Audi's Mini hybrid revealed

Watch out BMW

The Audi A1 stormed into Geneva and showcased how Audi might be in the process of redefining itself as an automaker by accepting BMW's Mini Cooper success. Fortunately, the A1 is about more than just small car luxury, as the A1 will also be offered in a hybrid version.

Just another piece of the 3 percent hybrid plan for VW.

VW: 3 percent hybrid and EV by 2018

Nice improvement, but.......

Starting in 2012, VW will launch a number of new hybrid cars and electric vehicles, including the UP concept, as well as hybrid and electric versions of the Golf and Jetta, in addition to hybrid versions of the Passat and Touareg. Combined, the vehicles should achieve 3 percent of VW's total share of vehicles by 2018 according to current plans.

"The goal is to become the market leader in E-mobility by the year 2018. We want to attain an electric vehicle market share of three percent within our entire range of products. We will take the hybrid out of its niche status with our high-volume models. In the future, the heart of the brand will also beat with electricity," noted Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.

While that's a very nice improvement, it's hard to call that leadership. Toyota already sits above 3 percent hybrid share, and by 2020 Toyota hopes to be at 20 to 30 percent hybrid share, in addition to offering its own plug-in hybrid and EV solutions.

Of course, with all the recall scandals dogging Toyota, maybe 3 percent will be enough to be the battery-powered leader!? Either that, or it will be a blood path for the #2 EV-share player.

Suzuki hybrids based on VW technology?

Better off with GM technology?

Not long ago it seemed as if Suzuki hybrids based upon GM hybrid technology was a done deal. Of course, with GM shedding brands and executives like a furry dog heading into summer, technology partnerships might have been too much of a distraction for both companies. Likewise, GM still needs to prove that any of its hybrid technology can be cost-effectively viable.

Hence, it's not much of surprise that Suzuki would look for other technology partnerships. Nonetheless, it does seem a bit of a surprise that Suzuki and VW would hook up on hybrid vehicles considering that VW has yet to sell a hybrid in the US. Hence VW's technology might just be as ineffective as was GM's BAS hybrid powertrain.

Of course, perhaps Suzuki needed any partner. Or, even better, perhaps Suzuki received an inside look at VW's hybrid technology and liked what they saw. Hopefully, it's the later, as a little more serious hybrid competition is certainly in order.

VW UP electric car coming to US market

The UP Lite at the LA Auto Show

There aren't many details, but it has been reported that an EV version of the UP, based closely on the UP Lite concept version pictured in this post, is coming to the US market. Early word suggests the new EV will be called the Space UP! Blue.

100+ mpg, cheap, 2-seat hybrids: Would you?

The VW L1 concept

Inevitably, if America is to end its foreign oil dependence anytime before 2040, it's going to take some serious out-of-the box thinking. And two-seat vehicles could be one bright breakthrough.

While Aptera has some cool thoughts on two-seat vehicles, the reengineered VW One-Liter L1 concept - potentially available by 2013 - might be the most compelling idea thus far.

Thanks to its 838 ponds and a slim 0.195 drag coefficient, the L1 diesel hybrid achieves a whopping 170 mpg.

Certainly, two-seats won't work for many, but for plenty of other commuters, couldn't such a vehicle be a hit if priced right?

Can VW turn BYD hybrid cars from dream to reality?

Coming much sooner to a dealer near you?

A couple of years ago a number of Chinese automakers started showing up at major auto shows. At the LA show, for instance, such Chinese vehicles usually found themselves in the basement - out of sight out of mind.

Nonetheless, I've been following some of these Chinese automakers, particularly BYD and its lithium battery business, ever since. Yet, it has been hard to take this automaker too seriously. Well, at least it was hard. Warren Buffett's recent stake in BYD certainly opened my mind.

Of course, BYD still doesn't have a history of quality car making, so BYD's big future still seems far into the future - which makes the news of a potential partnership between VW and BYD quite compelling. If BYD has hammered out the kinks of its hybrid vehicles, especially its lithium batteries, then VW could certainly help bring BYD's technology to market significantly faster than BYD could achieve on its own.

At this time VW and BYD are simply exploring options and possibilities, but the potential of this partnership seems like it could be a game changer.

No VW hybrids until at least 2010

Still in R&D stage

Despite a number of hybrid concepts, don't expect either a VW or a Audi hybrid until at least 2010 according to Autobloggreen. VW recently updated its hybrid plans, noting that it is developing proprietary technology for hybrid cars and electric vehicles, except for battery technology. Sanyo will be VW's battery supplier.

VW going all-hybrid?

Every VW will come in a hybrid option?

There has been a persistent rumor floating around on the Internet that VW will offer a hybrid option on all of its vehicles. Rumors. Rumors. Rumors.

Maybe a year or so ago, VW announced a line of hybrid vehicles only to significantly reduce those plans shortly thereafter. In the next few years, I think VW is far more focused on clean diesel rather than hybrids.

Thus, I don't think VW has any specific hybrid plans, other than for the Touareg.

Nonetheless, by 2010, both Peugeot and Mercedes will start rolling out diesel hybrids, such as the 308 HDI diesel hybrid or the E300 BlueTec diesel hybrid, and it appears that Mercedes is becoming very serious about diesel hybrids.

So, VW is paying attention.

And, who can blame them? With the greenhouse gas legislation being proposed by the EU, diesel hybrids might be the only way forward for European automakers.

VW changing mind on compact hybrids?

Earlier this month VW announced that it had changed its plans for hybrid cars. Compact hybrids were on hold and only the Touareg was going to be offered as a hybrid (Read Post). While, unconfirmed, there are new rumors hitting the blogosphere suggesting that VW has changed its mind regarding VW compact hybrids.

VW puts all hybrids on hold, except one

The only VW hybrid?

Now that Martin Winterkorn has replaced Bernd Pischetsrieder as VW AG's new chairman, he's making some changes. For example, Winterkorn is putting VW's plans to make several hybrid cars on hold. At this point, it seems only the Touareg will be offered as a hybrid version in late 2008 according to AutoWeek.

The timing of this story is a bit interesting because it seems to closely coincide with the EU's new plans to water down their proposed CO2 emission reductions for automakers. The original proposal probably would have forced VW and other European automakers to develop hybrids to meet the new standards. The new proposal, however, doesn't force automakers to be as green.