According to Inside Line, which is quoting an unnamed "senior BMW authority out of Munich," the German automaker will indeed build a production version of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept that debuted last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW is reportedly planning for a model run of between 5,000 and 10,000 units for 2013. We'll get to the details in a moment, but here's the best news: "That name that the marketing people forced on us [is] going to change for sure." Phew.

Apparently, BMW has no plans to ditch the radical plug-in hybrid powertrain, which put out 356 horsepower and a stonkin' 590 pound-feet of torque in the concept. That means we'll get something similar to the turbocharged three-cylinder diesel range extender and twin electric motors powered by a lithium polymer battery pack that was featured in Frankfurt. Sounds great so far, and BMW claims the performance will be even better than the 4.8-second 0 to 60 run quoted for the concept.

Naturally, some of the Vision's more outlandish exterior bits will go the way of the Dodo, but IL reports BMW's target of weight is still under 3,000 pounds, meaning that high-tech composites and construction techniques are a veritable lock. Price for this next-gen eco-friendly supercar? Nothing announced – but if you have to ask... well, you know the rest.



[Source: Inside Line]

You might have thought that anyone who's willing to go to the trouble of modifying his ride with questionable exterior modifications in the name of fuel efficiency would start with a small, efficient vehicle in the first place. Apparently, that's not always the case, as can be seen by the Toyota T100 pickup truck above.

As is usually the case with these kinds of aero mods, the owner added a lengthy nose extension that smoothly cuts through the wind along with wheel skirts along the front and rear fenders and a sloping rear. We also see smooth, disc-shaped wheels, a wedge-shaped hood and clear plastic covers of the headlamps.

Besides the lone image, we don't really know anything else about this truck. If you happen to have any inside details on its construction or owner, feel free to leave a link in the comments.

[Source: TweetPhoto via Jalopnik]

When you think of a classic road-going Mustang, visions of Blue Ovals and good ol' Carroll Shelby likely begin dancing in your head. But there was a highly collectible Mustang in America way before Ford decided what we really needed was an inexpensive sportscar for the masses. Instead of four wheels, the first Mustangs needed just two to get the job done.

The original Mustang motorcycle was introduced in 1947 by a small company in Glendale, CA. The diminutive machines used a small 122cc two-stroke engine from Villiers and wheels measuring a scant 12-inches in diameter. They weren't exactly performance machines, but the Mustang got around pretty smartly and allowed 20,000 new riders to hit the wide open road.

Now, California Scooter Company plans to launch a new Mustang to the American market, this time using a more environmentally friendly 149cc four-stroke powerplant that can reportedly return some 60 miles per gallon in normal operation with a top speed of 55 miles per hour. Wheels retain the original dinner plate-size. Three versions will be available; one standard model that's tough to distinguish at first glance from the original, a (completely unfortunate) pink Babydoll version and a flat-black bobber called the Greaser. Alternatively, you can order a custom model just the way you want it.

Production bikes are scheduled for availability in March for a starting price of $4,995 for all three models. Check out the image gallery below and click past the break for a couple videos showing the bikes in action.



[Source: California Scooter Company via Motorcycle Classics]

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News of an impending hybrid from Ferrari are nothing new, but now we appear to have an actual date when the Italian supercar manufacturer plans to show such a vehicle in an official setting. And it's coming soon: during the first week in March at the Geneva Motor Show, says Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo.

The hybrid announcement came during the unveiling of Ferrari's new F10 Formula One car, which seems appropriate as it was during the 2009 F1 season when Ferrari first began using its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) – a kind of hybrid technology that captures energy normally lost to braking in a flywheel – in actual competition... with mixed results, of course.

We can't say for sure what kind of hybrid setup Ferrari will show off in its 599 supercar, but something similar in principle to the race-bred KERS seems like a distinct possibility, and we know the automaker has been dabbling in all-wheel drive hybrids as well. In any case, Ferrari promises a production hybrid vehicle in the near future. Stay tuned.



[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Mikhail Prokhorov, also known as the Richest Man in Russia and hopeful new owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA franchise, is reportedly planning to launch a new city car through his Onexim Group. Reports coming out of Russia are saying that the vehicle will sport some kind of "advanced technology," which many are taking to mean either a hybrid or fully electric drivetrain.

The car will be built in the Yarovit Motors plant in Russia, and in order to get the new city car into production, Onexim is putting in an estimated $141 million investment. That's an amazingly small amount of money to get a new project such as this off the ground, leading many to suggest that it will never happen unless the government gets involved somehow.

In any case, the goal is to put the small eco-friendly vehicle on the road for about $12,500. At that price, the machine would be going up against such well-known and formidable competitors as Volkswagen and General Motors. We'll just have to wait and see how this one plays out.

[Source: Inside Line]

Hydrogen vehicles hold out a future hope where our cars, trucks and motorcycles won't be emitting harmful toxins and carbon dioxide from their tailpipes (and yes, we know generating the hydrogen fuel will mean emissions from other sources). But before any of us can trade in our fossil fuel-burner for a new hydrogen car, we need someplace convenient to refuel them.

There's already a small hydrogen infrastructure out in California, along with several smaller locations scattered across the United States, but a large-scale roll-out of hydrogen fueling stations has never really materialized. Connecticut-based SunHydro is setting out to change all that, though, with a new hydrogen highway that would stretch from Portland, Maine all the way to southern Florida.

Further adding to the eco-friendly nature of the project, each of the $3 million (privately funded, for what it's worth) stations would be run from solar power – similar in principle to how Honda's new hydrogen stations function. Each station would reportedly be capable of refilling 10 to 15 hydrogen-powered vehicles per day, but those figures would surely grow if a demand were found.

[Source: Wired]

Putting an aerodynamic fairing around a motorcycle or scooter certainly isn't a new concept. Sometimes, though, major efficiency gains aren't as easy to come by as first expected. That's why Dutch efficiency enthusiast Allert Jacobs' successes are so amazing. So far, Jacobs has improved his Honda Innova ANF125i scooter from about 114 miles per gallon when stock to a massive 214 mpg.

To reach that figure, Jacobs created a completely enclosed cockpit that changes the riding position to a feet-forward design with a canopy that offers vastly superior weather protection. In addition to the new bodywork, Jacobs also radically altered the bike's gear ratios so that the engine would turn at lower RPM when cruising.

Despite all that success, Jacobs isn't done yet – he's set a personal goal of 235 mpg (one liter per 100 kilometers). Perhaps the best part of the project is that Jacobs documented the entire process and is sharing all that he learned along the way.

[Source: Velomobiel, EcoModder]

Toyota has announced that it will halt sales of eight models due to its ongoing problems with unintended acceleration. The hot-selling Prius hybrid is not included in the sales suspension, though the Camry and Highlander (we'll update when we hear if this also *UPDATE: The sales stoppage does not include the Camry and Highlander Hybrids) are on the list.

At issue are accelerator pedal mechanisms that could get stuck in the open position due to wear, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. Earlier this month, Toyota announced a recall of 2.3 million vehicles with the possible defect.

Late last year, the Japanese automaker recalled nearly four million vehicles for floor mats that could trap accelerator pedals, also causing unintended acceleration. The two issues are apparently unrelated, though 1.7 million vehicles are affected by both issues.

The following eight models are included in the sales suspension:

• 2009-2010 RAV4,
• 2009-2010 Corolla,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry,
• 2010 Highlander,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

No Lexus or Scion sales have been halted, and due to the sales suspension of the above eight models, a number of manufacturing plants will be shut down for at least the week of February 1st. Click past the break for all the details on the recall and the plants being shuttered in North America.

[Source: Toyota]

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Government waste takes on a whole new meaning today as a Chevrolet HHR and a flex-fuel Ford F-150 powered by ethanol roll into Washington D.C. for the Auto Show. Granted, a couple of E85-powered vehicles in our Nation's Capitol isn't all that interesting in and of itself, but this one has its tank filled with alcohol fuel derived from government office waste paper and waste cardboard.

The demonstration is being masterminded by Novozymes, which has partnered with Maryland-based Fiberight to show off that firm's biofuel enzyme technology. This fuel can reportedly be created using a wide variety of materials, including agricultural residues, municipal waste and so-called energy crops – feedstock grown specifically for biofuel use.

Interestingly, Novozymes' research into the enzyme biofuel technology was also fueled by taxpayer dollars: the first DOE grant totaled $2.2 million and was given in 2002; the second for $12.3 million was given in 2008. Why do we care? Well, it's generally argued that biofuels like ethanol reduce overall carbon emissions and don't require drilling for fossil fuels. Deriving ethanol from corn or other food crops, though, isn't exactly an ideal situation. So, the promise of cheap alcohol fuels from waste is a fine one indeed. Click past the break for the official press release.




[Source: Novazymes, The Detroit Bureau]

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Enough is enough already, right? When the focus is on horsepower, the answer to that question is certain to be hotly contested, but Lamborghini is seemingly content with a number just shy of 700 raging horses bulls. That doesn't mean that the Italian supercar manufacturer won't continue its unabated push towards ever-quicker acceleration – and how often do we really need to travel at speeds over 200 miles per hour, anyway? – but there's clearly more than one way to skin a cat Prancing Horse.

Why not just build a bigger engine? Simple, as company CEO Stephan Winkelmann correctly observes, "It has come to the point where acceleration equals consumption. More consumption means increased CO2 emissions." Apparently, the answer to the power conundrum will be less weight. "We will use composite materials in the right place, when it also has the right cost, stiffness and mechanical characteristics," explains R&D chief Maurizio Reggiani.

We've also heard repeated rumblings of full hybrid powertrains, though those seem more likely to come at the tail end of the decade. In the meantime, expect aluminum in the place of heavier steel along with improved aerodynamics and stop/start technology to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Whatever the case, it should be interesting to see how all the world's supercar manufacturers – Lamborghini included – grapple with the push to be green while also upholding their performance traditions.



[Source: AutoWeek]