Hybrids Straightline Archives

And the hits just keep on coming for Toyota. The company announced today that it will recall 437,000 hybrid models worldwide for faulty brakes.

In the U.S., Toyota is voluntarily recalling about 133,000 units of the 2010 Toyota Prius and 14,500 units of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle's anti-lock brake system.

Oh wait...what's this? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now saying that it's considering opening a formal investigation of alleged defects in the electric power steering of 2009 and 2010 Corollas. Oh boy! Trade journal Automotive News found that the model has been the subject of 83 power-steering complaints since April 2008, most of which report the car veering left or right at up to 40 mph.

Anyone care to guess which model is implicated next in this Toyota Recall-athon? Which are left?

AutoObserver

Automotive News (sub. required)

Categories: Auto Industry,Hybrids,Sedans,Toyota

What do you know, the Ford Fusion Hybrid might suffer from the same predicament plaguing the latest Toyota Prius. Rather than wait for customers to complain, however, Ford is instituting what it calls a "Customer Satisfaction Program."

The program involves loading revised software to the Fusion Hybrid's brake system controls to smooth out the transition between conventional and regenerative braking. This is essentially the same issue Toyota is contending with on the Prius. In that situation, customers have stated that the brakes actually quit working for a split second while the transition is made. Ford claims that none of its customers have complained about a loss of braking. Instead, the Fusion complaints have focused on a "different brake feel" that Ford hopes its new software update will cure.

None of this is surprising. Anyone who has driven a Fusion or a Prius knows that both cars have an odd brake pedal feel that could confuse customers who are not used to driving a hybrid.

Categories: Ford,Hybrids,Toyota Recalls

NHTSA is turning the screws on Toyota just a little bit more today with the announcement that it will begin investigating complaints of brake problems with the latest Prius.

Complaints were reported in both the U.S. and Japan and most of them focus on momentary loss of brake power while driving over a bump or through a pothole. Toyota has acknowledged the problem and says it's an issue related to the switchover from the electric to the hydraulic brake systems.

AutoObserver: Despite Quality Woes, Toyota Turns a Profit, Admits Prius Brake Problems

Categories: Hatchbacks,Hybrids,Toyota,Toyota Recalls

At first blush, the idea of running a hybrid on a chassis dyno is silly. A dyno is all about power and performance, and a hybrid, well, isn't.

That is, unless the hybrid is the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6, of which its creators reckon is the most powerful in the world. Have a look at its stats as claimed by BMW -- 480 horsepower and a staggering 575 lb-ft of torque.

This prodigious output comes by way of a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and a two-mode hybrid system. The product of the now-defunct collaboration between GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW, this hybrid system is fundamentally similar to that of the Chevy Silverado Hybrid and Tahoe Hybrid. Pairing these two power generators together is like dashing creatine powder onto a medium-rare strip steak.

This ActiveHybrid X6, then, is a hybrid with a chip on its shoulder, just begging to have its claims put to the test. And test it we did, strapping it down to a chassis dyno and making it sing. Er, whir and hum quietly.

Dyno charts and photos after the jump.

Continue reading Inside Line Dyno Tests the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

Categories: BMW,Car Tech,Crossovers,Green Tech,Hatchbacks,Hybrids,Luxury Cars

As proof that car companies no longer make showcars just for giggles, a senior BMW authority out of Munich has assured Inside Line that the Vision EfficientDynamics plug-in pure hybrid 2+2 concept car rolled out in September at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is earmarked for production. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Reaction to the 356-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque plug-in electric (one lithium-polymer battery stack + 2 electric motors) with dedicated lighter weight three-cylinder diesel range-extending engine mounted amidships has been off the charts. Now we're all waiting for more details and, of course, that sticky price issue.

Our executive source goes on to say that total volume is being debated, but that it will fall between 5,000 and 10,000 units. The prototype's powertrain and basic sub-3,000-pound assembly will remain intact, but, says the source, "there will be less of the synthetic glass and more solid structure added to the final design." Uh-oh. We know why these alterations are needed, but does this mean it's going to migrate toward being a sort of sleek Toyota Prius? Let's hope not.

When we asked if this could finally be BMW's second true production supercar after the Giugiaro M1, the response was a firm "quite probably." So maybe our Prius/Honda Insight fears are overreaching. It'd be nice to maintain that 0.22 drag coefficient and the hellacious looks.

IL also learned that the BMW future product engineers are also noodling non-stop with the hybrid drive system in order to make our test of the Vision EfficientDynamics prototype come this summertime in southern France a real-world high-speed thrill. It should be even quicker than the previously quoted 4.8 seconds to 62 mph.

"And that name that the marketing people forced on us," says our mole, "that's going to change for sure." -- Contributor Matt Davis reporting from Portugal.

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Categories: BMW,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Frankfurt Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Hybrids,Luxury Cars,Sports Cars

Kia just released this teaser shot of its Ray concept car that will debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. It was drawn up in Kia's American design studio and is intended to give some direction to the company's idea for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Doesn't look half bad. We'll see the rest in a few weeks when the 2010 Chicago Auto Show opens for the press on Feb. 10th. 

Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Concept Vehicles,Green Tech,Hybrids,Kia

We hope we don't have to file this one under "Engineers Writing Checks the Production Car Can't Cash." In this subtitled video, Honda engineers in Japan talk about the development of the 2011 Honda CR-Z, noting that they benchmarked its handling off the Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Scirocco.

Sounds great, but remember that the 122-hp Honda CR-Z is saddled with a bunch of nickel-metal hydride batteries and a torsion-beam rear suspension.

The engineers also let it slip that they had a Lotus Elise on hand "for inspiration."

2010 Detroit Auto Show: 2011 Honda CR-Z

Categories: Future Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Honda,Hybrids

Apart from the FT-86 G Sports, the other interesting Toyota at the Tokyo Auto Salon is this Sports Hybrid Concept. This odd looking roadster is based on the rear-drive MR2 Spyder last sold in the U.S. in 2005.

The Sports Hybrid concept looks pretty worked over, though, because Toyota and Gazoo Racing have stuffed the company's 3.3-liter V6 up front (the production MR2 had 1.8-liter I4, you'll remember) along with an electric motor. The latter drives the front wheels, while the V6 motivates the rears through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Of course, the CVT has some kind of "manual" mode so that there can be paddle shifters -- we wonder if they're the same pieces from the MR2 SMT. 

It sounds deliciously strange with one source claiming to have heard the hybrid MR2 develops about 392 horsepower and will go to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That could be true, but we doubt the Sports Hybrid handles very well. It weighs well over 2,800 pounds. The production MR2 Spyder weighed all of 2,200.

Inside Line News

Gazoo

Autocar via Automobile

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Convertibles,Hybrids,Toyota,Tuners and Modifications

One point what went largely unnoticed yesterday in Honda CEO Takanobu Ito's introductory speech for the CR-Z in Detroit was his mention of hybrids. "We will be adding hybrids to the Acura brand," he offered.

Acura is coming off a disastrous 2009 sales year. Sales dropped almost 27 percent from 144,504 to 105,723. Some kind of shake-up is needed, and maybe hybrids will stir up some enthusiasm -- as Toyota hopes they will for Scion.

Acura Twitter, Autoblog Green

Categories: Acura,Detroit Auto Show,Hybrids,Luxury Cars

#NAIAS Ford took home both the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards here in Detroit. The Fusion Hybrid is a solid winner, but we're still scratching our heads over the choice of the Transit Connect. It's an intriguing European hand-me-down, but its sluggish performance with the mandatory four-speed automatic limits its appeal in our eyes.

If you look at past history when a manufacturer has swept these awards, it's no guarantee of a nameplate's success. Honda took both honors in 2006 with the Civic and Ridgeline. GM did it in 2007 with the Chevrolet Silverado and Saturn Aura. Flash to 2010 when the Ridgeline isn't selling and the Aura is out of production.

IL News: Ford Sweeps 2010 North American Car and Truck of Year Prizes

See the full list of finalists for North American Car and Truck of the Year.

Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Ford,Hybrids,Minivans,Sedans,Trucks

#NAIAS Today at the Detroit auto show, Toyota showed off its FT-CH Compact Hybrid that everyone knew was coming and announced that there would soon be a Prius family of hybrids in America. This smaller, lighter, cheaper and even more fuel-efficient five-door may be part of that clan of green machines. Again, no big surprise.

But after the press conference Inside Line asked Toyota President Jim Lentz if Scion would finally get its first hybrid, which would no doubt help Toyota meet its goal of selling 1,000,000 hybrids globally in a 12-month span (last year Toyota and Lexus sold 530,000 hybrids).

After a sizable pause, Lentz answered awkwardly, "Not at this point to announce."

Some people might say that's a yes. 

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Hybrids,Scion,Toyota

#NAIAS We finally laid eyes on the two-seat 2011 Honda CR-Z production car that goes on sale in the U.S. this August. No question, this hatchback looks good under the bright lights of Detroit's Cobo Center. But as we wrote in our full story, the CR-Z likely will not quite live up to its "sport hybrid" billing. At least not until Honda gets serious and builds us a CR-Z Si.

The everyman's Honda CR-Z, you see, offers all of 122 horsepower combined, drawing from its 1.5-liter i-VTEC gasoline inline-4 and its front-drive electric motor. Mind you, we like the fact that we can get a six-speed manual gearbox with it and still end up with something close to a 31 mpg city/37 mpg EPA rating. Of course, the less involving CVT version will be the way to go if you're deadly serious about fuel economy -- 36/38 is its predicted rating.

Suspension is the simple strut/torsion-beam arrangement found on the Fit and Insight, with whom the CR-Z shares its platform architecture. The tires on the two showcars are Honda's usual sensible all-season fare -- P195/55R16 Dunlop SP Sport 7000s -- but we hear the company will offer 205/45R17s, too. We really hope those 17s will be summer tires.

The cockpit looks a lot like the Insight's, but the fatter-rim steering wheel gives us hope. Look behind the seats, and it's an odd sight -- the deletion of the Japanese-market Honda CR-Z's rear seats has left two large storage areas.

2010 Detroit Auto Show: 2011 Honda CR-Z

Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Honda,Hybrids

#NAIAS An all-male dance troupe and smoke machine were on hand to welcome the Volkswagen New Compact Coupe (or VW NCC) into the world at the Detroit auto show today. To a man, the dancers were dressed in rumpled two-piece suits -- wardrobe shorthand for the post-college preps who will buy the production version of this Jetta coupe.

Oh, actually, there's no official confirmation that this is the precursor to a two-door Jetta production car. But too many winks and smiles were exchanged with Volkswagen public relations officials to think this is anything but a 2012 Jetta coupe. It's likely to be sold under a different name, though, we hear. Something like "Jetta CC," but different than that.

As we've written, the front-wheel-drive NCC is said to be a full hybrid with a 150-hp TSI engine and a 27-hp electric motor joining forces with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. But there's no reason to think a production Jetta coupe wouldn't come with more conventional full-gasoline and diesel engine options.

The redesigned 2011 VW Jetta sedan will be out in the U.S. this summer. So remember this face.

Thanks to James Riswick for capturing the dance troupe in action.

2010 Detroit Auto Show: Volkswagen New Compact Coupe

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Hybrids,Volkswagen

This concept car called the Peugeot SR1 has taken the Web by storm today after media photos began showing up on UK Web sites. Peugeot hasn't had many distinctive concepts touring the auto show circuit since the 908 RC, but the SR1 makes up for that by looking like an Aston Martin.

You'll notice the seating configuration of this convertible is an odd 2+1 arrangement. The drivetrain isn't any less weird with a 218-hp version the of the BMW/PSA 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder (you know, the Mini Cooper S engine) motivating the front wheels and a 95-hp electric motor driving the rears. Peugeot is calling it all-wheel-drive, apparently, but obviously, that's not quite exactly true.

Still, Gilles Vidal, Peugeot's new design director, says the SR1 is a statement of design intent for all Peugeot production models of the near future. Reports indicate that that the Peugeot SR1 convertible will be on display at the Geneva Auto Show in March -- a good guess given the Francophile ambience of that show.

Car, Automobile, TopSpeed

Categories: Concept Vehicles,Convertibles,Geneva Motor Show,Hybrids,Peugeot

This semi-regular column is written (in his own blood) by an automotive sage and noted malcontent, known as The Mechanic. Mercilessly beaten as a child with rolled-up back issues of old car magazines, our free-spoken hero developed a unique "for your own good" take on cars and the auto industry, along with an unfortunate habit of setting himself ablaze. Later, after a distinguished career as an automotive journalist and magazine editor, he cast off the reins of his musty oppressors, carved out his superego with a plastic spork and became The Mechanic.

As 2009 hits the Great Dumpster of Memory, I've decided to binge on the wife's hard egg nog, reflect on what I've learned over the last 12 months and tell you what it all means for our future. Your future. Now self-reflection doesn't come easily to me, so when I do reflect I don't get nostalgic or weepy. I usually just get pissed off all over again.

Not that 2010 isn't going to be a great year. It is. But it ain't all going to be beers on the beach either. In fact, the auto industry has a critical 365 days ahead of it. It's sink or swim time for everybody.

Anyway, here's what I see clogging our automotive sewer line over the next 12 months. Happy New Year.  

Continue reading The Mechanic's Fearless Forecast for 2010.

Categories: Acura,Auto Industry,BMW,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Coupes,Crossovers,Ford,Future Vehicles,General Motors,Hatchbacks,Honda,Hybrids,Hyundai,Lincoln,Luxury Cars,Mercury,SUVs,Sedans,Sports Cars,Subaru,The Mechanic,Trends