Hybrids

Bucking an industry trend toward outsourcing the construction of motors and hybrid assemblies to high-tech companies with similar experience in non-autmotive fields, a new report indicates Volkswagen will be building its own hybrid internals. The decision is based is the idea that the company will...

Retailers like Nieman Marcus are well-known for offering special editions of vehicles around the holidays, and just last Friday Bloomingdale's announced they would be offering a special edition Infiniti G37 Convertible. Now Wal-Mart's bulk-package store Sam's Club is getting in on the act, offering...

Tesla's lawsuit, filed against rival hybrid-electric carmaker Fisker in April for design theft and 'poor work', has come to an end in arbitration. Unfortunately for Tesla, which sought to stop Fisker from proceeding with its Karma luxury plug-in hybrid sedan, Fisker has come out on top, with the...

The Saturn Vue Greenline hybrid vehicle quickly fell off the radar following its launch back in November 2006, however the eco-friendly crossover is set to make headlines again, this time at the SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas. General Motors will present a modified version of the Saturn Vue Greenline...

Hybrid drivetrains are all the rage among the buying public, being fitted to everything from economy sedans to luxurious SUVs, but it's still the driver's input that can have the most dramatic effect on fuel economy. That's why Ford has developed its SmartGauge technology, designed to help drivers...

Just a month or so ago, the automotive world spent a frenzied several weeks feeding over the production Chevrolet Volt, unveiled for General Motors' centennial. This week a major step forward in the car's march to full-scale production was made in the selection of a supplier for the battery, though...

Despite receiving more than a thousand orders for its $100,000 all-electric Roadster, Tesla has been bit by the financial crisis bug and was recently forced to make several major cost cutting measures. Last week the company announced a new CEO and confirmed plans to layoff up to half its staff as...

Old-world charm, resolute styling and blue-blooded buyers may not be the first things one mentally associates with electric-powered cars, but Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves thinks the combination makes perfect sense. Instantaneous torque, quiet operation and urban propriety all work in favor of an...

Israel and Denmark have already started work to build the first nationwide infrastructures designed to support electric cars. Now Better Place has announced Australia will become the third - and most geographically challenging - nation to join the program, at an estimated investment of $676...

First sighted at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month, the Microcar M.GO Electric is an all-electric city car with the proportions of the Toyota iQ or Daimler Smart ForTwo, but offering up to 87mi (140km) of driving range on batteries alone. Powered by a rechargeable battery pack that takes less...

Chrysler’s new Dodge Durango and Aspen hybrid SUVs finally began rolling off assembly lines in late August at the company’s Newark plant in Delaware. The two SUVs are Chrysler’s first entries in the hybrid market and are now able to backup Chrysler's claimed fuel efficiency...

Volkswagen has one of the widest and most interesting engine range in the automotive industry but in the United States its offering consists of a paltry line of four, five and six-cylinder units that are mostly petrol. That is set to change, however, as construction of a plant in Chattanooga...

BMW plans to release a limited run of 500 all-electric Minis next year in order to meet new Californian regulations that require carmakers selling cars in the state to offer zero emission vehicles. These latest spy shots show a prototype of the upcoming electric vehicle only a few weeks out from...

Development of the all-electric Porsche from German tuner RUF has reached a major milestone, with confirmation today that initial testing of a prototype 911 has been successful. RUF had originally planned to install its electric powertrain in its Cayman 3400K model but decided to go with the bigger...

With AMG no longer focused on chasing big horsepower numbers, efficiency could quickly become the new performance benchmark for the Affalterbach-based tuner. Currently in development is a range of new diesels, advanced lightweight materials and construction methods, as well as a hybrid system for...

Already known as the luxury segment’s “greenest” brand, Lexus is reportedly looking to build upon this reputation by moving to a completely hybrid lineup in the medium to long term. The statements were made by Toyota managing officer Toshio Furutani to Japan’s Nikkei...

Michelin’s Active Wheel technology has been around for the past couple of years but actual applications of the electronic powertrain and handling management system are still hard to come by. Over the years the technology has been showcased in a number of concepts, and at this week’s...

The flotilla of cars and concepts unleashed at the Paris Motor Show this week has largely been about vehicles that we'd seen coming for some time or design concepts that won't be seen for years, if at all. Seeking the middle ground, Volvo has taken the opportunity to reveal its plans for a...

Combining elements of both a scooter and a car, the HYmotion3 Compressor is the latest concept to come out of Peugeot. Featuring the carmaker’s new 'HYmotion' hybrid technology, the result is a three-wheel-drive vehicle that features an electric motor in each of its two front wheels and a...

Peugeot has joined sister-brand Citroen by releasing yet another concept vehicle based on PSA Group’s new HYmotion4 AWD hybrid system. The new concept is called the RC HYmotion4 and according to Peugeot it is a ‘Touring Car Coupe’ that features a number of engineering and...