Hybrid Cars

Mercedes’ 2007 ML450 Hybrid concept returned fuel-economy figures of 31mpg (7.6L/100km).

Next week’s New York Auto Show will see the debut of three brand new Mercedes Benz models, as well as the U.S. debuts of the 2010 model year E-Class Sedan and Coupe.

The trio of world firsts includes the recently revealed E63 AMG performance saloon, a facelifted GL-Class, and the production version of the ML450 Hybrid SUV.

California’s Fisker Automotive has earlier this week that its upcoming Karma plug-in hybrid will be shown for the first time in full production trim at this month’s Detroit Auto Show.

With only minor design enhancements made to the exterior of the original concept, the production Karma, seen this week in production trim for the first time, retains the extreme proportions and sculptured look of the show car.

"We are very excited to be bringing the Fisker Karma back to NAIAS," said Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker.

Is an electric-powered F-150 the answer to the Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius? PML Flightlink is bringing a radical F-150 to SEMA with four Hi-Pa printed armature -- or pancake -- electric motors mounted in each of the truck's wheels and a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

According to Flightlink's website, the motors are "ironless discs with coils punched from sheet copper and formed onto non-magnetic disc insulators.

It won’t be on sale until this time next year, but BMW has responded to Mercedes-Benz’s unveiling of the S400 BlueHybrid by releasing limited details about its own version of the same drivetrain, the 7-Series ActiveHybrid.

Set to make it’s debut at the Paris motor show, the ActiveHybrid will be BMW’s first true hybrid model.

Honda will reveal a concept version of its new small hybrid vehicle, to be named Insight, at the 2008 Paris International Auto Show, October 2, the company announced today.

The new Insight Concept shares styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle and will provide an early look at the highly-anticipated five-passenger hybrid vehicle.

In a decidedly unsexy move, Toyota on Friday said it will begin leasing its new fuel-cell hybrid, the Toyota FCHV-adv, to Japan's Ministry of the Environment on September 1.
In stark contrast, rival Honda has been leasing its Honda FCX Clarity to such stars as actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who took delivery of the alt-fuel vehicle in early August.

The lease term for Toyota's FCHV-adv is for 30 months and costs ¥840,000 per month, the equivalent of $7,713, the automaker noted.

Toyota Motor Corp plans to install solar panels on its next-generation Prius hybrid cars, becoming the first major automaker to use solar power for a vehicle, the Nikkei business daily reported on Monday.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., has been endorsed as an ‘Eco First’ company by Japan’s Ministry of Environment for its environmental commitments set out under the Nissan Green Program 2010.

We’ve been obsessively following the developments surrounding Nissan’s rumored re-entry into the compact, RWD market, and up until now, it’s been assumed that a small-displacement engine would be mounted up front, possibly fitted with a turbocharger.

But according to a report by Drive.com.au, Nissan is actively considering a hybrid drivetrain to power its Silvia replacement.