Autoblog

Ford, Toyota will partner on RWD hybrid system for trucks and SUVs

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Ford, Toyota

Is the Prius V not big enough for you? Then you'll probably be interested to learn that Ford and Toyota announced a partnership today to develop a new hybrid system for SUVs and light trucks. The "equal partners" deal should result in a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain that will be ready "later this decade" - in other words, in time for the higher CAFE standards that the U.S. government just announced.

The exact models that will use the new powertrain are, unsurprisingly, not being revealed. Instead, all we know is that Toyota and Ford will develop a rear-wheel-drive hybrid system that will improve the efficiency of trucks and SUVs while still allowing them to be driven in the way customers expect them to. The powertrain's architecture will most likely not be the same as what is used in the dominant Hybrid Synergy Drive that Toyota has refined over the past 14 years in the Prius.

The reason no one knows for sure? All that Ford and Toyota have as this moment is a Memorandum of Understanding. The next step will be a feasibility study to figure out what the exact implementation path will be, with the general outline being that the companies will work together on a powerplant that will be used independently in models that are specific to each company (i.e., this is not about sharing a platform or models, just a RWD hybrid powerplant). The two automakers will also work together on in-vehicle telematics.

Today's announcement could further confuse some people's understanding of the history of hybrid technology, since it has long been an urban legend that Ford licensed its earlier hybrid tech from Toyota. This did not happen, as we explained back in 2009.

Continue reading Ford, Toyota will partner on RWD hybrid system for trucks and SUVs

Ford, Toyota will partner on RWD hybrid system for trucks and SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Cadillac, New Car Reviews, Luxury

Revisiting A Green-Tinged Guilty Pleasure

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum - Click above for high-res image gallery

Your smug neighbors clean their clothes with Method laundry detergent, they've laid down cork flooring on their first floor and they have organic cotton shower curtains hanging in all four of their bathrooms. Driveways around the country are filled with neighbors swapping prideful mile-per-gallon figures instead of Junior's latest little league stats. Yet we fear that the term "green" gets tossed around far too easily these days. We see hybrids and electrics all around us, but most aren't designed to compete against the green yardstick that is the Toyota Prius.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, for example, relies on similar tech, yet it's effectively the Toyota's polar opposite. Possessing the elegant style of a fashionable fat kid, the Escalade Hybrid manages to produce brutish noises and surprising bursts of speed. An expensive eight-passenger luxury barge, this full-size hybrid SUV could easily be dismissed as an overpriced dinosaur - especially as it has been getting a bit long-in-the-tooth while the competition has continued to evolve. GM knows this, and it's recently committed to investing a bundle into the Arlington, Texas plant that churns out the cash cow GMT900 platform this Caddy rides upon.

A replacement may be on the way for 2014, but we still couldn't help but feel that there's something compelling about this generation's sharp fenders, large rolling stock and singular swagger that's worth revisiting. Not wanting to mess about with anything less than full kingpin spec, we requested a week with the hybrid Platinum model seen here. Click past the jump to see if this baller still has game.

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2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: More powerful Honda hybrid coupe in the works?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Honda, Rumormill

Mugen Honda CR-Z - Click above for high-res image gallery

A mainstream hybrid that's fun to drive. That's a novel concept, to be sure, and one targeted by Honda in the marching papers of its recent CR-Z coupe, which is offered with a sporty six-speed manual gearbox and is supposed to be the spiritual successor to the much-loved CRX hatchback from the 1980s.

We've yet to drive the CR-Z and we're already questioning if the 122 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque on tap from its 1.5-liter VTEC four-cylinder with Integrated Motor Assist will be enough to qualify the car as sporty.

According to Motor Trend, though, Honda has a much sportier model waiting in the wings that would use either a V6 or a large 2.5 liter four mated up with the familiar IMA hybrid system. Citing rumors from Japan, MT says the future car will be roughly the size of the Accord coupe.

In related news, that aforementioned V6 hybrid powertrain is reportedly slated for both minivans and SUVs for the American market. Further, Honda is currently working on an extended-range electric system similar to the one featured in the 2011 Chevrolet Volt except using a capacitor-based energy storage system. If true, we can expect to see that system featured in a future Accord.

Gallery: Mugen Honda CR-Z

[Source: Motor Trend]

Rumormill: More powerful Honda hybrid coupe in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler's new hybrid SUVs score a 20/22 mpg from the EPA

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Green, Chrysler, Dodge

Click for a high res gallery of the Aspen and Durango hybrids

Those who have had a hard look at their needs and still come to the conclusion that a full-size SUV would fit the bill officially have a new option. The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids are now on sale and the EPA has determined that the pair have the best fuel economy of any such vehicles on the U.S. market. The Chrysler duo are officially rated at 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the open road. Chrysler has opted to offer the Two-Mode hybrid trucks only with all-wheel-drive while GM's similarly powered Tahoe/Yukon can be had in rear- or all-wheel-drive. Comparing like configurations, both brands get an equal 20 mpg in stop and go traffic. Once you get up to cruising speed, the Chryslers pull out ahead, topping the GM SUVs by 2 mpg. At about $45K, the Chrysler/Dodges provide what may be an even more important advantage over the competition. An AWD Tahoe will run you $53,000. You don't really give up anything in terms of equipment or features for that price difference, so it's worth checking out. We sampled it ourselves this summer and came away with a fairly positive impression.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler's new hybrid SUVs score a 20/22 mpg from the EPA

Chrysler's new hybrid SUVs score a 20/22 mpg from the EPA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Motor Show: Land Rover debuts e-Terrain Technology concept

Stuart Waterman — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Geneva Motor Show

Called the Land_e, this technology concept from Land Rover is designed to showcase a suite of hybrid technologies that reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while staying true to Land Rover's go-anywhere 4x4 mission.

With the "e" standing for efficiency, the Land_e is roughly the size of the current Freelander, and has a biodiesel/electric hybrid powertrain with a very intelligent powertrain management system that provides multiple modes of operation, ranging from front-wheel drive highway cruising to full on "rock crawler" 4WD.

Ford says we can expect to see the e-Terrain technologies progressively introduced in the Land Rover product line over the next few years.

More pics and a full description of the e-Terrain Technology Concept after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

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Geneva Motor Show: Land Rover debuts e-Terrain Technology concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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