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Tokyo Auto Salon 2010: J’s Racing Honda Insight and S2000
While many Japanese aftermarket tuners are taking on the newest models including many of them turning towards European applications, J’s Racing has stuck to what they know best: Hondas. The company’s booth wasn’t overwhelmingly large, but it was clear that J’s Racing is aware of the new Hybrid-tuning craze, displaying its own version of a…
Tokyo Auto Salon 2010: Toyota Prius Custom Plus Concept and Tom’s Prius
There is no doubt that the Toyota Prius is the heavy favorite at TAS 2010. Literally every single booth has one and it’s hard to take 20 steps without spotting another tuned Prius. Toyota had their own to impress with the Prius Custom Plus Concept taking a very futuristic hold to the Prius design. The…
Tokyo Auto Salon 2010: ASI Green Toyota Prius
Seen at the booth of wheel manufacturer RAYS Engineering at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon was a nicely tuned Prius by ASI. Called the ASI Green Prius, this car is part of a new line of ASI tuning kits aimed at hybrid models. Currently it also includes a kit for the Honda Insight. Sporting a…
Report: Cadillac Converj Headed for Production Says Lutz
Cadillac reps won’t say as much, but General Motors Vice Chairman and product boss Bob Lutz has said that the Cadillac Converj will see production. Similar in many ways to the Cadillac CTS Coupe, the Converj gets more futuristic styling and is powered by a similar drivetrain to the Chevy Volt. According to a report…
Detroit 2010: Acura Hybrids Coming Says Honda CEO
A brand desperately in search of a clear direction, Acura will soon deliver a hybrid model says Honda CEO Takanobu Ito. The announcement was made by Ito just prior to introducing the latest hybrid in the Honda lineup, the CR-Z. Ito did not comment on if an Acura hybrid would use Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor…
Detroit 2010: Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept World Premiere
Designed to give a glimpse at what an upcoming Cadillac flagship model could look like the XTS Platinum Concept is also a showcase for the luxury brand’s premium Platinum series of vehicles. Close in size to a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it measures 203.5-inches (3.5-inches longer than an S-Class), however, the wheelbase is considerably less at 111.7-inches…
Detroit 2010: Honda CR-Z World Premiere
Honda has just unveiled the production version of the CR-Z hybrid, looking like and taking after the original CRX. The CRX, after all, was introduced as a fuel efficient model, that quickly became a favorite of enthusiasts and tuners alike due to its sporty driving dynamics. “The CR-Z is a personal sport hybrid coupe for…
Detroit 2010: Audi Q5 and A8 Hybrid Coming This Year
During a press conference that focused on Audi’s E-Tron electric concept, the German automaker didn’t give much time to hybrid technology – except to add on that hybrid versions of the Q5 and A8 are coming…. soon. Audi continues to put the main focus on its electric car developments, while quietly following the same hybrid…
Detroit 2010: Mercedes Confirms Two New Hybrids for North America
With the launch of two hybrid models in 2009, Mercedes-Benz has announced it will add two more hybrids to its lineup starting in 2011. More impressive, is that neither is a run-of-the-mill type of hybrid. Due out first is the E300 BlueTec Hybrid, based on the new E-Class model. It will be a hybrid and…
Detroit 2010: Toyota FT-CH Concept Previews Compact Prius Model
Toyota has announced that it will expand the Prius name to become an entire family of dedicated hybrid vehicles. Launched today at the Detroit Auto Show, the FT-CH Hybrid Concept is a look at what the next model in the Prius lineup is likely to be. Inspired by 8-bit technology made famous by early Nintendo…
Detroit 2010: Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Concept a Sporty Hybrid
Volkswagen is showcasing what it calls the New Compact Coupe (NCC) at the Detroit Auto Show. A stylish looking VW, this Jetta-sized model is actually a hybrid. A 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder makes 148-hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque and is mated to a 27-hp electric motor. When combined with VW’s 7-speed DSG transmission, the NCC…
Detroit 2010: Ford Fusion Hybrid Named North American Car of the Year
The Ford Fusion Hybrid has been named North American Car of the Year, beating out the other two finalists, the Buick LaCrosse and the Volkswagen Golf. The announcement kicked off the festivities at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Ford Fusion received the nod from a panel of 49 journalists from…
Report: No Hybrid Sports Cars Says Porsche CEO
Porsche will not build hybrid versions of its sports cars says company CEO Michael Macht. Both the 911 and Boxster models are off-limits as far as the German sports car maker’s hybrid plans are concerned, although Porsche is pushing ahead with plans to launch a hybrid version of the Cayenne SUV. According to Macht, Porsche…
Breaking: Scion iQ Hybrid Coming in 2011
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** The pieces of puzzle are starting to come together and it looks like Toyota is planning on launching a hybrid version of the iQ mini-car in North America, branded as a Scion. According to a report by InsideLine, the a concept version of this car is…
OnStar Introduces Chevrolet Volt Smartphone App
OnStar has produced a new smartphone application providing Chevrolet Volt owners 24/7 connection to their cars. Compatible with Apple’s iPhone, RIM’s Blackberry Storm and Motorola’s Droid smartphones, the app provides real-time data connection and control over vehicle functions such as programming charge times. The OnStar Mobile Application retrieves information from the Volt such as battery…
Detroit Preview: Production Honda CR-Z Headed to Detroit
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** Honda has yet to officially announce that its CR-Z Hybrid sports car will make its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show in just a few weeks time, but that’s just a formality now. We had already assumed as much with Honda announcing it would hold…
Detroit Preview: Hyundai Blue-Will Plug-In Hybrid May See Production as a Prius Rival
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** First shown at the Seoul Auto Show last Spring, Hyundai will display its Blue-Will concept at the Detroit Auto Show in just a few days time. A showcase for hybrid and other green technologies, the Blue-Will is a plug-in hybrid and according to Hyundai could actually…
Leaked: Honda CR-Z Video Stills Slip Out
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** We’ve already seen several images of Honda’s upcoming CR-Z thanks to a leaked company brochure and now we have more images of the hybrid “sports car” thanks to some leaked video stills. There’s not a lot new here, but we do get to see several new…
Report: Hybrid Ferrari 599 Headed to Geneva Auto Show
While Ferrari has claimed hybrid F-Cars are several years off, a recent report suggests that a hybrid version of the company’s 599 GTB flagship will debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. This hybrid will likely be performance based and use a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) setup similar to the ones designed for…
Surprise: Audi Q5 Hybrid Coming in Less Than 12 Months
While German automakers are still talking a lot about electric cars and the benefits of diesel, they are also quietly rolling out hybrid models. As hybrids continue to increase in popularity, many European automakers are starting to take after their Japanese counterparts, especially as the Japanese have done such an excellent job penetrating the European…
Detroit Preview: Secret Toyota Hybrid Concept A Subcompact
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** Toyota has said it will unveil a new hybrid concept car at the Detroit Auto Show, and according to recent reports it will be a subcompact and will go on sale in 2012. Two teaser photos of the car most certainly show a small car and…
Leaked: More Honda CR-Z Hybrid Photos Give Detailed Look at Interior, Engine
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** New photos of the Honda CR-Z have surfaced online, this time showing the new hybrid sports car’s interior and engine. Inside the cabin looks quite premium and has a typically Honda design. The seats look extremely well bolstered, although head room doesn’t exactly look plentiful. There…
Report: Mazda to Source Toyota Hybrid Technology for Future Green Vehicles
Mazda has reached a general agreement with Toyota to use its hybrid technology for future products. According to a report in Japanese English daily Yomiuri Shimbun, Toyota will sell Mazda parts like the electric motor, control system and other major components of its industry-leading Prius. Like Toyota, Mazda’s electric components will come from Panasonic. The…
Report: Ford Plug-In Hybrid Due in 2011, Electric Car Next Year
At a technology briefing held today at Ford’s Advance Engineering Center in Dearborn, MI, company representatives gave a sneak peak at the automaker’s green plans. The lineup includes official introduction plans for both a battery electric vehicle and Ford’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The PHEV will arrive in 2011 and Ford has said it will…
