between full hybrid cars and a mild hybrid car.

Based on the gas mileage and its performance, the top 10 best hybrid cars are taken and reviewed in detail.

2010 Honda Insight EX

2010 Honda Insight EX is considered as the best hybrid car because it offers an excellent fuel economy and is more fun to drive. Honda Insight’s styling closely resembles the Toyota Prius which adds an extra X factor in your personality. It comes with the best voice-command system equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. The user rating for this 2010 Honda Insight EX is found to be”excellent”.

2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid

2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid offers a best mileage over 30 mpg and it provides an exceptional performance. The Bluetooth system that comes with this Nissan Altima is found to be very basic and it doesn’t have iPod integration which is a setback but otherwise it includes safety features such as smart airbags, stability control antilock brakes and etc and the car rocks.

2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, the hybrid system present with the car gives it very low emission which is considered as an added advantage. It is equipped with voice command, phone and MP3 player integration. The audio system present with the car is found to be very basic yet it’s still very stylish.

2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

Though it seems to be a heavy vehicle, Cadillac Escalade is found to provide good in fuel economy with its hybrid power train without compromising its performance. The navigation system integrated with the car provides the traffic reporting and blind-spot detection is included with its driving aids. With very basic audio sources no facility for iPod integration Cadillac Escalade still holds its place n the race of style and economy.

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited

Ford Escape comes with a best sync system and it provides an excellent fuel mileage. Sirius Travel Link offers the traffic data and other navigation options to the car. Highway driving is seems to be a difficult one with and is best suited for urban dwellers and not for freeway commuters because of its high speed.

2008 Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius offers an unbelievable fuel mileage and its emission rating is found to be very low without compromising its size. The shape of this car is mostly confused with other Priuses available at present.

2008 Lexus LS 600h

Hybrid system with the car offers a good fuel economy more than expected and its emission rating is also very low which gives a reputation for this 2008 Lexus LS 600h. Live traffic is handled by excellent navigation facility present with the car. Driving performance of the car is good and its stereo system seems to be wonderful.

2008 Lexus RX 400h

The user’s rating for Lexus RX 400h is “Good” and its smooth drive is delivered by its suspension. The car seems to be the best with its unbelievable fuel economy. The navigation system present with the car is pretty good and it lacks recognizing live traffic and iPod integration is missing.

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid

Some of the users have experienced the following with Honda Civic hybrid and it includes excellent gas mileage, very comfortable to drive, quite, exceptional voice command and climate control and etc. Trunk space is limited which seems to be the disadvantage with this car. Automatic Shut-off’s feature of the gas engine seems to be very bad and it makes difficult for stop-and-go driving.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

Though Chevrolet Malibu uses a mild hybrid train system, it is found to provide fuel savings ability to a great level. Look and feel of this Chevrolet Malibu seems to be good. It is designed in such a way that it attracts everyone and both the driver’s and passenger’s seat offers a great comfort zone.

2010 Hybrid Cars for Best Mileage and Lowest Carbon Footprint

2009-11-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

Toyota Prius continues to lead hybrid cars in fuel economy and lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. This perennial favorite midsize 4-door hatchback delivers 50 miles per gallon (mpg) and is lowest on the list with 3.7 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for the EPA annual driving cycle. Yes, 3.7 tons of CO2e is a lot; but many cars, light trucks, and SUVs create three times that emission; to get lower emissions you would need a plug-in car. The hatchback design allows for more cargo, especially if you drop part or all of the 60/40 back bench seat. This year, Toyota is also putting 500 plug-in Priuses into fleet tests of electric cars. Read the details in the 2010 Toyota Prius Review.

Honda Civic Hybrid is a good alternative for those who want a traditional looking sedan that seats 5. This front-wheel drive compact saves fuel at 42 mpg. At 4.4 annual tons of CO2e, this hybrid emits actually emits less greenhouse gases than its CNG cousin.

Honda Insight is a sporty four-door hatchback with an Ecological Drive Assist System. Although the Insight looks like the Prius, it is a bit smaller, lighter, and often $2,000 less than the Prius. The Insight will deliver 41 mpg combined, with annual emissions of about 4.5 tons of CO2e. Read about our 2010 Honda Insight Test Drive.

Ford Fusion Hybrid is appealing to those who want a made in America midsized sedan. This roomy 5-seater delivers 39 mpg and 4.7 tons of CO2e per year. The Fusion Hybrid and its first cousin the Mercury Milan Hybrid may travel up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode. The Advanced Intake Variable Cam Timing allows for more seamlessly transition between gas and electric modes, making for a smooth and quiet ride. The Mercury Milan Hybrid offers the same drive system and body, with upscale interior. Read about Clean Fleet Report’s Fusion Hybrid test drive.

Lexus HS 250h is a stylish compact 4-seat sedan that delivers 35 mpg and 5.3 tons of CO2e per year. The Lexus brand lets your friends know that are using less petroleum by choice; you can afford a bit of luxury.

Nissan Altima Hybrid also delivers good mileage for a midsize, benefiting from Nissan’s continuously variable transmission technology. The EPA rating is 5.4 tons of CO2e for the EPA annual driving cycle and a combined 34 mpg.

Toyota Camry Hybrid delivers good mileage for a midsize with an automatic transmission. The EPA rating is 5.4 tons of CO2e for the EPA annual driving cycle and a combined 34 mpg.

Ford Escape Hybrid comfortably carries 5 people and lots of cargo. This SUV achieves a combined 32 mpg and emissions of 5.7 tons of CO2e – double the mileage and half the emissions of many SUVs. The mileage is an impressive 29 mpg for the 4-wheel drive versions of this SUV. With a common drive system and chassis, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid delivers the same carbon footprint and mileage.

Lexus RX 450h with more acceleration and room than the others, costs more, starting at over $42,000. For a powerful SUV, it still conserves with 30 mpg and 6.1 tons of CO2e. Haul 5 people and lots of stuff without sacrificing quality and styling in the RX450h. The all wheel drive version has slightly better mileage than the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD.

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid looks and feels like the popular 5-seat Chevy Malibu, but you will go farther on a tank of gas. This mild hybrid gets 29 miles per gallon, with 6.3 tons of CO2e per year emissions.

Clean Fleet Report – Top 10 Hybrids for 2010

Your top 10 choices include hatchbacks that start at under $20,000 and stretch to roomy premium SUVs that cost over $40,000. If you are willing to settle for less fuel economy and often pay a high sticker, there are a number of other 2010 hybrid SUVs on the market including the Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Yukon, and the pricey and powerful Cadillac Escalade. The Silverado and Sierra are also available as hybrid pickup trucks.

Hybrid is no guarantee of saving at the pump. The Smart and the MiniCooper get double the mpg of some of the 2010 hybrid SUVs and pickup trucks.

The list includes only 2010 model year hybrids offered in the United States. For example, offered only in Japan, the new Toyota Sai will get better mileage than the Prius. Some of these 2010 models were announced early in 2009. Other 2010 models have yet to be announced. Major auto shows are coming so check back for the latest in hybrids that take away that pain at the pump and deliver a quiet ride.

This list was developed by first searching the U.S. EPA and DOE’s valuable fueleconomy.gov, with its extensive search capabilities. The EPA combined miles per gallon rating is based on 45% highway and 55% city driving. The carbon footprint is carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) based on 15,000 miles of driving, using the GREET 1.7 model.

New Prius comes with rooftop solar panels

2009-11-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

Toyota just unveiled its new Toyota Prius, and it takes its eco-friendliness to the next level. Yes, it's still a hybrid that gets excellent gas mileage, but now it also comes with a giant solar panel on the roof to soak up the sun's rays and convert them into energy to power your stereo and air conditioner.

The great thing about these panels is that they work even when you aren't driving. That means that when you come out to your car after working all day, it's got a bunch of energy saved up from just sitting there in the sun. Pretty awesome stuff! The new Prius will be on sale in Japan soon for between $21,000 and $26,000.

Top 10 Most Environment Friendly Cars (Hybrid Cars)

2009-11-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

A lot of the car manufacturers these days are advancing their work on making hybrid and environment friendly cars. Besides making environment friendly cars, they want to further fuel efficiency of the vehicles to fight rising gas prices. There are already a lot of environment friendly cars developed by a number of car manufacturers. These are Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Lexus. They have multiple environment friendly cars developed.

The Toyota Prius is one of the most popular environment friendly cars. The Prius was the first mass produced gasoline electric hybrid cars. The Prius has a gas mileage of 44 miles per gallon. It has a very good ride and very stable handling. It has a very good price range.

Toyota has released its first Sub Urban Vehicle Hybrid, the Highlander Hybrid. Its debut was in 2006 and joined Toyota’s line of environment friendly cars. It was again a first in the industry as it was the first 7 passenger hybrid in the world. In 2008, it was redesigned to have an entirely new chassis with an upgraded synergy drive system. The Highlander has a very nice ride like a sedan with the capacity of an SUV.

The Toyota Camry was made into a hybrid model as well. It is under Toyota’s luxury line of vehicles and has been the biggest selling car in America for 10 years, next to the Toyota Corolla. The Honda Accord is one of the popular cars in the world because of its style and functionality. It is very comfortable and roomy due to its size increase. The new 2008 Honda Accord has three new specifications in North America.

They have applied a new variable cylinder management system, dual chambered airbags for the driver and the passenger and an interface dial controller. It has recently been available in a hybrid and has become one of the popular environment friendly cars in North America. The Honda Civic was first introduced back in 1972 as an inexpensive car while having a fuel efficient run. It has continued to give good fuel efficiency over the years.

A hybrid version was introduced in 2003 pleasing the numerous fans of the car. Japanese car companies are not the only ones that are making environment friendly cars these days. American car manufacturers are now making their own hybrid cars as well. Chevrolet was the first one to release the Tahoe Hybrid. It still retains its usual functionality but it is able to offer a better gas mileage.

The Chevrolet Tahoe is one of the popular SUV’s in the American market and they are happy that they are able to make their own hybrid engine. Chevrolet has also made one of their Pickup trucks a hybrid as well. The Silverado is the first hybrid Pickup to be made. It has become fuel efficient but can still put out power the same as before. Among these are also other vehicles from their main branch in GMC like the Yukon Hybrid.

It features a more advanced hybrid engine than the Tahoe or Silverado. Other hybrids include the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner, Dodge Durango and Nissan Altima.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2009-11-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

Ford officially launched its 2010 Fusion Hybrid yesterday, promoting the new hybrid midsize sedan’s mileage as far better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid’s. The company’s top hybrid executive, Director of Sustainability Nancy Gioia, also revealed that all new Fords will be developed to allow a hybrid drive option.

Calling Ford “the Number One producer of hybrids in North America,” marketing head Jim Farley said at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the Fusion Hybrid would be the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan on sale. The car will return 39 miles per gallon on the EPA city cycle, said chief engineer J.D. Shanahan, and highway mileage “at least 6 miles a gallon better than Camry Hybrid”—which would be 40 mpg or higher. This beats the mileage for the 2008 Camry Hybrid, at 33/34 (city/highway). Other impressive statistics for the Fusion Hybrid include pure electric speeds as high as 47 miles per hour, up to 2 miles of continuous electric-only driving, and a range of 700 city miles on one tank of gasoline.

Reaffirming Ford’s commitment to hybrid-electric vehicles, the executive responsible for electrified vehicles said all its new products globally will permit hybrid versions. Gioia, a 26-year Ford veteran, told HybridCars.com that design standards have been changed to ensure future Ford “vehicle architectures” can accommodate gasoline, diesel, and hybrid powertrains. Not all vehicles will be offered as hybrids in all markets, she said, but Ford wants the option to add hybrid-electric drive with as little change as possible.

The 2010 Fusion Hybrid will enter production at the same time as other versions; the first cars are expected to reach dealers early in the spring of 2009. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Ford's Second Generation Hybrids

The Fusion Hybrid (and its twin, the Mercury Milan Hybrid) is the first vehicle to use Ford’s second generation hybrid system. The company says it has more than 200 distinct inventions and patents pending for the revised version. Its first generation of hybrids was launched in 2004 in the Escape Hybrid SUV (and, later, in its twins the Mercury Mariner HybridMazda Tribute Hybrid). The new version uses a nickel-metal-hydride battery with 20 percent more power, in a package that’s 30 percent smaller, meaning the Fusion Hybrid sacrifices only a negligible amount of trunk space compared to the standard version. and the

Hybrid-electric vehicle systems engineer Gil Portalatin told us that the control logic for the new hybrid system provides much tighter integration of engine operation and power delivery. The new logic goes as far as to vary the engine’s valve timing, fuel delivery, and spark timing to match the power delivered through the electric motor, permitting very aggressive fuel shutdown under light loads. The result is that the 2.5-liter engine shuts itself off twice as much as in the earlier Escape, as the electric system provides more power. In addition, new control logic for the regenerative brakes recaptures up to 94 percent of the braking energy and feeds it to the battery.

The new Fusions offer Ford’s popular Sync voice-activated digital entertainment and integrated mobile phone system. Other options include blind-spot information, cross-traffic alerts when reversing, and real-time traffic and weather through the Sirius Travel Link satellite radio system.

Toyota Prius 2010 Hybrid

2009-11-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

Toyota Prius 2010 Hybrid

New Design on Honda INSIGHT Hybrid 2010

2009-11-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

New Honda INSIGHT 2010 Hybrid
Compared with the first generation that his efficiency reached 70mpg, this second generation ‘more fuel consumption’ that is (40/43) mpg in the city/the toll. However the fall of efficiency in paid with tampilang more interesting, comfort, preoccupation drive and many another thing. Because of that Honda the sale optimist of this second generation will be far more better from that was first.

2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid

2009-10-24T21:07:00.001-07:00

Toyota unveils the third-generation Prius hybrid at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Its higher fuel economy is nearly 25% better than the first generation Prius. The 50mpg car features a hybrid system with over 90% new parts when compared to the last kind.

Fuel family improvements come from the vehicle’s affect, a new engine, and refined cross powertrain. Carter remarked how important the car’s influence is, because the company believes it has become iconic. Not lacking to revise the sculpt substantially, they pulled the crest of the roof back by four inches. The gives rear passengers more headroom, while making the Prius more aerodynamic. Its drag coefficient has been cheap to .25 from .26.

2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid

2009-10-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

The Lexus luxury brand, will launch in the middle of next year HS Lexus 250h hybrid model 2010 with a full hybrid and hybrid technology Synergy. Possibly with a 2.4 petrol with an electric motor.

The technical details of this car has not been made public, since its official launch is expected in the year’s Detroit show entrante.Lexus is a trademark of the Japanese Toyota that began in 1989 under the premise of quality, comfort and reliability.

Toyota to showcase two new electric/hybrid cars this month

2009-10-10T18:02:00.000-07:00

The world’s No. 1 auto maker Toyota has announced [JP] it will exhibit a four-seat electric car at the 41th Tokyo Motor Show for the first time (the show opens October 24 and will run through November 4). It’s sized at 2,730×1,680×1,490mm. Visitors will also get to see an update of Toyota’s hybrid car Prius at the show.

The new completely electric model, the FT-EV II (pictured above and below), can be driven for more than 90km on a single charge and is specifically designed for convenient city driving. Toyota will offer, for example, electric sliding doors. But the FT-EV II isn’t for city driving only, as the top speed exceeds 100km/h.

Toyota also plans to show a plug-in version of its Prius hybrid that’s in its third generation. Drivers will be able to use the vehicle with batteries only until they run out. When that happens, the car will switch to hybrid mode automatically. One liter of gas is enough for 55km, up from 38km for the Prius models that are on the market now.

Infiniti hybrid car on the way

2009-10-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

Infiniti has announced that it is set to join the hybrid car market.

The firm revealed that production of its first vehicles of this type could be available by 2011.

These will be the Infiniti M35 saloons, the first hybrid cars from the company in its 20-year history.

According to the firm, these will feature the luxury performance of its existing range, but will be the most economical cars that it has ever produced.

The new vehicle will come with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, rear-wheel drive handling and Infiniti’s own hybrid system, which features a single electric motor/twin clutch arrangement.

In addition, the new car will run on laminated a lithium ion battery pack, which provide twice the power offered by regular battery packs.

Last month, Volvo revealed details for its plug-in diesel car.

The manufacturer announced that the vehicle will be able to cover 31 miles on battery power alone, with drivers then able to switch to its engine to give them a range of 745 miles.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Car

2009-10-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid features a smaller and lighter nickel-metal hydride battery. Driving the 2010 Fusion is fun and probably the best Ford Hybrid ever built.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient midsize automobile on the market. The Ford Hybrid It has a MPG rating Of 41 MPG city and 36 MPG highway. It can go over 700 miles between fill-ups, which for the average commuter translates into a stop at the pump once a month. The 200 Fusion offers a starting price of $27,625.

With a wider and more sportier look, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid has improved aerodynamics. Ford's attention to detail on the Fusion begins with a new design that gives the car a look that is both sportier and more upscale as well as improved aerodynamics. The car's newly designed front end, including a powerfully domed hood, and new headlamps, grille and larger fog-lamp area further enhance the sporty nature of the 2010 Fusion.

Aerodynamic enhancements and new under body shields further boost Fusion's fuel economy. This sporty new look of 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid helps to make the Ford Fusion more appealing to consumers who are seeking fun-to-drive Hybrid cars. This new interior design features a more contemporary look with metallic new finishes.

The new instrument panel is finished with a soft upper and lower skin which carries through the center console, doors, and steering wheel. The leather wrapped steering wheel was completely redesigned with form fitting palm swells and a new shifter. The seat actually conforms to you, offering more side support with smoother bolsters and comfort.

Earth-friendly cloth fabric in the Fusion Hybrid is made from 85 percent post-industrial materials, polyester fibers that would otherwise have ended up in landfills. This is another great way to be friendly to our environment. Using natural materials, the 2010 Fusion is one of the best eco cars on the planet.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid can operate for up to 47 mph in the pure electric mode. Recently, Ford drove the Fusion for more than 1,400 miles on only one tank of gas. This was done while using driving techniques to conserve fuel.

With the vehicle's enhanced electronic throttle control, it reduces airflow on shutdowns. Additionally, it reduces fuel consumption on restarts. The Ford Hybrid has wide-band lambda sensors that analyze the air-fuel ratio and will adjust the lean/rich mixture accordingly to keep the system in balance and to minimize emissions.

The Hybrid Ford Fusions all uses a smaller and lighter nickel-metal hydride battery. By using these batteries, they are able to produce 20 percent more power. Improved chemistry allows the battery to be run at a higher temperature, and it is cooled using cabin air. It is also equipped with a new high-efficiency converter to provide 14 percent increased output to accommodate a wider array of vehicle features.

If you are shopping for a new vehicle, you should try out the 2010 Ford Hybrid. The Hybrid car offers several incentives including a rebate. Several Ford Fusion owners have reported greater fuel economy than the EPA estimates.

US bill could pave way for hybrid taxi fleets

2009-10-02T05:48:00.002-07:00

A bill before Congress would give local governments the authority to set fuel efficiency standards for taxicabs, allowing cities like Boston to overcome federal court rulings that struck down their ambitious efforts to require all taxis to be hybrids.

The Green Taxis Act of 2009, part of an overall climate change bill introduced Wednesday in part by Senator John F. Kerry, would amend existing federal laws so that cities such as Boston, New York, and Seattle, which have failed in previous attempts, could require taxis to be hybrid.

Federal courts have struck down those attempts, saying cities infringed on the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, which authorizes the federal government to establish fuel economy standards for vehicles and forbids local officials from setting their own standards.

States can petition federal regulators for exemptions from the law.

But the Green Taxis Act, an amendment to the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act and the federal Clean Air Act, would allow cities and towns to decide on their own, based on their own needs and policies.

“This legislation will help empower cities and towns across the nation, including Boston, to improve air quality, lower carbon emissions, and save cab drivers and passengers money,’’ Kerry said in a prepared statement. “We know we must reinvent the way America uses energy and once again Boston is leading the way.’’

Mayor Thomas M. Menino was quick to endorse the bill, saying, “Hybrid taxis make sense for taxi drivers, for consumers, and for the health of all Bostonians.’’

The city had tried, in regulations passed in 2008, to require that all taxis be hybrids by 2015. The regulations would be phased in, with older taxis needing to be replaced immediately.

To justify the regulations, city officials cited an analysis of Boston’s taxi fleet showing that the typical 2-year-old Ford Crown Victoria taxi operates at an average of 10 miles per gallon while traveling 110,000 miles per year. In contrast, a new Toyota Camry Hybrid would be 70 percent more efficient, at 34 miles per gallon.

Boston officials said that only about 15 percent of the city’s 1,825 cabs are hybrids.

Hybrids would also emit less air pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other toxins that can cause health problems, city officials said.

The proposal met stiff opposition, however.

Taxi drivers with the Boston Taxi Owners Association said the regulations were too costly to enact under the city’s timeline because they would be forced to buy new hybrid cars.

The drivers had called for looser regulations so that they could buy used hybrids or other cars more fuel efficient than the Crown Victorias.

Honda MPG Ratings For 2010 Hybrid Cars

2009-10-02T05:48:00.001-07:00

Honda Hybrid Cars are entering a new generation of hybrid technologies, which include the 2010 Honda Insight and the Civic. Hybrid cars will also make the conversion from gasoline to fuel cell with the 2010 Honda Civic. The Honda Civic is still a great fuel-efficient vehicle with proven reliability.

Hybrid cars are growing in higher demand than ever before. Automakers are converting their popular models with new plug in options and hybrid batteries. The industry is changing and the future brings clean energy and better mileage for automobiles.

The Honda Insight is a new fuel-efficient automobile which delivers an MPG rating of 40 in the city and 43 on the highway. It offers 5 doors and seats up to five passengers including the driver. Insight was designed and built from the ground up.

The Honda car also features a new projector-beam headlight which provides better roadway lighting for greater visibility. Insight comes equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which substitutes the gears found in more traditional transmissions and replaces them with a metal push-belt running between a pair of variable-width pulleys. The CVT includes the Drive-by-Wire throttle system which constantly adjusts to providing the most efficient drive ratio possible depending on the torque load.

Honda Civic Hybrid is powered by a 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) gasoline-electric hybrid technology to enhance both fuel economy and performance. The hybrid car is equipped with a continuously variable transmission. The hybrid vehicle is classified as Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (AT-PZEV).

The IMA hybrid technology achieves an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 40/45 miles per gallon. It is also interesting to note that the car can deactivate all four of its cylinders and operate using only the electric motor in certain low-speed cruising situations. The electric motor has 15 kilowatts and can produce a combined 110-horsepower.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System has a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to the internal single-disc CD player. The system also includes a digital audio-card reader that can play MP3 and Windows Media 3 Audio (WMA) files from CompactFlash 4 cards. The navigation system features more than 7 million points of interest and the voice activation can control the navigation menus and the audio system, along with entering city and street names.

E.P.A. Says M.P.G. for Electric Cars and Plug-in Hybrids Is a Work in Progress

2009-10-02T05:43:00.000-07:00

Few auto industry power players are satisfied with the calculations that award the Chevrolet Volt a stellar 230 miles a gallon (which is topped by the Nissan Leaf battery car at 367). Those numbers are based on a draft Environmental Protection Agency standard for plug-in hybrids and battery cars. But the agency says that work isn’t complete, and it is searching for meaningful ways to present the information to car buyers on the window sticker.

The E.P.A. and the Transportation Department issued their proposed rule-making for combined greenhouse gas and corporate average fuel economy standards on Sept. 15. The agency admitted that designing test procedures and calculations for advanced technology vehicles “can be very complicated” and that what it called “adjustment factors” needed to be weighed. There’s certainly no consensus on which approach will resonate with consumers, and many admit that the advantage of measurements in miles a gallon is sheer familiarity.

In a letter released on Wednesday (but written Sept. 23), the agency said it would “initiate a new rule-making to explore in detail the information displayed on the current fuel economy label and the methodology for deriving that information.” The E.P.A. letter also said it was seeking input on consumer labels that could “provide practical, usable and meaningful information to vehicle purchasers” interested in battery electrics, plug-in hybrids and “other advanced technology vehicles.”

The E.P.A.’s letter was in response to a Sept. 10 proposal from Israel’s ETV Motors, which is working on battery technology as well as a hybrid concept that uses a micro-turbine to replenish an E.V.’s batteries. In an interview, ETV’s chief operating officer, Arnold Roth, said the company wrote to the United States agency because “the world needs the E.P.A. to take the lead. What the E.P.A. does will have a ripple effect into all markets.” The United States, said Dror Ben-David, ETV’s chief executive, “is a leader in rule-making.”

Toyota Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle

2009-10-01T00:29:00.000-07:00

Toyota Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle (Toyota HC-CV) is a stylish concept car which will have its world premiere at the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show.

Toyota Hybrid Camry is the first locally produced hybrid car which will be launched as a production version in Australia in 12 month time.

Toyota Hybrid Camry comes equipped with some features includes a streamlined upper grille, new side skirts, a larger lower opening, vertical fog lamps, a newly designed front end, rear diffuser, and spoiler.

While inside the car, Toyota Hybrid Camry interior also features contrast coloured trim, re-styled seats, and more.

Press Release
Toyota Australia has celebrated winning the right to manufacture a hybrid car in Australia by producing a stylish concept car.

Developed locally by Toyota Style Australia, the HC-CV (Hybrid Camry Concept Vehicle) had its world premiere ahead of the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show.

The unveiling of the concept car marks the start of a 12-month countdown to the launch of Australia’s first locally produced hybrid car, based on the best-selling Camry sedan.

Toyota Australia president and chief executive officer Max Yasuda said the concept car was the most important vehicle on the company’s motor show stand.

“The startling paintwork, dramatic lines and sporty appearance of this concept car convey the excitement and passion in our company to produce Australia’s first hybrid car,” Mr Yasuda said.

“The hybrid Camry - which will share some key design features with the HC-CV - will play a key role in bringing the future to the Australian automotive manufacturing sector.

“It is a future that uses less fuel while delivering better performance.”

The hybrid Camry uses a four-cylinder petrol engine linked to a powerful electric motor.

It produces more power than a conventional petrol-engine vehicle while delivering better fuel economy.

Mr Yasuda said many industry commentators were urging carmakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars.

“Toyota is already the only local manufacturer producing a four-cylinder car in this country. We have been building Camry in this country - in Melbourne - for nearly 22 years.

“It’s been Australia’s best-selling medium car for 15 years - and it’s our leading automotive export.

“Toyota also produces the most fuel-efficient Australian-made large six-cylinder sedan, the Aurion, in Melbourne.

“Our locally manufactured hybrid Camry will be launched early next year.”

Contemporary hybrid design

Toyota Style Australia corporate manager Paul Beranger said Toyota has evolved the styling of its hybrid vehicles since the late 1990s.

“HC-CV is our expression of the contemporary hybrid sedan,” he said.

The front of the car is characterised by expressive, sharp lines and taught surfaces. It echoes the latest Toyota Hybrid styling cues, with vertical fog lamps, larger lower opening and a streamlined upper grille.

“The crisp corners indicate aerodynamic efficiency, while the overall styling feel is efficient, yet dynamic,” Mr Beranger said.

“The lower grille texture is a random pattern, inspired by forms found in nature, moving away from traditional constructed patterns,” he said.

The “aero” theme continues along the side skirts, which flow into the rear diffuser, giving a sporty, yet lightweight and functional appearance. The rear spoiler enhances the visual appeal.

The headlights are symbolic of Toyota’s hybrid image with a blue hue. They fuse technical elements with natural forms. Some lenses have a waterfall impression, while others are functional, lightweight and technical in appearance. The rear LED lamps, also with a blue hue, provide an unmistakable hybrid look.

Toyota logos on the car are also highlighted by a translucent blue hue. The satin chrome front grille, mirrors and rear boot-lid garnish add to the clean, crisp image.

The wheels are a combination of shear, overlayed surfaces and graphics.

The body colour is unique - a satin white pearl with subtle blue highlights to provide a serene, calm feeling. The paint allows intricate detailing and features to show through.

The interior uses contrasting coloured trim. Highlights of metallic blue have been applied asymmetrically to the seats in a wave-like graphic reminiscent of the Hybrid Synergy Drive logo.

The seat embossing echoes the exterior grille mesh with a tree bark-like pattern. White stitching adds a subtle, yet premium touch. Satin chrome accents tie in with the exterior and add to the tranquil environment.

New Toyota hybrid sedan due in Japan

2009-10-01T00:26:00.001-07:00

Toyota is preparing to launch its second hybrid-only car, the Sai sedan.

The Sai, based on the Lexus HS 250h hybrid, will go on sale in Japan on Oct. 20, Toyota told Automotive News. The automaker didn’t disclose when or whether the car would be brought to the United States, where Toyota’s other hybrid-only car, the Prius hatchback, is the best-selling hybrid in the market.

Toyota has talked for several years of expanding the Prius brand name to other vehicles, and analysts speculate that if the Sai is indeed exported to the U.S., it will carry the Prius brand.

The Sai apparently will have the same platform and powertrain as the HS 250h, which went on sale in Japan in July and is the only hybrid-only Lexus model. The exterior and interior of the two cars will be different, however.

The HS 250h has a 2.4-liter gasoline engine, more powerful than the Prius’ 1.8-liter power plant. It’s less efficient too. The EPA rates the HS 250h’s fuel economy at 35 mpg in combined city-highway driving, compared with 50 mpg for the new 2010 Prius.

Newest Lexus hybrid is a compact hatchback

2009-09-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

Lexus LF-Ch hybrid hatchback concept, Frankfurt Auto Show

The words Lexus and hatchback are not normally spoken in the same sentence, especially when you add the word hybrid. But they will be, once the Lexus LF-Ch hybrid hatchback concept is revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show next week.

So far, the only news that’s leaked out is a couple of photos, and the fact that this five-door Lexus hybrid can be driven on electric-only mode.

My buddies at Autocar, the British car magazine, predict this small Lexus hybrid will be front-wheel drive, instead of rear-wheel, like the eagerly-awaited 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan just beginning to arrive in showrooms now.

Full Hybrid Auris Concept Ready for Market

2009-09-08T09:52:00.001-07:00

Since introducing the Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system on the Prius, Toyota has been promising to expand the technology to other platforms. The first vehicle in the sights for the next generation HSD powerplant is the upcoming Auris.

The idea behind including the HDS system on the Auris is to offer a full hybrid system on a high production mainstream model. According to Toyota, a full hybrid system is one that can run on either the gasoline engine alone, the battery/electric system alone, or run parallel to each other.

The company is planning on using the Auris as a test bed

for the next generation HSD system before expanding it to the rest of their line-up. While the specific range ratings and fuel economy have yet to be revealed, many are estimating Prius-like returns.

Toyota has also not said if the hybrid Auris will be borrowing the plug-in setup planned for the 2010 Prius.

More information, including pricing, is expected to be released during the Frankfurt Motor show set to start in 2 weeks.

Full Hybrid Auris Concept Ready for Market

2009-09-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

The company is planning on using the Auris as a test bed

for the next generation HSD system before expanding it to the rest of their line-up. While the specific range ratings and fuel economy have yet to be revealed, many are estimating Prius-like returns.

Toyota has also not said if the hybrid Auris will be borrowing the plug-in setup planned for the 2010 Prius.

More information, including pricing, is expected to be released during the Frankfurt Motor show set to start in 2 weeks.

Toyota Hybrid-X and FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept

2009-08-15T08:06:00.001-07:00

Toyota presented the Hybrid-X concept at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show – a concept car that proposes a new design language for hybrid models, while also acting as an innovative technology showcase for future generation hybrid cars.

The Toyota Hybrid-X is designed as a four door, four seat open-space concept. It has the dimensions of a conventional family car with an overall length of 4,500mm and wheelbase of 2,800mm. The width is 1,850mm and height 1,440mm.

Click on the link to read the full article at Diseno-Art.com
Toyota Hybrid-X

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept

The Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept is a sports car concept which could fill a gap in Toyota’s model lineup left vacant since 1997 and the passing of the Toyota Supra.

The Toyota FT-HS Concept could be powered by a 3.5 litre V6 working in conjunction with an electric motor, to allow for around 400 horsepower and performance figures in the 4 seconds to 60mph range.

Toyota plans 'ultra-fuel-efficient' hybrid

2009-08-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

(The Yomiuri Shimbun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- TM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to release as early as 2011 a small hybrid car with fuel-efficiency of 40 kilometers per liter with a price tag of 1.5 million, according to Toyota officials. The "ultra-fuel-efficient" car will surpass in terms of fuel efficiency the latest model of Toyota's top hybrid car, the Prius, which can achieve 38 kpl.

The envisaged model will be the world's most fuel-efficient mass-produced hybrid car, whose main power source is gasoline.

Toyota wants to attract consumers who are conscious of energy-saving products and leave behind its rival, Honda Motor Co., in hybrid car sales.

The design of the envisaged new Toyota hybrid is based on the firm's Vitz minicar. However, the new model's fuel-efficiency is nearly double that of the Vitz, whose maximum fuel economy is 22 kpl. The new car's planned price is the lowest among Toyota's hybrid cars. Toyota plans to sell the ultra-fuel-efficient car in Japan, the United States and Europe.

Hybrid cars are increasingly popular in Japan, mainly due to government tax breaks and subsidies for drivers who replace their "clunkers" with eco-friendly cars.

Honda raised its domestic sales target for the Insight, which is capable of 30 kpl, from the initial 60,000 to more than 100,000 for fiscal 2009, though it is less fuel-efficient than the Prius, because it has sold better than expected. Nissan Motor Co., too, plans to release hybrid cars as early as 2010.

New Toyota hybrid to outdo Prius

2009-08-15T08:01:00.001-07:00

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to release a cheaper compact hybrid with better fuel-efficiency than the new best-selling Prius hybrid as early as 2011, sources said Thursday.

The compact gas-electric hybrid will have a fuel efficiency of more than 40 km per liter and will be priced around ¥1.5 million, which is lower than the ¥2 million price range of the Prius and Honda Motor Co.'s Insight hybrid, the sources said.

The price competition is likely to intensify with rival Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker, which is also planning to release a hybrid version of its Fit compact in 2010.

Toyota's compact hybrid will be based on its Vitz model, which will be powered by a hybrid system that will be smaller than the current combined system of the gasoline engine and electric motor.

Fully electric zero-emission cars, already rolled out by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., are also considered another competitive alternative to hybrids, especially as Nissan Motor Co. is preparing to launch its hatchback-type electric vehicle next year.

Battle of the Hybrid Titans

2009-08-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Honda Insight.

The first two hybrids to hit the US market back in late 1999/early 2000, were the Insight and Prius. Well, it’s back to the future. Nine years later, these two hybrid titans will once again dominate, although the Prius will remain the biggest seller.

The new Toyota Prius was unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January 2009. The third generation Prius is be bigger and more powerful. The engine grew from 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters—giving a boost in horsepower from 110 to 160—and the body is be three to four inches longer and about an inch wider. The combined US fuel economy rating is 50 mpg, by keeping the weight down to current levels and re-engineering the powertrain to extend the range of all-electric gas-free driving.

The next Prius does not offer plug-in capabilities and continues to use nickel metal hydride batteries, rather than switching to lithium ion batteries.

In the spring, Honda began shipping its revitalized Honda Insight—perfectly priced several thousand dollars below the Prius. At $20,000, the 2010 Honda Insight is be the most affordable high-mpg vehicle on the market.

The new Honda Insight is more practical than the earlier Insight. It’s a five-door hatchback with ample room for five passengers. The aerodynamic design borrows elements from Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, and bears resemblance to the Toyota Prius’s iconic hatchback profile. Honda is pinning its hybrid resurgence on the Insight—and plans to follow in future years with a Honda CR-Z hybrid and perhaps a Honda Fit hybrid.

Hyundai launches its first hybrid Elantra LPI on market in South Korea

2009-08-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Hyundai Elantra LPI is the company's first hybrid effort.

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top carmaker, this week launched its first hybrid car in the domestic market to satisfy a growing appetite for fuel-saving vehicles and to improve the image of the company's technology.

Hyundai, the world's No. 5 carmaker along with affiliate Kia Motors Corp., started selling the elantra lPi, a hybrid model of its popular compact sedan that uses liquefied petroleum gas (lPG) and lithium-ion polymer batteries.

"the lPi will show Hyundai has hybrid technology and help improve its image," said Kang Sang-min, an auto analyst at tong Yang Securities.

the hybrid arrived at showrooms amid worries Hyundai could lose out if such cars gained in popularity in the united States, with toyota and Honda, pushing the technology into the mainstream with low-priced gasoline-electric models.

Hyundai is due to launch its first gasoline-electric hybrid, a version of the flagship Sonata in the latter half of 2010.

the elantra lPi can travel 17.8 kilometres on one litre of lPG or 38.5 kilometres for the price of one litre of gasoline in South Korea, Hyundai said.

in addition, the hybrid emits 99 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, meeting California's Super ultra low emission Vehicle standard. Hyundai aims to sell 7,500 units of the hybrid this year in South Korea. it does not have immediate plans for exports.

How do hybrid cars recharge the battery on highways

2009-08-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

The electric part of the hybrid vehicle is only used in town for stop and go or low speed operation. Most hybrids use their gasoline engines for highway driving, and while the gasoline engine is running, it also recharges the batteries.

It depends the hybrid you're driving, but on good hybrids the battery is charged on the highway by the rolling motion of the wheels. It is not enough to power the car using the battery alone, but it is enough to provide enough power that most hybrids still get better highway mileage than their gas-only counterparts. A hybrid battery will virtually never die because there is always something charging it, whether you are braking or just simply moving. The most charge goes to the battery when you are rolling downhill and not pressing on the gas.

Handsome Hybrid, Hefty Price

2009-07-29T21:35:00.001-07:00

The Lexus GS 450h is a powerhouse of hybrid performance, but at $67,775 nicely equipped, there may not be enough incentive to attract the green-influenced buyer. Photo courtesy of Lexus.

The Lexus GS hybrid is an elite sport sedan that takes a little too much green -- about $60,000 -- for the privilege of driving green.

Lexus sells the GS in V-6, V-8 and hybrid configurations. Pricing starts at $45,675 for the GS 350 (or $47,625 for all-wheel drive). The V-8-powered GS 460 starts at $54,145.

The GS 450h starts at $57,225, including a $825 freight charge, and the test car was $67,775 with accessories that would be popular with most buyers, such as a navigation system, Mark Levinson audio and the Pre-Collision Safety system.

However, the fuel economy of the gas-only GS models counters the economic urgency to buy the hybrid. Although the GS 450h has the best mileage of the model line, the numbers aren't outstanding: 22 mpg city and 25 highway, on 91 octane. Compare that with the V-6-powered GS 350 at 19/26 or the V-8-powered GS 460 at 17/24.

And, in a segment that includes competitors such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac CTS and Lincoln MKS, the GS 450h is the only hybrid. But that doesn't get it much respect.

"When we launched the GSh, we expected it to be a niche, modest-volume model,"Lexus spokesman Greg Thome said via e-mail. "Early on, it was 7 percent to 8 percent of total GS sales."

Halfway into 2009, only 138 GS hybrids have been sold, or 5.3 percent of the mix.

The GS 450h is a full hybrid, capable of operating by engine, battery power or a combination of both. Lexus says the hybrid powertrain -- a 3.5-liter V-6 with a permanent-magnet electric motor -- gives V-8 performance with V-6 thrift. Total system power is 340 horsepower.

The 2009 GS has had few changes since its launch for the 2007 model year. A little more trunk room was carved out this year, now up to 10.6 cubic feet, which is barely adequate to hold luggage for a road trip. In the hybrid, a 288-volt, nickel-metal-hydride battery pack behind the rear seat is responsible for the diminished space.

The hybrid powertrain gives brisk acceleration, surging smoothly through a continuously variable transmission, which has performance modes of normal, sport and snow. It takes 5.2 seconds to reach 60 mph, versus 5.4 seconds in the V-8 and 5.7 in the V-6, all of which are credible for cars that weigh about 2 tons.

The GS hybrid weighs 4,134 pounds, which stresses the battery reserves. Coaxing battery power alone was difficult for me as the car would quickly engage gasoline support to heft the weight. But the switching from batteries to engine to a combination is seamless. Braking and coasting capture energy from heat and momentum to replenish the battery charge.

The GS is a striking design with a phenomenally low 0.27 coefficient of drag (the 2010 Prius is 0.25). The test car was painted a gorgeous Black Opal Mica that almost looked midnight blue, with Cashmere leather interior.

With Lexus' attention to soundproofing, the cabin is an environment best enjoyed hermetically sealed. Airflow with the windows down at low speeds is turbulent, and the open sunroof induces annoying buffeting at speeds just above 35 mph.

Shapely arcs and lines, textures and coordinated contrasts provide a calming interior design. Lexus has resisted the use of a central controller for cabin functions -- so far -- and uses buttons to select climate, audio and navigation preferences. Further adjustments are made by touch-screen activation. Often-used controls, such as for temperature, have separate buttons, but none for fan speed, which is still a two-step adjustment.

The front-seat area is comfortable and open for those who fit within 37 inches of headroom or 37.8 inches with the sunroof. Despite its five seat belts, this architecture is best enjoyed by four occupants. The center-rear position is completely compromised by a tall, wide transmission tunnel and a perched and narrow seat in which the heads of modest-size adults will brush the headliner. Foot and legroom seemed tighter than the 36.4 inches claimed by Lexus.

The GS hybrid is beautiful and well-equipped with a clean room of electronic sophistication. But it is also compromised by a small trunk, high price and less-than-dynamic fuel economy. For the hybrid enthusiast, there just isn't enough incentive.

SPECS BOX

009 Lexus GS 450h

Body style: full-size, five-passenger, rear-wheel-drive sport sedan

Hybrid power: series/parallel system with gas engine and electric motors; total system power 340 hp

Engine: aluminum, 292-horsepower, DOHC, 24-valve, 3.5-liter V-6 with dual continuously Variable Valve Timing With Intelligence

Transmission: continuously variable automatic with normal, sport and snow modes

EPA fuel economy estimates: 22 mpg city, 25 highway; 91 octane recommended

Trunk space: 10.6 cubic feet

Length/wheelbase: 190/112.2 inches

Curb weight: 4,134 pounds

PRICING

Base: $57,225, including $825 freight charge; price as tested, $67,775

Options on test car: Power Active Vehicle Stabilizer with run-flat summer tires, $3,320; Mark Levinson audio, $1,780; Lexus Link, $900; navigation system with voice activation and destination input, $1,500; Lexus Pre-Collision System, $2,850; rear spoiler, $200

Warranty: 48-month/50,000-mile basic limited warranty with roadside assistance for 48 months/unlimited miles; powertrain and restraint system coverage is provided for 72 months/70,000 miles; hybrid-related components, including the hybrid battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

Toyota to produce hybrid Auris in Europe from 2012

2009-07-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

Toyota has confirmed it will start making a hybrid model of its Auris hatchback in Britain from next year.
The world’s biggest carmaker said that production of the hybrid Auris would start at its factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire, in mid-2010, safeguarding 400 jobs.

Engines will be produced at Toyota's facility in Deeside, North Wales.

The Auris hybrid will share the 1.8liter gasoline engine and electric motor with the new Prius, which has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of any five-seater car, at 89g per kilometer, and an official average fuel consumption figure of 72.4mpg U.K.

Toyota’s UK operations began production in 1992 and employ about 4,100 workers.

The plant has produced over 2.5 million vehicles to-date, including the Carina E, Corolla, Avensis and Auris, for sale in Europe and export overseas.

The Toyota Auris hit the European market place in spring 2007. Since then, it has sold over 370,000 vehicles. Under the new Toyota Optimal Drive technology, Auris now comes equipped with a 1.33-litre dual VVT-i engine and Toyota’s Start&Stop technology, reducing CO2 emissions by 17% (135 g/km) and improving fuel consumption by 19% (48.7 mpg UK).

Toyota to Launch Yaris-Based Hybrid in 2011

2009-07-29T21:23:00.002-07:00

Toyota plans to launch a JPY1.5m ($15,760) Yaris-based hybrid compact in Japan late in 2011.
Toyota's new hybrid-only compact will use the platform and engine of the Yaris compact, which will be fully remodeled ahead of the new hybrid's launch, and feature a more cost competitive and fuel-efficient hybrid system than that of the Prius, but will cost considerably less when it goes on sale, the Asahi Newspaper reported.

Toyota may produce the Yaris-based hybrid not only in Japan but also in France for sale in Europe.

The new Toyota hybrid compact is expected to compete with the hybrid version of Honda's Fit compact, which will debut in Japan next year.

Demand for hybrid vehicles has jumped in Japan, helped by government tax breaks and subsidies on green cars.

Toyota sold 22,292 Prius hybrids in June, up from 6,231 in the same month last year. Rival Honda has also enjoyed strong sales of its Insight hyrid, which was Japan's top-selling car in April.

Audi A3 hybrid expected to arrive in 2012

2009-07-29T21:23:00.001-07:00

Just the other day AutoCar brought us the updated info on the next-generation Audi A3, which will be offered in the U.S. with a sedan variant in early 2011. The UK publication is now reporting that the next A3 will also get a hybrid model that will be a part of Volkswagen’s TwinDrive program.

Last year, Volkswagen announced that it is testing a fleet of plug-in hybrid Golfs in Berlin, which should be ready for market launch in 2010 as a 2011 model year. The Volkswagen TwinDrive Golf plug-in hybrid is powered by a 2.0L turbo-diesel making a total 122-hp. Mated to an electric motor that is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack (made by Sanyo), the TwinDrive golf can get 30 miles on a full charge.

Volkswagen says that the production model will have a 1.4L 4-cylinder gasoline engine making 100-hp.

Audi cuts CO2 again with new A3 1.6 TDI

2009-07-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

Success will smell even sweeter in the Audi A3 from this month as the consistent class best seller slashes emissions even further with the help of an all new 1.6-litre common rail TDI engine combining an outstandingly low CO2 output of 109g/km with the potential to cover close to 69mpg. Aided by the latest auxiliary fuel conservation technology, including an automatic start-stop function, the new unit effects an eight per cent economy improvement over the engine powering the A3 1.9 TDIe, which it replaces. It is available in three-door, five-door Sportback and A3 Cabriolet models priced from £17,485 OTR.

The three-door version’s 68.9mpg combined economy figure demands no sacrifices in power or performance – with the same 105PS and 250Nm peak power and torque outputs as the larger displacement 1.9-litre TDI unit, the new arrival powers the A3 1.6 TDI with five-speed manual transmission to 62mph in 11.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 121mph. This uncompromising breadth of ability is made possible with the help of automatic start-stop and energy recuperation systems, both of which made their debuts recently in the A3 1.4 TFSI.

The start-stop system cuts engine power at idle when the clutch pedal is released and the gear lever is in its neutral position, and then restarts in just two-tenths of a second - more rapidly than any other comparable system – when the clutch is depressed. With the system’s help, economy is boosted and CO2 is reduced by approximately 5g/km, but if required it can be deactivated at the touch of a button.

Braking energy ‘recycled’
Recuperation technology provides further fuel and CO2 savings by recycling a proportion of the wasted kinetic energy which is generated under normal braking and normally dissipated as heat, and storing this temporarily in the vehicle battery to reduce the engine load when the car subsequently accelerates again. With its help, fuel usage is reduced by as much as three per cent in the A3.

These virtually imperceptible economy-maximising measures in no way detract from the responsiveness and agility which has always characterised the A3 range. For keen drivers this can be maximised by specifying the A3 1.6 TDI in Sport form with sports suspension lowered by 15mm over 17-inch five-spoke Star design alloy wheels, or as an S line which rides 10mm lower still on 18-inch seven twin-spoke wheels. The 1.6 TDI is also available in more comfort oriented SE and Standard trim levels, all four options featuring alloy wheels and comforts such as air conditioning or climate control, a single CD audio system, electric windows and mirrors and split/folding rear seats.

The frugal new engine and accompanying efficiency measures bear testament to the concerted efforts being made to honour Board of Management Chairman Rupert Stadler’s pledge to reduce average Audi fleet CO2 output by at least 20 per cent by 2012.

Nissan all-electric car goes to market in 2010

2009-07-29T21:20:00.001-07:00

Nissan has previewed its electric vehicle EV platform on a Tiida-based prototype to demonstrate the superior driving pleasure of a pure zero-emission vehicle. It also showcased a sophisticated EV-IT system developed to support electric driving 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

The dedicated EV platform is comprised of a highly rigid body, high-performance motor, compact lithium-ion battery with high power output and energy capacity, delivering outstanding driving performance and safety, while offering a quiet and peaceful driving experience – a unique feature of a fully-electric drivetrain.

The in-house developed electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm for high response and powerful acceleration. Nissan’s unique motor control also contributes to the vehicle’s seamless acceleration.

The 24kWh laminated compact lithium-ion battery pack is placed under the vehicle floor for more efficient packaging, without compromising cabin or cargo space. The battery layout also allows smooth underfloor air-flow which helps reduce drag. Additionally, the regenerative brake system employed to recharge the battery during deceleration and braking extends the driving range to more than 160km under a full charge.

High durability is achieved by employing an additional frame for the battery pack to significantly improve the rigidity of the platform. The combination of a high rigidity platform and electric powertrain minimises vibration and external sounds to produce a quiet and pleasing drive.

EV-IT support function
Nissan has developed a sophisticated IT system for its zero-emission EVs, connecting the vehicle’s on-board transmitting unit to a global data centre to support EV driving 24 hours 7 days a week.

Usability and convenience for EV driving is achieved via the following:

Maximum range display

* With a simple touch of a button, the navigation map shows the driving radius within range under the current state of charge.
* The system can calculate if the vehicle is within range of a pre-set destination.

Update on charging stations

* The navigation system points out the latest information on available charging stations within the current driving range.
* Detailed information for each charging station will also be displayed.

Timer function

* The timer function enables the air-conditioner or battery charging to begin at a specified time. The air-conditioner can be pre-set while the vehicle is plugged-in to cool the cabin to a desirable temperature before driving begins, without taxing the vehicle’s battery. Meanwhile, the battery charging can be set to start at a specified time at night to benefit from more favourable electricity rates.

EV remote control and monitoring function

* The driver can monitor the state-of-charge of the EV via an online website and a cellular phone. For example, when the battery is fully charged, a message alert is sent to the cellular phone. Additional remote control functions range from switching the charging system ON/OFF or setting the air-conditioner timer.

To be a leader in zero-emission mobility, Nissan is progressing its development for electric vehicles and the key components. The all-electric vehicle slated for launch in 2010 will have a unique design and body. Nissan plans to unveil the design of the production EV at its new Global Headquarters Opening in Yokohama on August 2nd.

The New Toyota Hybrids

2009-07-29T21:19:00.001-07:00

As much as I singularly resent the level of obnoxious elistism that seems to enshroud the Toyota Prius, I have to admit – if Toyota manages to produce a hybrid vehicle that isn’t as ugly as the Prius or as tiny as the Chevrolet Volt, there is a distinct possibility that I will succumb to the siren song of Toyota’s cost-effective fuel efficiency.

Say what you will, but those guys at Toyota know how to churn out a quality, eco-friendly automobile. Their first hybrid car on the market, the Prius, was introduced in North America in 2001 and was met with almost instant success. Even though it wasn’t the only one of its kind, the fact that it’s price tag was so consumer-friendly gave it a significant competitive edge. Over the years, the Prius has become an image representative of the hybrid car movement, and its sales have obviously been very successful. So much so, in fact, that Toyota is “upping the ante”.

According to Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota is planning the release of two more hybrid vehicles. Although production of the Prius will continue as usual, in 2010 Toyota plans to introduce two new members to the Toyota and Lexus fold (respectively). In addition, Toyota has also announced its new partnership with Panasonic EV Energy Co. and subsequent plans to begin manufacturinglithium-ion batteries. The new breed of batteries will initially be used for testing purposes, but long-term goals call for the mass production of the lithium-ion batteries for use in Toyota’s plug-in hybrid vehicle, set for release in 2010.

But wait, it gets greener still…

Toyota’s unbending commitment to the environment also includes immediate plans to begin research in pursuit of a cleaner, even more efficient battery than the lithium-ion. Toyota has also declared that, by 2010, they will effectively cut emissions produced by their manufacturing plants since 2001 by 35%.

Toyota to make bigger push for hybrid market

2009-07-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

Japan's Toyota Motor is making a bigger push for the hybrid market. Reports said the leading automaker plans to launch a hybrid compact in Japan in late 2011.

Domestic auto sales for Japan's top carmakers continued to slide in June. Toyota alone booked a 25 per cent drop on-year.

Demand overall may still be weak, but the numbers for hybrid vehicles have been encouraging. The new third generation Prius, which Toyota unveiled only in May, is paving the road ahead.

It promises to have more power than previous models. It also boasts of improved fuel efficiency, allowing the car to run up to 38 kilometres on every litre of gasoline. There is also more room compared to its predecessors.

Paul Nolasco, Corporate Communications Department, Toyota Motor, said: "We're beginning to build more hybrid vehicles in many countries outside Japan as well because the vehicles are popular overseas. For example, we're already building hybrid vehicles in the US, China. We started in July to build hybrid vehicles in Thailand. We'll start to do the same in 2010 in Australia and in the UK as well."

Toyota has sold more than 1.3 million Prius vehicles since its launch in 1997. But it is the hybrid version that is helping to push sales in recent months.

22,292 Prius hybrid vehicles were sold in Japan in June, making it the first fuel-sipping hybrid car to outsell all other vehicles. And in July, Toyota launched its very first hybrid for Lexus, its luxury brand. This new model will be introduced to the US market in September.

Nolasco said: "First of all, in the next decade in 2010s, we aim to sell one million hybrid vehicles a year. Further down the road in 2020s, we expect to have hybrid vehicles in every position of our lineup. For every model of our vehicle, we want a hybrid version. We believe hybrid vehicles are the key to the future.

"And our hybrid technology can be applied to not just gasoline and electric, but for example, diesel fuel, diesel and electric or also to electric vehicles themselves. This is a new technology called plug-in vehicle. We can also apply to compress natural gas and other types of alternative fuel, including hydrogen and fuel cell."