hybrid

Fisker, which showed off a concept hybrid sports car last year, came back to the Detroit auto show this year to show off a new concept along with the production version of its Karma model. The production Karma doesn't look much different from the concept we saw--it's a sedan with a curvy, grand tourer-style body. The new concept shown off by Fisker, called the Karma S, is a two-door coupe with a retractable hard top, using the same power train as the Karma.

The Fisker power train is similar to GM's Voltec and Chrysler's ENVI, a … Read more

Toyota gives the third generation Prius a face-lift that even Joan Rivers would find daunting. This new model features larger dimensions, more fuel economy, and a few new safety and efficiency tricks, but did they get it right?

At the 2009 Detroit auto show, you will be greeted by a tranquil surprise if you venture below the main hall down to the lower level Michigan Hall--silently running cars drive along a curving road running through a pine forest. Yes, you are still inside, and much warmer than if you were out in Michigan's winter. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation set up this forest scene, inviting car companies to show off cars that can run on electricity. Visitors will be able to take a ride in cars such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Dodge Durango Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade … Read more

The rumors before the 2009 Detroit Auto Show were true, Cadillac showed off a concept based on the Volt series hybrid power train. The Cadillac Converj concept shows off a low, sporty looking 2+2 coupe design with Cadillac's Art and Science design language present through-out. With the Converj roll-out, GM had a few announcements about its series hybrid efforts, such as its intention to build a factory to produce automotive batteries.

The powertrain for the Converj and the upcoming production Volt now has a name: GM calls it Voltec. This power train uses an electric motor to drive … Read more

Honda generated a lot of excitement last year when it announced the 2010 Insight, a new dedicated hybrid. Could it unseat Toyota's Prius from the hybrid throne? But Toyota wasn't about to let this upstart go unchallenged, announcing an update to the current generation Prius, which has been in production since 2004. We got to see both production vehicles at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and set them against each other in a series of photos. Will the Insight bring fresh thinking to the hybrid space? Will Toyota sit on its laurels, or give the Prius the update … Read more

I had the opportunity to spend a few hours driving a 2010 Honda Insight on city streets and backroads of Carefree, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix, when it was introduced to the automotive media last month.

Driving the 2010 Honda Insight is a bit different from driving any other CVT-equipped car. Regenerative braking is noticeable on deceleration, allowing less use of the antilock disc/drum hydraulic brakes. There are also two new features on the Insight not found in other cars--EcoAssist and Econ mode.

With 98 horsepower, developed fairly high in the rev range at 5,800rpm, and 123 pound-feet … Read more

Hinted at for a while, and shown in prototype form at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late November, the second-generation Honda Insight was formally introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 11. The embargo date has passed, and now it can be told: we saw and drove it in Phoenix a month ago.

As the Civic has gotten bigger and moved a bit upscale, Honda has needed to fill its old place in the lineup. The Fit does that quite well, at least for people looking for a sportier than average small gasoline-only hatchback. … Read more

Lexus' timing couldn't be better as it releases an economy luxury car during the current economic troubles. The once wealthy who find themselves in straitened circumstances can still toodle around in a Lexus. The HS 250h is a dedicated hybrid--there is no gasoline equivalent in the Lexus lineup, making it a first for the automaker. The proportions and power train come close to the Camry, and the styling is hardly what we would call refined, but the cabin features the latest Lexus gadgets, including a new interface controller, hard-drive-based navigation, and natural language voice command system.

See photos of 2010 Lexus HS 250h at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. … Read more

Elsewhere, editor Wayne Cunningham has covered the new styling and cabin features of the 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h. So I'll comment on the drivetrain and chassis changes.

Let's just say that, at Lexus, "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection" is not merely advertising hype.

Lexus has obviously been doing something right with its RX, as the midsize luxury crossover is its most-popular vehicle, and the one that defines the midsize luxury crossover segment. But there was room for improvement in both the chassis and powertrain departments. The two previous generations had suspension tunings best-described … Read more