By Jim Brennan

UDMan

On the lower floor of the Cobo Hall Convention Center, there was a track (of sorts) that was set up so everyone could pilot an electric (or Hybrid) vehicle. There were many models that were made available by the various manufacturers, even models that were not on sale in the US yet. There were cars from Tango, CT&T, Think, Mitsubishi (which is odd because they didn’t attend the show), Mercedes Benz, Smart, and GM.

Continue reading "NAIAS: Walking Around the EcoXperience" »

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Fisker isn’t messing around. In addition to the Karma four door and convertible models, they are now looking to build a low cost, mass market plug-in hybrid. Fisker has applied for a Department of Energy grant, and if the request goes through, they are gunning to bring this new vehicle to market in 29 months. Via Autoblog

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

A hydraulic hybrid is a high-mpg propulsion system that eliminates the need for batteries. Basically, a small diesel motor powers a hydraulic pump that fills an accumulator, which in turns sends fluid pressure to pump motors that power the wheels. Then, regenerative braking grabs back as much as 70% of the vehicle’s stopping energy to charge the system back up. The result is a 50% increase in fuel efficiency.  So far, hydraulic hybrids have been limited to commercial vehicles and military applications–UPS plans on adding hydraulic hybrids to its delivery fleet this year, and a company called Hydra-Drive has developed a hydraulic-hybrid Humvee and is planning to supply the US Army with more vehicles. But now,  Lightning Hybrids, a contender for the Progressive Automotive X Prize, is developing a 100 mpg passenger car prototype for the open market, the first-ever attempt to put hydraulic hybrid technology in a civilian passenger vehicle. The ride has a pretty decent quotient of retro-styled cool, with a carbon-fiber body intended to evoke the ’63 split-window Stingray, and it opens up like a clamshell in a manner reminiscent of the Saab Aero X concept. Keep an eye on this build–it looks like it’s going to be pretty cool when it’s done. More pics below the jump, and check out Wired to read more.

Continue reading "What's Next: Hydraulic Hybrid Technology For Passenger Cars" »

The Jalopnik guys just managed to get 43.8 MPG in the new 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid. Nice work Ford! That’s significantly better mileage than the Camry hybrid. I had a 2008 Fusion V6 rental car down in California last month and though it was great. And Mr. Angry is another big fan of the Fusion. I think Ford might have a hit on their hands when this new hybrid hits the showrooms early next year.

We just got one of these to play with for a week. I’ll have a quick post on it tomorrow, but then Ryan will have it through the weekend and early next week (I’ll be in California on vacation next week). This is my first time in any Malibu, and I’m reasonably impressed. It’s rated at 26/34 mpg, which isn’t too bad for such a good sized car. More tomorrow…

Running across the desert at night is all the rage at the US/Mexico border, but if you’re going to sneak into a country illegally, why not do it with some style?  That’s apparently what three Iraqi dudes were thinking when they tried to hitch a ride in a Bentley GT. The plush machine was coming back to the UK from testing at the ‘Ring, but eagle-eyed inspectors stopped them at the border. Anyway, here’s the news:

• It’s not like I get tremendous joy from the fact that Detroit is struggling—I’ll leave that to the divas over at the Truth About Cars—but this article says that Hot Wheels’ parent company Mattel is actually worth more than General Motors, and that’s kind of funny. Newsweek
• After half a century, the party is over for Gaz’s venerable Volga. Use this handy template to construct something witty to say about its demise: "In Soviet Russia, Volga [blank] you! Jalopnik
• UPS is currently testing new hydraulic delivery trucks which deliver 50% better fuel economy and 40% lower emissions. How long before Brown starts pushing the fact that it’s green? Gas2.0
• Ferrari fans can relax, as it turns out that Maranello’s threat to quit F1 was just some pointless saber rattling. Apparently, there’s really no chance that F1 will go a spec engine. You have to love those feisty Italians. AutoWeek
• One of CarDomain’s advertisers—you know, the folks who provide themoney to keep yours truly employed—wants your input. So if you love theblog and love CarDomain, or kind of like us, or even just love to hateus, we’d appreciate your opinion. Take this Survey 

Hybrids are hot in Paris this year. Our buddies at Road & Track took a closer look at some of the concepts unveiled at the show, from the mild Honda Insight Concept to the wild Peugeot RC Concept pictured below (photo by John Lamm). After driving the Tesla last week, I think I’m ready to jump straight from gasoline to electric, without this intermediate step. But check out the article at Road & Track and see what you think.

Maybe the designers were trying to distract people from the exterior? More at Jalopnik.

Continue reading "Citroen Hypnos Hybrid Has Psychedelic Interior" »

What’s cooler than a 50-foot mechanical spider perched on the side on a building? A 50-foot mechanical spider walking down the street! Is this thing insane or what? Anyway, here’s the news:

• Like the old song says, breaking up is hard to do. After speculation that Ford was going to kick Volvo to the curb, it looks like the Blue Oval is going to stick with the Swedish automaker. While there are probably several factors involved in the decision, I think it basically comes down to one thing: meatballs. Detroit News
• While the Chevy Volt spotted on the set on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is "representative of the production vehicle," it’s not sporting the same sheet metal that consumers will see in the showroom. What else did we learn? The car’s character will be called "Lutzinator," carry heavy cannons, and be able to fly. Jalopnik
• A test mule for Ferrari’s Enzo has been spotted, and while it just looks like a 430 with big rear tires, it apparently sounds amazing. Apparently, Modena is looking at powering it with a  twin-turbo V8. Next Autos
• By 2015, every taxi in Boston will be a hybrid. While I’m all for green machines, I hope Seattle goes with something like the natural-gas Crown Vics, because there’s nothing worse than getting off a cramped plane and having to squeeze into the back of a Prius. Wired
• Our buddy Rich just posted some awesome pics of Jaguar’s new 500 horsepower XF-R testing in Death Valley, and from the looks of them, it seems the engineers have gotten most everything sorted out. Automotive Traveler

As hybrids go, I always liked the original Honda Insight a lot better than Toyota’s Prius. It’s way less awkward-looking, its little truncated rear references the CRX, and its fender-skirted roundiness almost makes it look like it should have its own mouse pad. Plus, after the Insight was killed off a couple of  years ago, owning one took on a kind of renegade flavor—something about it says true geek car, whereas the Prius just aims to placate sanctimonious suburban know-nothings.

Well, now Honda’s bringing back the Insight, and it looks exactly like… the Prius. The all-new Insight will share nothing with Honda’s original, and while Honda was the first major manufacturer to put a production hybrid on the road, it seems that for the new car they’ll be taking all their styling cues from the ultra-successful and ultimately ho-hum Prius. The new Insight will be bulkier than the original, but smaller than the Civic, and Honda hopes to keep the price below $20,000 to make it competitive with both current hybrid offerings and small gas-motored cars. But it kind of sucks that, in the race to the middle, they’ve taken away everything that made the Insight cooler than the Prius in the first place. Watch for it to be unveiled next month at the Paris Auto Show.

Source: Car & Driver.

Continue reading "Honda Brings Back The Insight" »