A hybrid vehicle uses multiple propulsion systems to provide motive power. This most commonly refers to gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, which use gasoline (petrol) and electric batteries to power internal-combustion engines (ICEs) and electric motors.
Porsche unveiled the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. It is a mid-engined two-seater that combines the performance of a super-sports car with the CO2 emissions of a small compact.
The 918 Spyder is powered by a V8 engine delivering more than 500 hp and three electric motors with overall output of 218hp. The engine emits just 70 grams CO2 per kilometer and has a fuel consumption of just 3.0 liters/100 kilometers (94 mpg imp). Despite this the car’s performances are impressive: the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 198 mph, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT.
The 918 Spyder is inspired by legendary racing cars such as the Porsche 917 Le Mans and the current Porsche RS Spyder. The exterior design is defined by striking rear hoods extending out of the headrests and retractable air intakes with a ram air function. The interior gets sports bucket seats, a touch-sensitive surface for intuitive control of the car’s functions and three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel.
Updated 03/03/2010: Official details, images and video added. Check them out!
It was only a matter of time before the discussion surrounding the origin of electric cars began to take shape. Who really was the first brand to tinker with the idea – or the possibility – to one day run a full-fledged vehicle solely on electric power?
While there may be a lot more questions than answers, Porsche seems to think that their founding father, Professor Ferdinand Porsche, was the man who drew inspiration from that vision. According to this video – made by Porsche, by the way – Ferdinand Porsche brought the world’s first electric car at the World Fair in Paris way back in 1900 and while his design was celebrated for being a ‘sensational’ 50 km/h electric vehicle, a lot of people thought that it was too ahead of its time; that it wouldn’t work and it was too bold.
Well, it took over a century for Ferdinand Porsche’s vision to come to fruition when Porsche introduced the 918 Spyder Concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Times have changed a whole since that fateful day in Paris 110 years ago. But if there’s one thing that has remained tried and tested throughout that time, it’s that you can never put a good idea to rest, no matter how ‘bold’ or ‘outlandish’ they may be.
Next to the A1 e-tron, Audi also unveiled a hybrid version for the A8 luxury sedan today at the Geneva Motor Show. The concept is powered by a 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder unit rated at 211 hp and 258.15 lb-ft of torque combined with an electric motor that develops a total of 45 hp and 155.63 lb-ft of torque.
The A8 hybrid has a total weight of 4,155.71 lbs and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, while top speed is limited to 146 mph. In all-electric mode it can hit a top speed of 40 mph. Above 40 mph the combustion engine alone does all the propulsive work, while the electric motor supplies onboard users and recharges the battery.
The A8 hybrid is distinguished by 21" two-color wheel rims styled with highly three-dimensional surface areas. The car is painted in "Prism Silver" with "Spectra Flair" as an accent color.
Despite the fancy title that Ferrari tagged it with - the Vettura Laboratorio HY-KERS- the long-awaited Ferrari 599 Fiorano Hybrid officially made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show today.
The HY-KERS system, which is a revolutionary new system Ferrari is developing that is capable of reducing CO2 emissions by up to 35% on the combined cycle (ECE + EUDC). Given the nature of this new eco-friendly technology, Ferrari is not ruling out the possibility that all future Ferraris - 8- and 12-cylinders, alike - will one day be fitted with the HY-KERS system.
Through years of experience gained in Formula 1 - coupled with on-going research done round the clock in Maranello - Ferrari was able to apply a new and advanced, lightweight hybrid drivetrain to the 599 GTB Fiorano: a new kind of electric motor that helps optimize the longitudinal and lateral dynamics of the car, enhancing traction and brake balance. The motor also features a unique cooling and lubrication system for maximum efficiency under all operating temperatures and loads.
The high-voltage electric motor of the HY-KERS weights only 40 kilos and is coupled to the rear of the dual-clutch 7-speed F1 transmission. It operates through one of the transmission’s two clutches and engages one of the two gearbox primary shafts. Thus, power is coupled seamlessly and instantaneously between the electric motor and the V12. The electric motor produces more than 100 horsepower as Ferrari’s goal was to offset every kilogram increase in weight by a gain of at least one hp.
The whole project comes as a response to the likelihood that cars of the future will be subjected to a CO2 emission standards. Rather than stand pat and wait until the last minute to create a car that would be up-to-par with the rest, Ferrari is now in a position to meet and comply with those standards, especially when it comes to urban cycle where city driving is traditionally where sports cars are at a tremendous disadvantage because their engines are designed for maximum efficiency and performance at high revs, whereas the urban cycle involves low revs and low engine loads.
With this new technology, Ferrari has set themselves up nicely to meet future standards for all vehicles across the map while still keeping true to the brands tradition of creating high-end performance vehicles.
Porsche will unveil at the Geneva Motor Show the Porsche 918 Spyder concept car, a mid-engined two-seater that combines the performance of a super-sports car with the CO2 emissions of a small compact.
The 918 Spyder is powered by a V8 power unit delivering more than 500 hp and three electric motors with overall output of 160 kW. The engine emits just 70 grams CO2 per kilometer and has a fuel consumption of just 3.0 liters/100 kilometers (94 mpg imp).
And if you are not impressed by now, the concept can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and can hit a top speed of 198 mph.
The Porsche 918 Spyder combines classic elements with appropriate solutions for the future.
The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid has been captured doing further testing, which should be expected since the car is gearing up for a number of things, one of which its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show and at the same time, its racing debut at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
In this particular video, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is put through the proverbial ringer with some pretty nifty editing, showing us a glimpse of how the sports car’s engine works in fine CGI detail. There’s not a lot much to be said that the video won’t bring you so without further ado, check out the new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid in all its power-packing glory.
When rumors began circulating about a Ferrari 599 Hybrid concept model was in the pipeline, you could say that it piqued the curiosity of a lot of people within the automotive circle.
After all, for a while it seemed that the words ‘Ferrari’ and Hybrid’ went along as much as peanut butter and carrots. But since everybody has been jumping the hybrid bandwagon in recent times, we were prepared to give Ferrari the benefit of the doubt and wait to see if they did have a hybrid in the works.
Turns out, they actually do, after the first photos of the prototype 599 Hybrid made its way to the Internet recently.
If there’s one car that has been kept close to its vest by its manufacturer this close to the Geneva Motor Show, the I.D.E.A. Institute’s Sofia hybrid sports sedan takes the whole cake.
While most automakers have started supplying us with teasers and first official photos of their entries to Geneva, the I.D.E.A. Institute has given us three CGI images of the car. That’s about it. Then again, beggars can’t be choosers so we’ll take these photos over nothing.
In addition to these renderings, the I.D.E.A. Institute did give us something
to work with, saying that the concept car will be instantly recognizable through its “Italian styling and beauty”. Like we said, it’s better than nothing.
In any case, this is the second year in a row that the I.D.E.A. Institute has booked a ticket to Geneva after a long sabbatical, and if last year’s concept car – the ERA roadster – is any indication, then we might be in for another pleasant surprise from these fellows.
After we saw the Lexus LF-Ch concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, a model that would compete head to head with other luxury compacts like the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 being offered exclusively as a hybrid.
The Lexus LF-Ch concept combined stylish design cues with full hybrid drive train in a practical 5 door compact package that would fulfill the needs of even the most demanding of premium compact customers with its bolder Lexus grill sitting atop a deep, bulging front bumper complete with a trio of intakes giving it a perfect balance of both precision and power. While the sharply sculpted, aerodynamic front fenders flow into the front bumper to create a wide set of arches and a deep set of brake cooling ducts that give the LF-Ch a powerful and purposeful stance.
The CT 200h’s full hybrid system combines a 1.8 liter VVT-i petrol engine, a powerful electric motor, a generator, a high performance battery, a power control unit, and a power split device which employs a planetary gear set to combine and re-allocate power from the engine, electric motor and generator according to operational requirements.
The car will make its world debut next week at the Geneva Motor Show and will enter production at the end of 2010.
Toyota almost wishes that these kinds of days would come more often.
OK, it’s not our place to continuously make fun of Toyota in light of the crisis they’re in these days so we figure that we’d – for once – commend them for this rather cutesy and upbeat ad for the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid, which was built in Australia.
Taking its cue from (500) Days of Summer – yes, we loved that movie! – this Toyota ad sees a man who, despite the rather monotonous nature of his work, still finds it to appreciate the niceties that life – and a Toyota Camry Hybrid – affords.
Heck, we even have a full slate of gymnasts, acrobats, and cannonballs to accentuate the jollies of driving a Camry Hybrid.
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