Shifting into fuel economy Hybrid fuel economy or hybrid performance? When the Lexus CT 200h hybrid hits dealers it will offer 4 different driving modes – Normal, Eco, Sport and EV – that will provide a nice element of control that might be demanded from Lexus drivers. While control is a nice option, is a focus on fuel economy slipping away …

A sketchy hybrid idea Taking minivans hybrid Honda has been awarded a new patent on some sketches that InsideLine believes look very similar to the Skydeck MPV hybrid concept shown at last year’s Tokyo Auto Show, but there is no official word from Honda that plans for such a hybrid have moved beyond the conceptual stage. Lately Honda’s hybrid vehicles have come up …

A sketchy hybrid idea Taking minivans hybrid Honda has been awarded a new patent on some sketches that InsideLine believes look very similar to the Skydeck MPV hybrid concept shown at last year’s Tokyo Auto Show, but there is no official word from Honda that plans for such a hybrid have moved beyond the conceptual stage. Lately Honda’s hybrid vehicles have come up a little short, at least in …

Is it a hybrid dud, or is it you? Finding blame for bad hybrid fuel economy Drive a hybrid just like any other vehicle, and it will usually still achieve considerably better fuel economy than a similar conventional vehicle, especially in city conditions. However, smart hybrid drivers can often significantly increase their hybrid’s fuel economy by letting a hybrid be a hybrid. Still, when fuel economy comes up short, when is the problem the…

As hybrid vehicles rapidly increase in popularity, advocates for the blind and several safety groups are voicing concerns that the comparative silence of the green cars could cause an uptick in accidents. In fact, government research has shown that hybrid cars …. donjay, it concerns me when the PC police can find a solution with government regulations for everything. What would we do for the deaf?….place signs every 20 feet that say “Caution, A…

Well, I guess it’s green Dang, has the selection of hybrid cars increased significantly in just the last few days. Porsche, Maserati, Ferrari have all confirmed plans to produce new hybrid vehicles. Of course, those were just some of the top end hybrids, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Infinity, for instance, also announced new hybrids during the course of the …

Time to take on the Prius I’ve met GM’s Bob Lutz a number of times, and I’ve largely been in awe of the guy every time, even though I’ve never really agreed with him on hardly any issue. Consequently, I’m glad that Mr. Lutz is retiring. It’s not that Lutz didn’t do a lot of great things…

Just the beginning By 2020 Ford believes that 10 – 25 percent of its global fleet will be hybrid and plug-ins, with hybrid cars making up the majority of sales. To highlight this new potential, Ford will use the Geneva Motor show to roll out two new hybrids, a plug-in hybrid and two EVs, reports the DetroitNews . Unfortunately…

Is it just about styling? When the new Toyota Auris hybrid goes on sale in Europe, it will be even more efficient than the Toyota Prius . The third generation Prius rates at 72.4 mpg on the European cycle, while the new Auris hybrid achieves between 70.6 mpg – 74.3 mpg, dependent upon options according to MotorTrend . Thus, at best, the difference in fuel economy between these two Toyota hybrid cars is not staggering, especially once downsized by the…

Watch out BMW The Audi A1 stormed into Geneva and showcased how Audi might be in the process of redefining itself as an automaker by accepting BMW’s Mini Cooper success. Fortunately, the A1 is about more than just small car luxury, as the A1 will also be offered in a

Nice improvement, but……. Starting in 2012, VW will launch a number of new hybrid cars and electric vehicles, including the UP concept, as well as hybrid and electric versions of the Golf and Jetta, in addition to hybrid versions of the Passat and Touareg. Combined, the vehicles should achieve 3 percent of VW’s …

Only way to save the US battery industry? By 2015, the supply of lithium-ion batteries will outweigh demand by about 62 percent according to Mary Ann Wright , manager of advanced auto batteries for Johnson Controls. Similarly, last week, analysis showed that this over-capacity would force about 60 battery makers worldwide to consolidate into just 6 or 8 manufacturers . More important, the winners will be determined by revenues. Based on US manufacturing …