Volvo has unveiled a plug-in diesel hybrid version of its V60 wagon ahead of the Geneva Auto Show, which promises to do for fuel spending what Atkins did for bread consumption.

The diesel hybrid takes Volvo’s 2.4-liter inline-five turbodiesel, pumping out 215 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque and adds an electric motor to the back wheels: a 70-horsepower motor powered by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, controlling what Volvo calls the Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD).

With two engines and AWD, the V60 hybrid can run on “Pure” mode for 32 miles on just the electric motor. With “Hybrid” mode activated, it’s good for a range of 746 miles, and in full-attack “Power” mode the V60′s two engines hustle to 60mph in 6.9 seconds. That’s what 472 lb-ft of torque combined will do for a family hauler.

The V60 hybrid will debut in Geneva in a few weeks. Click the jump for video of the diesel-hybrid.

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A what you may ask? Well, a hybrid pickup, a dual powertrain vehicle that uses a gasoline engine, but instead of an electric motor and batteries, relies on a reservoir, accumulator and hydraulic pump as its secondary source for motivation.

Hydraulic hybrids are not new, but until now they’ve largely been used on concept vehicles and delivery or garbage trucks; vehicles that spend a lot of time in urban driving cycles and under frequent stop/start conditions.

A hydraulic hybrid system works by having fluid stored under pressure in the accumulator, which is converted into energy and transmitted to the vehicle’s rear wheels via what Perry Li, co-deputy director of the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (a real mouthful, that) calls a “power split hydraulic hybrid architecture.”

The CCEFP has teamed up with Ford Motor Company to work on the concept, using a F-150 as the subject vehicle. The truck is powered by a 4.6-liter single overhead cam V8, but uses a special continuously variable transmission built by Folsom Technologies. Whereas some hybrid gas/electric trucks, like Chevy’s Silverado, use electric motors inside the transmission to provide power to the driven wheels, this one uses hydraulic pump motors. Combined with the CVT, the hydraulic system allows power to be variably split between the gas engine and the secondary power source, improving fuel economy.

How much? Well, a conventional 4.6-liter F-150 has a combined city/highway mileage ratings of 18-mpg. With the CVT and hydraulic system operating, Li claims the same truck can likely deliver as much as 40-mpg in urban driving!

The CCEFP is a national network of seven universities and 55 industrial partners which is funded by the National Science Foundation, whose mission is to pursue innovation in the areas of hydraulic and pneumatic technology, including small, efficient powertrains for vehicles.

Li says that he hopes to have a running, driving hydraulic hybrid prototype F-150 on the road by the end of this year.

It will be interesting to see if his claims can actually be supported by raw data. If they can, it looks like the future of our beloved pickup truck might not be electric at all and from many angles, particularly as it applies to heavier vehicles and commercial fleets, that’s probably a good thing.

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]

In the Fiat auto group, typically all the new high performance technology is developed by Ferrari and it eventually moves down the ladder to the other brands. However, if the latest reports from Maranello prove to be true, there might be a change in the direction of flow for technology in the near future.

According to reports, Ferrari is looking to adapt Fiat’s MultiAir technology for its own use. This system uses hydraulic actuators to change the setup of the vavletrain, and this can be done while on the move. So you can tune your engine to be run lean one minute for greater fuel-efficiency, or mean to get the maximum power output.

This system is far more advanced than the usual spring-driven valvetrain found on a normal engine. We might get a clearer idea about Ferrari’s future engine plans at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

[Source: MotorAuthority]

You roll down the window to let some cold air in, you take swigs from your extra-large coffee and you have the radio on full blast. This was the old way of keeping your eyes open when you were feeling a little sleepy behind the wheel. But surprise – now, there’s a new app that’s designed to keep you alert while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 20% of all car crashes and 12% of near crashes are caused by fatigue or sleeping behind the wheel (that comes out to 100,000 deaths or injuries each year). The Anti Sleep Pilot ($20), a new iPhone app, is designed to calculate your fatigue levels and tells you if you’re fit enough to drive.

This marvel uses its own algorithms, along with the iPhone’s GPS and accelerometer, to figure out if you should keep on hauling or pull over for a snooze. First, it asks you to take a short test to learn if there are any personal risks. Once you’ve completed the test and are driving, the app monitors your potential for fatigue, based off duration, your risk profile and driving data.

Along the way as a way of keeping you on your toes, the Anti Sleep Pilot asks you to complete simple tasks, like pushing a button on your phone’s screen. If your fatigue hits a certain level, you’ll be told to pull over and take a nap.

If you don’t have an iPhone, you can also preorder the non-phone version (a small button that performs the same tasks).

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Most people would agree that the current BMW M3 with its rorty V8 motor sounds pretty good, but that doesn’t mean it could not be improved upon.

Now, BMW’s M-division has now created a new performance exhaust for the M3, which not only sounds better, but is also lighter than the standard exhaust system because it is made from Inconel – the same substance used for F1 race car exhausts. This system is 20% lighter than the standard exhaust, and since it has a free-flow setup the engine sounds even better than it already does.

It’s not a cheap upgrade though. This new exhaust will cost $4,374 and that doesn’t include installation.

However, what if you can’t afford an M3 right now? Not to worry, BMW is offering this incredible sound as a ringtone through the following link: bmwusa.com/news.

Check out video of the exhaust after the jump:

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Jaguar and Land Rover are in talks with Chinese carmaker Great Wall over a potential manufacturing partnership in China, according to two executives from Great Wall.

While nothing is certain at this stage, what’s clear is that Jaguar and Land Rover are two internationally-recognized brands that do not have any manufacturing presence in China, one of the world’s largest markets and a major source of sales for the two brands. Meanwhile, competitors Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have all found partners in China, leaving parent company Tata Motors alone at the prom.

“The two companies are exploring opportunities for a cooperative effort. Senior executives of Jaguar and Land Rover came over and visited our plant earlier this month,” said the executives. “It’s fair to say that contacts between the two parties have already passed the initial stage, but no final decision has been reached so far.”

After Jaguar and Land Rover lost money during their messy sale to Tata, the Chinese market helped turn them around to the tune of approx. $434 million in profits in the last quarters of 2008. The market was the fastest-growing for the company in 2010, with a staggering increase of 95 percent. With these results, it’s only logical that Jaguar and Land Rover will seek to solidify their growth in the Chinese luxury segment while Great Wall builds mass-produced sedans and trucks.

[Sources: Automotive News, Reuters]

It was hard not to be surprised by the recent Green Car Book ranking of the Chevrolet Volt, which placed it just 13th in a list of most environmentally friendly vehicles. The Volt, after all, has a 60-mpg combined EPA sticker rating.

The list, compiled by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a non-profit group funded by foundations, electric utilities and government agencies, “doesn’t add up,” according to GM spokesman Rob Peterson.

The Green Car Book ranked the Volt so poorly because of its 37-mpg average once the initial electric charge has been depleted. But within the 25 to 50 mile range that the charge allows, the Volt gets an EPA-estimated 93-mpg.

Peterson insists that the Green Car Book doesn’t take into account “how the car is actually used” noting that many owners will almost never run out of electric charge.

The Volt’s big rival, the Nissan Leaf, placed second in the Green Car Book‘s ranking. It gets an EPA-rated 99-mpg, but with a limited range of 73 miles. The winner? The natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX.

[Source: Forbes]

Volkswagen hasn’t sold a convertible (or cabriolet) version of the Golf in over a decade, but that’s about to change.

The Golf Convertible is tipped to debut next week at the Geneva Auto Show, alongside several concepts from the German automaker.

Previous reports had suggested the drop-top model wouldn’t arrive until the next-generation (MK VII) of the Golf, but that now appears to no longer be the case.

Look for more on the car with an official debut planned for Tuesday, March 1st. Until then, check out AutoGuide’s 2011 Geneva Auto Show Preview here.

[Source: Automotive News]

Lamborghini is continuing the engineering strip-tease of its super sports car, with the latest reveal being the full rolling chassis.

Recently, Lambo showed-off the carbon fiber monocoque and now they’ve bolted on the front and rear suspension bits, as well as the cradle for the engine and transmission.

As for the suspension, it has already been confirmed as a pushrod setup, the first use of this racing style suspension in production road car. And let’s not forget the big 6.5-liter V12 engine that Lamborghini will use to deliver 690-hp.

Look for the full reveal at the Geneva Auto Show on March 1st. Until then, enjoy some teaser video of the Aventador LP700-4 after the jump:

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Get ready to see a lot of new Porsches in the future as the German sports car maker looks to ramp up production and add plenty of models.

In an interview with Automotive News, CEO Matthias Mueller says Porsche will deliver one new model each year until 2018 with the goal of doubling sales. Last year Porsche moved 97,000 units, putting the 2018 total close to the 200,000 mark.

In terms of a timeline, 2012 will see the introduction of the 2012 911 Carrera, as well as new versions of both the Boxster and Cayman. Expect plenty of derivatives of those cars and others, with Mueller commenting that the 911′s 22 different versions should be seen as an, “example for other models.”

Other vehicles likely to follow include a plug-in hybrid version of the Panamera sedan, as well as a production version of the 918 Spyder, a new sports car above the 911 range and one below the Boxster. Then there’s also the Cajun SUV below the Cayenne.

As for the rumored 928 or 929, Mueller admits that with the cost of the 918 certain to be in the half a million mark and the GT2 RS priced around $300,000 there is certainly room in that space. In terms of a entry-level sports car, he even goes so far as to say how much he likes the name ’550′ in reference to the classic 550 Spyder from the 1950s.

As for electric cars, Porsche certainly doesn’t have any immediate plans, but it is studying the idea with several electric Boxsters currently being tested. According to Mueller he wouldn’t expect to see an electric Porsche unless the EV market expands to a rather unlikely 20 percent of all vehicles sold in 2020.

[Source: Automotive News]