For Linamar, the goal with the Agilit-e hybrid system is to answer the needs to provide both fuel efficiency and efficient AWD systems that consumers demand.

The Linamar system is said to also offers increased safety while reducing vehicle emissions and improving city driving fuel economy by up to 80 percent.

Linamar’s demonstration vehicle, a Cadillac SRX, features the Agilit-e Hybrid Power Unit with twin independent 75kilowatt motors.

The company said its lithium-ion batteries supply the SRX with enough electric power to run up to 20 miles without using its internal combustion engine and provide extra power that can be utilized to improve acceleration when required.

The twin electric motors can be programmed for fully independent active torque vectoring, which increases safety and handling by improving front-to-back and side-to-side drivability and optimizes vehicle stability during turns, evasive maneuvers and slippery conditions.

The Agilit-e Hybrid Power Unit can be integrated with virtually any existing standard two-wheel drive powertrain design to achieve an all-wheel drive hybrid system.

According to Linamar, the combination of conventional front-wheel drive and electric rear-wheel drive greatly improves fuel economy, vehicle stability and performance, at a reduced overall system cost.

“Consumers increasingly want the safety of all-wheel drive, the fuel efficiency of a hybrid, and the power of an internal combustion engine,” said Mark Stoddart, CTO, Linamar Corporation. “The Agilit-e Hybrid Power Unit answers all of those needs without sacrificing performance or adding significant costs.”

Agilit-e is a fully integrated, modular and scalable unit that eliminates mechanical complexity and allows for ‘bolt-on’ installation between the vehicle’s suspension components. The unit can be used, per Linamar, on a wide-range of applications from micro hybrid to PHEV/EV.

The Agilit-e system is said ti be capable of powering the rear wheels in conjunction with the traditional powertrain, which drives the front wheels, allowing the vehicle to operate in four different drive modes: front-wheel drive (FWD) mode powered only by the internal combustion engine (ICE); electric only (EV) mode, which is rear-wheel drive powered only by the battery and the electric motors; and Hybrid and AWD modes, which allow the ICE and the rear electric motors to work together to provide the desired combination of fuel economy and performance.

Linamar said that in a vehicle equipped with the Agilit-e Hybrid Power Unit, the electric mode would typically be used for city driving, which burns no gasoline resulting in zero tailpipe emissions and maximum fuel efficiency.

Hybrid-electric is best suited for a combination of city and highway driving, with the vehicle powered by the battery and internal combustion engine.

The AWD capability is used when handling and performance are needed, for example, during evasive maneuvers or on icy, snow-covered roads. The vehicle’s conventional engine will take control at highway cruising speeds where these engines operate at their peak efficiency.

Linamar said the Agilit-e Hybrid Power Unit currently is undergoing evaluation with a number of global automakers.

The post Linamar Unveils AWD-Specific Agilit-e Hybrid Power Unit appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The all-new Ghibli is set to break new ground for Maserati.

The Ghibli will have a sportier character compared to the larger Quattroporte, launched at the beginning of this year.

The Ghibli will be available with two turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engines, an eight-speed automatic transmission and both rear-wheel drive and the new “Q4” all-wheel drive system.

Most of all, the Ghibli will become the first Maserati production car in history to be powered by a diesel engine; it will be a 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel

This Ghibli is Maserati’s first saloon in this segment and reflects the company’s belief that a growing number of premium executive car buyers are looking to make an individual statement through a car that is distinctive, elegant and luxurious.

The Ghibli will play a significant role in Maserati’s growth plan to sell 50,000 cars per year.

Details on the fuel efficiency and power produced by these engines, as well as global distribution will be revealed during the Shanghai show.

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Subaru felt compelled to release this information following continued media and internet speculation,

Subaru declared the new model essentially takes all of the media and internet rumors surrounding the highly successful BRZ sports car and delivers them in one fell swoop.

A spokesman for the company said: “Having just launched the current model to widespread critical acclaim, we are tired of fighting off the constant speculation about what’s “next” and so we are just giving in and delivering all the speculation in one vehicle.”

No, Subaru did not explain how all this technology would fit in this diminutive sporty two-seater. Subaru did not neither release fuel consumption estimates.

Strangely, Subaru did say the new model, which is expected to have a starting price, will however not come with a much anticipated rear back-up camera. The spokesman confirmed that after shoehorning two convertible switches (up and down) onto the dash there just wasn’t room for any more instruments.

The AWD Turbo Convertible two-seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ will come in a single color, noseeum black, a color that looks fishy-blue to us.

The sporty contraption will be hand produced at Subaru’s Brigadoon facility.

And this is how Subaru celebrates April 1^st. Enjoy!

The post Subaru To Launch AWD Twin-Turbo Convertible two-seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ In 2015 appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Buick said the 2014 Regal is designed to be a sportier and smarter evolution of the brand’s dynamic midsize sedan. New purposeful technologies enhance safety and the driving experience with a more refined turbo engine – along with the introduction of all-wheel drive.

The new Regal also introduces new radar- and camera-based safety features – including Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Collision Mitigation Braking – for surround protection. In-vehicle connectivity is enhanced with next-generation IntelliLink, featuring simpler, more intuitive controls and natural speech recognition.

Adaptive Cruise Control is also offered. It senses traffic in front of the Regal to adjust vehicle speed, including stopping the vehicle in heavy traffic and accelerating again.

“The new 2014 Regal is more expressive, more connected and more technologically advanced,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “ Nearly half of new Regal buyers are conquests who are new to Buick and they represent the youngest median age among the brand’s lineup.The new Regal gives those discerning buyers more of the technologically advanced features they want in a modern luxury sedan, all with the style and refinement they expect from Buick.”

The new 2.0-liter turbo engine delivers 18 percent more horsepower in the Regal Turbo.

The available Haldex all-wheel-drive system helps make the most of traction in all driving conditions and also enhances the cornering capability of the Regal GS when driven in the GS mode of the Interactive Drive Control System.

A 2.4-liter engine with eAssist light electrification technology is also available on the 2014 Regal.

Six-speed automatic transmissions are matched with both engines and a six-speed manual is available in the Regal GS. Electric power steering is now featured on all models.

The new Regal will celebrate its public debut at the New York International Auto Show later this week.

The post eAssist And New Turbo Engine Coming To 2014 Buick Regal appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Subaru of America, Inc. announced yesterday, the brand’s first-ever production hybrid vehicle, the Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid, will debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show at the Jacob K. Javits Center.

Based on the XV Crosstrek crossover introduced for 2013, the new XV Crosstrek Hybrid model uses a Subaru engineered Hybrid system and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

Subaru said this will be the most fuel efficient AWD SUV available on the U.S. market.

In addition to the new XV Crosstrek Hybrid, Subaru will also reveal an all-new performance concept car.

We’ll keep you informed on the technical aspects of the vehicle as soon as Subaru releases more details.

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These changes will trickle down to the sole hybrid model of the brand, the V60 Plug-in Hybrid.

“This is the most extensive development of existing models in our company’s history. Each of the enhancements is designed around our customers’ needs. We have focused on quality and attention to detail in order to give these dynamic models a major boost and sharpen their competitiveness,” said Lex Kerssemakers, senior vice president, Product Strategy & Vehicle Line Management at Volvo Car Group. “The S60 and XC60 are our best-selling models in several important markets, and the innovative V60 Plug-in Hybrid has got off to a flying start. We have been listening very carefully to our customers in order to make improvements that ensure that we make these successful cars more attractive.”

Changes have been made to the exterior and interior of the vehicles; for example, the previously visible washer nozzles have been relocated out of sight under the hood; the radar cover has been painted gloss black, which practically makes it disappear in the grille; the chrome frame around the grille has been removed.

Moreover, fine calibration of mechanical components have allowed further savings in fuel consumption.

Following the successful introduction in high-specification “Pure Limited” guise, the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is now available with a full range of colors and specifications, including most of the design and technology upgrades of the standard V60.

“We’ve made the car look more purposeful and dynamic, reflecting its personality. And your every interaction with your car is more intuitive, expressive and customizable,” says Patrik Widerstrand.

The tailgate on the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid still displays the D6 AWD badge. The front wheels are powered by a five-cylinder 2.4-liter turbo diesel engine producing 215 horsepower, all sent through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The rear axle is powered by an electric motor producing 70 horsepower. The electric motor is supplied with power from an 11.2 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack installed under the floor of the load compartment.

The driver selects the required driving mode via three buttons that give the car three entirely different temperaments: Pure, Hybrid or Power.

In Pure mode, the car is powered solely by its electric motor as much as possible. The range is up to 50 kilometers (31 miles).

Hybrid mode is the standard setting whenever the car is started. The diesel engine and electric motor cooperate to achieve CO2 emissions (NEDC, mixed driving cycle for certification) of 48 g/km (1.8 l/100km).

In Power mode, the technology is optimized to give the car the maximum possible power. The diesel engine and electric motor combine to deliver a total power output of 285 horsepower, for a 0 to 60 acceleration time of less than 6.1 seconds.

The post Volvo Fine-Tunes Design Of Most Models, Including Diesel-Hybrid V60 appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The fully functional concept combined a turbodiesel direct injection engine (TDI) and two electric motors. Its combined fuel consumption in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) is 1.8 liters per 100 kilometers (130 mpg). This is equivalent to CO2 emissions of just 46 g/km.

Interestingly, the concept can run in pure electric mode at speeds up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph) and can cover a distance of up to 45 kilometers (28 miles) on electric power alone.

The battery, which consists of eight modules, has an energy capacity of 9.8 kilowatt-hour and is located in the center tunnel of the Cross Coupé.

This does mean that, like the Chevrolet Volt, the Cross Coupé is a four seater.

The turbo diesel engine is rated at 140 kilowatt while the front electric motor is a 40 kilowatt unit ; the rear electric motor is an 85 kilowatt unit.

By its configuration, the Cross Coupé can be a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle. The front wheels can be powered by both the TDI and by the front electric motor while the rear whiles are exclusively powered by the rear electric motor.

The Cross Coupé has proportions very different from current products; it is longer than a Golf and shorter than a Tiguan and the vehicle’s width and height are positioned exactly between these two as well. The main difference is the concept vehicle’s wheelbase, which at 2,630 mm (103.5 inches) is clearly long relative to the concept’s overall length; 52 mm (2 inches) longer than the Golf’s, 26 mm (1 inch) more than the Tiguan’s.

While a design study, this Cross Coupé concept is fully functional and illustrates various possible technology and design combos Volkswagen may consider for future products.

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