By Alex Kramer

Pros:

• Slick shifting 6-speed manual transmission
• CRX-like handling
• Decent fuel efficiency
• Eye-catching exterior design

Cons:

• Unimpressive acceleration
• Fuel efficiency should be much better
• Interior needs some work

Ever since Honda pulled the plug on the CRX 20 years ago, loyal fans have been waiting for the rebirth of this popular sporty compact hatchback. Having owned 2 CRXs myself, I have spent many an hour wondering why Honda abandoned such a perfect combination of smart styling, peppy performance, and impressive fuel efficiency.

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By contributing editor David Colman

Hits:

• Be the first on your block
• Incredible torque
• Lavish interior

Misses:

• Some drivetrain tremors
• Pricey

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Chevrolet Volt Consumer Reviews	Chevrolet Volt More Expert Reviews	2011 Chevrolet Volt Photo Gallery	2011 Chevrolet Volt Specs

By Dan Tsuchiya

Positrons

• Great Design and better looking than any Prius made to date
• Electricity first; leading to 250-500 mpg if you have access an outlet
• Feels safer and more substantial than it’s competitors
• 0-60 acceleration faster than a Honda Civic

Electrons

• Electric Vehicle (EV) range limited to 35 miles before gas motor has to recharge batteries
• Interior has too many hard plastic surfaces
• Soft-touch buttons are too sensitive
• Navigation and radio are integrated such that you can’t have one on without the other

Living with the Chevrolet Volt is about making a green statement, but without the usual green sacrifices. It’s not a hybrid as defined by the Toyota and Honda camp, it’s an extended range electric vehicle (EV) that combines the gas saving benefits of pure electric cars with the range and convenience of conventional gas powered cars. While the Toyota and Honda camps utilize gas and electricity in parallel, the Volt takes a series approach, EV first then gas. The EV range fully charged is about 35 miles and once that power depletes, the Volt fires up its 1.4L engine to charge the batteries and provide juice to the electric motor, allowing for another 250-300 miles of driving under normal conditions.

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The Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid plug-in, the concept car which debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, is now available for order for $845,000.

The 918 Spyder will come equipped with a plug-in hybrid system that consists of a high-revving V8, 500-horsepower engine, combined with two electric motors for an additional 218-horsepower. The electric motors will provide about 16 miles of electric-only driving on a single charge and are powered by a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be charged from any conventional power socket. The Porsche 918 Spyder also features a 7-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) dual clutch transmission, a 0-62 time of 3.2 seconds, and a top speed of 199 mph.

The 918 Spyder Hybrid plug-in is similar to the concept shown at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, but is now based on a carbon fiber reinforced plastic monocoque and will feature a manual roof system with removable panels that can be stowed away in the front luggage compartment.

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Toyota is expanding their Prius family with a new larger and heavier wagon-like Prius V — that’s the letter V for “versatility,” Toyota says, not the Roman numeral five.

The new Toyota Prius V, will go on sale in the United States in late summer or early fall. Toyota announced production has begun on the new gasoline-electric hybrid Prius wagon, that is set to hit Japan in April, followed by the U.S. and Europe. Although, those dates might slip as Japan begins clean up after its latest tsunami disaster.

Some major differences between the Prius hatchback and the new wagon-style Prius are improved visibility due to the driver being situated 1.2 inches higher, an extended rear cargo which will eliminate the hatchback’s split rear window, a 220 pound weight difference, and the option of a new polycarbonate panoramic moonroof that weighs 40 percent less than glass. The new Prius wagon is wider, taller and about five inches longer, and shares the same engine, platform, and hybrid drivetrain as the Prius hatchback, giving it approximately 42 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway. New inside features include a computer mouse-inspired one-dial climate control button and a high-capacity lithium ion battery.

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Lexus HS 250h User Reviews	Lexus HS 250h More Expert Reviews	2011 Lexus HS 250h Photo Gallery	2011 Lexus HS 250h Specs

By contributing editor David Colman

Hits

• Highly evolved hybrid system operates almost seamlessly
• Customary Lexus craftsmanship and detail attention
• Stealth looks avoid typical hybrid cynosure

Misses

• 225/45R18 Toyo Proxes A20 tires squeal at the merest hint of a turn
• Middling acceleration can disappoint in the clutch
• Dash-pad mounted mouse is disconcertingly large, shift lever too small

Lexus introduced this hybrid in January, 2008 at the Detroit Auto Show, some 6 years after the first hybrid Lexus, the RX 330h went into production. The HS is the smallest and least expensive hybrid in the company’s present lineup, with a base price of $34,200. That’s a $10,000 slug more than the parent company’s similar $22,000 Toyota Prius, but as you might expect, the HS, being a Lexus, is a far more luxurious vehicle.

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Buick has announced their plans to release the 2012 Buick Regal with eAssist (light electrification), joining the 2012 LaCrosse as the second Buick to feature this fuel-saving technology. With an estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg city and 37 mpg on the highway, the eAssist system features a 115V lithium-ion battery system, 15 kW electric induction motor-generator, and regenerative braking capability, that provides up to 15 kW of electricity to charge the battery, which will all improve fuel economy. The eAssist system also uses power stored in the battery to provide needed electrical boost in driving situations and allows the Ecotec engine to shut down fuel delivery in certain deceleration situations to save fuel. The eAssist power pack that contains the lithium-ion battery pack, the integrated power inverter and 12V power supply will be located between the rear seat and trunk, for a slightly reduced trunk space and eAssist system’s electric induction motor-generator is mounted to the engine in place of the alternator.

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Chevrolet Volt Consumer Reviews	Chevrolet Volt More Expert Reviews	2011 Chevy Volt Photo Gallery	2011 Chevrolet Volt Specs

By contributing editor David Colman

Hits

• Breakthrough engineering tour de force
• No driving sacrifice needed to validate green passport
• Interior design top notch

Misses

• Even with tax rebate, pricey
• Not the package for the driving enthusiast
• 35 mile battery radius seems hardly worth the extra cost and weight

You’ll be reading reams of technical information about this car in the months to come, but what’s it really like to drive? Based on a 100 mile round trip between Sausalito and Marshall, the Volt offers a workable solution to everyday transportation for 4 with the added bonus of 25-50 miles of gas-free operation daily. Volt operates in 2 different modes. There’s battery power, which is good for that gas-free 25-50 mile romp, plus gasoline power for an added range of about 350 miles. If you drive short trips every day, it could be months before you need to refill the Volt’s 9.2 gallon gas tank.

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Ford Fusion Consumer Reviews	Ford Fusion Hybrid Consumer Reviews	Ford Fusion More Expert Reviews	Ford Fusion Hybrid Photo Gallery

By Danny Chang

Pros

• Great MPG
• Decent power
• Amenities galore & cool dash

Cons

• Small trunk due to battery placement
• Interior space a bit tight for a family
• Styling not a strong suit

I have driven both the first generation regular gasoline engine Ford Fusion and its cousin Mercury Milan as rental cars on business trips and I must say I was not particularly impressed. They are perfectly fine mid-size sedans, just nothing to write home about. But I’ve always been intrigued by the Fusion Hybrid. Here was an American sedan with a self-developed hybrid technology that got better mileage than a Toyota Camry? Beating Toyota, the company that started the hybrid craze, at its own game? This I had to see, and drive, for myself. So I was glad to have the chance to drive one down to LA for my sister’s wedding last weekend.

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Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Consumer Reviews	Lincoln MKZ Overview	2011 Lincoln MKZ Photo Gallery	2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Specs

Pros:

• Same price as MKZ with V6 gas engine
• SYNC® In-car Connectivity System is standard
• Better fuel economy than the Lexus HS 250h

Cons:

• Interior of base trim model not much improvement over Ford Fusion
• Utterly uninspiring econo-drone in the cockpit when accelerating hard

Gas prices have been as volatile as the speculative housing market and experts assure us both will be rebounding, though nobody knows exactly when. Investing in the market now, though it might seem counter-intuitive, could set you up for a handsome reward in the future. The same goes for buying a new fuel-efficient automobile. If you purchase a hybrid vehicle today, when demand for fuel-sippers is relatively modest, you’ll probably end up getting a better deal on the car and you’re also insulating yourself from future spikes in gasoline prices. Think of it as an automotive tax shelter, but without the sleazy real estate agents and enormous subprime mortgage scandals. For those looking to buy a luxury sedan with the exceptional fuel economy of a hybrid, the MKZ Hybrid is a logical choice.

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