A new dashboard design for the liquefied petroleum gas-electric hybrid version of the Avante has been released and will be installed upon the launch of the car for next month. The Hyundai Avante is the first hybrid car that makes use of a 1.6-litre LPG engine that manages 17.8 kilometers per liter of fuel.

One highlight of the new gauges is the image of a plant in the center of the speedometer which lights up if the car is well-maintained with the highest fuel efficiency.

The dashboard also has an Eco Guide display that tells the driver how economically the car is being driven.

(Source) Asia One

Tags: Dashboard, eco guide, fuel efficiency, highlight, hybrid car, hybrid version, Hyundai, hyundai avante, kilometers, launch, liquefied petroleum gas, liter, speedometer

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A lot of the attention these days is on the Honda Insight. However, that is not all they have under their wing. And one of the overlooked vehicles that is still popular these days is the Honda Civic. And if reports hold true, we may yet see the future of the Civic, reportedly set to come out by 2012.

According to Japanese automotive magazine Mag-X, Honda is finalising the design and details for the 2012 Civic, and if the magazine is to be believed, we’ll see different sedan, coupe and hatch versions for different markets, much the same as with the current model.

The buzz around is that the new Honda Civic will come out with a hybrid version as well as a 1.5 petrol mill. This picks off from the line of Honda vehicles where the Insight is gaining ground. So if that were to be the case, it only makes sense that Honda will consider unveiling hybrid versions for their vehicles. In fact it would not be surprising if all their vehicles would suddenly come out with their separate and independent hybrid versions in the future.

-> New York Auto Insurance

(Source) Motor Report

Tags: automotive magazine, buzz, future source, hatch, Honda, honda insight, honda vehicles, hybrid version, hybrid versions, new honda civic

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Ford is thankful that it has one vehicle doing well in the market. The vehicle is their Ford Fusion and thanks to the growing popularity of this vehicle, they have moved up in the retail market share for April.

In April, the Ford Fusion paced the share performance. Fusion sales totaled 18,321, a record for any month. April was the first full month of sales for the redesigned 2010 model and the new Fusion Hybrid version, and April is believed to be the first month that Fusion was among the top three-selling mid-size sedans. Recent independent studies rate Fusion and the Mercury Milan – the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America – as having the best predicted reliability among all mid-size sedans.

The new Fusion Hybrid is one of four hybrid models offered by Ford. Hybrid models also are offered in the Mercury Milan mid-size sedan and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles. All Ford hybrid models are the most fuel-efficient vehicles in their class, and the Ford Escape and Ford Fusion recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s list of Top 10 Green Cars. In April, combined sales of all hybrid models totaled 2,299, up 21 percent versus a year ago.

Other new Ford products contributed to the retail share performance, including the new F-150 pickup, America’s best-selling vehicle, and Ford Flex, the distinctively styled crossover utility that had its best sales month ever (3,190).

(Source) Press

Tags: Crossover, ford escape, ford fusion, ford products, fuel efficient vehicles, green cars, hybrid models, hybrid version, kelley blue book, Mercury, mercury mariner, mercury milan, mid size sedans, new ford, utility vehicles

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At a time when hybrids and fuel efficient cars are increasing in demand, leave it to Kia Motors to come up with a vehicle to satisfy those areas. Kia Motors Corp. yesterday unveiled the liquefied petroleum gas-electric hybrid version of the Forte and its eco-friendly sub-brand Eco Dynamics.

Eco Dynamics is a sub-brand that represents ecology and economics and the company’s aim of developing environmentally friendly automotive technologies, the logo for which will be used on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles to be launched in the future.

The hybrid Forte is equipped with a 1.6-liter LPG engine and an electric motor to support the internal combustion engine during acceleration and when the vehicle is started.

The LPI hybrid Forte is the world’s first hybrid vehicle to be fitted with a lithium-ion polymer battery, which is lighter and smaller but has higher output than nickel-metal hydride batteries. The company also altered the exterior and interior design of the hybrid Forte to set it apart from the normal version of the vehicle. The company said that it plans to develop a distinct tune that will be played when the hybrid Forte is started to further differentiate the car from conventional vehicles and use the tune in advertising campaigns.

The hybrid Forte will also be shown at the Seoul Motor Show that opens on April 2.

(Source) Korea Herald

Tags: acceleration, advertising campaigns, automotive technologies, conventional vehicles, hybrid vehicle, hybrid version, hybrids, hydrogen powered vehicles, internal combustion engine, kia motors corp, korea herald, liquefied petroleum gas, lithium, lithium ion polymer, lithium ion polymer battery, nickel metal hydride batteries, plug in hybrid, Seoul

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Ford is taking note of their competitors and it looks like its own hybrid version, the 2010 Ford Fusion is going to give them a run for their money. From the looks and reviews gathered from this latest hyped auto from Ford, you would think it was a fresh concept coming out of the books of hybrid development of cars.

The 2010 Ford Fusion seems to cover everything from the outer to the internal features and one thing you just got to love about it is the new 3-D gauge cluster with turquoise accent lighting.

Expect the 2010 Ford Fusion model to be in the ranks of the leading hybrid cars vying for a fair share of the hybrid market. If the initial looks are impressive, wait until actual car owners get a chance to drive it out in the streets.

For 2010, the Fusion offers a three-engine lineup, which includes one four-cylinder and two V-6s. The base 2.5-liter I-4 engine, available at the S, SE and SEL trim levels, delivers 175 horsepower, a 15 horsepower leap over the 2009 model.

Via Search Chicago

Tags: accent lighting, car owners, Ford, ford fusion, fusion model, horsepower, hybrid cars, hybrid development, hybrid race, hybrid version, liter

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