carscoop: Hybrids

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Lexus LF-CC Hybrid Concept Heads to Paris, Previews New IS Coupe

At the upcoming Paris Auto Show, Toyota's luxury brand will bring a new concept coupe named the LF-CC that not only previews the styling language of the next generation of the IS but also a new addition to the range that will go heat-to-head with the BMW 4-Series and Audi A5 Coupes.

The Lexus LF-CC is more compact than the LF-LC concept and also looks more production-ready. It features a less steeply raked interpretation of the trademark Lexus “spindle” grille and its headlamps, while not as futuristic as those of the LF-LC, feature 3 LED projectors each and are set quite back compared to the grille creating what Lexus says is a “3D form”.

The proportions of the LF-CC are those of a typical front-engined, rear-wheel drive coupe, with a long front bonnet, a passenger cabin set rearwards and a stubby tail. In fact, its side profile sort of reminds us of the Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S coupes – or it could just be our blurry eyesight…

2011 World Auto Production Sets New Records, Global “Fleet” Could Top 1 Billion by Year’s End

The Worldwatch Institute reports that global production of passenger vehicles, i.e. cars and light commercial trucks, set a new record in 2011 with 76.8 million units compared to 74.4 million in 2010.

This means that at the end of 2011 a total of 691 million passenger cars were on roads all over the world, rising to 979 million if we include light- and heavy-duty trucks.

2013 Honda CR-Z Facelift Gains Minor Cosmetic Updates and More Powerful Engine

We were right to suspect that the presentation date of the updated CR-Z on Honda's Japanese website was related to the Paris Motor Show as the automaker confirmed the news today while also releasing a full front picture and some initial details surrounding the facelift.

Honda tells us that the refreshed CR-Z hybrid coupe features revisions to the exterior and interior but does not provide additional information.

From the photo, the only change we see is the simplified front grille that drops the three razor-like plastic slabs on the upper half for a more streamlined appearance.

New BMW Active Tourer Concept Previews the FWD 1-Series Gran Turismo [84 Photos & Videos]

These first official images of BMW's new Active Tourer Concept confirm our suspicions that the photo sourced from the cover of the next issue of Auto Bild magazine that we shared with you earlier today, did indeed show the real thing.

To answer the first question you are most likely to have about the Paris Motor Show-bound Active Tourer study, yes, it is intended for production - likely as a 1-Series model with the Gran Turismo moniker that is used by BMW on its more practical vehicles. One of its more direct rivals will be the Mercedes-Benz B-Class small MPV.

But that's not what makes the Active Tourer Concept really special, what does is its platform that will be shared with the next generation of Mini-branded cars and BMW's decision to break with tradition and enter the realm of front-wheel drive models.

Toyota Says Prius Plug-in Hybrid U.S. Sales Top 6,000 Units, Beats Volt and Leaf...or Did it?

A Toyota press release bragging about the achievements of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid variant since it went arrived in U.S. showrooms at the end of February states that the EPA-rated 95 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) Japanese hatchback has delivered 6,061 units in its first six months (March through August) on sale.

However, that's not what caught our attention; this is what did and we quote Toyota's press statement:

"This sales figure represents sales momentum that has propelled the Prius Plug-in to a stronger first full six-months sales pace (6,061 units) than Chevrolet Volt Plug-in (2,745 units) and the all-electric Nissan Leaf (3,875 units)."

New Photos and Details of Peugeot's Onyx Supercar Concept, gets a 680HP V8 Diesel-Hybrid Powertrain

Set to be one of the most impressive concepts at this year's edition of the Paris Motor Show, the Onyx is Peugeot's vision of what a 21st century supercar should be.

The concept's sharply styled body features wings and doors that are handmade from pure copper sheet, and whose appearance Peugeot says will change over time gaining a patina, while the other panels are from carbon fibre painted matte black.

The Onyx incorporates some design references to the RCZ such as the ‘double-bubble’ roof and aluminium arches, but overall, it's a unique looking model.

"The silhouette of the Onyx is sculpted softly, sensuously, but it is also alive and technological," explains Sandeep Bhambra, Onyx Exterior Stylist. "From the first sketches I wanted to create a showcase for technological excellence and craftsmanship by combining elements demonstrating high aerodynamic performance, Black Diamond lamps and copper bodywork panels fashioned by hand."

Peugeot Lowers 3008 Hybrid4 Diesel-Electric Hybrid Crossover CO2 Emissions to 91 g/km

In 2010, Peugeot launched the first-ever diesel-electric hybrid in the form of the 3008 Hybrid4.

The crossover was fitted with a 163HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel powering the front wheels and an electric motor with a 27HP continuous and 37HP maximum output driving the rear axle.

GM Refutes Reuters’ Claim That Each Volt Costs $89,000 to Build, Though it’s Still Losing Money

Despite a rather high US$39,995 sticker price for the base edition of the Volt, Chevrolet’s range-extended hybrid has sold a record 2,831 units in August. So all is well for GM?

In the case of the Volt, the answer is a bit complicated since it’s not your run-of-the-mill gasoline- or diesel-powered car. It’s a problem shared by every hybrid and all-electric vehicle manufacturer: the development costs, the tooling, the battery packs and the powertrain, when added up, simply make for a very high price.

This is Peugeot's New Onyx Supercar Concept and it's Heading to the Paris Motor Show

You may remember that we showed you a video and a handful of screen shots of a new concept supercar from Peugeot named the Onyx on Monday.

Today, a full set of images of the Onyx made their way online well ahead of the study's scheduled world premiere at the Paris Motor Show on September 27.

The sharp looking concept features a two-tone, matte black and bronze paint job and a glass roof.

Peugeot Teases New Onyx Supercar Concept for Paris Motor Show

There was no doubt in our mind that France's "Big Three", Peugeot, Citroen and Renault, will each try to impress visitors and the press alike with dazzling concept models at the 2012 edition of the Paris Motor Show.

The first study to come into light ahead of the show is from Peugeot and it's named Onyx.

SsangYong Prepares e-XIV Small Crossover Concept for Paris Motor Show

This month's Paris Auto Show will see SsangYong lifting the wraps off a new concept study for a range-extender electric crossover named the e-XIV.

The prototype that was teased in these sketches is an evolution of the XIV-2 Concept displayed at the Geneva International Auto Salon this past March, which itself was a three-door version of the XIV-1 Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.

New 2013 Toyota Verso MPV and Auris Tourer (Estate) Teased

The next generation of the Auris five-door hatchback in both regular and hybrid trims won't be alone at Toyota's Paris Motor Show stand as the automaker announced today that it will also introduce the station wagon and minivan variants of the new Auris family.

The estate model will be called Auris Tourer, or in some markets such as Germany, Auris Combi. This is the first time that Toyota has offered a station wagon body style to the Auris range.

It will launch together with the hatchback model with which it will share its entire engine range including, a 1.4-liter turbo diesel, 1.33-liter and 1.6-litre petrols and in a first for a C-segment estate model, a hybrid powertrain.

The latter uses the same setup as the Prius combining a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four cylinder gasoline to an electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery.

2013 Range Rover Mk4 Revealed in More Detail and in 140 New Photos, Diesel-Hybrid Confirmed

The fourth-generation of Land Rover's venerable Range Rover series made its debut today during a special event held at The Royal Ballet School in Richmond, London.

We've already seen it but the British carmaker divulged new details about its flagship SUV including UK pricing and the availability of a diesel-hybrid variant, along with more than 140 images that show the 2013 Range Rover in high resolution detail.

"The new Range Rover preserves the essential, unique character of the vehicle – that special blend of luxury, performance and unmatched all-terrain capability," said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

"However, its clean sheet design and revolutionary lightweight construction have enabled us to transform the experience for luxury vehicle customers, with a step change in comfort, refinement and handling"

The new Range Rover will be available in over 170 markets worldwide, with North American customer deliveries scheduled to start in December 2012.

Honda Teases "Second Generation" CR-Z Hybrid Coupe in Japan

Longtime Carscoop reader Leopaul R. tipped us off about a teaser for a "second generation" CR-Z that appeared on Honda's Japanese website today.

We couldn't translate most of the words seen in the flash movie (any help from our Japanese readers would be appreciated) but the site did give a date for the presentation: September 27, 2012, which also happens to be the first press day of the Paris Motor Show, though we cannot say for sure if the two events are related.

First Official Photos of All-New 2013 Ford Mondeo Wagon and Five-Door Liftback Variants

If you thought the presentation of the new European-market 2013 Ford Mondeo at the Blue Oval's "Go Further" brand event in Holland today wouldn’t hold any substantial surprises since it's basically a rebadged version of the North American market Fusion sedan with different powerplants, you're wrong. Very wrong.

Along with the four-door sedan variant of the Mondeo, Ford also premiered the two more body styles, the sleek five-door liftback and the more spacious and practical Wagon (Estate) models, both of which were uniquely developed for Europe, which means don't expect to see either in North America.

While Ford is keeping most details close to its chest until the world debut of the 2013 Mondeo series at the Paris Motor Show later this month, it did reveal some details about the powertrain options for Europe.

Besides the 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine with 123HP (125PS) and 170Nm (125 lb-ft) of torque that we told you about on Wednesday, Ford confirmed the availability of a hybrid variant.

New 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, First Details, Goes on Sale Worldwide Next Year

Together with the premiere of the European version of the Mirage, Mitsubishi will present the global debut of the new Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) at the 2012 Paris Motor Show held from Thursday, September 27 through Sunday, October 14.

The Japanese automaker says that the Outlander PHEV is the world's first plug-in hybrid SUV offering "the environmental performance of an electric vehicle (EV), the cruising range of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, and the on- and off-road performance of an SUV".

2013 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe: Mega Gallery with More Than 400 High-Res Photos

Well, the cat is almost completely out of the bag as Honda released a comprehensive image gallery along with the sales dates and fuel economy numbers for the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe, as well as the 2014 Accord Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).

What’s missing are the prices but it won't be long before we find out as the 2013 Accord Sedan goes on sale in the States on September 19, 2012, with the Coupe to follow on October 15, 2012.

The new, two-motor 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Sedan will reach U.S. dealerships in early 2013, followed by a conventional hybrid based on the same powertrain architecture in the summer of 2013.

The regular Accord Sedan and Coupe are offered with Honda's new Earth Dreams 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, which in its base form delivers 185-horsepower and 177 lb-ft of peak torque.

When coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the sedan returns 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined, while with a 6-speed manual gearbox, 24 miles per gallon city, 34 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined.

What do You Say About a Chrome-Wrapped Fisker Karma with Neon Underglow Lights?

We cannot confirm if this Fisker Karma sports sedan does indeed belong to Justin Bieber as claimed by YouTube user "Speedracer39" who shared the video, but we can say that the owner of this six-figure plug-in hybrid has gone a bit overboard with the mods.

Besides the full-body chrome wrap, the blacked-out alloy wheels and heavily tinted windows, the owner came up with the bright (literally) idea of adding so-called "neon underglow lights" that change colors while the car is on the move.

Eco Warriors: Watch Two Toyota Prius Drivers Slowly and Greenly Squabble on a California Highway

After conquering the hearts of many Asian and even more Russian drivers, dashboard mounted cameras are slowly starting to gain popularity in the United States.

While not as near as wild as some incidents in Russia, you could say that this video provides a taster of what's to come if more Americans start fitting their vehicles with cameras.

The clip was shot on California's Interstate 405 and involves two drivers bickering on the road.

Infiniti Targets UK Businessmen with New Limited Run Edition of the M35h

Japanese premium carmaker Infiniti has released a new limited-run edition of the M35 hybrid saloon that will be available for sale in the UK until the end of the year. Read more »