BMW i Range Will Not Get SUV, Says Report

BMW’s i range currently consists of just two models: the city-oriented i3 and the much sportier profiled i8, and the manufacturer has trademarked all names from i1 to i9, with the stated intention to use all of them. However, as CarAdvice of Australia reports, none of those badges will adorn the tailgate of an SUV, as it has been deemed unfit for the profile of the green sub-brand, and thus one won't be made.

They recently spoke with the manager for the i3 project, Roland Kowalski, who explained that “the thing with the SUVs is nobody, more than 90 per cent, needs four-wheel drive for the city. The SUV trend is only a thing about the space or the roominess.”

He argued that the i3 offers just as much interior space as a 3-Series, while sitting on the same wheelbase as a 1-Series hatchback.

Another statement was made by BMW’s vice-president of functional integration and driving dynamics, Jos van As, who commented on the naming policy:

“If you start with i1, what do you do if you want to make a smaller car? A 0.5?” he said, completing the idea with “I think they did it to leave space for something if we want to do something different. And that’s something we’re developing. With the separate i [brand] we take a very deliberate step in one direction if the world is moving towards less emissions, [problems with] petrol availability, etc.”

Is this good or bad news? Would you have been intrigued by the prospect of (say) a purpose-built all-electric or range extender SUV with a BMW badge? I know I won’t miss it…

By Andrei Nedelea

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Scoop: Spindle Grille 2014 Lexus CT 200h F-Sport Caught Without Camo

If last month's brochure scans of the mildly updated 2014 CT 200h weren't convincing enough for you, then perhaps these scoop photos of a camouflage-free prototype of Lexus' compact hybrid will do the job.

The model that was captured on camera by our scoop photographers is the more dynamic looking and handling F-Sport edition, which in its refreshed form, features the Lexus brand's now signature pinched grille flowing above the redesigned bumper with a large plastic honeycomb insert and satin silver trim.

The only other noticeable styling changes on this car are the new alloy wheels and the reworked rear bumper with a different diffuser. Similar cosmetic updates should be applied to the regular CT 200h hatchback.

Whether Lexus has also altered the compact model's interior and hybrid powertrain remains unknown at this time.

Look for the 2014MY to make its debut in one of the international motor shows in the following months.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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Range Topping Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD Coming to LA Auto Show

The most powerful Acura sedan ever, the new RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, will make its formal premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 20, 2013, some six months after the market launch of the base version of the lineup that sports a 310HP 3.5-liter V6 driving the front wheels.

The flagship version of Acura's new RLX series combines a 3.5-liter SOHC direct-injected i-VTEC V6 engine with a 7-speed dual clutch  transmission and three electric motors to produce a combined 377HP, with the Japanese automaker stating that the all-wheel drive model returns an estimated 30mpg combined fuel economy.

Acura is expected to announce full specifications, along with a sales date (likely before the end of the year) and pricing, which will be more than the $48,050 it commands for the base RLX.

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Peugeot to Put Compressed Air Hybrid Technology Into Production by 2015

Peugeot is working on making its HybridAir technology, which uses compressed air to boost a small capacity petrol engine, available for its road cars. Just like an electric motor, the Hybrid Air system can operate in zero emissions air mode, with compressed air used to drive the hydraulic motor, which then turns the transmission and the front wheels.

The system can also operate in petrol-engine-only mode, or petrol and air altogether. The compressed air tank is refilled by a hydraulic pump under deceleration or braking.

Showcased on the 208 Hybrid FE Concept, Peugeot’s Hybrid Air technology could lead to production cars averaging 100 mpg UK (2.8 l/100 km). According to a report from AutoExpress, the French carmaker won’t bring the technology to its road cars earlier than 2015, but when all details will be sorted out it expects improvements on the 100 mpg figure.

On a typical B-segment car like the Peugeot 208, the technology could bring an average fuel economy of 97.3 mpg UK (2.9 l/100 km) and CO2 emissions of 69 g/km. That would be a serious improvement over the most efficient 208 in the range today, the 1.4 e-Hdi, which emits 87 g/km.

Using solutions from the 208 FE Hybrid concept, Peugeot believes efficiency figures can be further improved to around 141 mpg UK (2 l/100 km).

By Dan Mihalascu

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Nissan Prices the 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid from $35,110 in the U.S.

Nissan has announced pricing for the 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid, which joins the Pathfinder 3.5-liter model in the crossover's expanded 2014 lineup in the U.S.

The Pathfinder Hybrid starts with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $35,110 (€25,430) for the SV 2WD Hybrid model, compared with a starting price of $32,110 (€23,260) for a similarly equipped SV 2WD 3.5-liter V6 model. Prices do not include an $860 (€623) destination and handling fee.

The 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid is powered by a supercharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and a compact Lithium-ion battery. The battery is placed under the third row seat and doesn’t affect passenger space or cargo space.

The hybrid system uses a Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch System (one motor / two clutch parallel system) that manages power from both the electric motor and the gas engine. The 15 kW electric motor and gas engine work in tandem to provide performance equivalent to the Pathfinder 3.5-liter gasoline V6 model.

The hybrid system is rated at 250 horsepower and 243 lb-ft (329 Nm) of torque, compared with 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque (325 Nm) on the 3.5-liter V6 model.

The Pathfinder Hybrid averages 26 mpg (9.8 l/100 km) on the combined cycle and is 24 percent more fuel-efficient than the standard Pathfinder. City fuel economy is 25 mpg (9.4 l/100 km), while highway mileage is rated at 28 mpg (8.4 l/100 km) – for the 4WD model highway mileage is 27 mpg (8.7 l/100 km).

Driving range is estimated at more than 546 miles (879 km), thanks to the 19.5-gallon (73.8-liter) fuel tank.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Report: Honda May Stop Selling the Insight and CR-Z Hybrids in Europe

The Honda Insight and CR-Z hybrids may be discontinued in Europe before the arrival of next-generation models, because of poor sales. A company source quoted by AutoExpress said the next-generation Insight and CR-Z would continue to be offered in North America and Japan, but not in Europe, since current hybrid models returned disappointing sale numbers.

Launched in 2010, the Honda CR-Z was criticized for its relatively low combined output of 122hp and average performance, although the Japanese carmaker billed it as a “sport hybrid coupe”. The car combines a hybrid powertrain with a manual gearbox (a first for a series production hybrid). In 2012, Honda upped the car’s combined output to 135 hp, but that didn’t result in a sales boom.

The CR-Z seems to be missing the point, as it’s neither fast (0-100 km/h takes 9.1 seconds in the Sport model) nor economical enough for a hybrid. Honda’s claimed average fuel economy is 5 l/100 km (56.6 mpg UK/47 mpg US), which doesn’t quite justify paying a premium for the hybrid technology.

The Honda Insight failed to impress Europeans as well, despite being much more frugal than the CR-Z, at 4.1 l/100 km (68.9 mpg UK/57.3 mpg US) and 96 g/km of CO2. That is still behind the segment’s leader, the Toyota Prius, which claims 3.9 l/100 km (72.4 mpg UK/60.3 mpg US) and 89 g/km of CO2.

The good news is that Honda’s new Jazz hybrid and the upcoming NSX hybrid supercar won’t be affected by the move regarding the CR-Z and the Insight, as the carmaker says its decisions to axe models are strictly based on each car’s sales performance.

By Dan Mihalascu

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