Auto-News' list of low-CO2 SUVs in Germany
Not long ago, we published a list of SUVs available in Germany with the highest mileage possible. But what about - at least on legal terms - how much CO2 a car produces? Never fear. Auto-News has a list of the "cleanest" SUVs on sale in Germany (and I'd say most of the EU), all of them producing less than 200 g/km of CO2, so it complements that previous list which had no information about CO2. Just remember that automakers should have an average of 130 g/km in four years' time.
Most of these models are also available in the U.S. but, as usual, without the high-mileage diesel powerplants Europeans love. The list is after the jump. Vehicles with DPF (Diesel Particulate Filters) have these letters added to the marque and model. The picture above shows the SUV in the 20th position, the SsangYong Actyon 200 Xdi 4x2.
Carmakers dumping the idea of performance hybrids
Last April at the SAE World Congress, participants in a panel discussion on the future of performance powertrains discussed hybrids as one of the best routes to enhancing vehicle performance without increasing emissions or fuel consumption. That approach may still prove to be viable in the future, but it appears increasingly unlikely that automakers will actually promote it that way. When Honda introduced a hybrid version of the Accord a few years ago they actually sold it as a performance enhancement rather than an efficiency booster. The Accord hybrid proved to be a retail failure and most of the Toyota's Lexus hybrids have been relatively weak sellers as well. Rather than promote the Lexus hybrids as a performance upgrade from the conventional models, Toyota is selling them as cleaner, more efficient alternatives to larger engined competitors. Meanwhile Honda is shifting toward diesels for larger vehicles and keeping the hybrid powertrains in smaller vehicles.
Lexus thinks "eco-luxury" makes sense at Sundance
Lexus hybrids are green in name only. The battery power offered by the hybrid drivetrain is used mainly for a power boost instead of making a serious dent in emissions or greatly increasing the mpg ratings of the vehicles. Given that a green image is more important to Lexus than actually going green, it's not surprising that the Project GreenHouse event the company is sponsoring at the Sundance Film Festival in January in Park City, Utah is more style than substance. As the Lexus press release (available after the break) itself says, "Eco-luxury lifestyle options, eco-fashion, and carbon-offset programs highlight this year's initiatives." Eco-luxury? Give me a break. Lexus calls Project Greenhouse, now in its second year, "a unique platform that brings awareness to global environmental issues through a lifestyle event showcasing responsible eco-luxury living." The show will feature a performance by musician John Legend (pictured) and "complimentary rides to the exclusive site in the world's first luxury hybrid vehicles, including the Lexus RX 400h luxury hybrid utility vehicle and the Lexus LS 600h L luxury hybrid sedan." Well, isn't that special?Luckily, not many of us can afford Lexus hybrids because if we all went "green" the way Lexus advocates, the project greenhouse would be the earth's atmosphere. That's not good.
First batch of winners announced in Lexus Environmental Challenge
Earlier this fall, Lexus and Scholastic Books announced an environmental challenge program for middle and high school students. The intent was to inspire them to develop and then implement action plans to help the environment in a series of four challenges. The theme of the first challenge was "Protecting the Land" and teams from fourteen schools have been recognized for their efforts. Among the honored schools were North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, NC. They held a fashion show that focused on secondhand clothing and clothes made from organic cotton. They also organized a clothing swap meet to get people to reuse clothes. The Great Neck South Middle School in Great Neck, NY focused on deforestation with nature walks, and tree identification programs. These schools will join winners from the forthcoming two challenges in a final challenge with the winners being announced next Earth Day April 22, 2008.
High-end diesel VS hybrid, Audi A8L takes on the Lexus LS600h
When Lexus decided to take on the top dogs from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi they took a different path. While the Germans offer the choice of either big gasoline V-12s or turbo-diesel V-8s, Lexus wanted offer the best of both worlds. Thus the LS600h was born. The big LS mates a 5.0L V-8 with the latest version of Toyota's hybrid synergy drive system to produce the most expensive hybrid yet. So, what about performance? AutoExpress decided to pit the LS against an Audi A8L propelled by a 4.2L turbo-diesel V-8 and the Japanese luxo-hybrid came out on the short end of the stick. The Lexus offered it's usual level of silence and refinement but little in the way of character which is the Lexus way. On the fuel economy front the LS may be a hybrid but it's certainly no Prius. It averaged a mere 16.5 mpg (US) while the German competitor achieved 25 mpg (US). With comparable performance and a price difference £20,000 in the Audi's favor, it's no contest.
Toyota and Lexus at the Tokyo Motor Show
Thanks to Lascelles for finding this wonderful video showing the most daring concepts from Toyota and Lexus during the Tokyo Motor Show. Although in German, we can glimpse quite a number of interesting concepts such as the Hi-CT, the Rin, the i-Real (which promises unlimited mobility, according to the engineer) and production ready models such as the Crown Hybrid, which owns a lot to the Lexus LS600h.Just before the Lexus come up, a German engineer from Toyota speaks about the 1/X, weighing just 926 lbs., the car is literally a third of the weight of Toyota's current green car standard, the Prius. Featuring a 500cc engine plus a hybrid electric motor with plug-in capability, this car could deliver 2 l/100 km (that converts to an amazing 117 mpg).Then the video shows two Lexus cars with hybrid powertrains: the ISF (arriving in Europe in 2008) and LF
Lexus likely to get lithium batteries before Prius
With Toyota throwing cold water on the near-term viability of lithium ion battery technology for the Prius, it looks like another brand will be the first to use the new batteries. Mercedes-Benz announced back in September at the Frankfurt Motors Show that they would be using lithium batteries in their mild hybrid vehicles beginning in 2009. Given the added costs of lithium ion batteries and Toyota's efforts to drive down the costs of the Prius, when Toyota finally does add them they will likely appear in a Lexus model first. Toyota is still skeptical of lithium technology and says no company is capable of building a 150,000-mile battery right now. Bill Reinert of Toyota also acknowledged that they have had thermal issues and fires in some test vehicles. After the batteries are established in another vehicle they will migrate to the Prius and other platforms.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Lexus
Hybrids dominate European Lexus sales
Lexus has announced that they sold 16,800 vehicles with Lexus Hybrid Drive (aka Hybrid Synergy Drive) in Europe in 2007, their best performance yet. Toyota's premium brand is dominating the premium hybrid segment in Europe. Not hard to do considering they are the only manufacturer offering premium hybrids. Thirty-eight percent of all the Lexus models sold in Western Europe last year were hybrids, up from twenty-six percent in 2006. Interestingly the LS600h has accounted for fifty-six percent of LS sales since its launch in July. Here in the U.S., the LS600h accounts for well under ten percent of sales. Similarly, the RX400h accounts for eighty-six percent of RX sales in Europe while, here they were only about seventeen percent last year. Given the relative disinterest in hybrids in Europe, these numbers seem unusual.
In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2008 Lexus LS600h L - Yep, it's a hybrid!
Since Toyota introduced the world to the practical, mainstream hybrid vehicle a decade ago, it has sold over a million of them. Six different hybrid models are now offered, with three each under the Toyota and Lexus banners. While the Prius continues to grab the bulk of hybrid sales, the newest model in the lineup is far and away the most expensive hybrid any manufacturer has yet offered.We're talking about the new Lexus LS600h L. The "h" of course represents the fact that this luxury sedan is equipped with Hybrid Synergy Drive (or, as the Lexus division calls it, Lexus Hybrid Drive). Ever since the original LS400 debuted in 1990, Toyota has been trying to take on the best that the Germans have to offer. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz each offer a 6.0L twelve cylinder engine in their top sedans. Toyota instead chose to follow a different path. Rather than engineer a new, larger engine, it adapted its hybrid system to the LS to create a car that performs like the Germans while delivering better fuel efficiency. We spent a week with the LS600 h L to see if Toyota succeeded.
Lexus to get its own Prius for 2009 Detroit show
Gasoline-electric powertrain aside, part of what makes the Toyota Prius get such good mileage is the stripped-out interior and itty-bitty wheels. Put in a leather interior, power everything, premium entertainment system with DVD players and LCD televisions and big wheels – features that Lexus customers (even those in hybrid models) have come to expect – and the purpose teeters on the brink of defeat. But that's what looks to be shaping up.
Our report from last month seems to be picking up speed – in typically slow Prius style – that Lexus will get its own version of the next-generation Toyota Prius. The initial reports were spurred by an announcement from Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe that the Japanese motor giant would come to Detroit next year with two dedicated hybrid models – one for Toyota, and one for Lexus. While the Toyota will likely retain its hatchback form, the Lexus is expected to take on a "lifestyle wagon" bodystyle. Whatever that means, it should give poseurs enough space to carry around enough cargo to vanquish that purpose altogether.
·
Stars of the movie Jumper caught driving hybrid Lexus
Jumper, the #1 movie last weekend, includes the theft of an AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz SL (you can watch the trailer after the jump). Samuel L. Jackson's character in the movie asks Hayden Christensen's character if he thought he could get away with it. In real life, though, it seems Hayden may be very considerate of his impact on world.Christensen has been spotted in a Ferrari 360 Modena, but it turns out the actor might have a little bit of a green streak in him. According to a recent interview with Details, Hayden is planting trees on his farm and last September he was caught driving a hybrid Lexus owned by Rachel Bilson, his Jumper co-star.
AutoblogGreen Q&A: Toyota's Bob Carter and Jaycie Chitwood
At the Chicago Auto Show ABG had the chance to sit down with Toyota's Bob Carter and Jaycie Chitwood. Bob is currently the Group VP for the Toyota Division and Jaycie is the Senior Strategic Planner. We talked about a range of issues including hybrid marketing, diesel, ethanol, hydrogen and weight reduction.ABG: In production applications Toyota were obviously the pioneers in bringing hybrid vehicles to the mainstream and everybody is scrambling to catch up and get their own hybrids and other alternative drivetrains to market. Moving forward, obviously, you have applied your hybrid synergy drive to a wide a variety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Let's start by talking a little bit about where you are today and where Toyota is going in the next five to ten years?BC: Okay, where we are today. Six hybrids, three Toyotas, three Lexus. We are really pleased with the progress. Total we did 278,000 units last year. Prius had a tremendous increase, up 67 percent. We had a 44 percent increase overall in hybrids. We first brought Prius to the U.S. in 2000. As you are aware Prius was actually introduced in Japan in 1997.There were a lot of people who were just scratching their heads. They did not really understand it. A lot of criticism on hybrid, why they are doing that. Back in 2000, fuel prices were under $1.50 a gallon and there was not nearly the concern on supply and concern on the environment was there but was not really, in my view, embedded in the society the way it is today.We introduced the first generation. It did well. It attracted the early adoptors that we were primarily interested in environmental impact. We also had people that were attracted by the technology. What is so encouraging to walk around this show is when we look at 2007, the 278,000 hybrids, it has gone beyond the initial adoptors. It's starting to embed itself within the general market and 11 percent, I am talking in terms of Toyota division which I represent, of our total sales last year were hybrid. Yet less than 2 percent of the industry was hybrid.
The cheapest way to drive a Lexus hybrid?
If paying $100,000+ to drive a Lexus LS600h hybrid is too rich for your blood, well, you're out of luck. But, if you would like to try the not-quite-as-expensive Lexus RX 400h luxury SUV (above) or the GS 450h performance sedan, well, then the UK's Green Motion Vehicle Rental would like to invite you to rent a car from them. Green Motion will soon offer these two Lexus hybrid models "as part of their expansion to their green rental options." If you know that Lexus hybrids aren't really as green an experience as other hybrids and want to see what else Green Motion's got that would qualify them to use the name, check out the low-energy lighting systems and biodegradable chemicals for valeting vehicles
Power of h, Lexus hybrid's new TV ads, don't mention features of hybrids
I was watching Lost on ABC last night and caught a TV commercial for the Power of h, Lexus hybrid's new ad campaign. The spot actually had nothing to do with hybrids, it (you can watch it for yourself below) was all about missing letters of h, somehow gone from key boards, news papers, etc. The only way you would know it was a commercial about hybrids, cars even, was the last few seconds of the commercial: the letter h has found a better place in the Lexus hybrid moniker. Call me crazy but why not mention hybrids get good fuel economy or something informative? Oh, right.
Toyota says ECO indicators will be standard one day
Toyota has a Blog called Open Road in which they explain lots of stuff about the company. One of its latest posts describes the use of and the technology behind the "ECO" indicator in Toyota and Lexus's dashboards. It explains that its predecessor used to be a vacuum gauge which measured the amount of vacuum in the intake tract of the vehicle's engine. The more vacuum, less fuel fuel was used and the car was getting high mpg.The video doesn't tell us how the modern "ECO" indicator works for Toyota's different hybrid models, because it's different for each model (Prius, Lexus and Highlander Hybrids). What it specifies is that the principle is quite the same as the vacuum gauge and the light helps motorists to drive efficiently.The post announces that Toyota considers this indicator a very good feature which could be installed soon in all its vehicles. This is how the further development might be like: it will include an Eco Zone Display "which would indicate the throttle opening and whether the driver is driving efficiently." For cars with automatic transmissions, it will also include an Eco Lamp that would illuminate if the driver drives efficiently enough to stay within the "Eco Zone." The equivalent of the latter for manuals will be illuminating the optimum shifting point. Add average mpg indicators and you can save 10 to 15 percent of fuel in your driving if you work to keep the lights on.For hybrid models, the information display goes even further: the ECO indicator would also include a "Power Meter to display system output and regeneration power levels, and a Consumption Display that would include information such as Energy Collection, Average MPG, Instant MPG and Cruising Range."
Lexus has announced that they sold 16,800 vehicles with Lexus Hybrid Drive (aka Hybrid Synergy Drive) in Europe in 2007, their best performance yet. Toyota's premium brand is dominating the premium hybrid segment in Europe. Not hard to do considering they are the only manufacturer offering premium hybrids. Thirty-eight percent of all the Lexus models sold in Western Europe last year were hybrids, up from twenty-six percent in 2006. Interestingly the LS600h has accounted for fifty-six percent of LS sales since its launch in July. Here in the U.S., the LS600h accounts for well under ten percent of sales. Similarly, the RX400h accounts for eighty-six percent of RX sales in Europe while, here they were only about seventeen percent last year. Given the relative disinterest in hybrids in Europe, these numbers seem unusual.
In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2008 Lexus LS600h L - Yep, it's a hybrid!
Since Toyota introduced the world to the practical, mainstream hybrid vehicle a decade ago, it has sold over a million of them. Six different hybrid models are now offered, with three each under the Toyota and Lexus banners. While the Prius continues to grab the bulk of hybrid sales, the newest model in the lineup is far and away the most expensive hybrid any manufacturer has yet offered.We're talking about the new Lexus LS600h L. The "h" of course represents the fact that this luxury sedan is equipped with Hybrid Synergy Drive (or, as the Lexus division calls it, Lexus Hybrid Drive). Ever since the original LS400 debuted in 1990, Toyota has been trying to take on the best that the Germans have to offer. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz each offer a 6.0L twelve cylinder engine in their top sedans. Toyota instead chose to follow a different path. Rather than engineer a new, larger engine, it adapted its hybrid system to the LS to create a car that performs like the Germans while delivering better fuel efficiency. We spent a week with the LS600 h L to see if Toyota succeeded.
Lexus to get its own Prius for 2009 Detroit show
Gasoline-electric powertrain aside, part of what makes the Toyota Prius get such good mileage is the stripped-out interior and itty-bitty wheels. Put in a leather interior, power everything, premium entertainment system with DVD players and LCD televisions and big wheels – features that Lexus customers (even those in hybrid models) have come to expect – and the purpose teeters on the brink of defeat. But that's what looks to be shaping up.
Our report from last month seems to be picking up speed – in typically slow Prius style – that Lexus will get its own version of the next-generation Toyota Prius. The initial reports were spurred by an announcement from Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe that the Japanese motor giant would come to Detroit next year with two dedicated hybrid models – one for Toyota, and one for Lexus. While the Toyota will likely retain its hatchback form, the Lexus is expected to take on a "lifestyle wagon" bodystyle. Whatever that means, it should give poseurs enough space to carry around enough cargo to vanquish that purpose altogether.
·
Stars of the movie Jumper caught driving hybrid Lexus
Jumper, the #1 movie last weekend, includes the theft of an AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz SL (you can watch the trailer after the jump). Samuel L. Jackson's character in the movie asks Hayden Christensen's character if he thought he could get away with it. In real life, though, it seems Hayden may be very considerate of his impact on world.Christensen has been spotted in a Ferrari 360 Modena, but it turns out the actor might have a little bit of a green streak in him. According to a recent interview with Details, Hayden is planting trees on his farm and last September he was caught driving a hybrid Lexus owned by Rachel Bilson, his Jumper co-star.
AutoblogGreen Q&A: Toyota's Bob Carter and Jaycie Chitwood
At the Chicago Auto Show ABG had the chance to sit down with Toyota's Bob Carter and Jaycie Chitwood. Bob is currently the Group VP for the Toyota Division and Jaycie is the Senior Strategic Planner. We talked about a range of issues including hybrid marketing, diesel, ethanol, hydrogen and weight reduction.ABG: In production applications Toyota were obviously the pioneers in bringing hybrid vehicles to the mainstream and everybody is scrambling to catch up and get their own hybrids and other alternative drivetrains to market. Moving forward, obviously, you have applied your hybrid synergy drive to a wide a variety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Let's start by talking a little bit about where you are today and where Toyota is going in the next five to ten years?BC: Okay, where we are today. Six hybrids, three Toyotas, three Lexus. We are really pleased with the progress. Total we did 278,000 units last year. Prius had a tremendous increase, up 67 percent. We had a 44 percent increase overall in hybrids. We first brought Prius to the U.S. in 2000. As you are aware Prius was actually introduced in Japan in 1997.There were a lot of people who were just scratching their heads. They did not really understand it. A lot of criticism on hybrid, why they are doing that. Back in 2000, fuel prices were under $1.50 a gallon and there was not nearly the concern on supply and concern on the environment was there but was not really, in my view, embedded in the society the way it is today.We introduced the first generation. It did well. It attracted the early adoptors that we were primarily interested in environmental impact. We also had people that were attracted by the technology. What is so encouraging to walk around this show is when we look at 2007, the 278,000 hybrids, it has gone beyond the initial adoptors. It's starting to embed itself within the general market and 11 percent, I am talking in terms of Toyota division which I represent, of our total sales last year were hybrid. Yet less than 2 percent of the industry was hybrid.
The cheapest way to drive a Lexus hybrid?
If paying $100,000+ to drive a Lexus LS600h hybrid is too rich for your blood, well, you're out of luck. But, if you would like to try the not-quite-as-expensive Lexus RX 400h luxury SUV (above) or the GS 450h performance sedan, well, then the UK's Green Motion Vehicle Rental would like to invite you to rent a car from them. Green Motion will soon offer these two Lexus hybrid models "as part of their expansion to their green rental options." If you know that Lexus hybrids aren't really as green an experience as other hybrids and want to see what else Green Motion's got that would qualify them to use the name, check out the low-energy lighting systems and biodegradable chemicals for valeting vehicles
Power of h, Lexus hybrid's new TV ads, don't mention features of hybrids
I was watching Lost on ABC last night and caught a TV commercial for the Power of h, Lexus hybrid's new ad campaign. The spot actually had nothing to do with hybrids, it (you can watch it for yourself below) was all about missing letters of h, somehow gone from key boards, news papers, etc. The only way you would know it was a commercial about hybrids, cars even, was the last few seconds of the commercial: the letter h has found a better place in the Lexus hybrid moniker. Call me crazy but why not mention hybrids get good fuel economy or something informative? Oh, right.
Toyota says ECO indicators will be standard one day
Toyota has a Blog called Open Road in which they explain lots of stuff about the company. One of its latest posts describes the use of and the technology behind the "ECO" indicator in Toyota and Lexus's dashboards. It explains that its predecessor used to be a vacuum gauge which measured the amount of vacuum in the intake tract of the vehicle's engine. The more vacuum, less fuel fuel was used and the car was getting high mpg.The video doesn't tell us how the modern "ECO" indicator works for Toyota's different hybrid models, because it's different for each model (Prius, Lexus and Highlander Hybrids). What it specifies is that the principle is quite the same as the vacuum gauge and the light helps motorists to drive efficiently.The post announces that Toyota considers this indicator a very good feature which could be installed soon in all its vehicles. This is how the further development might be like: it will include an Eco Zone Display "which would indicate the throttle opening and whether the driver is driving efficiently." For cars with automatic transmissions, it will also include an Eco Lamp that would illuminate if the driver drives efficiently enough to stay within the "Eco Zone." The equivalent of the latter for manuals will be illuminating the optimum shifting point. Add average mpg indicators and you can save 10 to 15 percent of fuel in your driving if you work to keep the lights on.For hybrid models, the information display goes even further: the ECO indicator would also include a "Power Meter to display system output and regeneration power levels, and a Consumption Display that would include information such as Energy Collection, Average MPG, Instant MPG and Cruising Range."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)