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Toyota recalls 752,000 Prius cars over flawed hybrid software
Toyota is recalling 752,000 Prius cars due to a glitch in the hybrid software that could lead to an engine stall.
Ford's new F-150 is its first with a hybrid V6 engine
The new F-150 will arrive this later with an optional hybrid V6 engine that Ford expects will have an EPA estimated 700 miles of range. It also has option Co-Pilot360 2.0 driving assists that will add hands-free driving on highways with a software update.
Toyota's RAV4 plug-in hybrid will be available this summer for $40,000
Toyota’s RAV4 Prime will be available for purchase this summer, and its prices will start at $38,100, not including the company’s $1,120 fee for delivery, processing and handling.
Toyota’s 2021 Sienna minivans will all be hybrids
Toyota's new, 2021 Sienna is notable for two reasons. In tandem, the 2021 Sienna produces a maximum of 243 horsepower, which is noticeably less than what you'd find in the current crop's naturally aspirated V6 engines. Toyota's answer to all of the above is "Sure, why not?"
BMW will discontinue its iconic i8 hybrid sports car in April
The BMW i8 was the company's first plug-in hybrid. When it hit the event circuit as a concept vehicle, it was a stunner, and the consumer version was surprisingly similar to the prototype. The clean lines of the chassis hid an advanced combination of a lithium-ion battery and a three-cylinder engine that could accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers in just 4.4 seconds. But after six years of success, the BMW factory in Leipzig, Germany will halt production of the company's best-selling sports car in April.
Honda will discontinue its Clarity EV in 2020
Honda is discounting the pure-electric version of its lease-only Clarity, Autoblog reports. It appears that Honda will continue to produce the plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell Clarity models, at least in 2020.
Mercedes unveils plug-in hybrid versions of the CLA and GLA
Mercedes is once more expanding the number of models with plug-in hybrid versions, and it might be particularly good news if you're looking for a less expensive ride. It just introduced PHEV variants of the CLA Coupe (aka sedan, pictured at center), CLA Shooting Brake (right) and GLA crossover SUV (left). All of them mate a 75kW electric motor with a 218HP, four-cylinder gas engine, theoretically giving you zero-emissions driving in the city with the reassurance of combustion if you need it. Not that you'll be leaning on fossil fuels much of the time -- Mercedes estimates 35 miles to 43 miles of electric driving (based on the WLTP test cycle) depending on your car, which should be enough for many commutes.
UK brings forward its ban on new petrol and diesel cars to 2035
The UK is bringing forward its ban on the sale of fossil fuel cars by five years. Originally, legislation stipulated that the sale of petrol and diesel would be banned by 2040. Now that date has been pulled forward to 2035, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the ban would come into effect even earlier, if possible.
Maserati may unveil its first hybrid car on April 21st
Maserati may be close to dragging its cars into the electrified era. An Automotive News Europe source says the Fiat Chrysler-owned brand will unveil its first hybrid, a version of the Ghibli sedan (above), at the Beijing Motor Show on April 21st. While there aren't many tidbits at this stage, it's poised to be a plug-in hybrid and thus have the option to run entirely on electric power for short stretches.
Fujifilm X-Pro3 review: One peculiar camera
Fujifilm has never been afraid to create unusual cameras, with the fixed-lens X-100F compact being a great example. But the X-Pro has always been its most unusual series, and the latest model, the $1,800 X-Pro3, is perhaps the weirdest one so far. It still has a hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder as before. However, Fujifilm has now taken the idea of being "in the moment" to a new extreme with the rear display. Under normal use, you can't even see it to compose or check photos. Instead, it shows either your camera settings or the type of film simulation and ISO, like an old-school film camera. Besides that, it shares the sensor and a lot of other features with the X-T3, so why not just get that camera instead? To find out what makes the X-Pro3 so unique, let's take it out into Paris to see what it can do.
Ford's next Focus RS may be a powerful hybrid
Ford's electrification plans might include an eco-friendly version of a hot hatchback. Car sources claim the 2021 Focus RS will be a hybrid with a beefy 400BHP gas engine driving the front wheels while an electric motor exclusively drives the rear. It's not a completely unique concept (this is somewhat reminiscent of Volvo), but it would certainly be unusual for Ford. And like you'd imagine, this would be as much about a performance boost as it would fuel efficiency.
This 'O-29' hum is the sound of Ford's new hybrid SUVs
Add Ford to the ranks of automakers adding sounds to notify pedestrians of oncoming electrified cars. The 2020 Escape Hybrid and Explorer Hybrid will both include a custom sound, O-29 (listen to it below) that plays when they're moving at speeds up to 19MPH. We wouldn't quite call it "melodious" like Ford does, but it's designed to be at once identifiable as a car sound yet gentle on the ears. The humming both modulates and changes frequencies to match speed, giving you enough cues to react without completely eliminating the usual hybrid quietness.
Formula 1 targets carbon neutral racing by 2030
Formula 1 is known for noise, horsepower and burning fuel, but the racing league wants to add a new, unexpected description: eco-friendly. Formula 1 plans to have a "net-zero carbon footprint by 2030," including the cars, on-track activities and operations, the FIA ownership body announced.
The Polestar 1 is a beautiful ode to driving
There's no shortage of new EV brands. If you can fabricate a supercar body and get your hands on a battery pack and motor, you've got yourself a new company. But Polestar is jumping ahead of the rest of the newcomers thanks to its long history with parent company Volvo.
Volkswagen unveils next-gen Golf and its hybrid variants
After months of teasing, the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf has been unveiled. The sleeker design doesn't stray too far from the vehicle's core look. But like our moms always told us, it's what inside that counts and the new Golf has a lot going on under the shell.
Mitsubishi shows off an oddball hybrid buggy prototype
At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi is showing off its oddball hybrid buggy prototype, the MI-TECH Concept. It's meant to look like a rugged off roader with no doors or roof, and it's built with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain. According to the company, it's "designed to be a dynamic buggy-type vehicle that embodies the very essence of Mitsubishi-ness."
The 2020 Honda Fit will use the automaker's new hybrid system
Honda has debuted the 2020 Fit at the Tokyo Motor Show, where the automaker has also revealed that it will have a hybrid option. In fact, it will be the first compact car to use its new two-motor hybrid system called the e:HEV. The company has developed the new hybrid system to become its core electrification technology going forward. Honda didn't reveal a lot of details about it, though it says that all e:HEV models will be "driven mostly with an electric motor."
Honda's Accord Hybrid is a value-packed sedan
Honda has a well-deserved reputation as an automaker that produces well-engineered, long-lasting vehicles. So it should be no surprise that the 2020 Accord Hybrid is those things and more. Will it impress your car-nerd friends? Probably not. Will it impress your bank account and family? Yes, yes it will.
Polestar is opening its first North American EV store
If you want to get a close look at Polestar's cars and check out its relatively novel retail experience, you may need to plan a trip to Canada. Polestar has announced that its first retail partner in the Americas, and thus its first "Polestar Space" in these areas, will be in Montreal. The team still has to pick a location in the city, but you can shop the brand's electrified cars starting in 2020.
Toyota’s 2021 RAV4 hybrid gets a plug
Thanks to the highly popular Prius, Toyota helped make the hybrid a viable alternative to gas-only vehicles. A few years ago, it added a plug-in version, the Prius Prime to compete with the likes of the Chevy Volt. Now it's adding that option to the number one selling SUV in the United States, the 2021 RAV4.
