Report: Lotus bringing a pair of front-engine hybrids to Paris Motor Show

Filed under: Hybrid , Lotus , Paris Motor Show Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery In addition to the pair of Evoras being introduced at this year’s Paris Motor Show , Lotus will also be unveiling two front-engine hybrid vehicles, in keeping with the automaker’s promise to offer more gasoline/electric sports cars. Green Car Advisor reports that one of these hybrid cars will be a four-door hatchback and the other will be a two-door coupe. Lotus debuted its hybrid concept earlier this year in the form of the Evora 414E Hybrid (pictured), but unlike the mid-engine concept, the two front-engine models will utilize a 47-horsepower 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine specifically designed to provide power to electric-drive hybrids.

Has hybrid demand peaked? Probably not and here’s why

Filed under: Hybrid 2010 Mercury Milan hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery For a time back in 2008, it looked like hybrid vehicles were going to break through and start grabbing some serious market share.

GSA clarifies that it will buy more hybrids in the future, says costs are worth it

Filed under: Hybrid , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Legislation and Policy , USA Ford Fusion hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery Earlier this week, we noted a story from the Federal Times that described the General Services Administration ’s (GSA) decision to buy thousands of new hybrid vehicles for the U.S. government fleet as a pricey endeavor that was unlikely to be repeated .

GSA adds 5,600 hybrids to government fleet, but high costs might end plans to purchase more

Filed under: Hybrid , Green Daily Ford Fusion hybrid - click above for high-res image gallery While we’re thrilled to see that our own federal government has added 5,600 hybrid vehicles to its fleet this year, we’re less enthusiastic to find out that each hybrid model purchased by the General Services Administration (GSA) costs an average of $11,214 more than the conventional models typically selected for government fleet use. Of the 5,600 hybrids added this year, nearly 5,000 were Ford Fusion Hybrids with a starting price of $27,995, an $8,000 premium over the base model. This price premium has convinced the head of the GSA’s motor vehicle division to reconsider plans to purchase any additional hybrid models

Hybrid sales to top 1.4M, capture 10% of market by 2015

Filed under: Hybrid , Green Daily 2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery The electric car is slowly emerging onto the automotive scene , but a recent study by J.D. Power predicts that hybrids will continue to be the dominating alternative energy source for cars for years to come. In fact, the study suggests that even as electric vehicles emerge, hybrids will continue to make inroads in the automotive market .

2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid to debut later this year, still 41 states shy of nationwide

Filed under: Hybrid , Nissan , Green Daily The 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid will hit dealer lots later this year and Nissan has once again decided to limit sales of the model to just nine states. Nissan gives several reasons why it has limited the Altima Hybrid to just nine markets (California, Oregon, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) but we think that it mainly boils down to an issue of supply for many of the hybrid components licensed from Toyota. When the redesigned 2012 Altima sedan debuts, a hybrid version is expected to follow.

Toshiba to build electric motors in Texas for Ford hybrids and plug-ins

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Ford Ford Escape PHEV prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery Toshiba announced yesterday that it will be expanding a factory in Houston, TX to add production of electric traction motors for hybrid and plug-in vehicles. The first customer for the new motors will be Ford , starting in 2012 when its next-generation hybrid system debuts

2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid officially rated at 41 mpg city / 36 mpg hwy

Filed under: Hybrid , MPG , Lincoln 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery In what should be a surprise to no one, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid has been officially certified by the EPA as the most fuel efficient luxury sedan in the U.S. market. Given that the MKZ is really little more than a very gussied up Fusion hybrid, including an identical powertrain, we fully expected the same 41 mile per gallon city and 36 mpg highway numbers for the Lincoln .

More details on the 2011 Le Mans technical regulations, now with hybrid power

Filed under: Diesel , Hybrid , MPG , Racing Peugeot 908-HY hybrid prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery On Thursday, June 10, the Automobile Club de L’Ouest (ACO), which organizes the 24 Hours of Le Mans , held its annual press conference and announced new technical regulations for the 2011 event as well as the European Le Mans Series. The ACO has long encouraged a variety of powerplant configurations, which is what prompted first Audi and then Peugeot to develop diesel-powered prototypes. 2011 will bring the official introduction of hybrid power to Le Mans racing in all of the new classes

Study: Improving fuel efficiency doesn’t come cheap

Filed under: Diesel , EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , MPG , Green Daily 2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery With strong CAFE standards looming , automakers have suggested that building cars that can meet new guidelines will undoubtedly cost more . We’ve heard some numbers regarding increased costs thrown around and most are in the ballpark of $1,000 per vehicle . However, a study from the National Academies Press suggests that those estimates may be way too low.

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