September 2, 2010 The U.S. auto market experienced its weakest August sales since 1983. Overall sales dropped by 21 percent compared to last August, when the Cash for Clunkers programs gave an all-too-brief boost to car sales. Gas-electric hybrids, which disproportionately benefited from Clunkers a year ago, took a harder fall in August, dropping by 38 percent compared to last year. In a rare bright spot, the Ford Fusion Hybrid—a vehicle that racked up numerous “Car of the Year” awards in 2010—saw big gains in sales in August.
September 1, 2010 A University of Michigan Auto Researcher says it’s possible to triple fuel economy of cars—without plugging them in. In a new study released today, John DeCicco shows that optimizing internal combustion engines plus rising adoption of “grid-free hybrids” will enable new fleet efficiency to reach 52 MPG by 2025 and 74 MPG by 2035. DeCicco believes that electric cars have a role in play in the long run and perhaps in emerging markets—but they are not ideally suited to the U.S. landscape and marketplace. “My scenarios can be seen as pulling the rug out from the business case for plug-in cars,” DeCicco told us.
August 31, 2010 Infiniti will debut the company’s first hybrid model at this fall’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The Infiniti M35 Hybrid will use the conventional M sedan's 3.5-liter V6 engine, coupled with a 68 horsepower electric motor and hybrid drive system. The M hybrid system was designed to fit all of Infiniti's rear-wheel-drive models, including the G sedan and coupe and the EX and FX crossovers. Nissan engineers are already planning on additional hybrid models.
August 30, 2010
After many months of deliberation, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have released proposed ideas for new fuel economy labels that consumers see on windows of new vehicles. The designs recognize that advanced technology vehicles, from plug-in hybrids to electric cars, require a modified approach to communicating the benefits of various fuel-efficient technologies.
August 27, 2010 The Toyota Prius, which in America and Japan has been one of the most influential vehicles on the market for the better part of a decade, only came to India last year. When it did, it was marketed more as a high-priced luxury car than an everyday vehicle for the emerging middle class. But while the Prius was never expected to be a major seller in India—just 80 vehicles sold in three months—a hybrid version of the Etios small car marketed specifically for that market, is apparently on the horizon.
