Three days ago, Toyota debuted its Advanced Drive autonomous driving tech in Japan, and the first vehicles to receive it are the 2022 Lexus LS and Toyota Mirai FCEV. Our report stated Advanced Drive is arriving in all U.S.-bound Lexus LS models – particularly the LS 500h hybrid – very soon, but we weren’t expecting it to come this soon.
Mercedes-AMG is looking to electrification for the next big thing in performance, but it's not quite ready to give up on gas engines yet. The result is AMG E Performance, a new family of horsepower-heavy hybrids that combine gas and electric for all-wheel drive with some fascinating nuance.
Jeep and Electrify America are teaming up to put EV chargers in wilder locations, helping drivers of the upcoming 2021 Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid to top-up their batteries while they explore the great outdoors. The Jeep 4xe Charging Network will see trailhead parking fitted out with special Level 2 chargers, some of which will use solar-power to stay off the grid completely.
It's not unreasonable to suggest that Volvo owes a fair amount of its current prestige to the XC90. In 2021 XC90 T8 Recharge form, the plug-in hybrid three-row SUV is the de-facto flagship of the Swedish automaker's range in North America, combining Scandinavian minimalism with a jolt of electric power.
One of the more exciting things that Jeep announced in recent memory is the electrification of some of its most popular models. Among the models getting plug-in hybrid versions is the 2021 Wrangler. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid has received its official ratings from the EPA in the United States.
Porsche is doing very well with its sports cars and SUVs. While the automaker expects to sell a lot of its fully electric Taycan sports cars, its most iconic model is the 911. There have been rumors swirling about a fully electric 911 sports car, but Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has poured cold water on that rumor. The Porsche executive says the automaker will continue to build the 911 with combustion engines.
Hyundai is moving its crossover game to sporting heights with its 2022 Tucson SUV. The newest Tucson features a bold, striking design and is available in a plethora of powertrain options. The latest additions in the 2022 Hyundai Tucson’s growing lineup are the much-awaited N Line model and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant.
A company from Ukraine called Highland Systems is showing off an interesting armored vehicle at the IREX Defense Expo in Abu Dhabi. The Storm uses a hybrid powertrain and has fully amphibious capabilities. That means it's able to operate on land and can operate in water as well. Interestingly, the company is working on a version of the vehicle that will launch soon that's also submersible.
The 2021 Kia Niro Hybrid and Niro PHEV are soldiering on with a couple of new safety and technology features. Kia updated the Niro’s styling last year, and the changes carry over to the 2021 model. The Niro may not be the roomiest or best-handling crossover on the road, but it easily achieves 43 to 50 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
Electric cars are getting more affordable, but as people ask for my advice as to which model they should consider I also have to remind them to do their research on credits and incentives that might apply. While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) may still carry a premium over their gas counterparts, a combination of federal, state, and local incentives can narrow that gap considerably - if you know to go looking for them.
As we know, the internal combustion engine is approaching its twilight, but Japanese carmaker Nissan has other plans. In its recent press release, Nissan's STARC engine concept (Strong, Tumble, and Appropriately Stretched Robust Ignition Channel) claims to achieve 50-percent thermal efficiency, a noticeable improvement over a regular gas engine's 40-percent efficiency.
British luxury automaker Aston Martin and German automotive giant Mercedes-Benz are no strangers to inking deals. In 2013, Mercedes claimed five-percent of Aston Martin in return for the former’s AMG V8 motors and infotainment system. Last year, Mercedes-Benz got a bigger 20-percent chunk of Aston Martin for the German carmaker’s EV technology.