Cadillac prices Escalade Hybrid from $71,685

The launch of the world’s first hybrid applied to a large luxury SUV, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, begins this month. Achieving a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving, Escalade Hybrid arrives at Cadillac dealerships in the United States with an MSRP of $71,685.

That represents a premium of only $3,600 over a comparably-equipped Escalade.

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Ferrari intends to cut C02 emmissions and is working on developing hybrid vehicles

Sports car manufacturer Ferrari intends to cut its vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half and is working on developing hybrid vehicles, the company president said Saturday.

“We want to reduce our CO2 emissions by 40 percent between now and 2012,” said Luca Cordero di Montezemolo told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, in an interview to be published Sunday.

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Spy pictures: BMW X6 ActiveHybrid

New variant of the BMW X6 will be the ActiveHybrid. Here is a production ready X6 ActiveHybrid with little disguise from the hot weather tests in Death Valley.

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid concept was shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor how.
According to BMW the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is as agile and enjoyable as it is efficient, leaving conventional hybrids far behind in the driving pleasure stakes.

We expect the X6 Hybrid in 2009 as a 2010 model.

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GM Delivers First Hybrids to Dubai Government

General Motors today delivered its first hybrid vehicles in the Middle East to the Government of Dubai and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The vehicles, which include the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid and the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid, are part of a ground-breaking project that involves a 12-month trial using the vehicles as public taxis that could eventually lead to one of the largest hybrid fleets in the world.

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Chevrolet Volt Development Charges On

WARREN, Mich. – Engineers at GM’s battery test facilities have developed a new computer algorithm to accelerate durability testing of the advanced lithium-ion batteries needed to power the Chevrolet Volt for up to 40 miles (64 km) of electric-only driving.

This advanced computer program duplicates real-life vehicle speed and cargo-carrying conditions, and compresses 10 years of comprehensive battery testing into the Volt’s brisk development schedule.

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Prius fighter: details about Honda’s new global hybrid

Honda has been tightly guarding the details about its next hybrid, which the company is introducing next year. Even top U.S. engineers have not seen photographs of the vehicle.

Until recently, just about the only confirmed information about the vehicle is that Honda expects to sell 200,000 units per year—as part of its larger goal to make hybrids comprise 10 percent of Honda sales by 2012. But details are starting to emerge.

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Hyundai planning hybrid models

Hyundai says it will become the next manufacturer to produce a range of hybrid vehicles.

While the Korean car company is busying itself building Sonata sedans in Alabama, and working on a new engine plant nearby, along with a Kia manufacturing facility in neighboring Georgia, it also tells the Wall Street Journal it’s planning on launching a hybrid model called the “Avante,” starting next year.

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New York Auto Show welcomes Saab 9-X BioHybrid

NEW YORK – Following its world premiere at the Geneva auto show earlier this month, the award-winning Saab 9-X BioHybrid premium compact concept is scheduled to make its American debut at the New York International Auto Show media days, beginning March 19.
“After its stunning performance in Geneva, we can’t wait to show the 9-X BioHybrid to the press and public here in America,” said Steve Shannon, Saab Automobile USA general manager.

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Fisker Karma to produce engine sound via speakers!

The problem with all-electric vehicles and hybrids is that they are very quiet. At least it seems to be the problem for Fisker. Driving a sports car without any sound would definetely seem weird.
Imagine taking your 911 GT3 to the track and driving around with no sound. With some cars the sound is part of driving.

Fisker might just have the solution to ease your concerns.

Continue to read: Fisker Karma to produce engine sound via speakers!

Exxon Mobil is developing a new battery technology

The world’s largest oil refiner Exxon Mobil is now helping to develop new battery technology for a range of new petrol-electric hybrids and all-electric vehicles.

Using a component it developed for mobile phone batteries, Exxon Mobil is working on improving batteries for use in cars and believes that hybrid vehicles will one day command a large share of the market. Is that a sign that there is not much oil business in the near future?
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Los Angeles 2007: Cadillac Escalade Platinum

Cadillac announced the introduction of the 2008 Escalade Platinum, a special edition of the segment-leading large luxury SUV that takes Cadillac’s dramatic design, elegance and technology to its fullest expression.

Making its world premiere alongside the upcoming Escalade Hybrid, Cadillac announced the Platinum edition will come to market in the spring of 2008 as the most luxurious model in the Escalade lineup. It rounds out a full series of Cadillac Platinum models, including the XLR Roadster, DTS luxury sedan and STS performance sedan. Each model in the Platinum lineup is characterized by elegant cabins featuring handcrafted leather, advanced technology and unique design details throughout.
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Porsche Cayenne Hybrid in LA autoshow

Porsche is targeting average fuel consumption figures of 9.8 liters/100 kilometers in the New European Driving Cycle and about 24 miles per gallon in the US FTP cycle for the Cayenne Hybrid, and future developments may allow Porsche engineers to push towards an average fuel consumption figure of 8.9 liters/kilometer (approximately 26 miles per gallon).
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Toyota Prius limo

Someone in Canada has built a Prius limo.
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Frankfurt Preview: Peugeot 308 Hybrid HDi gets 69 mpg

French automaker Peugeot will be showing the latest iteration of their diesel-hybrid demonstration vehicles at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. Previously they had shown a 307 and also Citroen C4 with a diesel parallel hybrid powertrain. The new car is based on the recently-introduced 308 which is a C-Class-sized car similar to the Ford Focus or Chevy Cobalt.
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