Ferrari Hybrid Goes Beyond Rumor

Ferrarri has comfirmed that a production model Ferrarri 599 will be at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March. The announcement was made by CEO Luca di Montezemolo at the release of the F10."It has to be the avant-garde in automobile technology. We're constructing cars with an enormous part of the innovative technology. We'll present a 599 hybrid in Geneva, which will represent a great path towards the future," Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo said...

Read More

Forced Features in Hybrids

There's a report out making the allegation that car makers are 'forcing' customers to accept luxury items in order to buy a hybrid car. The allegations are being made by the Union of Concerned Scientists. To that I say, Ya, so?Car makers (Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM, Nissan, etc...) invested a lot of money in developing their hybrid cars. They can't sell the public on just the engine, however. Not at the price they need to sell the car at and still hope to make money on it. So, they have been adding in luxury items to the cars right from the beginning....

Read More

Nissan Borrows $1.4 Billion From the DOE

Nissan closed its $1.4 billion loan with the Dept of Energy, part of the $25 billion made available to car manufacturers to develop advanced vehicles. Nissan is going to use the money to retool the Smyrna, Tennessee factory to build advanced electric automobiles (Nissan Leaf) and build a battery manufacturing facility. Nissan expects to create 1,300 jobs with the two projects. "This is an investment in our clean energy future. It will bring the United States closer to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and help lower carbon pollution," said...

Read More

GM Putting $246 Million into Baltimore

GM will invest $246 million in a new production facility at the Baltimore Transmission plant. It will be used to manufacture the electric motors used in GM's Two-mode Hybrid system for 2013.GM expects the investment in the Baltimore plant will create 200 jobs. That will double the number of people employed at the plant."By designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries as they evolve, potentially reducing cost and weight," GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said.GM is taking advantage of local...

Read More

Hond Plans for Acura TSX Hybrid in 2011

Honda is getting ready to bring an Acura TSX sedan for 2011. After that, two more hybrid Acura models will follow. (Source: Autonews)But it's hard to know what kind of hybrid the TSX Hybrid will be like. Honda has tried power enhanced hybrids like the Accord hybrid. But that was not exactly a big success. Maybe with an Acura, Honda can rely on luxury buyers.Toyota has done well with their Lexus hybrids, so Accura could do well with thei...

Read More

Chevy Volt Will Launch in D.C.

The Chevy Volt, the extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV), will be launching in Washington D.C., California and Michigan later this year.Like the Nissan Altima Hybrid, the locations GM has chosen to roll out the Volt have immediate and obvious reasons. If anything, Michigan may be the most surprising location, even though the Volt will be made there.With a limited production GM had to decide where to sell the Volt at first. D.C. has obvious political value, while California has obvious 'green' and PR potential. Read more about it from the...

Read More

Toyota Recall for Uncontrolled Acceleration

Toyota announced a huge recall on 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific Toyota Division models. The vehicles being recalled include:2009-2010 RAV42009-2010 Corolla2009-2010 Matrix2005-2010 Avalon2007-2010 Camry2010 Highlander2007-2010 Tundra2008-2010 Sequoia Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids are NOT affected.According to Toyota, there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances,...

Read More

Tesla Receives $465 Million Loan From DOE

The Department of Energy has gone ahead with the loan of $465 million to Tesla Motors, as part of the DOE loan program to advance vehicle technology. The loan agreement was conditional based on Tesla raising some funds on their own. They came through last week, raising $115.3 million in private equity. The funds are expected to be used in the Fisker Karma production and on the Nina, a new plug-in hybrid sedan to be built in Delaware.This is the second loan agreement executed by the DOE. The first was for $5.9 billion to Ford Motor Company...

Read More

Kia Ray

Kia has released a teaser photo on the new Ray concept. The concept car is supposed to show where Kia will be heading with their future in plug-in hybrid cars.The Ray was designed by the Kia Design Centre America and will contribute to Kia's ongoing development of alternate-fuel vehicles.Of course, it's not surprising the concept was designed to show that hybrid cars can be good looking and sporty. It's quite likely that if Kia ever did go ahead...

Read More

Honda Struggling With Insight

Struggling is a good way to put it (Source: Honda Says ‘Too Small’ Insight Hybrid May Miss Sales Target - Bloomberg.com). Honda is just struggling with the Insight. Not just because it's too small (read the article) but because it can't compete against the Prius in a lot of ways.There are a lot of factors as to why Honda is having a tough time with their hybrid car.  The biggest reasons include the smaller size (including less room in the back) despite being less fuel efficient, it looks very similar to the Prius, and an initial slate of...

Read More

Greenest Cars of 2010

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released their thirteenth annual rankings (greenercars.org) for model year 2010 vehicles. Among the top cars, hybrids took most of them.Not surprisingly, given the high fuel efficiency ratings, hybrids from Toyota Ford and Honda held onto five of the top 10, and 3 out of the top 5.  The top spot went to the Honda Civic GX, which runs on compressed natural gas.Make and Model Specifications a Emission Standardb MPG: City ...

Read More

Honda CEO Pushing for Hybrid Development

Honda CEO Takonobu has admitted their Honda hybrids just aren't good enough to beat out the Toyota Prius (Source: Autonews). And with that, he's pushing his Research and Development to develop and expand their hybrids.And with it, Honda will get a new hybrid, something that's ready for their large vehicle platforms, not just the smaller (Insight and Civic) platforms.The Toyota Prius outsold the Insight by almost a 7:1 margin. Honda had targeted 90,000 sales for their Insight, but later brought it down to 60,000. The lower cost Insight was supposed...

Read More

Hybrid HOV Access Up Again in Virginia

It's that time of year again. Virginia legislators are once again looking to extend HOV access to solo hybrid car owners. Several bills have been submitted (via Fredericksburg) to grant exemption.Hybrid proponents point out HOV access encourages people to buy hybrid cars, which lowers fuel (and oil) consumption here in the US. Detractors say a gas-guzzling SUV with 2 or 3 people in it saves more in gas on the drive in the carpool lane than a solo driver in the most fuel efficient hybrid.Proposed legislation would extend access on I-95/395 through...

Read More

Toyota Aims for 1 Million Hybrids a Year by 2011

According to the Nikkei ( via Reuters), Toyota is aiming to build 1 million hybrids globally by 2011, reaching a goal they set to sell a million hybrids a year sometime in this next decade.  Reaching that point so quickly would be remarkable.In May of 2007, Toyota sold its millionth hybrid car, globally. Hybrid car sales passed the million car mark in the US back at the end of 2007. This year, Toyota built around 500,000 hybrid cars, or about 8 percent of their total production."For the foreseeable future, the focus of Toyota's (low-emission...

Read More

Fisker Raises 100 Million in Order to Get 500 More

Fisker, as part of the plan to access the $528.7 million in government loans, said it has acquired $115.3 million in private equity funding to develop plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric cars.Fisker raised the money from, among others, A123 Systems, Ace Investments and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Fisker Automotive earlier this week signed a multi-year supply agreement with A123 Systems for the lithium-ion batteries that will power the Karma. "Fisker Automotive selected A123 because of the company's ability to meet our performance needs...

Read More

2010 Ferrari Enzo MIG-U1 by Gemballa

I am a big fan of the Ferrari Enzo until I saw this recent news about it today! Gemballa is producing a limited edition conversion of the Ferrari Enzo to be called the MIG-U1. Warp drive is optional. It's being made for the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group of Dubai, for being the new Distributor for the Middle East. More details will be available after the "invitation only" launch in Dubai.Here's some more pics of the 2010 Ferrari Enzo MIG-U1 by...

Read More

Toyota Looks to Build Prius in Mississippi

Toyota is once again looking at opening the plant in Mississippi to build the Prius here in the US.  That would free up the production in Japan to focus on supplying the Japanese market.But, Toyota is waiting for 'US economic recovery hits full stride.'  That makes it unclear when they will go ahead and finish the plant they idled back at then end of 2008.Toyota is predicting a 10% rise in sales in the US this year.  It's boosting production in anticipation here in the US because of the relative weakness of the dollar.Sources: freep, ...

Read More

Hybrid Car Buyers are Loyal Buyers

Once again, Prius buyers have shown themselves to be loyal buyers.  Toyota beat out GM for the first time, winning the award for Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer, propelled by some of their more popular and loyal buyers.  Toyota took first place in the Mid/Full-Size Car and Mid/Full- Size SUV categories for the Toyota Prius and Lexus RX, respectively.Prius buyers (and other hybrid car owners) have been shown time and time again to be loyal customers, coming back and buying another Prius (or hybrid).  But you have to wonder if that's...

Read More

Audi A8 Hybrid on the Way to Geneva

Audi, who will not, I repeat, not build mild hybrids, is going to reveal a full hybrid A8 at the Geneva Auto Show in March. This according to board chairman Rupert Stadler who was speaking to reporters at the Detroit Auto Show.Stadler revealed the A8 Hybrid will be powered by a lithium-ion battery pack developed by Sanyo. He expects the fuel efficiency to increase by 15 percent over the current A8.Audi does not want to focus on hybrids, but is...

Read More

Top Gear is Back for Season 13

Top Gear is back for Season 13 on January 25 and to celebrate, they are hosting a week long DVD giveaway at BBCAmerica.com/TopGear. If you want to catch up on Season 12 for free, this may be your best chance. Otherwise, you can look to buy starting Season 12 (or prior seasons) starting today at the BBC store.For full disclosure: as part of the new season launch, I was asked if I would talk about the new season, plus the Season 12 sale. I agreed (because I like the show even though they really don't talk all that much about hybrid cars) and may...

Read More

Toyota Will Install a Brake Override System on ALL Vehicles

Toyota has announced they will go ahead and install a brake override system on all Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles to help stop unintended acceleration in their vehicles.If the system detects the driver is attempting to apply the brakes without success, the override software system will shift the engine into idle.Sounds like a good idea to me. Perhaps all vehicles should come standard with this sort of system?Toyota is acting in response to several reports of cars accelerating. The NHTSA has investigated and Toyota has said the problem lies...

Read More

Ford Plans to Electrify Michigan

Ford will be building hybrid and electric vehicles in Michigan according to Bill Ford Jr., Ford's executive chairma. In a follow-up to yesterday's teaser, Bill Ford Jr, along with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, announced Ford will be investing $450 million in the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne."This investment underscores how serious we are about delivering a range of electrified vehicles to customers -- including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles," said Bill Ford Jr., Ford's executive chairman. "Our industry is at the intersection...

Read More

Cadillac XTS Platinum Plug-in Hybrid Concept

GM showed what they could do (if they wanted to) with the plug-in hybrid Cadillac XTS concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The luxury sedan mates a 3.6L V-6 Direct Injection gas engine with an electric motor powered in part through a plug.The concept vehicle takes the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid to the next level. By using a larger battery and adding a plug (of course, it's not that simple, but ...) GM can extend the all electric range. Like the Cadillac...

Read More

Ford Fusion Hybrid Wins North American Car of the Year

The Ford Fusion Hybrid has won another award to place on its mantle. From the moment it was debuted to now, the Fusion has been impressing judges across the globe. The latest award caps off what has to be one of the best years Ford has seen for award shows.Other awards for the Fusion Hybrid over the past year include:MOTOR TREND Car of the Year AwardOne of CAR and DRIVER Magazine's "10Best" Cars for 2010One of AUTOMOBILE Magazine's 2010 All-Stars2009 "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety2009 Ward's Interior...

Read More

Honda CR-Z Makes Its Debut

The 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Honda is hoping to capture a new hybrid car segment, those sport car enthusiasts that are looking for higher fuel efficiency.The CR-Z is set for a launch date in late summer in the US, but will be sold in Japan starting in February, 2010.The CR-Z is powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with Honda's compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist...

Read More

FT-CH, Toyota Compact Hybrid Concept at the NAIAs

Toyota introduced the dedicated hybrid concept FT-CH at the Detroit Auto Show, while making dire predictions and promising a Prius Family of cars in North America to combat the future oil crisis.“Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply,” said Jim Lentz, TMS president. “A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains...

Read More

Volkswagen Compact Coupe Hybrid

Volkswagen brought the Compact Coupe Hybrid to the Detroit Auto Show. Volkswagen is projecting the coupe, which would compete against the likes of the Fusion, Altima and Civic Hybrid in the US, would get 45 mpg (4.2 l/200 km) and a low CO2 emissions of 98 g/km. It can also go from 0-60 in 8.1 seconds.The hybrid engine is made up of a TSI engine (110 kw/ 150 PS) mated to an electric motor (20 kW/ 27 PS) and a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.In the...

Read More