2011

Mazda Hasn’t Been On the Forefront Of the EV Industry, But They Are Catching Up

For the first time ever, U.S. automakers are getting ready to sell small cars that go beyond adequate to potentially great. Certainly the styling, specification, and safety equipment of upcoming compacts and subcompacts is a giant step above their predecessors. The latest example is the 2011...

Though Toyota has not confirmed anything officially, Japan's Best Car magazine is reporting that the company plans to reintroduce the Toyota MR2 as a hybrid model called the MR-S to compete with Honda's upcoming CR-Z hybrid. As Best Car reports, the vehicle will go on sale sometime after the CR-Z...

 Nearly every major automaker has at least toyed with the idea of introducing a fuel cell powered vehicle sometime in the future.  Both Honda and GM have introduced fuel cell vehicles, but on a limited basis for testing purposes.  The technology is proven, as drivers of the Honda FCX Clarity GM...

Earlier this morning, we wrote about GM's announcement that engineers developing the 2011 Chevrolet Volt have partnered with the National Federation of the Blind to figure out "a safe level of sound" from the company's first extended-range electric vehicle. Our subsequent interview with Tony...

Over the next 12 months, carmakers will introduce several new plug-in electric vehicles. One question that's frequently asked of GreenCarReports: Does recharging electric cars pose a threat to the electricity grid? The 2010 Fisker Karma and the 2011 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids, among other...

ECOS is known for the electric retrofitting of old Volkswagens -  for around $12,500, you can have your  Beetle converted into highway capable electric commuter. But capitalizing on the availability of off-the-shelf componentry and the relative simplicity of EV powertrains,  ECOS is hoping to...

We previewed the upcoming 2011 Mazda2 subcompact a couple of months ago, but now we have more details, along with photos of its updated styling. The five-door hatchback will be officially unveiled in early December, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2011 Mazda Mazda2 will go on sale in the U.S. and...

  Daimler AG reported today that production of the second generation Smart ForTwo Electric Drive (ED) has begun at their plant in Hambach, France. The ForTwo employs modern lithium-ion batteries to store power for the car's electric drivetrain. The new car builds on the first generation vehicle...

If any one company seems to hold an edge in fuel cell powered vehicles, that company has to be Daimler.  Though GM has expertise in the field, as does Honda, Daimler has several generations of working fuel cell powered vehicles in daily use around the globe.  Recently, the company introduced its...

  On October 22, Chevy issued a challenge via the Chevrolet Voltage Blog: come up with the best name for the Volt's signature silvery-greenish color, and you'll get a free trip to the LA Auto Show, not to mention a test drive of the pre-production extended-range electric vehicle. Each name...

We've known for a while that Toyota plans to introduce more Prius body styles to expand the reach of its most recognized and iconic hybrid car. Now, images of a possible 2011 Toyota Prius station wagon have hit the media. At least in Japan. Woody Thompson, proprietor of Woody's Car Site, points us...

General Motors displayed the all new 2011 Buick Regal just days ago in Los Angeles.  The vehicle will be one of the first GM products to be propelled by their second generation mild-hybrid powertrains. According to Wards Auto," Sources tell Ward’s a hybrid variant featuring the beefed-up version...

The completely redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Touareg sport utility vehicle, which will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this January, will include a hybrid model in the range from the start. The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid will be Volkswagen's first hybrid electric vehicle, and it will go on...

General Motors will follow its 2011 Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car with a production version of the Cadillac Converj concept car revealed at this year's Detroit Auto Show. It's been an open question for a while now: What will be the next vehicle to use GM's Voltec series hybrid...

Auto executives know how to get U.S. drivers to save a whole lot more gasoline: Raise the price of gas, to at least $4 a gallon. That was the message at the recent Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit this week. The simplest way to get U.S. drivers into cars with higher gas mileage is economic: Make it...

Researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have succeeded in making the world’s first Ni-Li battery, a formulation that holds more than 3.5 times the energy of Li-ion batteries and doesn’t run the risk of catching fire. By including a...

The Global Green Car Challenge took place this week in Australia.  Participants in numerous categories faced off for supremacy.  One vehicle, the Tesla Roadster, set a new world record in the battery powered production vehicle class. Driver Simon Hackett and co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas set out...

As U.S. carmakers get serious about building world-class compact cars, one of the most eagerly awaited entries is the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, which will face off against a totally new 2012 Ford Focus as well as revised models of the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Nissan Sentra. Now reports say that...

Fiat Starts to Reveal Plans For the Troubled Chrysler Name Plate