It would seem that Toyota has an interesting and hitherto unknown concept vehicle up its sleeves, judging by a European patent that L'Automobile in France was somehow able to dig up. Despite our best efforts, we weren't able to locate the actual patent filing ourselves, so you'll have to head on back after clicking here to see the rest of the associated images.

So, what do you think? Judging by the absolutely minuscule engine compartment and Toyota's well-earned position at the top of the hybrid vehicle food chain, it would be a reasonable assumption to conclude that this is some kind of new hybrid vehicle concept. It does seem to share some design cues with the 2007 1/X concept, though it could also be an all-electric, fuel cell or conventional engine design.

L'Automobile seems to think that this vehicle may wear a Lexus badge and could possibly debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, but we can't say for certain. In any case, it's an intriguing design that shows what styling direction the Japanese giant may take with future people movers.

[Source: L'Automobile (translated)]

Ford's electric vehicle (EV) naming scheme is becoming clear: add the word "electric" to a vehicle's standard name and presto, you've got the name of your new EV. Example Number One: the Ford Focus Electric. Example Number Two: the Ford Transit Connect Electric, which will get its official North American debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week. The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will go on sale into production later this year and will offer a range of 80 miles per charge and a top speed of 75 miles per hour. The van's 28 kWh battery recharges in six to eight hours.

Businesses that like the style and practicality of the the Transit Connect but don't necessarily think a plug is the way to go can choose a Transit Connect version that is powered by Ford's engine prep packages that burn compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane (LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas). This model, too, will arrive later this year. More details after the jump.




[Source: Ford]

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In the least surprising announcement of the day, Toyota has officially announced that it would recall 2010 model Priuses and Lexus HS250h models in globally along with the Toyota Sai in Japan to fix an issue the performance of the brake system. The latest in a series of safety-related problems with Toyotas became public last week when Toyota acknowledged that customers of the third-generation hybrid had complained of a loss of stopping power at low speeds.

Toyota also acknowledged that it had developed a software update to improve the blending of the regenerative and
friction braking systems and implemented into new production models sometime in January. The automaker did not, however, order a recall of vehicles in the field until more than a week after reports of the issue turned up in the media.

The Prius, Prius PHEV, HS250h and Sai (a Toyota-badged version of the Prius sold only in Japan) are all being recalled for the update. In total, about 400,000 vehicles are involved in this recall. First- and second-generation Priuses are not included since they have a different braking system.

In the same release, available after the break, Toyota also announced that it would recall about 7,300 2010 model Camrys to inspect a power steering hose that may sit to close to a brake hose and cause it to wear through.



[Source: Toyota]

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Could the apparent braking problems reported on the Toyota Prius – which Toyota admits was an issue on the current model prior to being resolved earlier this year – extend past the recently released 2010 model? According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the answer is a resounding... maybe.

The third generation of the popular hybrid hatchback hit the market in 2009 as a 2010 model, and some 300,000 vehicles are thought to have a software glitch that could cause the car to lose braking power for up to one full second under certain circumstances. Apparently, though, reports of braking issues have been pouring in since 2005 or even earlier. If true, over a million second-generation Prius hybrids could potentially be affected.

Perhaps it's worth mentioning that previous electronic issues have also been reported, such as headlights that burn out too quickly and malfunctioning traction control system. As pointed out by TheDetroitBureau, "ABS, traction control, electronic stability control and various other technologies all rely, at least in part, on braking to improve the stopping, handling and stability of today's cars, including Prius."



[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Now that the Super Bowl is over and the Audi Green Police commercial has aired without harm, one of the companies peripherally connected to the ad, T3 Motion, is proudly proclaiming their product's use by said police force. The product is the T3 Series electric trike, which has sold over 2,000 units and is used by police and security forces around the country (we've featured the trike on these pages before). The T3 Series can go up to 20 miles per hour and uses swappable batteries. Now, what's up with the company's CT3 personal commuter vehicle?

Back to the Audi ad. We also think there's a GEM electric vehicle that the Green Police use, which means Audi likes Chrysler EVs. As for what the anteater-like critter sniffing cars in the roadblock scene is, we'll leave it up to the zoologists out there to let us know. Watch the ad after the jump.

[Source: T3 Motion, Inc.]

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The chances that Bright Automotive will get $450 million from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program (ATVMLP) might have gone up a bit thanks to a recent visit from a representative of the Obama Administrative. Teno Villarreal, special assistant for the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, spent time in Anderson, IN, last week and learned more about the the Bright Idea plug-in hybrid van. Representatives from the start-up automaker told Villarreal that up to 6,000 jobs could be created if the Idea goes into production (up from 5,000 claimed earlier). Villarreal's response was, "It's great technology, a great company. There's real excitement about the possibilities at Bright." So, maybe?



[Source: The Herald Bulletin]

General Motors' two-mode hybrid system hasn't exactly been a commercial success. GM has had a hard time finding customers willing to part ways with $10,000 or more for a fully capable SUV with sedan-like city fuel economy, but that reportedly isn't stopping the Detroit, MI-based automaker from improving its hybrid formula for its next generation of vehicles. GM is said to be working on a new electric motor that will reportedly shrink in size by 25 percent while increasing power by 20 percent. These smaller, more powerful motors will reportedly help The General put its hybrid tech in even smaller vehicles.

Automotive News reports that Tom Stephens, GM's vice chairman of global product operations, told reporters that the company's next two-mode setup will be lighter and more affordable when it hits the streets in 2013. The system will reportedly still be available for SUVs and trucks, but Stephens says the system will also be available in rear-drive cars. Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics reportedly told AN that the easy money is on Cadillac getting the upgraded Two-Mode tech, with the next generation CTS and the ATS as the best bets to include the hybrid powertrain.

Given the fact that Cadillacs command a higher price tag, we're thinking that the Wreath and Crest is a good place to start if the automaker ever wants to make a profit off of a full hybrid vehicle. And with the STS likely to go away before 2013, we're thinking the CTS and ATS could be the only rear-drive Caddy sedans by the time 2013 rolls around. It can't hurt that the ATS and the next CTS will share the same platform either, making it easier/cheaper to add Two-Mode tech to both vehicles.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

The slim profile that is the Quantya line-up is about to alter its silhouette in the form of a new model, or so the company would seem to tease in a recent tweet. Presented for our postulating pleasure was a picture of their latest product veiled in a crimson red cloth with a promise of a reveal at the upcoming Swiss-Moto event in Zürich. Being the impatient people we are, we couldn't help but take some stabs at what lies beneath the shroud and so relying on our knowledge of the company and its history (and with some help from the software wonder that is Photoshop) we've ventured a few guesses. One concoction we can count out straight away is the Frankensnowbike, since the hem of the harboring garment is lifted just enough in front to see a bit of black tire rubber.

Hit the jump to look at our photo manipulations and leave your own conjecture in the comments section. If you don't feel like straining your brain, no need to leave quite so soon. Skip to the bottom of the page where we placed a sweet video Quantya has put together of their present piece of sweetness in competitive combat at last year's Ride Green Eco Enduro.

[Source: Quantya]

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Back in October at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda unveiled an electric vehicle concept called the EV-N. The EV-N design was inspired by the tiny N360 of the 1960s. While the EV-N may or may not provide a preview of an upcoming electric city car from Honda, a little custom car shop in Santa Rosa, CA has been working on the real thing.

Hector's Chop Shop has been working on an electric conversion of a 1969 Honda N360. The project has gone through many changes of direction since it started. Early on, the crew working on the project had planned to remove the cylinder head and crankshaft from the little front driver. The electric motor was to be mounted on top of the block with a dummy crank in the bottom of the block. The motor was to drive the dummy crank so that the stock clutch and gearbox could be used.

That plan obviously didn't work out and the DC motor is now being installed in the back of the body shell driving the rear wheels through a 1985 VW GTI gearbox. Check out the progress on the project at the shop's website.

[Source: Hector's Chop Shop via Clunkbucket]

The move to official automaker support for higher blends of biodiesel has been a slow one. One important step along the way were the establishment of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for B20 (20 percent biodiesel mixed with 80 percent petro diesel) in the middle of 2008. Last year, General Motors announced that the new 6.6-liter Duramax V8 engine would be factory certified to run on B20 sometime this spring. That time is now.

GM officially announced today at the National Biodiesel Conference that the 2011 Duramax 6.6l turbo diesel engine will be able to accept B20 (more details here). This engine will be used in the 2011 Chevy Silverado, the GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups, the Chevrolet Express and the GMC Savana full-size vans. The Silverado will be unveiled this week at the Chicago Auto Show, so stay tuned for more from the Windy City.

[Source: General Motors]

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