Geneva motor show: Toyota's hybrids

Toyota has revealed the first image of its forthcoming Yaris hybrid, a model that will be showcased at the Geneva motor show in March. The firm has also confirmed that its larger Prius model will be a seven-seater in European markets.

The Yaris teaser image, revealed via a company blog website, shows the nose of the car. It’s clearly a development of the model that was revealed recently in Japan as the Vitz, although there are slight changes to the grille (now deeper) and the headlights, which feature strips of LEDs.

There’s also a hint that the intake-esque elements at either side of the bumper will house LED lighting.

The Yaris hybrid is expected to go on sale in 2012, and it will be produced at Toyota’s factory in Valenciennes, France. It’s likely to get a much smaller petrol motor as part of its powertrain; expect it to use a 1.33-litre engine instead of the 1.8-litre unit used in the Prius and Auris.

Toyota also issued a photo of the larger Prius’s badging. It confirms that the car will be called ‘Prius+’ instead of the ‘Prius v’ that will be used in the US. And the blog promises “the versatility of seven seats”, indicating that the European model will be able to cope with more passengers than the five-seat US version.

Both models are being lined up for European debuts at next month’s Geneva motor show.

The Peugeot HR1 Concept

Peugeot has unveiled new HR1 urban concept car which will debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show opens on 2 Oct 2010. It's a small crossover, mixing the best bits of coupe, city runaround and SUV. Sound familiar? Yep, it's sort of like a shrunken Range Rover Evoque.

The car isn't as attractive as the EX1 -- it's tall, chunky and ever so slightly odd-looking. But it does have some interesting tech additions. The most notable of these is an Archos 9 PC Tablet mounted in a tray on the passenger side of the vehicle.

The three-cylinder 1.2-liter gasoline engine is a version of Peugeot's future family of efficient three-cylinder engines that is now in development, the automaker says. It's teamed with a rear-positioned electric motor with all-wheel drive and a combined 147 horsepower. The 19-inch wheels are fitted with Michelin tires.

The car’s instrumentation suggests total command of the vehicle by the driver, with ergonomically placed controls, a small steering wheel, and a Head-Up display allowing information to be seen without the driver taking their eyes off the road.
The ingenuity of the HR1 resides also in its modularity. Its load area is practical and accommodating thanks to its flat floor and sides, offers a load space of 25.9 sq ft.

Total output for the hybrid powertrain on the Peugeot HR1 is 147 bhp, and power is sent to the wheels through an electronically-controlled 6-speed manual gearbox. The driver can also choose between two modes of operation, sequential or automatic. In a combined cycle the Peugeot HR1 can return 81 mpg (2.90 l/100km), while CO2 emissions are of 80 g/km.

Technical Data – Peugeot HR1 Concept Car

Petrol Engine	Capacity	1,197 cc
	Maximum power	110 bhp
	Maximum torque	195 Nm
Rear Electric Motor	Type	Synchronous with permanent magnets
	Continuous / peak power	27 bhp / 37 bhp
	Continuous / peak torque	100 Nm / 200 Nm
Total	Maximum potential power	147 bhp
Tyres	Type	Michelin
	Size	225 45 R19
Transmission	Type	Electronically-controlled six-speed manual gearbox
Fuel tank	Capacity	41 litres
Fuel Consumption	Combined cycle	81 mpg
	CO2 (g/km)	80 g
ZEV	Combined cycle	0
Zero Emission Vehicle	CO2 (g/km)	0
	Maximum range at constant speed	1.55 miles
Dimensions	Overall length	3694 mm
	Overall body width	1755 mm
	Overall height – with full tanks	1492 mm
	Wheelbase	2311 mm
	Front / rear overhang	703 mm / 680 mm
	Front / rear track	1534 mm / 1512 mm
Interior	Load area volume in 2 seat configuration	734 litres
	Load area volume in 3 seat configuration	457 litres
	Load area volume in 4 seat configuration	180 litres
Weight	Kerb weight with full tanks	1130 kg

The 2011 Toyota Highlander facelift

Japanese carmaker has releases today the 2011 Toyota Highlander price list for the USA market. The 2011 Toyota Highlander will be sold in U.S. both as a gasoline crossover and as a hybrid.

The 2011 Toyota Highlander facelift comes with a slightly modified exterior design, which includes new head lamps and taillights, a redesigned grille, new fog lamps and bumpers, new chrome accents and various other discrete changes.

The base Highlander still sports its 187-horsepower, 2.7-liter four-cylinder, but the same engine is now offered in the SE version as well. Limited editions come standard with a 273-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. All-wheel drive is available; it's standard on the Limited.

The second choices is a 3.5-litre V6 producing 270 HP and 248 lb-ft of torque that links to a 5-speed automatic gearbox, which enables the 2011 Toyota Highlander to return 28 mpg (both city and highway).

Highlander prices start at $27,390 for the base four-cylinder two-wheel drive model. The SE V6 two-wheel drive will be $33,150, while the Limited V6 four wheel-drive model will be $36,345. The Highlander Hybrid will range from $37,290 for the base model to $42,945 for the Limited model.