hybrid Archives | Page 9 of 10

Paris Preview: Fisker will show off first “factory-built” Karma plug-in hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Fisker, Electric

Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fisker Automotive is taking it slow, but the upstart automaker hopes that an attractive lady or two will take your mind off of the production delays until the Paris Motor Show starts later this month. Why Paris? Because that’s where the first “factory-built Karma” will be displayed in public for the first time. Also in Paris, Fisker representatives will give details, “about the expansion of its prestigious global importer network” that will help the company reach its target of 100,000 vehicles a year.

CEO Henrik Fisker said in a statement that:

We had a chance to change the premium vehicle segment with a new kind of vehicle and a new brand that appeal to consumers who are passionate about the environment, and who wish to drive a beautiful car that reflects their desire to lead a lifestyle of responsible luxury. We are very excited to be introducing the first factory-built Karma luxury plug-in hybrid in Paris, a city known for inspiring its own passions.

Here’s one more interesting tidbit from the release: “The Fisker Karma … can achieve an annual average economy of 2.4L/100 km (100 mpg) and emissions of just 83g/km.” An annual miles per gallon rating seems like an odd addition, but considering the venue, it might be necessary to stoke the flames of consumer interest.

Gallery: Fisker Karma Plug-in Hybrid

[Source: Fisker]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Fisker will show off first “factory-built” Karma plug-in hybrid

Paris Preview: Fisker will show off first “factory-built” Karma plug-in hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Paris Preview: Fisker will show off first “factory-built” Karma plug-in hybrid”

Report: Ferrari Enzo successor will be a hybrid

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Technology, Ferrari, Luxury

Ferrari 599 HY-KERS Concept

Ferrari 599 HY-KERS – Click above for high-res image gallery

Sorry, Ferrari purists, but even the mighty Prancing Horse isn’t immune to the need to increase fuel economy. According to Autoweek, Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has confirmed that the successor to the Enzo throne will come equipped with a hybrid drivetrain. According to Montezemolo, the electrified supercar will borrow heavily from the company’s 599 HY-KERS concept that debuted at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. That vehicle used hybrid tech derived from the kinetic energy recovery system that Ferrari experimented with on its F1 vehicles.

Previously, Ferrari has said that the incorporation of a battery pack and an electric motor would allow the company to continue to offer high-cylinder-count engines while offsetting fuel consumption and emissions. The company has also made it clear that it intends to begin moving toward smaller models to further reduce weight.

The news came as Montezemolo announced that he has no intention of moving from his post at Ferrari to greener pastures in the Italian government. The chairman said that he fully intends to stay at the company long enough to help craft the vehicles in the next product cycle, each of which will follow in the footsteps of the Enzo successor.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 HY-KERS

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: Ferrari Enzo successor will be a hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Ferrari Enzo successor will be a hybrid”

Citroën reportedly readying hot hybrid DS4 Racing model

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Crossover, Hatchback, Citroën

Citroën DS4 – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’re still scratching your head trying to figure out what to make of the new Citroën DS4, get ready to be even more confused. Emerging reports from across the pond indicate that the French automaker is preparing a performance version of the premium hatchback/crossover/whats-it in the same vein as the DS3 Racing… only taller. And with a few more doors.

Presumed to be called the DS4 Racing, the high-performance version of the vehicle slated to debut in Paris later this month, will ostensibly target the bigger hot hatches already on the market, like the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Renaultsport Megane 250.

Performance-oriented trim inside and out – from the two-tone aero kit and upsized wheels to the racing buckets and flat-bottomed steering wheel – will give the DS4 Racing an aggressive attitude, but the real party trick will be sitting under the hood. Citroën is reportedly working on adapting the HYbrid4 through-the-road all-wheel drive system to couple the 200-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo four from the Peugeot RCZ with an electric boost.

With the DS4 still to be publicly unveiled and the DS3 Racing just hitting the market now, sources don’t expect the DS4 Racing to arrive before 2013.

Gallery: Citroen DS4

[Source: Auto Express]

Citroën reportedly readying hot hybrid DS4 Racing model originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Citroën reportedly readying hot hybrid DS4 Racing model”

Hybrid sales plummet 40% in August; Prius records 37.5% decline

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Toyota

2010 Toyot Aprius

2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery

One month of dreary sales figures doesn’t signal the end of the hybrid, but the numbers reported for August hint that without a rise in gas prices, hybrid vehicle sales will likely continue to suffer. Overall hybrid sales dropped 40.4 percent in August compared to a year ago. Not even the mighty Toyota Prius could avoid the plunge. Prius sales fell 37.5 percent compared to August 2009 and dropped off 16.3 percent compared to the July 2010 numbers. Combined, Toyota and Lexus hybrids saw a 36.2 percent decline from a year ago. Ford fared better by posting a 17.1 percent drop in year-over-year numbers.

Hybrid sales were clearly boosted last August by the government’s Cash for Clunkers program, but this summer’s low gas prices take much of the blame for the current hybrid sales plunge. Toyota remains in the number one spot, posting 15,444 sales last month. Ford sits in second place after moving 3,894 hybrid vehicles off dealer lots, while Honda holds onto third with 3,485 sales. It’s getting redundant, but Toyota still leads the hybrid market. Anyone want to place bets on when (or if) that’ll change?

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Sources: Green Car Advisor, Autoblog]

Hybrid sales plummet 40% in August; Prius records 37.5% decline originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Hybrid sales plummet 40% in August; Prius records 37.5% decline”

Report: Maybach will soldier on, gain hybrid

Filed under: Convertible, Sedan, Maybach, Luxury

Maybach

2011 Maybach Range – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve all but assumed Maybach was a goner. With the economic downturn and sales hovering around the 300-unit mark annually, Mercedes-Benz’ rebadged uber-lux brand makes a hard business case for itself. However, Automobile reports that Maybach may be down, but it’s not out, and a range of new products are on the way.

With the S-Class due to be replaced in 2012, the range-topping Benz will offer up its revised platform for five new Maybach models. The standard 57 and 62 will benefit from upgraded sheet metal, interiors and electronics, while a CLS-like four-door “coupe” will be added to the line-up along with the oft-rumored long-wheelbase convertible – a sort of mash-up between the 62 Laundaulet and Mercedes’ Ocean Drive concept from 2007.

Despite M-B’s ongoing issues with CAFE standards, motivation will continue to be provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 powering current Maybachs, although horsepower is expected to rise, torque output could crest 850 pound-feet and Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic will be part of the package.

More intriguingly, Automobile says that with the new transmission, an electric motor could be fitted, boosting output by 20 hp and allowing the massive sled to drive in full electric mode for up to 10 miles. There’s also talk of a new nine-speed automatic transmission being fitted and fuel economy rising by around 25% – so figure around a 2-3 mpg improvement for both the 545-hp and 630-hp versions.

In order for Maybach to survive, it has to be more than just a reworked S-Class and to that end, an insider told Automobile that future models will be “jewels on wheels and at last worthy of the brand.” We shall see…

Gallery: 2011 Maybach range

[Source: Automobile]

Report: Maybach will soldier on, gain hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Maybach will soldier on, gain hybrid”

LA Auto Show preview: Infiniti to launch 2012 M35 hybrid

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Infiniti

2012 Infiniti M35 hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Infiniti has officially announced plans to debut its first hybrid sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November. The M35 hybrid first appeared – badged as the Nissan Fuga hybrid – at last fall’s Tokyo Motor Show, propelled by Nissan’s first in-house hybrid system. The M35 is powered by a retuned Atkinson cycle version of the 3.5-liter VQ V6 paired with a 50-kilowatt electric motor and a lithium ion battery pack that uses the same type of cells that power the Nissan Leaf.

The motor is a disc-type unit packed between the engine and the six-speed automatic transmission in a similar fashion to the systems from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Porsche. Infiniti claims the M35 will deliver V8 performance with the fuel consumption of a four cylinder. While the Fuga is set to go on sale in Japan this fall, the M35 hybrid arrives in the U.S. next year as a 2012 model.

Gallery: 2012 Infiniti M35 hybrid

[Source: Nissan]

LA Auto Show preview: Infiniti to launch 2012 M35 hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “LA Auto Show preview: Infiniti to launch 2012 M35 hybrid”

Spy Shots: 2011 Ram 1500 Hybrid uncloaked

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hybrid, Truck, Dodge

2011 Ram 1500 Hybrid captured by Rich Truesdell of Automotive Traveler

While recently shooting some cloaked Chrysler and Hyundai prototypes, Automotive Traveler‘s Rich Truesdell came across several completely undisguised Ram 1500 pickups the other day. As Rich tells it:

Upon closer examination, I figured out why: They are near-production-ready versions of the rumored 2-Mode Hybrid version. Judging by the complete lack of cloaking, I’d assume they are undergoing final validation, possibly to establish their published tow ratings. Don’t be surprised if the Ram is an early-introduction 2012 model to reach showrooms in the spring.

We’ve talked about these hybrid pickups before, and if a schedule posted at Allpar is to be believed, Chrysler will kick off production of this new Ram 1500 Hybrid on November 16, so they may be badged as MY2011 Ram 1500 Hemi Hybrids and not MY2012 as Rich supposes. Either way, the hybrid Ram is expected to employ the same 5.7-liter Hemi V8, two-mode hybrid powertrain that was used in the short-lived Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen hybrids in 2008, backed by a transmission supplied to Chrysler by General Motors. Expected mileage ratings should be similar to GM’s hybrid trucks, with a city number of about 21 to 22 mpg.

Check out Automotive Traveler for more photos of the 2011 Ram 1500 Hemi Hybrid.

[Source: Automotive Traveler]

Spy Shots: 2011 Ram 1500 Hybrid uncloaked originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: 2011 Ram 1500 Hybrid uncloaked”

Rumormill: Volkswagen Touareg R Hybrid under consideration

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, SUV, Technology, Volkswagen, Rumormill

2011 Volkswagen Touareg – Click above for high-res image gallery

The words “performance” and “hybrid” are typically only bandied about in the same sentence by marketing types. Here in the real world, lugging around an extra few hundred pounds of batteries is no way to sharpen a vehicle’s dynamics, but if the rumors kicking around the interwebs are to be believed, that’s exactly what Volkswagen has planned with a new R version of the Touareg. Auto Evolution reports that engineers are hard at work on a new version of the CUV that will pack a punch from both a gasoline V8 and a powerful electric motor.

As you might imagine, specs for such a monstrosity aren’t exactly solid, but the Italian rag says VW is shooting for 500 horsepower from the V8 and 47 horsepower from an electric motor. Sure, that means the high-rider will pack a grand total of 547 ponies, but we’re more interested in the mountain-moving levels of torque available from such a combination. Sounds like a fine way to embarrass a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, if nothing else.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

Rumormill: Volkswagen Touareg R Hybrid under consideration originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Volkswagen Touareg R Hybrid under consideration”

Report: Honda Canada discontinuing Insight and Civic hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Honda, Canada

2010 Honda Insight

It’s no secret that the revived 2010 Honda Insight has been a huge sales disappointment in North America. The once-robust sales of the Civic hybrid have also evaporated in the last two years. Apparently, things are far worse for Honda’s hybrids in Canada where higher fuel prices typically cause people to buy more efficient vehicles.

An unconfirmed report from a Canadian web site indicates that both the Civic hybrid and the Insight are being discontinued there. Checking the Canadian sales charts, the Civic as a whole is one of the top-selling cars in Canada with 31,604 units sold in 2010 through July.

While hybrid sales are not broken out by Honda Canada, we can do a little educated guessing. Since only 643 of those Civic sales were imports and the hybrids come from Japan, we can figure that those 643 were the hybrid models. Similarly, Canadians only bought 748 Insights in the same period. When it launched, Honda projected 10,000 annual sales in Canada. Evidently Canadians just aren’t taken with hybrids – even the mighty Prius has only found 2,272 Canadian buyers this year.

Honda hasn’t yet responded to a request for comment on the cancellation of these two models. Apparently, Honda Canada will still proceed with the launch of the CR-Z there, maybe leaving it as the company’s only hybrid. A tip of the hat to Mario!

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX

[Source: Monvolant]

Report: Honda Canada discontinuing Insight and Civic hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Honda Canada discontinuing Insight and Civic hybrid”

GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Chevrolet, Rumormill

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept – Click above for a new high-res image gallery

Karl Stracke, General Motors VP of global engineering, has unequivocally denied the recent rumors about a mid-engine version of the next-generation Corvette with a wet-dual-clutch transmission. Stracke spoke with editors at Automotive News and Autoweek and addressed the latest batch of rumors. For decades, speculation about what will be done with a next-generation Corvette invariably pops up almost immediately after a new model is introduced.

For example, a mid-engined Corvette has reportedly been on the cards since at least the mid-60s, thanks in part to a string of concept and experimental models of that configuration. The last Corvette-badged mid-engine concept was the 1990 CERV-III, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation – especially in recent years as the Corvette has gained increased respect among the ranks of high-end sports cars. According to Stracke, “There is no mid-engine in the plans.”

The same goes for a the story revealed by a Saab engineer about development of a wet DCT. Automakers are increasingly moving away from wet-clutch gearboxes to dry-clutch units because they are less expensive and more efficient. While Stracke shoots down the wet DCT, no mention is made of a dry-clutch unit… if Chevrolet follows Ferrari and Porsche down the dual-clutch path, that is almost certainly the type we will see.

Stracke also put the kibosh on a V6 Corvette. GM has already announced a direct injected small-block V8 is coming soon for its full-size pickup trucks and the Corvette will no doubt follow. Stracke did acknowledge that a hybrid is a possibility for the sports car and since competitors are going that way it wouldn’t be out of place.

That said, we want to know what you think – What should power the next Corvette? Click past the break to vote in our informal poll.

Gallery: Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept revealed again

[Source: AutoWeek]

Continue reading GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]

GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “GM quells Corvette rumors: No mid-engine, maybe a hybrid [w/poll]”