Hybrid System

Ford Motor Co. will sell a hybrid-only minivan in the U.S. next year in a bid to challenge Toyota’s hybrid dominance. The five-passenger van will come in two versions: A gas-electric hybrid, like Toyota’s Prius, that gets more than 41 miles per gallon, and a plug-in hybrid, like the Chevrolet Volt, which will run on electric power but have a backup gas engine that kicks in when the power runs low. Gas and diesel versions of the minivan,...

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. is driving in different directions on its hybrid strategy by pulling the plug on its seven-year-old gasoline-electric Escape sport-utility vehicle while rolling out two hybrid versions of its Fusion family car. At the Detroit auto show, Ford yesterday introduced a sleekly restyled Fusion, a mid-size car that aims to gain ground on Toyota Motor Corp.'s top-selling Camry. This Fusion will come with a choice of three propulsion systems: traditional gasoline engine, a gas-electric hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid.

DETROIT -- Chrysler's famous Hemi V-8 engine, known more for power than fuel economy, will become more fuel-efficient when the company rolls out a hybrid version early next year. Chrysler Group said last week that it will offer a hybrid Hemi in its Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen sport utility vehicles that will improve their fuel economy by nearly 40 percent in the city and about 25 percent on the highway. Analysts have said the "two-mode" hybrid system, developed jointly with General Motors Corp.

DEARBORN, Mich. - A chance meeting at an airport between top executives of Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. has evolved into a deal to jointly develop a gas-electric hybrid engine for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. The companies signed the agreement yesterday to share development costs, saying they want to make the technology more affordable and bring it to market faster. Many details have yet to be worked out, but both said their vehicles would remain unique, even if they share the same drive systems.

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. is driving in different directions on its hybrid strategy by pulling the plug on its seven-year-old gasoline-electric Escape sport-utility vehicle while rolling out two hybrid versions of its Fusion family car. At the Detroit auto show, Ford yesterday introduced a sleekly restyled Fusion, a mid-size car that aims to gain ground on Toyota Motor Corp.'s top-selling Camry. This Fusion will come with a choice of three propulsion systems: traditional gasoline engine, a gas-electric hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid.

DEARBORN, Mich. — For the first time, an American automaker plans to sell a hybrid car for the same, lower price as its gas-powered counterpart, removing at least one obstacle for drivers who want a greener ride. At a little more than $35,000, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ sedan won’t be cheap, but the decision by Ford to match the prices of the two styles could lead competitors to follow suit with future models. The hybrid MKZ, debuting this fall and running on both gas and electric power, will be a bargain after factoring in savings at the pump.

Chrysler's first foray into the hybrid market affects its two full-size SUV twins, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango. Using a two-mode hybrid system codeveloped with General Motors , Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, the hybrid versions of both SUVs purportedly yield 40 percent better city mileage than their gasoline counterparts. The Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids, which use the same two-mode technology, are the Durango's main competitors. Though Dodge positions the regular Durango slightly downstream of the Aspen, the SUVs' respective hybrid versions are...

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. - General Motors Corp. will test the market for a full-size luxury hybrid SUV when it releases the industry's first vehicle in that category - the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - next month. It's a market that could be hostile. US sales of the nonhybrid Escalade have fallen 29 percent so far this year as consumers spooked by high gas prices and the shaky economy abandon larger vehicles. Sales of GM's other hybrid sport utility vehicles, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, also have been slower than GM had hoped.

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall about 82,200 hybrid SUVs in the U.S. due to computer boards with possible faulty wiring. The car giant said the recall will involve Highlander and Lexus brand hybrid SUVs from its 2006 and 2007 lines. The action covers just the vehicles sold in the U.S., with no other models affected. The recall is the latest setback for Toyota, which is just recovering from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan in March.

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG are teaming up to develop fuel-saving hybrid engines in hopes of cashing in on an expanding market already dominated by hybrid leaders Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Financial terms of the agreement between GM, the world's largest automaker, and its German-American rival weren't disclosed yesterday, but Tom Stephens, GM's group vice president for powertrains, said it likely will involve an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall about 82,200 hybrid SUVs in the U.S. due to computer boards with possible faulty wiring. The car giant said the recall will involve Highlander and Lexus brand hybrid SUVs from its 2006 and 2007 lines. The action covers just the vehicles sold in the U.S., with no other models affected. The recall is the latest setback for Toyota, which is just recovering from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan in March.

Ford Motor Co. will sell a hybrid-only minivan in the U.S. next year in a bid to challenge Toyota’s hybrid dominance. The five-passenger van will come in two versions: A gas-electric hybrid, like Toyota’s Prius, that gets more than 41 miles per gallon, and a plug-in hybrid, like the Chevrolet Volt, which will run on electric power but have a backup gas engine that kicks in when the power runs low. Gas and diesel versions of the minivan,...

DEARBORN, Mich. — For the first time, an American automaker plans to sell a hybrid car for the same, lower price as its gas-powered counterpart, removing at least one obstacle for drivers who want a greener ride. At a little more than $35,000, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ sedan won’t be cheap, but the decision by Ford to match the prices of the two styles could lead competitors to follow suit with future models. The hybrid MKZ, debuting this fall and running on both gas and electric power, will be a bargain after factoring in savings at the pump.

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. - General Motors Corp. will test the market for a full-size luxury hybrid SUV when it releases the industry's first vehicle in that category - the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - next month. It's a market that could be hostile. US sales of the nonhybrid Escalade have fallen 29 percent so far this year as consumers spooked by high gas prices and the shaky economy abandon larger vehicles. Sales of GM's other hybrid sport utility vehicles, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, also have been slower than GM had hoped.

Chrysler's first foray into the hybrid market affects its two full-size SUV twins, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango. Using a two-mode hybrid system codeveloped with General Motors , Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, the hybrid versions of both SUVs purportedly yield 40 percent better city mileage than their gasoline counterparts. The Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids, which use the same two-mode technology, are the Durango's main competitors. Though Dodge positions the regular Durango slightly downstream of the Aspen, the SUVs' respective hybrid versions are similarly equipped.

DETROIT -- Chrysler's famous Hemi V-8 engine, known more for power than fuel economy, will become more fuel-efficient when the company rolls out a hybrid version early next year. Chrysler Group said last week that it will offer a hybrid Hemi in its Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen sport utility vehicles that will improve their fuel economy by nearly 40 percent in the city and about 25 percent on the highway. Analysts have said the "two-mode" hybrid system, developed jointly with General Motors Corp.

DEARBORN, Mich. - A chance meeting at an airport between top executives of Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. has evolved into a deal to jointly develop a gas-electric hybrid engine for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. The companies signed the agreement yesterday to share development costs, saying they want to make the technology more affordable and bring it to market faster. Many details have yet to be worked out, but both said their vehicles would remain unique, even if they share the same drive systems.

Unlimited smartphone service for $19 a month? Really? That's the plan from Republic Wireless, a North Carolina company that's trying to set a new standard in dirt-cheap communications. Consumers are taking the bait; there's a long waiting list to sign up for the service at republicwireless.com. I don't see how they can survive at this price. Indeed, the company admits that it is testing the concept and may decide it is unsustainable. That would be a tragedy, because Republic is delivering a remarkable bargain when smartphone bills can easily run $80 a...

DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG are teaming up to develop fuel-saving hybrid engines in hopes of cashing in on an expanding market already dominated by hybrid leaders Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Financial terms of the agreement between GM, the world's largest automaker, and its German-American rival weren't disclosed yesterday, but Tom Stephens, GM's group vice president for powertrains, said it likely will involve an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.