The international auto show in Frankfurt, Germany, which kicks off next Thursday, is one of the biggest events of the year for car companies to make an impression with high-tech concepts and upcoming models. Car shows earlier this year in Detroit and Geneva proved to be exercises in restraint for automakers: Flaunt the shiniest, greenest, fastest and most futuristic vehicles in their lineups, all while appearing frugal in a way befitting the gloomy state of both the industry and the global economy. Frankfurt is likely to hit a similar note — but with continuing pressure for automakers to beef up their green lineups, a number of hybrid and all-electric vehicles are set to roll out on the showroom floor. Here are 13 models to watch.
| Model | Type | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW ActiveHybrid X6 | Hybrid | Production (2010) | The X6, which uses a NiMH battery, is reportedly the most powerful hybrid in history. |
| BMW Vision EfficientDynamics | Plug-in diesel hybrid | Concept | Body shell and suspension built with aluminum, seat frames made with Kevlar to keep weight down while carrying lithium-ion battery pack and 2 electric motors. |
| Fisker Karma | Plug-in hybrid | German debut | Startup Fisker Automotive’s inaugural vehicle, a luxury sports car said to get 67.2 MPG. |
| Hyundai i10 | All-electric | Fleet leasing 2010, global production 2012 | Based on i10 mini-car platform. 5-seat hatchback. Lithium-ion battery pack with cells by LG Chem will be leased separately from the car. |
| Lexus LF-Ch | Hybrid | Concept | Luxury compact hatchback can operate in all-electric mode. |
| Mercedes-Benz BlueZero E-Cell Plus | Extended-range electric | Revised concept | Originally debuted at Detroit Auto Show. 3-cylinder engine adapted from Smart ForTwo. Lithium-ion battery pack. |
| Peugeot iOn | Plug-in diesel hybrid | Model for late 2010 launch | Based on Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric minicar. |
| Renault Fluence | All-electric | Model for 2011 EU launch | Reported to be the vehicle designed for compatibility with Better Place battery swapping. Electric drive and battery pack is shared with alliance partner Nissan in its upcoming LEAF. |
| Reva NXR | All-electric | Production slated for 2010, orders to be accepted after unveiling | Four-seat hatchback with a phone-controlled charging system. |
| Tesla Roadster Sport | All-electric | Production | A higher-performance, higher-luxury version of the Roadster. |
| Toyota Auris HSD Hybrid |
Hybrid | Production (2010) | Hatchback version of the Toyota Corolla. Meant to make full hybrids “more accessible to a wider range of customers.“ |
| Toyota Prius Plug-in | Plug-in hybrid | Production | Final version of the model Toyota plans to roll out in small numbers (a few hundred vehicles) starting at the end of this year |
| Volkswagen EV | All-electric or plug-in hybrid | Concept | VW’s new hype campaign at ElectricityUntamed.com suggests the possibility of an all-electric version of the Audi R8 sports car, but it could also be a plug-in hybrid instead. |
Nice piece. Good to see that car manufacturers are beginning to adopt greener fuels and are designing a greater choice of cars for wider market.
Mercedes is going to show an S-class plug-in hybrid for a jillion dollar$ that does 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, gets over 72mpg.
And the latest Merc rumor is that the entire S-class will be one or another kind of hybrid.
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