2016 Chevrolet Cruze Teased Ahead Of June 24 Debut: UPDATE

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan will be unveiled just over three weeks from today--although we've already seen it, more or less.A version of the next-generation Cruze was unveiled in China more than a year ago, but the version that will be sold in the U.S. won't appear until June 24.

Plug-in Electric Car Sales in Canada, May 2015: Tesla Supreme For Six Months?

Last month, we assumed that Nissan would edge Tesla during April in Canadian plug-in electric vehicle sales. Wow, were we wrong! Fully 167 Tesla Model S electric luxury sedans were registered in Canada that month, outpacing the 127 Leafs Nissan delivered. Not wanting to underestimate Tesla for two months running,

2015 Toyota Prius Rebates Rise For Californians

Toyota boosted incentives on its Prius hybrid range for California buyers in April, and it's doing the same this month, though on a more limited basis. New incentives are being added for May, but only for buyers in certain areas of California. Buyers in both San Francisco and Los Angeles will get discounts that aren't available in other parts of the Golden State--or in the U.S. at large.

Mazda To Lean On Toyota For Hybrid, Fuel-Cell Expertise

Mazda and Toyota will work together over the next few years in an arrangement that will see the two carmakers pool their green technologies. Japan's largest carmaker and one of its smallest will enter into a "mutually beneficial long-term partnership," according to a press release issued by Mazda.

Toyota picks 8 stores to sell Mirai hydrogen car

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL MIRAI WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH A HANDFUL OF TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IN THE GOLDEN STATE

Toyota, seeking a smooth debut this fall for its Mirai hydrogen car, said it will initially sell the fuel cell vehicle through just eight dealerships in California. Four of the chosen dealerships are in the Bay Area: San Francisco Toyota, Roseville Toyota, Stevens Creek Toyota and Toyota of Sunnyvale.

Ford Transit Van Gets Add-In Hybrid Kit For Better Fuel Economy

Full-size vans and other commercial vehicles spend more time on the road than the averagepassenger car. But often the public pays little attention to ways their fuel consumption--and hence their emissions--can be reduced. Nor are there any hybrid trucks offered by the largest makers. Yet every capability a stock vehicle lacks is an opportunity for a new business niche, as one company is finding.

XL Hybrids makes aftermarket hybrid systems for General Motors full-size vans, and the recently discontinued Ford E-Series. Now, it's expanding its offerings to the new Ford Transit van that replaces the E-Series (once known as the Econoline). XL unveiled a Transit hybrid conversion at the Ford Fleet Preview in Arlington, Texas.

2015 Ford Transit

The conversion includes a lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor, which is used to supplement the gasoline engine. XL Hybrids claims a 20-percent increase in fuel economy, as well as a corresponding 20-percent decrease in carbon-dioxide emissions. All of the equipment bolts in aft of the transmission, adding less than 400 pounds with no impact on passenger or cargo space.

The Transit's unibody construction makes it more difficult to modify than traditional body-on-frame vans, XL chief technology officer Dr. Edward Lovelace said, but the compactness of the hybrid system makes conversions more straightforward. The hybrid system requires just six hours to install, the company says.

Conversion kits are available for both gasoline Transit engines--the 3.7-liter naturally-aspirated V-6, and 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost V-6.

2015 Ford Transit

The Transit is also offered with a 3.2-liter five-cylinder PowerStroke diesel engine--the only five-cylinder turbodiesel sold in the U.S. The Ford factory warranty remains intact, while XL covers its components with a three-year, 75,000-mile warranty. XL believes its fairly simple system will win over commercial buyers who want increased fuel economy with minimal complications.

The company points out that its hybrids don't require any added infrastructure--such as charging stations or natural-gas fueling stations--needed for plug-in or alternative-fuel vehicles.

This also allows companies to quickly add hybrids to an existing fleet of conventional vehicles, XL says. All of these factors should be encouraging for fleets, whose pursuit of greater efficiency is always just a means to increased profitability.

Tesla Model S Certified Used Electric Cars: Now On Sale Online

Tesla Motors strives not only to build electric cars that compete against established luxury brands, but also to provide the service that customers in that market tend to expect. However, there's one area Tesla hasn't gotten involved in so far. Buyers looking for a used Tesla Model S electric car have had to turn to independent sellers--until now.

Tesla's New Powerwall Batteries: 7 Or 10 kWh For $3,000 Or $3,500

Last night, as promised, Tesla unveiled the new, non-automotive product line it had previously teased--confirming that the carmaker will enter the energy-storage business. Under the Tesla Energy brand, the electric-car manufacturer will also sell lithium-ion batteries for utilities, businesses, and houses.

2016 Honda HR-V Subcompact SUV Starts At $19,995, On Sale May 15

The 2016 Honda HR-V subcompact crossover goes on sale May 15, and we now have full pricing information. The base price is $19,115, but a mandatory $880 destination fee brings that up to $19,995--neatly under $20,000. That buys an entry-level LX model with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission.

Adding the CVT automatic brings the price up to $20,795, while adding all-wheel drive (available only with the CVT) bumps the total to $22,045. Standard equipment on the LX includes a rearview camera, Bluetooth, LED taillights, and 17-inch alloy wheels, among other features.

The HR-V is based on the Fit hatchback, and also features that car's "Magic Seat" split-folding rear bench as standard equipment.

2016 Honda HR-V

The mid-level HR-V is the EX, which starts at $22,045 with the six-speed manual and front-wheel drive. Interestingly, that's the same price as the all-wheel drive LX model. CVT-equipped versions of the EX start at $22,845, while all-wheel drive brings the price up to $24,095.

In addition to the standard equipment from the LX, the EX adds a 7-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, fog lights, a moonroof, paddle shifters for the CVT, and other features. The top HR-V model is the EX-L Navi. Available only with the CVT, it starts at $25,470 with front-wheel drive, and $26,720 with all-wheel drive. This model adds leather seats, a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Honda Digital Traffic.

2016 Honda HR-V

All HR-V models use the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. With the manual transmission and front-wheel drive, the HR-V gets an EPA-rated 28 mpg combined (25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway).

With the CVT, the ratings are 31 mpg combined (28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive, and 29 mpg combined (27 mpg city, 32 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive. The HR-V is built alongside the Fit in Celaya, Mexico, and goes on sale May 15.

Audi Q6 Electric 'SUV Coupe' Arrives In 2018 Or 2019: CEO

It's now clear that we'll see a slew of all-electric luxury vehicles with ranges of 200 miles or more from German makers Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz starting in 2017 or 2018. What's less clear is whether those vehicles will be developed as electric cars from the ground up or whether they'll be adapted versions of gasoline models.

Will Tesla Model 3 Electric Car Hit 2017 Production Date?

Electric-car maker Tesla Motors has done many remarkable things in its short decade of existence--including a few the auto industry viewed as impossible. But the company has never managed to get a car into volume production on the date it first announced.

2016 Chevrolet Volt Order Guide: Options, Trim Levels...But No Prices Yet

These days, waiting for a new car is akin to the anticipation surrounding a Hollywood blockbuster.

First come the teases, then more substantive trailers, perhaps followed by a lengthier preview or two, and finally, the main attraction. In the car world, the appearance of an online configurator or a dealer order guide is one of the later stages.

Audi aims Q7, A6L plug-in hybrids at Chinese buyers

Audi will aim its next two gasoline plug-in hybrids at Chinese customers as the automaker seeks to maintain its sales lead over rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the world’s biggest auto market.

Third Recall For Fiat 500e: 5,600 Electric Cars To Be Checked For Software Fault

2015 Fiat 500e

Roughly 5,600 Fiat 500e electric cars will be recalled by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to fix a potential software problem with the cars' Limp Home mode.

2014 Mercedes B-Class: Best Electric-Car Lease Deal Available?

The number of available electric-car models may be limited compared to the legions of internal-combustion cars available, but that doesn't mean it's not worth hunting around for a good deal.

Nissan Rogue Hybrid Launched In Japan, U.S. Sales Uncertain

More than four years after launching its Leaf electric car, Nissan is by far the leading maker of electric vehicles globally.

In hybrids, however, it was late to the game and has struggled to package products that will prove compelling to North American buyers.

New Tesla Model S 70D on the way

Tesla Model S 70D is a new entry-level four-wheel drive model costing from £54,500 with a range of 275 miles

Tesla is working hard on making its range of pure-electric cars more accessible to more people, and the new Model S 70D is a step in the right direction. It joins the P 85D in Tesla's growing four-wheel drive line-up, but uses a smaller battery and less powerful motors, which reduces the performance, but also the price. It also replaces the rear-wheel drive S 60 model at the bottom of the Model S range.

Updated Toyota RAV4 debuts with 4WD hybrid option

Toyota unveils 2016 facelift of RAV4 range, SUV set to get dual-motor hybrid powertrain for the first time

The third-generation Toyota RAV4 might have only been on sale since 2013, but Toyota has pulled the covers off a facelifted version of the midsize SUV at the New York Motor Show.

Iconic VW Camper set to return with electric power

Next VW Camper will likely use battery power, in an attempt to mirror classic design cues

Volkswagen bosses have confirmed they are looking at electrification and battery power for its next Camper – in an attempt at keeping the iconic flat front end and short overhangs of the original.

2016 Chevy Volt In Pre-Production; Prices To Come Next Month

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt was officially unveiled at January's Detroit Auto Show, so there won't be a lot of focus on the new plug-in hybrid with the 50-mile range at this week's New York Auto Show.