Auto Shows
-
It should come as no surprise that Toyota's Lexus luxury brand remains enthusiastic about hybrids. Toyota has sold more hybrids than any other automaker, with luxury models sold under the Lexus brand contributing to a total that just exceeded 10 million. That trend will continue with the 2018 Lexus LS 500h, a hybrid version of the brand's flagship sedan that will debut next month at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. CHECK OUT: Toyota now sells almost 1.5 million hybrids a year (Aug 2016) The hybrid will be the second powertrain option for the redesigned LS, which was unveiled in January at the 2017...
-
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback unveiled at Chicago auto showOver the last 10 years, the Hyundai Elantra has emerged into the top tier of compact sedans, joining longstanding leaders like the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Jetta as well as more recent contenders like the Chevrolet Cruze and Subaru Impreza. The last-generation Elantra...
John Voelcker -
Starship electric sidewalk-delivery robot a hit at DC Auto ShowWhat would you do if a small, knee-high box on wheels with a flag topping its tall antenna whirred toward you electrically on a sidewalk at 4 miles per hour? It turns out three-quarters of the pedestrians in several cities who've seen one didn't stop or even stare as it avoided them and continued...
John Voelcker -
Electric-car MPGe as important as range, Hyundai Ioniq maker suggestsAlong with price, the top-line statistic cited for any battery-electric car is its rated range. Until last month, the only electric cars that exceeded 200 miles in that metric were made by Tesla Motors. Now, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV has a 238-mile EPA rating for range—and that's usually the...
John Voelcker -
Electric Ford Transit van conversion shown by Inventev at Detroit Auto ShowWhen an automaker doesn't offer a vehicle for a specific market segment, sometimes the aftermarket will fill in the gap. In the U.S., all-electric commercial vans are one of those gaps. Such vehicles are available in other markets, but so far, not on sale from major makers in North America. DON'T...
Stephen Edelstein -
Ford F-150 pickup to get V-6 diesel engine in spring 2018 (updated)Formerly the domain of heavy-duty pickups, diesel engines are slowly creeping into smaller trucks. Ram arguably started the most recent trend with the 1500's 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6. General Motors sells diesel-powered Chevrolet Colorados and GMC Canyons. Now, the Ford F-150 is getting in on the...
Brandon Turkus -
China is now the world's largest new-car market, but no native Chinese manufacturers sell passenger cars in the U.S. At least one of those manufacturers is at least considering having a go at the U.S. market. GAC appeared this week at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show with three vehicles, including an electric car and a concept plug-in hybrid. DON'T MISS: Honda hybrid minivan, SUV, or pickup coming; dedicated hybrid in 2018 too The automaker also appeared at the Detroit show in 2013, but this was the first year it—or any other Chinese automaker—has had a booth on the main floor of...
-
2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid: two different battery packs, 'best-in-class' fuel economy claimedMasato Katsumata is Toyota's chief engineer for the global Camry sedan program—so when he speaks, it's worth listening. Following yesterday's Detroit Auto Show launch of an entirely new 2018 Toyota Camry mid-size sedan, he was one of several Toyota executives who answered media questions in a...
John Voelcker -
2017 Chevy Bolt EV electric car wins North American Car of the Year awardMedia days at the Detroit Auto Show always open with the announcement of the year's North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, and this year is no exception. But green-car enthusiasts had a special reason to follow this year's awards, now broken into three categories: car, truck, and utility...
John Voelcker -
VW ID Buzz concept: all-electric Microbus could arrive in 2022If you pronounce the word "buzz" with a German accent, it sounds like "bus"—which is almost surely why VW's second all-electric concept vehicle is called the Volkswagen ID Buzz. It's the latest in a series of concept studies for a modern-day Microbus, with stylistic nods to the classic Type 2...
John Voelcker -
Chrysler Portal concept: all-electric minivan for CES offers some self-driving (specs updated)It was widely rumored that Chrysler would reveal an all-electric minivan at this week's Consumer Electronics Show—and now we have the details. But the Chrysler Portal concept that will debut at CES won't be showing up at your local dealer any time soon. Far from it, in fact: the Portal is...
John Voelcker -
Green car preview at Detroit Auto ShowThe 2017 Detroit Auto Show will include a mix of hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient car debuts.
Stephen Edelstein -
A prototype Ford Transit Hybrid taxi will appear at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.
-
Most autonomous cars shown at CES are electrified: previewNumerous electrified cars are expected to debut at CES this year.
Stephen Edelstein -
Electric VW Microbus-like concept to appear at Detroit Auto ShowRumors of an electric Volkswagen Microbus concept persist.
Stephen Edelstein -
Rinspeed Oasis electric urban car to appear at CES, Detroit Auto ShowThe Rinspeed Oasis is a self-driving electric-car concept from a Swiss firm known for unusual ideas.
Stephen Edelstein -
Another tiny SUV? No AWD for 2018 Toyota C-HR subcompact crossoverThe 2018 Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover debuted at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Stephen Edelstein -
Mazda diesel to arrive fall 2017, it says, in new CX-5 crossover (updated)The 2017 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover is an entirely new design, Mazda says, although you might not see it at first glance. The small Japanese maker unveiled the new generation just four years after it launched the vehicle that now represents fully one-quarter of its global sales volume. But the...
John Voelcker -
The 2017 Jeep Compass replaces both the previous Compass and the Patriot.
-
Jaguar I-Pace electric concept at LA Auto Show: video walkaroundElectric vehicles are hardly a new concept any more, but they've largely been the province of Nissan and Tesla. Add another nameplate to that battery-powered mix. The future of Jaguar arrives next year, in the shape of this gas-free SUV. Meet the Jaguar I-Pace concept. CHECK OUT: Jaguar I-Pace...
Aaron Cole -
2017 Volkswagen e-Golf: 124 miles of range, more motor power, LA Auto Show debutLater this morning, the 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf will be unveiled at the second of two Los Angeles Auto Show media preview days. Along with the many updates made to other models in the 2017 Golf lineup, VW's electric car gets a 50-percent boost in battery capacity and a more powerful electric motor...
John Voelcker -
New 2017 Mini Countryman, including plug-in hybrid: 'biggest Mini yet'The 2017 Mini Countryman is the first Mini model with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Stephen Edelstein -
2017 Chevy Spark Activ: fake crossover jacks up minicar into SUV wannabeThe 2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ debuts at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Stephen Edelstein -
Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV concept breaks cover at LA Auto ShowLuxury electric cars: seems like everyone's doing them, doesn't it? The latest to join the growing pool of pricey battery-electric sedans and crossover utilities is the Jaguar I-Pace, revealed tonight as a concept at a splashy event before the Los Angeles Auto Show. But the British maker has...
John Voelcker