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Hybrid CarsToyota Volta
 Description:The rising costs of fuel have created panic in the minds of all car owners. Then there is the fact that there are limited reserves of natural fuel left that shall not last for more than a few decades if their use is not regulated immediately. If this is not all, there are the problems of pollution and global warming and the CO2 emissions of gas driven vehicles are the biggest contributor to this issue. Keeping these things in mind, most car owners are slowly turning over to cars that run on alternate means and most of them prefer vehicles that run both on fuel and electricity. Most car manufacturers are now changing over to hybrid cars, the name given to cars that run on alterative energy sources. The Toyota Volta is one such car which not only runs on both electricity and gas, but also has a body that is cool to look at. Having a seating capacity of 3 this car boasts of a carbon fiber body. The three occupants of the car can sit side by side to each other. Thanks to the `drive by wire’ system this car boasts of, the pedals and steering wheels can be put in front of any one of them. When you check out the Toyota Volta, you will observe that the V6 gas engine (3.3 liter) is situated behind the rear axle and that it is not coupled directly with the wheels. In this vehicle, 2 electric engines provide the movement, one engine per axle. This provides the safely of an all wheel drive. The biggest benefit of clubbing together a huge internal engine along with the 2 electric motors is awesome speed. Just imagine the pickup from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4 seconds flat by its 408 horsepower engine and you will know what we are talking about. The best news is that regardless of this extreme power, one can still expect to achieve more than 30 miles per gallon from the Toyota Volta. When driving the car at low speeds, the driver can easily switch over the engine to an electric only mode. Toyota had grouped together with the renowned firm Italdesign-Giugiaro, a renowned automotive design organization, to create the prototype of the Volta concept. The technology prowess of Toyota and the designing capabilities of Italdesign-Giugiaro have combined to deliver the Toyota Volta. For those who lack the knowledge, the word Volta is derived from the name of the famous Italian inventor, Alesandro Volta, who is the inventor of the electric battery. The terms `volts’ also originates from his name. It would not have been possible to design the current generation of hybrid cars that rely a lot on batteries, if it were not for the discovery of Volta. He might have never imagined in his wildest dreams that one day, his invention, would pave the way to breathtaking cars of the future that run on both fuel and electricity. Toyota Sienna Hybrid
 Description:As far as the question of hybrid cars are concerned, Japanese car makers are far ahead of their American counterparts. Whereas the American vehicle manufacturers started dabbling with hybrids just a few years back, their Japanese counterparts had started dabbling with this new technology as far back as in 1990 and the commercial launch took place as far back as in 1997, when the hybrid cars were launched in the Japanese market. The 2nd hybrid to be launched in the Japanese market was Toyota Estima Hybrid minivan and was priced $27,000. This triggered off a revolution in which people clamored for more and more hybrid minivans. The Sienna is nothing but a bigger version of the Estima that is marketed only in Europe and U.S. In all probabilities, the Estima will be the 1st hybrid-powered minivan to be launched on the American retail market. Toyota has not yet announced any launch date. American consumers have been very clear in their views about what they seek from a hybrid powertrain. They will only accept the same if it matches the size or the segments of the cars they are currently driving and nothing less. They are not going to give up their passenger vehicles that have seating capabilities of 7 to 8 persons for a compact hybrid. However, if car manufacturers provide them with a hybrid minivan that is eco-friendly, they will have no qualms about the same. Here are the features of the Toyota Sienna Hybrid Minivan. Whereas the Japanese version of the Estima Hybrid boasts of a 2.4 liter and 4 stroke engine, the U.S. Sienna Hybrid will be more like the current Luxus Hybrid and Highlander SUVs. In these vehicles, the gas engines along with the electric motor and CVT transmission combo will provide up to 270 horsepower and achieve acceleration from standstill to 60 miles per hour in just 8 seconds. The Estima might have a slower take off compared to them. The Toyota Sienna Hybrid will also have a 4 wheel drive which will regulate the rear mounted electric motor propelled by the rear wheel and will also maintain and co-ordinate distribution of electric power to all the four wheels. There will also be an electronically controlled brake system (ECB) for efficient brake control using the wheel by wheel system and full management of the car’s brake system that is of the regenerative type. Most of the features of this car have been designed to provide for maximum fuel economy by decreasing fuel consumption. The aerodynamically designed body helps to avoid friction by the air, an insulated roof prevents external heat from leaking inside the car which also has a special air-conditioning system that can seek humidity levels inside the car. The electric sockets present in this car provides 1,500 watts of additional power supply which is more than sufficient to power microwave ovens, laptops and hair dryers. The Toyota Sienna Hybrid will deliver 40 miles per gallon with amazingly low CO2 emissions. And yes, it has a seating capacity of eight. What Will Toyota Build After the Prius?
 Description:You may not believe it, but it has been nearly four years since the release of the Toyota Prius. This hybrid vehicle, which has proved itself to be the darling of the 2nd generation hybrid cars was released sometime late in the year 2003. In the vehicle industry this means a long time and also that its time for a new version to be released. For quite some time there have been rumors that a new generation of this vehicle is in the making. It is being said that the 3rd generation of the Toyota Prius Hybrid will feature lithium batteries and it will also have limited plug in capabilities. However the market is also interested to know about the looks of the car… for them that too are very important. The Prius that is currently available on the market has managed to keep apart both hybrid lovers and Prius haters. When Toyota unveiled its new offering, the Toyota Hybrid X at the Geneva International Motor Show of the year 2007, it showed the world how it had tacked the problem of manufacturing a car that would keep both groups happy. This 3rd generation hybrid car will be designed in an exquisite manner and showcasing technologies that will change the way hybrid cars f the future are designed. Though these statements just speak of the design and not about the efficiency of the car in terms of fuel efficiency, performance capabilities and its hybrid system. There is no doubt that the new generations of hybrid cars will try to mix up the best of both worlds. They will try to deliver cars that sport a unique look and yet manage to provide higher fuel economy than the current generation of cars that are available on the market. The new generations cars will also have higher towing capability, relate to their engine and fuel consumption and will also have fewer CO2 emissions. It looks as if seating capabilities will not be compromised and newer features too will be added in the hybrid cars of the future, if the Toyota Hybrid X is any pointer. The 3rd generation hybrid cars are going to take over the world by storm and they shall be changing the way we look at such cars. They will sport features that are not featured till date. Just imagine a see through room that starts from the front bumper and extends all the way to the rear bumper and you’ll understand what I mean to say. These new cars will be able to deliver even more power than the current hybrids and at the same time have a better fuel efficiency plus they will also power outlets that can be used to run a variety of electric gadgets. You’d better believe this since Toyota has shown that it is possible with the unveiling of its Hybrid X vehicle. Get ready to drive cars that you only saw in Batman movies. 2009 Honda Insight
 Description:The first gas-electric hybrid car to be launched in the US was the Honda Insight and the new and small hybrid vehicle by Honda will be named after that, the New Honda Insight. Keeping in trend with their commitment towards innovativeness, Honda was the first organization to launch hybrid cars in US. According to Honda, this new vehicle will make history by being the first hybrid that is low cost and affordable for the masses. It will be within reach of everyone who wants to economize on fuel and get a better deal from his or her vehicle. Production of the original Honda Insight was stopped way back in 2006 due to lack of sales. This car that provided greater fuel efficiency could not sell more than 300 units since its launch, forcing Honda to stop manufacturing the same. It is expected that the new version of the Honda Insight will sell in greater numbers and the manufacturers are targeting a sales figure of 200,000 units per annum. Priced at approximately $19,000 the New Honda Insight will be relatively cheaper than the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic and this affordability factor should boost sales. Apart from being cheap, this new offering from Honda will also offer better fuel economy than the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic. Boasting of seating space for five persons, this 5 door hatchback is far more practical than its predecessor. The aerodynamic design of this car has borrowed many elements from the Honda FCX Clarity, a full driven vehicle and the New Honda Insight also resembles the hatchback profile of the Toyota Prius. This vehicle will be manufactured at Honda’s Suzuka factory, located in Japan. It is obvious that Honda has spared no pains to make this one of the best hybrid cars. Few hybrid cars offer groundbreaking aerodynamics that the New Honda Insight does. Using some of the best aerodynamic features of other vehicles, improving upon the features that are available in other hybrids and putting them all together in one unit is what makes the New Honda Insight different from the rest. People always expect the best from Honda and they shall not be disappointed with the 2010 version of this vehicle, planning of which will start after the 2009 model is released. This new hybrid will be based on the CRZ idea. Later on Honda will release a “Fit Hybrid”. However it is not yet clear whether these vehicles will be produced just for the Japanese market or whether they will also be available in the United States. If you were unsure whether Honda would be launching new hybrids, you had better watch out. They are coming back with a vengeance along with a plethora of new hybrid vehicles. The end result of this will be that the other car manufacturers will also follow suit and the buying public will be assured of better vehicles with innovative features in the near future… vehicles that will be more fuel-efficient than today’s hybrids. Mercury Milan Hybrid
 Description:It is amazing to see how new technologies evolve and how quickly they overshadow the older ones. If you check out on the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid, you will observe that this vehicle can cover a distance up to 8 miles at speeds up to 47 miles per hour, solely on electric power. Nowadays people are looking more and more for vehicles that run on alternative fuels yet offer them the comforts of the traditional gasoline propelled car. What if you were offered cars that run on both electricity and gasoline and switch over from one to another seamlessly without the driver noticing it? What if such cars delivered fuel economy up to 38 miles per gallon? Yes, the Mercury Milan Hybrid beats the Camry Hybrid, in mileage, by a huge 5 miles per gallon. When the entire nation is overshadowed by economic depression and the costs of fuel are rising every day, these extra 5 miles per gallon make a huge difference. Apart from that there is the fact that the Mercury Milan Hybrid can take you up to 8 miles at speeds of 47 MPH on electric power. Think of the fuel savings you gain in the bargain. This vehicle has a 2.5 liter 4cylinder engine that delivers 155 HP. Its iVCT (intake variable cam timing) permits seamless transition between gas mode to electric mode and electric mode to gas mode. The timing of the cam and spark are varied depending on the load of the engine and this is done to optimize emissions and efficiency. The improved electronic control system of the Mercury Milan Hybrid reduces the airflow during shutdowns thereby reducing fuel requirements on restarting. The Milan Hybrid also boasts of a wide band lambda sensor that examines the fuel air ratio & adjusts the rich/lean mixture as necessary in order to keep the system balanced and also to minimize the emissions. One should expect more power from this vehicle, thanks to the new Ni-MH battery that is both light and small. This battery has been designed to give 20% extra power. The improved chemistry of the battery permits it to run at higher temperatures. This battery is cooled using the air in the cabin. Since this vehicle can attain higher speeds in electric mode, you can be rest assured of driving around the neighborhood without using a drop of gasoline as long as you stick to the correct speed. The LCD display on the dashboard serves various purposes, which includes informing the driver about the battery charge condition and fuel levels. There are 4 different modes on the EcoGuide display and the driver can select any one of them for information display while they are driving. There are a number of other differences which helps set apart the hybrid from the gas version and they include standard 110V power outlet, an unique badging that is there on both sides of the vehicle and in its rear too, an exclusive 8 spoke wheel, and special, eco-friendly fabric that is used for the seat.  |
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