Fuel efficient camping for 4. Making the Prius even more versatile OK. Toyota Prius haters are only going to shake their heads in total disbelief when I call the Camp Inn Relax Cabin the coolest Toyota Prius accessory ever. Then again, I’m a functionality person when it comes to transportation, and a 50 mpg camper that sleeps 4 is about as…

Fuel efficient camping for 4. Making the Prius even more versatile OK. Toyota Prius haters are only going to shake their heads in total disbelief when I call the Camp Inn Relax Cabin the coolest Toyota Prius accessory ever. Then again, I’m a functionality person when it comes to transportation, and a 50 mpg camper that sleeps 4 is about as practical as it comes. That and maybe …

Camry hybrid more cost-effective than a conventional Camry? But just because of limited hybrid and EV supplies? As the Nissan Leaf begins to hit new dealerships, spreading to all 50 states by March, it has become one of the fastest moving vehicles in the industry, averaging just 6 days on the dealer room floor. Similarly, the recently revamped Toyota Camry hybrid is lasting just 7 …

Who needs a Volt when you can just Cruze? Are plug-ins to follow the path of fuel cells? I’ve made it clear that I don’t believe the hybrid and plug-in hype is fading into irrelevance because of advancements in gasoline engines, which undoubtedly have the capability to achieve much higher levels of efficiencies. Of course, those gasoline engines will …

The 2012 hybrid sales story is all about Toyota Or was it all just about the Japanese supply disruption? If you followed the hybrid headlines in 2011, you might believe the end must be near for hybrid cars, despite recent headlines — even from a major oil company — regarding the alleged massive…

Should been a Volt instead? So, why didn’t you start there, Bob? There are a number of people on this blog that have made fun of me over the years for my admiration of ex-GM Vice Chairman et al, Bob Lutz, an admiration I willfully admit. I’ve relished every opportunity to be around …

The clever hybrid, or the deceptive one? New Buick LaCrosse eAssist commercial explains it all Last night I was watching Kitchen Nightmares — what a fantastic show — and was able to catch a commercial for the new Buick LaCrosse eAssist during a break. You know the one. The hybrid that isn’t a hybrid, at least in terms of GM…

Tata's eMO – The future of emerging markets? And that’s before tax credits So, I’m crazy. Pod cars. Autodrive. Why not just add flying capabilities to my vision of the near automotive future? Unfortunately, I believe that the world is headed towards auto-drive and pod cars whether consumers want them or …

Not enough room and functionality for most Americans? Please Time for the automotive revolution to evolve It’s hard to argue that electric cars don’t make sense. Well, aside from costs and range of course. But over time those issues will become less and less relevant. Still, it could be…

A real hybrid challenge to the compact segment An interesting litmus test for Toyota hybrid cars Do you really need battery technologies to achieve automotive success through the next decade? According to companies like Hyundai, the answer is no, although even Hyundai will admit that hybrids are still required even if just to maintain …

Integrate it into the Camry now. Now that’s no science experiment By the end of this decade the Prius family could outsell Toyota’s money-maker, the Camry, according to some company statements. However, the NS4 plug-in hybrid concept suggests that maybe Toyota is having second thoughts about using…

The Tru 140s eAssist hybrid Is GM taking the cost-effective hybrid approach, or refusing to admit failure? In a weird way, I believe that mild hybrid technologies, such as GM’s eAssist could make a lot of sense. As battery costs decline, eAssist — at least it seems to me — could …