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Report: Ram Trucks will not offer hybrid pickup to consumers

Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Chrysler, Dodge

Ram 1500 pickup truck

Have you been waiting for Chrysler’s long-promised Ram hybrid pickup truck? Bad news: Speaking to PluginCars.com, Ram Trucks CEO Fred Diaz firmly put that notion on ice when he bluntly said, “Truckers don’t want to buy hybrids.”

We’re not sure truck buyers are so much anti-hybrid as they are unwilling to cough up the necessary bucks to bring meaningful hybrid technology to their pickups. Either way, General Motors’ full-size hybrid trucks have failed to set the market on fire, and there’s little indication Chrysler’s would either, unless the automaker were to offer them at an extremely favorable price point. That seems unlikely.

For now, it seems that the only hybrid pickup trucks Ram will offer are the recently announced plug-in models that were developed using federal stimulus funds via a $48 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant and a separate $5 million grant from the Canadian government. A total of 140 PHEV Ram trucks will be offered to fleet customers within the next several months.

The good news for mileage-conscious pickup truck buyers is that Diaz suggested other technologies from Fiat are likely to make their way to the Ram Trucks division at some point. Multiair and light-duty diesels sound like a good starting point…

[Source: PluginCars.com]

Report: Ram Trucks will not offer hybrid pickup to consumers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda officially previews Fit Shuttle, including hybrid model

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Japan, Hatchback, Honda

Honda Fit Shuttle Site

Honda has fired up a website for its new Fit Shuttle. The B-segment fighter’s larger twin is set to use the same center-tank design as the smaller of the duo, which means that buyers can look forward to a surprising amount of interior room. While the extended hatch will come with a gasoline drivetrain, the engineers have also cooked up a hybrid variant for squeezing the most out of every last whisper of fuel.

Word from Honda is that the Fit Shuttle will get an official unveil in March, which leads us to believe that the new creation will show its face at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show next month. That said, don’t expect to see the Fit Shuttle on our shores. This machine is likely to keep itself tucked away as a JDM-only model, though there is some chance that the car will show up in Europe as well. You can check out the Japanese site here.

[Source: Honda]

Honda officially previews Fit Shuttle, including hybrid model originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: Hyundai spotlights Elantra and Sonata Hybrid for Super Bowl

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising

2011 Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra Super Bowl ad – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Hyundai will run three TV ads in this weekend’s Super Bowl, all supporting the 2011 Elantra and Sonata Hybrid.

The ads for the Elantra continue a theme begun two weeks earlier in the NFL Conference Championship games in which Hyundai is trying to show that the Elantra surpasses expectations most consumers have about compact cars. Both ads play to a theme of hypnosis and the idea that people need to “snap out of it” and get deprogrammed about their ideas of what a compact car can and should be. A third ad, which has already aired, shows a sheep driving an Elantra. The 40-mpg highway rating of the Elantra plays prominently, and may, indeed, be the most memorable bits of these ads… though the driving sheep is a pretty good image too.

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has a stronger idea behind it, putting across the message that we should never settle for the first thing to come along an indirect jab at Toyota Prius and perhaps Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Images of bikes with enormous front wheels circa the 19th century, a stoner carrying a stereo turntable around his neck, and a guy using a cellphone the size of a raccoon provides some decent visual jokes. This spot will probably get remembered better than the hypnosis Elantra ads.

Hyundai’s in-house ad agency, Innocean, created the ads. Follow the jump to see the videos and read Hyundai’s official press release.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Videos: Hyundai spotlights Elantra and Sonata Hybrid for Super Bowl originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Buick Regal Hybrid coming to Chicago Auto Show

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Buick, GM

2011 Buick Regal

2011 Buick Regal – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from Ward’s Auto, General Motors will be debuting a hybrid version of the Buick Regal sedan at the Chicago Auto Show next week. The electrified Regal will use the same eAssist architecture that debuted in the LaCrosse late last year.

In the LaCrosse, eAssist accounts for a 25 percent increase in fuel economy, and we can expect similar numbers for the Regal. Currently rated at 19/30 miles per gallon city/highway with the 2.4-liter engine and six-speed automatic, adding eAssist should help the Regal reach fuel economy numbers above 35 mpg.

Unlike the LaCrosse, it’s likely that the eAssist powertrain will not be the base engine in the Regal. For the 2012 model year, all LaCrosses come standard with eAssist, but we expect the Regal to use this system in a more upmarket (read: more expensive) configuration. We’ll have the full details live from Chicago next week, so stay tuned.

Gallery: 2011 Buick Regal CXL: Review

2011 Buick Regal CXL

[Source: Ward’s Auto]

Report: Buick Regal Hybrid coming to Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo bringing all-wheel-drive V60 plug-in hybrid to Geneva

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Volvo

2011 Volvo V60

2011 Volvo V60 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volvo has announced plans to bring a “virtually production ready” V60 plug-in hybrid to the Geneva Motor Show this March, and if it makes it to market, it will be both the automaker’s first ~~gas~~diesel-electric production model and the first all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid to be sold in the States.

The V60 hybrid will essentially pack two separate drivetrains: a 215-horsepower turbodiesel 2.4-liter five-cylinder up front and a 70-hp electric motor mounted between the rear wheels. A 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeds juice to the rear electric motor and Volvo claims that the V60 hybrid can be driven for up to 31 miles on electricity alone. Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby is adamant that the V60 will be a sports wagon for the enthusiast, which we can hopefully confirm when sales begin in 2012.

Gallery: 2011 Volvo V60

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo bringing all-wheel-drive V60 plug-in hybrid to Geneva

Volvo bringing all-wheel-drive V60 plug-in hybrid to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler working on hydraulic minivan hybrid with the EPA’s help

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Technology, Chrysler

Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne and Lisa Jackson, Agency Administrator for the EPA, announced a new research project to bring hydraulic hybrid technology to the marketplace. The new hybrid will be based on Chrysler’s Town & Country minivan, although this shouldn’t be confused with the other minivan hybrid Chrysler is working on for 2013.

Hydraulics in vehicles have been tested in larger vehicles by FedEx, Ford (with its hydraulic-launch-assist) and others. What Chrysler and the EPA plan to do is produce a running demonstration vehicle (yes, just one) in 2012 using a hydraulic hybrid system the EPA developed in Ann Arbor, MI. The T&C will use a 2.4-liter, inline four-cylinder gasoline engine that will share motivation duties with a 117cc engine pump, a 45cc drive electric motor and a two-speed automatic transmission.

The hydraulic fluid will be stored in a 14.4-gallon high pressure accumulator that can reach pressures as high as 5,000 psi. If there’s enough energy in the accumulator, the motor will shut down until it’s needed again. If it all works as advertised, then overall fuel economy will be improved around 30-35 percent, while city miles per gallon will be improved by up to 60 percent. Although we’ve heard rumors of a hybrid Chrysler minivan for years, it sounds like something real will finally arrive – in one form or another.

[Source: Chrysler, Detroit News]

Continue reading Chrysler working on hydraulic minivan hybrid with the EPA’s help

Chrysler working on hydraulic minivan hybrid with the EPA’s help originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi A6 Hybrid not coming until 2015?

Filed under: Car Buying, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Audi, Luxury

2012 Audi A6 Hybrid

201? Audi A6 Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

At last week’s Detroit Auto Show, Audi unveiled the 2012 A6, and trotted out a hybrid variant capable of achieving 38 miles per gallon and running up to 62 miles per hour on electricity alone. So when can we buy one? Audi isn’t sure.

According to Autoweek, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen says the timetable for the A6 hybrid is still to be determined. In fact, we may not see the gas- and electron-powered luxury sedan until 2015. In the meantime, we’ll be quite happy to spend some seat time with the 300 horsepower supercharged version.

Gallery: Audi A6 Hybrid: Detroit 2011

Audi A6 Hybrid

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: Audi A6 Hybrid not coming until 2015? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chrysler 300 hybrid coming in 2013

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chrysler, Luxury

2011 Chrysler 300

2011 Chrysler 300 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hybrids have been a mixed bag at Chrylser (remember the short-lived Durango and Aspen hybrids or the on-again-off-again Ram hybrid?), but a new report from Automotive News indicates that a gasoline-electric drivetrain is back on the table for the Pentastar automaker.

During this year’s Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne reportedly confirmed that hybrid power will be making its way under the hood of the updated 2011 Chrysler 300. This hybrid powertrain is expected to be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and is earmarked for roll-out in 2013.

Hybrids are slowly becoming more and more popular amongst luxury automakers. Lexus already has an electrified version of its GS sedan – the GS 450h – and both Audi and BMW are working to bring hybrids to market in the mid-range luxury segment, too, via the 5 Series ActiveHybrid and A6 Hybrid.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 300

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Chrysler 300 hybrid coming in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: Audi A6 Hybrid is Teutonic efficiency

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Audi

2011 Audi A6 Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

While we have already met the 2012 Audi A6, we weren’t clear on what the A6 Hybrid would look like. As it turns out, we had a pretty solid idea, as Audi officials say they have gone out of their way to keep it aesthetically true to the conventional gas-powered model.

The new A6 hybrid is a front-wheel drive affair that offers Audi’s 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder with a 45-horsepower/155 pound-feet of torque electric motor sitting ahead of the eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox. A modest 1.3 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is resident in the trunk to generate 39 kW. Audi quotes an estimated combined fuel economy rating of 38 miles per gallon, noting that the A6 Hybrid can be coaxed up to 62 mph strictly on electricity, and it has a pure-electric range of three kilometers (1.86 miles).

Audi isn’t confirming when this new model will go on sale, but it is widely understood that the gas-electric model was conceived with the U.S. in mind, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see it roll into American dealerships before it hits the rest of the globe.

Gallery: Audi A6 Hybrid: Detroit 2011

Audi A6 Hybrid

Detroit 2011: Audi A6 Hybrid is Teutonic efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid offer two options for fuel-sipping MPVs

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Ford, Electric

2013 Ford C-Max Energi

Ford C-Max Energi – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve already told you about the 2012 Ford C-Max, the Blue Oval’s new mini-minivan that’s set to launch here in North America later this year. The C-Max story doesn’t end with just the one gasoline-powered model, though – Ford is bringing two more versions of its small people mover to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show: the C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid.

What’s important to note is that while the gasoline C-Max with sliding doors is actually based on the three-row Grand C-Max that Ford sells in other markets, the Hybrid and Energi use conventional front-hinged rear doors and seat five, just like the shorter-wheelbase C-Max available in Europe. The automaker’s kinetic design language is in full force here, and the Aston Martin-like grille on these smaller C-Max models resembles what first debuted on Ford’s Focus Electric at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show.

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid The C-Max Hybrid uses the Blue Oval’s next-generation gasoline/electric powertrain technology, and we’re told that fuel economy will be higher than the 41 miles per gallon that’s currently on tap in the Fusion Hybrid sedan. By building upon the powersplit technology currently used in the automaker’s hybrids, Ford says that the C-Max Hybrid will be able to operate in electric mode at speeds higher than 47 miles per hour.

The big story here, however, is the C-Max Energi, which is essentially a range-extended plug-in hybrid that’s not completely unlike the Chevrolet Volt. Ford is targeting an overall driving range of more than 500 miles using both the battery-backed motor and Atkinson-cycle engine, and much like the Focus Electric, the automaker’s new MyFord Mobile software will allow users to monitor the C-Max Energi’s charging state while on the go.

Both the C-Max Hybrid and Energi will be built alongside the standard C-Max at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant starting in 2012, with European models being built in Valencia, Spain starting in 2013. Follow the jump for the full details in Ford’s press release, and check out each version of the new C-Max in our high-res galleries below.

Gallery: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi

2013 Ford C-Max Energi

Gallery: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

[Source: Ford]

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2013 Ford C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid offer two options for fuel-sipping MPVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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