Hybrids
Survey: Over 60 Percent of Hybrid Buyers Don’t Buy Another One
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Despite the commitment of many automakers to go green, consumers do not share the sentiment. According to a Polk study released today, almost two-thirds of U.S. hybrid buyers do not return to the market for another hybrid. The only exception in the survey is from the best-selling Toyota Prius, receiving a repurchase rate of 41…
Infiniti LE Concept is French for Luxury Electric: 2012 NY Auto Show
It may have been rumored as a rebadged Nissan Leaf, but Infiniti’s new electric car concept is unique, luxurious and innovative. Unveiled today at the New York International Auto Show the Infiniti LE Concept is referred to as a “production intent” vehicle says Infiniti of the Americas Vice President Ben Poore, with plans to have…
2013 Lexus ES300h Has 200 HP and 39 MPG Combined: 2012 NY Auto Show
Lexus introduced its all-new ES300h hybrid with a fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine at the New York Auto Show today. Attaining a combined 39-mpg rating, Lexus boasts tech innovations in its 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder engine like low-friction components, a variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) technology and a 12.5:1 compression ratio, the in-line four-cylinder combines with Lexus Hybrid…
2013 Lexus ES Debuts With Hybrid Drivetrain: 2012 New York Auto Show
Lexus debuted its new volume-seller midsize 2013 ES350 and ES300h hybrid cars today at the New York Auto Show featuring the same re-visited styling we’ve seen on the rest of its lineup. “The Lexus ES brought new levels of refinement, sophistication and quality to the entry luxury segment when it entered the market in 1989 and…
Fisker Atlantic Video, First Look: 2012 NY Auto Show
Originally code named Project Nina, Fisker Automotive unveiled its newest model on the eve of the 2012 NY Auto Show. Now called the Atlantic, it may be a concept car, but according to company co-founder Henrik Fisker it’s 90 of what the production car will be. Fisker didn’t provide a timeline on when it hopes…
BMW i8 Spyder Concept Revealed Ahead of NY Auto Show Debut
The i8 plug-in hybrid is the product of BMW‘s best engineering and innovation in an effort to create the most advanced automobile to ever come from the Bavarian automaker. Motivated by a 170-hp electric motor driving the front wheels and a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine producing 223-hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at the rear, the…
Lexus RX Smaller Variant Confirmed for Future
Smaller downmarket SUVs are in Lexus‘ future lineup according to one company executive who spoke to Auto Express. “We have been very slow to come to the market with a downsized SUV,” Andy Pfeiffenberger, vice president of Lexus Europe said. “This is an area of our range that you will see develop over the next…
Fisker Battery Supplier A123 Systems Face Financial Obstacles
Start-ups are inherently risky and while many bright-eyed visionaries initially display great potential, up to fifty percent of new enterprises run out of money. Unfortunately, Waltham-based A123 Systems Inc. are at risk of becoming a statistic. Earlier this month, Consumer Reports reported that a brand-new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less than 200…
Toyota, BMW Sign Lithium-Ion Battery Research Agreement
After announcing an initial green car partnership at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, BMW and Toyota have now signed a collaborative research agreement to develop the next-generation of lithium-ion battery cells. The plan by both automakers is to focus on improving the performance and capacity of lithium-ion battery cells, using new materials for cathodes, anodes…
Chevrolet Volt Subsidized Heavily by Colorado Government
It’s a Colorado thing, so you probably wouldn’t understand but four-wheel drives and Subarus seems to sell better than most cars in that state. Subaru aside, another car is trying to woo buyers with a lot of help by the State government: the Chevrolet Volt. While other states are discouraging people from buying cars like the Nissan Leaf, Colorado…
Lexus Eco Challenge Grand Prize Winners Announced
Toyota supports environmental consciousness by holding the annual Lexus Eco Challenge competition, encouraging middle and high school students to practice eco-friendliness in creative ways. Since the program’s inception, $4 million in scholarships and grants have been awarded to middle and high school students for their distinguished projects. “Through this program, more than 25,000 participants have demonstrated…
Toyota Prius C Sold by Dealer at Crazy Markup
Charge as much as you can, when you can — that seems to be the mentality at Al Hendrickson Toyota of Coconut Creek, Fla. where the sought-after Toyota Prius C is marked up by a whopping $7,000. A Twitter user with the handle Miami4me2c posted a picture showing the dealership’s “Market Value Adjustment” which brings the car,…
2013 Acura ILX Fuel Economy Numbers Improve
With driving impressions of the new 2013 ILX under embargo, Acura has released a slew of specs on its new entry-level model, including improved fuel economy figures. At the car’s official reveal at the Chicago Auto Show, Acura announced estimated mileage numbers that, frankly, failed to impress. At the time the base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder was…
Lithium-ion Batteries to Cost 30% Less By 2017
Despite the fuel efficiency benefits of a hybrid vehicle, the average cost premium of purchasing a hybrid over a conventional internal combustion vehicle is still approximately $2,000. In order to begin seeing the cost benefits of fuel frugality, an ownership period may be as long as 6 years before money saved at the tank can…
Opel Ampera To Participate In 2012 Rally Monte Carlo
Six Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the identical twin to the American Chevrolet Volt, will make an inaugural appearance at this year’s International Rally Monte Carlo. Entering the Monte Carlo Rally for Alternative Energy Vehicles, the six Amperas will race against 150 other green cars in a series of stages starting March 22 from…
Porsche Panamera Plug-in Hybrid to Launch in 2014
With the Panamera Hybrid already on sale, Porsche is planning its next step in the electrification of its lineup with a plug-in hybrid version of the performance luxury sedan set to arrive in 2014. No powertrain details are yet available, with the current Panamera S Hybrid making 380 hp from a combination of an electric…
Pininfarina Cambiano Concept May Become Reality
Along the same vein as the Fisker Karma, the plug-in hybrid Pininfarina Cambiano concept may receive the “go-ahead” for low-volume production. According to Pininfarina CEO Sergio Angori, “We are evaluating the potential for companies and private buyers interested in a high-performance, low-emission luxury model such as the Cambiano.” The Pininfarina Cambiano concept was first unveiled at…
Fisker Karma Returns To Consumer Reports Fleet
The Consumer Reports Fisker Karma test vehicle which broke down on them last week has now been returned to the fleet after spending 48 hours at a Fisker dealerhsip. During a routine speedometer test the Karma began to flash a warning light and a chime to alert the driver that something was amiss. Once the…
Porsche 911 Hybrid a Possibility
People often say, “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” However, in the case of the Porsche 911, it would be fair to say the proverb in reverse, “the more things stay the same, the more they change.” While Porsche had stuck with a rear engine layout for its flagship sports car,…
Audi Introduces R18 e-tron Quattro in Video
If there’s an age old adage in motorsports, then it has got to be “racing improves the breed.” This idea is particularly close to Audi‘s heart, as the German automaker has participated in decades of racing and development for its Quattro all-wheel-drive technology. This year, Audi will field a pair of R18 e-tron Quattro cars which…
Infiniti Emerg-E Video – First Look: 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Infiniti is preparing to build a flagship performance car – or at least they’re thinking about it. Unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show, the Infiniti Emerg-E is our first look at just what that halo model might be. Powered by twin-electric motors with a 3-cylinder range extender gasoline engine, Infiniti is promising some impressive…
Hyundai i-oniq Shows Future In-Car, Engine Tech: 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Hyundai‘s new i-oniq concept was officially unvieled today at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, shedding light on the brand’s future technology inside and out. The i-oniq is best thought of as a canvas for Hyundai to show its future technologies off rather than a car with a chance of ever being built. At just over…
Acura NSX Spider Patent Pending Images Leaked
Last year, we shared images of Tony Stark’s Acura NSX convertible on the set of the Avengers. Initially, Acura Spokesman Gary Robinson claimed an open-top NSX is a “one-off fictional car that was created just for the film.” Surprise! According to a Honda and Acura forum, six drawings of an open top NSX were filed…
Smart eBikes Take a Stab at Seriousness but Sound Ridiculous
Michael Schumacher had twinkly eyes when he got his new bike, or at least that’s what Daimler said in its press release. Whether or not that was true, Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are the two first people to own the new Smart ebike. They received them at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona where we would like to imagine…
