MicroHybrid

Citroen previewed its new design language at this year's Geneva Motor Show and will apply those styling ques to its DS4 five-door hatch, which will debut at the Paris Motor Show in a few short weeks. Stylistically, the DS4 looks ...

We've discussed the virtues of stop-start technology (aka micro hybrid) before and we've even touched on many of the upcoming models that are slated to receive this fuel-saving technology soon, but we never really expected that the stop-start system would become so widespread in application that ...

With much of our discussions focusing on hybrid powertrains and the electric cars of tomorrow, we occasionally overlook some of the simpler, efficiency-boosting technologies available today. A prime example of this is the second-generation micro-hybrid stop-start technology from Valeo called ...

It's easy to calculate that a car with the engine running but not moving is getting zero mpg. New technologies allow some cars to take control of the on/off switch from the driver when stopped. Whatever their name - stop-start, micro hybrid - automatic systems that shut down a vehicle's engine when ...

Stop & Start technology, also known as mild hybrization, is a relatively simple technology that can easily reduce fuel consumption in vehicles. Regular readers already know how it works. Basically, in most instances, the engine shuts down instead of idling, for instance at traffic lights, and ...

Letting engines idle away needlessly while a vehicle is at rest is a practice that's definitely on its way out. Some refer to the technology that ends this behavior automatically as stop/start, while others prefer the term micro hybrid. Whatever the case, the underlining technology is the same. The ...

It's time to add Fiat to the list of manufacturers - such as BMW, MINI and Kia - that will use Bosch Start/Stop technology. Fiat will start using this technology in the Fiat 500, initially with the 1.2-liter gasoline engine that is mated to the automanual Dualogic gearbox. This system includes a ...

The micro hybrid drive (mhd) smart fortwo (see previous post) has been upgraded. Oh, it's still micro, don't worry, but now the start-stop system will come standard on the 61hp and 71hp versions of the fortwo in the UK. Why is this a good thing? ...

Four years ago, Citroen started the whole stop/start trend when it introduced the technology on its C2 and C3 cars. Since then, many other automakers have picked up on the new green-tech, which shuts the engine off when it is not needed as opposed to ...

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz A-ClassWhile Mercedes-Benz is a leader in clean diesel technology, the German luxury brand has been lagging behind its arch-rival BMW when it comes to the adoption of green technology such as stop/start in its lower-end models. This ...