Hybrids NewsAll News
Browse by News Category
Suzuki Concept Cars are Cuter than Hello Kitty: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show
There’s the Honda N-Box and the Daihatsu Pico, but nothing at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show can compare to the extreme levels of cuteness on display at the Suzuki booth. In total, Suzuki has presented three new concept cars, ranging from near-production to downright absurd. In the latter category is the Q Concept (above), which…
Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept Previews Subie’s First Hybrid: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show
Overwhelming proof that wagons, and for that matter hybrids, can in fact be cool, is the Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept. Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show today, the car is powered by the next evolution of Subaru’s hybrid powertrain that is expected to arrive in a production model in 2013. A followup to the Hybrid…
Toyota Prius c Revealed with Over 50 MPG Rating: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show
Unveiled as the Aqua at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will soon offer this small hybrid in North America as the fourth member of the Prius family of vehicles. Billed as the Prius c for the U.S. this Yaris-based machine is powered by a 1.5-liter Hybrid Synergy Drive engine which Toyota claims will achieve as…
Honda AC-X is a 260 MPG Self-Driving Hybrid: 2011 Tokyo Motor Show
Looking into the more distant future is what the Tokyo Motor Show is all about and Honda has continued a long line of wild concepts by debuting the AC-X concept today. Powering the car is a 1.6-liter gasoline engine mated to a plug-in hybrid system, which Honda claims will deliver a 260 mpg rating on…
Honda Electric SH-AWD to be Paired with Hybrid V6, 7-Speed Dual Clutch
Known for its technology innovations, Honda’s R&D efforts have been somewhat lackluster as of late. The Japanese automaker appears to have turned a corner, however, announcing a long list of new engines and technologies. Easily the most revolutionary is an electric SH-AWD system that will be paired with a new V6 hybrid powertrain and 7-speed…
Honda Two-Mode Hybrid Promises to be World’s Most Efficient, Headed to Production in 2012
Along with a new lineup of direct-injection gasoline engines and a performance-oriented electric SH-AWD equipped V6 hybrid model, Honda has announced a new two-mode hybrid system that will come paired with a 4-cylinder engine. Replacing the brand’s out-dated Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) single-mode hybrid system it will allow for an electric-only range at low speeds,…
Toyota Hoping Prius Plug-In, New Models, Will Sales Back To Pre-2008 Levels
Toyota is banking on its plug-in Prius hybrid and other new models to help bring their sales numbers back to pre-2008 status, where Toyota had no trouble grabbing the global sales crown each year. Currently Toyota is poised to lose that trophy to General Motors, undoubtedly due to the earthquake in March in Japan and…
Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Orders Begin
Furthermore with Japanese government rebates, the price of the PHV drops to about 2.76 million yen (roughtly $35,000). That’s less than projected European pricing for the car when it goes on sale (estimates place MSRP in Europe to be around the equivalent of some $37,000 US), though above projected Stateside pricing ($32,000).
Mugen Honda CR-Z Confirmed For Production
Even though it was originally reported that Mugen’s supercharged Honda CR-Z would never see production, it looks like Toyota‘s introduction of the GT 86 and Subaru‘s BRZ might have changed Honda’s mind just a little bit. Mugen Euro and Honda confirmed that their supercharged 197-hp CR-Z will see the light of day with an estimated…
Cadillac ELR Electric Car Could Be Rear Drive
An article in Automotive News suggests that the Cadillac ELR, which will share major driveline components with the Chevrolet Volt, will actually be rear-wheel drive. The report states that the ELR has been dubbed a 2+2, meaning two small seats in the rear, similar to a Porsche 911. The Volt uses a t-shaped battery pack…
BMW, Toyota Gearing Up For Green Car Partnership
BMW and Toyota are in talks for a technology sharing agreement, one that would reportedly see BMW provide Toyota with a diesel engine for its midsize cars in Europe. Specific timetables and other details were not announced, but Toyota is believed to be pursuing the deal to help offset the increased cost of importing Japanese-built…
Volvo Looking To Refine Image With Redesigned Styling And High-Tech Engines
Over a decade ago, Volvo’s vehicles were known to be some of the safest on the planet, but were seen as boring and economical family sedans. Then they tried to change their image some by adding sportiness to their models and turning towards premium vehicles and even adding some luxury to their brand. Now it…
BMW 5-Series Hybrid To Bow At 2011 Tokyo Auto Show
The BMW 5-Series ActiveHybrid will make its debut at this December’s Tokyo Auto Show, featuring BMW’s familiar twin-turbo I6 engine and an electric motor that will produce a total output of 340 horsepower. Backed by an 8-speed automatic, the car will be able to operate in pure electric mode up to 37 mph. The ActiveHybrid’s…
Audi A6 Diesel, A6 and A8 Hybrids Models to Get Delayed U.S. Launch
In the case of the latter, Audi’s US President, Johann De Nysschen says that the pushing back the A6 and A8 Hybrids was largely done to “minimize complexity” in the lineup, since Audi is already planning to introduce a Q5 Hybrid for 2012.
Chevrolet Volt Coming To China With MSRP Of $78,300
Reports from the Guangzhou Auto Show state that the Chevrolet Volt has been approved for sale in China with a starting price of 498,000 yuan, or $73, 800 USD. TTAC’s resident expert on China, Bertel Schmitt, astutely remarked that the kind of subsidies we see on our shores for the Volt are “…for made-in China vehicles…
BMW i5 or i7 Large Sedan Spied as Tesla Model S, Fisker Karma Rival
This may look like a BMW 7-Series sedan with some oddball rims, but our spy photographers report that the vehicle in question is actually a prototype for a new BMW i sedan, based on a couple key points. For starters, there are apparently electric motors mounted in the wheel hubs, which would suggest a new…
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Priced at $25,995
Chevrolet says the ’13 Malibu Eco (which will be available in dealerships during the first quarter of next year), will deliver a projected 26 mpg in city driving and 38 on the open road.
Autonomous Toyota Prius to Bow at Tokyo Motor Show
If you thought Google was the only one with an autonomous Prius, you’d be wrong. At the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will show-off a self-driving version of its best-selling hybrid. At this year’s show, Toyota will participate in the “Smart Mobility City 2011” exhibit, designed to showcase the future of transportation. One of the…
Ashton Kutcher Bought Demi Moore A Lexus LS 600h L To Save Their Marriage
Oh Ashton Kutcher, what are we going to do with you. The new Charlie Sheen replacement on Two and a Half Men seems to be going down a Sheen-like path himself, apparently trying to win Demi Moore’s heart back with a… 2012 Lexus LS 600h L, paying just a tad over $100,000 to get the…
Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars of 2012
The Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient cars have been named for 2012 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA (those guys that come up with the official ratings for cars) has compiled the list, which is dominated by Japanese automakers. Those remaining two are domestic vehicles, although with one being a commercial van, it almost…
Lexus GS to Get Smaller Hybrid Variant for Europe
Looking to compete against BMW’s 520d and Audi’s A6 2.0 TDI, Lexus is flexing its hybrid muscles and developing a smaller hybrid engine for its new-generation GS. Given its success in building and selling hybrid engines and models, it’s no surprise that Lexus is looking to add a smaller h-variant for the European market, which…
Hybrids Safer For Drivers, Dangerous For Pedestrians
Believe it or not, hybrids are safer in a crash than their gasoline-only counterparts, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute. “Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counterparts,” Moore said in a statement today. “This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins…
Infiniti Teases Extended Range Electric Sports Car Concept
Infiniti is preparing a stunning new concept car for the Geneva Auto Show, one that will use both a gasoline engine and electric motor, while taking strong design cues from the stunning Essence concept. Infiniti says the car is, “being created to extend the potential for high performance, low emission electric cars.” With Infiniti already…
Toyota Prius c Brings Subcompact Dimensions To The Hybrid Segment
Toyota will add another vehicle to the Prius lineup shortly, with the upcoming Prius c subcompact. Intended to be the entry point into the Prius range, the Prius c will supposedly get over 50 mpg in the city. Technology will also be at the forefront of the Prius c, which comes with an integrated app…
