The Next Generation Mercedes Benz S-Class lineage will also have a plug-in hybrid version is no secret and now Mercedes is touting the S Class plug-in hybrid to fetch a whopping 81mpg. Daimler has already achieved 78 mpg (3.0 L/100km) with its Mercedes Vision S 500 plug-in hybrid at the Frankfurt event last year so therefore 81mpg for the S-Class plug-in is a step ahead.
The S-Class plug-in will fetch 81mpg courtesy of a combination of 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline engine-direct injection and piezo injectors-integrated with a 44 kW electric motor. Singly, on the batteries, the semi-electric commuter will have a range of 20 miles with speeds up to 68mph. The only drawback as far as the next-generation S-Class plug-in hybrid is concerned will be its pricing.
Remember the Joule EV from the 2008 Paris Auto Show? Well if you see it at this year’s Geneva Auto Show, you will not really be able to recognize it given the amount changes the South Africa-based Optimal Energy designed commuter has undergone.
It is a near production ready variant that gets a showcasing in Geneva featuring revised styling changes and production ready equipment. Initially, only 100 prototypes of the Joule EV will be manufactured for testing and development purposes following which the EV will hit thorough production in the later half of 2012.
All these prototypes will be hand-built by Hi-Tech Automotive and once production begins it will be Germany’s EDAG and South Korea’s Energy Innovation Group who will supply the parts. The Joule EV is touted to have a maximum range of 143 miles when using the New European Driving Cycle or 186 miles when running on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule.
The world wants to see the smallest ever car and Tata is at the Geneva event with an electric version of the Nano. Sure Tata is no global automobile manufacturing giant but, it does want to capture the world with its electronically powered vehicles where Tata Nano EV will make a beginning. Set to go on sale in Europe next year as a 20102 model, the Nano EV will use the batteries which also power its Tata Indica Vista EV. Overall, the Nano EV headed to Europe will be 20 centimeters longer and it will sport better suspension along with anti-lock brakes. The Nano EV will probably have a 0 to 60km/h dash timing of less than 10 seconds and an anticipated range of 160kilometres.
As far as we remember, watchmaker TAG Heuer has never before been associated with an electric sports car company like Tesla. TAG Heuer has been closely associated with top-notch racing teams in the past but it now understands that even the performance seeking drivers need to ride on green wheels, which is why TAG Heuer has joined hands to build a one-off Tesla roadster. Currently on display at the ongoing 80th Geneva Motor Show, this electric roadster will feature a centre console hosting TAG Heuer’s latest concept watch that is to be separately revealed in a star-studded party at Baselworld 2010. Other Heuer influences in the car will include a TAG Heuer Meridiist mobile phone and a one-fifth second Heuer Limited Edition Stopwatch.
Mercedes is keen to expand its green bandwagon and the battery electric vehicle Evo is one of its important members. Mercedes has confirmed the production of the first 100 Evo units later this year and if the EV is a success, the German behemoth will manufacture 2,000 units more in the future. The first 100 customers to receive the car are primarily fleet operators and institutions, which are a part of a limited test run. 20 customers will be lucky enough to even get the delivery of the Vito in 2010. The EV Vito uses a 32 kWh lithium-ion battery which gives the commuter an overall range of 130km and it is powered through a 90kW electric motor. The Evo has an electronically limited top seed of 80km/h which is restricted to site urban environments.
Honda is ready to delve furthermore on the success of its eco-friendly cars and the next in the line is the CR-Z hybrid which is set for its European unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show. The hybrid which promises 5.0L petrol consumption for every 100 kilometers will be powered by a 1.5L petrol engine clubbed with an IMA parallel hybrid system. As a combination the mechanism churns 122hp of power with 128-lb-ft of torque and the economy numbers are promising when the engine is mated with a six-speed manual transmission. The exact performance details of the CR-Z are not known but a 3-Mode Drive System will allow the owners to alter the throttle, steering and idle stop timing of the commuter. Sales for the CR-Z Hybrid will begin in Europe later this summer.
Although announced back in 2007 at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda’s CR-Z hybrid coupe has failed to hit the production lines till now. But things may change as today we laid our eyes on a leaked Japanese brochure that details the 2010 Honda CR-Z model regarding its engine specs and dealer options such as an aluminium trim exterior package. Speaking of specs, the CR-Z is being powered by a 1.5L petrol engine that outputs 114hp and a motor unit that delivers an extra 14hp. Power to the front wheels is being sent with the help of a 6-speed manual transmission, which also helps the car reach 100km/h in 9.7 seconds and a fuel efficiency of only 4L/100km (58.8 mpg).
As expected, Honda CR-Z will debut in Japan, next year in February, with Europe, North America and Africa to follow suit.
If you had to choose between Audi’s R8 sports car or pay more to buy the electric e-tron which would you choose?
Sure, it would depend on a couple of things, but the one that really concerns me is the range. Will the be able to make an electric car with the R8’s performance levels that can literally go the distance. I mean what good is a sports car if you can only go quick for a 100km or so?
We’ll have to wait till about 2012 for the answer to that question when Audi is going to build a 1000 units of the e-tron. Audi reckons it can sell a 1000 of these babys through its worldwide dealer network of about 5000 dealers, but they would make more if the merket wanted it and would make less if nobody waned it…so the 1000 units is only a guesstimate.
Pricing? It’ll be priced above the R8.
Toyota reportedly has a Prius sports wagon or SUV in works, according to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri . The SUV has been rumored to be on paper ever since the Toyota Hybrid X Concept was unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. There’s not much going on for now in terms of official details, but we’ll have to speculate that the new models will incorporate a regenerative braking system or a solar roof option. More to it, a plug-in version is also rumored to be in the works, but given the fact that Toyota has failed to comment on any of these, we can only assume that next years motor shows in Europe and in Detroit, in the US, will shred some light. [via Edmunds]
note: image of a Toyota Hybrid X Concept
The green minded have another reason to smile as the French from Citroen have announced that their C-Zero electric vehicle concept will actually see daylight by the end of 2010. Powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor that outputs 64 bhp and 180Nm of torque, the C-Zero also gets a 16kWh energy boost from a 330-volt lithium-ion battery. All these help it reach 100km/h in 15 seconds and give the car a 130 km range — enough for your daily commuting.
The new Citroen C-Zero EV only takes 6 hours to fully charge at 220V and only 30 minutes on a 400V plug if you can settle with only 80-percent. Fitted with ABS, electric windows, air conditioning, ESP and six airbags, the new C-Zero is expected to hit the road by the end of 2010. [via WCF]
Ultra small electric vehicles are the future for the green minded and those who’d like to slash their monthly gas bill and their carbon footprin. Renault realizes it, hence why the French have announced the production of the Frankfurt-introduced electric vehicle, the new Twizy Z.E. (Zero Emission) Concept in Spain. It will be the Renault Valladolid plant located 150 km North West of Madrid where the small electric vehicles will be produced.
Renault is committed to bringing smaller non-polluting commuters to the market (especially Western Europe) by 2011 and the Twizy will be the first product courtesy of the long term future plan. What is special about the Twizy is its Pearlescent white body coating and luminous matrix displays which can function as head- or tail- lights. You can also use these lights to create faces that communicate the driver’s emotions.
Power comes from a 20 hp electric motor which renders 70Nm of Torque. The motor is connected to a lithium-ion battery pack and this combination gives the commuter a 100 Km range.
