Toyota has released a teaser of a new concept called the FT-Bh Concept. The concept is an “ultra-lightweight, full hybrid vehicle study, designed to achieve low emissions within an economically viable production framework.”

Toyota wasn’t afraid to say that the process and the main concept behind the FT-Bh was to avoid the use of expensive materials or complex development and use only those materials that are commonplace in the automotive industry.

THe Toyota FT-Bh Concept will be making its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next month.

- By: Omar Rana

Check out more news on the Toyota Prius C.

The 2012 Toyota Prius C will be available in four grades with each carrying a Hybrid Synergy Drive 1.5-liter DOHC engine with VVT-i, a 60 hp permanent magnet AC synchronous motor, and a 144 volt nickel-metal hydride battery which generates 25.9 hp of electric propulsion for a total system net output of 99-hp. Obviously 0 to 60 mph will take you about 2 days but you’ll be managing some strong fuel-economy numbers.

The Price C One comes standard with  automatic climate control, tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, multi-information display and Bluetooth hands free phone controls; and remote keyless entry with illuminated entry, a 3.5-inch full color TFT multi-information display and USB port with iPod connectivity.

Check out the full pricing sheet after the jump.

The 2012 Prius C Two will add a 6-speaker audio system, auto windshield wipers, a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat with adjustable headrests, cruise control, engine immobilizer, center console with armrest and storage compartment, and a cargo area tonneau cover.  Getting a little more interesting, the Prius C Three will add a Display Audio system with Navigation and Entune with a 6.1-inch touchscreen, Sirius XM Satellite Radio capability, HD Radio with iTunes Tagging, USB port with iPod connectivity and control, vehicle information with customizable settings, and advanced voice recognition. It also gets color-keyed outside door handles with touch- sensor lock/unlock feature, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, Multi-information Display, Bluetooth hands free phone and voice command controls, a Touch Tracer Display, and a Smart Key System on the front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry. 15-inch alloy wheels are also aded along with tilt/slide moonroof.

Last but not least the Prius C Four adds 15-inch, 8-spoke alloy wheels, Softex-trimmed heated front seats, color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators, and integrated fog lamps.

2012 Toyota Prius c Pricing Sheet

2012 Prius c Options and Packages

Available for Prius c Three:

• Power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade – MSRP $850
• 15-inch 8-spoke alloy wheels with P175/65R15 tires- MSRP $390

Available for Prius c Four:

• Power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade – MSRP $850
• 16-inch 8-spoke alloy wheels with P195/50R16 tires – MSRP $300
• 16-inch Alloy Wheel Package: combines 16-inch 8-spoke alloy wheels with P195/50R16 tires and power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade – MSRP $1,150

Available Exterior Colors:

• Habanero
• Blue Streak Metallic
• Summer Rain Metallic
• Absolutely Red
• Black Sand Pearl
• Magnetic Gray Metallic
• Classic Silver Metallic
• Moonglow
• Super White

- By: Omar Rana

Fisker is in a little bit of a bind with its loan from the Department of Energy. As a result, production for the brand’s new Project Nina lineup at the Fisker Automotive plant in Wilmington, DE and 26 workers were laid off.

This comes after a rework of Fisker Automotive’s $529 million loan, which was prompted after agreements with certain deadlines and milestones weren’t met as part of the loan’s terms and conditions.

“DOE loan-modification negotiations are fairly standard procedure,” Fisker spokesman Roger Ormisher said. “We have to deliver on certain milestones, and we didn’t hit all our targets with the Karma. This is a relatively ordinary series of events.”

In Fisker’s defense, Ormisher also stated that the Delaware plant was pretty much on schedule for the Nina Project, but more assembly equipment needs to be installed.

“Project Nina is already well advanced,” the company said in a statement. “Much of the engineering, design and development is near complete, and we expect to ramp up operations again quickly.”

- By: Chris Chin

Source: AutoWeek

GM North America President Mark Reuss has admitted that the Chevrolet Volt sales numbers have significantly dropped for the month of January due to the bad publicity currently surrounding the model.

Reuss sites the government investigation of the Volt crash test fire is “definitely a component” that contributes to this month’s dip in sales. In contrast, December was the model’s best month, with roughly 1,530 unit sold out of the entire year’s 7,700 total.

Currently, GM is changing courses with its marketing for the Volt to attempt to build the model’s reputation back up. Airing a new commercial dubbed “Morning in Hamtramck” is one of the first steps, which is an ad that emphasizes the car’s Detroit roots that will run for a month.

Another approach GM has taken is the “open letter to America” thanking those that stand by the car, written by CEO Dan Akerson, along with his testimony Wednesday during the Volt fire hearing. Akerson still claims the Volt is a safe vehicle, and Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary, agrees. LaHood also denies any government interference in the investigation of the Volt fire and believes the releasing the information on the investigation was premature.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: DetroitNews

This bit of news is sure to be a bit upsetting to the purist. Reports are saying that BMW is planning on introducing their first ever MPV/people carrier/minivan crossover…or whatever you may to call it. BMW? Minivan? You can’t be serious…!

BMW insiders have apparently told some reporters that they’ll be expanding the “i” lineup, even before the original i3 and i8 have reached production. Supposedly called the i5 MPV, the new addition is said to be powered by a small three-cylinder gas engine that acts as a “range extender” and a rear-mounted electric motor.

Click here for more news on the BMW i3.

But before this new i5 comes about, the i3 is said to be on track with its launch next year, followed by the gas-electric hybrid i8 sport sedan.

Other details were withheld, but the last hint for the i5 was that its starting price could hover around $65,000.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: InsideLine

In Sept. 2011, the new 360-hp Infiniti M Hybrid set the Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest hybrid by running the standing quarter mile in 13.9031 seconds. Infiniti is now banking on that move with a new commercial released yesterday called ‘The Duel.’

The commercial shows the Infiniti M35h Hybrid going head-to-head with the 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid.

“‘The Duel’ is an exciting way to remind everyone that the Infiniti M Hybrid is the world’s fastest accelerating full-hybrid with 360 horsepower and 32 miles per gallon,” said Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore. “At Infiniti, we believe that luxury should always thrill and inspire.”

Refresher: The Infiniti M35 Hybrid will be powered by a single electric-motor/twin-clutch arrangement, mated to a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6. Together the system makes 360-hp. The first-clutch is installed between the V6 engine and the electric motor, which Infiniti says allows for a more responsive drive. Infiniti said that the M35 Hybrid, which will carry a lithium-ion battery pack, has the ability to run solely on electric-power under certain driving conditions. 0 to 62 mph comes in 5.5 seconds with an EPA-rated fuel-economy of 27/32 mpg (city/highway).

- By: Omar Rana

In just 10 short weeks, the Toyota Prius v managed to outsell the Chevrolet Volt that was available for all of 2011.

GM sold 7,671 units in 2011, and 7,997 in its first 13 months, while the Prius v hit dealers in October 2011, and by the last week in December 8,399 had rolled off Toyota’s lots.

With a 220,000 unit sales goal for all Prius variants, Toyota is looking to boost its sales by 60% from last year. Missing its goal by 10,000 units last year, GM struggled with production and availability, along with crash fire investigations. In addition to these issues, the Prius starts at $26,400, while the Volt has a price tag of $39,145, another contributing factor to the quick success of the Prius.

Overall, Hybrid sales make up just 2.2% last year’s auto sales, down from the previous year’s 2.4%. While Nissan missed its sales goal of 10,000 units for last year, 9,674 Leaf models were still sold.

Check out the vehicle’s mentioned in this article:

• Toyota Prius V
• Chevrolet Volt

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Free Press

The concern evolving around hybrid cars has always been the life and durability of their battery packs, which stemmed from the fact that batteries inevitably die out at some point. And despite Toyota’s Prius and Ford’s Escape proof that hybrid batteries can stand the test of long-term use and time, Hyundai still insists on providing prospective buyers some piece of mind by offering a lifetime warranty for 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid batteries.

“We can afford the program because the failure rate is so low,” said Hyundai’s CEO, John Krafcik. And in the same sentence, Krafcik also claimed that Hyundai has tested the Sonata Hybrid’s drivetrain for more than 300,000 miles with no apparent signs of degradation.

Krafcik didn’t explain the specifics of the warranty, but in the same interview, his crew apparently confirmed that Hyundai is working to up the ante with transmissions by introducing, not a nine-speed cog swapper, but ten…TEN gears.

“We confirmed that it (the ten-speed) is a ‘go project’ for development,” said an undisclosed Hyundai representative.

Other than the confirmation, no other details were given.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: CARandDRIVER

After egmCarTech’s trip to the 2012 North American International Show, we walked away with a little bit of an epiphany. But before I get to that, we were expecting there to be a huge influx of new cars with alternative powertrains. In other words, I personally was expecting every make to be pitching their push forward towards electric and hybrid powertrains.

But to my surprise, there weren’t. And that raised some questions. Ever since Chevrolet introduced the Volt and Nissan brought about the LEAF, I thought I’d be confronted with a great number of concepts with brands bragging about how EVs are the future and how everyone was jumping on the bandwagon. But some countering examples include Mazda, who just unveiled the CX-5 crossover, which is said to get up to 35 mpg on the highway. Then Ford’s stand was heavily pitching their EcoBoost lineup, both of which were suggesting that greater fuel economy is still better achieved by gas engines instead of alternative powertrains. Does this mean that the electric car craze was short lived? And apparently, we’re not the only ones wondering where electric cars are going now that they’ve been on the playing field for almost a year. Some journalists think that the electric car craze is “fading into the background.” Analyzing the current situation is one of egmCarTech’s latest additions, Sawyer Sutton, with his piece of mind.

Check out his two cents after the jump. And of course, we here at egmCarTech encourage our readers to engage in discussions and debates in the comment section below. So, without further adieu…

With expected sales of the Nissan Leaf to approach the tens of thousands in the coming years and direct injection gasoline engines, I cannot help but jump into the EV versus gas brouhaha. As we’ve seen at the Detroit and LA Auto shows, many gas powered cars are impinging on economy formerly reserved for hybrids. Naturally some journalists are lauding the success of gas engines (a well-established method) over electrics (a perceived novelty). It isn’t that simple.

First, the argument that gas engines trump hybrids and electrics from an economic standpoint is a bit provincial in nature: the rest of the world knows about diesel engines, which are far and away much more efficient than gas engines. Diesels are comparable if not more efficient than most hybrids. There is an issue with this though that I will get to soon. The closest we as Americans have come to a small, efficient diesel commuter car is the original Honda Insight Hybrid (70 mpg). Little VW Lupos etc. grow on trees in Europe and get similar results.

Why aren’t they offered here? A), the Lupo is not safe enough to sell in an American world of SUVs, light trucks and semis. B), if we couple the unsafe factor with the artificially high cost of diesel in the US, it’s tricky to see why VW would sell them here. C), this is a bigger issue than the Lupo, or the lot of tiny cars on sale everywhere else: there is not enough diesel in the world to allow the US to switch to diesel.  Pretend you are making a loaf of bread and have poured oil, maple syrup and water into a glass bowl, there are of course three layers according to the different densities. When heated and refined, crude oil behaves the same way: one of the many layers is gasoline, one is diesel, one is kerosene etc. The long and short of it is that the US uses 40% of the world’s gasoline supply, and the oft-quoted 25% of greenhouse gases. There is no capacity for that to switch to diesel, so in an effort to keep fuel prices down, there are transitional solutions like hybrids and EVs to chip away at the expanding demand.

Second, the additional wrench to be thrown into this mess is that China’s quickly emerging car culture/market is heavily gasoline based. Meanwhile finite oil resources are being mined quicker than ever, making companies like BP who make solar panels and gasoline resort to environmentally damaging and frankly expensive technologies like tar sands oil extraction.
I think you might see where this is heading: gasoline engines whether you love them or not have a limited time on this planet whether you live in the US or Uganda.

Third, EVs and hybrids have their own set of perhaps equally damning issues the least of which is not the fact that the car has traveled half a million miles around the world before it is assembled and in the hands of a consumer before it gets thrown away at 250,000 miles. Sure, Americans are much more guilty of treating their cars like disposable cameras than most developed cultures, but the cost/benefit of refilling a hybrid with batteries every 7 years or so is questionable. The added complexity of the hybrid powertrain does add efficiency, but it also means another $3-$5 thousand lump to be replaced like one might replace an engine or transmission. Volvo has a 124 mpg diesel hybrid costing over $70 grand because at this point it’s a marketing experiment. Is this too part of the solution? Maybe if we find a way to make bio diesel from algae (one of the most efficient ways).

Four: Electric cars are powered with essentially laptop batteries (lithium ion), if you have replaced the batteries on your laptop or even your smartphone, it is not cheap. There is a good reason for that and it doesn’t have to do with profits: disposal of batteries is only a little bit more fun than disposing of spent nuclear fuel rods, totally unrenewable and unsustainable. That is their Achilles heel, but if gasoline jumps to $15/ gallon in the future, electric owners aren’t going to be the ones fretting.

Coming back to the original argument of electrics being a novelty; they aren’t, they are here to stay in some form or another. The argument itself is very narrow minded because it covers a small gap in our automotive history. Extracting hydrogen is tricky and while it is not a silver bullet that will save us all, it may play a significant role in the future. Fuel cell hydrogen cars are at some level of course, electric.

So where does that put us? Our lifestyle needs to change significantly. The US fixation on conspicuous gasoline consumption has done no favors to the cost of air travel, something that really needs fossil fuels at this point. Battery powered planes, hydrogen powered planes or nuclear planes, no thanks, it’s just like having a plane with no human pilot. Your Aston Martin that you drive 1,000 miles a year is not killing polar bears in the Arctic, nor is the fetid snowmobiler that pulled right in front of my car as I was driving down the snow covered hill today, it’s our lack of legitimate public transportation and our unwillingness to walk and ride bikes when it is reasonable. I know this makes me sound like I am a bearded vegan socialist from Vermont who enjoys using a fair trade and organic composting toilet only after grazing over crunchy granola and lightly killed soy milk, but the fact of the matter is that my ideal garage would be filled with massive earth moving equipment, old European cars and prewar American cars. I am merely being realistic in terms of our environment and how much it costs to continue our car culture.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

- Introduction by: Chris Chin

Prompt Source: AutoNews

Pitched as the car with the highest rated city fuel economy of any vehicle without a plug-in function, the Prius c is capable of returning 53 mpg city and 46 mpg highway, thanks to a smaller 1.5L version of the Prius’s normal 1.8L Atkinson cycle four-pot and Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which produces a total of 99-hp.

In lieu of the concerns for lithium-ion battery packs, Toyota retained a nickel-metal hydride battery back that produces 144-volts.

Keeping with Toyota’s reputation for value, the Prius c comes standard with a series of in-car multimedia features such as a standard 3.5-in full-color TFT infotainment display, complete with Bluetooth phone capability, USB port iPod connectivity and Toyota’s optional Display Audio System with navigation and Entune systems.

With a starting price just below $19,000, the new Prius c subcompact will be available in March of 2012—making it the cheapest Prius available.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

Based on the BMW 535i, the ActiveHybrid 5 mates the 3.0 liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine to an electric-drive system and a 8 speed automatic transmission that pushes out a combined 335-hp.

Click here for more news on the BMW ActiveHybrid 5.

The 2012 BMW Active Hybrid 5 can drive in all-electric mode up to a speed of 37 mph, for zero emissions and the lithium-ion battery can store enough energy to provide a all-electric driving range of up to 2.5 miles at an average speed of 22 mph. Even though the ActiveHybrid 5 is a hybrid sedan, it can still run from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.

The 2012 ActiveHybrid will go on sale in spring 2012.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Omar Rana

Similar to the diesel Jetta, 45 mpg happens on the highway and the hybrid Jetta gets 30 % better than the gas powered variant in the city. A downsized four banger chucks out 150bhp/184 ft-lbs plugged into a electric motor responsible for 27 more horsepower. Apparently, that also allows to be the fastest compact hybrid in-class with an estimated 0-60 mph in less than 9.0 seconds. The Jetta Hybrid comes with a seven speed dual clutch automatic as standard.

Premium features include LED taillights and Daytime Running Lights, bi-xenon headlights, RNS 315 navigation system, a rear-view camera and Volkswagen’s exclusive Fender Premium Audio System, heated front seats.

Sales of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid start in the end of 2012.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Kicking off the press conferences earlier this morning at the 2012 North American International Auto Show was Ford Motor Company and the world debut of the all-new, 2013 Ford Fusion mid-sized sedan

Fully redesigned using Ford of Europe’s now tested and proven global design language, which they familiarly call Kinetic Design, the new Fusion is a huge improvement over the previous generation. Heck, I’m tempted to say that it looks as good as the Jaguar XF at some angles.

For the first time ever as well, the all-new Fusion is the first American sedan to offer a full range of gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Unfortunately however, no longer is there a V6 option for this new hybrid, which could be a little disappointing for those of us who like power.

The base engine is a naturally aspirated 2.5L inline-4 that’s good for 170hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. Next is a turbocharged 1.6L EcoBoost four-banger that produces 179 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque and the top performance mill would be the turbocharged 2.0L EcoBoost four-pot good for 237 hp and a pretty hefty 250 lb-ft of torque.

Check out more news on the Ford Fusion.

The hybrid is powered by a 2.0L Atkinson cycle four-cylinder mated to an electric motor powered by an all-new lithium-ion battery pack and is expected to return best-in-class fuel economy figures of 47 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway.

But the biggest achievement with this new Ford Fusion is the all new Fusion Energi, which is Ford’s first ever attempt at a plug-in hybrid and a car that the Dearborn make says will be the most fuel-efficient midsized car in the world. The Fusion Energi plug-in is expected to return 100 MPGe, about 8 more than the Chevrolet Volt and 13 more than the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid’s projected rating.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Chris Chin

Looks wise the 2013 Ford Fusion is quite an outstanding looking sedan and is worlds away from the Fusion we’ve come to know and sort of like. This time around, Ford opted for a more sleek silhouette with a fresh face and an aggressive stance – we almost want to say that it’s closer to Jaguar’s design theme. Either way, Ford has definitely changed the game in terms of looks for the mid-size sedan segment.

Check out more news on the Ford Fusion.

“Our vision for Fusion was clear – deliver the very best of what One Ford stands for,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development. “We brought our global teams together around a blank slate with the charge to develop a midsize car with groundbreaking design and jaw-dropping fuel economy – one that featured technologies to help make our customers safer and better drivers. This car is the result.”

In the U.S., the standard Ford Fusion will be available in S, SE and Titanium trims – while in other parts of the world it will be known as the Mondeo. The gasoline powered Fusion is dropping is V6 for an all 4-cylinder engine lineup including a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-4 with 170-hp and 170 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Also available will be a 1.6 liter EcoBoost turbo 4-cylinder making 179-hp and 172 lb-ft of torque and a 2.0 liter EcoBoost making 237-hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. Both will be mated with a 6-speed automatic, however, the 1.6 liter model can be had with a 6-speed manual. All Ford Fusion models come with front-wheel-drive as standard but the 2.0 liter EcoBoost can be ordered with all-wheel-drive.

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid gets a new 2.0 liter Atkinson 4-cylinder – replacing the 2.5 liter unit – and is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel-economy of 47/44 mpg (city/highway). It also get a new lithium-ion battery and increases its electric-only power from 47 mph to 62 mph.

The 2013 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid will go on sale later this year while the Mondeo will arrive next year in Europe.

- By: Omar Rana

A $10,000 lawsuit has been filed against Honda Motor Co. by a Los Angeles woman who claims her Civic Hybrid doesn’t meet its gas mileage outlook.

The claim was filed on Tuesday in American Honda headquarters city of Torrance, CA small claims court by 46 year old Heather Peters. Peters claims that the 50 mpg that her 2006 hybrid used to get has been reduced to 30 mpg, and sites battery deterioration as the cause. The former lawyer is looking to be reimbursed for additional fuel costs and the difference in purchase price between the hybrid and petrol Civic models.

While several class-action suits are being filed on behalf of Honda hybrid owners for the same reason, Peters decided the $200 cash payout and $500 – $1,000 towards a new Honda the suits are offering wasn’t satisfactory.

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

Prior to Peters filing her lawsuit, she notified Honda in a letter of her intentions if she received no response from the automaker. After several attempts and no response, she proceeded to file, although according to Honda, no contact had been made until late November.

In addition to her suit, Peters also started a website, dontsettlewithhonda.org to encourage people in her situation do act as she has.

The case will be ruled by Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Douglas Carnahan this week.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoNews

Power continues to come from a 2.4 liter Atkinson 4-cylinder hybrid engine mated to a hybrid starter-generator and a permanent magnet high-power density motor. The motor gets its fuel from a 270V lithium polymer battery.

Click here for more news on the Hyundai Sonata.

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delivers 40 mpg highway fuel-economy rating and 35 mpg city. Combined EPA rated fuel-economy comes in at 37 mpg.

Prices start at $25,850.

Check out the complete specs after the jump.

Sonata Hybrid

Leather Package ($1,500 MSRP):

• Leather seating surfaces
• Heated front seats and rear seat bottom cushions
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel & shift knob
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass

Ultimate Package ($5,500 MSRP) – Includes Leather package contents plus the following:

• Panoramic sunroof with tilt & slide
• 17-inch Eco-spoke alloy wheels with unique finish
• Navigation system with high-resolution touch-screen display
• Rear backup camera
• Infinity® premium speakers, subwoofer and external amplifier (400-watt)
• HD Radio® Technology with multicasting
• SiriusXM, NavTraffic, NavWeather and Sports & Stocks w/ 90-Day Trial
• HVAC multi-mode button
• Premium door sill plates
• Glossy black door surround and outside mirror housing

- By: Omar Rana

The 2012 BMW 3 Series made its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September but the ActiveHybrid 3 will now make its world debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show next month (along with the rest of the 3 Series lineup).

Click here for more news on the BMW 3-Series.

The 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will be powered by a 300-hp 6-clyinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology (same engine in the 2012 BMW 335i). The unit will be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and an electric-motor that makes 55-hp. Together, the engine and the hybrid system produce 335-hp with a maximum torque of 330 lb-ft. The system should allow the ActiveHybrid 3 to average a little more than 36 mpg – official EPA figures will be announced closer to launch.

Click here to see our Top 10 things you need to know about the 2012 BMW 3-Series list.

BMW says that the motor in the ActiveHybrid 3 provides the 6-cylinder engine with extra driving power and can provide a boost function when you want to let loose.

As a fuel-saving extra, the BMW ActiveHybrid technology also allows the ActiveHybrid 3 to run solely on electric power between 2 to 2.5 miles with a top speed of 37 mph.

- By: Omar Rana

The Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid with the gasoline-electric powertrain will be offered in the United States and will eventually make its way to China. The Mercedes-Benz E300 Bluetec Hybrid with a diesel setup will go on sale in Europe. It will be available as a sedan and a station wagon.

At the main core of both E-Class hybrid models will be what Mercedes-Benz calls the “intelligent modular hybrid concept.” The setup includes a lithium-ion battery pack and a 20kW electric motor that produces 184 pound-feet of torque. The system also features other fuel-saving technologies including a stop-start system, and a regenerative braking system.

The Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid combines that setup to a 3.5 liter V6 gasoline engine making 302-hp and 263 lb-ft. Estimated fuel-economy comes in at 24/31 mpg (city/highway). The E300 Bluetec Hybrid puts that system together with a 3.0 liter V6 turbodiesel making 201-hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Fuel-economy is estimated at 56 mpg.

Stay tuned for more details.

- By: Omar Rana