2011 Infiniti M35 Hybrid Production

Described as the cleanest and most economical car in the company's history, the M35 Hybrid is designed to balance performance and fuel efficiency.
The car uses an advanced hybrid system that has "a single electric motor/twin clutch arrangement. Innovatively, the first clutch is installed between the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and the electric motor. The result of this configuration, where all components act on a single prop shaft to the rear differential, is a consistent driving feel under all conditions with linear performance and the ‘direct responses' that the engineers sought." While that sounds kind of vague, Infiniti also stated the electric motor can power the M35 exclusively.

Power comes from a "laminated" lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack, which is nearly the same size as a conventional battery pack but offers twice as much energy. The batteries are recharged by the electric motor (it can act as a generator) and an engine energy recovery system (which harnesses power that is typically lost during deceleration and braking).

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Suzuki to Debut Plug-in Hybrid Swift Prototype in Tokyo

Despite the lack of particpation from the major U.S. and European automakers, there is still news to be had about debuts at the upcoming Tokyo motor show.
Suzuki will be introducing a new plug-in hybrid Swift at the Tokyo show later this month (which runs October 21 to November 4).
Not much info is to be had on the Swift plug-in hybrid as no performance or output figures are available. Suzuki doesn't even give us the displacement of the engine. The details provided say only that it will be powered by a small gasoline/petrol engine coupled to an electric motor with electrical current stored in a lithium-ion battery pack.
As a plug-in hybrid, the Swift is capable of being charged from a standard home electrical outlet. It runs on electrical power only, with the engine acting as a generator to recharge the batteries if they run low while driving.
The Suzuki Swift plug-in hybrid is still a concept and so the Japanese automaker has added certain features to distinguish it from the standard-powered production model. These include a new set of headlights and wheels for the exterior. On the inside, the Swift plug-in hybrid comes with its own cabin trim which also features lightweight seats for the driver and front passenger done in a 'web-design' material finish.

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Honda Skydeck MPV with scissor doors

Honda’s new SKYDECK concept can seat 6 people in a three-row passenger configuration . Honda’s last 6-seater was the Honda Edix which has now been phased out, but that MPV had its 6 seats in a two row configuration, similiar to what Fiat did for their Multipla.
The styling cues are quite obviously inspired by the CR-Z, which leads me to believe this kind of look might become quite commonplace on future Hondas. The front doors have a scissor hinge like a Lamborghini while the rear door is of the rearward-sliding variety. The powertrain is of course a hybrid but no further details have been revealed.
More will probably be disclosed at the Tokyo show next month, so stay tuned, but for now you can look after the jump for hi-res images.

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Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV Hybrid Could Preview New Compact SUV

Mitsubishi will be showing an all-new compact crossover concept model called the PX-MiEV at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show in late October. At 4,510mm (177.6-in.) long, 1,830mm (72-in.) wide and 1,655mm (65-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,630mm (103.5-in.), the PX-MiEV Concept is shorter (-130mm / 4.3'') but wider than the current generation Outlander SUV.
The concept is motivated by a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain that combines a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and Mitsubishi's all-new S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), that utilizes E-AYC (Electric-powered Active Yaw Control) to transfers torque to the rear left and right wheels, with a pair of electric motors (one at each axle) and a battery.
The battery can be replenished either through regenerative breaking, the gasoline engine or via a regular household plug or a high-power quick-charging station.
Mitsubishi said that at low to middle speeds the PX-MiEV relies on the front electric motor to move the vehicle. If the driver is confronted with snow, rain or any other low surface friction situations then the system automatically switches to four-wheel drive mode by feeding power to the rear electric motor.
When the battery is low on power, the system starts the gasoline engine to generate electricity and automatically switches to the series hybrid mode using the electricity generated to power the two electric motors.
At higher speeds the gasoline engine drives the front wheels but if necessary, the system switches in both front and rear electric motors to provide additional power and assist the petrol unit engine, providing high acceleration.
The PX-MiEV's exterior styling is rather simple while the futuristic-looking interior is said to have been designed to give an image of an airplane cockpit in order to improve the driver's concentration - or so Mitsubishi claims.
Other notable features on PX-MiEV include the electronically-controlled air suspension that gives the driver the choice of three ride height modes (auto, high and low) and a new "Multi-Around Monitor" that uses cameras located at strategic points on the body to provide the driver with a combined image of the full perimeter of the vehicle.

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Lexus HS250h use counterpart Toyota SAI

When the Lexus brand was finally introduced back in its homeland of Japan, it marked the end of the Toyota-badged Lexus products such as the Toyota Harrier, which was essentially a Lexus RX. The Land Cruiser and Lexus LX twins are still on though.

Or so we thought, because the new Lexus HS250h will be launched in Japan as a Toyota called the Toyota SAI, alongside the original HS250h which has already been launched in Japan, which isn’t really completely original at all, being a restyled Euro-market Toyota Avensis (platform also used for the Scion tC) with the Camry Hybrid’s gaso-electric powertrain. Boy, that was confusing!

Toyota will be positioning the Toyota SAI as a larger hybrid-only car compared to the Prius, though since they share the same 2,700mm wheelbase I don’t expect the interior space to be all that different, though rear headroom should be better.

In the HS250h, the chassis had to handle the naturally larger 2.4 liter Hybrid Synergy Drive hybrid system but some are saying that the Toyota SAI will use the 1.8 liter version thats in the Prius. There are of course also news that it will use the same 2.4 liter HSD engine as the HS250h. What it will have is a proper boot, while the Prius is a hatchback.

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Frankfurt Show Lexus LS600h Compact Battery Pack

Making their world premiere in Frankfurt alongside the rest of the revised 2010 model year Lexus LS range, the LS600h hybrid and its long-wheelbase sibling receive a gentle facelift with mild cosmetic tweaks that differentiate them from the petrol models, updated equipment, a new ECO driving mode, more powerful brakes and a repackaging of the battery pack. The 2010 LS600h and LS600h L are distinguished visually mainly by a new four-bar grille and front bumper with redesigned air intakes and foglamps.

Other details include the new one-piece rocker moulding and new door mirrors with chrome highlights that now incorporate twin LED turn signals and puddle lamps, while the range of exterior colours has been increased.

In the cabin the instrument panel has been redesigned and now includes a new full color, TFT LCD display and the upper air vents have been set apart from the instrumentation on the centre console. Furthermore, there's a new navigation system and the EMV multi-display touch screen has large switches and rearranged layout for the audio controls while both front seats are equipped with new, inflator operated active headrests.

Changes to the hybrid system include the introduction of a new ECO mode, which modifies the throttle action and performance of the air conditioning system to support fuel-efficient driving, and the repackaging of the battery pack into two sections of six and 14 modules that has reduced its overall size and freed up more luggage space in the boot.

Lexus says that the Hybrid Drive system has also been revised to meet Euro V exhaust emissions standards, but with no change to the car's performance with the 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine and 165kW electric motor producing a combined output of 439bhp and 520Nm of torque, giving a 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration in 6.3 seconds. CO2 emissions are 219g/km and combined cycle fuel economy remains at 9.2lt/100km (25.3mpg US or 30.4mpg UK).

Finally, the Japanese firm's flagship hybrid has been fitted with with larger, 380mm ventilated front disc brakes with six-piston callipers, rotors and pads jointly developed with Brembo.

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Update Office: Toyota Auris HSD Hybrid Fully Revealed, Features Prius' Hybrid Drivetrain

The new Auris HSD Full Hybrid is a thinly disguised concept model that will be launched at the Frankfurt show next week previewing the production model that is scheduled to go on sale in Europe sometime during the second half of 2010. According to Toyota, it marks a significant milestone in the firm's plan to equip its mainstream European models with full hybrid technology. As anticipated, the Auris HSD Full Hybrid shares its hybrid powertran with the thrid-gen Prius.

This means that it is equipped with a 1.8-liter Atkinson Cycle petrol engine with 98HP, a 60kW - 80HP electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The combined output of the hybrid system is 134 horsepower. Being a 'full' hybrid, the Auris can be driven on petrol engine alone, electric motor alone for up to 1.25 miles (2km) at speeds up to 31mph or combination of both.

Toyota says that the Auris HSD Hybrid accelerates from nought to 100km/h (62mph) in around 10 seconds, while returning a "class-leading" combined cycle fuel economy (no figures were released) and sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.

Compared to the conventional Auris that has replaced the hatchback versions of the Corolla in Europe, the hybrid model features some subtle styling changes to improve aerodynamic efficiency as well as to differentiate it from the rest of the range. These include the new front-end fascia with a different grille and LED headlights, the new bumpers with flat corners, the LED tail lamps, the addition of a rear diffuser and a larger rear spoiler.

Other changes include the 20mm lower ride height, the underbody panels and the bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels that are designed to cut air turbulence in the wheel arches and are shod with low rolling resistance tyres. These changes result to a drag coefficient of 0.28 - for comparison, the latest Prius has a Cd figure of 0.25.

The hybrid model has also been fitted with solar panels on the roof as well as on top of the dashboard that generate enough energy to recharge mobile phones or portable music plays mounted in purpose-designed charging trays.

Being a concept and all, the car's cabin gets a special makeover as the seats and upper dashboard are finished in blue Gaucholino leather with light blue accent stitching while the centre console and side air vents have a pearl white finish. Furthermore, the instrument cluster gets 'hybrid blue' illumination while other upgrades include the flat bottom steering wheel and ambient illumination of the footwells and headlining.

The Auris HSD Full Hybrid will be built by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) at the firm's Burnaston factory, near Derby, with sales of the production model set to start across Europe in the second half of 2010.

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