2011 Vauxhall Antara Facelift Prices Start Under £20k in the UK

Following the reveal of its Opel counterpart in mainland Europe, Vauxhall has released pricing and specifications on the UK market Antara facelift, which boasts a barely noticeable makeover and a refreshed engine lineup. Prices for the updated SUV now start from £19,995 for the 2.2 CDTi (163PS) Exclusiv front-wheel drive model, which according to Vauxhall, represents a saving of £2,835 over the outgoing base version.

On the outside, styling changes for the 2011 Antara include the updated front grille with the new Griffin logo, enhanced by fog lights finished with chrome bezels on SE models, new 19-inch alloy wheels and modified rear lights.

Inside, the new Antara's cabin features a revised centre console with extra storage and higher-quality materials, in addition to improved instrument graphics and better interior lighting.

The 2011 model's revised Euro-5 compliant engine line-up includes a newly-developed 2.2-liter CDTI turbodiesel in two states of tune with 163HP or 184HP. The 163HP version is available in front-wheel drive with a six-speed manual transmission only or all-wheel drive hooked up to either a manual or six-speed auto gearbox. The more potent 184HP variant also offers a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. All transmissions have been revised to improve efficiency.

The Vauxhall Antara will not be offered in the UK with the revised 170HP 2.4-liter gasoline engine of its Opel sibling.

GM Europe's engineers have also re-worked the SUV's chassis with revised spring and damper settings.

Finally, Vauxhall has improved safety and comfort features with the addition of an electric parking brake, a Hill Assist System as well as a "shift-up" fuel economy indicator on all models.

"At less than £20k, the new Antara is set to be highly competitive in today's SUV market," said Peter Hope, Vauxhall's Marketing Director. "Its lower emissions, higher output diesel engines and refreshed design will offer renewed appeal to both retail and fleet customers."

BMW Z10 ED: The 400HP Eco-Friendly Hybrid Supercar

Citing sources from within the company, Autocar magazine has published new details as well as a rendering of BMW's long-rumored supercar, currently dubbed Z10 ED, where ED stands for Efficient Dynamics. BMW's high-performance flagship model is said to incorporate a suite of fuel-saving technologies including a stop-start system, an integrated starter/generator and a new brake energy regeneration system modified to store energy in a lithium-ion battery, which essentially makes the Z10 ED a hybrid model.

"The idea is to bring all the very latest technology together in a way that will allow a high level of performance without overburdening the environment in a way that the current crop of supercars do," a BMW insider told Autocar.

The Z10 ED is said to be equipped with a new generation, direct-injection turbocharged straight-six engine producing around 400HP. Power will be channeled to the rear wheels via BMW's new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. There's no word on when the Z10 ED will hit the road, but we gather that we'll see BMW giving us a preview of the supercar with a prototype version at an upcoming international motor show.

Source: Autocar

2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids Qualify for $3,400 Tax Credit

FoMoCo has announced that the new mild-hybrid versions of the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan qualify for a $3,400 tax credit from the federal government. The American automaker claims that this is the highest credit amount ever offered for hybrids purchased or placed in service after December 31, 2005. Ford's mid-size hybrid sedans are rated at 41 mpg n the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 8 mpg and 2 mpg respectively.

Why the Surprise? Hybrid Sales fall 9,9% in the U.S. in 2008

Just as gasoline-electric hybrids looked like they were ready to conquer America when gas prices rose up to nearly $4 a gallon in July, a steep decrease in fuel costs -aided by the collapse of the auto market in the second half of the year- resulted to a significant decrease in their sales. According to a report from Autonews, U.S. sales of hybrids fell 9,9% in 2008 to 315,761 units. Even Toyota, which controls about 75% of the hybrid market in the States, saw its sales drop 12.5 percent the past year.

General Motors on the other hand, saw its hybrid sales nearly triple from 5,175 units in 2007 to 14,439 units in 2008, but that was mainly due to the addition of several new models like the Chevrolet Malibu and Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon.

But as GM's Vice Chairman Bob Lutz rightfully pointed out at the Detroit Show last week, "at $1.50 a gallon, the American public is not willing to pay for fuel-saving technology." We couldn't agree more. If fuel prices continue to remain at these levels and unless automakers find a way to reduce the cost of these vehicles -eg. like Honda promises that it has done with the 2009 Insight, we seriously doubt that American consumers will embrace hybrids or any type of fuel-efficient vehicles for that matter.

And just to make it clear, it's not just Americans; do you think that European or Japanese consumers would choose a fuel-efficient car over one with better performance if gasoline prices were as cheap as they are in the States?

Source: Autonews

Seat's Leon "Twin Drive" Petrol-Electric Hybrid

Seat has revealed a new prototype version of the Leon hatchback conceived to run on electric power or a conventional petrol engine. As its name suggests, the Leon "Twin Drive" Ecomotive sports a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 35 kW electric motor fed by a group of lithium-ion batteries located at the rear of the vehicle, and a conventional petrol engine. The initial aim is for the Leon to run on electricity in urban areas, switching to conventional petrol power for longer trips out of town.

In all-electric mode, the prototype Leon has a range of 50 km (31 miles) and a self-imposed top speed of 100 km/h (62mph).

Aside from the hybrid powertrain, the Leon Twin Drive Ecomotive features extensive modifications of the gearbox, brakes, heating and cooling systems, while major changes to the vehicle's electronics have also been carried out.

While the specific Leon is not intended to enter production, Seat plans to introduce a hybrid-electric model by 2014. The prototype Leon will offer Seat's engineers valuable information on advanced electrical propulsion techniques, battery recharging and vehicle range.

Video: 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Driving and Static Footage

Looks like there's a conspiracy of some kind among automakers when it comes to publishing video material for their hybrid models. Just like Honda and it's ultra tedious Insight video, Toyota also released some lifeless 'b-roll' footage for the new Prius that was revealed at the Detroit Show. For the record, we edited the official video cutting it down to a viewable four minutes as well as adding an 'eco' conscious song to break the annoying silence. Enjoy it right after the jump.

Video: 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid Inside, Out and in Action

If there was a prize for the most mind-numbing car videos, Honda and its series of films for the new Insight Hybrid would definitely be a nominee for the first place... To avoid making you fall asleep, we edited the videos and created one that's under two-minutes long. Follow the jump below to watch the video or click here for detailed information and high-resolution pictures of Honda's new Prius rival.

2010 Fisker Karma: 100mpg Plug-in Hybrid Sport Sedan Unveiled in Detroit

The production version of Henry Fisker's curvalicious Karma plug-in hybrid sports sedan made its world premiere at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. Featuring only a few minor design changes from last year's concept model that include an enhanced upper grill, an enlarged lower intake and new aerodynamic diffuser under the rear bumper, the Karma has been sold out until mid-2010, as Fisker has already received 1,000 orders for the 100mpg luxury plug-in hybrid.

Fusing styling that could make BMW owners turn green from envy with a high-tech plug-in hybrid powertrain, the four-door, four-seat Karma also retails for a logical price that starts in the U.S. from $87,900.

The Karma utilizes Fisker's "Q-DRIVE" powertrain that comprises of two 201HP electric motors powered by an advanced lithium-ion technology battery pack. A generator attached to a GM derived 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec direct injection gasoline engine provides extended range capabilities.

The system features two operating modes: Stealth Mode and Sport Mode. In electric-only Stealth Mode, the Karma can travel emission free for up to 50 miles on a full charge from any 110-, 220- or 240-volt electric outlet. In Sport Mode, the system utilizes the 2.0 Turbo gasoline engine to turn a generator that powers the 402HP electric motors on the rear differential, offering a total range of up to 300 miles.

Fisker claims that a fully charged Karma can achieve an annual average of more than 100 miles per gallon. As for performance, the low-slung sport sedan can achieve a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) and a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 5.8 seconds.

The Karma will be built by Valmet Automotive in Finland with the delivery of the more than 1,000 pre-ordered cars set to begin during the fourth quarter of the year. To commemorate initial production, Fisker has decided that the first 99 examples will be trimmed to match both interior and exterior specifications of the Karma prototype originally showcased at the 2008 NAIAS. Each car will feature a personalized plaque with a designated car number and signature from Henrik Fisker.