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Toyota will share its patented hybrid vehicle tech for free
With more than 80 percent of the hybrid vehicle market, Toyota is undoubtedly a leader in hybrid technology. Rather than lock that expertise away, Toyota announced it will share nearly 24,000 patents with fellow automakers. According to the company, this is an attempt to promote electrified vehicles worldwide and combat global emissions -- a kind of rising tide lifts all boats approach.
Honda wants all of its European cars to be hybrids or EVs by 2025
Honda is coming to the Geneva Motor Show with more than just a pre-production electric car on its hands. The automaker has announced intentions to make all of its European car sales "electrified" (that is, hybrid or pure EV) by 2025 -- a big step up from the goal it set in 2017, when it expected 66 percent by 2025. The transition to electric powerplants has "gathered pace considerably" since two years ago, Honda's Tom Gardner said. The company pointed to its full hybrid tech (such as the two-motor system in the CR-V Hybrid) as a major factor on top of all-electric machines like the e Prototype.
BMW's latest plug-in hybrid is the all-new X3 xDrive30e
BMW has unveiled its latest plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show, including the first ever PHEV version of its small crossover, the X3 xDrive30e. That model will go about 31 miles on electrons alone, enough to go around town without burning any gas. If you want to do the latter, and go quickly while doing it, the four-cylinder gas engine produces 244 horsepower, with another 40 on top if when you marry the gas and electric motors.
Hyundai’s Nexo makes a case for fuel-cell SUVs
The future of hydrogen fuel cell cars is still in doubt. It all comes down to infrastructure and there aren't enough stations for most to even consider purchasing a vehicle that emits water instead of pollutants. Still, that hasn't stopped Hyundai from producing a legitimate reason why the infrastructure problem should be tackled in earnest.
Lyft adds the option to request EVs or hybrids
After committing last year to making rides and the company itself totally carbon neutral, Lyft plans to add thousands more electric vehicles to its network in 2019. What's more, you can specifically request an EV or hybrid when hailing a ride through the new green mode.
Koenigsegg aims to build a 'CO2 neutral' combustion supercar
Koenigsegg doesn't just want combustion-powered supercars to compete with EVs in terms of raw performance... it wants to compete in eco-friendliness, too. In a chat with Top Gear, company founder Christian von Koenigsegg said he was working with National Electric Vehicle Sweden to develop a €1 million ($1.15 million) hybrid supercar that was "completely CO2 neutral." The solution, he said, was melding the automaker's camless "freevalve" combustion engine tech with electric assistance. You could cold-start the vehicle using pure alcohol, for instance.
BMW launches a performance 7 Series PHEV
BMW has launched its 2020 7 Series sedans, and controversy about the ginormous grill aside, they're some of the company's highest-tech models yet. The 745e xDrive has a plug-in hybrid 389 HP inline six-cylinder with a 12.0 kWh battery that should allow for some grocery-getting purely on electrons (BMW hasn't released range figures yet). That combo will accelerate you to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, but if that's not fast enough, there's also a 523 HP V8 on the 750i xDrive or a 600-horsepower twin-turbo V12 on the 760i.
Ford's 2020 Explorer Hybrid adds range without losing storage capacity
While Ford already revealed its redesigned Explorer SUV, today at the Detroit Auto Show we're learning more about the new Hybrid version. Ford claims that this year it's introducing a whole slew of hybrid vehicles that combine performance and extended range via their efficiency, and this one is just the first. While we don't have all the details on its powertrain yet, the 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid has a 3.3-liter V6 that's part of a hybrid system producing 318 HP (no word on torque -- yet), while pulling more than 500 miles of range from its 19.3 gallon gas tank. Beyond making life a little greener for SUV owners, Explorer chief engineer Bill Gubing points out that "Reduced cargo space in hybrids is a thing of the past for Ford customers." Unlike other Ford hybrid vehicles that sacrificed space for big, awkwardly-placed battery packs, this one slides its specially designed liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery into the chassis beneath the second row seats so owners don't have to give up legroom or cargo space. At 4,969 pounds it's even lighter than the 400 HP ST version Ford is also showing off today. Still, we'll want to see its storage capabilities for ourselves -- as well as the optional 10.1-inch vertically-oriented touchscreen -- and hear more about how much it tows before hooking up the boat and taking a trip up north. Update: Ford mentioned it's capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds, and the model I saw here on the show floor looked like any other SUV with three rows of seating. The battery pack is tucked somewhere under that second row and while you won't be shoving anything under those seats, there's nothing awkwardly poking out to block other parts of the cabin.
Google and Samsung on the perfect 2-in-1 tablet
2018 was the year every major tech company tried to create a tablet that can double as a laptop. We saw Google's Pixel Slate, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S4 and Galaxy Book 2 each attempt to be the best lightweight entertainment device that is powerful enough to let you get work done. Microsoft continued to dominate the space with the new Surface Pro 6, while Apple hyped up its marketing for the iPad Pro as "like a computer" but also "more powerful than most PC laptops." There are many components to get right -- a good display, a comfortable keyboard, powerful performance and versatile software are key. But there are challenges the industry needs to tackle. We talked to Google's Ben Janofsky and Samsung's Elina Vives at CES to find out what the ideal 2-in-1 should look like and how they'll improve in 2019.
BMW considers electric-only mode for hybrids in zero-emissions areas
BMW has a problem: with cities planning to either create zero-emissions zones or even ban gas-powered cars entirely, how does it keep its vehicles on the road? By turning them into ad hoc electric cars, apparently. In a conversation at the LA Auto Show, board member Klaus Froehlich told Reuters that BMW could make its hybrid cars run in an electric-only mode in polluted city centers where EVs might become the only option. The machines would use their connected technology and navigation to "automatically" disable conventional engines in these areas, Froehlich said.
Toyota's 2019 Prius will offer electric all-wheel drive
As efficient as it is, the Prius probably isn't your first pick if you need a car that can navigate a snowy backroad. You might have to rethink your assumptions, though. Toyota is introducing the 2019 Prius with an option for an electric all-wheel drive system (AWD-e in Toyota-speak). Choose the option and you'll get a sedan that can muster a combined 50MPG without losing its footing quite so quickly as front wheel drive cars. The system revolves around an independent electric motor that will always power the rear wheels up to 6MPH, and can continue up to 43MPH when necessary. It doesn't need a center differential or front-to-rear driveshaft, either, and it won't intrude into cargo space.
McLaren’s $2.25 million Speedtail hybrid boasts 250MPH speeds
McLaren has now unveiled what it's calling "the ultimate McLaren road car" -- a hybrid that's aerodynamic, super fast and full of features that will most certainly make your car seem wholly inadequate. The McLaren Speedtail can reach speeds of 250MPH and it can reportedly accelerate from 0 to 186MPH in just 12.8 seconds. That's nearly four seconds faster than the McLaren P1. Every inch of the vehicle is also designed with speed and aerodynamics in mind.
The Lexus ES 300h is a chill luxury sedan
There's something to be said about comfy. Your favorite pillow or blanket might not be the best on the market, but they make you feel better. Even if it has a pizza stain that's shaped like Ohio. The Lexus ES 300h (starting at $41,410) is like a comfort blanket. It's cozy, quiet and it looks nice. It grows on you. As long as you don't get frustrated dealing the infotainment system trackpad.
Toyota recalls 2.4 million hybrids over stalling risk
Toyota is facing a fresh setback after having to deal with a long line of faults relating to its hybrid cars over the past few years. Some Toyota Prius or Auris cars manufactured between 2008 and 2014 could be at risk of stalling when entering a fail-safe driving mode. The Japanese carmaker is now recalling 1.25 million cars in Japan, 830,000 in North America and 290,000 in Europe in order to fix the issue.
The Mercedes CLS 450 is a luxury mild hybrid for hipsters
While Mercedes is pushing its EQ brand of hybrids and EVs, the two-letter electric signifier also resides in the automaker's more traditional vehicles. In the new 2019 CLS 450 (starting in approximately the low $70,000s), electrons are used to give the car a boost when you need it or turn the engine off while the vehicle is cruising at highway speeds. It's a wonderful feature on a wonderful car, and except for some old tech, the CLS 450 makes you forget Mercedes is calling it a coupe even though it has four doors.
Infiniti 'dual-hybrid' concept car gathers heat to boost performance
Most hybrid cars are meant to save fuel and the planet. You can't say that about Infiniti's just-unveiled Project Black S concept, however -- here, it's all about speed. It's built on the design of the Q60 Red Sport 400, but contains a Formula 1-derived "dual hybrid" system that can recuperate electricity when the car is braking and accelerating. There's one motor generator unit that captures energy from the brakes. The real stars, though, are two motor generator units on the V6 engine that collect heat from the twin turbos, translating it into either reduced turbo lag (by spinning the turbines faster than they would on their own) or as much as 120kW of power for the drivetrain.
Bombardier revives the battery-powered train
Diesel trains are noisy and polluting, but on stretches of non-electrified rail, what else are you going to do? Hydrogen trains are one option, but now there's another: Canadian transportation firm Bombardier has (re-)introduced the battery powered train. In Berlin, it launched the Bombardier Talent 3 electro-hybrid train, the first of its kind in Europe in over 60 years, the company said. The train took its maiden voyage with local luminaries including the federal commissioner for rail transport and the Brandenburg transport minister.
Polestar wants to change almost everything about how you own a car
Two older gentlemen walk up the stairs of the Polestar booth at Pebble Beach. "What is this?" one asks the other as they marvel at the design. An employee walks up and explains that the Polestar 1 is the automaker's first car. A hybrid that'll be the last vehicle the company builds with a gas engine. They take photos and continue to chat with the representative. I watch it happen again and again. People unaware of the car and company stopping by to look at a very beautiful car. It's great for Polestar for people to learn about its vehicle at an event, but it's also a problem.
Tesla's Roadster prompts Koenigsegg to rethink its supercars
Did you suspect that supercar manufacturers would be nervous when Tesla vowed that its next-gen Roadster would deliver a "hardcore smackdown" to gas-powered performance cars? Your hunch was well-founded. In a chat with Top Gear, Koenigsegg's namesake founder Christian von Koenigsegg revealed that his company started reworking its engines just to remain competitive with the Roadster's vaunted 1.9-second 0-60MPH time. "This is embarrassing," he said.
Nikon's Z6 outmuscles the Sony A7 III in shooting speed and video
After many leaks and teases, Nikon has unveiled the Z6, a full-frame mirrorless camera that might tempt many photographers away from Sony's A7 III. It has very similar specs to that model, including a 24.5-megapixel full-frame sensor with 100-51,200 native ISO, 12 fps continuous shooting, 273 autofocus points and 4K video. Nikon's Z6 has a much bigger lens mount, however, and a chunkier handle that's easier to grab, especially when there's a humongous lens attached. It's a clear call-out to some of the pros who aren't crazy about the ergonomics of Sony's A7-series cameras.
