The Japanese automaker Toyota has revealed the first official images of the refreshed RAV4 compact crossover, a model that set to be unveiled in March at the upcoming 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The facelift version of the Toyota RAV4 receives not only a new front end, but also a few interior upgrades as well as improved power train options. The exterior gets a new set of headlights on either side of the new front grill, a new hood and a redesigned front bumper complete with integrated fog lights. The Japanese car make hasn’t released any official specifics just yet about the new power train lineup, but they have confirmed that the new CUV will be offered with both gasoline and diesel power plants offering a variety of propulsion options for future buyers.

Stay tuned for more details!

Toyota RAV4 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 16:00 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster

The Nissan Altima is entering its third year of production with a new exterior restyling, three new exterior colors, refined interior fabrics, new available red leather-appointed interior color and revised option package content. Power train options for the 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe consist of a 2.5 Liter inline 4 cylinder and a larger 3.5 Liter V6 engine, and each is offered with a choice of a 6 speed manual transmission or Nissan’s advanced Xtronic continuously variable transmission. The VQ based V6 produces a maximum output of 270 HP and 258 lb-ft of thrust while the more economical 4 cylinder makes a total of 175 HP and 180 lb-ft torque.

For 2010 the Altima Coupe is being offered with a long list of user-friendly technology features – including Nissan’s Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and available Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System complete with audio streaming standard as well as an advanced touch-screen navigation system with XM NavTraffic and NavWeather real-time information services as part of an XM subscription required, and a RearView Monitor; all designed to make your time behind the wheel of an Altima Coupe as enjoyable as possible.

The 2010 Altima Coupe starts at $22,440 for the 2.5 S version equipped with 6 speed manual transmission, $22,940 for the 2.5 CVT, $27,270 for the 3.5 SR with CVT and $29,600 for the 3.5 SR with a 6 speed manual gearbox.

Press release after the jump.

Nissan Altima Coupe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 4 February 2010 14:30 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster

Lexus has just left us their brand new 2010 HS 250h compact gas/electric luxury sedan. This premium compact hybrid from across the Pacific looks like nothing else you have ever seen from a four wheeled machine, it looks as if someone took a Camry and made it look cool. The HS line is an interesting move, unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it is made up exclusively of HS 250 h model, thus becoming an alternatively powered range of vehicles.

From the sound of things, and trust us it will be quiet, Lexus has no plans of expanding to gas guzzlers. It is almost like how most crossovers have the letter X hidden away somewhere in their name, the fuel efficient Japanese automaker is striking their point home with this one. While the name, and while the car’s proper name is Harmonious Sedan we’re thinking hybrid. The heart of the beast is a very green 2.4 Liter 16 Valve DOHC four cylinder with VVT-i coupled with a Lexus Hybrid Drive electric drive motor mated to a gas sipping Electronically Controlled Variable Transmission, all together the 21st century power train puts out 147 HP and 105 lb-ft of torque which should be good for 35 MPG around town and 34 MPG on the highway.

From the looks of things our HS is short on options but comes with everything necessary to spoil it’s owner, creature comforts like a push button starter, power everything, a spacious leather wrapped interior, satellite fed hard drive based navigation complete with backup camera displayed on a neat little screen that tucks itself away when not in use. Outside you get a distinctly hybrid looking vehicle with a visually appealing aggressive edge; wearing a bold three bar grill, stylish 18 inch wheels and a sporty little rear spoiler all for well under $40,000.
Continued after the jump.

Initial thoughts: 2010 Lexus HS250h originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 30 December 2009 22:00 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster

According to this magazine article that we came across, it looks like the Italian automaker Ferrari is preparing a hybrid version of their V12 powered flagship front engine grand touring 599 GTB, a verys pecial model that could possibly be presented as a concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The future Ferrari concept will make the most of what the Scuderia has learned from the F60’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System that was develloped throughout the 2009 Formula One season.

If this is the case, then a hybrid 599 concept would usher in a new era for the sports car manufacturer starting with the first ever prancing horse from Maranello to feature a gas/electric power train that is intended for public use. Ferrari’s hybrid system will combine a set of highly efficient lithium ion batteries and an electric motor mounted in the rear transaxle. This electrified prop shaft will generate its maximum torque at zero RPM, thus cutting the extremely ineficeint around town fuel consumption by up to 35%, bringing overall fuel consumption up from around 9 MPG all the way closer to 14 MPG with the battery being recharged while the 599 is decelerating just like the F1 car.

Ferrari 599 hybrid at the 2010 Geneva Show? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 15:30 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster

A few days ago we announced that the next generation Nissan GT-R set to be unveiled in 2013 will be offered straight from the factory with a hybrid drivetrain option, and it might not be quite as new as you think. Thanks to our friends at Inside Line. we have learned that the future hybrid GT-R was on display earlier this year in Geneva and was shown under the guise of the Infiniti Essence concept. When we finally see Nissan’s new lines for the next generation GT-R super car its design will clearly have been inspired by the luxury concept. However the new Nissan GT-R is also said to carry over much more than just body lines, it is rumored that the hybrid power trin unit from the Essence concept will find a new home in the production car GT-R.

Now the Nissan GT-R has quite a legacy to live up to, and despite coming from an unproven vision, the gas/electric combination of internal combustion and wires wrapped around magnets that can be found under the skin of Infiniti’s last concept should be more then adequite to get the job done. The Essence showcar is powered by boosted 3.7 Liter V6 engine producing 440 HP combined with a 160 HP electric motor for a total of 600 HP. The current GT-R only makes 480 HP, a number which by no means should be considered minimal, and Nissan’s engineers spent a lot of time developing the GT-R’s VR38DETT power plant with its plasma sprayed cylinder liners and twin turbocharged setup the greener GT-R will most likely retain its current 3.8 Liter V6 and simply integrate it into the Essence’s electrified power train. This means that producing a maximum output of over 600 HP should be no problem for the next generation super car, meaning well more then 100 HP more than the current GT-R while fuel economy is improved closer to the 30 MPG range.

Pricing for the next generation Nissan GT-R hybrid will be in the neighborhood of $100,000 but we are still awaiting the announcement of a gas/electric Spec V.

More about the 2013 Nissan GT-R Hybrid originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 11:00 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster

With the midsize Mercedes Benz E Class coming off of a complete restyling, it was only a matter of time before the German automaker breathes some new life to the smaller sedan in their luxury lineup. The compact C Class will go under the knife and come back with a facelift for the 2011 model year. We can expect to see the new baby Benz as early as the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, being that the U.S. is such a large market for the compact luxury sedan, and due to the recent credit crunch consumers who don’t want to give up a first class ride have found scaling down as an excellent alternative.

These are the first images of the car that we have come across and they were mistakenly placed online in a new car configurator by Mercedes UK. The refreshed C Class will have new front fascia highlighted by a pair of horizontal strips of LED driving lights that brighten up the C’s smile. There will also be a few new wheel options for new car customers to outfit their rides with a bit more personal sense of style, however you can expect for the power train lineup to stay the same as it is at the moment.

Stay tuned, we’ll get back with more details!

2011 Mercedes C-Class facelift – first images revealed originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 7 December 2009 10:00 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster

Back in September Audi unveiled the battery powered E-tron Concept super car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. For those who were skeptical about the realism of a zero emission production sports car from the German automaker, Audi has just confirmed at the LA Auto Show that the E-tron will become Audi’s first electric model and go on sale in limited quantities at the end of 2012. It was Audi’s own chairman of the board, Rupert Stadler, who in a forward look at the alternative power train said that “electric power will also give Quattro more possibilities, such as powering the rear axle like in the A1 concept, or four wheels in motors like the e-tron. In fact, we want to launch a production e-tron in small volumes at the end of 2012.”

The E-tron concept is powered by a purely electric drive system that consists of four individual motors, two at the front and two more at the rear of the bright orange BEV. All together the electric motors combine to create a maximum output of 313 HP and an astounding 3,319.03 lb-ft of torque propelling the E-tron from 0 to 60 MPH in a very sports car appropriate 4.8 seconds.

Audi E-tron into production in 2012 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 4 December 2009 14:00 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster

Lexus recently unveiled the compact hybrid LF-Ch Concept earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The forward thinking hatchback is a preview as to what the future of luxury will be all about, set to compete head to head with other efficient space saving luxury vehicles like the the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 when the LF-Ch makes its scheduled debut sometime in 2012.

In an official statement, Lexus General Manager Mark Templin said that “There is a group of buyers growing up now who won’t buy cars by the pound. We have already seen a structural shift to the smaller and lower-priced segments of the luxury market over the last couple years.” The compact premium segment has been strong in congested urban areas for years, especially in Europe. The challenge that not only Lexus but a host of other automakers are setting for themselves is how to get the American market to warm up to the idea of paying mare and getting less. One of the steps that will most likely be taken when the LF-Ch becomes production ready is the use of a conventional power train in order to pass the savings along to the customer, but with any success you can expect Toyota to release a hybrid versions shortly after.

Lexus LF-Ch Concept could be going into production by 2012 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 November 2009 15:00 EST.

read more

Thanks to original article poster