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PSA Peugeot Citroen May Halt Sale of Hybrids, EVs in China Over Intellectual Property Concerns
PSA Peugeot Citroen is the first automaker to publicly stand up to the Chinese government’s proposed Green Car Plan. Recently an initial draft of a new piece of Chinese government legislation was leaked in which was revealed plans by the world’s largest auto market to strong arm international auotmakers into sharing their hybrid and electric…
Lexus LC600h to Succeed SC430 With Hybrid Power, AWD
Lexus is planning a successor to the retired SC430 model that should put it back in contention with the Mercedes SL. The new car is rumored to wear the LC600h badge and that name says a lot. Using a shortened version of the next generation LS platform the LC would be AWD and use an…
Honda CR-Z Sales Climb 78%, Outsells GTI, Eclipse, MX-5
Last time we reported on Honda CR-Z sales numbers, we got a few incredulous comments from readers who couldn’t seem to fathom why anyone would want Honda’s hybrid/sports car mashup. But the numbers are in and it looks like the CR-Z is actually finding a customer base. According to a breakdown of September sales figures…
Honda Fit Hybrid Now Japan’s Cheapest Gas-Electric Vehicle
We may not be seeing Honda’s 2011 Honda Jazz/Fit hybrid over here in North American any time soon, but it doesn’t mean we won’t uncross our fingers. And now we’re even more excited – that’s because it has launched in Japan for 1.59 million yen ($19,310 U.S.), making it the cheapest gas-electric car available in…
GM Admits Chevy Volt’s Gasoline Engine Can Power the Wheels; So is it Still Special?
The Chevy Volt’s Voltec powertrain might not be as special as we’ve been led to believe. Then again, maybe it’s even more so. After several initial reports about the car’s electric drive/hybrid system GM has issued a press release to clarify exactly how it works, stating that specifics were never given in the past as…
Prius MPV Teased as Original Prepares to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
As the original Prius prepares to celebrate its 10th birthday, Toyota is planning to finally expand the hybrid lineup, adding an MPV model. While not common in North America, MPVs are a hit in other parts of the world where our minivans are seen as gargantuan. A single photo showing the Prius MPV peaking out…
Honda NSX Hybrid Undergoes Testing For 2012 Super GT Series
While we continue to anxiously await a possible NSX successor for the street, Honda has been out at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan testing an NSX Hybrid for the upcoming 2012 Super GT season. The 2012 season will allow teams to equip and utilize a hybrid system on their race cars in the series. Made…
Acura TSX Coupe Under Consideration; CSX Could See U.S. Market
Acura might just be starting to get its act together. After several years of passable products, the lack of a true top-tier luxury sedan, the elimination of the RSX and cancellation of the next-generation NSX, comes word of some good products news from Honda’s luxury division. According to a report by AutoWeek, Acura is looking…
Next Ford GT Could go Hybrid or Electric
Word on the street is that the Ford is gearing up build a new, high-end, low-volume halo car. This new car is the highly anticipated follow up to the GT40-inspired Ford GT, made especially for its 100th anniversary back in 2003. What’s even more surprising is that suggestions are flying around to turn this car…
Infiniti M35h to Get 39-MPG, Hit 60-MPH in Just 5.9 Seconds [Paris 2010]
Infiniti still doesn’t have much of a presence in Europe, but the brand it looking to continue to grow thanks to a strong lineup of sport-oriented luxury models on one side, and an expanding hybrid and EV initiative on the other. The latest addition to the Infiniti lineup, the M35h, has plenty of potential with…
Lotus Esprit Heralds The Future Of Lotus Cars [Paris 2010]
Lotus unveiled an entirely new product range today, with 5 new cars that mark a complete 180 for the brand. The most significant product for the company will be their Esprit flagship, which will set the tone for future cars as they prepare to do battle with Italy’s best. With a 5.0L V8 displacing 620…
Lexus CT200h Debuts With High Hopes for Europe [Paris 2010]
Lexus has just officially debuted the production version of the CT200h hybrid hatchback at the Paris Auto Show. And while Lexus does hope to significantly expand the premium compact segment in the United States, it expects huge growth in Europe with the CT projected to double the Toyota luxury brand’s sales. The CT is the…
Audi E-Tron Spyder Isn’t Germany’s Tesla [Paris 2010]
Audi‘s E-Tron Spyder debuted at the Paris Auto Show today, and surprised observers by departing from the purely electric setup seen in previous E-Tron concepts. The Spyder will use a 3.0L TDI V6 and a DSG transmission to power the rear wheels, while the fronts get a pair of twin electric motors. An aluminum space…
Lexus Expects CT200h to Spark Significant Growth in Compact Premium Segment
With the launch of the new CT200h Lexus expects to grow the premium compact segment considerably says Lexus VP Mark Templin. Targeted sales in the U.S. are set at 1,000 units, which while miniscule compared to many other Lexus products, would represent a 70 percent growth in the segment. Currently the CT’s competitors (the BMW…
Higher Performance, More Efficient Lexus CT200h Models Under Consideration
Lexus is taking a close look at even more efficient versions of its new CT200h premium compact hybrid, while hinting that a high-performance version of the car is in the works. During a product presentation of the CT200h at the car’s global launch just outside Paris, France, Lexus College manager Paul Williamsen went out of…
Honda CR-Z Convertible; S2000 Hybrid Rumored
According to a slew of new rumors Honda is considering several options of how to expand its product lineup while focusing on both sports cars and hybrids – or should we say sports cars that are hybrids. Sources tell the team at Road & Track that one model under consideration is a convertible version of…
Toyota To Build Small Hybrid In France
Toyota announced today that they will build a small hybrid car in France, apparently based on the Yaris compact. Toyota already builds the Auris hatchback in Europe, which is available with a hybrid system. In a statement released by the company, the Japanese manufacturer said “This decision fits in Toyota’s strategy to extend the full…
General Motors Revises Chevrolet Volt Range Estimates
GM is revising estimates for the range of their Chevrolet Volt electric car’s ability to drive on electric power alone. Initial estimates said that the Volt was good for 40 miles on battery power, but GM now says that the range will be between 25 and 50 miles. According to GM, temperature, terrain, driving style…
China’s Green Car Plan Would Force Automakers to Surrender Intellectual Property
A controversial Chinese government plan that would force foreign automakers to surrender their electric vehicle technology in exchange for being able to sell vehicles in the world’s largest auto-market is drawing the ire of automakers worldwide. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is currently writing up a 10-year plan designed to transform the country…
Baby-Boxster, Smaller Cayenne Back on Track; Plug-In Hybrids Coming says Porsche
Porsche will again move forward with plans to build a new entry-level sports car, as well as a smaller SUV, while expanding its hybrid technology in the years to come. As its own entity, proposals for the baby-Boxster and smaller Cayenne were both axed, but under the new Volkswagen management the cases have been reexamined…
Toyota To Debut New Highlander At State Fair Of Texas Tomorrow
Toyota‘s Highlander crossover will debut in redesigned form at the State Fair of Texas, a year after Toyota used the event to launch their redesigned 4Runner. The Highlander was previously revealed in advance of the Moscow Auto Show. Slated to compete against the new Ford Explorer and the Chevrolet/GMC/Buick Traverse/Acadia/Enclave crossovers, the Highlander will feature…
BREAKING: Kia Optima Hybrid To Debut At Los Angeles Auto Show
While attending the launch of the 2011 Kia Optima, AutoGuide has just learned that Kia is planning to launch an Optima Hybrid, based on the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The new model will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, with sales beginning in early 2011. Kia Motors America CEO and group president Byung…
AMS-Tuned Honda CR-Z Terra is Excessively Aggressive
Customized hybrids look to be gaining popularity, as is evidenced by this AMS Honda CR-Z. Overall it’s pretty clean but just a tad too aggressive for our tastes. The center exit dual exhaust with a wickedly designed carbon fiber diffuser features more sharp lines and angles than we care to count. The rear spoiler on…
Lotus Elite Supercar Revealed Ahead of Paris Auto Show Debut With 612-HP
Lotus has just revealed what it claims is just the start of a “new era” for the historic British sports car maker; a 612-hp supercar dubbed the Elite. Output comes from a 5.0-liter V8 (likely sourced from the Lexus IS-F), but rather than that car’s 400+ horsepower number, the Elite makes an incredible 612-hp at…
