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Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sales exceeding Ford’s expectations

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Lincoln, Luxury

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Given that the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is little more than a gussied-up Ford Fusion Hybrid, it’s not surprising that the gas-electric MKZ achieves the same 41 miles per gallon city and 36 mpg highway rating. Admittedly, we were a bit shocked when Lincoln announced that the MKZ Hybrid starts at $35,180 (including destination and delivery) – the same price as a gas-only front-wheel-drive 3.5-liter V6 model. Perhaps that’s why buyers are snatching up the MKZ Hybrid at a rate that even Ford didn’t expect.

Initially, Ford targeted the hybrid version to account for approximately 15 percent of total MKZ sales. However, the numbers show that the MKZ Hybrid’s take rate has averaged between 22 and 23 percent since January of 2011. Ford says that March’s numbers look similar. Through the end of February, Lincoln sold a total of 3,343 MKZ sedans, 762 of which were hybrids. With no premium price tag and gas prices soaring, perhaps nobody should be surprised by the MKZ Hybrid’s take rate. Perhaps the better question would be, is the hybrid model profitable?

Gallery: 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: First Drive

[Source: Ford]

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Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sales exceeding Ford’s expectations originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: All-wheel-drive Mini Cooper hybrid caught weathering the arctic

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hybrid, Mini

hybrid mini cooper spy shot

AWD Mini Cooper Hybrid Spy Shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Once you’ve put an all-electric drivetrain into a Mini Cooper, is it that hard to hybridize one? Well, yes, especially since BMW’s limited testing program was intended to give the company information about a plug-in architecture. But our spy photographers have discovered what’s believed to be the first Mini Cooper prototype fitted with a hybrid drivetrain.

The body certainly looks the same, but – as you can see in our high-resolution gallery – BMW has affixed a sticker in the window that clearly says “hybrid test vehicle.” We don’t know many details about the powertrain sitting under the bright red paint, but sources indicate that this is a through-the-road hybrid, with the front wheels powered by a normal engine and the rear wheels motivated by an electric motor. Things like displacement, total horsepower and battery size are all as mysterious as they ever were, but rumor has it – no, really this time – that a hybridized Mini will be available when the next-generation arrives in 2013.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Mini Cooper Hybrid with AWD

[Source: Carpix]

Spy Shots: All-wheel-drive Mini Cooper hybrid caught weathering the arctic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next-gen Saab 9-3 will get through-the-road hybrid tech

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Saab

Saab 9-3

Saab has big plans for the next generation 9-3, and a hybrid variant is apparently in the mix. The Detroit Bureau reports that the hybrid would be of the “through-the-road” variety, enabling torque-vectoring all-wheel drive while also improving fuel economy.

A through-the-road hybrid utilizes a completely independent electric motor that motivates only the rear axle. The system is less expensive than the parallel hybrid tech you’ll find in a Prius, for example, while still potentially providing a low-speed electric-only mode and regenerative braking.

Saab management reportedly told The Bureau that the turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 currently in use in the 9-5 would motivate the front wheels, while the electric motor and clutch assembly would work its magic out back. The new clutch assembly routes power to either of the rear wheels in a fraction of a second, helping the 9-3 stay on course regardless of the conditions. This setup will reportedly improve performance and agility, while negating the need to run a driveshaft from the engine to the rear axle. The end result is a simpler, lighter drivetrain, and we’re sure the overall gains in fuel economy won’t be to shabby, either.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Report: Next-gen Saab 9-3 will get through-the-road hybrid tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: M35h rewrites hybrid history books (at least according to Infiniti)

Filed under: Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Infiniti

2012 infiniti m hybrid

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid in “Remember” – Click above to watch video after the jump

Infiniti believes its new M Hybrid is the first such vehicle built for people who actually enjoy driving. With 360 horsepower on tap, they might just be right. Yes, we are aware of the Lexus GS450h, which can run from 0-60 miles per hour in just 5.2 seconds. So is Infiniti for that matter because, in a new spot that has been playing during the NCAA’s March Madness tournament, the automaker takes a not-so-subtle jab at the hybrid Lexus sport sedan.

Dubbed “Remember,” the clip briefly takes a look back at the past 100 years of hybrid technology. Ultimately, the M Hybrid comes into view as it blows past a Lexus GS450h sitting at a stop-light. From there, we see the Infiniti drifting down the road as the narrator tells us why we’re going to love it. He must have a soothing voice… because the clip does a pretty darn good job of getting our attention. Click past the jump to see if it does the same for you.

[Source: YouTube via Carscoop]

Continue reading Video: M35h rewrites hybrid history books (at least according to Infiniti)

Video: M35h rewrites hybrid history books (at least according to Infiniti) originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study reviews break-even point for hybrid vehicles

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, SUV, Ford, Toyota

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Buying a hybrid is a responsible environmental move but, given their premium over standard cars, they aren’t always a money-saving purchase. A study by CarGurus showed that gas would have to top $7 a gallon to make most hybrids the economical choice.

Hybrids command, on average, a 17-percent markup over their standard-powertrain counterparts, which stunts their economy at the pump. The $7-a-gallon break even point is an average. For some cars, the break-even is point is even higher. For a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid to make you money, gas will need to climb to $15 a gallon.

On the lower side of the scale are the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid. The Toyota’s break-even point came out to $4 a gallon, while the Ford bucked the trend, breaking even at $2.50 a gallon.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Study reviews break-even point for hybrid vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Toyota FT-86 could get hybrid option

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Etc., Toyota, Rumormill

Toyota FT-86 Concept

Toyota FT-86 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota may have a few more changes in store for the FT-86. The company recently unveiled a second swipe at the car’s exterior at the Geneva Motor Show, but from the sounds of things, a new front fascia won’t be the only surprise when the car touches down. Auto Express is reporting that the Japanese automaker is open to the possibility of a hybrid FT-86 at some point in the distant future. The company’s engineers specifically reworked the vehicle’s front fascia and windshield to be more aerodynamic – a trait that would be more than handy on a hybridized version of the vehicle.

As of right now, though, the FT-86 is supposed to arrive with a Subaru-sourced powerplant under its swooping hood. There’s some indication that the production version of the vehicle will debut later this year at the Tokyo Motor Show, and that Subaru will yank the sheets back on its own version of coupe at the same time. We’re guessing that all of drivetrain and styling questions will be answered as we get closer to that event.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

[Source: Auto Express]

Rumormill: Toyota FT-86 could get hybrid option originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RENNtech fine-tunes its Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Hybrid [w/video]

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Motorsports, Hybrid, Performance, SUV, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Off-Road, Racing

RENNtech Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car

RENNtech Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car – Click above for high-res image gallery

Trucks and racing don’t normally belong in the same sentence, but a few exceptions exist – the NASCAR Craftsman series, the Dakar rally, and, of course, Pikes Peak.

The legendary hill-climb competition has bred some of the most jaw-droppingly monstrous machines known to man. It also inspired the creation of the GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Project which Mercedes-Benz tuner extraordinaire RENNtech unveiled at SEMA in 2008.

Three years later, RENNtech has revisited the concept crossover with a second version, bearing the most aggressive body kit this side of a Star Wars film set and coated in 3M’s carbon-look vinyl wrap. (So, no, the body has not be recreated in actual carbon fiber.) Ostensibly based on the 3.5-liter V6 model, RENNtech’s concept packs an additional electric boost developed in-house.

The show car is going on tour across America before it’s retired to the Mercedes-Benz Classic Vehicle Museum in Irvine, California. Follow the jump for the press blast and video footage, and check out all the images in the mega-gallery below.

Gallery: RENNtech Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car

[Source: RENNtech]

Continue reading RENNtech fine-tunes its Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Hybrid [w/video]

RENNtech fine-tunes its Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Hybrid [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Veritas RSIII Hybrid does the electric slide

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Europe, Technology

Veritas RSIII Hybrid

Veritas RSIII Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Vermot AG is on the cusp of unleashing a hail of all-new models, including a fully-electric vehicle and a coupe version of the delicious Veritas RSIII. But before we get a taste of those, the company is dipping a pinky toe into electric waters with the introduction of the Veritas RSIII Hybrid. The vehicle basically throws a 105 kilowatt electric motor into the already delectable mix that makes up the standard RSIII. That means that you still get the sounds and feel of the 507-horsepower BMW-built V10 engine in the standard RSIII, but with a little extra electron punch.

Even with the additional drivetrain components and a stack of lithium-ion batteries, the Veritas RSIII Hybrid tips the scales at 2,821 pounds, which is around 500 pounds heavier than the standard version. Even so, Vermot says its battery-operated speedster can do away with the 0-62 mph sprint in a skinny 3.1 seconds thanks in part to the fact that the electric motor kicks power to the front wheels, effectively making the machine an all-wheel drive terror. For reference, that’s .1 seconds faster than its predecessor.

Gallery: Veritas RSIII Hybrid

[Source: Translogic]

Veritas RSIII Hybrid does the electric slide originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supreme Court strikes down Bloomberg’s hybrid taxi plan for NYC

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

New York City hybrid taxi

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has fought long and hard to uphold a local law requiring all city cab companies to replace their gas-guzzling Ford Crown Victoria sedans with more efficient livery vehicles. A noble goal, no doubt, but the Supreme Court is having none of it.

The New York Post reports that the highest court in the land refused to hear the case after four years of battles in the lower courts, giving the victory to the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade. The court ruled that federal agencies have the sole right to regulate emissions and efficiency, not the mayor of one town – even if it is the City That Never Sleeps.

When the Supreme Court swings its gavel, there usually isn’t another shot, but that likely won’t stop Mayor Bloomberg from lobbying Congress to change the rules. The mayor said that local governments are the ones dealing with climate change and energy policy, adding “the federal government seems unable to address those issues.”

While the city of New York appears to have lost the efficiency war, the Big Apple can still feel good about the fact that some 4,400 of the 13,237 cabs on its streets are hybrids. And if gas prices continue to jump, we’re thinking many of the other 8,000 cabs will follow suit.

[Source: New York Post | Image: Chris Hondros/Getty]

Supreme Court strikes down Bloomberg’s hybrid taxi plan for NYC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid delivers 380 hp of green(ish) speed

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

Porsche Panamera S Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Porsche stole the show with the unveiling of the 918 Spyder. For 2011, Porsche has taken the wraps off another gas-electric hybrid in Switzerland, but in a decidedly less sexy shape.

The 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is just the latest alt-powered vehicle from Porsche, joining the Cayenne Hybrid and the aforementioned 918 that’s expected to hit the market late next year. Power is supplied by VAG’s supercharged 3.0-liter V6 putting out 333 horsepower, with another 47 ponies delivered via an electric motor. Equipped with the eight-speed automatic gearbox, Porsche claims a 0-60 mph run of six seconds flat with a top speed of 168 mph, all while returning an average of around 34 mpg.

The Panamera Hybrid will be hitting U.S. shores later this year with a price tag of $95,000, and you get can all the pertinent details in the press blast after the break.

Gallery: Porsche Panamera S Hybrid: Geneva 2011

Gallery: 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

Continue reading Geneva 2011: 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid delivers 380 hp of green(ish) speed

Geneva 2011: 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid delivers 380 hp of green(ish) speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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