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First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end?

BMW's pitch on how great the X6 ActiveHybrid is goes like this: it's the world's most powerful hybrid vehicle, fuel consumption is reduced about 20 percent compared to a similar vehicle without a hybrid drivetrain, and no matter what speed you're going, the incredibly complicated powertrain is performing at the most efficient level possible. All of this power means that the X6 hybrid is no sluggish Toyota Prius, offering frugal but unexciting performance. On the other hand, the size and weight of BMW's luxury hybrid crossover means that, ... Read more →

Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices Sam Abuelsamid

If there is one thing people love, it's personal mobility. After all, what other species regularly harness other creatures for the sole purpose of getting around. The auto industry is all about ...

First Drive: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport improves on original, keeps quirks Sebastian Blanco

To get from zero to 60 mph in the original Tesla Roadster takes an official 3.9 seconds. The brand new 2010 Roadster Sport beats that with a wonderful 3.7 seconds. Those two-tenths of a second ...

Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - What a difference 60 degrees makes Sam Abuelsamid

Recently, we had our third opportunity to drive the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Actually, the last go around was with a Mercury Milan Hybrid, but aside from a different nose and fanny, it is the same ...

Quick Drive: Buick/Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid prototype Sam Abuelsamid

We had a chance for a quick drive of a development prototype for Buick's upcoming plug-in hybrid crossover this week at the GM proving ground. The prototype was still wearing its Saturn grille ...

First Drive: VW Passat Ling Yu - The technology of tomorrow in the car of today 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

In many ways the automotive world – like most industries – runs like 19th century Europe: wars, skirmishes, diplomacy, assignations, shifting alliances, double dealing, imperialism. Everybody wants something the other guy has, and they'll occasionally exercise some ruthless tactics ...

First Drive: 2010 Lexus HS 250h is pretty on the inside 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Just because The Cold War is over doesn't mean that all cold wars have come to an end. Two protagonists in the auto industry – once again, East vs. West – are currently embroiled in an in-car safety and technology arms race that is beginning to look more like NASA vs. Roskosmos than ...

First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost and MKS EcoBoost 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

For the last year and a half, Ford has repeatedly discussed EcoBoost as its high volume, mainstream technology for reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. While Ford is putting a lot of effort into developing hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles, the high cost of those ...

Quick Drive: Nissan EV-02 prototype 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

Among the world's high-volume manufacturers, two stand apart from the crowd in their efforts to bring battery electric vehicles to the masses. Nissan and Mitsubishi have been diligently developing EVs, and traveling the world to sign agreements with utilities, research organizations and ...

First Drive: Chevrolet Volt powertrain mule w/VIDEO 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

- It's been 28 months since we watched Bob Lutz drive onto the stage at Cobo Hall in Detroit and step out of the Chevrolet Volt concept. In the intervening period, a corporate drama of epic proportions has transpired as Lutz has gone into semi-retirement, Rick Wagoner has been ousted as CEO and ...

Quick Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid, two-mode goes German 7 months ago on Autoblog Green

An hour after Mercedes-Benz unveiled its new ML450 hybrid at the New York Auto Show, we got to take our first quick drive in the first German version of a two-mode hybrid. Mercedes-Benz has been collaborating with General Motors, Chrysler and BMW for the last four years to develop the two-mode ...

First Drive: 2010 Toyota Prius puts up BIG numbers 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

When you sit in the 2010 Toyota Prius, you notice all those little things that provide the "Prius experience" – the shift lever, information screen, center-mounted instrument panel – are all present, but they're slightly different and noticeably improved. The time it takes to adapt ...

First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche's Cayenne S Hybrid 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

While charging along at 85 mph with a particularly poker-faced Porsche engineer riding shotgun, traffic begins to cluster on the horizon. Not willing to risk our seven-figure prototype, I gently roll off the accelerator, at which point a funny thing happens: Without warning, the tachometer ...

First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Once again, this time-honored dictum is proving true as pickup trucks regain their rightful place at the top of the U.S. sales charts following a precipitous fall from grace last summer. As you've undoubtedly noticed, the cost of gasoline has ...

ABG Quick Drive: Ford Focus EV mule [w/VIDEO] 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

As Ford was getting ready to make its big announcement this week in Detroit that it would build and sell a battery electric car beginning in 2011, I got a call asking if I'd like to come down and drive one of the development "mules." Being loathe to reject such opportunities, we immediately ...

ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight, 63.4 mpg! 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Honda may not have been first to market with a modern hybrid electric vehicle, but the original Insight did beat the Toyota Prius to the US by a few months. As so many other companies have discovered over the years, being first doesn't necessarily guarantee success. You also need the right ...

First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid 11 months ago on Autoblog Green

43.1 mpg on the streets of LA! While General Motors and Chrysler basically turned out the lights on their presence at the LA Auto Show last month, Ford kicked off one of its biggest product onslaughts in decades. The 2010 Mustang may have captured the hearts of enthusiasts, but the heavily ...

ABG First Drive: 2009 BMW 335d 12 months ago on Autoblog Green

Last week, BMW revealed most of the details on its first new 50-state legal clean diesels and we've now had the chance to spend some quality time behind the wheel of the new US-spec 335d. Following our arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, we were sent off in a brand new US-spec, 50 ...

First Drive: Daimler F-Cell, Hyundai FCEV, Toyota FCHV and GM HydroGen4 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

The hydrogen economy seems to be very far away into the future, if it ever comes to fruition at all. If hydrogen is going to make a significant impact as a major source of energy, an infrastructure for getting the hydrogen to consumers will be a necessity, as will the solutions to complex ...

Driven: 2009 Tesla Roadster v1.5 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Last January we landed an exclusive first drive of the Tesla Roadster. We were impressed, but well aware that the particular two-gear model we drove that wet afternoon wasn't identical to the version set to land in customers' hands later in the year. Last week, we were invited back to briefly ...

AutoblogGreen First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sedan 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI The state of California has the toughest vehicle emissions regulations in the world with its LEV II (and the corresponding national Tier 2 Bin 5) standards. Those rules treat all engine types the same regardless of what type of fuel they use. It doesn't matter if the ...

ABG First Drive: 2009 Honda Fit Sport 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Click the 2009 Honda Fit Sport for a high res gallery When Honda introduced the first generation Fit to the North American market in mid-2006, its timing couldn't have been better. The entry level hatchback appeared just as fuel prices in the U.S. were heading skyward. Ever since then, the Fit has ...

ABG First Drive: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Click for a high-res gallery As of this month GM is adding a third model to its family of Two-Mode hybrids as the Cadillac Escalade hybrid becomes the first luxury SUV so equipped. The Escalade is of course built on the same GMT900 platform as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. As such much of what ...

ABG First Drive: 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Click the 2009 Escape Hybrid for a high res gallery When we visited with the 2008 Ford Escape hybrid last year, it had just received a whole new look. It went from the softer, rounder appearance of the first-generation model that debuted in 2001 to a sharper-edged look more in keeping with its big ...


Featured Galleries

  • 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom
  • Smart ED production
  • Tesla Roadster audio recording for video games
  • Production i-MiEVs in the UK
  • Hyundai 2.4L direct injected Theta II
  • Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid bus
  • Chevy Volt hits the streets in Royal Oak
  • 2010 Nissan LEAF
  • 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 hybrid
  • Renault Fluence ZE concept
  • Governor Schwarzenegger with the Zero S
  • Peugeot Concept HYbrid3 Evolution

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