First Drive: Toyota Prius+
- 29 June 2012
So if you consider the Prius purely for its rational benefits – reliability, practicality and fuel efficiency, boosted further by the environmental credibility of not churning out diesel fumes – then there’ll
So if you consider the Prius purely for its rational benefits – reliability, practicality and fuel efficiency, boosted further by the environmental credibility of not churning out diesel fumes – then there’ll
The old GS, with its un-European styling and hybrid-only range, couldn’t quite cut it against the tactile plastics and low-CO2 diesel engines of the German rivals. But it seems Lexus has learned
For fleets looking to source this clever range-extending vehicle, the obvious strategy is to go to Opel/Vauxhall with its well-established fleet credentials and vast dealer network. But Chevrolet is keen for
So while most manufacturers are bringing electric vehicles to market, Toyota has stuck to its core technology and is broadening its hybrid family worldwide. European buyers will get this in its smallest form
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles share a few basic components with a pure electric car. There's an electric motor powering the wheels, no reliance on petrol or diesel, and a lithium ion battery
But the business case for large hybrids has often been tricky. Lexus and Infiniti both cater for markets such as the United States and Japan, where air quality regulations make petrol-electric hybrids
At just shy of £30,000 for the forthcoming entry-level model, ranging to £34,000 for the top of the range 'Electron' version, that high-tech drivetrain doesn’t come cheap. But that’s likely to be
Whether the debate is informed or not depends on the company you keep, but there is evidence that a growing number of drivers are starting to accept the fact the EVs are
This month the ActiveHybrid5 goes on sale in the UK, priced at £46,860 and with a comprehensive specification as standard. From the outside it looks like any other 5 Series – save
Volvo sees this as a corporate-focussed car in the UK, at least once it reaches full production. The first 1,000 cars begin leaving the line next November, but even as one of
The Evoque has paved the way for the new generation – a smaller car made with more widespread use of lightweight materials and, like the Freelander, a front wheel drive option. And,
For a start, it doesn’t shout about being revolutionary. Almost indistinguishable from a conventional Kangoo, electric versions of the compact commercial are only marked out by the discreet charging socket on the
But mass-market electrification arrives first with this A6 hybrid, due in Germany next winter ahead of a 2013 UK launch. Seemingly designed to offer a balance of performance and economy, it’s not
Even with staggeringly high fuel costs and increasing social and financial pressure to reduce emissions, there are still one billion cars on the road globally and that figure is growing. We’re showing