Hybrids

Lexus recently displayed its updated CT 200h compact luxury hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and now full details of the refreshed model have landed. It's disappointing news for anyone hoping for efficiency improvements though, as the 2014 CT 200h features identical economy to the 2013 model...

Got a 2013 or 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid? It may be one of the nearly 7,300 examples subject to a powertrain control module recall. Ford is recalling the vehicles to correct an issue that could see the cars roll away after being shifted out of park. According to The Detroit News, affected cars may...

The Toyota Prius may be the most popular hybrid model of the many Toyota sells. But the company's largest hybrid vehicle weighs more than six new 2014 Prius Liftbacks when it's fully loaded. It's the Hino 195h, a 7- to 9-ton diesel-electric Class 5 commercial truck known as a "cab-over," meaning...

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is proving unexpectedly popular, both in Japan and the U.S., and that's causing supply challenges for Honda. Two readers have contacted us in the last week to complain that they were unable to purchase the new Accord Hybrid, which Green Car Reports named its 2014 Best...

Car enthusiasts will get a real treat over the next few weeks as both the Tokyo Motor Show and Los Angeles Auto Show release scores of new models into the wild. We've already brought you our preview of the Japanese show so now it's time to unearth all the LA launches. Here, tiny kei cars and fuel...

The 2013 Tokyo Motor Show is almost upon us. And while the Los Angeles Auto Show might hold more relevance for the U.S. market, Tokyo's offerings can never be discounted entirely. Weird and wonderful some may seem but many feature the kind of technology we'll soon be seeing in our road cars. And of...

From the current Toyota lineup, the Prius C compact hybrid probably wouldn't be your first choice for turning into a sports car. Toyota itself might disagree though, and will display just such a vehicle at the upcoming 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. It's called the Aqua Air, and as you might know already...

Last year, we drove a prototype Infiniti JX Hybrid, as it was then called (it's now in production as the 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid). At that point, we wondered whether its mild-hybrid system would be "hybrid enough" to compete against the Lexus RX 450h that spawned the hybrid crossover segment two...

It's a mark of how important the Chinese market now is that Lexus has chosen the upcoming Guangzhou Motor Show to reveal its updated CT 200h. That's despite both the Los Angeles International Auto Show and the Tokyo Motor Show starting around the same time--both shows hosting several significant...

An aftermarket company has built a hybrid Corvette, but will the idea catch on?

We've known for some time that BMW and Toyota were planning to develop a hybrid sports car together, but until now it hasn't been clear what market that sports car would be aimed at. Now we know, and the news isn't great for anyone expecting the companies to develop something affordable. Instead...

Ford plug-in hybrids may be shifting the sales balance away from battery-electric cars.

This one just isn't going to go away, is it? A member of the UK parliament is set to raise concerns that electric cars are "a new threat" to pedestrians due to their low levels of noise. Mary Glindon, Labour Party constituent in North Tyneside, cites statistics from the Guide Dogs charity that from...

The next few weeks are going to be busy ones for car fans, with both the Los Angeles International Auto Show and Tokyo Motor Show happening simultaneously. The latter is set to play host to the usual throng of unusual Japan-only concepts, but among the kei-cars and crazy metal, Lexus will...

Receiving a 'Recommended' rating from the journalists at Consumer Reports isn't the only automotive accolade to aim for, but it's certainly one of the biggest. Losing that Recommended rating is therefore something to be avoided. It's also something the Toyota Prius V wagon has failed to avoid...

Volkswagen's XL1 might be one of the most exciting and unusual green vehicles of recent years, but it's certainly not one of the most accessible. Pricing around the $150,000 mark, based on the German price of 111,000 Euros, puts it in the same league as high-end sports cars. But as we've come to...

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid will start at $35,970, and will be available with both FWD and AWD, and in multiple trim levels.

Dry announcements about temporary auto-plant shutdowns can sometimes offer hints to possible bargains on new cars. In this case, Ford said it will close the plant that makes the Ford C-Max Hybrid (and Energi plug-in hybrid) and the Ford Focus compact sedan and hatchback for two separate weeks in...

A V-8 conversion isn't your typical eco-modification, but for Fisker Karma customers it's one way of ensuring a longer-term survival for their vehicle since the company's troubles started well over a year ago. The conversions are offered by VL Automotive, backed by Bob Lutz and using one of two...

We all know that hybrid vehicles typically offer greater fuel economy than their regular gasoline counterparts. But when considered over a typical ownership period, are they actually any cheaper to run? That's what a new study from cost-of-ownership specialists Vincentric has been finding out. The...