Toyota plans to release an electric Rav4 in 2012, but we are still waiting for more news about whether or not a Rav4 hybrid will be one of the 11 new hybrids they plan to introduce before 2013. Until more news is offered, we can at least enjoy the green Rav-4 we know is on its way.

It’s been almost 14 years since Toyota introduced an EV version of its Rav4 SUV.  Now Toyota has announced the next generation RAV4 EV – one that is being developed through a joint collaboration with Tesla Motors, the electric vehicle technology specialists.  Read more...

Hybrid SUVs of the future will likely benefit from multi-million dollar research projects and technology being developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) today.

Significant funding is being dedicated to develop more efficient hybrid engines, high-strength composites to reduce body weight, better performing transmissions, and new batteries. All of which will go into heavy and large military vehicles to transport troops and carry out combat missions.

Much of the work is being done through the Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and its National Automotive Center. TARDEC is the DoD’s leading laboratory for research and development of advanced military vehicle technologies. All told, more than $320 million is being spent for Army research on combat vehicle and automotive technologies.  Read more...

In news and blog discussions last week were claims and denouncements of a possible plug-in hybrid electric sport utility vehicle (PHESUV) being developed by Land Rover. It has been a while since Land Rover and “hybrid” were side-by-side in any credible news stories. In 2008, the English car manufacturer debuted a “diesel-hybrid” concept SUV at the Detroit Motor Show. Since then, nothing else on the matter has materialized although a report on their website indicates that Land Rover is still gauging public, dealer and media response. Based on the recent success of other luxury hybrid SUVs, my vote is for LR to send this one straight to production. 2013 appears to be the target, so again we wait.  Read more...

The Geneva, Switzerland Auto Show turned 80 this year and as expected, the theme was green. Full details can be found at the official address (here) and with more than 10,000 global media reporters in attendance – you can’t hide from the coverage.

Roughly 100 vehicles are making their world premieres at this show, which is a record in itself. They range from outlandish concept vehicles to unconventional and totally unexpected combinations of brand and drive train. HY-KERS! There is even a ”hybrid Ferrari” that gets nearly 15 mpg (here).  Read more...

In a recent interview with Reuters, Tomohiko Kawanabe (Honda’s COO of automobile research and development) broke the news that Honda is developing a new hybrid system designed for their larger cars. The announcement came as this “secret hybrid technology” apparently moved out of the research stage and closer to development. And, while no specific timeline was given for bringing the new hybrids to market, Kawanabe hinted that it would be “roughly the same time frame” as it takes to develop a new vehicle – about 3 years.

Although there wasn’t any additional new information offered in the interview, it is interesting to look at some of the most probable options that Honda might be considering.  Read more...

U.S. sales of hybrid SUVs and other fuel efficient vehicles will prove interesting to watch this year, especially if fuel prices remain relatively low. Expert predictions about where oil and gas prices are headed vary widely. Some expect both to remain steady due to global economic conditions while others point to the return of $3/gallon gas (in the states) fueled mainly by an increase in foreign demand.

In July of 2008, oil futures hit their record high of more than $145 per barrel and several areas of the country neared $5/gal. prices at the pump. Since then we’ve seen the price dip below $34/barrel (12/08) and most recently it has traded in the $70 to $80 range. During these huge fluctuations, sales of hybrid cars have closely mirrored what we pay to fill our gas tanks.  Read more...

A $7,000 discount on a new hybrid vehicle is unheard of, but that’s essentially what you can get if you buy a 2009 Saturn Vue hybrid SUV before January 4, 2010. General Motors announced what could be considered the best hybrid SUV sale of the year (or decade) in an effort to more quickly reduce their dealers’ Saturn and Pontiac inventory.  Read more...

Subaru recently became the first automaker to receive back-to-back “Sport / Utility of the Year” awards from Motor Trend. Even more impressive is the way they did it. In 2009, the Subaru Forester topped all other SUVs – in part because gas prices were out of control and the Forester’s 16 mpg rating was the best option in an AWD SUV (full report here). Now Subaru has won the same award with a totally different vehicle – the 2010 Subaru Outback.  Read more...

When you spend a lot of time concentrating on just one segment of the auto industry, it is easy to lose track of the fact that there are many niche auto-related markets and corresponding websites. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Americans Renew Their Love For Cars – Online” highlighted a few of the 100 most popular car-related web sites, including our very own HybridSUV.com (one of more than 50 hybrid and electric vehicle sites from Hybrid Kingdom).  Read more...

The 2010 Chevy Equinox is starting to show its face in the media and on dealer lots, and so far we like what we see. With a body style that looks to be a mash up of Cadillac, Saturn and the standard Chevy grille, along side power and fuel efficiency, Chevrolet seems to have taken another step in the right direction with their popular compact crossover. Most impressive are recently certified epa gas mileage ratings of 32 mpg highway for the front wheel drive model, and this one isn’t even a hybrid (yet).  Read more...