The California based Fisker Automotive corporation has just been granted a sizable loan from the U.S. Government that will rapidly facilitate the automaker’s full scale production of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The U.S. Department of Energy has signed off on and agreed to the terms of a conditional totaling over half a billion dollars so that Henrik Fisker’s car company can create affordable, fuel efficient hybrid electric vehicles that are made right here in the U.S.A. The $528,000,000 loan will also allow Fisker Automotive CEO, Henrik Fisker to create at least 5,000 jobs for autoworkers right here in the U.S.
If only General Motors and Chrysler had lineups as desirable as Henrik Fisker’s then perhaps the U.S. Government would have been a bit more eager to step in and help out with their financial needs. It is no doubt that fuel efficient gas electric hybrids are going to be the next generation of personal transportation and it is confidence inspiring that there is an automaker who not only believes in the future, but also believes that we don’t have to sacrifice fun in order to save fuel.
The Toyota Prius is all new for 2010 as the Japanese automaker’s most popular gas electric hybrid goes into its third generation of production car status. Our Blue Ribbon metallic [Prius features an all new shape from the previous version that includes a few more aerodynamic touches to get the gas electric hybrid as close as possible to 50 MPG. Toyota’s engineers had a very unique approach to making the new Prius as fuel efficient as possible by adding larger power units. The 2010 Prius features a larger 1.8 Liter engine than its predecessor that by itself makes a maximum output of 98 HP and 105 lb-ft of torque and when combined with the larger 36 HP electric motor gives the 2010 Prius a combined gas/electric output of 134 HP, more than most economy cars.
Despite the larger displacement power plant the latest generation Toyota Prius is able to get an EPA estimated 51 MPG in the city and 48 MPG on the highway thanks to a very concentrated effort to aerodynamically reduce drag and eliminate unnecessary energy loss with a few new sophisticated driving modes, one of which turns the Prius into a true zero emission electric vehicle. Priced with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of just $22,000 the 2010 Toyota Prius is now well within the reach of the average new car buyer and proves to be a perfect solution to the future of personal transportation.
The Japanese luxury automaker Lexus is planning on unveiling the 2010 LS600h, in both standard and extended wheelbase version at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The luxury hybrid LS600h features a new four bar grille and restyled front bumper with redesigned air intakes and foglamps. The headlamps have a new running light design and are finished in Lexus hybrid blue, giving the car a distinctive appearance befitting its flagship status.
The Lexus Hybrid Drive system has been revised to meet Euro V exhaust emissions standards, but with no change to the car’s performance: the combination of the 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine and 165kW electric motor produces a maximum 439bhp and 520Nm of torque, giving nought to 62mph acceleration in 6.3 seconds.
In what is being expected as one of the most star-studded Frankfurt Motor Shows in recent years, BMW threw the first salvo by officially unveiling its Vision EfficientDynamics hybrid super car in one of Frankfurt’s first preview events.
Leading the unveiling was BMW chairman and CEO Dr. Robert Reithofer who commented that the new super car boasts of one of the world’s most technically advanced engines and body construction technology.
The car is by all means everything we’ve been talking about for the past couple of months. It’s got the 2+2 seat configuration and is powered by a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo diesel hybrid making it capable of churning our as much as 356 horsepower. The car clocked impressive times in its’ 0-100 kmh test time, clocking in at just around 4.8 seconds – a jaw dropping number considering the car’ average fuel consumption reads at only 3.76-L/100km.
Although the car seems to be impressive in every aspect, Reithofer did put in a word of caution, saying that the Vision EfficientDynamics is far from a finished product and BMW is still looking at other means by which improve the car’s efficiency down the road.
Jaguar will unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show the hybrid version of the new XJ luxury sedan. The new XJ Limo-Green hybrid will compete with the hybrid versions of the Mercedes Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series.
The concept was developed in cooperation to the British government, Lotus and Caparo. It is powered by a 195 hp and 295 lbs-ftof torque electric motor combined to a 1.2-liter gasoline engine developed by Lotus. On a single charge the Limo-Green can travel up to 30 miles.
According to Anthony Harper, head of research at Jaguar Land Rover: "The technology is still in its infancy and there is still a lot of work to do before we can even think of production. The components aren’t at the right cost or quality yet you would expect of a Jaguar product, but the technology is there."
The German automaker Mercedes Benz will unveil the Vision S 500 Plug-in HYBRID at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. This particular S 500 will be the first three liter car in the full sized premium class. This is because the S 500 Plug-in HYBRID consumes just 3.2 liters of gasoline for every 100 kilometers traveled, that equates to an average of 74 MPG, the same as a Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion. This is possible because the engineers at Mercedes have managed to combine a powerful direct injected V6, a 60 HP electric hybrid module and a next generation lithium ion battery pack with more than 10 kWh of storage capacity which allows the hybrid S Class to run for up to 30 Kilometers as an all electric zero emissions vehicle.
According to Daimler’s Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the S 500 Plug-in HYBRID "is a luxurious and safe S‑Class that offers superior driving performance while at the same time consuming less fuel than current compacts. All of this shows that our top models will also be able to combine automotive fascination with responsibility for the environment." Unlike traditional hybrids that sacrifice performance for efficiency, the Vision S 500 Plug-in HYBRID is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in 5.5 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 MPH.
The Japanese luxury automaker Lexus is planning to unveil the all new LF-Ch compact hybrid hatchback at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, the LF-Ch will compete head to head with other luxury compact models like the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3. However what sets the Lexus apart from the crowd is that the production version will be offered exclusively as a hybrid.
The Lexus LF-Ch combines stylish design cues with full hybrid technology in a practical 5 door compact package that should perfectly fulfill the needs of even the most demanding premium compact customers. The LF-Ch will feature a bolder Lexus grille that sits atop a deep, bulging front bumper complete with a trio of intakes giving it a perfect balance of both precision and power. 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 LF-Ch benefits from having an electric vehicle mode, a key aspect of the Lexus hybrid drive train, allowing the luxury hatch to operate as a zero emissions vehicle and allow for a virtually silent urban driving experience.
With a plethora of new cars set to make their debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Lotus is taking a different route by bringing with them their newly-developed engine designed for future hybrid-drive vehicles.
The new engine, which comes in a revolutionary aluminum encasing that integrates the cylinder block, cylinder head, and exhaust manifold into one solid casting, which results in the car being extremely lightweight – weighing no more than 56 kilos – while also improving emissions and engine durability.
Likewise, the engine also comes with a 1.2 Liter, 3 cylinder Range Extender that, as Lotus claims, is the first of its kind built to cater specifically to the hybrid market. The new Lotus engine also features a two-valve port fuel injection system that can release a maximum output of 15kQ from 1,500 RPM to 3,500 RPM.
The new Lotus engine, which was developed as part of a project by the U.K. Technology Strategy Board, is a revolutionary achievement by Lotus in producing hybrid engines that are both highly-efficient and affordable.
The crew from Car and Driver spotted the real live BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car in front of the BMW Welt Delivery Center in Munich just outside the German based car company’s headquarters a short while ago. Up until now we have only been privy to teasers, renderings and factory stills; but this photo gives the vehicle the sense of being a real car, and that is because it is.
The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is a 2+2-seater plug-in hybrid model powered by a 1.5 Liter three cylinder turbo diesel engine that produces 163 HP and 214 lb-ft of torque that is combined with two electric motors mated to a DTC gearbox to produce a very efficient sports car. All three power generators work together to deliver a maximum output of 356 HP and a peak 590 lb-ft of torque while fuel consumption is reduced to a very impressive 75.1 MPG. That much economical power allows the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics to sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 4.8 seconds and reach top speed of 155 MPH.
The Japanese automaker Toyota is planning on unveiling the Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, the Auris will introduce the world to the automaker’s latest advancements in their Hybrid Synergy Drive technology that will be applied across the company’s entire model range in the near future.
In a statement made by the CEO and President of Toyota Europe, Tadashi Arashima: "Toyota has taken a significant step forward in ensuring that full hybrids become more accessible to a wider range of customers. Such efforts are crucial if we are to see more low-carbon vehicles on European roads." The new model will be priced much lower than the Prius in an attempt to compete with other models like Honda’s more affordable hybrid the Insight as well as fans of the Auris city car looking to get a few more MPGs.
Aside from the Auris Concept, Toyota will also unveil the new Toyota Land Cruiser, and two customised compact hatchbacks in the form of the iQ for Sports and the iQ Collection.
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