The dawn of a new era is upon us with electric vehicle charging and it appears that Swedish automaker Volvo wants to help streamline the recharging process for owners out in public looking for juice for their EV. The project, titled Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure (ELVIIS) is being kicked off with the help of Ericsson, Göteborg Energi, and the Viktoria Institute.

The goal of the project is to make EVs rechargeable at any outlet with the owner of the car automatically getting billed for the energy usage. Currently, the ELVIIS project will help direct owners to an outlet via GPS where they can preset charge times through their vehicle’s infotainment system or a mobile device like a smartphone. The vehicle can then communicate with the respective utility company to help minimize grid usage for lower electrical rates. Through the wonders of technology, the vehicle’s owner would then have the energy used charged on their own electrical bill.

Volvo is lending a helping hand with five C30 Electrics as demo vehicles, all of which are equipped with a new 7-inch touchscreen in the dash. The team will monitor and evaluate the project over this year and it will be interesting to see if this sort of integration makes its way to production models.

Watch the video after the break.

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The term “bricked” is often used with smartphones and other devices that can become completely unusable and are essentially, well… just a brick. To hear that terminology being used by an automaker is a little disconcerting, especially when that automaker sells cars that cost over $100,000.

If the battery is ever completely discharged in a Tesla electric vehicle, the unfortunate owner is left with what the American automaker describes as a “brick”. That’s right, your $100,000-plus electric sports car can become a completely immobile vehicle that can’t be started at all unless you fork over $40,000 to have its entire battery replaced.

And the worst part of it all, Tesla’s factory warranty or any typical car insurance policy would not cover this. Tesla has apparently been downplaying the severity of the situation but apparently they have been working hard behind closed doors to prevent this from occurring more often – even possibly engaging an owner’s GPS tracking of a vehicle without their consent or knowledge.

Essentially a Tesla Roadster can fully discharge in 11 weeks of no usage, from a full 100-percent charge. Reports are coming in that if the vehicle is driven nearly its maximum range and is left unplugged, it could become bricked in as little as a week. So once the Tesla battery completely discharges, it cannot be recovered or recharged, which leads to the $32,000 bill to purchase a new one plus the labor, taxes, and installation charges bringing it closer to $40,000.

A regional service manager for Tesla has gone on the record to say that he is aware of at least five vehicles that have become bricked due to battery depletion. If reports of this issue becomes more public and widespread, Tesla could be in for a rough ride in damage control. Here is their response to the initial public reports:

“All automobiles require some level of owner care. For example, combustion vehicles require regular oil changes or the engine will be destroyed. Electric vehicles should be plugged in and charging when not in use for maximum performance. All batteries are subject to damage if the charge is kept at zero for long periods of time. However, Tesla avoids this problem in virtually all instances with numerous counter-measures. Tesla batteries can remain unplugged for weeks (even months), without reaching zero state of charge. Owners of Roadster 2.0 and all subsequent Tesla products can request that their vehicle alert Tesla if SOC falls to a low level. All Tesla vehicles emit various visual and audible warnings if the battery pack falls below 5 percent SOC. Tesla provides extensive maintenance recommendations as part of the customer experience.”

Later this year, Tesla plans to begin selling its newest car, called the Model S. With a possible range of up to 300 miles and a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds, entry level models will be priced from a more attainable $57,400 (before tax credits).

[Source: theunderstatement via Engadget]

Making its way to the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show will be Rinspeed’s Dock + Go creation, an innovative yet strange concept that will leave some scratching their heads.

The Swiss-based tuner is marketing the Dock + Go as a backpack on wheels but is also a detachable range-extender for electric cars. The product essentially adds a third axle to the vehicle, adding an extra pair of wheels to a compact electric car – in this case, a Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. Essentially it’s a mini-trailer that can also serve as a range-extender, but its versatility is what leaves the possibilities endless for what it can be used for.

In its demo photos, for example, Rinspeed shows off its Dock + Go aiding in a pizza delivery company, camping, golfing, skiing, and more. We could definitely see these things being a hit out at tailgating parties in the US.

Rinspeed didn’t release exact figures as to how long the extended range is with the Dock + Go.

GALLERY: Rinspeed Dock + Go

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Geneva Motor Show Preview here

There’s not a lot of mystery in the auto industry. Automakers release info on cars before they debut, and with leaked info and spy photos, even then, there’s often little that’s unknown about a new model before it arrives.

And then there’s this… a mysterious German electric vehicle spotted testing in Northern Europe. In fact, we wouldn’t even know it was an EV were it not for the stickers declaring so on the side of the car (a safety precaution mandated to make first responders aware in case of an emergency). The fact that the sticker says “electric vehicle” in German seems to indicate the car’s country of origin.

Styling of the car looks like something almost classic, like a Morgan or Weismann, while we’ll admit there’s a bit of French design flare here as well. The most likely option, however, is that it’s a new model by Smart. Of note, the body placed on this vehicle is certainly misleading, as the rear fenders appear to be almost a foot wider than the car, with the wheels recessed significantly.

Out spy photographers have reported that the test was very secretive, with the car taking just one lap of a test track before being hidden away.

Think you know what it is? Leave your comments below.

GALLERY: Mystery German EV

Some may remember in 2009, Daimler purchased a 10 percent stake in Tesla for the joint development of a Smart EV.

Once again, Tesla and Daimler will once again collaborate on a new project, this time an electric Mercedes-Benz. Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings report revealed details regarding its role as the full powertrain supplier for a yet-to-be-named future Mercedes-Benz model. Components from Tesla include an electric motor, transmission, inverter and computer software.

Money is supposed to start flowing between the companies by the end of this year’s second fiscal quarter, but further details on the vehicle, its production date, or its volume are available in the report.

[Source: Autoblog]

One of the great perks of becoming an automotive journalist is the opportunity to get behind the wheel of practically any new car on the market, whether it be the latest Porsche or a Pagani Huayra.

However, Tesla has chosen not to oblige. According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk during an announcement last night, no sampling or test drives of the Tesla Model S will be allowed until customers have begun taking deliveries.

While the reason behind Tesla’s decision is unknown, investors are questioning whether the announcement suggests a lack of confidence in the Model S.

However, Musk defends that customers should not be worried. In fact, according to Musk, should any dissatisfied Tesla owner feel the need to sell their vehicle, he or she may could easily sell at a premium due to the high demand from the market.

What’s more, the recent unveiling of the Model X has further driven up Model S reservations. Revealed only last Thursday, the Model X all-electric SUV has been so well received, an astonishing $40 million worth of pre-orders were racked up the first day after it was unveiled.

GALLERY: Tesla Model S

Things might get a lot sweeter in 2013 for folks considering a “new technology car,” as they’re being called at the White House.

President Obama’s 2012 fiscal year budget apparently includes a provision for increasing the federal tax credit from $7,500 to a more substantial $10,000. The subsidy hasn’t been passed yet, but if it goes through, people purchasing natural gas cars, EVs and extended-range hybrids will have more of an incentive to seal the deal.

The increased amount could serve to replace subsidy dollars that disappeared this year which went toward accessory items like home charging stations, meaning a few folks who bought those cars this year might feel a little bamboozled by federal policy.

That sting might be all the more pungent when people realize, as The Truth About Cars points out, that the new incentive is actually a refund available upon purchase instead of the more-complicated tax credit of the past.

Past issues aside, the President appears to have his sights set squarely on the future with a goal to have one million “advanced technology” vehicles on the road by 2015.

Questions about vehicle safety during incidents like the one we saw recently with the Chevrolet Volt battery fires certainly won’t help accomplish that target, but money talks and people are often quick to forget when there’s cash on the table for them. We’ll have to wait and see if the new subsidy makes the cut.

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

A dream team of ten engineers and tech experts have assembled at the UK-based Lola-Drayson to develop an extremely innovative all-electric race car. This electricity powered car is aiming at a top speed of 320 km/h or 200mph. While that seems like an astronomical number, this actually isn’t the ultimate goal of the electric racer.

According to Paul Drayson, the leader of the Lola-Drayson consortium, “Don’t judge electric cars by what you are seeing on the street right now.” The team’s mission is to fine-tune a number of electric vehicle technologies and innovations with the intent to eventually trickle the technology to road vehicles.

The first of the innovations is BAE System’s radical “structural battery” technology, which allows for a car’s carbon fiber bodywork and panels to act as batteries. Chief designer at Lola Cars explains, “They are made out of honeycombs of carbon fibre filled with a solution that gives them the energy storage capacity of a battery. Their advantage is they can form any shape.” If structural battery can be optimally and practically applied, then it is feasible for a vehicle’s entire surface to act as battery cells.

Next, Multimatic of Rockingham, UK, has created new energy absorption technology that makes use of the up-down movement of a vehicles suspension to charge a capacitor. This energy can then be intelligently released as means of vehicle propulsion or to simply power other electronic devices within the car. An active aero surface that moves to create downforce from energy drawn from the suspension is one of the many ideas that the team is researching.

Finally, the London-based Halo Inductive Power Transfer division of the digital wireless telecommunications giant Qualcomm is creating new ways to charge main batteries. HaloIPT developed a doormat-sized platform package packed with coils. One of the platforms will be installed in the vehicle while the other will be embedded into the road. Power can then be transferred from one pad to the other as the vehicle passes over via an electromagnetic induction. A HaloIPT spokesman promises this technology to be 92 percent efficient.

Paul Drayson is looking to implement HaloIPT’s technology into racetracks across the world so that EV racers can charge wirelessly on the track during the races. If this idea takes off, infrastructure could be completley revolutionized for our roads. Drayson said ambitiously, “The new generation of technology we are showcasing in electric racing will amaze people when it gets on the road.”

[Source: NewScientist]

Why get an electric car when new gas powered vehicles are getting such high marks for fuel efficiency? According to a survey by KPMG, the rising standard of efficient gas engines is going to lead to minimal sales of electric vehicles.

KPMG’s 13th annual Global Automotive Executive Survey found that, although electric engines are a major long term strategy, the optimization of internal combustion engines will be key in the next five years.

Peter Hatges, KPMG’s Lead of automotive practice says, “The need for new electric propulsion technology is still top of mind for auto executives around the world given the demand that will be felt in the emerging markets.” However, the survey points out that electric car sales will not exceed 15% of new car sales world wide, by 2025. Automotive Executives expect even less in the short term at about 6-10% adoption.

Another key factor in the future is the role that manufacturers of electric components will have. There will be a huge competition in this space, and 40% of respondants believe that original equipment manufacturers will lead in that area, in addition to traditional powertrains.

Still, electric cars are at a crossroad. Hatges says “Electromobility is a colossal issue for the industry, the key automotive players should have a clearer vision on this, even though how and when fully electric cars will be a reality is dependent on a variety of complex and interrelated factors.”

Interestingly, the survey makes no significant mention of the role of Hybrid cars moving forward, even though it seems that many new cars will have a gas-electric hybrid option.

An interesting study has just been released by the University of Michigan which compared the average fuel efficiency of vehicles made in 2012 compared to those manufactured in 2008.

According to the report, there has been a 2.8-mpg improvement for cars (including station wagons) and a 1.6-mpg for light trucks (including pickups, minivans, vans, and SUVs) over the four year span.

Across all 12 vehicle-size classes that the University of Michigan studied, station wagons showed the biggest improvement, bringing in an impressive 4.1-mpg improvement. Compact cars came in second with a 3.8-mpg improvement while full-size vans only saw 0.2-mpg change and small pickup trucks were only improved by 0.4-mpg.

They even went so far as to compare vehicles with automatic transmissions, showing a 2.5-mpg improvement over the years, while manual transmission-equipped vehicles saw 2.8-mpg. Four-cylinder engines chimed in with a 2.3-mpg change while six-cylinders still saw a respectable 1.4-mpg. Front-wheel drive vehicles saw a 3.4-mpg improvement and four- or all-wheel drive vehicles went for 2-mpg.

The biggest improvement were for diesel models, with an impressive 9.8-mpg jump while conventional gas engines have improved just 2.6-mpg overall. Even though it probably sounds strange that hybrids dropped 3-mpg, it’s clear that four years ago the hybrid market wasn’t oversaturated with variants from big-bodied makes and models like a Porsche Cayenne. Even though the Cayenne S Hybrid is an improvement over the standard Cayenne fuel efficiency, it is nothing compared to the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Prius. The Prius probably helped skew the statistic four years ago, due to the lack of vehicles in the test group compared to today.

Current average fuel economy of cars is reported to be 23.4-mpg and 18.6-mpg for light trucks.

The all-electric Tesla Model X will debut today at 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time at Tesla’s design studio in California.

Mere hours before the official unveil Tesla founder and CEO, Elon Musk tweeted a new teaser photo which shows off what are being called the Model X’s falcon wing doors.

The new picture doesn’t give away much more than the first teaser photo did, but it’s doing the intended job: creating a buzz before the full unveil.

The falcon wing doors resemble gull wing doors like those found on the Mercedes-Benz SLS but claim to lift up and fold, offering easier access for rear seat passengers. We will have to wait and see exactly where Tesla is going with its new door design.

Be sure to check back here for coverage of the reveal.

Today Nissan announced its list of concepts that will bow at the Geneva Auto Show next month. There are two world premiers in the group, the Invitation and one other that the company is keeping closely guarded.

The Invitation, which from what we can tell is a lot like a cooler version of the Versa, will feature Nissan’s Around View Monitor (AVM) which gives a bird’s eye view of the car for easy parking.

“The future product vision promised by these four concept vehicles – when added to the strength and depth of our full range – shows the confidence coursing through every aspect of Nissan today. We are on target to become the top Asian brand right across Europe by 2016,” said Paul Wilcox, the senior vice president of sales and marketing in Europe.

Aside from the Invitation and the secret concept which has us wondering, the company will also display the Juke NISMO concept that will wear speedy-looking trim on the dressed-up Juke, but little in actual performance improvements.

The e-NV200 is Nissan’s next foray into the EV market and will first gain entry to the U.S. market as a fleet of New York City taxi cabs. The e-NV200 will be the fourth and final concept unveiled by Nissan at the Geneva show.

Infiniti has announced that its upcoming plug-in hybrid sports car concept will be called the Emerge-E.

Using a gasoline range-extended to add power and range to an electric powertrain, this will be the first such system used in an Infiniti product. The “advanced sports car concept” will also be the first Infiniti to use a mid-engine powertrain configuration.

Few details are yet known about the brand’s new flagship performance vehicle but Infiniti is promising a zero emissions mode as well as “vivid performance.”

Watch the latest video teaser for the Emerge-E below:

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Just when CAFE loosened standards and lowered from 56.5 MPG to 54 MPG by 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has decided to propose new and more stringent conditions for automakers that sell cars in California. The California Air Resources Board will not only enforce CAFE, but will also require at least 15.4 percent of all cars sold by any major automaker in the state to either be fully electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen fuel cell by 2025.

Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, observes 15.4 percent as, “a relatively modest goal, but that’s all that we’re mandating. Probably the most heartening aspect of this whole rulemaking was the level of cooperation that we received from the industry… Overall, the degree of support for the package was just extraordinary.”

It is worth noting that earlier this month, researcher LMC Automotive discovered that hybrid sales in the United States have decreased in 2011 to 2.2 percent compared to 2.4 percent of all vehicle sales in 2010. These numbers are far below the proposed 15.4 percent mandate. Despite high profile unveilings of gas-electric products at auto shows across the world,  consumers find the cost premium of owning a hybrid over conventional combustion engine vehicles too expensive.

According to the California New Car Dealers Association, this plan would cause automakers to increase the average price of a new vehicle by an estimated $3,200 in order to develop technology that will accommodate the new rules. Appropriately, Mary Nichols also said, “direct incentives to people who buy these cars (like) rebates and credits” are also being worked out.

California’s new regulation will likely be adopted by an additional 10 states, resulting to the projected total number of advanced green vehicles near three million total units by 2025, 1.4 million of which would be in California.

[Source: Autoblog]

The Lincoln MKZ concept that debuted in Detroit earlier this month gave us an olfactory tingle in more than one place after the display started inexplicably smoking in front of us much to its presenter’s chagrin. Despite all that, the MKZ wasn’t the hottest Lincoln design to make the scene.

Instead, the car that’s still capturing imaginations is the 2025 Lincoln Continental EV concept, pictured above. It’s the brainchild of two undergraduate students from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan.  Colin Bonathan and Jeeho Cha are a part of the transportation design program at Lawrence Tech and started on the project last summer. According to the school, Ford liked the concept so much that they decided to get behind it.

Beyond the fact that the student’s concept got exposure at the NAIAS, there isn’t any word on the likelihood of it passing the imaginary phase, though Bonathan did base the exterior on concrete figures like a desired wheelbase length and other components.

GALLERY: 2025 Lincoln Continental Concept

[Source: Lawrence Tech]

While small cars have had a difficult time catching on in North America, it seems as if cars in the UK market could never be small enough. A group of businessmen in the United Kingdom decided to resurrect the Peel brand and are now taking orders for both the Trident and P50 models.

0-60 times have not been measured as both Peel models are speed limited to 28 mph. The Peel Trident and P50 weigh 130 lbs and 198 lbs respectively, and are powered by either a 49cc two-stroke producing a peppy 3.35 horsepower or by two trims of electric motors. The first electric motor makes 1.6-hp at 2.5 lb-ft of torque while a more powerful 4-hp motor is available. Both electric motors deliver an operating range of approximately 50 miles.

As for the price, a Peel can be yours at prices starting just under $11,000. While this may sound like a lot of money for not a lot of car, it is worth noting that this little machine is one of Jeremy Clarkson’s favorite automobiles, as the video after the jump demonstrates:
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Citing complex certification processes, Fisker Automotive has cut its sales target for the plug-in hybrid electric Karma once again.

Initially set at 15,000 units for 2012, in November the American start-up automaker headed by renowned automotive designer Henrik Fisker shopped the forecast to 12,000 units in November. Now Fisker has reduced that goal once again, to 10,000 units.

According to the company, extensive mileage and emissions certifications are to blame for getting the car to market slower than expected. In addition, Fisker has encountered other issues with a recent software glitch that halted production, as well as a recall as a result of a possible coolant leak.

GALLERY: Fisker Karma

[Source: Just-Auto]

After a half a decade of build-up, sales of the Chevrolet Volt are not going as planned. With a targeted goal of moving 10,000 units in its first full year on sale GM moved 7,671, leading to speculation that the American auto giant won’t be able to meet its lofty forecast for 60,000 sales in 2012.

Further casting doubt upon the success of the Volt is the fact that the rival Nissan Leaf (a fully electric vehicle), met its 10,000 unit sales target, despite the fact that (as GM’s Volt commercials accurately point out), the Volt is better suited to the needs of vastly more American consumers.

With a now-resolved crisis over the cars that could catch fire, GM is facing another roadblock, it’s dealers. According to a new report by Automotive News, Chevy dealers across the country are rejecting mass-allocations of Volts. In New York City GM offered 104 Volts to its 14 local dealers last month. Dealers only took 31.

Even dealers that have had no problem selling their Volt inventory in the past are now being cautions. Brett Hedrick, of Hedrick’s Chevrolet in Clovis, Calif., said he’s turned down offers by GM the past two months.

The news of low dealer orders has been confirmed by GM PR rep Rob Peterson, citing the misinformation surrounding the car’s recent safety concerns. Still, according to GM North America President Mark Reuss, supply, rather than demand, is the automaker’s biggest problem.

[Source: Automotive News]

Coda Automotive, known for their upcoming sedan electric vehicle, has expanded their business by announcing a new venture called Coda Energy. The spinoff business unit will specialize in building stationary energy storage systems.

All the knowledge gained by Coda while designing and developing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles has lead them directly into the grid storage energy world, which has become quite common amongst battery manufacturers. Both A123 Systems and BYD have been known to design systems for both industries, helping to curb production costs while bringing scalability to their operations. Nissan and General Motors have also announced their intentions to repurpose used EV batteries for grid storage.

Coda Automotive is expected to have their sedan EV on the market sometime soon in California, offering a 150-mile range vehicle for under $40,000 and a 125-mile range vehicle for around $37,250 – both prices before a $7,500 federal tax credit and state incentives. Either way, we are continually impressed by the number of projects that are out there, to store energy.

[Source: CNet]

After an extensive two-month investigation into the Chevrolet Volt’s fire related incidents, the U.S. safety regulators of the National Transportation Safety Administration have announced that the case is closed. The conclusion: the Volt’s plug-in hybrid battery pack does not pose a significant fire risk following a crash.

According to NHTSA’s statement, the organization “does not believe that Chevy Volts or other electric vehicles pose a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles.” GM also added that NHTSA’s decision to close the case is, “consistent with the results of our internal testing and assessment.”

Even though there are no known real-world Volt crashes that resulted to a fire, NHTSA strongly believed an investigation was important and necessary in order to “ensure the safety of the driving public with emerging [electric vehicle] technology.”

Earlier this month, GM had already taken preemptive measures, enhancing structural reinforcements surrounding the Volt’s 435 lb. lithium-ion battery pack to reduce its risk of damage. Addressing the action, GM stated that the change simply “is intended to make a safe vehicle even safer.”

[Source: Autonews]

The BMW ActiveE, or electric 1-Series, is finally available for lease, though there aren’t many up for grabs.

We originally expected this to happen last year, but BMW delayed releasing their electric car until now to streamline the delivery process. The first unit has already been delivered and there are only 700 available in total, meaning anyone interested had better move quickly. Well, sort of.

700 cars isn’t a lot, but at the same time, EVs are proving to be a tough sell with Americans. The ActiveE  closely resembles the 1-Series, but has strange circuit-esque graphics on it that make it look like a company fleet vehicle. The only other exterior difference is a bulge on the hood, which seems silly when you realize such a feature is usually reserved for performance-oriented M cars. In this case, it’s there to make space for the three lithium ion storage cells.

Speaking of performance, it’s simply off the table with this one. A disappointing nine-second 0-60 time and only 170 horsepower, 60 less than the 128i, mean the only thrills you get will be going past gas stations. That won’t even be much fun though, because the car is limited to a 90 mph top speed. At 184 ft-lbs of torque, it also has less pull than a Nissan Leaf, which has 207 ft-lbs.

The ActiveE has about the same range as it’s competition, about 100 miles, but we wish you luck in enjoying any of the classy creature comforts you’ve probably come to love in BMWs while your palms sweat with range anxiety. The ActiveE is also expensive. If you want one of the 700 in your driveway, get ready to pony up $2,250 and $499 per month on a closed 24-month lease. Unless you’re dead set on driving an electric BMW for personal reasons, this might be one to avoid. The only real upside is that the back seats are still intact, unlike the electric MiniE, which became a two seater in the name of going gasless.

GALLERY: 2012 BMW ActiveE

The Nissan Leaf just got a little greener. Nissan is exploring ways on how to reuse the electric car’s lithium-ion battery packs once it can no longer power the emissions-free car.

Partnering with ABB (a power and technology group), 4R Energy and Sumitomo Corporation of America, Nissan is looking for second-life storage applications for lithium-ion battery packs that can be used for commercial and residential purposes. The automaker is testing to see if these reclaimed battery packs can be used as back-up or energy storage systems that can store power from the grid during times of low usage. When the grid is operating at peak demand, the reclaimed batteries would feed the stored electricity back into the grid. The plan is to develop a LEAF battery storage prototype that can store at least 50 kilowatt hours (kWh) – this would be enough energy to power 30 homes for one hour.

It’s interesting to note that after a lithium-ion battery pack has powered an electric car for 10 years, it still has 70 percent capacity remaining. That means it’s viable to power something like a smart-grid community energy management system or for battery energy storage after it can no longer be used in an EV.

“It’s important to Nissan that we manage the complete lifecycle of the electric vehicle battery pack, even beyond its use in a Nissan car,” said Ken Srebnik, senior manager, NNA Corporate Planning. “Innovations in energy storage systems are becoming more viable as the electric grid gets smarter, and Nissan is proud to work with ABB, 4R Energy and Sumitomo to help bring these possibilities to market.”

Earlier this month a new reports noted that Chevrolet Volt sales were more successful in its first year than the sales numbers of the Toyota Prius hybrid on its first year back in 2000. What little optimism Chevrolet might have had on the Volt’s sales performance were quickly silenced when data revealed that Toyota dealt a quick knockout as its new Prius v wagon (also in its first year) out sold the Volt. And it did so with just 10 weeks on sale.

Official numbers for Chevrolet Volt’s 2011 sales are 7,671 units delivered. Toyota managed to sell 8,399 hybrid wagons, which did not arrive to U.S. dealerships and showrooms until the last week of October.

President of Toyota U.S. Sales Jim Lentz says, “Prius v is off to a great start.” For 2012, Toyota aims to deliver 220,000 Prii to U.S. customers, a 60 percent increase from 2011. Toyota’s offensive includes offerings of the original Prius, the Pruis v wagon, and the Prius c subcompact that arrives in March.

GALLERY: Toyota Prius v wagon

[Source: Bloomberg]

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Toyota Prius v Review here and watch the video review below:

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After every auto show there’s normally a lull in new product news as media and PR folks alike decompress. That won’t be the case with this year’s Chicago Auto Show, however, with the reveal of electric car maker Tesla’s new crossover the day after the Chi-town press day.

The reveal won’t be anywhere near Chicago either with Tesla announcing yesterday it would reveal the new Model X at its Design Studio in California. The new model is expected to sit on a modified version of the same platform used for the Model S electric luxury sedan and make use of similar powertrains.

Tesla recently announced pricing for the Model S, which will start at 49,900 after a federal tax rebate. The top Signature package will retail for $69,900 after tax incentives and will deliver a 300 mile range plus a 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds.