Home | News | Road Tests NEWS INDEX:   Sustainable Motoring Porsche 918 Spyder concept car Home > News > Sustainable Motoring Green light for Porsche 918 Spyder 29th July, 2010 “Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts. We will develop the 918 Spyder in Weissach and assemble it in Zuffenhausen.” ..... more Who's taking a Mitsubishi i-MiEV 23rd July, 2010 Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) has announced "members" of the inaugural Mitsubishi i-MiEV Foundation Group - entities which have successfully applied to lease one of the company’s electric vehicles when the first shipment arrives in Australia late this month ..... more Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL 11th July, 2010 Boasting a power output of 392 kW and 880 Nm of torque, the technology vehicle from AMG is able to offer exceptional performance. The gullwing with electric drive is part of the company strategy entitled "AMG Performance 2015" which aims to continually reduce fuel consumption and emissions ..... more Mahindra enters global Electric Vehicle market 15th June, 2010 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has strengthened its position in the electric vehicles market with the acquisition of a majority stake in REVA Electric Car Co Ltd. Bangalore (India) ..... more One buyer takes 576 hybrid utes 6th June, 2010 As part of the process to make their fleet 'eco-friendly', the US company Verizon has purchased 576 Chevrolet Silverado Two-Mode Hybrid utilities ..... more Mitsubishi to lease iMiEV from July 2nd June, 2010 Marking his first official visit to Australia, Masuko confirmed Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) will be the first company to release vehicle manufacturer produced electric vehicles in this country ..... more PSA Peugeot Citroen at Challenge Bibendum 30th May, 2010 For the first time the Peugeot BB1, a small city EV driven by Michelin’s revolutionary motorised wheel technology, will be tested in real-life driving conditions ..... more GM at Challenge Bibendum 30th May, 2010 General Motors will demonstrate its diverse portfolio of alternative propulsion and advanced mobility technologies today at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ..... more General Motors' Flex-Fuel Vehicles 30th May, 2010 General Motors has increased annual production of flex-fuel vehicles to more than 850,000 annually, an increase of 55 per cent from 2006 volumes ..... more Ford to increase US Flexible-Fuel vehicle production 30th May, 2010 Ford Motor Company will deliver on its 2006 pledge to double the number of 2010 model year flexible-fuel vehicles it manufactures in the USA. Flexible-fuel vehicles are capable of running on E-85 ..... more GM Looks to Hawaii for Hydrogen Infrastructure Pilot 30th May, 2010 Abundant hydrogen is available on the Hawaiian island of Oahu to power a ramp-up of fuel cell vehicles through a General Motors collaboration with The Gas Company, Hawaii’s major gas energy provider ..... more Lexus CT 200h bound for Australia 29th April, 2010 Due on sale in the first half of 2011, the CT 200h will become the fourth hybrid Lexus model available in Australia ..... more Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Concept 29th April, 2010 In preparation for the Volt’s arrival, Chevrolet is leveraging the Beijing Motor Show, which opened yesterday, to introduce the Volt MPV5 electric concept ..... more Citroen Metropolis Concept 21st April, 2010 Citroen has revealed the spectacular new Metropolis - a sleek and 'muscular' concept car that pays homage to China’s extraordinary development ..... more Hyundai i45 Hybrid and Turbo Versions revealed 7th April, 2010 Part of Hyundai’s global eco-friendly strategy ‘Blue Drive’, Sonata's full parallel hybrid drive system can operate via electric motor, through its advanced petrol engine or a combination of the two depending on driving conditions and driver demands ..... more First Chevrolet Volt rolls off the line 2nd April, 2010 Validation of the production process for the Chevrolet Volt passed a milestone on 31st March, when the first pre-production Volt rolled off the assembly line ..... more GM Partners with U.S. Department of Energy to Develop Jatropha-to-Biodiesel Project in India 31st March, 2010 The goal of the project is to demonstrate that jatropha can produce significant quantities of oil for conversion to biodiesel and to develop new varieties of the plant that have high yields, can withstand frost, and grow in temperate climates such as the United States ..... more Think announces expansion of product development facility 30th March, 2010 Scandinavian electric vehicle (EV) maker, Think, has announced a significant investment in a brand new, state-of-the-art product development facility at its corporate headquarters in Fornebu, Oslo, Norway ..... more Mazda takes Toyota's hybrid help 29th March, 2010 Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Mazda Motor Corporation have reached an agreement on the supply under license of hybrid technology used in the Toyota Prius ..... more Honda CR-Z proving popular 26th March, 2010 This new model has already achieved orders of 10,000 vehicles in its first month of sales ..... more Peugeot Ion 26th March, 2010 With the i0n, the 100% electric car to be launched at the end of 2010 in France, Peugeot offers a response to the challenges of urban mobility and environmental responsibility ..... more Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more Chrysler to develop Fiat 500 based Electric Vehicle 25th March, 2010 Chrysler Group LLC has announced its plans to engineer and manufacture a pure electric vehicle using the Fiat 500 platform ..... more High-tech fuel for tomorrow’s cars 25th March, 2010 Holden Energy and Environment Director Richard Marshall said the organisations in the consortium were committed to sustainable motoring through the development of renewable fuels that reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved energy security ..... more Nissan Leaf confirmed for Australia 16th March, 2010 The Nissan Leaf is the world’s first competitively-priced, mass-produced electric vehicle from a mainstream manufacturer. It is serious car, a real car ..... more Mitsubishi welcomes first production i-MiEVs to Australia 15th March, 2010 The new arrivals are the first full-production electric vehicles ever to set their treads on Australian roads and are in the country for MMAL’s extensive pre-sale evaluation programme ..... more Peugeot/Citroen to sell Mitsubishi EVs 14th March, 2010 Mitsubishi has announced the signing of a Final Cooperative Agreement regarding development and supply of the new-generation electric vehicle (EV) i-MiEV* with Peugeot Citroën ..... more Volkswagen sets roadmap for e-mobility 14th March, 2010 Starting in 2013, the high-volume Golf and Jetta models of the Volkswagen brand are expected to participate in the hybrid and electric vehicle market ..... more Lexus LS 600hL upgraded 9th March, 2010 Lexus' full hybrid LS 600hL flagship gains a range of technological and styling improvements for the 2010 model year ..... more Ford's Electric Vehicles 8th March, 2010 Zero-emission Ford Transit Connect Electric to launch in 2011, followed by Focus Electric in 2012 ..... more Hyundai fixes its 'i' on the future 8th March, 2010 The Hyundai i-flow's dynamic, elegant lines not only portray a futuristic silhouette, but also contribute to exceptional aerodynamics ..... more Ferrari's first Hybrid 7th March, 2010 Ferrari has displayed its first ever hybrid car at the Geneva Motor Show with the Ferrari 599 HY-KERS vettura laboratorio cutting emissions and fuel consumption by 35 per cent ..... more Porsche 918 Spyder concept car 2nd March, 2010 This mid-engined two-seater combines the performance of a super-sports car with the CO2 emissions of a small compact, an innovative plug-in hybrid concept reducing emissions to just 70 grammes CO2 per kilometre and fuel consumption to 3.0 litres/100 kilometres ..... more SEAT IBE concept car 2nd March, 2010 Spain's SEAT is delivering a powerful statement with a compact sports coupé that carries stunning design and great driving fun into the age of electric mobility ..... more Lexus CT 200h set for 2011 release 28th February, 2010 Entering production in late 2010 and set for sale worldwide, the full hybrid model will provide a new gateway to the Lexus range and attract new, younger customers to the brand ..... more Toyota's new Camry Hybrid 28th February, 2010 Using just 6.0 litres of regular unleaded petrol to travel 100 km*, Hybrid Camry is almost 32 per cent more frugal than the automatic petrol Camry ..... more Porsche's new Cayenne 28th February, 2010 The highlight of the new generation Porsche Cayenne to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show later this week is the Cayenne S model with its parallel full hybrid drive ..... more BMW Group to Build Electric Vehicle 28th February, 2010 With this new car, the BMW Group will be providing an innovative solution for sustainable mobility in urban environments. It is being developed as part of project i and is due to reach the market in the first half of the next decade under a sub-brand of BMW ..... more Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style Research Vehicle 24th February, 2010 Mercedes-Benz’ F 800 Style research vehicle is showing the future of premium automobiles from a new perspective, as the five-seat upper-range sedan combines highly efficient drive technologies with unparalleled safety and convenience features and an emotive design idiom ..... more GM Europe's new concept: Opel Flextreme GT/E 21st February, 2010 Opel will unveil its Flextreme GT/E concept car at the 80th Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland next month, that will boost the company’s credentials as a leader in eco-friendly technologies ..... more New Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible 19th February, 2010 The new Supersports Convertible, with the 463 kW twin-turbocharged W12 engine, is the fastest, most potent drop-top Bentley has ever built, offering the ultimate Bentley driving experience in the world’s most dramatic convertible ..... more New Volkswagen Touareg 11th February, 2010 The new Touareg has been unveiled in Germany with the confirmation of a petrol electric hybrid powertrain ..... more Kia Ray Plug In Hybrid Concept 11th February, 2010 Kia have chosen America's Chicago Motor Show to debut it's 'Ray' plug-in hybrid concept ..... more Toyota Prius Recall 10th February, 2010 Toyota have launched a global recall of the latest generation Prius in response to reports of inconsistent brake feel ..... more Top of page Toyota at Tokyo Motor Show 7th October, 2009 Toyota has announced that three concept vehicles are to highlight its exhibit for the 41st Tokyo Motor Show ..... more Self-Catering Holiday Accommodation in Denmark, WA ..... more Suzuki at Tokyo Motor Show 5th October, 2009 Combining its worldwide expertise in small-car production with the latest environmental technologies, Suzuki will have a major presence at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month ..... more Peugeot Unveils New Technology on BB1 Concept 22nd September, 2009 The urban-focused vehicle debuts a number of innovative Peugeot technologies designed to address the real world mobility requirements of the residents of future cities ..... more Volkswagen's E-Motor: the E-Up! 17th September, 2009 The fact that the E-Up! concept will also offer driving enjoyment is demonstrated by a look at the car’s classic 0 to 100-km/h sprint time: 11.3 seconds ..... more Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL: First Fuel Cell-Powered Car to Enter Series Production 7th September, 2009 The vehicle’s technological 'heart' is the new generation of the compact, high-performance fuel cell system, in which gaseous hydrogen reacts with atmospheric oxygen at 700 bar to generate a current for the electric motor ..... more BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Unveiled 2nd September, 2009 BMW has unveiled a high-performance concept study with ActiveHybrid technology visualising the dynamic performance typical of a BMW against the backdrop of future demands in sustained mobility ..... more Honda Insight Achieves Top Euro NCAP Overall Safety Rating 1st September, 2009 The new Honda Insight has been rated one of Europe‘s safest cars, setting the benchmark for hybrid vehicles, according to the new independent crash testing results from EuroNCAP ..... more Toyota Camry Hybrid Pilot Production Begins 1st September, 2009 Toyota Australia yesterday marked the start of pilot production of the fuel-efficient Hybrid Camry with a ceremony at the company's Altona plant in Melbourne's west ..... more Smart "Electric Drive" goes into production 27th August, 2009 Unlike its predecessor, the electrically driven Smart Fortwo of the second generation is fitted with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery ..... more Record sales as new Toyota Prius launches 14th August, 2009 The launch of all-new third-generation Toyota Prius has helped propel the world's best-selling hybrid car to an all-time sales record in Australia ..... more BMW's new ActiveHybrid 7 14th August, 2009 Based on the BMW 7 Series, this unique car will compete with the already established Lexus LS 600hL hybrid luxury car ..... more Kia to share in joint focus on eco-friendly growth 9th August, 2009 Kia will be fully involved in this process with petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles set to follow the European introduction of its emission-reducing cee'd ISG models within the next two years. Kia is also working on plug-in hybrids and has some of the most advanced fuel cell vehicles operating anywhere in the world ..... more Nissan Leaf: a new ZE car 6th August, 2009 Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan Leaf is a medium-size hatchback with a range of more than 160 kms ..... more Nissan readies its EV 28th July, 2009 Nissan has previewed its electric vehicle EV platform on a Tiida-based prototype to demonstrate the superior driving pleasure of a pure zero-emission vehicle ..... more Kia Forte LPI Hybrid Revealed 19th July, 2009 Kia Motors has unveiled its first commercialised hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the Forte Liquid Petroleum Injection (LPI) Hybrid in Seoul ..... more Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: a new electric sports car 17th July, 2009 With its new SLS AMG fitted with electric drive, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars is developing an exciting super sports car with zero-emission high-tech drive ..... more Two new hybrids for Honda in 2010 13th July, 2009 Honda has today announced plans to begin sales in Japan of the CR-Z sporty hybrid model in February 2010 and Fit (Jazz) Hybrid before the end of 2010 ..... more Renault at Goodwood Festival of Speed 3rd July, 2009 The two most recent Renault concept cars, offering low or no emissions, plus a pristine 1959 electric Dauphine are all set to bask in England's Sussex sunshine and delight the crowds ..... more Lexus Increases Hybrid Battery Warranty 29th June, 2009 Lexus Australia has announced it will increase all Lexus HV (hybrid) battery warranties to eight years or 160,000 kilometres, whichever occurs sooner ..... more Toyota Extends Prius Battery Warranty To Eight Years 29th June, 2009 Fewer than one-quarter of one per cent of Prius hybrid batteries have been replaced in almost eight years of sales ..... more Toyota Prius: Not All Hybrids Are Equal 24th June, 2009 In the third-generation Prius, Toyota engineers have made comprehensive improvements to this award-winning Hybrid Synergy Drive technology ..... more Hyundai To Launch Elantra LPI Hybrid 18th June, 2009 The Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid will be launched as the Hyundai Avante in South Korea next month. This model is not intended for an Australian release ..... more Space-Age Controls In Toyota Prius Keep Your Eyes On The Road 17th June, 2009 The third-generation Prius features an ergonomically advanced interior that contributes to improved safety by reducing driver eye movement for better concentration on the road ..... more Lexus RX 450h Released Locally 16th June, 2009 The petrol-electric hybrid will consume 6.4 litres of fuel per 100 km and emit 150 grammes of CO2 - an emissions figure not achieved by any other luxury SUV in Australia ..... more Mitsubishi Motors to release new-generation EV 7th June, 2009 Mitsubishi Motors expects to distribute, on a maintenance lease basis, some 1,400 i-MiEV models in fiscal 2009 principally to corporations and to local authorities ..... more Plug-in Subaru Stella to Start Japan Sales 7th June, 2009 Around 170 Plug-in Stellas are expected to be sold during the 'current' Japanese fiscal year, ending 31st March, 2010 ..... more Volvo Cars To Try Plug-in Hybrid Technology 3rd June, 2009 A joint project with Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall will see the production of battery-powered Volvos featuring plug-in hybrid technology as early as 2012 ..... more Mini E: first delivery of zero emission Mini 31st May, 2009 The first of several hundred customers in the United States has taken delivery of a Mini E – a fully electric, zero emissions vehicle—as part of a year-long field study ..... more Mini Cooper Diesel Released 21st May, 2009 The Mini Cooper D is only the third car on the Australian new car market that, currently, offers the automatic stop/go feature ..... more Daimler Acquires Stake in Tesla 21st May, 2009 This investment deepens the relationship between the inventor of the automobile and one of the newest members of the global car making industry ..... more Lexus RX 450h Continues Hybrid Firsts 19th May, 2009 The debut of all-new Lexus RX 450h will herald another hybrid world-first for Lexus, the introduction of the world's only Atkinson Cycle V6 engine in a hybrid ..... more Zero Emissions For Renault EV 18th May, 2009 Kangoo be bop Z.E. is equipped with compact, innovative lithium-ion batteries produced by AESC, a Nissan-NEC joint venture ..... more Advanced Safety Technology In New Prius 8th May, 2009 A radar antenna at the front of the new Prius is central to the technologies that combine to reduce the risk and severity of crashes ..... more Chrysler Reveals Electric Concepts to USPS 26th April, 2009 Chrysler has showed off four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country (known as Grand Voyager in Australia) mini-van concepts to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ..... more New Toyota Prius Has Cool Technology - No Sweat! 22nd April, 2009 Toyota's next-generation Prius offers "cool" technology - literally - that dramatically reduces in-car temperatures and saves fuel ..... more How To Grow A Prius In Your Backyard 8th April, 2009 The plant-based plastics replace conventional plastics which are made using petro-chemicals, cutting CO2 emissions over the life of the product ..... more GM and Segway Join Forces to Redefine Personal Mobility 8th April, 2009 Dubbed Project PUMA, GM and Segway are developing an electrically powered vehicle that has only two operational wheels ..... more Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster 29th March, 2009 The F-CELL Roadster is controlled with drive-by-wire technology, and a joystick takes the place of a conventional steering wheel. The vehicle is powered by the emission-free fuel cell system ..... more New fuels, new models for Europe's Hummer 29th March, 2009 The iconic Hummer range of vehicles looks forward to an exciting 2009 in Europe, with new models and powertrains which expand Hummer's appeal to a wider group of customers ..... more Mitsubishi’s i MiEV Electric Vehicle Hits the Road 27th March, 2009 The i MiEV awareness programme commenced in Adelaide on 24th - 25th March. The Motorcade will then travel to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne ..... more Think EVs To Clog Holland's Streets 23rd March, 2009 It accelerates from zero to 50 km/h in 6.5 seconds and 80 km/h in 16 seconds. With zero local emissions and an energy efficiency three times that of a combustion engine car ..... more Lexus Announces Class Leading Emissions & Economy For New RX 450h 15th March, 2009 On sale from mid-2009, the new full hybrid crossover is the high performance flagship of the RX range, which now enters its third-generation ..... more Zero Emissions Are Up In The Air 9th March, 2009 This odd-looking vehicle might struggle to meet crash testing rules – but it contains technology that could lead to a range of zero-emissions ..... more Giugiaro Revives Classic British Nameplate 6th March, 2009 The company doing the reviving is none other than Italdesign-Giugiaro, and the new Frazer-Nash is a radical hybrid electric car, the fastest of its type in the world ..... more Mitsubishi Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroen: Step Towards Electric Vehicles for Europe 5th March, 2009 Mitsubishi and Peugeot announced this week that both companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles ..... more SHOCK: Holden Volt For 2012 27th February, 2009 It is a local take on the vehicle that has gained acclaim for its ability to travel up to 64 kilometres on electricity before using petrol or producing exhaust emissions ..... more Saab Extends Flex-Fuel BioPower and Two-Stage Diesel Across the Range 26th February, 2009 Saab BioPower combines turbocharging with the use of E85 fuel to deliver increased engine power and improved performance, as well as reduced CO2 emissions ..... more Chrysler at Geneva Motor Show 20th February, 2009 With its rapidly growing portfolio of ENVI-powered Electric Vehicles, Chrysler LLC is inspiring a personal mobility revolution, providing a new generation of responsible, no-compromise Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles for consumers who care about the planet’s future and want to take care of it ..... more Honda Reaches 300,000 Hybrid Vehicles Sales 19th February, 2009 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. yesterday announced that global sales of Honda hybrid vehicles passed the 300,000 unit mark on a cumulative basis at the end of January 2009 ..... more Mitsubishi to show Prototype i MiEV concept at Geneva Motor Show 13th February, 2009 With feasibility testing now underway in Europe, the possibility for Mitsubishi Motors' i MiEV electric car to be launched in Europe draws tantalisingly close ..... more Ford's First Battery Electric Vehicle For USA In 2010 9th February, 2009 Transit Connect with battery electric power is the initial offering in Ford’s aggressive new electric vehicle plan to bring pure battery-powered vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids to market ..... more Mitsubishi Announces Electric Vehicle Study for Australia 4th February, 2009 “Given the current climate of concern regarding our environment, along with unstable petroleum prices, alternative fuel vehicles – and more specifically, electric vehicles or EVs – are a very hot topic at the moment,” said Mitsubishi's Robert McEniry ..... more GM To Reveal Opel Ampera Electric Car At Geneva Motor Show 4th February, 2009 “With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometres of non-stop electric driving,” said Alain Visser, GM Europe ..... more Mitsubishi to display i MiEV SPORT AIR Concept at Geneva Motor Show 27th January, 2009 The i MiEV SPORT AIR explores the future possibilities for zero-emission vehicles, placing a greater bias on exhilarating driving pleasure ..... more Plug And Play: The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive 21st January, 2009 The Smart Fortwo electric drive (ed) further demonstrates the pioneering role of this young car brand with an emission-free, highly efficient and quiet two-seater ..... more Chrysler ENVI – Plugged into the World 19th January, 2009 Chrysler's first electric vehicle will be produced in 2010 and a further three models will make it to production by 2013 ..... more Mercedes-Benz Presents a Modular Drive Concept for Electric Vehicles 19th January, 2009 The three BlueZERO variants are based on the unique sandwich-floor architecture which Mercedes-Benz introduced some ten years ago, initially for the A-Class and then for the B-Class ..... more Honda Insight Hybrid Debuts In Detroit 19th January, 2009 "At Honda, we look forward to introducing Australia to the new Insight within the next twelve months" ..... more Top of page Honda Insight Hybrid to Make World Debut at Detroit Motor Show 5th December, 2008 Honda Australia’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Yasuhide Mizuno, is looking forward to the Insight arriving in Australia ..... more VW at Bologna Motor Show 5th December, 2008 Volkswagen continues to vigorously pursue its worldwide product offensive. Just two months after the market launch of the new Golf, and two weeks after presentation of a completely new generation of Clean Diesels developed for the Touareg and Jetta in the USA, more new product fireworks are now on display at the Bologna Motor Show ..... more Honda's Hydrogen Powered Sports Concept 30th November, 2008 Honda revealed the FC Sport design study model, a hydrogen powered three-seat sports car concept at the 2008 Los Angeles Motor Show ..... more Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles Appear at Los Angeles Motor Show 27th November, 2008 Chrysler is well into the development of advanced production-intent electric vehicles and will apply its electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years ..... more Kia At Los Angeles Motor Show 25th November, 2008 Kia reveals next generation Borrego fuel cell vehicle and production model Soul at the 2008 Los Angeles Motor Show ..... more Improved Fuel Efficiency for Holden Commodore 4th November, 2008 GM Holden has upgraded its Alloytec V6 engine on Omega and Berlina models within the VE Commodore range. The improvement offers fuel savings (ADR 81/01) of up to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres for petrol models and an impressive 1.3 litres per 100 kilometres for LPG variants ..... more Fifth Peugeot Design Competition – Winner Announced 4th November, 2008 The competition produced some excellent entries, and first prize was awarded to Carlos Tovar from Colombia, aged 25, for his ‘RD’ concept car ..... more Kia Motors Heralds Four Premieres At Paris Motor Show 26th September, 2008 Soul presents consumers with such a broad selection of styling, comfort and equipment choices, that it redefines the concept of freedom. It's a brand new urban car packed full of liberating ideas ..... more Suzuki Lowers Hot Air Levels In Paris 25th September, 2008 The state-of-the-art vehicle is based on the SX4 hatch, powered by a high-performance fuel cell that emits no pollutants – just water and heat ..... more Tesla To Manufacture All-Electric Luxury Sedan 22nd September, 2008 Model S is Tesla’s zero-emission, five passenger luxury sedan powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. It is expected to have a base price of about $60,000 (USD) ..... more Honda At The Paris Motor Show 11th September, 2008 The two major debuts will be for the long awaited Insight Concept, which demonstrates the direction of Honda's latest addition to its petrol electric hybrid line-up, and a restyled Civic Hybrid ..... more Holden Makes LPG Even More Appealing 7th August, 2008 Private customers can now buy dual fuel LPG-powered Holden Commodores for as little as $400 more than their petrol equivalents ..... more Mercedes-Benz “Road to the Future” 31st July, 2008 Fuel-efficient and environmentally-sustainable premium automobiles from Mercedes-Benz, without the need to forego the characteristic brand features - safety, comfort and refined driving pleasure. This is the strategy of the Stuttgart based vehicle manufacturer ..... more Nissan sets fastest lap for fuel cell vehicle at Nurburgring 31st July, 2008 Eickholt was impressed with the X-Trail FCV which clocked in at 11:58 minutes and zero emissions ..... more Tesla Electric Sports Car To Run In Britain's Arrive ‘N’ Drive Event 29th July, 2008 Former Formula One World driver, Damon Hill, will be driving the Tesla Roadster, the first electric sports car to go on sale in Europe, in England's GreenFleet Capital Arrive ‘N’ Drive 08 event ..... more UK’s First Electric Taxi 18th July, 2008 The electric taxi will be available from October 2008 and is the result of three years research and development by Allied, which is already looking for local authority partners to install recharging networks locally to help drive down urban emissions ..... more Subaru's Plug-in STELLA Concept 11th July, 2008 FHI has announced the successful development of its Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept model, a prototype electric vehicle ..... more Suzuki Trials SX4-FCV Fuel Cell Vehicle On Japanese Roads 9th July, 2008 The SX4-FCV delivers superior running performance by means of a GM-made high-performance fuel cell, a Suzuki-developed 70 MPa hydrogen tank and a light, compact capacitor that recovers energy during brake application and uses it to reduce fuel cell loading during acceleration ..... more Tesla Prepares For European Launch 11th June, 2008 Following the recent announcement that Tesla Motors has confirmed its decision to enter the European market, the company is now preparing to show the world’s first all-electric sports car at several key events in coming months ..... more A Dud For Rudd 11th June, 2008 Hybrid vehicles, using petrol rather than diesel, are seen by Next Car's editor, Stephen Walker, as a wasted opportunity. Efficient diesels, such as those powering Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen vehicles, amongst others, are saving Australians money at the bowsers and are reducing the CO2 burden on our environment ..... more Volkswagen at the AMI 2008 10th April, 2008 Volkswagen is launching into this year’s automotive springtime with a genuine display of new model fireworks. Six German premieres are currently being presented to the public in Leipzig at the 2008 Automobil International ..... more Mitsubishi at the 2008 New York Motor Show 24th March, 2008 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is displaying the i MiEV new generation electric vehicle at the 2008 New York Motor Show. The company plans to use the vehicles in a joint fleet testing programme in cooperation with select U.S. power companies in the (northern) autumn of this year ..... more Think Electric Car Powers Up For Expansion To UK 23rd March, 2008 UK motorists will soon be able to place orders to buy the UK's first fully electric powered car later this year, when the new so-called TH!NK city electric vehicle (EV) goes on sale ..... more Nissan’s Denki Cube Electric Vehicle Concept Debuts In New York 21st March, 2008 New York City is about to get a lesson in what happens when geography meets geometry – specifically, when the world, which is round, meets the Nissan Cube, which is essentially square ..... more Saab 9-X BioHybrid Boosting Efficiency in Compact Design and Performance 5th March, 2008 The Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept is a vivid vision of what a future compact car from Saab could look like. It is designed to reflect the priorities of youthful customers who seek progressive looks, responsible performance and high-tech communications, all in a sporty, fun-to-drive package ..... more United Forces Deliver E85 Motoring First in Brisbane 1st February, 2008 Swedish car maker Saab has joined forces with United Petroleum to help switch on Australia’s first commercially available E85 fuel pumps ..... more Solar Champions Whisper Into Melbourne Motor Show 25th January, 2008 Aurora Vehicle Association will highlight 20 years of progress in solar car design by displaying its latest solar racer beside its original 1987 model ..... more 9-4X BioPower Crossover Concept Signals Saab Product Expansion 17th January, 2008 The Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept, displayed at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, confirms Saab’s plans to enter the growing crossover segment with a dynamic, driver-focused vehicle inspired by Scandinavian design values and respect for our environment ..... more HX Concept Provides Vision Of An Open-Air Hummer 17th January, 2008 With its unmistakable Hummer design and a compact, go-anywhere driving ethic, the Hummer HX concept challenges the hierarchy of the trail. Hummer is displaying the nimble, reconfigurable off-roader at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show ..... more Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept Delivers Clean, Petrol-Free Performance 17th January, 2008 Cadillac unveils a new vision for the future of luxury transportation with the innovative Provoq fuel cell concept – a hydrogen fuel cell crossover vehicle that continues GM’s commitment to displace petrol through advanced technology ..... more Buick Riviera: GM's Chinese Concept Car 16th January, 2008 Engineered to accommodate a new hybrid system that will go into production this year at Shanghai GM (SGM), GM's joint venture with SAIC, the Riviera features several technological and manufacturing advances ..... more Top of page Mazda Furai Concept and New Mazda RX-8 to Make World Debut 13th December, 2007 Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the world premieres of the Mazda Furai concept vehicle and the heavily revised new Mazda RX-8 sports car at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS or, as it better known, the Detroit Motor Show) ..... more Chrysler Concept Vehicles Highlight Alternative Fuels 2nd December, 2007 Chrysler has released a sneak preview of the Chrysler ecoVoyager, Dodge Zeo and Jeep Renegade concept vehicles, which will be shown at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show ..... more Volkswagen Up! Honoured at AutoCar Awards in the UK 20th November, 2007 The innovative Volkswagen Up! concept was honoured at the prestigious AutoCar Awards at a ceremony in Westminster on 13th November, 2007, winning the highly competitive Concept Car of the Year category ..... more Volkswagen Space Up! Blue - Clean Drive Revolution "Made in Germany" 16th November, 2007 Volkswagen presents the first car in the world with high-temperature fuel cell Space Up! Blue covers downtown distances with pure battery drive ..... more Honda Reveals New Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car 16th November, 2007 Honda has unveiled the all-new FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Motor Show, announcing plans to begin limited retail marketing, in USA, of the hydrogen-powered car in mid-2008 ..... more Chrysler LLC Introduce Hemi Hybrid Powered Vehicles 15th November, 2007 With the introduction of the new Chrysler Aspen Hemi Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hemi Hybrid, Chrysler LLC delivers two hybrid-electric vehicles to the North American market that combine fuel-efficient advanced-hybrid technology with full-size sport-utility vehicle performance and capability ..... more Porsche at Los Angeles Motor Show 13th November, 2007 It was this vehicle, Ferdinand Porsche’s first major project completed at the time without layshafts and without a transmission that gave the 24-year-old automobile genius his breakthrough as a pioneer in the history of the automobile ..... more Saab Launches Australia’s First Ethanol Car 19th October, 2007 Saab, a global leader in renewable fuels, has launched Australia’s first ethanol-fueled production car ..... more Volvo ReCharge Hybrid Concept 21st September, 2007 Volvo Cars has unveiled the Volvo ReCharge Concept, a plug-in hybrid with individual electric wheel motors ..... more Mercedes-Benz Shows the Future of the Superior Touring Sedan 13th September, 2007 In the words of Professor Dr. Herbert Kohler, responsible for Group Research & Advanced Engineering Vehicle and Powertrain at DaimlerChrysler AG, “With the F 700, Mercedes-Benz shows what the big touring sedan of the future will look like. It offers environmentally compatible mobility combined with utmost comfort and an effortlessly superior drive.” ..... more BMW Concept X6 Hybrid Debuts In Frankfurt 13th September, 2007 The BMW Group has joined forces with General Motors and DaimlerChrysler to form the Global Hybrid Cooperation, to develop the next generation of hybrid drive systems ..... more Peugeot 308 Hybrid – An Environmentally Friendly Car for the Next Generation 2nd September, 2007 At the Frankfurt Motor Show, later this month, Peugeot will showcase its new 308 Hybrid HDi, which emits just 90g/km of CO2 and reduces fuel consumption by 38% in the Combined Cycle compared to a standard 308 HDi ..... more Mercedes-Benz A-Class F-Cell: the First Fuel-Cell-Powered Passenger Car in Iceland 17th July, 2007 With over 100 vehicles, DaimlerChrysler operates the largest fuel-cell fleet in the world: concept vehicles, passenger cars, vans and Citaro city buses. With more than three million zero-emissions kilometres behind it, the company has more data, know-how and experience at its disposal than any other vehicle manufacturer .... more Renault To Sell Megane E85 In UK 17th July, 2007 Renault will launch its bioethanol car into the UK market when the Mégane Hatch E85 goes on sale at the end of 2007 .... more Smart Presents Alternative Drive Systems 10th July, 2007 Smart, as a platform for alternative power choices, has some interesting propositions under development .... more Cadillac To Introduce BLS Wagon in Europe 1st July, 2007 The Cadillac BLS Wagon will make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), 15th to 23rd September in Frankfurt, Germany. In addition to its first offering of a station wagon, Cadillac is announcing it will offer an alternative, bio-ethanol-fuel engine for the BLS Sedan and Wagon .... more Promising Breakthrough For Hydrogen Bi-Fuel 1st July, 2007 A British company has a made a breakthrough in converting a conventional petrol car to run on pure hydrogen in a development which promises to slash CO2 emissions and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels .... more Mitsubishi Motors launches flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) in Brazil 25th June, 2007 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and local production and sales company MMC Automotores do Brasil Ltda (MMCB) have announced the development of the first full-feature four-wheel drive flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) to be released in the Brazilian market ..... more UK Government proposes new measures to encourage sustainable Biofuels 22nd June, 2007 UK Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander underlined the Government's commitment to sustainable biofuels yesterday, as he launched a consultation on an environmental reporting system for this type of fuel and a package of measures to complement the reporting requirement ..... more Bio-Fuel Aston Martin Wins 6th June, 2007 An Aston Martin DBRS9 has made motorsport history by becoming the first bio-fuelled car to win a major motor sport event in Britain ..... more General Motors Looking At 'Grassoline' As Alternative Fuel 5th June, 2007 A major step toward diversifying transportation energy supply is as close as the unused corn stalks from this year’s harvest, the waste from timber mills, grasses, or even your own lawn clippings. These and other non-food plant materials can be cost-effectively turned into cellulosic ethanol, which can greatly reduce oil consumption and global warming at the same time ..... more Chevrolet Sequel Drives Into History Books 29th May, 2007 General Motors made history as its Chevy Sequel – the world’s most technologically advanced automobile – became the first electrically-driven fuel cell vehicle to achieve 300 miles on one tank of hydrogen, in and out of traffic on public roads, while producing zero emissions ..... more GS Yuasa, MC and MMC To Establish New Company To Manufacture Lithium-ion Batteries 29th May, 2007 GS Yuasa Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have begun collaboration on establishing a joint venture company to manufacture large capacity and high performance Lithium-ion batteries that can be used in electric vehicles (EV) ..... more Ford Joins UK's New Eco Rally 27th May, 2007 Future and current Ford vehicles leading the auto industry towards reduced carbon emissions will be part of the first Brighton to London eco rally on 5th June, 2007 ..... more Ford Escape Hybrid Taxis For New York 27th May, 2007 The Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid meet the existing New York City taxi requirements and the proposed new fuel economy policy ..... more Connaught Sets Up In Wales 22nd April, 2007 Connaught Motor Company – the team behind the world’s first high performance hybrid sports coupe - is setting up its global manufacturing and R&D headquarters in Wales ..... more Tesla Exhibits World’s First Production Electric Sports Car 9th April, 2007 Tesla Motors Ltd has revealed its all-electric sports car in England ..... more US Car Chiefs Meet With President George Bush 27th March, 2007 Joint statement attributable to Chrysler Group president and CEO Tom LaSorda, Ford Motor Company president and CEO Alan Mulally, and General Motors chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner regarding the meeting between President George W. Bush and the CEOs of America’s domestic auto industry ..... more American Car Makers Applaud US President Bush's Commitment to Alternative Fuels 27th February, 2007 American car manufacturers have commended the US President, George W Bush, for continuing to encourage the development of alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels ..... more Nissan Pioneers Fuel-Cell Limo 23rd February, 2007 Nissan delivered to Kanagawa Toshi Kotsu the latest version of the X-Trail fuel-cell vehicle powered by hydrogen fuel cells to be used as part of their chauffeur-driven hire-car fleet ..... more Kia ex_cee’d Cabrio Concept 23rd February, 2007 Kia’s all-new ex_cee’d cabrio concept car will be premiered at the 77th Salon de l’Automobiles in Geneva, Switzerland ..... more Suzuki Previews Fuel Cells At Melbourne 22nd February, 2007 Its futuristic Ionis concept car is powered by a fuel cell and features sophisticated drive-by-wire control systems in a sleek, futuristic body ..... more Honda Hydrogen Power For Melbourne 21st February, 2007 The future of motoring will be on display at the Melbourne Motor Show in the form of a new Honda that consumes only hydrogen and emits only water vapour ..... more Saab 9-5 BioPower 100 Concept Premieres at Geneva 15th February, 2007 Saab will give sustainable motoring a performance boost at next month’s Geneva Motor Show when it unveils its latest BioPower technology – the first production-based engine to be optimised for pure bioethanol (E100) fuel ..... more Volkswagen unveiled the cleanest ever TDI engine 25th January, 2007 A VW Jetta TDI fulfils the most stringent worldwide exhaust gas thresholds with its nitrogen oxide post-treatment system developed by Volkswagen. The USA market launch within the BlueTec alliance is planned for 2008 ..... more Saab Lands First Ethanol Car in Australia 18th January, 2007 A real-world demonstration programme of the first ethanol production car in Australia, Saab BioPower, has began in Queensland ..... more Top of page Volvo XC60 Concept - Six-Cylinder Bio-Ethanol Engine 27th December, 2006 The chosen power-train for the Volvo XC60 Concept, which will debut at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show, is a six-cylinder 3.2-litre bio-ethanol engine with all-wheel drive ..... more Safety Warning On Vehicle LPG 27th December, 2006 Chris Pearce, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, has issued a safety warning to owners of motor vehicles which had LPG conversions or who had their LPG tanks retested between mid 2003 and August 2005 ..... more Renault prepares to develop a mobility solution using electricity 27th December, 2006 As part of "Renault Commitment 2009", the company is pursuing an ambitious plan to reduce emissions. This plan is based on three commitments ..... more Experimental Lotus Exige 18th December, 2006 Lotus has developed a prototype version of its Exige S which is not only the most environmentally friendly, but also the most powerful rendition of the lightweight sports car produced so far ..... more Queensland Premier Trials Australia’s First Ethanol Car 6th December, 2006 Saab Australia this week welcomed the Queensland Government’s commitment to trial Australia’s first ethanol production car, Saab BioPower, with the vehicle joining QFleet in January ..... more BMW Hydrogen 7 Debuts in LA 3rd December, 2006 The world’s first hydrogen-drive luxury automobile – the BMW Hydrogen 7 – has celebrated its world premiere at the Los Angeles Motor Show with the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, congratulating the hydrogen initiative ..... more Honda Shows Off Hydrogen-Powered FCX Concept 21st November, 2006 American Honda has shown off its next-generation hydrogen-powered FCX concept car with a demonstration drive at the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California ..... more Peugeot 307 Hybride HDi Diesel 24th October, 2006 As reported earlier this year, Peugeot has extended its diesel hybrid technology programme, applying it to the popular, stylish and versatile 307 CC Hybride HDi ..... more Honda Unveils New Technologies 26th September, 2006 Honda Motor Co has unveiled a range of next-generation engine technologies as part of its global initiative to reduce CO2 emissions ..... more Big plans for Saab BioPower in Australia 5th September, 2006 Saab BioPower, the best selling environmentally friendly vehicle in Sweden, is on its way to Australia to promote the benefits of ethanol, a renewable alternative fuel ..... more Honda and London Police in Hybrid Deal 21st August, 2006 Honda has teamed up with London’s Police in the country’s biggest ever hybrid car fleet deal ..... more Top of page About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2003 - 2010   Next Car Pty Ltd.   All rights reserved.