The Mercedes Benz S-Class has recently launched a new minutely-changed version for 2010. It has also launched two new models, namely the S600 and the S400 Hybrid. It is said to have improved technology for better safety, comfort and drive.
Tesla broke into the scene with the promise of an all-electric sports car that was extremely quick and required no petrol whatsoever. They recently fulfilled that promise with the showroom-ready Tesla Roadster, which are already on their way to early buyers. Their latest plan is to offer a more practical car, but with the same ideas of sportiness and efficiency as the Roadster. That new car is the Tesla Model S, and its first prototype was publicly shown in the United States.
The American Chevrolet Volt has already been revealed, not quite ready, but confirming its final form when it does hit production in 2010. Now Opel, GM’s European arm, has revealed its own version of the Volt, calling it the Opel Ampera. While the play on the name is amusing, what is more interesting is the Ampera, just like the Volt, claims an electric-only range of 60 km, with a total range of 500 km aided by a small petrol engine.
The 2010 Toyota Camry will be out in the GCC by summer. The Camry models that come here are built in Australia, and now, that factory will add a hybrid model to their line-up. To celebrate the hybrid version of the Camry, Toyota Australia created this one-off concept for the 2009 Melbourne Auto Show, called the HC-CV.
While the appetite for petrol-hogs drive economies here, hybrid-electric cars continue to evolve in Western markets, with the introduction of the 2010 Toyota Prius and the 2010 Honda Insight at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Both are very similar cars, and both come with a petrol engine that supplements itself with self-generated electrical power. Both also offer increasingly impressive fuel consumption figures, compared to any other hybrids before them.
Lexus unveiled the all-new 2010 RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The RX supposedly pioneered the car-based luxury SUV segment when it launched in 1998 for he American market. The new model continues that old formula almost exactly.
Kia is trying its hand in the electric rat race, with a new hydrogen-powered electric vehicle built from a Mohave. Their previous prototype was based on the Sportage, but maybe this one even goes off-road. It is being showcased at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The 2010 Mercury Milan has been launched at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, offering up a fresh new face to the unloved midsize sedan, along with new engines shared with the 2010 Ford Fusion.
The Toyota Prius has become a fashion icon around the world for those who want to appear environmentally-conscious. It was the world’s first mass-produced four-door hybrid, powered by a petrol engine mated to an electric engine that recharged itself through regenerative braking technology. The current generation of the Prius is most recognisable, and Toyota has chosen to keep its existing shape for the 2010 model, while updating some styling, tech and interior details.
Just when you thought Audi couldn’t do any worse, the VW-owned German manufacturer is now planning to release a subcompact hatchback called the Audi A1 Sportback. Currently only shown in concept form at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, the A1 wants to take aim at the Mini, but will most likely become known as an overpriced Yaris competitor.