Hyundai and Kia will offer stop-start technology within 2 years

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Hyundai and Kia announced that they will offer stop-start technology as a fuel-saving feature on many North American vehicles within 2 years.

“Start-stop will be a key part of our development activity in the next two product cycles,” in 2012 and 2016, said Timothy White, Hyundai-Kia’s senior powertrain manager. The new technology is expected to provide a 3% increase in fuel economy. As you may know already Stop-start engine technology is being adopted by more automakers in order to improve their fuel economy as well as to meet tougher requirements. Ford will also offer similar technology on 20 percent of its global nameplates by 2014. Regarding Hyundai, they already revealed the 2011 Sonata Hybrid which represents the first step in producing hybrid vehicles. Kia is already working on a hybrid version of the 2011 Magentis, as it announced this at the New York Auto Show.

[Via: Autospies]

Beijing Preview: Voltec-powered Chevy crossover concept could debut

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The media previews for the 2010 Beijing Motor Show are happening at the end of this week and, assuming a certain Icelandic volcano doesn’t upset the atmosphere further, we expect to be on hand. One of the possible debuts is a new Chevrolet-badged MPV concept. What makes this vehicle particularly interesting is that it may be propelled by the same Voltec extended range EV powertrain used in the Volt.

On the design patent that was issued last week, one of the credits is given to Bob Boniface, the design manager that led the development of the original Volt concept as well as the production Volt and Opel Ampera. The association with Boniface as well as some of the design details imply that this new vehicle will be an ER-EV. The shape of the headlamps and tail-lamps as well as other elements of the front fascia seem to be lifted directly from the Volt. A very similar looking vehicle appeared briefly in a GM video released last summer alongside the production Chevrolet Orlando and featured the same blocked off grille used on the Volt. This vehicle is smaller than the Orlando and would likely be a roomier five-seat alternative to the Volt.

[Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, via GM Inside News]

Toyota Prius minivan coming in 2011

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Toyota Prius Wagon - attribution MSVG

We’ve been hearing the rumors for over a year, and it’s now looking increasingly likely that Toyota is getting ready to launch a new hybrid minivan that will wear the Prius nameplate. If true, this would be the first completely new vehicle added to the Prius stable, where it would join the well-known hatchback sometime in 2011.

According to Reuters (which is citing the Japanese Nikkei), this new Prius hybrid minivan may very well be the first such vehicle from Toyota equipped with an in-house developed lithium ion battery pack. The three-row vehicle, which we can only presume would also have sliding doors, would potentially seat up to seven people, expanding Toyota’s hybrid technology further into the family-use market.

No other details are available other than the notion that Toyota would like to keep the price close to that of standard minivans currently on the market. Stay tuned for more as we hear it.

[Via: Autoblog Green]

Renault Fluence Z.E. unveiled

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This is the first clear look that have been released of the production version of the electric Renault Fluence saloon. This car, which will go on sale in in Europe this year and in the UK in 2011, is based on the Megane saloon.

It boasts a theoretical range of 99 miles, a top speed of 84mph and 167lb ft of torque. The Fluence saloon will be joined in the electric vehicle lineup by an electric Kangoo van, which will go on sale sometime in the first six months of 2011. This van will have the same capacity as the standard Kangoo, which has a theoretical range of 99 miles, top speed of 81mph and 167lb ft of torque. Renault is already accepting expressions of interest. Renault has plans to lease both vehicles, but it has yet to disclose if it will offer these vans for sale too.

European version of the Lexus GS will be hybrid only

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According to our sources from Lexus, it appears that the petrol versions of the GS range the GS 300 and GS 460 will no longer be produced and the customers who want one will have to choose the remaining GS 450h. This decision came after Lexus registered poor sales of the petrol versions of the GS. For those who don’t know, the Lexus GS 450h is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine but also by an electric motor and has a total output of 345 hp. The price tag will remain the same, €67,000.