Hybrid Jungle

A Japanese magazine called Mag-X has an article regarding the upcoming dedicated Lexus Hybrid which will be called the Lexus HS250h.  According to the article the HS250h will share the same 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and electric motor found in the Toyota Camry Hybrid.  This seems like a smart move to me as they will be using proven technology which has been very reliable with the Camry Hybrids.  This will also be the first Lexus to ever use Read the rest of this entry »

Lexus plans to release a hybrid version of all of its models as soon as possible, but what do they have in store for the long term?  Toyota is kicking around the idea of becoming a hybrid only luxury brand according to Managing Officer Toshio Furutani.  Hopefully this would still appeal to their current customer base and attract new buyers.  Another thing for them to consider is how many Lexus owners really want their Read the rest of this entry »

When considering the potential purchase of a hybrid car for the first time, most people hesitate slightly in the knowledge that under the hood, hybrid cars are somewhat different from conventional gasoline powered cars. Most people are aware that hybrid cars have battery-powered motors and this brings to the surface one or two uncertainties. It would therefore be advantageous to look more closely Read the rest of this entry »

In a world where more and more people are driving hybrids to both save on gas and be more environmentally friendly, many people ask why they should have to surrender on the luxury they enjoy in a new car just to be more environmentally friendly. Well, thanks to companies like Lexus, Porsche, Cadillac, and Mercedes you don’t have to, but by keeping the luxury that many desire are they Read the rest of this entry »

Honda announced it will be releasing its new 5-door hatchback hybrid on April 22,  2009 which is Earth Day.  While fuel economy numbers have not been released released they expect the new hybrid to compete with the Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius and cost less.  The Civic hybrid starts at $22,600, while the Prius has a base price of $21,500. Honda says they are trying to make hybrid cars

“We’re targeting sales of 100,000 units of this new vehicle in North America,” and Read the rest of this entry »

Very few new cars appreciate in value, but unbelievably a used Toyota Prius is the exception according to Power Information Network a division of J.D. Power and Associates.  Currently most Toyota dealers have a waiting list of 2+ months to purchase a new Prius and with the skyrocketing demand for fuel efficient cars, people are paying more for a used Prius than a new one.  On average people payed $27,945 for a Read the rest of this entry »

Even though some of us weren’t around to enjoy it, we still cant help but hold a piece of the muscle car era somewhere in our hearts.  Big cars, big horsepower, plenty of sunshine and just enough chrome.  You don’t see cars made the same way anymore, back then it was lots of steel and not so many toys.  Power windows weren’t the norm, now cars have auto up and down windows with pinch protection.  The advanced dual zone climate control systems we are growing accustomed to were eons away so you got by with a dealer added air conditioner that most likely entailed bolting some vents to the bottom of your dashboard.  But gas was cheap and oil was plentiful, or so we thought.  But the days of the big motors from the big three were coming to an end.  The fifties and sixties were a good time for auto enthusiasts as well as auto manufacturers. Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan is planning to sell electric cars in the United Stated and Japan by 2010. Nissan is also expecting to sell a broad range of electric vehicles by 2012. This makes Nissan the first major automaker to say they are going to have a pure electric vehicle by a specific date. They are banking on electric car technology while most other major automakers are looking at developing plug-in hybrid technology. Read the rest of this entry »