August 2011 – Hybrid Car Sale Trends

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The hybrid car market continues to see a faster pace in sales numbers from a year ago with the Toyota Prius again the clear leader in hybrid sales. Honda is in the second place position for hybrids with Ford doing well with the newer Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid models. 2011 has been a strong year for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. As many as 20 percent of all Sonata sales are for hybrid models. Hybridcars.com is quoted as saying “the gas-electric Sonata is the number two selling hybrid for the second straight month.”

General Motors has recieved hype on it’s Cheverolet Volt but sales are affected by supply shortages. The same is true for the Nissan LEAF.  In the luxery sector, the Lexus CT 200h is having a strong summer with dramatic sales growth.

Ford’s new EcoBoost 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine coming within 3 years

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Ford EcoBoost Engine - attribution to The Checkered Flag Blog

In about three years, the new EcoBoost 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine from Ford Motor Co. will enter global production. But according to an insider source familiar with the engine, there is still no timetable for a US version.

The source added that it isn’t happening yet for North America. The source added that the subject is certainly being discussed but there’s still no vehicle planned for it yet. There are talks for the next-generation Ka, a front-drive car that is even smaller than the 2011 Fiesta, to make it to the US market.

The Ka is currently being sold in Europe. The three-cylinder engine and the Ford Start concept are displayed at the 2010 Beijing auto show. But at the show, there was no mention of the timetable for this engine.

The Start, a stylish two-passenger concept, has exterior body panels that are made from deformable, pre-colored recyclable materials. On the other hand, the interior panels are made of natural sisal fiber. During the unveiling in the Beijing show, Ford revealed that its horsepower and torque are similar to what a normally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine could produce.

The exact ratings were not provided however. The 1.0-liter engine will utilize a cast iron block, cast aluminum cylinder head and cast aluminum sump. A 10:1 compression ratio is anticipated. Ford stated that the engine is intended for small vehicles like the Start concept.

Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 crossover announced

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The rumored extended range electric crossover we saw revealed in General Motors’ design patent drawings is now a reality. The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept will make its debut tomorrow at the Beijing Motor Show, and just as we suspected from seeing Volt design chief Bob Boniface’s name on the patent, this five-passenger crossover rides on the same Voltec architecture as the Volt.

The new Chevrolet concept integrates design elements from the Volt, including the headlight, taillamps and grille, with a five-door hatch body style very similar to the larger Orlando and a length about four inches longer than the current HHR.

Propulsion comes from the same 150 horsepower engine and 16 kilowatt-hour battery used in the Volt. However, its larger frontal area and increased drag mean that this one only has a 32-mile electric range as opposed to the Volt’s 40 miles. The Crossover has full seating for five and 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats. The dashboard appears to be lifted directly from the Volt, including the dual LCD displays. We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see this as the second Voltec product in the GM North American lineup. If built, this would likely be classed as a light truck and do wonders for GM’s CAFE numbers on that side of the business.

[Via: GreenAutoblog]

2010 Beijing Auto Show will be highlighted by the alternative-energy cars

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Beijing Auto Show 2010 - attribution erinohara73

More than 2,100 exhibitors from 16 countries will attend the 11th Beijing International Auto Show that starts on April 23. The event will feature the latest designs for alternative-energy cars, according to People’s Daily.

The 200,000 square-meter exhibition area will showcase 990 cars, of which 89 will have their world premiere. Stiff competition will come from Volkswagen, BMW, Porsche, Ford, General Motors and other global automakers. Over 700,000 visitors are expected to arrive at the event. On display would be 95 new alternative-energy cars, accounting for almost 10% of the total number of participating vehicles, the largest number in the show’s history. Toyota will bring in its new new-energy vehicles such as the FT-E V, which features the lithium-ion battery; the FCH V, using the high-performance fuel cell “Toyota FCStack,” and the new Prius, powered by lithium-ion battery and using external plug-in rechargeable hybrid technology. BMW will be introducing the hybrid 7 Series and X6. Audi will display its new hybrid Audi A8, a four-wheel drive e-tron electric sports car and the A1 e-tron electric cars. BYD will have the F3DM electric car and e6 prepared. Chery will also be showing off the pure electric QQ. FAW Group will introduce two electric bionic concept cars: the E-wing and E-coo. Soueast Motors will promote its Delica electric vehicles.

[Via: Autonews - sub. required]

First roadgoing Porsche 911 Hybrid coming in 2012

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Porsche 911 Hybrid - attribution Automotive Rhythms

From the racetrack to the road, this might be the story of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car that was unveiled back in March at the Geneva Motor Show.

And this is not just another rumor, as the spies caught a prototype near Nurburgring, in Germany, that had a number of telltale signs that under its body it is not an ordinary 911. Regarding the 911 GT3 Hybrid R, this race car already showed that it can write a page of history, as it scored a podium finish in its second appearance in the Nurburgring Endurance Series. Regarding its engine, the car uses a newly-developed 480 hp 4.0-liter flat-six engine but also two electric motors (60 kW each) featured on the front axle. It is expected that the road version car will carry the same technology becoming one of the fastest Porsche cars but also the most fuel-efficient then it will hit the dealerships in 2012.

[Via: 4WheelsNews]