Lexus RX Facelift Parades New Spindle Grille in Geneva

The mildly refreshed Lexus RX made its world premiere at this week's 2012 Geneva Motor Show. To be sold as a 2012 model in Europe and as a 2013 in North America, the Japanese firm's luxury crossover model receives some select styling tweaks while it also debuts a new F Sport Edition.

The facelift introduces Lexus' new corporate 'spindle grille' together with new headlamps underscored by integral LED daytime running lights, a resculptured bumper, new tail lamp graphics and a fresh assortment of 18-inch or 19-inch alloy wheel designs.

Toyota Says it Sold More Prius C in Three Days than the Volt and Leaf Combined in a Month

According to Toyota, the newest member of its Prius family of hybrids, the Yaris-sized Prius C, is off to an extremely good start since going on sale in the States on March 12.

In its first three days on the market, the Prius C sold 1,201 units, with Toyota making it a point to note that it surpassed the combined sales of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf for the entire month of February. In other related news, our local grocery disclosed that it sold more apples in an hour than Prius C in a day.

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Peugeot Confirms UK Pricing for 508 RXH Crossover and New 508 Hybrid4 Sedan

The Peugeot brand has announced pricing and specification details for two new additions to its 508 range in Britain, the 508 RXH crossover estate and the 508 Saloon HYbrid4, both of which make use of the company's diesel-electric hybrid powertrain.

The 508 RXH starts at £33,695 and the 508 Saloon HYbrid4 at £31,450. Both models are available to order now, with the 508 RXH to go on sale in May and the 508 Saloon HYbrid4 from July 2012.

The hybrid powertrain on both models consists of a 2.0-litre HDi 163 Diesel engine powering the front wheels and a 37bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels.

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U.S. Senators Criticize DOE of Mishandling “Green” Federal Loans

In 2007, the federal government created the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing initiative to help automakers and suppliers develop alternative technologies.

According to DetNews, on Tuesday, March 13, during an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, many senators accused the Department of Energy (DOE) of mishandling the US$25 billion program.

They said that the DOE had not offered a new retooling program in a year and no new major loans in the past two years. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said that the department had made the program “virtually dormant”, while others, like Senator Rand Paul, went as far as saying that “we need to get out of this business” as the program makes no sense at all.

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Fisker Whistleblower Claims Karma was Rushed into the Market to Meet DOE Loan Deadlines

It's a time-honored adage: "there's no such thing as bad publicity". However, Henrik Fisker may beg to differ as his company's Karma sedan has been making the headlines for a variety of problems ever since its delayed launch.

Now, a former Fisker employee claims to know the root of the company's issues with the Karma. The unnamed whistleblower told GiGaom that as the project was behind schedule, Fisker decided to roll out the hybrid before it was actually ready in order to meet the deadlines dictated by the Department of Energy-provided US$529 million loan.

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iCar: New Study Finds that Gen Y Consumers want Hybrids with Tablets and Smartphone-Like Functions

Echo boomers, Generation Y, Generation Next: whatever you call them, people who were born in the beginning of the 1980’s are now an important demographic group for any company. And their preferences may change the type of cars we will drive in the future.

According to the annual survey conducted by the Deloitte consulting company, Generation Y consumers, who the company describes as those aged from 19 to 31, want their new cars to be hybrids laden with high-tech features.

"This could be the generation that leads us away from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles", comments Deloitte automotive consultant Craig Giffi who oversaw the study.

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Lights Out: Fisker Karma Breaks Down During Consumer Reports Testing [Video]

Having an A-list of celebrities like Leonardo Di Caprio, Al Gore and Justin Bieber as your clients is good for promoting your brand-new hybrid luxury sedan.

On the downside, receiving an EPA consumption rating far-far away from your own figures, issuing a recall over a potential fire risk just a couple of months after deliveries started and having your US$529 million federal loan blocked are quite serious setbacks.

Now Fisker has to face another publicity disaster after the US$100,000 Karma evaluated by Consumer Reports went kaput during speed testing. We'll remind you that Consumer Reports buys its test vehicles from regular dealers.

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Obama Proposes Higher Incentives for Alternative Fuel Car and Truck Buyers

The current U.S. administration is committed to reducing car and truck fuel consumption and emissions. It has already managed to make major manufacturers agree on its 54.5 mpg Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) 2025 target.

Yet President Barack Obama wants more American new car and truck buyers to opt for cleaner vehicles. Therefore, during his speech at the Daimler Trucks North America plant in North Carolina, he proposed increasing tax incentives for buyers of electric, natural gas and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

"We’ve got to continually develop new sources of energy", said Obama. "We’re not going to be able to just drill our way out", he added referring to the rising fuel prices which averaged US$3.76 on March 6, up from US$3.51 a year ago according to data provided by the American Automobile Association.

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Hyundai Looks into the Future with New i-oniq Concept Car at the Geneva Motor Show

Hyundai's people want us to take a ride with them into the not-so-distant future with the company's new i-oniq concept car that made its first public outing at this week's 82nd Geneva International Motor Show.

The i-oniq is described as a range-extended electric sports hatchback that demonstrates the next evolution of Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture design language and showcases the automaker's new powertrain technologies.

Designed and developed at Hyundai’s European R&D center in Germany, the 4.4 meter long hatchback with the sporty shape and the impressive doors that open up to the side, has some unique design cues that will be applied to the next generation of the Korean firm's models.

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Pininfarina's Two-Sided Cambiano Concept Comes to Life in Geneva [82 Photos and Videos]

If you call the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS a "four-door coupe", then what would you name Pininfarina's 2012 Geneva Motor Show Cambiano Concept that is a sports coupe with a single door on the driver's side but a saloon with two doors and no central pillar on the passenger side?

Pininfarina doesn't have a name for it yet but the Italian design company says the Cambiano represents a new approach to the GT segment.

Named after the Italian town where the Pininfarina Group is headquartered, the Cambiano measures a generous 5,040mm long, 2,000mm wide and 1,360mm tall. It can seat four-passengers and has a boot capacity of 450-liters.

The Cambiano is a range-extended electric car featuring four-in wheel electric motors, each of which delivers a continuous supply of 60kW (80hp) with peaks of 150kW (201hp) for a maximum output of 600kW (805hp), with torque of 640Nm (472 lb-ft).

Pininfarina says that each motor is controlled separately and electronically thus offering various functions, including energy regeneration when decelerating and braking, traction control with the option of continuously varying the torque split between the wheels independently (Vectoring Stability Program) and anti-lock braking assistance.

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Italdesign Giugiaro's Brivido GT in Martini Racing Livery Makes us Say Humana, Humana…

Just in case anyone was wondering what the Brivido sports car concept would look like in a racecar outfit, Italdesign Giugiaro surprised us in very positive way with the presentation of a GT version developed in partnership with Martini Racing at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

In this configuration, the Brivido gains a full aero package that consists of new front and rear bumpers, a front lip spoiler, side skirts, a redesigned bonnet, a large rear wing, a race-spec rear diffuser that incorporates new exhaust pipes and deep-dish, lightweight alloy wheels.

All these upgrades come together through a new sumptuous paint job with the famed Martini Racing livery.

Italdesign doesn't mention any changes under the hood.

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Infiniti’s 402HP Hybrid Supercar Emerg-E-s at the Geneva Motor Show [Photos and Videos]

An electrifying new take on a sports car: that’s how Infiniti describes its first-ever mid-engined model, the Emerg-E concept, which made its world premiere at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show.

Placing the engine in a midship position is not the only novelty introduced by the Emerg-E. It is also the brand’s first model that has been developed in Europe and its first-ever supercar.

The 4,464mm long Emerg-E is powered by a hybrid drivetrain comprising two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery pack, four inverters and a three-cylinder gasoline engine that works as a range extender.

A maximum output of 300kW (402HP) enables it to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.0 seconds and from 0-130 mph (0-209 km/h) in 30 seconds. It can also operate in EV-mode alone for up to 30 miles (48 km) and with the help of the internal combustion range extender, it has a driving range of up to 300 miles (480 km).

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Makes its World Premiere in Geneva [61 Photos + Videos]

Two generations and close to a million sales after the introduction of the first Outlander in 2001, Mitsubishi today presented the all-new third iteration of its crossover model at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show.

The shape and styling of the new Outlander won’t come as a surprise to anyone that has been following the news as it was previewed by the Concept PX-MiEV at last December's Tokyo Motor Show.

In fact, there are very little differences between the two cars, mainly the softer front end and certain production bits such as the exterior mirrors. Mitsubishi itself describe the new Outlander's exterior as "solid, safe and simple".

The interior has the same understated / bland styling as the exterior with Mitsubishi promising high-grade materials with padded surfaces and soft-touch plastics. Like the second gen Outlander, the new model will continue to carry five or seven people.

At 4,655mm long, 1,800mm wide and 1,680mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,670mm, the new Outlander is identical in size to the current car in all dimensions.

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Nissan's New Hi-Cross Hybrid Crossover Concept Could Replace the X-Trail

Having released only a single teaser image before the Geneva Motor Show, Nissan today lifted the wraps off its Hi-Cross Concept. According to the company, the Hi-Cross shows a possible new design direction for its next crossover which will join the Juke, Qashqai and Murano and most likely replace the X-Trail.

The Hi-Cross measures 4,660mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,670mm tall. Thanks to its 2,780mm wheelbase, it has three rows of seats and can accommodate up to seven passengers.

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With a Little Help from VW, Italdesign Giugiaro Looks Into the Future with the Brivido Concept [Updated]

It's been close to two years since the Volkswagen Group took a 90.1 per cent stake in Italdesign Giugiaro and exactly one year after the Italian company celebrated the marriage with the VW-branded Tex Coupe and Go! MPV concepts at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The design house will return to Switzerland for this year's edition of the auto salon with a single concept model named the Brivido, which may not feature VW's logos on its hood, but its underpinnings and hybrid powertrain are sourced from within the German group.

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New Toyota FT-Bh Concept Breaks Cover in Geneva

Motor shows and Toyota hybrid concepts go hand in hand and at the 2012 Geneva Salon, the Japanese company lifted the covers off a new prototype model named the FT-Bh, an ultra-lightweight supermini that makes use of viable methods and materials for its construction.

The concept is close in size to today’s Yaris, at 3,985mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,400mm tall, with a 2,570mm wheelbase, but it tips the scales at just 786kg (1,732 lbs).

And this despite the fact that its hybrid powertrain, which comprises a two-cylinder, 1.0-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with an electric motor, is heavier than the three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit (weighing about 60kg / 132 lbs) used in the Yaris.

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Volkswagen Cross Coupé Concept Take Two at the Geneva Motor Show

If Volkswagen's Cross Coupé Concept looks familiar, that's because we saw it at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show last autumn. So are we going to see the same study at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show? The answer is yes and no.

For starters, the Geneva concept gets a two-tone red and silver exterior paint work but it's what's hiding under the hood that justifies its existence.

Whereas the Cross Coupé shown in Tokyo features a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid system the newer versions replaces the TSI gasoline engine with an even more frugal turbodiesel four-cylinder unit with direct injection.

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GM to Halt Chevy Volt Production for Five Weeks Because of Low Sales

Dismal sale numbers and a rising inventory which at the end of February, stood at 6,300 vehicles, enough to cover 154 days at the current rate it sells cars, are to blame for General Motors decision to stop production for both the Chevy Volt and its European cousin, the Opel Ampera, for five weeks until April 23.

"We need to maintain the right inventory levels and continue to meet demand," GM spokesman Chris Lee told Automotive News.

On Thursday, General Motors told the 1,300 workers building the Volt at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in Michigan that the shutdown would take place on March 19.

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Official Photos of 2013 Lexus RX in RX 350, RX 450h and RX 450h F Sport Trims Hit the Web

Only moments after Lexus confirmed the presence of its updated 2013 RX range at the Geneva Motor Show next week by teasing us with a cropped image of the crossover's new spindle grille (despite the leaked JDM brochure), three dozen photos of the facelifted model hit the interwebs.

The pictures include the refreshed gasoline-only RX 350, the hybrid-powered RX 450h and the new addition to the range, the RX 450h F-Sport.

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Hyundai Shares Mores Details on its Geneva Motor Show i-oniq Concept Car

Even though we've already shown you the new Geneva Motor Show-bound i-oniq concept car, today, Hyundai came out with an official release affording us some more information.

The concept study represents an impression of the company’s future, both in terms of styling, as it further evolves Hyundai's ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language, and in terms of technology.

"The i-oniq concept has been created to reflect the new thinking that runs through the Hyundai brand," says Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, Allan Rushforth.

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