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AutoblogGreen for 11.13.08
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
This is the short version of the evolution of the modern car: from SUVasaurus to new green supercars like the Bolwell Nagari and the Tesla Roadster and then, the pinnacle, the Duck. Just kidding about that last one.
- Come 2009, U.S. tax credits will exist mostly for large, low-MPG hybrids
- Bolwell Nagari supercar going into production, may get electric drivetrain
- VIDEO: Suzuki discovers why SUVasaurus went extinct
- If it drives like a Duck… it might be the mailman!
- Piaggio MP3 hybrid to achieve 141 mpg!
- Chris Paine’s Tesla Roadster arrives in LA
- LA Preview: Kia to debut fuel cell-powered Borrego SUV
- Rendered speculation: Toyota Prius … coupe?
- A first-hand account: Drag racing the Tesla Roadster
- State of the ethanol nation will be solid, but it’s tough now
- Automobile Magazine names direct injection Technology of the Year
- Volkswagen wants a local battery partner for Chinese operations
- Le Figaro test drives Minister’s 308 HDI hybrid
- Car and Driver looks at mileage myths and misconceptions
- BioJet sets new record; Air New Zealand announces Dec. date for 747-400 biofuel flight
- Wispa electric scooter goes to school for price and performance improvements
- Lexus IS 220d drops CO2 emissions and prices
AutoblogGreen for 11.13.08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: lexus, ethanol, prius, toyota, fuel cell
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Lexus IS 220d drops CO emissions and prices
Filed under: Lexus, UK
For 2009, Lexus thought that lower is better. The new IS models coming to the UK will cost less than their current counterparts and, more importantly, will have lowered CO2 emissions in the new IS 220d. This model, with a 2.2-liter diesel engine, goes from 168 g/km to 163. Not a whole heaping lot, to be sure, but at least it’s something. And, in the UK, that little something is worth £25 a year because the 220d will drop into a less costly tax band. The IS 250 will still weigh in at a hefty 231g/km with a manual transmission and 214g/km with an automatic. Overall, Lexus is dropping prices by up to £1,000 on certain IS models; you can find the full list after the jump.
Gallery: Lexus IS Range
[Source: Lexus]
Continue reading Lexus IS 220d drops CO2 emissions and prices
Lexus IS 220d drops CO2 emissions and prices originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: lexus
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Rendered speculation: Toyota Prius … coupe?
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota
Motor Trend has a drawing of what they think a Toyota Prius coupe might look like if one were built. Actually MT seems pretty convinced that this two door version of the hybrid icon will come to fruition as part of a whole line of Prius-badged vehicles. The rationale would be offer something to compete more directly with the production version of Honda’s CR-Z hybrid coupe. The Prius coupe would presumably be lighter and therefore offer better performance than the five door hatchback. To make it worthwhile, though, Toyota would have to give up the very low rolling resistance tires in favor of something with a little more grip than is currently available.
It’s possible that a production version of the A-BAT pickup that appeared at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show could get Prius badging. Or perhaps none of this will happen if Toyota decides it doesn’t really need a fourth brand alongside Scion and Lexus. Perhaps the debut of the 2010 Prius in Detroit will answer some of these questions. Or not.
[Source: Motor Trend]
Rendered speculation: Toyota Prius … coupe? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: prius, honda, toyota, lexus
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AutoblogGreen for 11.12.08
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
OK, confession time. How long have you wanted a flying car? Me, ever since I could build one out of Legos. Now, the dream of millions will get tested in a London to Timbuktu expedition in January.
- Biofueled Skycar 2009 Expedition plans to drive/fly from London to Timbuktu
- KTM X-Bow will take part in the Race of Champions
- Prius Team releases teasers 5 and 6 - Shifter! Digital gauge!
- Tesla Roadster will get a post-crash analysis
- Kia Motors has plans for hybrids, EVs and fuel cells in the coming years
- Electric Motorcycle Company Partners with Action Sports Guru Chris Karol
- Ford Fusion hybrid to pace final NASCAR race of the season
- Al Gore plan to solve economic, energy and warming crises would boost electric cars
- Toyota creates third-gen Prius mini-site
- SEAT might have a hybrid car soon
- VIDEO: PML F-150 w/in-wheel motors test driven
- VIDEO: Tazzari Zero prototype gets driven like it’s stolen
- BMW officially announces new 335d and X5 XDrive35d diesels
- Rendered speculation: 2010 Lexus HS250h, 2011 Toyota Camry hybrid
- How ’bout this? Biodiesel company rejects $1m grant
- UPS orders a dozen Modec electric vans for UK and German fleets
AutoblogGreen for 11.12.08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: toyota, fuel cell, prius, bmw, lexus
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2009 Hybrid Cars – A Brief Buying Guide
The calendar may continue to read 2008 for another six or seven weeks, but in the world of new cars, the models we’re looking at are sporting the number 2009 – and even 2010 - in front of their names. While gas prices have decreased dramatically since the summer, fuel economy and the need to move away from a dependency on oil are still foremost in our brains. This, then, is a look at the Hybrids of 2009.
Introducing: Plug-In Hybrids
Plug-ins may not be practical for most of us, but if most of your driving needs involve short commutes on surface streets, or quick runs to the grocery store, they’re worth considering. These companies are new, and their futures are still nebulous, but they’re a fair representation of where such technology is heading.
Fisker Karma – Starting Price $80,000
With a top speed of 125 mph, and the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in under six seconds, this four-door plug-in isn’t just a hybrid, but a premium sports sedan. The first Karmas are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Phoenix Motorcars SUT - Starting Price $45,000
This car has a bare-bones body (meaning engine-free) supplied by Korea’s fourth-largest carmaker, Ssangyong, which is then fitted with a 100kW electric motor system, that includes generators, controllers, high-performance motors, and rechargeable batteries, to give us a truck that offers 120 horsepower, acceleration from 0-60 in under ten seconds, a top speed of 95mph, and a payload capacity of 1,000 pounds.
VentureOne – Price Not Yet Set
Considered a motorcycle under California law, this enclosed three-wheel vehicle won’t see actual streets until early 2010, but it’s so exciting, we had to include it. It’s got room for two, gets 100 miles/gallon, and has a hybrid powertrain that is powerful enough to allow towing of a motorcycle trailer. Venture Vehicles, which makes the Venture One, says they plan to price it to be “comparable to a compact car.”
Updated Versions of Familiar Faces
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid - $26,225
The engine has been improved on this version, so it actually gets 4mpg better than the standard-engine Malibu. (The previous model was only 2 mpg better than standard. This one clocks in at 26 city/34 highway. It also comes with many standard Chevy features, like six airbags, and the StabiliTrack electronic stability control system (which includes traction control).
Ford Escape Hybrid / Mercury Mariner Hybrid - Starting Price $29,305 / $22,310
These are built on the same platform, but with different branding and different features. The 2009 Ford gets a new 2.5-liter engine that increases horsepower from 155 to 177, and it also sports a braking system that’s been refined to allow better traction and stability control, and also reduced noise and vibrations. It’s also got a 110-volt AC Power outlet as a standard feature. The Mariner, on the other hand, now comes with the Sync voice-activated music and phone system as a standard offering.
Honda Civic Hybrid - Starting Price $23,550
All the Civics are a bit sportier for the 2009 model year, including the hybrid, which now has three upsized air intakes, and a more angular grille and front bumper. Inside, there are optional leather-trimmed seats (the front ones are even heated) and heated side mirrors, as well as a USB audio interface and a navigation system that supports Bluetooth. Estimated mpg: 45. In limited markets the Honda Civic GX, which runs on natural gas, is available as well.
Toyota Prius – Price Not Yet Listed
It won’t even be unveiled until the Detroit Auto Show in January, but the initial news about the third-generation Prius is that it will be larger and more powerful, with a 1.8-liter, 160 horsepower engine, and a body that is three or four inches longer and an inch wider than the current version. Rumor also has it that despite the increased size, a re-engineered powertrain and a weight that matches the current model will allow fuel economy in excess of 50 mpg.
Upcoming Hybrid Models
In addition to the updated models listed above, you can also expect some new hybrids to roll off the conveyor belts in the near future. They include:
Chevrolet Silverado Two-Mode Hybrid – No Price Listed
Chevy says it’s taken 90 years for them to develop this truck: a full-sized pickup that operates in two modes. Though production was supposed to begin late this year, market conditions may delay it a bit. Still, it will be worth the wait, because this truck can operate in all-electric mode, all-gas mode, or in a combination of the two (making it, in a sense, a three-mode Hybrid). It’s also got technology to cut the number of cylinders in use down to four, when conditions warrant lower power.
Ford Fusion Hybrid / Mercury Milan Hybrid – No Price Listed
Hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are rumored for the 2009 calendar year, if not the model year, but neither car is mentioned on the Ford Motor Company website. Those in the know claim that both cars will have 2.5-liter, 200hp engines, with the entire Fusion lineup to have a complete refresh at the same time, and that the hybrid drivetrain to be used will be based on the Ford Escape’s model.
Lexus Hybrid GS 09 & LS 09 – Starting Price $55,800 / $105,885
As recently as September, these two hybrids were still rumored, not real, and expected to be revealed in Detroit in January. Information about them is still a bit vague, but they appear on the Lexus website.
The GS is a rear-wheel drive vehicle which comes with a 3.5-liter, 340 hp V6 engine and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds, while the more expensive LS is an all-wheel drive car with a 5.0-liter, 438 horsepower hybrid V8.
Saturn GreenLine Aura and Vue - Starting Price $26,685 / $28,625
For 2009, Saturn’s GreenLine hybrids include the Aura, a sedan which gets an estimated 34 mpg in the city, and the much anticipated two-mode Vue. The current Vue is a mild-hybrid vehicle that uses stop-start technology, which shuts down the gasoline engine when the car is idling, producing fuel economy numbers that are generally about 25% better than those of its non-hybrid counterparts. The new Vue, however, will offer a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, and is expected to get a combined fuel economy in the high-20’s or low 30’s. Saturns website estimates it at 32 mpg in the city.
New hybrids are being developed continually, and new vehicles may be added to existing line-ups as the year progresses. Already, both BMW and Mercedes are showing hybrids in the European markets, and the Mercedes hybrid may make it to North America by late 2009.
When considering the purchase of any of these cars, be certain to weigh everything from cost of car insurance, to your daily driving needs, and remember that in some cases, you may have to learn new driving techniques.
Tags: volt, honda, bmw, lexus, chevrolet
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Rendered speculation: 2010 Lexus HS250h, 2011 Toyota Camry hybrid
Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota, Detroit Auto Show
We’ve known since last January that Toyota will debut a pair of hybrid cars at the next Detroit Auto show. One is the replacement for the current Prius, while the other is a Lexus-badged car sharing the same architecture. Japanese magazine Mag-X has renderings of what they expect the Lexus HS250h to look like. If they are correct it will be a sort of mini version of the current IS with the short deck and sloping nose of the Prius. The magazine is claiming the Lexus will use a 2.4L four cylinder with the hybrid drive system rather than the 1.8L in the Prius. While the Lexus would likely get a larger engine. it’s not known if the company will go that large. Meanwhile Toyota is apparently not ignoring the challenge posed by the new Ford Fusion hybrid which the Dearborn automaker is claiming will beat the current Camry’s fuel economy by 5 mpg. A redesigned Camry is due for 2011 which will inherit the updated hybrid hardware from the new Prius, reducing the cost and improving mileage. If the image is accurate it too will also get a bolder looking front end than the current Camry.
Gallery: Lexus HS250h and 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid
[Source: VW Vortex]
Rendered speculation: 2010 Lexus HS250h, 2011 Toyota Camry hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: lexus, prius, ford, toyota
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Rendered Speculation: Lexus dedicated hybrid sedan
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Lexus, Toyota, Rendered Speculation
Lexus is set to invade the Detroit Auto Show in January with a duo of dedicated hybrid models. One of these machines will be a Lexus-ified version of Toyota’s latest third-gen Prius, while the second model is still shrouded in mystery. A Japanese magazine known as Mag-X has rendered what they think the new Lexus hybrid sedan will look like, along with providing a few helpful hints on what we could expect to see underhood. The rumors suggest that the model will be badged the HS250h, which would normally indicate an engine displacing around 2.5-liters, but Lexus has a history of inflating the assumed displacement of its hybrid car’s names, so we wonder if the Japanese mag got it right when they metnion a 2.4-liter engine.
Mag-X also suggests that the 2011 Camry hybrid will get a new Hybrid Synergy Drive system inherited from the new 2010 Prius. We’re looking forward to a hybrid sedan face-off between the new Ford Fusion and the revised Camry. Early bets?
[Source: VW Vortex]
Rendered Speculation: Lexus dedicated hybrid sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: ford, toyota, prius, lexus
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Sketches of new Lexus and 2011 Camry hybrids?
The Lexus HS250h
Here is a shot of the Lexus HS250h from Mag-X that some are speculating will be the new Lexus hybrid set to debut at NAIAS 2009 in January. According to VW Vortex the new Lexus hybrid will utilize the same 2.4 liter engine currently found in the Toyota Camry hybrid.
The 2011 Toyota Camry?
Likewise, here is a picture of the 2011 Toyota Camry hybrid that is expected to utilize the same third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive set to debut in the 2010 Toyota Prius, except the new Camry hybrid will move up to a 2.5 liter engine.
Similar to the third gen. Prius, the new Camry hybrid is expected to offer better performance and fuel economy.
Tags: lexus, toyota, prius
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Hyundai to offer 8 speed automatic in Genesis
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hyundai
As the need for fuel efficiency and the desire for power continue on unabated, automakers are looking for more ways to increase the performance of their powertrains. Many times, we focus in on the engine as it holds the most promise for huge efficiency gains. There’s more to eking out the best mileage possible, though, including making transmission adjustments. Mercedes-Benz has moved forward with seven gear ratios and Lexus has upped the ante with an eight-speed unit. BMW looks ready to follow as it introduces new eight-speeders of its own. Now, it sounds like Hyundai will be the third manufacturer to roll out transmissions with double the number of ratios that some transmissions still on the market employ. As more gearing options are included, the car’s assorted computers can choose the most appropriate option to get the desired performance while retaining as much efficiency as possible. We’d expect the new tranny to see its first application in the Genesis sedan in 2010.
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
Hyundai to offer 8 speed automatic in Genesis originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: bmw, lexus, mercedes
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Are Toyota’s hybrid plans recession proof?
Set for launch late next year?
Last month, Toyota Prius sales were down 10 percent. Not bad, considering that October was one of the worst months ever in auto sales. And, while hybrid cars have helped Toyota’s sales strength the last few years, this recession is greatly hurting Toyota.
“At least there’s no red ink at the moment. But if the situation deteriorates we could be looking at that,” said Ashvin Chotai, managing director of Intelligence Automotive Asia reports the AFP.
Thus, “Planned factories, existing facilities, new projects; they [Toyota] are reviewing all of them,” said Toyota executive vice president Mitsuo Kinoshita.
If US auto buyers can’t afford anything but the cheapest cars, amidst declining gas prices, hybrid sales will take a hit. Such a hit, I’ll bet, could easily delay the launch of the 2010 Toyota Prius few months, and slow the launch of any consumer-orientated plug-in hybrids from Toyota as well. And that new Lexus hybrid? Why be in a rush when Lexus hybrid sales got hammered last month?
Tags: lexus, prius, ford, toyota
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