In an unusual hybrid, British industrial designer Phil Pauley created Marine Solar Cells that harness energy from both the sun and water.

The web of energy generators capture energy off-shore, using a combination of floating photovoltaics and natural buoyancy displacement. Thanks to the reflective nature of water, the solar component’s efficiency is up to 20% greater than it would be land-locked.

The devices can be made using recycled materials and, by attaching the units to underwater mooring, can be placed nearly anywhere off-shore, creating subsea batteries or power plants.

The technology is currently in concept stage, so you won’t need to dodge them on your next water sport adventure, but it does have the potential to be a substantial source of new energy, especially if installed in turbulent high sea areas.

Photos by PAULEY Interactive

If you thought Android and clamshell handsets won’t fit, think again: Sharp today introduced [JP] the so-called AQUOS PHONE THE HYBRID 007SH, a flip phone running on Android 2.3. It’s the first of its kind (at least by a major company), but that’s not all the device has to offer.

Sharp actually squeezed a ton of features into the phone:

• Android 2.3
• 3.4-inch naked-eye 3D LCD touchscreen with 854×480 resolution
• 0.7-inch OLED sub-display
• 16MP CCD camera with 1,280×720 HD video recording support
• waterproof body
• IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0+EDR
• GPS
• digital TV tuner
• digital wallet function (Felica/RFID)
• infrared port
• Micro HDMI interface
• Blu-ray recorder connectivity
• microSD/SDHC slot (shipped with a 2GB card inside)
• W-CDMA, GSM
• size: 113×51.8×19.3mm, weight: 140g

In other words, this thing is quite a monster.

The keyboard section can also be flipped to the back, so you can use the phone like this:

The AQUOS PHONE THE HYBRID 007SH will be distributed in Japan by mobile carrier SoftBank starting next month. An interesting experiment to see how Japanese consumers will react to a smartphone in a form factor they have been used to for over a decade.

Hybrid cars have been around for a while, but one German grad student is taking the concept to the water. A new hybrid propulsion motorboat designed by Stefanie Behringer, would reduce drag thanks to its three-hull, or trimaran, form.

A jet ski attaches to either side of the main hull, helping stabilize the boat. While the jet skis are electric-powered, the 49-foot long watercraft is also powered by two diesel engines that use Audi’s turbo-charged injection technology. Audi’s Concept Design team in Munich worked with Behringer on the project.

The motoryacht is designed to reach speeds of close to 30 knots. The boat can be operated using only the 100-horsepower jet skis for a mellow, emission-free cruise around the bay. At faster speeds, the diesel engines recharge the jet skis’ batteries.

Twelve people can fit on the deck, with room for a few more below. The main deck is designed to feel like a lounge, and a glass roof shields passengers from wind and sun exposure.

This is a neat concept, but it might be a while before this boat is spotted in the harbor. Audi has not announced plans to move the motoryacht yacht beyond the concept phase.

Photos by AUDI
Hat tip: AutoBlog

Duel front-mounted 15-kW electric motors are powered by a 1.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack while a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine is called upon during spirited bouts around town. A back projection systems is used for the instrument panel with a large touchscreen flowing down the center of the vehicle for additional controls. Of course there are more LEDs and carbon-fiber than what the real world requires, but this is after all just a concept. But maybe not for long. Uwe Grebe, executive director for GM Powertrain Advanced Engineering, states, “Many of the components in the Mi-ray’s propulsion system are a logical extension of GM’s current technology portfolio.” [GM]

Green vehicles were the focus of this weeks North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Many carmakers are finally coming out with product lines full of new electric or electric-hybrid vehicles. And by “many,” think “everyone” in some way — even Porsche. So, it comes as no surprise that, along with the new Audi A6, comes the A6 Hybrid.

The A6 Hybrid is part of Audi’s Electrification plan, which is all about getting the mileage up. They’ll tell you that fuel consumption is going to be better and the tech is very advanced, which it is, but they won’t tell you that they’ve had the technology to get similar fuel economy for years. It comes by way of the dirty D-word, which no one in America wants to talk about. That’s neither here, nor there — though Mercedes and Audi have promised to use more of fuel whose name we dare not speak in the future.

It’s now time, all you well-to-do people, who preferred trending-out in a Prius, to return to the lap of luxury and solidity with the A6 Hybrid. It’s unlike other hybrid attempts by other luxury companies (the Mercedes S400, for instance) the A6 Hybrid isn’t a mild hybrid, instead, the A6 is a parallel hybrid.

The A6’s powertrain is based on the award-winning 211 hp, 2-liter TFSI gas engine, combined with a 45 hp electric motor, with power coming from a 1.3kWh battery located in the trunk, for a total output of 245 hp. Not only are we hearing sporty acceleration numbers, but also a 38 US mpg average fuel consumption, which is very good for this size of vehicle.

By using lots of aluminum and special steels, Audi was able to keep the weight down, but were also able to increase strength and torsional rigidity. While many believe that all Audis have AWD, the Hybrid opts for front-wheel-drive, losing the heavy Quattro system.

Some really neat tech features on the A6 are the optional MMI navigation with MMI touch, which we covered late last year, GPS based headlights (see video below), and the heads-up display, new to Audi and not on the 2011 A8. The heads-up display will feature a number of customizable features, and is placed far out onto the road, such that drivers won’t have to refocus on the content. I’m personally excited about heads-up display and want to see more vehicles adopt this drive-style innovation. The A6 Hybrid will certainly come to the US. In fact, I’d put money on it that the A6 Hybrid was made just for the US. Everywhere else they accept the not dirty, but clean, D-word.

Video Highlights

Walk around





GPS Head-Lighting

Unfortunately, according to a J.D. Power and Associates report released this morning, we may be on the electric car bandwagon but once you get us to the dealership, we look the other way.

The firm predicts that in 2020, international sales of hybrid and battery electric cars will total 5.2 million, or 7.3%, of the 70-plus million consumer vehicles expected to be sold. This year, the world is on track to sell 954,500 electric units, 2.2% of all car sales. Thus, in a decade, consumers will only move the needle about 5 percentage points, from 2.2 to 7.3. If the future of the car is electric, it’s not happening in the next decade and— given the sluggish growth curve— not the one after that either.

So why the apprehensiveness among consumers?

According to J.D. Power and Associates, a confluence of factors have discouraged would-be-electric owners. Not surprisingly, the number one reason is money. Although there are government subsidies to encourage green car purchases in the US, it’s still difficult for cash-strapped buyers not to compare the new hybrid models against cheaper, less fuel efficient vehicles (remember, the recession is not over for the 9-plus percent who are still unemployed or the many who are underemployed).

“Many consumers say they are concerned about the environment, but when they find out how much a green vehicle is going to cost, their altruistic inclination declines considerably,” John Humphrey, an SVP at J.D. Power, said in a statement. “For example, among consumers in the U.S. who initially say they are interested in buying a hybrid vehicle, the number declines by some 50 percent when they learn of the extra $5,000, on average, it would cost to acquire the vehicle.”

Beyond sticker shock, the report says other popular reasons included: aesthetics, insecurity in the new technology, unhappiness with how the car performed, and the need to recharge batteries/driving range.

Who is actually buying?

J.D. Power says from their research, a very clear, dominant demographic emerged: “buyers of HEVs and BEVs are generally older, more highly educated (possessing a postgraduate degree), high-income individuals who have a deep interest in technology, or who like to be among the early adopters of any new technology product.”

At least there’s hope for those Tesla dealerships in Silicon Valley.

McLaren Automotive knows how to make supercars and a recent job posting seems to indicate that the automaker is at least exploring the possibility of a hybrid model. This is in line with other leaders in the sports car industry as both Ferrari and Porsche currently have at least one hybrid variation of a sports car. Mercedes and perhaps even Toyota have electric supercars coming, which seems to state there’s a market for high-performance green cars.

McLaren previously listsed a job posting for a hybrid Senior Engineer and the latest is for an electrical engineer to work on the “concept, design and development of the electrical package and wiring system for a hybrid electric vehicle”. The firm recently revealed that it’s no longer going to be a one-vehicle automaker and plans on releasing five new vehicles over the next five years; chances are at least one will be powered by a hybrid system.

Purest will point out that the hybrids simply cannot match the raw power provided by a traditional setup and that’s fine. The hybrid McLaren wouldn’t likely be their top-tier model — that will probably be the the MP4-12C for quite a while — but rather a bit more modest supercar possibly aligned with the Ferrari 599 HY-KERS. It also likely has something to do with abiding by the latest CAFE fuel economy numbers, which requires a higher MPG across an automakers entire US lineup. After all, that’s why Ferrari is doing a hybrid: to protect their V12.

The auto industry is clearly shifting towards hybrids across the entire playing field. There will probably be point within the coming decade where they will become a majority powertrain as technology improves and restrictions increase.

We have reported about electric bicycles multiple times in the past, but today Sanyo in Japan announced [press release in English] the “eneloop Hybrid Bicycle” whose battery riders can actively charge while pedaling on flat roads. Previous models, for example this one Sanyo released in 2008, mainly harness energy from braking when the bike goes downhill (“Loop Charge Mode”).

Dubbed Eco Charge Mode, Sanyo will use the new system in their next eneloop models, the CY-SPL226 (26-inch wheel diameter/pictured on top) and CY-SPL224 (24-inch wheel diameter). Riders can still charge the 25.2 V-7.6 Ah battery via the Loop Charge Mode, but now have more options to save energy for longer riding distances with the new system (Sanyo says the Eco Charge Mode increases the assisted travel distance by about 53%).

The two new models feature an assisted travel distance of up to 55km and even 68km when equipped with an extra battery. A full charge of the battery takes 280 minutes.

Sanyo plans to start selling the new e-bikes in Japan on April 28 (price: $1,800 each). The company unfortunately doesn’t say if the eneloop bikes will ever be sold outside Japan (where 350,000 bikes have been sold last year) as well.

Raidon stated that while the HyBrid system is not a RAID system, it is possible to restore data from the standard hard drive if the SSD were to fail. The SSD drive will be removable and can be used without the HyBrid system, you would just put the SSD into another enclosure or connect directly to a controller. Raidon didn’t disclose available sizes or pricing on the HyBrid, but it should be available this coming April as an internal device, and then as an external device later this year.

[Via MacWorld]

The EV Up! will be available in Euroland before America, but at least it’s coming unlike a lot of other electric cars found only across the Atlantic. Tougher safety regulations over here tend to keep away other manufacturers. But since the Up! has been developed to also house a diesel/electric hybrid powerplant, the already developed platform might as well have an all-electric option. The non-EV Up! lineup is set to be released for the 2011 model year with the EV option coming in 2014.

Hybrid commercial vehicles are the answer to the environmental crisis, not passenger vehicles. Sure, your Prius is greener than, say, a Suburban, but even the large GM SUV has a lot smaller carbon footprint than full-size commercial vehicles. But slowly hybrid powertrains are being tested for commercial applications.

NYC is currently testing a garbage truck that uses a 120-kilowatt electric motor and a 500-pound lithium ion battery to supplement a six-cylinder diesel engine. The application is perfect if you think about it.

Hybrids generally have high city MPG ratings because the electric motor is there to assist in acceleration and regenerates when the brakes are used. The daily life of a garbage truck is stopping to pick up trash and then racing to the next grouping of trash cans 100 feet down the road. All they do is accelerate and stop.

Plus, these trucks are already built on platforms large enough to support the extra weight of the battery and electric motor. Designers do not need to worry about aesthetics or design either. They could probably mount a big ol’ battery on the roof and no one would complain as long as it works.

But the hybrid garbage truck that is being tested in NYC, doesn’t look any different. There are apparently only a few extra lights on the dash although drivers have said that it drives much better with quicker acceleration. They were unveiled back in August but now are actually getting down and dirty.

According to IBM sourced by the Detroit News article, a hybrid 18-wheeler can save more fuel than two dozen hybrid cars. This isn’t really new though. During my test drive of the 2010 Fusion Hybrid across country, I had a chance to check out plug-in hybrid utility truck tested by Edison’s Electric Vehicle Technical Center back in 2004.

It’s shame that commercial hybrid development is so far behind that of passenger vehicles. Think of all the large delivery vans, service trucks, and utility vehicles that roam your local streets everyday that get about 5 MPG and could benefit greatly by the mileage savings a hybrid powerplant offers. It probably keeps Al Gore up at night.

The world’s No. 1 auto maker Toyota has announced [JP] it will exhibit a four-seat electric car  at the 41th Tokyo Motor Show for the first time (the show opens October 24 and will run through November 4). It’s sized at 2,730×1,680×1,490mm. Visitors will also get to see an update of Toyota’s hybrid car Prius at the show.

The new completely electric model, the FT-EV II (pictured above and below), can be driven for more than 90km on a single charge and is specifically designed for convenient city driving. Toyota will offer, for example, electric sliding doors. But the FT-EV II isn’t for city driving only, as the top speed exceeds 100km/h.

Toyota also plans to show a plug-in version of its Prius hybrid that’s in its third generation. Drivers will be able to use the vehicle with batteries only until they run out. When that happens, the car will switch to hybrid mode automatically. One liter of gas is enough for 55km, up from 38km for the Prius models that are on the market now.

Toy maker Takara Tomy’s mini vehicles are being sold everywhere in the world. Marketed as Penny Racers in the US and Choro Q in Japan, the series so far includes mini helis, trains and even small UFOs that attack Tokyo. And now the company has announced Choro Q Hybrid mini cars [JP] for the Japanese market.

Takara Tomy calls the toys “hybrid” because buyers can choose between models using a pull-back motor or and those that are battery-powered (and come with a remote control), which is quite a stretch. The remote-controlled models can drive around five minutes on a 5-minute charge.

Takara Tomy has secured quite a few licenses from major car makers, including Lamborghini, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. The Choro Q Hybrids will be available in Japan starting October 24.

Prices: $6 for the pull-back versions and $28 for the remote-controlled models. As Takara Tomy hasn’t announced their international sales plans yet, I suggest you contact Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya in case you’re interested in getting one.

Here’s the official promo trailer:
http://blip.tv/play/grExgaKLdAI

I’ve said over and over again, along with a lot of other people, that hybrid technology would make the biggest environmental impact if used in delivery trucks, municipal vehicles, and mail trucks. Vehicles like these are often limited in range but are gas hogs that travel in low gears where hybrid technology can really shine. Plus, the fuel savings of even 10% can be immense when a whole fleet of vehicles are converted. FedEx obviously knows this too and has slowly been converting delivery trucks to diesel hybrids which have been known to improve fuel economy by 44% and decrease emissions by 96%.

The upgrades replaces the 5.9L 175HP diesel to a 6.7L 200HP engine that’s assisted by the lithium ion-powered motor. The up-front additional cost is keeping the company from converting more. So far only 264 trucks have been graced with the upgrades. As FedEx points out, it’s a catch-22 as the cost of production is high because of a lack of volume, which causes the cost to be high.

It’s a shame as it makes so much sense for these vehicles to receive the updates. Think about it: the vehicles are huge and built on a robust platform designed to withstand a lot of weight and stress. The hybrid systems do not need to be polished or presented in a small package as they do in passenger vehicles.

You could essentially fit the system in a large, black box and install it anywhere in these trucks. Designers wouldn’t have to worry about shrinking down the size or weight at all.

That utility truck in the background of the above picture was converted by Edison out in California with a similar system as a proof of concept. I had a chance to check out the hybrid battery testing facility during my cross-country trip where it was made. My tour guide was annoyingly vague about everything – which is why I didn’t do a post about my 3 hour tour – but I gathered that the truck saw a 15% improvement when the hybrid system was installed. Oh, and I wasn’t suppose to take a picture of that truck for some reason.

It just makes sense in these large vehicles. If only it didn’t cost so damn much upfront, more companies and cities would convert, which will make Al Gore smile. And don’t we all want a happy Al Gore?

Fedex via Treehugger

Ready for more hybrid vehicles? Sure, why not, right? Honda is set to release two new hybrid vehicles next year: the CR-Z and Fit/Jazz. Both should come equipped with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system and further demonstrates that hybrid technology will soon be a standard option on most vehicles.

There isn’t anything real exciting about either of these two new cars besides the hybrid option. The CR-Z will be a standard fastback coupe while the Fit is a wannabe mini-minivan. (ask Biggs, he has one) But both small cars should get a boost in MPG with the hybrid system.

Honda, just like every other major manufacturer, has been developing hybrid technology in personal vehicles since the 90′s. The IMA system has probably progressed enough that it can finally be fitted onto more and more platforms meaning that soon it might become a standard option.

Fundamentally hybrids aren’t that difficult. They just employ a battery-powered electric motor to assist the gasoline engine under certain loads. The electronic acceleration assistance can make for speedy launches and improved fuel economy. Many of the previous issues like battery size and jerky transitions between the motor and engine have been worked out by manufacturers so be prepared to see a lot more hybrid vehicles.

Now, I’m not saying all of these new hybrids, including the two new models released from Honda, will put up Prius-type numbers. Oh no, Honda previously installed an older IMA system in the Accord but Consumer Reports only found it to help by 1 or 2 MPG. But having the hybrid systems installed is a great short-term solution to reach the high CAFE standards.

Congress put the bar high with the new MPG guidelines. By 2011 the majority of new cars will have to reach 30.2 MPG verses today’s standard of 27.5. That 2.7 MPG jump is a big hurdle and hybrid technology is one of the least expensive ways to reach it. Most automakers already have a developed hybrid platform, so now the task is to build it into more vehicles to bump up the average.

We’re finally reaching a plateau in next-gen vehicle purpalson systems; at least for a while. Hybrid is here to stay while extended range plug-ins like the Volt and Fisker Karma test the market. Soon, a hybrid system will be just another box to check on the new car buying sheet just like AC and satellite radio.

This is in the very preliminary rounds and a specific sound hasn’t been chosen, nor how to make it pedestrian-friendly while not a nuisances to everyone else. The panel is expected to wrap up everything by the end of the year.

GM has tackled this issue already in the upcoming Chevy Volt. We found out about it when we test drove an engineering mule a few months back. The driver activates the sound which is a lot more friendly than blowing the horn. This is a larger issue for the Volt than traditional hybrids who generally run on the combustion engine a lot sooner than the Volt’s generator kicks in. The Volt is totally silent for about 40 miles of travel.

Edwards 4/26/09 Talladega incident

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I say no, but that’s just me. What do I know, I just spent 10 days driving 3,200 miles in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. But I’m not hyper-miller Wayne Gerdes or NASCAR driver Carl Edwards who are about to attempt this feat by spending 43 continues hours driving the hybrid a 1,000 miles. Ford states that the car will need to average 57 mpg to achieve the goal, which I guess is possible even though I never saw that type of mileage.

I averaged 35.1 mpg during my 3,200 trip, but I definitely wasn’t driving like a hyper-miller; more like Edwards in his 99 car or J.J. McClure from Canonball Run. However, we did go about 650 miles on the first tank of gas. 

The whole goal of this outing is of course to show-off the eco-side of the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Take it from me. It’s impressive for a car of its size. (my review) I can’t wait for the next generation.

PRESS RELEASE:

Ford Team Aims To Drive 2010 Fusion Hybrid 1,000 Miles on a Single Tank of Gas

• The Ford Fusion Hybrid team will attempt to drive more than 1,000 miles for more than 43 continuous hours – on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process
• The most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America – the Fusion Hybrid driven by a team of Ford hybrid engineers, a fuel efficiency expert and a NASCAR star, will have to achieve an average of at least 57 mpg on the challenge to reach its goal
• By using Eco-Driving techniques engineers have achieved 70 mpg during testing of the Ford Fusion Hybrid in preparation for the challenge
• Consumers can improve their own vehicle’s fuel economy performance is by adopting Ford’s “Eco-Driving” tips used for the 1,000-Mile Challenge

DEARBORN, Mich., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — This weekend, the 2010 Ford (NYSE: F) Fusion Hybrid is being put to the ultimate fuel-efficiency test. A team of drivers, including NASCAR star Carl Edwards and world-record breaking hypermiler Wayne Gerdes, will attempt to drive more than 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process.

The 1,000-Mile Challenge starts at around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ends the morning of Monday, April 27, in Washington, D.C. The team will drive for more than 43 hours continuously to reach the 1,000-mile goal. The drivers will do stints of between two and three hours each and will have regular breaks to ensure safe driving is maintained. Already rated as the most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America, the Fusion Hybrid will need to average at least 57 mpg to achieve its goal. During preliminary testing in preparation for this challenge, Ford engineers have reached as much as 70 mpg in the Fusion Hybrid by using Eco-Driving techniques.

The team will run clinics for media and customers over the weekend in the Fusion Hybrid, conducting interviews and vehicle demonstrations on how simple techniques can make a significant difference to real world fuel economy numbers.

The Fusion Hybrid being used in the challenge will be a factory produced model with no modifications or alterations and will run on regular 87 octane gas.

The team will be uploading regular images and video to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/fordstory), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordmotorcompany), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/people/Kristopher-Spencer/1228149870), Twitter (http://twitter.com/Ford), and www.media.ford.com.

Ford is taking on the 1,000-Mile Challenge for a number of reasons:

• To demonstrate Ford’s commitment to be the best or amongst the best in fuel economy in every vehicle segment in which it competes;
• To highlight the crucial role the driver plays in maximizing fuel economy and demonstrate how consumers can make a difference through Eco-Driving;
• To raise awareness about Eco-Driving and how the Fusion Hybrid contributes to it with the ability to run up to 47 mph in pure electric mode; and
• To raise awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

The 1,000-Mile Challenge team comprises of:

• Wayne Gerdes, the world-record breaking hypermiling champion and founder of www.cleanmpg.com;
• Carl Edwards, the NASCAR race star who recently bought his own 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid;
• Sherif Marakby, graduate of Maryland University and Ford hybrid chief engineer;
• Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager and Ford Fusion Hybrid team leader;
• Tom Rolewicz, one of Ford’s top calibration experts and hybrid system expert; and
• Steve Burke, Ford product expert on hybrid applications

The mileage-maximizing techniques that the Ford team will use and pass on to consumers include:

• Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
• Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
• Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
• Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
• Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
• Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
• Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
• Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
• Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum

Click here (http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=28946) for more Eco-Driving tips

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 213,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s wholly owned brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the latest to join a growing crop of hybrids that doesn’t look like a traditional hybrid. This Fusion hybrid looks almost identical to its non-hybrid counterparts, but easily gets great gas milage while sporting a look most will find acceptable. This hybrid might not get Prius-type mileage, but it’s also larger, more comfortable, equipped with equally impressive electronics, and doesn’t looks like a roller skate.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid isn’t a Prius or Insight killer and it never was meant to be. It doesn’t put up the same type of mileage and it can cost a bit more. This car isn’t geared to peeps who want everyone to know that they are hugging trees and saving whales, but rather the everyday man who needs the function of a mid-size car that gets great gas mileage. With a few small exceptions, like different fog light housings and a unique color option, the body is identical to the standard models, which is a good thing as it’s a looker.

The new Fusion body builds upon the styling cues of the original model but throws in an almost Japanese look. The taillights hint of a Subaru influence and the headlights are very Lexus-ish. The grill, however, is all Ford Fusion. Overall, the new style works well and it’s a great looking wannabe sport sedan.

Inside, many of the instruments come from the Ford parts bin with the notable exception of the LCD instrument cluster. Even over 3,200 miles in 8 days, the seats were comfy, supportive and showed their sporty side on PCH 1 in-between LA and San Francisco. My pregnant wife, who rode shotgun on the Detroit to San Francisco trip, found the seats to be sufficient with the aid of a small pillow.

The center instrument column is the glaring exception of the good looking car though. It’s ugly and poorly designed. It’s overwhelming at times with poorly placed buttons and a strange sloping design. The car we drove across country didn’t have a GPS system so perhaps that option improves the look and function.

Now, the instrument cluster, which is the most innovative part of the car. Flanking the center-placed speedometer is two LCD screens that display all the necessary info about the automobile: fuel level, hybrid drive status, live MPG, odometer, everything really. These LCD screens work in real time and are very smooth in operation.

This design evolution is a welcome change from the traditional dial-type gauges, but the long term viability is still in question. These screens will probably cost dramatically more to replace than traditional analog gauges and low-cost neighborhood garages might not be able to do the work. Still, these screens are the best part of the car and you must watch the video walkthrough to fully appreciate their function.

Fuel economy is still the most important aspect of this automobile despite the sweet electronics and great styling. We drove this car from Detroit across the plains to South Dakota and then south to Denver. Over the next couple of days we traversed the Rocky Mountains and made our way to LA via Las Vegas. And then up to San Francisco by way of the winding Pacific Coast Highway 1. Over the 3,200 miles of semi-aggressive and fast highway driving, this 2010 Ford Fusion recorded 35.1 miles per gallon, which is slightly less than the EPA estimates of 41 in the city and 36 on the highway.

Many non-hybrid cars can get this type of fuel economy. Even my old 2000 Grand Prix can see similar mileage through carefully and thoughtful driving. We had many miles to travel to get from Detroit to San Francisco so let’s just say “carefully and thoughtful driving” wasn’t a top priority. I can truthfully say that anyone can get over 35 mpg in this mid-size car if I did. You can budget your fuel cost easily ’cause it’s that easy to get that mileage. Seriously, no matter how hard I pushed the car on PCH 1 or how fast I went across the vast emptiness that is South Dakota, this car got 35 mpg. Higher mileage could have easily been attained if the cruise was set at 65 mpg the entire trip, but that wouldn’t have been fun.

Similar hybrids are available from other manufacturers as well. Toyota sells a Camry hybrid, GM offers a hybrid Malibu, and even Nissan sells an Altama Hybrid. This Ford isn’t much different from the other options, which is a good thing as the other models are trend setters. The Fusion has great styling inside and out, a comfortable interior and as a plus, gets slightly better gas mileage than the other options. There isn’t much more that potential buyers could want out of this car.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: Highly recommended.
[PSGallery=4yrab296lx]

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (yes, it does really exist) has released a top ten list of the most fuel-efficient cars sold last year in Nippon. The result: Toyota’s Prius (pictured) is No. 1 in the standard and small-sized vehicle category whereas the Daihatsu Mira tops the light vehicle segment (vehicles with automatic transmissions only).

The Prius came in first with a mileage of 35.5km/l, and was trailed by Honda’s Civic Hybrid with 31km/l and the Toyota Vitz (Yaris) with 24.5 km/l. The top three remained unchanged from last year. Toyota promised the new and partly solar-powered Prius that’s due out in May in Japan will even be 10% more fuel-efficient than its predecessor.

Among light vehicles, Daihatsu’s Mira boasted a mileage of 27km/l, besting the Subaru R1/R2 and Suzuki’s Alto Lapin with 24.5km/l each. The Alto Lapin made its debut in the list this year.

Have a look at the tables below for a full overview.

Via Tech-On