Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid coming to New York together with an undisclosed concept

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., which is the parent company of Subaru, just announced they are bringing to the New York International Auto Show their first hybrid vehicle, the Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid. Nothing else is known except it will be introduced with the US specifications (with all-wheel drive), so the rest of the world will probably have different engine choices and some minor exterior changes.

But what seems more interesting is that Subaru said in the XV Crosstrek Hybrid Press Release that they are bringing a "concept version of its performance model". The main performance model right now is the BRZ, so does this mean Subaru will introduce the STi version of the BRZ? Or could it be the 2014 WRX STi? Guess we will have to wait for the New York International Auto Show that starts on March 28.

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The Infiniti JX becomes the 2014 QX60, will come to New York

The 2014 Infiniti QX60 will be the second model from the Japanese company to use the new naming structure and will have for the first time a hybrid version. Since the Q50 had spotlight on the Geneva Motor Show, Infiniti wants the QX60 to have all the attention at the New York International Auto Show.

The 2014 QX60 premium crossover won't have any exterior or interior changes besides the new hybrid version. This new system joins a 2.5 liter petrol engine with an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for an overall power output of around 250hp (184kW, electric motor helps with 20hp or 15kW).

Infiniti says it has the performance of a 3.5 liter V6 with the fuel economy of a 4 cylinder engine, and since it has a fuel consumption of 9.1 liters per 100km (26mpg US) it is not far from the truth.

This crossover with room for seven people will cost around €2300 ($3000) more than the normal version.

Source: infiniti

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Bristol luxury car maker will reveal an hybrid supercar

The British brand with almost 68 years of history will join forces with Frazer-Nash to create an hybrid supercar and will reveal it later this year. The new supercar will use a rotary engine as a generator to charge the lithium ion batteries, batteries that will power the four electric motors, each connected to a wheel.

In 2009 Frazer-Nash showed the Namir concept, a car that had the same operating principle that the Bristol car will have, but that time they joined Italdesign to create the concept that is pictured above and below. It had four electric motors with digital differentials to deploy torque intelligently, with a 813cc wankel engine and lithium ion batteries.

Will it ever get to be produced? We don't know, but it seems they are focused on that.

source: autocar

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Hybrid Air, a new type of an hybrid gasoline system [Video]

While most carmakers use hybrid systems with batteries, the PSA Peugeot Citroen Group intends to follow another path, using an all-new technology combining petrol internal combustion engine and compressed air storage, "Hybrid Air".

This new technology is an important step to achieve a consumption of 2l/100km, and is expected to be fitted on B-segment models starting in 2016. On a normal car, like the Citroën C3 or Peugeot 208, fuel consumption should be of 2.9l/100km and will emit only 69g CO2/km.

The system has three modes of operation, Air, Gasoline, Combined, and is expected to be fitted on B-segment models starting in 2016. See the images and video below to have a better understanding of how the system works.

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Volkswagen CrossBlue diesel plug-in hybrid SUV concept

Yesterday I showed you an image of a concept that Volkswagen would reveal at the Detroit Auto Show, and today the German brand revealed the name, in addition to more pictures and information about their future SUV.

The concept has room to sit six people, but if it gets built, it will have room for seven. It was designed specially for the North American market, and contrary to what was stated earlier, this concept is 5m long and will not be slotted between the Tiguan and Touareg, but above the Touareg (4.8m).

The powertrain comprises a diesel engine, two electric motors and a siz-speed dual-clutch transmission and is good for 225kW (306hp) and up to 700Nm of torque. And you need all of that torque to move such a big car, yet it does 0 to 100km/h (32mph) in 7.5 seconds.

When the lithium-ion battery, with a capacity of 9.8kWh, is fully charged you can drive it using only electric power for up to 14miles (22km) with a top speed of 120km/h (75mph), while using the diesel engine (EA288 140kW/190hp) it can reach 204km/h (127mph).

You can use it as a FWD, AWD or RWD car. Front-wheel drive via the TDI engine and the front electric motor (40kW), four-wheel drive with the TDI engine and both electric motors, and rear-wheel drive when using the rear electric motor (80kW).

This is SUV is big, really big, with 4,987mm its length is greater than the Range Rover, and with 2,015mm wide and 1,733 mm tall, it also wider and shorter, making it look more aggressive. The boot has room for 335liters and with all the seats down, almost 2000liters.

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Audi A6 e-tron Sportback Plug-in Hybrid Concept

AutoBild Render

At the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013, the Audi A6 e-tron Sportback will be revealed to the world, showing a new design that eliminates the use of the traditional single grille, used in all the current models of the German brand.

 

Will have the 2 liter petrol engine that will be used in S3 and an electric motor, connected to the rear wheels, producing a total of 400hp. Capable of accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in less than 5 seconds, will have a limited top speed of 250km/h and a consumption of 2.5litres every 100km. A full battery charge will power the car, in pure electric mode, between 75 to 100km. That is really good considering the car weighs almost 2 tons.

Besides the new front, the car will have a length of approximately five meters (197 inches) with a long wheelbase and short overhangs, and a sloping roof line which is reminiscent of the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake. Sales should start in 2017 with a €70.000 price tag in Germany.

Source: motorvision

 

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Lexus sells over 500.000 hybrid vehicles

 

More and more people buy hybrid cars because they think those are an environmentally better alternative to conventional vehicles that use less fuel and has lower emissions, which is true, they are, but not by much.

 

So the fact that one brand has sold more than 506 thousand hybrid cars since 2005 is something that deserves highlighting. Lexus first hybrid vehicle was the RX 400h SUV, launched in 2005, and was replaced in 2009 by the RX 450h selling over 259.000 units sold globally from 2005 untill November 2012, yet the main market for Lexus is the European with 126.000 units sold, representing about 25% of global hybrid sales.

The most recent hybrid vehicle sold by Lexus is the ES 300h, pictured above, and achieved sales of 8.000 cars in selected markets like the U.S.A., Russia, China, and other Asian countries. Overall, hybrid vehicles represent about 25% of total Lexus sales.

Source: Lexus

Lexus hybrid cumulative sales as of end of November 2012

 

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Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, can now be ordered in Germany. And the rest of Europe?

Seems that Volkswagen has started to accept orders in Germany of the Jetta hybrid that is already sold in the U.S.A. for some time. Deliveries begin from mid April.

 

The car is driven by the front wheels which are connected to a turbocharged gasoline engine (TSI) developing 147hp (110kW) and an electric engine with 27hp (20kW), for a total of 174hp (130kW).

To help drive the car is a seven speed dual-clutch gearbox that also helps achieve a 20% drop in the fuel consumption to a cool 4.1litres each 100km which are equivalent to 95 g/km CO2. It also gets to 210km/h. The Jetta can be driven purely on electric power, but only for 2km.

The price starts at €31.300 in Germany.

 

 

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Renault Premium HybrysTech will be the first hybrid garbage truck in Spain

The first garbage truck with hybrid technology was launched in Sweden over four years ago, it was a Volvo FEHybrid. Used by Renova and Ragn-Sells they operated in the Gothenburg and Stockholm regions. But now it is time for Spain to have it's own truck, this time it's a Renault with the body beeing supllied by Geesinknorba.

From 0 to 20km/h (12,5mph) it uses its electric drivetrain to move the vehicle allowing a saving of 20% in fuel consumption and avoiding the emission of 12 tonnes of CO2 annually. Outside the urban area it will use the diesel engine. It will operate in Barcelona by Urbaser.

Source: RevistaEuroTransporte

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