New Generation of Civic

Honda company presented a new Honda Civic Type R (sedan and coupes) of following generation intended for the US car market. The cars executed in stylistics of the concept cars with the same brand name, shown in the middle of January on a Motor Show in Detroit, will be offered in several versions: usual gasoline engines, supereconomic «HF version», hybrid power motor, the gas motor and charged «Si variant».

New Honda Civic for the US Car Market

Standard coupes and sedans Civic, also as well as HF version, will be equipped with the former 1,8-litre four-cylinder motor (140HP), working together with a five-step automatic transmission. Difference of HF only available special additional aerodynamic elements and system «Eco Assist» which was offered before only for hybrids: Honda CR-Z and Honda Skydeck.

According to representatives of the Japanese company, standard version of Civic with such power-plant became more economic and in a city cycle now consume about 6 litres of fuel.

Honda Civic Hybrid of following generation is equipped with a 110-strong power-plant combining the 1,5-litre gasoline engine, the electromotor, a variator and the complete set of lithium-ionic accumulators. According to the manufacturer, the average expense of such car makes 5,2 litres on 100 km of run. It approximately on 0,5 is less, than at the previous hybrid models by Honda Civic.

Charged version Si received the 2,4-litre motor capacity (200HP). The engine works together with a six-step mechanical gear box. Dynamic characteristics of such car are not specified yet.

New Generation of Civic

Honda company presented a new Honda Civic Type R (sedan and coupes) of following generation intended for the US car market. The cars executed in stylistics of the concept cars with the same brand name, shown in the middle of January on a Motor Show in Detroit, will be offered in several versions: usual gasoline engines, supereconomic «HF version», hybrid power motor, the gas motor and charged «Si variant».

New Honda Civic for the US Car Market

Standard coupes and sedans Civic, also as well as HF version, will be equipped with the former 1,8-litre four-cylinder motor (140HP), working together with a five-step automatic transmission. Difference of HF only available special additional aerodynamic elements and system «Eco Assist» which was offered before only for hybrids: Honda CR-Z and Honda Skydeck.

According to representatives of the Japanese company, standard version of Civic with such power-plant became more economic and in a city cycle now consume about 6 litres of fuel.

Honda Civic Hybrid of following generation is equipped with a 110-strong power-plant combining the 1,5-litre gasoline engine, the electromotor, a variator and the complete set of lithium-ionic accumulators. According to the manufacturer, the average expense of such car makes 5,2 litres on 100 km of run. It approximately on 0,5 is less, than at the previous hybrid models by Honda Civic.

Charged version Si received the 2,4-litre motor capacity (200HP). The engine works together with a six-step mechanical gear box. Dynamic characteristics of such car are not specified yet.

New Mark X Zio

Toyota company carried out small modernisation of cars Toyota Mark X Zio. Sales of the updated versions began on February, 14th.

2011 Toyota Mark X Zio

As a result of modernisation was updated the design of a radiator enclosure and aluminium wheels, it gave to cars more sports style as Hybrid Toyota Prius by TOMMYKAIRA. Besides, new colour — is dark-steel became accessible. In total it's possible to choose from 6 variants of colouring.

The design of interior Toyota Zio also changed. The covering of seats was updated, and the steering wheel got leather covering.

Besides, there were some changes in accessible complete sets, thus complete sets 240 «Five Style» and 240G are offered now for more reasonable price. For a month it's planned to sell 1,000 copies of updated electromobile Toyota. The prices vary within 2,470,000-3,400,000 Yens.

New Mark X Zio

Toyota company carried out small modernisation of cars Toyota Mark X Zio. Sales of the updated versions began on February, 14th.

2011 Toyota Mark X Zio

As a result of modernisation was updated the design of a radiator enclosure and aluminium wheels, it gave to cars more sports style as Hybrid Toyota Prius by TOMMYKAIRA. Besides, new colour — is dark-steel became accessible. In total it's possible to choose from 6 variants of colouring.

The design of interior Toyota Zio also changed. The covering of seats was updated, and the steering wheel got leather covering.

Besides, there were some changes in accessible complete sets, thus complete sets 240 «Five Style» and 240G are offered now for more reasonable price. For a month it's planned to sell 1,000 copies of updated electromobile Toyota. The prices vary within 2,470,000-3,400,000 Yens.

2010 Toyota SAI Hybrid Sedan a redesign of the Lexus HS250 hybrid

2010 Toyota SAI Hybrid Sedan

Toyota Motor Corp will be releasing a new petrol electric hybrid in Japan while the Prius will compete with Hyundai Motor Co in Korea. Toyota hopes to sell 36,000 of its new Sai hybrid sedan, Toyota’s goal being one million hybrid cars a year globally after 2010.

The Sai is Toyota’s second hybrid-only car, this car is a redesign of the Lexus HS250 hybrid. The Sai is based on a concept derived from the Japanese word sai-which means "talent" when written as "" and "coloration" when written as ""-as a hybrid-only sedan "combining advanced talent and multi-color sophistication".

The Sai is based on the Lexus HS250h hybrid, a vehicle designed for people who want a more premium hybrid experience than they would get in the Toyota Prius. The Sai would seem to fit somewhere in between. It offers the same powerplant as the HS, but not quite as many luxury features. It's basically an HS with different nose, tail and interior detailing.

2010 Toyota SAI Hybrid Sedan

System (THS) II combining a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle combustion engine with an electric motor and a reduction gear. The Toyota Sai Hybrid uses a 2.4-liter petrol engine generating just under 150 horsepower, and up to 187 Nm of torque. It is mated to a strong electric motor, powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces an additional 140 hp and up to 270 Nm of torque. The Toyota Sai Hybrid powertrain is designed to utilize the two generators efficiently, giving the driver up to 185 hp at any given time.

An exhaust heat recovery system uses exhaust gas to heat the engine, thus shortening engine-warming time and contributing to greatly improved fuel efficiency, especially when outside temperatures are low.

2010 Toyota SAI Hybrid Sedan

2010 Toyota SAI Hybrid Sedan

Programs that allow drivers to attain donations to charities using points received, that surpass fuel efficiency of nationwide Sai ESPO users, and other recreation incentives to encourage drivers to drive in environmentally tactful ways, are available

Toyota is also sending its brand to South peninsula where the Hyundai Kia partnership dominate. The Prius and Camry hybrids will be first and joining them will be the petrol version of the Camry and the RAV4.

Toyota Executive Vice President Yukitoshi Funo told a news conference, “The launching of the Toyota brand into South peninsula is aimed to meet the diversifying needs of consumers in this ontogeny market,”

“We intend to attain every effort to contribute to South Asiatic gild and acquire a loyal following.”

December the seventh is the release fellow for the Toyota Sai retailing at 3.38 meg yen ($40,250), the Lexus HS250 is priced at 3.96 meg yen ($47,159).

The Sai is due to hit a consumption rate of 4.34 liters per 100 km. At this stage Toyota has no plans to goods the Sai, preferring to centre on the home market.

Link Relevant : Best Performance Auto

Detroit Preview: Fisker Karma

Just one short year after Fisker showed us its plug-in hybrid Karma show car at the "Detroit Auto Show", the house that Henrik built will be returning to the Motor City to debut the production version of its ambitious project. Fisker says the production model, which is shown in the post just-released official pic, will only vary slightly in design from the show car, including a different upper grille that's a bit larger towards the outer edges and a larger lower air intake. The exhaust pipe from the internal combustion engine will also exit from an odd place: behind the front wheels. We'll also get our first view of the Karma's production interior in Detroit next month.

Fisker announced last month that it had chosen General Motors' turbocharged, direct-inject 2.0L four-cylinder as its power source of choice, and after sampling the engine in the Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo, we're very eager to see what it will do in a hybrid set-up designed to make one very large luxury saloon move like the wind. Combined with the hybrid system's 22.6 kWh electric motor, the drivetrain as a whole is said to produce 408 horsepower and propel the car to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and onto to a top speed of 125 mph. What sounded like vaporware 365 days ago is starting to take form, and we'll be on hand in Detroit next month to bring you more.

Honda OSM (Open Study Model)

Honda's low-emission sportscar study model has been revealed at the British International Motor Show, at ExCel, London.

The lightweight roadster design study is a concept showing Honda's core engineering principals, designing stylish and exciting cars that are also environmentally responsible.

Named the OSM (for Open Study Model), the two-seater joins the confirmed-for-production CR-Z sports hybrid and FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car on the Honda stand at the show.

Read more about it here ---> Tuning News

Mercedes-Benz S400 Blue Hybrid Revealed

Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off of its first hybrid passenger car, the S400 BlueHYBRID. Based on the S350, this mild hybrid pairs an electric motor/generator and the first lithium-ion battery in a production car with a specially tuned version of the company's 3.5L V6 driving the wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The V6 produces 279 horsepower and can be aided by the electric motor during acceleration with an additional 20 horsepower and 88 lb-ft of torque, giving the drivetrain a combined torque output of 285 lb-ft and what MB calls an electric "boost" effect. Like most hybrids, the S400 features a start-stop function and regenerative braking, but since Mercedes didn't want any interior or trunk space sacrificed for batteries, the S400's special li-ion battery was made small enough to be placed under the hood with the engine. The only evidence you're driving a hybrid while behind the wheel is a special display embedded in the gauge cluster that shows where the energy is flowing at any particular moment. The net result of all this technology is a very large car that sips fuel at the rate of 7.9 liters per 100 kilometers, or what would be around 29 mpg in the U.S. The M-B S400 BlueHYBRID will be available in Europe next summer, and we expect to see it offered elsewhere, including the U.S., not long after.

Source: Autoblog

Toyota Prius vs. Chevrolet Volt

General Motors ends its first century this month. And, you'll have heard, it ain't in very good shape in the US.

So here's the car on which it's betting its second century. The Volt, on sale in 2010 is a hybrid, but not as we know it. They're calling it the extended-range electric vehicle. There is an engine, a new 1.4-litre petrol four, mounted at the front as per usual. But, unlike the Toyota or Honda hybrids, it never drives the wheels directly. In future years, that engine could be replaced by a fuel cell.

In fact, the Volt is designed to give up to 40 miles on battery power alone, with full 150bhp performance available. This, says GM after lots of study, is enough for the habitual daily mileage of 80 percent of American drivers - 12,000 miles a year at 40 miles a day, six days a week. So they'll get home at night and plug in to cheap household electricity, getting that 40 miles for 50p at US mains prices. They might go weeks or months never needing the engine.

When it does spark up, the engine simply charges up the battery - although only partially, as GM wants the car always to arrive at its destination in a depleted state so you can use the mains to re-charge. Even with the engine cycling to keep the batteries at constant charge, the Volt will do about 60mpg.

Disappointed that this doesn't look have the electric-Camaro looks of the Volt show car? Come on, it's better than a Prius. The shape has morphed from show to production to make space for four adults, and the corners had to be rounded off because every scintilla of drag kocked back the electric range.

It's only a four-seater because the upper body tapers backwards to cut drag, and because there's a big battery box running along the car like an overgrown tranmission tunnel. The lithium ion pack weighs 180kg, taking the whole Volt to 1800kg.

By 2012 or so, there will be a Vauxhall/Opel version for Europe with unique styling. The Volt uses the platform of the next Astra, which gives you an idea of its size. And because they had to develop all sorts of power and weight-saving features for the Volt, like climate control and power assists, the Astra will be a better car because of it.

I've met a lot of Volt engineers and they're absolute fanatics. I wish them well. A lot of them worked on the original EV1. Who killed the electric car? If it was GM, then we desperately need it to be GM who brings it back.

Source: Top Gear

BMW's Electric Car

BMW is coming out with it's own future electric car, it will comply with Californian regulations, which say that by 2012 a fuel cell or battery-powered vehicle must have a range of over 200 miles.

The car might look like this in the picture, "It’ll be a car with a completely new look, with two engines available. One will be a very efficient combustion engine and the other will be a purely electric model,” announce company CEO Norbert Reithofer told the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit.

Lincoln MKT Concept

Lincoln has given the MKT crossover the green-light, with the production version set to debut in Detroit this January and sales beginning sometime next year.

The MKT is built on the same platform as the Ford Flex, but Lincoln insists that the two models won't share a single body panel. Power will be provided by either a 3.7-liter V6 or a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, equipped with direct injection and a turbocharger, however a hybrid drivetrain will not be offered. A six-speed automatic gearbox, complete with paddle shifters, will be standard, along with seven-passenger seating, a power-folding third-row seat, heated and cooled, first- and second-row thrones and the SYNC in-car entertainment system. Options will include a new satelite navigation system, Sirius Travel Link, an auto-park feature (similar to that found on the Lexus LS460) and a Cross Traffic Alert system that alerts drivers to obstacles when backing out of a parking space(parking sensors?).

Hybrid/Diesel Land Rover LRX

THIS is the first picture of the new “baby” Land Rover.
The car-like LRX blends the looks of a 4x4 with a coupé.

And it will be the “green” new face of Land Rover - exploding the myth of 4x4s as gas eating monsters.

It's diesel/hybrid engine will slash CO2 emissions and return 40 mpg when the car goes on sale in 2010.

Land Rover managing director Phil Popham says the LRX is described as a cross-coupé this gives “a powerful message” that the firm is serious about environment friendly vehicles.

He said “It’s a way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach."

The car, features lightweight materials, it is 5.9 ins shorter than the Freelander and 8.1 ins lower. Butstill a full four seater with wood and leather trim.

Sun Motoring Editor Ken Gibson said “It’s sensational and extends the brand into a new segment.”

Source: The Sun

Ronn Scorpion - Hydrogen Power!

This is the Ronn Scorpion, and please do forgive for being a touch sceptical, but it does sound just a little too good to be true.

According to Texas-based Ronn Motor Company, the Scorpion is an all-carbon fibre supercar that'll hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds, return over 40mpg... and burn hydrogen all at the same time.
Yes, burn hydrogen. The Scorpion, so they say, is powered by 'fracturing water molecules' from an onboard water tank to create hydrogen, which is then mixed with petrol (in about a 40/60 split) and combusted in the 3.5-litre Honda-sourced V6.

The Scorpion will be available this autumn, which I sort of doubt, but within a year hopefully we will be able to grab a vehicle like this, because of the fore coming fuel prices.

BMW's Hydrogen Car Cleans The Air As You Drive

What if your car consumed carbon monoxide instead of spewing it out? Just such a vehicle was unveiled at last month’s SAE Congress in Detroit, which showcased some exciting green trends in the automotive industry. BMW stole the spotlight with its hydrogen-powered 7-series sedan that emits less carbon monoxide than is present in its environment. The car’s engine breaks down and converts carbon monoxide, essentially cleaning the air as it is driven.

BMW’s carbon cutting sedan features a six-liter hydrogen combustion engine that delivers performance on par with its gas-guzzling counterpart. The vehicle takes a step beyond BMW’s efforts to create a hydrogen/gasoline hybrid with astonishing results: tests conducted by Argonne Laboratories show that the car’s emissions are so low that they are undetectable by standard emissions tests.

It’s certainly true that Hydrogen fueled cars have some critical hurdles to overcome, but developments like this infuse the industry with an uplifting breath of fresh air. BMW currently has no plans for production, but the sedan marks sure signs of future-forward thinking.