When Toyota arrives at the 24 Hours of Le Mans later this year with its new TS030 hybrid race car, the automaker will do so with a vehicle that has been untested in competition.

Plans to compete in the 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps on May 5th as a practice run have been shelved after an accident damaged the team’s only running chassis during testing earlier this month at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. According to Toyota the damage to the chassis is too significant to repair and, ” A replacement monocoque cannot be produced and sufficiently tested to ensure reliability within the limited time available.”

“We are deeply saddened to announce this decision and our sympathies are with the drivers, team members and fans who have been anticipating the Spa race so eagerly,” said Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Toyota Racing Team President. ” Since the accident we have looked into all options but unfortunately there is no alternative course of action open to us.”

As a result Toyota has informed the FIA World Endurance Championship it will pull out of the race at Spa, instead making its competition debut June 16th at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Despite the commitment of many automakers to go green, consumers do not share the sentiment. According to a Polk study released today, almost two-thirds of U.S. hybrid buyers do not return to the market for another hybrid.

The only exception in the survey is from the best-selling Toyota Prius, receiving a repurchase rate of 41 percent while the repurchase rate among other hybrid buyers has fallen to 22 percent.

From surveys recorded since 2008, customer loyalty ratings for hybrids have been inconsistent. While the loyalty rate for hybrids are at 22 percent now, loyalty once reached 41.8 percent during the second quarter of 2009. By the fourth quarter of 2010, the rate had fallen to 26.4 percent, but had risen back to a total of 35 percent for 2011.

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It may have been rumored as a rebadged Nissan Leaf, but Infiniti’s new electric car concept is unique, luxurious and innovative.

Unveiled today at the New York International Auto Show the Infiniti LE Concept is referred to as a “production intent” vehicle says Infiniti of the Americas Vice President Ben Poore, with plans to have a model in dealerships in two years.

Infiniti doesn’t say exactly what LE stands for, and while “Luxury Electric” comes to mind, so does the brand’s ownership by French automaker Renault.

“Infiniti believes the future of luxury is sustainable luxury and we intend to continue taking a leadership role, building on the foundation set by our advanced Infiniti M Hybrid and high-mpg Infiniti JX luxury crossover,” says Poore. As a result, the Le Concept offers a premium interior, stylish exterior, a powerful motor and some impressive new technology.

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Lexus introduced its all-new ES300h hybrid with a fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine at the New York Auto Show today.

Attaining a combined 39-mpg rating, Lexus boasts tech innovations in its 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder engine like low-friction components, a variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) technology and a 12.5:1 compression ratio, the in-line four-cylinder combines with Lexus Hybrid Drive for a complete ES300h power output of 200 hp. A surprisingly low figure for an all-new midsize luxury sedan, the ES300h gets from 0-to-60 in an unimpressive 8.1 seconds.

GALLERY: 2013 Lexus ES300h

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Lexus debuted its new volume-seller midsize 2013 ES350 and ES300h hybrid cars today at the New York Auto Show featuring the same re-visited styling we’ve seen on the rest of its lineup.

“The Lexus ES brought new levels of refinement, sophistication and quality to the entry luxury segment when it entered the market in 1989 and through the years it has consistently been a sales leader for us. Now, with both gas and hybrid versions, the 2013 ES promises to lead Lexus forward once again,” said Lexus group vice president and general manager Mark Templin.

The ES 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a trick ECT-i (Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence) six-speed automatic transmission capable of smooth shifting and optimized fuel efficiency. New low-friction engine materials also contribute to the new ES’ higher mpg rating.

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Originally code named Project Nina, Fisker Automotive unveiled its newest model on the eve of the 2012 NY Auto Show. Now called the Atlantic, it may be a concept car, but according to company co-founder Henrik Fisker it’s 90 of what the production car will be.

Fisker didn’t provide a timeline on when it hopes the car will make it to market and based on the numerous delays the brand’s first car, the Karma, took to launch, it could still be a while. Few exact details are know about the car, but at its reveal Henrik Fisker did provide some insight, as well as plenty of info on exactly just what its main competitors will be.

GALLERY: Fisker Atlantic Concept

For more on the Atlantic, watch the video below:

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The i8 plug-in hybrid is the product of BMW‘s best engineering and innovation in an effort to create the most advanced automobile to ever come from the Bavarian automaker.

Motivated by a 170-hp electric motor driving the front wheels and a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine producing 223-hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at the rear, the performance figures don’t sound exactly supercar territory. However, thanks to a lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum chassis, BMW managed to keep its i8 down to a thin 3,197 lbs., good enough to earn respectable performance numbers like a 0-to-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds. A unique all-wheel drive system, which can change into an all-front or all-rear powered car in an instant, should provide the i8 with superior all-condition handling performance as well. What’s more, on a full charge, the BMW i8 can travel 20 miles in full electric mode.

But BMW isn’t going to stop there. In an effort to make the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car even more appealing, a convertible “Spyder” version is also in the works, with a selection of photos having been released ahead of the cars debut at the New York Auto Show next week. Could this be the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric convertible to go into production?

GALLERY: BMW i8 Spyder

Smaller downmarket SUVs are in Lexus‘ future lineup according to one company executive who spoke to Auto Express. 

Start-ups are inherently risky and while many bright-eyed visionaries initially display great potential, up to fifty percent of new enterprises run out of money. Unfortunately, Waltham-based A123 Systems Inc. are at risk of becoming a statistic. 

Earlier this month, Consumer Reports reported that a brand-new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less than 200 miles on the odometer abruptly shut down. News of the defect spread quickly, causing Fisker engineers scrambling to identify and solve the problem as soon as possible in an attempt to curb any damage to consumer confidence. Investigators determined the cause of the issue as a flaw in the Fisker’s battery module, which is supplied by A123.

Other than the incident at Consumer Reports, A123 CEO David Vieau told reporters that five Fisker customers are potentially affected by the flawed battery packs. As of March 26, A123 has started building replacement modules for Fisker and will begin to ship these battery packs out to customers this week. Despite moving forward, David Vieau admits that the cost of replacing the batteries will “require us to adjust our fundraising strategy.” Vieau did not elaborate.

Caused by faulty calibration in one of four welding machines, a misalignment of the components in some cells could lead to an electrical short, resulting in the permanent failure of the A123 battery or a decrease in performance and battery life. In order to replace all the defective battery packs, expense figure estimates are close to $55 million, which “represents a severe impact” on cash reserves, stated Dan Galves, New York-based Deutsche Bank analyst.

Galves wrote in a report, “We no longer have enough confidence that AONE can raise sufficient capital (without massive equity dilution) and/or continue to augment their book to future business. Recent quality issues may lead to concerns over AONE’s ability to manufacture with quality at high volumes, potentially leading to customer defections or at least difficulty in procuring new contracts.” AONE refers to A123′s stock symbol.

According to financial reports, A123 held $187 million in cash at the end of 2011 but Galves pointed out A123 suffered a cash burn of at least $155 million this year. The company will have to raise at least $50 million of additional short-term capital but, unfortunately, loan requests will be extremely difficult due to a general lack of confidence due to weak first-half results, long-term profitability concerns, pressure on battery pricing, and uncertainty on EV demand.

Dan Galves changed his rating on A123 from “buy” to “hold.” AONE share price have fallen 6 percent to $1.40 yesterday.

[Source: Boston.com]

After announcing an initial green car partnership at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, BMW and Toyota have now signed a collaborative research agreement to develop the next-generation of lithium-ion battery cells.

The plan by both automakers is to focus on improving the performance and capacity of lithium-ion battery cells, using new materials for cathodes, anodes and electrolytes. With Toyota’s long-standing focus on hybrids and BMW’s push into the green car game with its “i” brand of alternative powertrain vehicles, the fruits of this project are expected to trickle down into a new generation of models by both automakers. In particular, Toyota announced at this year’s Detroit Auto Show that its new NS4 Concept (above) would feature a next-generation hybrid powertrain.

In addition to this recent development, BMW Group has agreed to supply 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe for use in small cars starting in 2014.

It’s a Colorado thing, so you probably wouldn’t understand but four-wheel drives and Subarus seems to sell better than most cars in that state. Subaru aside, another car is trying to woo buyers with a lot of help by the State government: the Chevrolet Volt.

While other states are discouraging people from buying cars like the Nissan Leaf, Colorado is offering up to $6,000 in incentives which combined with the already-available $7,500 in federal tax incentives. That adds up to a maximum $13,500 lopped off the Volt’s price tag, making it a reasonably-riced car for folks living in the mountainous state.

“This rebate in Colorado provides an extra incentive for those that want to purchase or drive an energy-efficient and technologically advanced vehicle like the Chevrolet Volt,” said Volt Marketing Director Cristi Landy. “With the available state and federal tax credits, along with the fuel savings that many owners experience by charging daily, the Volt can fit the lifestyles and budgets of many people.”

It’s almost funny, but with a starting MSRP of $31,645 and the maximum discounts in place the Volt can come as cheaply as $18,145, before destination fees.

Still, that’s approaching sub-compact pricing for a mid-size sedan that gets better milage than the sub-compacts it’s suddenly price-competitive with. MItt Romney might not like the Volt, but with prices like this it seems likely that more folks in Colorado might warm to the extended range EV.

Toyota supports environmental consciousness by holding the annual Lexus Eco Challenge competition, encouraging middle and high school students to practice eco-friendliness in creative ways.

Since the program’s inception, $4 million in scholarships and grants have been awarded to middle and high school students for their distinguished projects.

“Through this program, more than 25,000 participants have demonstrated that they want to make the world a better place. by coming up with real-world solutions to environmental challenges, students are learning how they can make a difference in the world around them,” Lexus group vice president and general manager Mark Templin said.

This year, more than 400 teams registered to represent nearly 3,000 students nationwide. In total, $500,000 in grants and scholarships were awarded to honored student teams. Finally, two Grand Prize winners were selected and awarded $30,000 each, while eight First Prize winners were awarded $15,000.

A two phase challenge, the first required teams to address concerns on land, water, air or climate and to create ways to make a difference for the environment in their local communities. The final phase would challenge teams to bring the projects beyond their local community and to inspire environmental action around the world.

The first Grand Prize winner was team “the Green Musketeers” of Jericho High School in Jericho, New York. After successfully creating their own filtration system, the students intend to patent the project, to sell it and to direct the profits towards developing systems in third-world countries.

The second Grand Prize winner was team “One-Towel Wonders” from SCAPA Bluegrass in Lexington, Kentucky. The students demonstrated how the simple idea of using one towel per person, per week could benefit the environment.

Pleased with the honor, “One-Towel Wonders” teacher advisor Ashlie Beals praises the Lexus program.

“For the past five years, all of my 8th grade students have worked in teams to create and implement innovative campaigns to encourage others to make one small change that can have a large positive impact on our environment,” she said. “My younger students eagerly look forward to their chance to participate in the challenge when they are in 8th grade.”

GALLERY: Lexus Eco Challenge

Charge as much as you can, when you can — that seems to be the mentality at Al Hendrickson Toyota of Coconut Creek, Fla. where the sought-after Toyota Prius C is marked up by a whopping $7,000.

A Twitter user with the handle Miami4me2c posted a picture showing the dealership’s “Market Value Adjustment” which brings the car, which carries a $19,900 base price, to a grand total of $27,834. That’s enough to buy the mid-range Prius hackback, but it doesn’t seem to matter because the Prius C is a hot-selling car.

Much to Toyota’s delight, it sold 1,200 units in the first three days of availability in the U.S., and demand continues to exceed supply. So much so that the automaker is taking steps to ramp up production by shifting resources and dedicating more space in its Kanto factory for the small Prius.

Despite that, dealerships like Al Hendrickson can try to scoop as many ladles of greed gravy as possible until the company manages to address the issue. It’s not uncommon for dealerships to mark high-demand cars up to recoup losses, but this case seems excessive.

We called the dealership looking for an explanation, but they refused to comment on the topic.

GALLERY: 2012 Toyota Prius C

[Source: Twitter via Green Car Reports]

With driving impressions of the new 2013 ILX under embargo, Acura has released a slew of specs on its new entry-level model, including improved fuel economy figures.

At the car’s official reveal at the Chicago Auto Show, Acura announced estimated mileage numbers that, frankly, failed to impress. At the time the base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder was pegged at 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Revised figures deliver a three mpg improvement in city driving, allowing for a more reasonable 28 mpg average figure.

The all-new 2012 Civic is rated at a higher 28/39 mpg, though it uses a slightly smaller and less powerful 1.8-liter unit, and has less weight to carry around.

Hybrid models also see a bump with the original 35/38 mpg rating now 39/38, an improvement of four miles per gallon in city driving. As a result, the ILX Hybrid gets a combined rating of 38 mpg. That number is six miles per gallon less than the Civic Hybrid at 44 mpg average, despite using the same 1.5-liter gasoline engine and electric motor, a result of a more responsive CVT transmission program, as well as the car’s added weight.

Acura has yet to release official pricing on the ILX, but has said the bae 2.0-liter model will start at around $27,000 with the Hybrid and 2.4-liter performance models at $30,000.

GALLERY: 2012 Acura ILX Hybrid

Despite the fuel efficiency benefits of a hybrid vehicle, the average cost premium of purchasing a hybrid over a conventional internal combustion vehicle is still approximately $2,000.

In order to begin seeing the cost benefits of fuel frugality, an ownership period may be as long as 6 years before money saved at the tank can make the initial premium of the hybrid technology seem worth it. Because of the long payback period, hybrids seem less appealing, reflected by the small market share of hybrid vehicles in North America at a mere 2.2 percent.

However, research firm Pikes Research predicts that the price difference between EVs and gasoline-powered cars will gradually lessen as the cost of lithium-ion battery production is expected to drop by over 30 percent by the end of 2017.

The key component for the drop in Li-Ion battery costs is the continuous innovation in the field of Li-ion battery technology and the streamlining of manufacturing processes to make its construction more cost effective. What’s more, as the access to lithium becomes more common, the price of raw materials should fall as well. Basically, Pikes Research claims, a growing demand of electric and hybrid vehicles will become the catalyst for the future cost decline.

Research director John Gartner explains, “The market for Li-Ion batteries will be driven primarily by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which require much larger battery packs than hybrids.” Gartner then adds, “Reducing the installed price of EV batteries to $523 per kilowatt hour in 2017 will be a critical step towards making PEVs cost-competitive with petroleum-powered vehicles.”

Studies from Pikes Research suggest that if electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles could really narrow the price gap, then the market for Li-Ion batteries will increase from $2 billion in 2011 to $14.6 billion by 2017. Approximately half of the demand is expected to come from Asia, 25 percent from the United States, and 21 percent from Europe.

[Source: Pikes Research]

Six Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the identical twin to the American Chevrolet Volt, will make an inaugural appearance at this year’s International Rally Monte Carlo.

Entering the Monte Carlo Rally for Alternative Energy Vehicles, the six Amperas will race against 150 other green cars in a series of stages starting March 22 from Annecy-le-Vieux, to Clermont-Ferrand, Luganu, and finally finishing three days later at Monaco.

Regulations for this competition dictates that a car must emit less than 115g/km of CO2 in order to participate. While not as exciting as the WRC event, the Alternative Energy competition can be just as challenging to tackle. The goal is to cover the race distance, maintain a constant speed, all while using as little energy as possible.

The Tesla Roadster emerged victorious at the Monte Carlo rally twice in a row. Intent on giving Tesla a run for its money, the Opel Ampera features an electric motor that drives the wheels and a conventional gasoline engine that kicks in to generate electricity once the battery depletes. The Ampera’s system is prepared to deliver 150 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of instant torque, good for a 0-62 mph time of approximately 9 seconds and a top speed of 100 mph.

With the Panamera Hybrid already on sale, Porsche is planning its next step in the electrification of its lineup with a plug-in hybrid version of the performance luxury sedan set to arrive in 2014.

No powertrain details are yet available, with the current Panamera S Hybrid making 380 hp from a combination of an electric motor and a supercharged V6 engine. Porsche claims a 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds with a price of $95,000.

In addition, a similar plug-in hybrid powertrain is expected to be fitted to Audi’s Q7 SUV, and a version for the Cayenne is then also likely.

Volkswagen AG, which owns Audi and 49.9 percent of Porsche, is also planning plug-in hybrid versions of the European version of the VW Passat as well as the Audi A3.

Speaking with Automotive News, VW electric drive boss Rudolf Krebs commented that, “We are really convinced that the future of hybrids won’t be pure hybrids, but the plug-in hybrids.” Rather than relying primarily on an electric engine for power, like, say, the Toyota Prius, VW’s strategy will be to put the focus on the electric drive system with a gasoline engine used to deliver extra range.

[Source: AutoNews]

Along the same vein as the Fisker Karma, the plug-in hybrid Pininfarina Cambiano concept may receive the “go-ahead” for low-volume production.

According to Pininfarina CEO Sergio Angori, “We are evaluating the potential for companies and private buyers interested in a high-performance, low-emission luxury model such as the Cambiano.”

The Pininfarina Cambiano concept was first unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show, sporting four electric motors that deliver 60kW each and could potentially peak at 150kW for short moments. Combined, the battery is capable of providing 500kW, equating to 680-hp.

Pininfarina expects the concept to reach a little over 200km in full-electric mode and have a combined range of 800km. Performance-wise, Pininfarina claims the Cambiano can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 4.2 seconds.

Sergio Angori said that if Pininfarina were to build 10 units, then each Cambiano will be priced at approximately 1 million euros each. However, if production were to reach 75 units, the per-unit cost would fall to 400,000 euros.

A diesel-powered internal combustion engine will be the more realistic offering for production and will likely replace the diesel turbine found within the concept. It will take a minimum of two years of development before production of the Cambiano will commence. We hope this means the Cambiano will not be plagued with the same reliability concerns as the Fisker Karma.

[Source: Auto News]

The Consumer Reports Fisker Karma test vehicle which broke down on them last week has now been returned to the fleet after spending 48 hours at a Fisker dealerhsip.

During a routine speedometer test the Karma began to flash a warning light and a chime to alert the driver that something was amiss. Once the car came to a stop the Consumer Reports testers could not get the vehicle to shift into any gear other than park and neutral.

The nearest Fisker dealership was alerted of the issue, and sent a flatbed to pick up the car. Consumer Reports says that the dealership found a fault with the battery and the inverter and both of them were replaced.

With a new battery and new inverter cable the car has been returned to the test fleet problem free… for now.

Watch the video below of the Karma breaking down on Consumer Reports.

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People often say, “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” However, in the case of the Porsche 911, it would be fair to say the proverb in reverse, “the more things stay the same, the more they change.” While Porsche had stuck with a rear engine layout for its flagship sports car, traditional Porsche enthusiasts began to feel betrayed as the 911 continued to evolve.

A little more than ten years ago, Porsche introduced an all-new water-cooled engine or the 911. Next, the 911 later received direct-injection and a dual-clutch paddle-shift gearbox. Project manager of the new Porsche 911 Michael Schätzle even expressed the possibility of an end to the manual transmission altogether.

The latest announcement from Porsche board member Bernhard Maier plays with the idea of a hybrid drivetrain 911. Sure to rock a few boats, Maier said, “If the environmental agencies ask us to change our sports cars in terms of power trains, then we will do it.” Maier is addressing the upcoming emissions and efficiency regulations in the United State as well as Europe. Sports car makers like Porsche will likely have a more difficult time meeting these standards, which could result to heavy fines in the future.

Porsche has been engaged in hybrid technology since the development of its radical Porsche 918 hybrid supercar concept and its 911 GT3 R hybrid race car (above). Having competed in a series of endurance races and steadily accumulating racing success, the GT3 R hybrid can help Porsche sell a hybrid system to even the most traditional of Porsche purists by providing the technology with a dash of genuine motorsport pedigree.

At the Geneva Motor Show, Maier gave a response to the recent engine downsizing trend as well. According to Maier, Porsche is not considering downsizing the 911 to a 4-cylinder engine regardless of regulations. A four-cylinder 911 is absolutely not a part of the brand’s forecast.

GALLERY: Porsche 911 GT3 R hybrid 2.o

[Porsche: MotorAuthority]

If there’s an age old adage in motorsports, then it has got to be “racing improves the breed.” This idea is particularly close to Audi‘s heart, as the German automaker has participated in decades of racing and development for its Quattro all-wheel-drive technology.

This year, Audi will field a pair of R18 e-tron Quattro cars which will compete in a series of endurance races including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. The added e-tron designation on the new R18 refers to an all-new hybrid system for Audi’s LMP1 racer. Featuring a V6 TDI diesel powerplant sending 510-hp to the rear wheels and an additional pair of electric motors to motivate the front, the R18 e-tron Quattro is, without a doubt, one of the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world.

Infiniti is preparing to build a flagship performance car – or at least they’re thinking about it. Unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show, the Infiniti Emerg-E is our first look at just what that halo model might be.

Powered by twin-electric motors with a 3-cylinder range extender gasoline engine, Infiniti is promising some impressive things with this stunning concept car. For more details and an up-close look at the Emerg-E, watch out First Look video below.

GALLERY: Infiniti Emerg-E Concept

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Hyundai‘s new i-oniq concept was officially unvieled today at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, shedding light on the brand’s future technology inside and out.

The i-oniq is best thought of as a canvas for Hyundai to show its future technologies off rather than a car with a chance of ever being built. At just over 14.4 feet long, the eye-catching scissor-door concept is a range-extended EV that can travel almost 75 miles purely on electric charge. Supplementally, a 1.0-liter gasoline engine is able to kick in some extra power and keep the car moving should the battery deplete.

Polished aluminum and wood accent the interior which serves as a showcase for the brand’s bold touch screen use and placement. The design features a floating instrument cluster and a motion-control touch screen mounted in the steering wheel.

The car also takes an unusual approach to making the rear seats accessible: the back support portion of the driver and passenger seats rotate inward instead of folding down.

“Two arched curves are the key theme behind i-oniq, creating a strong and playful contrast between sharp character lines and soft but muscular features.  The profile lines of the front fender run from front to back, emphasising i-oniq’s coupé appearance, while offering maximum visibility to occupants,”  Thomas Bürkle, chief designer at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre said.

GALLERY: Hyundai i-oniq Concept

GALLERY: Hyundai i-oniq Concept

Last year, we shared images of Tony Stark’s Acura NSX convertible on the set of the Avengers. Initially, Acura Spokesman Gary Robinson claimed an open-top NSX is a “one-off fictional car that was created just for the film.” 

Surprise! According to a Honda and Acura forum, six drawings of an open top NSX were filed with the European Patent Office on Febuary 22. The six illustrations include a wire-frame sketch showing all angles of the vehicle. When compared to the coupe variant, we notice slight styling differences at the side vents.

Check out the images below. We can’t wait to see one in the flesh at an upcoming auto show.

GALLERY: Acura NSX Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]