State of the auto industry through NFL eyes

This hybrid has NFL written all over it

It seems every pro football player these days drives a Cadillac Escalade, and we can only hope that soon they will all be driving the hybrid version of the Escalade. Until then, the NFL might not be a huge supporter of hybrid cars, but what about the people watching NFL games?

I pondered this question last night as I watched the first NFL game of the season and all the commercials that go along with such a production.

Finish: State of the auto industry through NFL eyes

Citroen Peugeot ramping up diesel hybrid efforts

Hypnos hybrid concept shows Citroen's future

200-horsepower, coupe-like performance, the elegance of a sedan, and the room of an SUV - that is what Citroean is trying to accomplish with its 53 mpg Hypnos diesel hybrid concept according to AutoWeek.

The Hypnos Concept will join a Peugeot hybrid concept at the upcoming Paris Auto Show, and while the Hypnos is purely a concept, it represents a car that will soon exist, and it demonstrates Peugeot Citroen's plans for the future: high end diesel hybrid vehicles to help cover production costs. Then, if the market develops, the technology will make its way into "more conventional products" and small cars.

GM to "officially" show production-ready Volt this month

Will the real Chevy Volt please stand up

Finally, the real Chevy Volt is ready to be shown as part of GM's 100th Anniversary on September 16th according to sources in GM. No more fiberglass replicas sneaking out of the Tranformer's movie set. This is the real deal.

While many still don't buy into the Volt believing its all just hype, all just a distraction from today's harsh sale's reality and from an over-abundance of gas-guzzlers, I believe the Volt will be a game changer.

No, the Volt alone can't save GM. Yes, the hype goes a little over board, but that's OK. The more hype GM builds around the Volt, the more their survival depends on the Volt. And that's a good thing because America, the world, needs the Volt.

Ford engineer believes in electrification

Hybrids are too expensive

Ford Motor Co.'s global product development chief, Derrick Kuzak, believes the future is not hydrogen. It's not biofuels, nor gasoline either. It's electricity. Ironically, however, he doesn't seem to know when Ford would be rolling out this future. Instead, Kuzak told the DetroitNews that Ford would still work on ALL these technologies. And, he also took a shot at hybrid cars, calling them too expensive.

Are they too expensive when gas is $4.00?

Honda Insight hybrid returns

It's back

Honda's new dedicated hybrid, intended to take on the Toyota Prius, will be called the Honda Insight, the same name as Honda's original two-seat hybrid. Honda isn't yet releasing many details about this new hybrid, but it is expected to debut the new car at the Paris Auto Show. And, according to some reports, the new Honda Insight hybrid will be available for sale next April.

Finally, some real competition in the hybrid cars segment is emerging.

Chrysler quietly working on plug-in hybrids?

The Jeep Renegade Concept

It seems that ex-Toyota man, Jim Press, a key figure behind Toyota's hybrid cars, has brought some hybrid mojo to Chrsyler. Despite a lack of public statements regarding progress, it seems Chrysler has quietly been working on technology for both plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.

Finish: Chrysler Quietly working on plug-in hybrids

Vue hybrid beats Prius to hybrid payback - CR

Why would anyone buy a conventional Vue?

Which hybrid vehicles offer the quickest payback? How could the Saturn Vue hybrid beat the Toyota Prius? Well, that's dependent on which non-hybrid you are comparing the Prius - Corolla or Camry.

Finish: Vue hybrid beats Prius to hybrid payback

2 battery packs for every Volt

Battery replacements in the warranty

Thus far, whenever GM discusses the ongoing lithium ion battery tests for the Chevy Volt, it's all sunshine. Yet, GM is also assuming that many Volts will need to have their lithium battery packs replaced while under warranty. But, no worries, lithium costs will quickly come down, at least that's GM's position, but is GM assuming too much, or demonstrating bold leadership?

Finish: 2 battery packs for every Volt

Momentum gains for automaker bailout

Talks have started at the White House

Automakers have gained momentum in their quest for some $50 billion in US backed loans, although that amount could get slashed to $25 billion.

The Detroit News has reported, "It's something we're aware of and we're talking to the members of Congress and also the people in the (auto) industry, and thinking about what they might think would be required from their perspective," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said at a press briefing Tuesday. She said she wasn't prepared to say what funding amount "the White House would or would not support," noting "there's a lot of details that go into something like that."

And, with both John McCain and Barack Obama supportive of at last $25 billion - Obama supports the $50 billion - some type of bailout seems inevitable.

Why is Honda betting on small hybrids?

Honda's biggest hybrid for years

When it comes to US made hybrid vehicles, the focus has been on SUVs and, in the near future, larger sedans. Even the Toyota Prius is going to grow in size. But, is bigger really better? Honda doesn't think so.

According to AutoWeek, Honda "plans to put hybrid systems into compacts and subcompacts because that's where the green technology achieves its greatest efficiencies, said Masaaki Kato, president of Honda R&D Co., the automaker's product development arm," because "hybrid systems are best used in small cars because small hybrids most often are used for city driving, where regenerative braking constantly recharges the batteries."

And smaller hybrids mean smaller price tags. As we asked on Toyota Prius Smackdown, might not cheaper hybrids be far more appealing to consumers than more expensive plug-in hybrids, at least until battery costs are significantly reduced?

Hypester Chevy Volt "most valuable" GM brand

A fiberglass replica of the Chevy Volt

Last week I saw a few photos on the Internet of the Chevy Volt from the Transformers movie, but I decided not to post them. While I have very high hopes for the Volt, the production body of the Volt doesn't interest me nearly as much as a fully functional Volt chassis and electric drive, especially a fiberglass replica body.

And, while fiberglass might not be transparent, this move felt like a fully transparent PR move to again incite the Volt Nation. GM had to know these photos would leak.

Recently, InsideLine quoted Troy Clarke, GM North American President and GM Group VP, stating that the Chevy Volt is the "most valuable brand in the GM portfolio. At an awareness level, the Volt obviously has consideration intent (based on 80,000 leads submitted on GM's Web site)," he said.

While the Volt is arguably GM's most important brand, is there a danger that GM might over-hype the Volt?

Family of 5 at 50 mpg

Who needs an SUV?

According to US Census Data the average household size is 2.61 people and the average family size is 3.20 people. So, what percentage of American families really need SUVs?

I was reminded of this as I read a recent Toyota Prius Testimonial which stated, "Excellent car! We've averaged over 50mpg with a family of five. Longer trips have averaged 56.4 and 60.1."

50 mpg for a family of 5. And critics still don't get hybrid cars?

Did high gas prices change your holiday plans?

Did you stay home this Labor Day?

Up until Gustav started blowing into the Gulf of Mexico, gas prices had been receding around most of the US. Still, gas prices are still very high, at least historically-speaking. Did gas prices change your Labor Day vacation plans?

My holiday plans took me through California's Central Coast. Along the way, I was a bit surprised at the proportion of hybrid cars I saw on the road versus non-hybrids. Now, this is an area I seldom frequent, so maybe its the norm in this region, but as I escaped LA traffic, the percentage of hybrids to non-hybrids definitely increased. Could it be that those whom drive more fuel efficient vehicles were less deterred by high gas prices?

Did gas prices change your Labor Day plans?

Prius Smackdown: Cheap versus plug-in

Already too expensive?

Let's pretend its some time in the near future. Lithium-ion battery technology is now powering some hybrid vehicles but, as will probably be the case at first, it is still expensive. Thus, the Toyota Prius now comes in multiple battery packages.

The base Prius continues to be NiMH powered, but more stripped down - a real base model. Years of NiMH production and less amenities results in a $17,000 price tag and an average 50 mpg. The second Prius comes in the same base package, but utilizes a lithium-powered battery. This lithium powered Prius achieves about 40 percent better fuel economy than the NiMH Prius, but begins at $22,000. That's $5000 more for an average of 70 mpg. Finally, the lithium-powered base plug-in Prius starts at $30,000 and achieves more than 100 mpg.

Which Prius would you purchase? Which Prius would most Prius buyers choose?

US automakers are "deserving" of $50 billion in loans?

Lutz claims Big 3 "deserving" of $50 billion in loan guarantees

I want the Chevy Volt to succeed. I want the Big 3 to survive, but I want them to survive because they are solid, quality businesses. But are they?

'We make what consumers want,' the Big 3 have maintained, as their market share has perpetually declined as millions of consumers switched to more fuel efficient vehicles from the likes of Honda and Toyota.

And while hybrids didn't make sense to US automakers, despite tax payer funding, Toyota turned their hybrid cars into a long term business model, even though "nobody could have foreseen $4.00 gas prices."

Perhaps the Big 3 are deserving of these loans, but aren't the American people also deserving of some honest accountability? Some real responsibility?

Toyota to launch plug-in Prius in 2009

Coming a year ahead of schedule

Due to rising fuel economy concerns, Toyota is going to "quickly and flexibly" respond according to reports coming out of Japan. Thus, Toyota will launch a plug-in Prius for fleet customers in late 2009, a year ahead of schedule. It will also speed up development on pure electric cars as the hybrid king increases production on hybrid vehicles.