Hybrid Cars

,

Toyota Prius v, 2012: Roomier, supple sedan expands best-selling hybrid lineup

If you like the Toyota Prius, but want more room than the standard model offers, meet the larger, roomier new 2012 Prius v wagon. The four-door hatchback Prius v expands the Prius line. It’s longer, wider and taller than the standard Prius, although it doesn’t look as attractive. Its rear end seems to be grafted onto a standard Prius, which is no beauty contest winner, anyway. List prices for the front-wheel-drive Prius v are $26,400 for the base “Two” version, $27,165 for the mid-range “Three” version and $29,990 for the top-line “Five” which I tested. All are well-equipped. Even the Two has climate and cruise controls, AM/FM/CD stereo, back-up camera, keyless entry and power windows and mirrors. The Three’s items

Read more
,

Hyundai fighting recall of Sonata Hybrid for seatbelt issue

Hyundai continues its increasingly strong position among carmakers, and it now believes it can do well against a more powerful industry leader — the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hyundai has been ordered to recall and replace center rear seat belts in 14,728 Sonata hybrids from model years 2011 and 2012. But the automaker is seeking a review of the recall and is filing for an exemption. The Korean automaker has fixed the issue believed to be a safety concern for 1,633 Sonata Hybrids in its possession. But Hyundai believes there's no further risk for slightly more than 13,000 other Hyundai hybrids in the public sector. Several auto web sites are reporting the issue in question is whether seatbelts

Read more
, , ,

Academy Awards: Mercedes-Benz joins Hyundai, debuts new hybrid commercial

Mercedes-Benz will join Hyundai during the 82nd annual Academy Awards as carmakers debuting commercials for new 2012 models. In the instance of Mercedes-Benz, the debut will be showcased in a 30-second spot call "Tree of Innovation" and it will be for the S400 HYBRID. The commercial also showcases the company's expanding repertoire of environmentally oriented vehicles. The ad is the first to feature the new "voice" for Mercedes-Benz advertising, Jon Hamm, the Golden Globe winning star of the TV series Mad Men. Hyundai is debuting two 30-second spots for the 2012 Azera. Jeff Bridges, the Academy Award winning actor, is the voice of Hyundai. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the

Read more
, ,

Honda Civic Hybrid owner sues carmaker for low gas mileage

If you don't get the gas mileage the manufacturer of your car has promoted, sue the carmaker. That's the approach Heather Peters, a former attorney, is taking against Honda in a small claims court suit. She claims her 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid has achieved about 60 percent of the gas mileage she expected. Peters says her Honda Civic Hybrid never approached its marketed 50 mpg estimates. And as the car's battery deteriorated, Peter said it only achieved 30 mpg. Peters wants Honda to pay $10,000 for her trouble and the extra money she spent on gas. The trial is set for Tuesday afternoon in Torrance, California, where American Honda Motor Co. has its West Coast headquarters. Peters opted out of

Read more
,

Toyota Aqua debuts in Japan with unknown: Can new tiny hybrid sell well?

Toyota's smallest hybrid car, named the Aqua in Japan and the Prius C in the United States, went on sale December 26 in Japan with its native country's manufacturer hoping to attract young buyers to the entry level, fuel efficient market. Priced with a U.S. dollar-converted $21,770, Toyota hopes to sell 12,000 Aquas per month in Japan as part of its global goal of selling 20 percent more hybrid vehicles in 2012 than it's expected to sell in final 2011 totals. "The Aqua shows Toyota is increasing efforts to boost sales in the domestic market," said Mamoru Kato, an auto analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center in Nagoya, Japan. "Toyota raised the price of the Prius to a more profitable

Read more
, ,

Lexus, 2013: Vast media blitz set for redesigned GS 350, 450h

Lexus GS 350 and GS 450 H prototypes, unveiled Nov. 30 in a regional preview in Las Vegas to international journalists and broadcasters, showcased the brand's traditions and new highlights for the 2013 models to debut next spring. The most obvious changes are the newly designed front grill and appreciably improved technology packages. Pricing for the GS 350 won't be announced until near the end of the year, while the hybrid model's price, according to Lexus representatives, won't be for "a couple of months." Other keen features and relevant info: * Mark Levinson sound system with 835 watts, 17 speakers; * 12.3 inch navigation screen; * Lexus expects to sell 20,000-25,000 2013 models per year for the lifespan of the

Read more
,

Toyota Prius v, Mitsubishi i among five best 2012 'green' cars

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric, 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, 2012 Mitsubishi i, 2012 Toyota Prius v and 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI are the finalists for The Green Car of the Year award presented by the Green Car Journal yearly at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the seventh consecutive year, the Green Car of the Year will honor environmental leadership in the automotive field, with the winner being announced during a press conference Nov. 17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. These five finalists are also honored as Green Car Journal’s Top 5 Green Cars for 2012 for rising to the top of a field replete with increasingly more environmentally conscious and exciting models. What is notable about this

Read more

Toyota Camry, 2012: More car, lower prices for most models

Toyota is spending a reported $150 million to market its seventh generation Camry, the newest version of the best-selling car in the United States for the past nine years. The marketing campaign includes 30-second spots in the current World Series, with the new commercial continuing through the 2012 Super Bowl. But what current television commercial, which details the "reinvention" of the Camry, doesn't detail is the new price structure for the Camry, including a unique concept. In many instances, the 2012 Camry versus the 2011 Camry is more car for less money. The 2012 Camry is offered in four model grades: entry-level L, LE, XLE and SE grades. The XLE and SE are available with four-cylinder or V6 engines. The

Read more

Toyota Camry, 2012: Reinventing the wheel in 30 seconds

The 2012 Toyota Camry is now in the beginning stages of its heavy marketing campaign, as witnessed by several commercials, including the 30-second ad featured below, broadcast during the World Series. Toyota is reportedly spending $175 million to promote the 2012 Camry. In this instance, the commercial is creative, compelling and humorous. In 30 seconds, the viewer sees the "magic" in the construction of the Camry and the same wonderment of creating the appropriately sized dog for the guy driving the car. It's clever, for sure, although some critics, say Toyota's new slogan, "It's Ready. Are You?" is too close to a new Boy Scouts promotion Regardless, the commercial for the 2012 Toyota Camry "works" on several levels. To receive

Read more

Toyota Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, 2012: diversity rules

The 2012 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid move into 2012 as three-row crossovers that offer a four-cylinder or V6 power, front-wheel drive (FWD), full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) as well as a hybrid that provides a class-leading 28/28 mpg city/highway fuel economy ratings. All Highlander 2012 models feature a standard 50/50 split third-row seat and rear climate control for customer comfort and flexibility. The Highlander is available in Highlander, SE and Limited grades with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or full-time four-wheel-drive (4WD). A 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 is standard on the Limited grade and available for the others. All Highlander Hybrid models are equipped with four-wheel-drive with intelligence and are available in Highlander and Limited grades. The Toyota Highlander offers three performance

Read more

Toyota Camry Hybrid, 2012: More car, less money

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid will feature a slightly larger engine and, depending on the model, will be priced $800-$1,000 cheaper than the 2011 versions. The base model 2012 Camry Hybrid will be priced $25,900, approximately $1,000 less than the 2011 model. The premium will be priced at $27,400, a decrease of $800 from last year’s model. Equipped with the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, the new Camry features a four-cylinder, 2.5 liter engine that can produce 200 horsepower. It has a combined fuel economy of 41 mpg. During the Green Drive Expo, a recent media brand launch in Richmond, Calif., the Toyota Camry hybrid presented itself well. It's handsomely designed with a spacious cabin, upgraded trim and, most importantly,

Read more

Toyota Prius, 2012: Plug-in hybrid debuts, 87 MPGe

Toyota has introduced the Prius Plug-in hybrid, joining the third-generation Prius Liftback and the new Prius v and Prius c models, the latter of which is set to debut in 2012. The Prius Plug-in combines the benefits of the standard Prius model’s hybrid vehicle operation with extended electric vehicle (EV) driving. Marketed as seating five, the 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is expected to achieve a manufacturer-estimated 87 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined driving and 49 MPG in hybrid mode. The recent introduction of the larger Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid gives Toyota four eco-focused vehicles, including the Prius c, which will debut in 2012. The 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybridwill allow EV operation and performance for up

Read more

BMW debuts electronic concept i3 at Frankfurt auto show

BMW has joined the green car market with the i3, an all-electric small city car, and the i8, a powerful hybrid sports car featuring an electric motor with a three-cylinder combustion engine. The BMW i3 Concept, which features rear-wheel drive, is making its debut at the current Frankfurt auto show. Both cars are constructed with light-weight aluminum structures and carbon fiber bodies and will operate on smaller batteries without sacrificing efficiency. The i3 is expected to travel as far as 95 miles on a single charge; the i8 will have 21-mile range on its electric engine. BMW hasn’t announced pricing, but the i3 should be available in late 2012 or early 2013 and the i8 in 2014. Selected specifications of

Read more

Toyota reveals online registration plan for 2012 Prius buyers

Toyota has announced the introduction of a soon-to-launch online system for customers to order the redesigned 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid. The first phase of the online system, called Priority Registration, will launch April 22, 2011. Customers interested in purchasing a Prius Plug-in can visit the carmaker’s site to complete the registration. Toyota’s Priority Registration allows customers first access to the online ordering systems when it’s available later in this year. The new online service will allow customers the convenience of configuring their own vehicle from any web browser, select their dealership of choice (within 15 launch states), and track their order through production, distribution and delivery. The Prius Plug-in will begin arriving at Toyota dealers in 15 launch states in

Read more

Porsche set to debut second hybrid, Panamera S

Porsche will unveil its second production hybrid model, the Panamera S Hybrid, later this year, adding another chapter to the carmaker’s Intelligent Performance development philosophy. The new Panamera model produces 380 horsepower is the most fuel efficient Porsche in history. Optional low-rolling-resistance tires developed for the Panamera helps hybrid performance sedan deliver its impressive NEDC fuel economy figure. But even with standard performance tires, the Panamera S Hybrid’s estimated mpg will be just under 27 mpg. (The official EPA fuel economy estimates will be available closer to the car’s on-sale date.) The Panamera S Hybrid sets new standards in terms of Porsche performance as well as hybrid efficiencies. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and has

Read more

GM announces test drive program for Chevy Volt

Car buyers, increasingly interested “green cars” like Chevy Volt, will soon be able to test drive the electric-hybrid in Chevrolet dealerships in the initial launch markets of California, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C., According to General Motors, the markets will receive 550 dedicated Volt demonstration vehicles in nine 10 markets. “We know the best way to experience the Volt is to get behind the wheel and drive it. Now dealers will have the ability to allow consumers to form their own opinions of the Volt through test drives and demonstrations,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet marketing director. According to GM research, 85 percent of consumers searching for information about the Volt on Chevrolet.com looked

Read more
Previous Next