Toyota Hybrid Concept Electrifies NAIAS

Toyota FT-CH Hybrid Concept

When it comes to hybrid vehicles, Toyota easily leads the industry. The Toyota Prius is a runaway bestseller, while Lexus offers the only compact premium hybrid model on the market.

Toyota isn’t planning on stopping there, however. The Japanese automaker is looking at bringing out several new models over the next five years including plug-in hybrid, battery electric vehicles, and quite possibly the first production ready hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2015.

Toyota FT-CH Concept

On Monday at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Toyota introduced a concept which appears to offer a strong hint at where the automaker is heading. Designed and styled in Europe, the FT-CH is 22 inches shorter than the current Prius model, but within a hair breadth of its width. This is important because although the trend is toward smaller vehicles, encroaching on cabin space changes the pictures. With the FT-CH, Toyota can still offer adequate room while reducing overall weight and increasing fuel efficiency.

“Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply,” said Jim Lentz, TMS president. “A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid.”

New Technologies Emerging

Clearly, Toyota has no intention of completing abandoning gas-electric hybrids. Indeed, the FT-CH or something like it will feature a lithium-ion battery pack instead of the current nickel-cadmium battery pack found in today’s Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, and other models. The FT-CH might also operate as a pure electric vehicle or Toyota could use the platform for hydrogen technology.

In any case, the FT-CH as the pictures demonstrate, offer some hints at where Toyota is going with its designs. Take note of the dash and the see through seats: these features are not currently found in any Toyota model!

Source: Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc.

Five New Engines Power Ward’s List

Let’s put aside for a moment all of the “car of the year” awards rolling out lately. When it comes to what really counts, isn’t what can be found underneath the hood most important to many consumers? After all, the engine can’t get it done, you’re going nowhere.

Ward’s 10 Best Engines

Ward’s Auto has been running an annual list for some time which recognizes the best engines on the market — Ward’s 10 Best Engines list. The 2010 list is out and the list has five newcomers as well as five veterans. While three of the engines are produced by domestic automakers, the lone V8 engine comes courtesy of Hyundai.

34 vehicles from 13 car manufacturers were put through the paces in the Detroit area to determine this year’s winners. According to Ward’s Auto, each engine was scored based on horsepower, torque, refinement, technical relevance and comparative data. Each engine was evaluated because it was all-new, offered significant technology upgrades or was a returning winner from last year.

This year’s winners and the applications tested:

• 2.0L TFSI Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A4)
• 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi S4)
• 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel (BMW 335d)
• 2.5L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Ford Fusion Hybrid)
• 3.5L EcoBoost Turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Ford Taurus SHO)
• 2.4L Ecotec DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Equinox)
• 4.6L Tau DOHC V-8 (Hyundai Genesis)
• 2.5L Turbocharged DOHC H-4 (Subaru Legacy 2.5GT)
• 1.8L DOHC I-4 Hybrid (Toyota Prius)
• 2.0L SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI)

What Buyers Want

Ward’s noted that the winners underscore what consumers want from what’s under the hood: improved fuel economy, fewer emissions emitted, and performance. New technologies such as the Ford EcoBoost line makes all this possible although in some cases the more efficient engines are costlier to consumers.

Two of the engines chosen power a pair of hybrid models – Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Prius – while two other engines are diesels and can be found in the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI and BMW 335d models. Of the six other gas engines, only the two powering the Chevy Equinox and Hyundai Genesis are not turbocharged, though both engine incorporate direct fuel injection to yield more power while using less fuel.

Pictured: Ecotec 2.4L I4 Engine courtesy GM Corp.

Source: Ward’s Auto