Earlier this week at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen promised to lift hybrids out of its niche status and to produce electric cars. Audi, Volkswagen’s luxury brand, echoed the sentiment, making a commitment to full hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars.

Rupert Stadler, Audi AG’s chairman of the board of management, said, “We shall offer electric power in the best possible forms for a wide range of mobility needs. The hybrid driveline will be followed by all-electric vehicles.” Michael Dick, Audi board member for technical development, added, “In due course plug-in hybrids will demonstrate their strong points when drivers expect to cover longer distances in the pure electric mode, in combination with a conventional engine.”

Audi plans to use the name “e-tron” for electric-drive vehicles, much the way the company uses “Quattro” as a synonym for all-wheel drive. In Geneva, Audi gave shape to its new commitment to hybrids and plug-in cars by unveiling two concepts: a full hybrid version of its Audi A8 large flagship sedan, and the A1 e-tron, a plug-in hybrid subcompact.

First Up: Audi Q5 Hybrid SUVUnfortunately, Audi provided no details about the company’s first and only hybrid slated for production so far: the Q5 hybrid crossover SUV. It’s due in the US in early 2011. The Q5 hybrid, like the BMW X6 Hybrid, will try to compete with the Lexus RX 450h, which in recent months has become the best-selling hybrid SUV on the market. Sorry, no news on price or other specs are available for the Q5 hybrid.

Audi A8 Hybrid Concept
The only clues about the Q5 come from the Audi A8 hybrid concept on display in Geneva. It’s a full hybrid promising about 38 miles to the gallon—and 245 horsepower. Zero-to-60 times should be about seven-and-a-half seconds. The base price for a conventional Audi A8 is around $75,000, so the hybrid version likely will get grouped with other niche luxury hybrid sedans, like the Mercedes S400 Hybrid and the less expensive Lexus GS450h. If Audi can deliver on its promises, the Audi A8 will become by far the most efficient hybrid in the high-end luxury set.

The Audi A8 hybrid uses a parallel full hybrid configuration—combining a powerful 33 kWh electric motor and a 211 horsepower four-cylinder gas engine. According to Audi, the hybrid drive can propel the car on electric power alone up to 40 mph for a little more than a mile. The engine, which combines direct fuel injection and turbocharging, is a good example of Audi’s downsizing strategy. Small and compact lithium ion batteries are mounted in the car’s rear section, without interfering with luggage capacity.

Audi A1 Subcompact Plug-in Hybrid Concept
The A1 e-tron is the follow-up to the e-tron electric sports car shown earlier in Frankfurt and Los Angeles. That vehicle, while gorgeous, is mostly show. Four electric-drive motors, one for each wheel, pump out more than 300 horsepower. Electric fuel is stored in a sizable 53-kWh lithium ion battery pack. Edmunds reported that Audi is aiming for a selling price of around $160,000, with limited production volume of one or two hundred in 2012.

The A1 e-tron is a tiny, yet more practical, approach. The much smaller, and therefore more affordable 12-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery, is matched up with a front-mounted 102-horsepower electric motor and an efficient lightweight 252cc Wankel rotary engine. That’s right, a gas-burning engine on board—an acknowledgment that a plug-in hybrid can solve the pure electric car’s problem of limited range. After 30 miles of all-electric driving, the gas engine allows for an additional 125 miles, according to Audi. The car is a subcompact, meaning that it’s probably targeted to crowded urban centers in Europe.
From: hybridcars.com

sorry, guys. because i need ready for mid-term or something else. so i just saw this news.
Next month in Geneva, Subaru will officially pull the wraps off the Legacy 2.0D and Outback 2.0D, which, of course, are the first vehicles to be powered by Subaru’s new 2.0L Boxer Diesel. Visually, the cars look just like their gasoline-engined counterparts, with the only giveaway being the D-shaped “Boxer Diesel” badge affixed to their rear ends. and it seems it is great. also if subaru could rudece his car’s price. i will think the day become wondonful.

nowadays, more and more people will be focus on the global warming, Vehicle will be one the most importment reason. hybrids could be an option for resolve this issue. i think toyota will be touch this aim, but he still have many things need to do. for me the high price and a not cheap maintenance costs will be stop my setp for looking a hybrids.

Shortly after the turn of the decade, Toyota expects sales of its hybrid vehicles to crest the one million unit per year mark. ToMoCo’s goal may seem a bit ambitious considering that it’s only sold about 1.25 million hybrids since the Prius’ introduction in 1997, but the alternative-power push will mainly be fueled by sales of upcoming plug-in hybrid models and Toyota’s aim to equip every vehicle in its lineup with a hybrid drivetrain by 2020.

Testing of the plug-in version of the Prius is about to begin in the U.S., Europe and Japan, equipped with a fancy-schmancy lithium-ion battery that’s being developed by Toyota and Panasonic EV Energy Co. Sales should start around 2010, assuming that all is well with the power-pack, and we’re expecting even more Synergy-Drive models to bow during the upcoming 2008 show season.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

There is a picture about 2007 subaru forester, but now we can found more detail about it. when i visited autoblog, the more information will be offer. also in NASIOC Forums, there is a post from Canada. show the 2009 subaru forester could be. but i still have no idea about that. btw there are some picture scan from Japanese auto rag’s cover. maybe it will be help u.

also if you like subaru, i guess NASIOC is one of the website about subaru you need visit. anyway if i saw any news i will post here.

Six hybrid electric vehicles models made either by joint venture automakers or local Chinese automakers will be sold in Chinese market next year, Chinese newspaper reported.

1. Honda’s Civic hybrid vehicle will be imported to Chinese market by the end of this year and it will be priced at $22,000-$25,000. The vehicle is powered by 1.3 Liter i-VETC engine and IMA, electromotor, nickel-hydrogen battery, and power control unit. The maximum output and torque of this vehicle is equivalent to that of a 1.8 liter gasoline engine.

Experts say the vehicle can run 31 kilometers on one liter gas and that it consumes half as much gasoline as a conventional 1.8 liter vehicle does.

Honda’s joint venture Dongfeng Honda is also planning to locally produce Honda Civic Hybrid which is similar to the imported hybrid in China next year. So for, Honda has sold more than 100,000 Civic Hybrid vehicles worldwide.

2. General Motors chairman Wagoner announced in Beijing earlier this month his companywill start local production of Chevrolet brand hybrid vehicle in China next year. The vehicle is developed by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, a joint research facility between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive. Shanghai GM did not release estimated prices for this vehicle, but Wagoner said it should not be too expensive.

The vehicle is powered by a 2.4 liter straight-four engine. The vehicle’s maximum output is 125kw/6400rpm, maximum torque is 225Nm/48000rpm and maximum velocity is 210km/h.

3. BYD’s F6DM will be the first iron battery powered vehicle throughout the world. The dual mode vehicle, priced at $20,000, will hit Chinese market next year. The vehicle can run as long as 430 kilometers after recharging (100 kilometers on electricity-powered mode and 330 kilometers on hybrid mode). The output of this vehicle is 200 KW and maximum velocity is 160 km/hour; it consumes 15 KWH to run 100 kilometers.

The first Hybrid vehicle that entered Chinese market is Toyota Prius, which started production in Changchun-based FAW-Toyota at the end of 2005. But the sales of this hybrid vehicle are abysmally small.

In the first nine months this year, Toyota Prius sold only 283 units in China. Experts say disappointing sales of Toyota Prius is a result of its prices. It is too expensive and China has not yet offered substantial policy incentives to hybrid vehicle manufacturers and customers.

As we reported earlier in March, Porsche may be considering a hybrid variant of the Cayenne. Well now, according to Detroit Free Press, Porsche is going to start offering gasoline-electric hybrid systems starting in 2009, with the Cayenne SUV being the first to go green.

Porsche will be relying on its relationship with Germany’s largest auto maker, Volkswagen, since it gives the tiny sports car maker the volume to produce hybrids. In a recent interview with Mark Phelan, Porsche executive, Bernd Harling, said “Going forward, Volkswagen is the key. Porsche’s low volume means we’re limited in our research and development. We must focus on what we can do best.”

The relationship could even spawn Porsche diesel cars in the future. Not many are aware, but Porsche did most of the engineering for Volkswagen’s upcoming Audi Q7 hybrid SUV.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Toyota’s Prius has been the perennial hybrid player for a few years now and Honda thinks it’s about time to provide it with some competition. Honda has big plans for its next generation hybrid, with annual worldwide sales expected to be in the neighborhood of 200,000 – half of which are destined to find homes in the garages of North American consumers.

Unlike the Civic Hybrid which has put a very small dent in the Prius’ success, the new model will only be available with a hybrid system and is rumored to take its styling cues from the FCX fuel-cell vehicle set to begin production next year. This new model will be joined by another hybrid based off the CR-Z concept that debuted in Tokyo.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]