PHEV

Review: The 2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE Plugs In To Value

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What do you do if your unique selling proposition is no longer unique? Well, if you’re Toyota, the answer is: you double down. It’s hard to believe that Toyota’s Prius has been around for almost 30 years now. While not the first-ever hybrid (that honor goes to the Lohner-Porsche Electromobile of 1900), it was the second-gen Prius (launched in 2003) that first launched eco-chic into the public consciousness, and in doing so forever cemented its place in popular culture. Today, in 2024, Toyota continues to go all-in on perfecting the hybrid technology first launched with Prius. These days the entire …

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2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SELS S-AWC – Review By Ben Lewis

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Quick!  What’s the world’s best-selling Plug-in Hybrid? If you’re like us, you probably said the Toyota Prius. I mean, they pretty much own all things hybrid, no? No. Surprise! It’s the Mitsubishi Outlander. Which was a surprise to us, too. Mitsubishi is one of the smaller players in the U.S. – until recently when Nissan bought a large share of it. (For those playing at home, Renault is a 43% owner of Nissan, while Nissan owns 34% of Mitsubishi). Those deeper pockets are sure to see investment in Mitsubishi, and a rosier future for the brand. We already felt the …

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Radical Overhaul, Technology Infusion Define 2020 Ford Escape

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Ford’s Escape CUV has always been a reliable soldier for the Blue Oval since its debut in the early 2000s. While it might not have the icon status that its bigger stablemate the Explorer has, there’s no denying that the Escape is a powerful force when it comes to re-enforcing Ford bottom line sales. With the 2018-2019 Escape creating a very lofty set of shoes (and sales) to fill, Ford pulled out all the stops to make sure the 2020 version can maintain its winning ways. The exterior styling of the 2020 Escape will arguably be the first thing that …

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Road Test Review – 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – By Carl Malek

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When we last met the Mitsubishi Outlander, it was in its base 2.4 liter form and it proved to be a very reliable steed, with the one we had impressing us with its Prius like fuel economy on a summer road trip from our Metro Detroit office to Wisconsin for a press association event. But what if your an SUV buyer who thinks even this insane display of fuel economy isn’t enough for your needs? Mitsubishi has you covered with the all new Outlander PHEV. But does it retain some of the subtle charms that allowed its four cylinder counterpart …

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2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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A friend just asked about buying a Diesel-engine car. Diesel? Really? It seems like that boat has sailed a while ago, with VW’s diesel-gate putting the powertrain on the chopping block for most passenger cars. Hybrids and EV’s are where it’s going – for their combination of low or zero emissions, hefty government subsidies (ok, those may go away) and driving fun. Yes, driving fun. And one of the most interesting of these vehicles is the new Honda Clarity. A new way to roll Well, the Honda Clarity actually gives you three ways to roll – if you’re on the …

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2018 Kia Niro PHEV LX – ~240MPG Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

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Last year we tested the Kia Niro hybrid, and it came away as one of our favorite vehicles of the year. Here was a hybrid with the practicality of a small crossover, excellent fuel economy, and best of all, it was truly fun to drive. We’d gladly have one in our driveway – and it would make a perfect day-to-day partner to some rip-snorting, fuel guzzling, socially questionable weekend toy. Plugging into the latest and greatest While hybrids have been around for quite a while now and become extremely successful, getting people into full EV electric vehicles has been a …

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4.6s 2018 BMW i8 Roadster Is No-Brainer Ragtop

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The i8 is amazing to drive!  In Sport+ this machine opens up its full 374HP and rockets forward with glee.  Triple turbo thrumming behind you and popping out racy noises from the exhausts. But the i8 has a problem.  It is so light because of all that carbon fiber.  Which is expensive. And intrudes on the doorsill in a major way.  This makes i8’s beautiful swan wing doors make sense.  They are very-much needed to help get in and out.  With a low roof on the coupe, this has been a barrier to the car’s wider success. This Roadster hopes …

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2017 Toyota Prius PRIME – HD Road Test Review

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Our hopes about Prius Prime were through the roof.  Gorgeous new looks.  A battery pack 10X as large as the most thrifty standard Prius.  Luxed-up cabin and 20 miles of EV range? It seemed like a winning formula on paper, and it is a winner in the flesh on the road. We spent a happy week in the Prime to see how this Super Prius compares versus young gun Hyundai Ioniq as well as full EVs like the eGolf, Focus Electric or even a pre-owned Tesla.  ANd how about the upcoming Honda Clarity Plugin? There is great and less-great news to …

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2017 Chevrolet VOLT Premier – HD Drive Video + 64 Lakeside Photos

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A really fun steer — and one whose urge and handling delighted the sports-car fan in all of us!  We do even make a “Corvette hybrid” reference-slash-joke while flying around the corners of Lake Lanier Island, Georgia.     2017 Chevrolet VOLT Premier – Exterior Gallery 2017 Chevrolet VOLT Premier – Interior Gallery    

2017 PRIUS PRIME – Live Photos and Tech Preview – CF Tail, 84mph eVmax

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Some really cool new tech and solutions all around the upcoming 2017 Toyota Prius Prime. Quick points on this advanced PHEV flagship: First dual motor/generator unit for the EV system promises much quicker acceleration.  The Prius PHEV was the quickest in the group before, so this is great news! Redesigned nose and tail, with NSX-style new face up front, and carbon-fiber/LED tail that is all-new versus the new 2017 Prius and the 2017 Mirai FCEV. New cabin with giant central touchscreen, a la Tesla, and a full-length central battery placement. Four seats and almost 50/50 weight distribution with low center …

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PART THREE – #NYIAS Showfloor Mega Gallery (+150 Photos)

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Wrapping up a ridiculously busy week of new car debuts at the New York auto show — in the best way possible! How? A highball of pure Fireball? By sharing all the great showfloor action in a full-screen mega gallery. Interesting cars in this third installment?  The new Camaro ZL1, Abarth 124, Chevy Cruze 5-Door, Nissan TITAN XD Crew Cab with the gasoline V8, more photos of the new Toyota 86 with its fresh nose and LEDs all around, Volvo S90 and even the TITAN Warrior Concept. The 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and new Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Summit and Trailhawk, …

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NY Debuts – 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Hybrid – Li-ion eAWD 7-Seater

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The brand-new Outlander PHEV from Mitsubishi just brought state-of-the-art to the masses.  And their kids! Lithium-ion batteries in potent 12-kWh form let the car drive as an EV for real distances, seat seven people and even have AWD via twin rear-axle motors. Seriously impressive — and the same template as the Cayenne S E-Hybrid costing nearly $200k. The new Outlander PHEV will have a premium over the $22k base of the gasoline trucks, but should still come in at an estimated $35k base when it arrives in USA showrooms in September 2016 as a 2017 model-year.  Full release below for …

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Geneva Debuts – 2016 Volvo XC90 EXCELLENCE – Quad-Throne PHEV Limo for Davos Crowd

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  Not just Rangies… but S-Classes and Audi A8’s too! The superlux livery market just found a new favorite: the XC90 T8 Excellence. Plugin-hybrid to ease your (guilty) conscience?  Check. SUV-easy entry and exit, plus jumbo cargo bay?  Check. Individual, 787-first-class seats in back with a full-length console and nap-ready headrests? Check. 4×4 grip for ski holidays or slushy commutes home?  Check. Subtle to the point of almost disappearing behind the bright window-edges and deep-tinted glass all around?  Check. The new XC90 Excellence certainly looks great on paper as the next favorite limousine for the Davos crowd. The Excellence order …

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2017 Volvo V90 Debuts – 400HP T8 Engine, Low-Roof Look Marks Return to Form

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Huge, lux and low are the name of the game for the new 2017 Volvo V90 wagon! Sharing its new platform and powertrains with the wildly-successfully 2016 XC90 SUV and upcoming S90 limo, the new V90 is a major step back into Volvo’s core groove. The looks of the machine are actually far more successful than the S90 sedan, which has some seriously curious tail styling marring excitement about its arrival later this year to US showrooms. 2017 Volvo S90 Where the S90 looks a bit funky, however, the V90 relishes its long-hood, low-roof ethos.  Even the back glass is …

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2017 Chrysler PACIFICA Is All-New Minivan – PHEV Hybrid, Luxury and Tech to Leapfrog Sienna/Odyssey

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Welcome to the next Town & Country: the all-new Pacifica! This name-swap is quite justified when you take a peek at the seriously all-new platform, drivetrain, interior and exterior of the next-gen Chrysler minivan. The impressive details abound from every seat: the seven-seater has a stunningly advanced offering for families from July of this year when the new vans hit showrooms. What is the big deal, beyond a very swish new exterior design? Where to begin!  The biggest news is the first-ever plug-in hybrid offering in the van segment. Dubbed simply the Pacifica Hybrid, the EV tech is quite sophisticated. Not …

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2017 BMW i6 Is Hiding in Plain Sight: 2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Teased LWB i8

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Here is an interesting one, simply because it shows an upcoming machine hiding in plain sight. What car is that? The BMW i6, we predict. This exceptionally advanced concept seemed extremely unfeasible when it was revealed under the EfficientDynamics moniker in 2009. Look at those skinny tires! And Clear doors with a carbon-fiber chassis?  Silly! But they the BMW i8 concepts started appearing, with a 2+2 PHEV supercar BMW announced for production just a year after this first concept.  That car would materialize for 2014 as the i8 and i3 we know now as the real thing. Where the eventual …

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Buy, Sell or Hold? Ford EV Push Promises Dozen New Hybrids in 5 Years

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Ford is making a giant hoopla over a very unexciting announcement. One mostly sans cars, by the way, excluding the 2016 Focus Electric and teased ______ Energi PHEV. The plan lacks a catchy name for now, so let’s just call it e-Ford for short. Will e-Ford be able to make a big market impact from the 4.5-billion investment over the next half-decade?  And is Ford really the one to pursue this?  Their tech, as many know all too well, is woeful at times. They kept paying SONY and Microsoft ridiculous licensing and tech-services fees for MyFord Touch long after the …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo 7

2015 Mercedes-Benz Vision Tokyo is Yuppy-Chic Hydrogen PHEV

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Tokyo has long been the global auto show to see some weird, wild and wacky stuff. Futuristic dreams on four wheels, usually with brightly lit color-schemes and adaptive video screens to boot. The show this year is still tech-rich, but a bit more somber than previous years. A firm production focus appears to be the concept-car focus so far. But here glides in an unlikely hero for wild and crazy concept cars, none other than Mercedes-Benz!? The Vision Tokyo is a funky style wagon aimed at chic yuppies stuck in traffic. As opposed to chic oldies in the back of …

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2017 Volkswagen TIGUAN Is Truly All New in R-Line or Standard Style + Concept GTE PHEV

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NOTE: VW clarifies that this the European-market Tiguan. The US model may differ with a caveat like that — a la Passat USA vs Passat EU. Oh my. The only word we can think of? FINALLY. Volkswagen has been in USA reboot mode since 2012. But the results on the showroom floor are exceptionally underwhelming, so far. The boring and tired model range is designed so conservatively, and launch so slowly (1.5-years after Euro rollouts, 2.5-years after concept debut at times), that they feel old upon arrival. And ancient shortly after that.   2015 Volkswagen Golf R and Golf Sportwagen …

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Updated With 18 New Photos – 2015 Volkswagen C Coupe GTE Concept

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Updated 4.21.15 With 18 New Photos VW + China = Love   You probably know that Chinese car buyers love VWs and they love limousines. Seems like a perfect opportunity to combine the two into a stylish market-leader, right? Perhaps. The VW Phaeton has indeed been a relatively big hit in China, which is the car’s leading/only market along with Germany. Phaeton ≠ S-Class But there are three big issues with the Phaeton achieving big sales in China (or anywhere else…): 1 — it is ancient inside with very, very poor technology compared with the new S-Class 2 — its engines are …

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2015 QOROS 2 PHEV Concept 4

Update1 – 2015 QOROS 2 SUV PHEV Concept Previews Upcoming Juke-Fighter

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Updated 4.21.15 with 10 Real-Life Photos Qoros is by far our favorite Chinese car brand — plucking exceptional talent from the UK car scene like Gerte Hildebrand of MINI fame and Jamie Barrett from the RCA design program. The goal is to bring global car safety, design and equipment standards to China-made vehicles. This is more than lip-service: QOROS has the only Chinese vehicles to pass the tough EuroNCAP crash tests and on sale across the highly competitive European car market. Qoros recognizes the opportunity for new brands in the crossover and SUV space — with this latest Qoros 2 SUV …

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2015 Volkswagen C Coupé GTE Previews Phaeton Replacement

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VW + China = Love   You probably know that Chinese car buyers love VWs and they love limousines. Seems like a perfect opportunity to combine the two into a stylish market-leader, right? Perhaps. The VW Phaeton has indeed been a relatively big hit in China, which is the car’s leading/only market along with Germany. Phaeton ≠ S-Class But there are three big issues with the Phaeton achieving big sales in China (or anywhere else…): 1 — it is ancient inside with very, very poor technology compared with the new S-Class 2 — its engines are too large and draw massive VAT …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept PHEV Van – Hybrid Tech May Join USA-Bound Metris in 2019

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It is Mercedes Van day here at Car-Revs-Daily! We’ve spent a few hours this morning learning about the MB van ranges — and came away fairly perplexed but very impressed overall. Confusing? Slightly. The Metris mid-size commercial and tourer (with seats) vans that are coming to America in September are part of a 40-strong lineup of vehicles from this platform. There is the Euro work-van Vito, the family hauler Viano, luxury V-Class and the campers called Marco Polo. Not just lots of names — we counted at least 10 engines available, and options for front-drive, rear-drive or AWD. That is …

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Concept Flashback – 2009 Citroen REVOLTe Was PHEV Deux Chevaux Redux

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  If there are two cars that will forever define Citroen over the 20th century, they are the DS and the 2CV. One an advanced luxury car with front-drive and a hydraulic suspension for eerie smoothness over cobblestone Parisian streets. The other a basic post-war mobility solution whose 2CV name translates as “Two Steam Horses.” Redesigning those icons for today is an immediate and instant testbed for future Citroen design ideas. Many, many designers have tried this “New Beetle” styling exercise on the 2CV — with largely hideous results. So for the REVOLTe to be instantly attractive and appealing is …

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2016 Hyundai Tucson Impresses in 25 New Geneva Pics + Advanced 48-Volt PHEV

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Updated 3.6.15 With 24 New Photos The new Hyundai Tucson looks really, really cool in Geneva! Can you believe this compact SUV will compete with the Nissan Juke and Fiat 500X? It just seems so much larger and more substantial. In fact, it is actually quite wide for this new generation, but still has the compact length needed to make it easy to park and drive in cities around the world. We are also impressed to see a 48-volt hybrid version on the stand. This four-fold leap in transmittable power is a big architecture change in the car world, and …

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4.9s 2015 Magna Steyr MILA Plus Is Surprise PHEV Concept for Geneva

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The Geneva show always makes room for small exhibitors. The design boutiques, tuners and startups all find a home in this massive auto expo. One new player is not actually new at all. Magna Steyr is one of the leading OEM suppliers and manufacturing partners for Mercedes, Aston, BMW and more. The company is a huge vault of IP on how to build cars lightly, strongly and indestructibly. Evidence? The Austrian division of Magna just re-upped their contract to build the Mercedes-Benz G-Class through 2022. This new PHEV concept is a design, construction and drivetrain exercise. Powered by a three-cylinder …

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2015 Mitsubishi GC-PHEV – 40 Photos and 4 Reasons This Concept Previews USA-Bound 2017 Montero Full-Size SUV

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  Okay, okay. We can certainly echo your initial thoughts on this design. First reaction at this desk was a blasphemous exclamation. “Sweet Jesus.” Second reaction after thinking we might see a production-spec Montero reborn. But ended up with this? “Holy Mary, mother of God…. what is this evil monstrosity?” But step back a minute. Appreciate its creamy and sily surfaces atop this unapologetically blocky shape. Functional, futuristic, and certainly eye-catching. The nose and tail are absolutely ghastly, but then, the 2016 Outlander shows how cool and chic production-spec nose like could look. With some tweaks, the overall scale of …

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Design Analysis - 2013 Opel-Vauxhall MONZA Is Exotic, Advanced PHEV GT 12

Design Analysis – 2013 Opel-Vauxhall MONZA Is Exotic, Advanced PHEV GT

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This Monza concept feels subtle at first. Its slinky and silky metallic gunmetal finishes are the perfect shade of subtle, and let the wild surfaces and flowing silhouette speak for itself. How to think of this car? A future production model? Not at all. This is perhaps best thought-of as a potential Tesla Model S-fighter, with ambitions to compete with the BMW i8 from a technological perspective. Theoretical pricing would be around $100,000 — so obviously in the fantasy realm for the mid-premium Opel and Vauxhall brands. Let’s do a full design assessment by angle. But first! Here is what …

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5.9s 2016 Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid Coming Fall 2015

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  The Plug-in Hybrid is really gaining steam with the launch of mainstream models left and right. The combination of EV-mode driving almost forces the full electric integration of the hybrid components. This is especially important for the big German luxury brands, who have so far launched some of the mildest hybrids of all. This new C350 PHEV promises a 20-mile electric cruising range, at speeds up to 80-mph. Performance from the turbo four-cylinder engine combined with a charged batter is actually pretty impressive: 5.9-seconds to 60-mph. Five drive modes and a coasting ‘sail’ mode optimize the regenerative braking functions …

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Design Analysis – 2014 Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV

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When Mitsubishi rolled out its latest trio of design concepts in Geneva last March, we were slightly horrified and very shocked. The designs are quite ‘advanced,’ — which is another way of saying they are freakishly ‘out there’ and not exactly attractive on first glance. But after seeing how this look filtered down to the 2016 Outlander, we are determined to give the new Mitsubishi design style a chance. And clearly, Mitsubishi believes it is on to something here. The XR-PHEV here became the firm’s Vision Gran Turismo car as an ‘Evolution’ version of this design, so you cannot say …

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2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Is Damn Sexy Swede

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When the Volvo XC90 debuted earlier this year in Stockholm, we were floored by its super luxurious cabin and extremely smart PHEV powertrains that actually deliver huge horsepower — and mileage. The 400-horsepower T8 is far ahead of any other seven-seat hybrid SUV, and is the world’s first plug-in seven-seater. But to be honest, the style of the normal two XC90’s — one body-colored and one with off-road pieces unpainted — seemed extremely frumpy and dull. The XC90 R-Design helped a great deal in those stakes, but it is always hard to get a sense of a car from renderings, …

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2016 Chevrolet Volt is Quicker, Greener and More Lux + 1000-Mile Tank Range!?

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It is no secret that current Chevy Volt owners are fanatical about how great their car is. Most people, however, have not been easily convinced. The new Volt has an all-new and much sleeker design outside, a vastly more luxurious and comfortable cabin, and the win-win of more speed and more efficiency. Overall, the design is a bit cleaner, and far more modern from all sides. Thankfully, the awkward window-line of black plastic is now banished to history. Notably, the Volt with a charged plug-in battery and full tank of fuel is expected to comfortably cruise 1000 miles before needing …

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Update1 With 50 New Photos – 2014 Renault Eolab Concept PHEV Is Not Ebola-Proof

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  The Renault Ebola Eolab concept PHEV is back with 50 new photos! Renault reads the newspaper, right? How could they let a name so close to the deadliest disease known to man be attached to the back of a damn-sexy concept car previewing a PHEV Megane? We especially like the orange-red accent color that appears to be bleeding out the Eolab’s grille and under its floating A-pillars. Classy. Eolab. Ebola. Pretty close. We are excited for the upcoming Chevrolet Cancer and Vauxhall SIDS. Or how about the new Volkswagen HIV? Mazda Malaria? Opel Polio?     PREVIOUS Ahh! What …

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Update1 – Wow! 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S

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Update1 – Wow! 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S   Photos from Paris confirm it: the new Mitsubishi Outlander looks absolutely fantastic. Hard the believe how much more desirable the new car is than the current Outlander, which is lost in a sea of rounded corners. 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S       PREVIOUS Are you getting pumped for Paris? Kicking off the 2014/2015 auto show season in high-fashion style, the debuts are set to come fast and furious… ahem. Pre-empting the big debuts of the new Infiniti Q80 flagship, Lamborghini SUV and many, many more is the new Mitsubishi …

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Asterion Returns! Lamborghini LPI 910-4 Asterion Is Back With 30 More Photos

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  Uh-oh. A new set of photos less than 24-hours after the car’s debut at VW night before the Paris show is a bad sign. Perhaps others agreed with its frumpy proportions critique, discussed below. In more detail, the headlamps are still ghastly and the Polizei light accent in blue is odd and eBay-esque. Overall, the nose looks about a foot too tall. The rear haunches are overly bloated and recall the Alfa 4C. This chassis might be a snazzy PHEV, but the Lambo GT curse is alive and well in this pig’s design.   PREVIOUS My my! Dozens of …

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3.0s Lamborghini LPI 910-4 Asterion Is Mid-Engine, V10+PHEV Hyper Cruiser!

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My my! Dozens of exciting launches in Paris today, but few as surprising as this one so far! A PHEV Lamborghini concept called the Asterion is an all-new segment for Lamborghini in the 21st century.We initially thought the car was a front-engine 2+2, but it is actually a mid-engine V10. Since the Estoque in 2008 did not reach production approval, the Lamborghini team has been going wild with one-off models like the Eqoista and Reventon or Sesto Elemento, refining its new Huracan production car, and even exploring a small SUV in the URUS concept. But in many ways, a front-engine …

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PARIS DEBUTS – 2016 Volkswagen Passat GTE Plug-In Hybrid To Arrive in Europe October 2015

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Okay folks, lets brace ourselves for perhaps three dozen amazing new car reveals in Paris! We will try to focus on whether the car is a concept or a production model – and detail production cars’ arrival timeframes and markets in which it will be sold! To that end, the 2015 VW Passat GTE is an all-new production car for the European markets, with first arrivals in October 2015 to showrooms. It is the first plug-in VW hybrid and will be offered as the normal sedan or the practical estate shape. The Passat GTE powertrain is very promising for the …

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Wow! 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Facelift previewed By Very Stylish Outlander PHEV Concept-S

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Are you getting pumped for Paris? Kicking off the 2014/2015 auto show season in high-fashion style, the debuts are set to come fast and furious… ahem. Pre-empting the big debuts of the new Infiniti Q80 flagship, Lamborghini SUV and many, many more is the new Mitsubishi outlander PHEV Concept S. This tasteful refresh brings a more angular and sophisticated appeal to Mitsu’s hot-selling seven-seat crossover.       MITSUBISHI MOTORS LINEUP AT 2014 PARIS MOTORSHOW WORLD PREMIERE OF THE OUTLANDER PHEV CONCEPT-S 22/09/14 Tokyo, September 22 2014 – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will present the world debut of the Outlander …

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2008 Mitsubishi Concept RA Previewed a 5th-Gen Eclipse GSR with Evo AWD and Turbo Tech

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In July, we expressed pure horror at Mitsubishi’s latest design direction, as shown by the alarmingly-hideous trio of Genever 2014 concepts at the bottom of this page. So when did it all go so strange in the Mitsubishi design department? We are afraid that the amazing 2008 Concept RA is another casualty from the global economic crisis between 2008 and 2013. One of many great ideas put of hold indefinitely, the Concept Ra was widely believed to be a preview of the fifth-generation Eclipse sportscar. No longer sharing a god-awful chassis with Chrysler, the Eclipse was set to return to …

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2015 VOLVO XC90 R-Design Adds Sex Appeal to All-New 7-Seater

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  Hooray for Volvo! We are very excited for the XC90 launch and have a strong feeling that Volvo’s efforts in the cabin and with the ultra-modern powertrains will be a big hit with shoppers. But if one thing was missing from the XC90 announcement last week — it might have been a bit of sex appeal. Where was the VaVaVoom of the Concept Coupe and Concept Estate? The new XC90 seemed a little too practical for its own good? Luckily, the R-Design trim is now out and addresses many of these concerns. It looks hot — and even hotter …

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2014 Peugeot Quartz Hybrid Crossover Concept Revealed Ahead of Paris Show

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Well here is an interesting surprise! This PHEV crossover concept leverages some of the sexy looks of the 2008 DKR race truck into a production-friendly shape. A 270-horsepower engine powers the front wheels, while the back wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor. The new plug-in setup even allows the Quartz crossover to have a 31-mile EV range when the batteries are fully charged. 2014 Peugeot 2008 DKR Prototype In terms of style, the defining elements of this cab-backward crossover are the long hood and ultra-low roofline. While not the most practical of shapes for an SUV, it is …

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5.0s, 84MPG 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Plug-in Hybrid Joins USA S-Class Lineup

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  It has taken more than two Hybrid S-Classes to really achieve relevance and technological superiority to the other eco-limo’s on the market — but that time has now arrived. The S550 Plug-in Hybrid joins the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid as the most socially responsible way to pilot a Mercedes flagship, even during times of greenwashing and uncertainty about the world’s energy future. For the first time in an S-Class, this new Hybrid model is not a cynical niche model. It is a well-rounded and fully-engineered addition to the S-Class, with all of the high-tech electrics integrated into the S-Class …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In Is Quietly Excellent, More Iso-Tank Than Eco-Warrior

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INTRO: Here is the scene: you are in traffic. It is a work-day and you are behind a dawdling Prius. ‘How the **** is that car going so slowly!? Oh, this guy is coasting up to red lights now!?’ Cue the inpatient passing maneuver/lane change or silent sulking while looking at the familiar Prius tail shape. Has this ever happened to you? We bet it has. The difference for sports-car drivers – or drivers who push every machine like a sports-car? Slight annoyance gives way to murderous rage after a few stoplights like this. And not just hatred for the …

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2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere – Pricing from $48,000 – Fabulous Hybrid Tech and Cabin Innovations

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The 2015 XC90 is official and it is fantastic! At once both very futuristic and innovative, while also rebuilding on the Volvo luxury and family safety that have been brand pillars for decades. The base price is $48,000 in the US market, where the first trucks will hopefully be arriving before year-end. The two launch packages are likely one of the biggest choices to make when considering the new XC90: — Urban luxury: body-color trims and 21-inch wheels — Rugged luxury: grey body cladding and some very handsome 22-inch wheels 2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere   World premiere: the all-new …

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Update1 – 2015 VOLVO XC90 – 400HP Twin-Engine PHEV Dubbed T8, 316HP T6 Also Coming to USA

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Updated 8.12.14 with additional platform info from Volvo More info from Volvo today about the all-new XC90’s platform – plus the first official exterior image! Granted, it is just a headlight close-up… but we are excited all the same. [ The full exteriors shown here are unofficial renderings. ]     2015 VOLVO XC90 Powertrain   Well, here is some good news! So far, we have seen the new XC90’s interior luxury and infotainment solutions. The luxury looks good, but the info touchscreen is a bit short of the Tesla 17-inch ideal. Under the hood? This has been another worry …

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OP_ED: Latest Mitsubishi Exterior Designs Are Bizarre and Alarming

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Mitsubishi is doing great on a few fronts, and simply keeping its head above water on other fronts. In the realm of PHEV and battery-electric vehicles, the firm is on a great trajectory. The iMiEV has been a pretty large global seller over the last five years by EV standards, and the new Outlander is fully prepped for a PHEV drivetrain that is already on sale in Japan and the UK, along with a few other markets. The SUV and pickup truck model ranges are still relatively robust sellers, with modern diesel engines and a butch appeal in their style. …

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2015 VOLVO XC90 Powertrain Teaser – Twin-Engine PHEV with 400HP Dubbed T8, 316HP T6 Also Coming to USA

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2015 VOLVO XC90 Powertrain Well, here is some good news! So far, we have seen the new XC90’s interior luxury and infotainment solutions. The luxury looks good, but the info touchscreen is a bit short of the Tesla 17-inch ideal. Under the hood? This has been another worry – will dropping the inline-6, turbo six and V8 engines hurt the XC90 in power-pad American showrooms? The answer is a big No! The range-topping plug-in hybrid powertrain is teased today, and it looks awesome. Called T8 for twin-engine 4+4 shorthand, the T8 brings 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. Through …

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Vision GranTurismo Scores a Super Evo Crossover! Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV Evolution

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What to make of the latest VisionGT concept? This is the Mitsubishi XR-PHEV Evolution – a futuristic look at both the Mitsubishi racing effort and the future of the Evo itself. Is the styling really possible? It does resemble the latest Mitsubishi concept cars from 2013 and 2014 – but this is not necessarily a great bit of news. Mitsubishi is going in some unusual styling directions – but the performance of the XR-PHEV Evolution is sure to be ridiculously quick. It leverages both the S-AWC all-wheel-drive of the Evolution as well as the EV tech shown in the latest …

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OP-ED: Tesla Increasing Already-Hefty Risks + Online Build Shows $72k Model S Is Tech Vanguard Bargain vs. Accord PHEV at $45k

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As my Tweets previewed a few minutes ago: “When you or I flip a coin, there are two possible total outcomes. When Tesla flips a coin, it lands as a still-spinning Rubik’s Cube.” PART 1: DEVILS ADVOCATE DISCLAIMER — OPINIONS ONLY We have been pretty hard on Tesla recently for a variety of reasons that have little to do with the excellence of the firm’s main product: the Model S sedan. Before you write this off as uninformed Tesla ‘hating,’ please note a few things about his article right at the top:   The Model S is ** by far** …

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Standaufnahme Farbe: Misanorot

2015 Audi A3 e-tron Brings Plug-in Hybrid 1.4TFSI to Sportback Wagon

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Think you know hybrids? Wait until you get a brainfull of the infographics accompanying the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. This is a plug-in hybrid that primarily runs on gasoline via the handy 1.4-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine. Combined power is quoted at 201 horsepower, but the battery size and efficiency for the plug-in components is not yet available. What is clear is this: the e-tron configuration will come initially in the Sportback body style only. This is news versus the executive compact sedan A3/S3 twins, as well as the two-door cabrio. Full LED lighting will be a feature on the …

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Standaufnahme Farbe: Misanorot

2015 Audi A3 e-tron Brings Plug-in Hybrid 1.4TFSI to Sportback Wagon

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Think you know hybrids? Wait until you get a brainfull of the infographics accompanying the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. This is a plug-in hybrid that primarily runs on gasoline via the handy 1.4-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine. Combined power is quoted at 201 horsepower, but the battery size and efficiency for the plug-in components is not yet available. What is clear is this: the e-tron configuration will come initially in the Sportback body style only. This is news versus the executive compact sedan A3/S3 twins, as well as the two-door cabrio. Full LED lighting will be a feature on the …

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