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Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program
Filed under: Hybrid, Audi 
The diesel era at Le Mans may not be over yet, but already we're seeing the emergence of a new propulsion trend: hybrids. Toyota recently announced the TS030 Hybrid LMP1, Peugeot was working on a hybrid version of its 908 prototype before it killed the race program, and now Audi has confirmed a hybrid version of the R18 TDI.
Few details were released, but what we can tell you is that Audi will field four cars at Le Mans this year: two with hybrid assist and two without. One will be headlined by Allan McNish, one by Oliver Jarvis, one by Timo Bernhard and one by André Lotterer, with supplemental drivers to be announced sometime before the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicks off in June.
Audi also announced a two-car entry for the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship, with four cars to be run at select racers like Spa and Sebring. Expect more details on the R18 hybrid to be released later this month, but in the meantime you can check out the official announcement after the jump.Continue reading Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid 
A Switzerland-based company is testing an extended-range plug-in mini-vehicle that it says gets more than 200 miles per gallon and has a single-tank range of more than 300 miles, according to website TechnologicVehicles.com.
The company, Catecar, tested a prototype of the vehicle at the Geneva Airport this week. The car weighs less than 800 pounds, while its batteries account for about 10 percent of the vehicle's weight, according to the website. Making the car even more energy efficient are the solar panels on the vehicle's roof.
At just under 10 feet long, Catecar is about a foot longer than Daimler's Smart ForTwo two-seater and about two feet shorter than the Mini Cooper. In other words, it's not big - but the company does have big plans, and production could start next year, TechnologicVehicles reports.Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Toyota, Hasbro will create Monopoly 'course' at Chicago Auto Show
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Chicago Auto Show 
Could Toyota be dropping us all a hint about its place in the hybrid-vehicle world?
The Japanese automaker is teaming up with board-game maker Hasbro to create a mini road course based on the Monopoly board game at the Chicago Auto Show, which Toyota will use to pitch its latest batch of hybrid vehicles.
Toyota and Hasbro are using more than 30,000 square feet, or about two-thirds of an acre, inside McCormick Center's South Hall for the course, where trained drivers will pick up visitors in Prius V wagons, Camry Hybrids and Highlander Hybrids, and drive them through the S-curve-filed course. Among nods to the iconic board game will be "train tracks" for Reading Railroad and the chance for participants to meet the "Mr. Monopoly" character.
Toyota is using the promotion to publicize its broader range of hybrid vehicles, including the recently-launched Camry Hybrid and Prius V. Toyota will also start selling the Prius C compact and a plug-in-hybrid version of the model this year.
Whether Toyota's association with "Monopoly" is a veiled nod to its place in the hybrid food chain is open to interpretation. What's not up for debate is that Toyota accounts for about two-thirds of all the hybrids sold in the U.S., with the Prius making up about half of all domestic hybrids sold. The Chicago Auto Show takes place from Feb. 8 - 19.Continue reading Toyota, Hasbro will create Monopoly 'course' at Chicago Auto Show Toyota, Hasbro will create Monopoly 'course' at Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Toyota gets slammed in Japan with Aqua/Prius C pre-orders
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Japan 
Perhaps the the "c" in the Prius C stands for ka-ching. According to reports, Toyota in Japan received 10 times its monthly sales target in pre-orders for the compact version of its Prius hybrid within the first five days of the model's debut, leading to what's likely to be a shortage and long wait times for the car.
HybridCars.com, citing the Japanese publication Nikkei, says the Japanese automaker received about 120,000 orders for the Aqua between December 26 and 31, adding that Toyota had targeted sales of about 12,000 units a month. Toyota had already received about 60,000 orders prior to the launch of the model, which will be called the Prius C when it debuts in the U.S. later this year, and had estimated a four-month wait time between order and delivery. Toyota's current production capacity is limited to 30,000 Prius C units a month.
The glut of pre-orders is likely to create yet another supply shortage situation for Toyota, whose production of the Prius and other models was hampered by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last March. This led, in part, to Toyota's U.S. Prius sales falling 3.2 percent last year, though last month's sales were up 8.7 percent from a year earlier.
The Prius C, whose fuel economy is estimated at about 50 miles per gallon, is scheduled to start sales in the U.S. in March and will be priced at just under $19,000. Toyota also started recently started selling the Prius V wagon - which is also incredibly popular so far - and will debut a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius this year.Toyota gets slammed in Japan with Aqua/Prius C pre-orders originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, North America, Fisker 
Time for some good news/bad news (maybe) from Fisker Automotive.
First, the good news. The company announced today that it will soon be selling the luxury plug-in hybrid in Canada, starting with retail locations in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Fisker is working with the big Canadian auto dealer the Dilawri Group as well as Fields Automotive Group to sell the PHEV in Canada. More stores should be coming, since Fisker said in a statement that it will "expand its presence in Canada as it ramps up Karma production."
Speaking of that production, here's the possible bad news. In Auto News is reporting (but doesn't actually source) that Fisker is dropping the number of Karmas it expects to sell in 2012 down to 10,000. Way back when, (i.e., November 2011) the company was still confident it would make 15,000 Karmas in 2012. But then sales were delayed - and we know that production is not the same as sales - so there's reason to be skeptical that lofty sales targets for the $100,000+ Karma will be met. We've contacted Fisker for a comment on this possible decrease, but have not yet heard back. If they respond, we'll let you know.
UPDATE: Roger Ormisher, Fisker's senior director of global corporate communications & PR, wrote to AutoblogGreen:
There has been so much confusion over our sales targets in the media (15,000 was the figure for full global production and sales of all 3 Karma derivatives - sedan, Surf Wagon and Sunset convertible) that we have now moved away from quoting projections.
This is a new car from a new brand in a unique market segment. Therefore, we are not making any predictions on sales figures. We are a new car company, learning as we go and opening up new markets consistently - and one thing that we have learned is that making annual sales projections when you bring a car such as the Karma to the market is unhelpful!
Continue reading Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Infiniti EMERG-E announced as name for Geneva-bound electric concept
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Infiniti, Geneva Motor Show 
Infiniti has named its plug-in hybrid electric concept car headed for the Geneva Motor Show in March the EMERG-E. The company says the vehicle will be a sports car with a range-extending 1.2-liter gasoline internal combustion engine. The powerplant will be mounted mid-ship for superior weight distribution, and the Japanese automaker promises the concept will offer impressive performance. It may or may not also run on rainbows.
Infiniti has released very few details beyond saying pure-electric range will be "respectable." The vehicle also promises zero-emission driving in most urban settings, so there's a good chance the concept will show off some advanced charging tech as well. The automaker is intent on making us wait until the vehicle's full unveil in Geneva before it drops any more clues, though a few more teaser images have surfaced to whet our appetite. Check them out in the gallery below.Infiniti EMERG-E announced as name for Geneva-bound electric concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet 
Just when you thought you'd seen all the Super Bowl ads there were to see, Chevrolet jumps in with a whole new spot for the Chevrolet Volt. The supposed savior of General Motors has been struggling to make sales headway for a number of reasons. GM managed to move a paltry 603 units in January. With some dealers refusing their allocations, the automaker is keen on putting the spurs to Volt sales. The Super Bowl ad features a host of very curious aliens attempting to comprehend the science behind the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Volt.
It would seem GM believes buyers are being scared off from the Volt because they simply don't understand the mechanics behind the plug-in hybrid. Anything is possible and, if that's the case, the new commercial should help clear up any mysteries surrounding the vehicle. Hit the jump to see E.T. in action for yourself.Continue reading Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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BMW i3 caught winter testing again
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, BMW 
Spy photographers have picked up yet another batch of photos of the BMW i3. This time, the pint-sized Bimmer was spotted during some winter testing in Norway. When we last saw the awkward-looking hatchback, it was whirring about under the power of 600cc two-cylinder range-extending engine back in November. This looks to be the same i3 REx, complete with its "Hybrid Test Vehicle" stickers slathered on both doors. That means the model you see here likely boasts a range of significantly longer than the 100 miles quoted for the pure EV. How much longer? That's a question BMW isn't likely to answer until the production model debuts.
From what we've heard, the BMW i3 is slated hit the market in 2013 with the i3 REx surfacing sometime shortly thereafter. We'll be interested to see whether the production model rides on the same super-skinny tires as the test ride pictured above. Click through our attached image gallery for a host of snowy i3 photos.BMW i3 caught winter testing again originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Civic Hybrid driver Heather Peters wins $9,800 judgment from Honda in small claims court
Filed under: Etc., Green Culture, Hybrid, Honda 
This is why some people didn't want to settle with Honda. Heather Peters, who took Honda to small claims court in Torrance, CA recently over claims of the Civic Hybrid's fuel economy, has been awarded $9,867.19 in damages. That's almost the maximum allowed in small claims court ($10,000) and is a decision that might have a big impact on future class-action litigation.
A refresher on the situation: In 2007, John True sued Honda because, he said, the automaker made misleading claims about the fuel economy of the Civic Hybrid. In 2009, after it became a class-action lawsuit, Honda settled with Civic hybrid drivers, giving them either up to $1,000 off the purchase of a new Honda or a $100 check. This didn't sit right with Peters, so she sued.
The court commissioner ruled that Honda "negligently misled" Peters with claims that Civic Hybrid could get 50 miles per gallon, the LA Times writes. In a statement, Peters said:
I am absolutely thrilled at the reports that I won, even though I won't see the actual judgment until it comes in the mail. It's a victory for Civic Hybrid owners everywhere! Sometimes big justice comes in small packages.
Honda says it plans to appeal, and this may all just be the beginning. Peters is encouraging other Civic Hybrid owners who are disappointed in their real-world mileage to file suits against the automaker in small claims courts across the country. Civic Hybrid driver Heather Peters wins $9,800 judgment from Honda in small claims court originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Pininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid?
Filed under: Hybrid, Racing 
Race cars are going hybrid these days. Formula One racers store regenerated brake energy. Porsche packs a flywheel into the 911 GT3 R. Just the other day, Toyota unveiled its new TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype. And now even Jim Glickenhaus' one-off Ferrari-powered, Pininfarina-designed P4/5 Competizione is said to be getting a hybrid powertrain.
Emerging reports from Europe indicate that the GT prototype is preparing to return to the Nürburgring-based VLN series, but this time, it'll be packing some electric boost. That bit is tipped to come from a system provided by Magneti Marelli that's similar to the Kinetic Energy Recovery System it developed for Scuderia Ferrari for use in F1. The 4.0-liter V8 will continue providing principal motivation, but the added jolt of power could be just what the team needs to conquer the Green Hell with green(er) propulsion.Pininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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