Tag: decide

Official: Toyota, Ford decide to end hybrid collaboration before it starts

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Truck, Ford, Toyota

Not all so-called Memorandum of Understanding pacts end in actual collaborations. For instance, after a two-year “feasibility study,” Toyota and Ford have just announced that they will not be developing hybrid systems for use in light trucks and SUVs as previously planned, and the two automakers will instead continue to develop their own hybrid technology independently.

The would-be collaboration was first announced in August of 2011, and would have seen a rear-wheel-drive hybrid platform that would “improve the efficiency of trucks and SUVs while still allowing them to be driven in the way customers expect,” according to our initial post on the topic.

Keep in mind that this announcement isn’t to say we shouldn’t expect hybrid pickups and SUVs from the two automakers, but that they probably aren’t coming very soon – Ford says it will have a system “before the end of this decade” and we haven’t heard much from Toyota on the hybrid truck front since the 2008 A-BAT Concept (pictured above) – and that they will not share any components between them (and they never have, for what it’s worth).

In any case, Ford and Toyota are continuing to work together on “next-generation standards for telematics and will consider other areas for future collaboration as well.” Feel free to read announcements from both automakers below.

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Toyota, Ford decide to end hybrid collaboration before it starts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Land Rover to decide soon on production Evoque Convertible

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover, Luxury

Land Rover Evoque Convertible

Ignoring the lessons learned from the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, it appears Land Rover may be about to greenlight production of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible. At least, that’s what Australian website Car Advice is saying.

The topic came up at a Land Rover executive meeting for the Asia Pacific region, with brand director John Edwards supporting the idea.

Really, it’s not hard to see the dollar signs in Land Rover’s eyes. The Evoque has been a runaway success for the Anglo-Indian brand, and is largely responsible for it cresting 300,000 units sold in 2012. But this piece also flies in the face of previous reports, arguing against a production Evoque Convertible due to a lack of public demand.

As popular as an Evoque Convertible would be with the Real Housewives set, all the scuttlebutt has been against a production for the droptop Land Rover, going back to its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. With the 2013-2014 auto show season on the horizon, though, we can expect a definitive answer soon.

Land Rover to decide soon on production Evoque Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Chevy Citation trike can’t decide which way to go

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., Chevrolet, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Specialty

Triation custom vehicle

The Triation – Click above for high-res image gallery

Some creations out there defy description, walking the thin line between absurdity and awesome toed by the likes of the Volkswagen Type II flatbed and the Tatra T87. This is one such machine. Branded “Triation” by its wayward creator, this ride seemingly mates all the hatefulness of the Chevrolet Celebrity with a propensity for rollovers typically enjoyed only by the Reliant Robin. You see, the Triation uses a Celebrity’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder to push itself down the road.

Why? You’d be better off spending your time pondering why there are no indigo skittles.

Along with three years of custom fabrication work, this project makes use of enough fiberglass to sustain the aftermarket body kit industry for posterity. The seller claims that the Triation has spent most of its life garaged since it needs a clutch. If the thought of fiberglass splinters and malaise-era reliability have you licking your chops, you’d better get on it. This machine is up to $4,700 with the reserve not met and a few hours left on the auction.

eBay Find of the Day: Chevy Citation trike can’t decide which way to go originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 May 2011 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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