Toyota Aqua Hybrid by Kana Auto Works (special cars)

Toyota Aqua Hybrid

While in the business of producing and developing cars for Toyota for more than half a century, Kana Auto Works has generally stayed under the radar.

However, at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company came out of its shell introducing several bespoke models.
Aside from the Toyota Century-based FS Hybrid, Kana Auto Works also displayed two prototypes of the newly presented Toyota Aqua hybrid, which will be marketed under the Prius C brand name outside of Japan.
The first Aqua Fun concept is finished in an orange hue and sports a subtle aero package and new alloy wheels.

The other Aqua Fun study is more extreme boasting a bright yellow finish and several cosmetic changes including new front and rear bumpers, different headlamps and tail lights, larger spoilers and bigger wheels while also riding on a lowered sports suspension.

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2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid /Review

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid will settle the dilemma between owning a large, capable SUV and saving money on gas and protecting the environment.  That’s because an efficient 332-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-8 is paired to GM’s two-mode hybrid system that features dual electric motors, a continuously variable transmission, and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack.  Like most hybrids, the 2011 Escalade Hybrid’s system recharges the battery pack through regenerative braking.  Fuel estimates check in at 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.  For those concerned about the environmental impact of the Escalade Hybrid, just know that it emits between three and four fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than the gas-only Escalades.  Competition includes the GMC Yukon Hybrid and the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

The Escalade Hybrid is available in four-wheel drive for enhanced traction and handling, and can tow up to 5,800 pounds (2WD model).  The Escalade Hybrid is bathed in hybrid badges, which instantly sets its exterior apart from other Escalades.  A power liftgate, 22-inch chrome wheels, power sunroof, and xenon headlights are standard, while LED headlights and power-retractable running boards are optional.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid can seat up to eight occupants in three rows.  Cargo volume is also cavernous with 108.9 cubic feet of space to fit all of your luggage or equipment.  Leather interior, power, heated, and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, tri-zone climate control, heated and cooled cup holders, a navigation system, Bluetooth® connectivity and a USB/iPod port are just some of the impressive standard features.  Monitor the Escalade’s hybrid activity and efficiency through informative graphics displayed on the navigation screen and instrument cluster.

As for safety, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid features three-row side curtain airbags, driver and passenger airbags, antilock brakes, an electronic stability system with traction control, rearview camera, and a blind spot warning system as standard equipment.  A suite of OnStar safety technologies and communications also comes standard and notify the authorities in the event of an accident.  Standard maintenance such as scheduled oil changes, replacement of engine and cabin air filters, tire rotations and more are covered for four years or 50,000 miles.

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PricingMSRP: $74,135 to $88,435
Invoice Price: $69,316 to $82,687
EPA Fuel Economy (MPG)
20 City /23 Highway
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Honda to reveal a pair of new green vehicles at Tokyo Auto Show

The Japanese carmaker is aiming to make a splash in the electric vehicle market

Honda Small Sports EV concept

Aiming to have one of the largest lineups at this year's Tokyo Auto Show, Honda has already shed some light on its Micro Commuter and Canopy concept vehicles, but it appears that's only the tip of the green iceberg. The company has just revealed a pair of prototypes that look both futuristic and environmentally friendly. The AC-X and Small Sports EV concepts aim to cater to two different segments of the electric vehicle market: Those looking for a practical hybrid for both short and long commutes, and those looking for a smaller, city-minded car for daily jaunts about town.

Honda AC-X hybrid

The AC-X (above) is a plug-in hybrid that can run purely on a charge from the onboard battery, but can also switch to an engine-driven mode, allowing it to make much longer trips than an electric-only vehicle. The car appears to take some design cues from both the current Honda Civic models, as well as the company's previous hybrid, the Honda Insight.
Little is known about Honda's Small Sports EV concept, and aside from a short press release blurb insisting that it was designed with "fun" driving in mind, all we have to go on is some official mockups (below). The car is a two-seater that looks much like a little brother to the AC-X. Its convertible top and sleek lines definitely give a futuristic vibe, and if Honda's promise of enjoyable driving mated with "excellent environmental performace" can be achieved, it may make a good candidate for production.

[via Autoblog]

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2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid /Review

MSRP: $25,900 to $27,400
Invoice Price: $23,829 to $25,208
EPA Fuel Economy (MPG): 41 - 43 City/38 - 39 Highway

Redesigned for 2012, the Camry Hybrid is the greener version of America’s best-selling mid-size sedan. If you’re looking for a vehicle with a comfortable interior, adequate power, and extraordinary gas mileage, the Camry Hybrid should be on your short list.

One of the major improvements for the Camry Hybrid has been an upgrade to its Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Electric motor output has grown substantially from 30kW up to 105kW, while the gasoline engine gets a bump from 2.4- to 2.5-liters and now outputs 156-horsepower from its four cylinders. Total system output is rated at 200-horsepower combined. The power is routed through a continuously variable transmission to the front wheels. The battery pack has increased in voltage (now rated at 245 volt battery pack) while decreasing in size which allows trunk space to increase to 13.1 cubic feet.

Fuel economy has gone up significantly from last year’s model (which was rated at 31 mpg/city and 35 mpg/highway). EPA ratings now place the Camry Hybrid at 43 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway with a combined 41 mpg rating, which brings the Camry Hybrid to the front of the pack for fuel economy, besting cars like the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. This was accomplished by changes to the hybrid system, a weight reduction of about 250 pounds, adding lower rolling resistance tires, and creating a more aerodynamic shape. Toyota also offers Eco and EV driving modes on its hybrid. Eco mode maximizes fuel economy across all driving conditions and the EV mode keeps the vehicle in electric drive as long as possible (up to 25 mph). And with a fuel range of greater than 650 miles per tank, you’ll be able to spend more time on the road and less filling up.

The interior has also been redesigned for 2012, and the Camry Hybrid adds its own unique three-gauge instrument cluster. Information presented includes a power-flow display which shows energy flow, cruising range, and real-time fuel economy. Included in the redesign are gains in the rear seat leg and hip room.
The Camry Hybrid comes in two trim levels: the nicely configured LE and the higher level XLE. The LE comes with a long list of standard features, including dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry and ignition, and USB/iPod and auxiliary audio input jacks. The XLE adds a leather wrapped steering wheel, eight-way power driver’s seat, and six-speaker Display Audio System with audio controls on the steering wheel. Further options include a sunroof, rearview camera, heated front seats, power passenger’s seat, navigation system, and an Entune System that integrates smartphone and web functions.

The Camry Hybrid comes with all the standard safety items we’ve come to expect from a Toyota.  Toyota’s Star Safety System integrates stability control, anti-lock disc brakes and the traction control system. There are 10 airbags in the cabin, including driver and passenger front knee airbags, head-protecting curtain side airbags, and torso-protecting rear seat mounted outboard-side airbags. A blind-spot monitoring system is available as an option on the XLE.
The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid comes back with better fuel economy and a more comfortable cabin, which makes going green better than ever.

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Airships Set to Take Flight Once Again

Photo: Hybrid Air Vehicles

Every year millions of carefree people board cruise ships and never entertain a single thought about the sinking of the Titanic. Same goes for the millions of people everyday who travel and commute via plane, train or automobile. Unless you're severely phobic, chances are transportation disasters are the last thing on your mind as you embark.

So why then does the mere mention of the blimp and zeppelin industry initiate an echo-chamber where all we hear is "Oh the humanity!". Perhaps we should let bygones be bygones and stop fixating on the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, for the dawn of a new age of 'air vehicles' may soon be upon us.

British Company, Hybrid Air Vehicles, is leading the charge. They recently pulled down two major commercial deals, potentially indicating that the airship industry may once again be taking flight.

The company's modern airships are composed of semi-rigid lifting balloons, taking 40 percent of their lifting capacity from onboard engines that provide vectored thrust. Helium provides the remain 60 percent for liftoff.

Additionally, fan-equipped pontoons on the underbelly of the hull give the airship the ability to land on grass, concrete or water, without a ground crew.

Hybrid Air Vehicles most lucrative deal is a $517 million contract with Northrop Grumman to supply a Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) to the U.S. Army for deployment in Afghanistan in 2012. The second deal is with Discovery Air Innovations, who has agreed to buy vehicles capable of lifting 50 tons and flying 115 miles per hour.

The military airships potentially would be used for surveillance and transport, while the Canadian contract intends use the air vehicles to deliver cargo in remote regions of the arctic North.

Hybrid Air Vehicles sees a bright future for their airships. The company seeks to tap the markets of mapping and geographic monitoring, humanitarian aid distribution, offshore drilling and luxury tourism.

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