GM sells Opel; is plan to switch to electric cars by 2030 now in limbo?

2014 Opel Astra OPC ExtremeGM said today it will sell its European Opel division to PSA Peugeot Citroën, the French parent of the Citroën, DS and Peugeot brands, for 2.2 billion euros (approximately $2.33 billion). Among the questions surrounding the sale—which includes the U.K.-market Vauxhall brand—is where the change in ownership leaves Opel's...

Looking at Lexus multi-stage hybrid system in new LS sedan, LC coupe

2018 Lexus LS 500hThe Lexus LS 500h luxury sedan that debuts this week at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show will use the same "Multi Stage Hybrid System" as the LC 500h coupe. It's a somewhat different—and arguably more complex—setup than the powertrain of the LS 600h, the previous-generation hybrid version of Lexus' flagship sedan. The LS 600h used a...

Volvo’s next plug-in hybrids: 3-cylinder engine, smaller cars

Volvo 40.1 conceptVolvo currently offers plug-in hybrid powertrains in its top models—the XC90 SUV, S90 sedan, and V90. As the Swedish automaker redesigns its lower-level models, it will add plug-in hybrid options to them as well. But whereas the current T8 "Twin Engine" powertrain uses a 4-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive, other models will use a...

2017 Lexus RX 450h hybrid gas mileage review

2017 Lexus RX 450h, Catskill Mountains, NY, Feb 2017The Lexus RX pretty much invented the luxury mid-size SUV category, and it remains a substantial part of the brand's sales in the U.S. 20 years later. It was also the brand's first hybrid crossover, sharing underpinnings with its larger and less-pricey Toyota Highlander Hybrid sibling. The RX was recently redesigned, and we've now had a chance to...

Battery legend Goodenough not done yet: new solid-state chemistry introduced

John Goodenough, co-inventor of the lithium-ion batteryLithium-ion battery-cell chemistry is currently dominant in electric cars, not to mention consumer electronics and other fields. But what seems to be an army of researchers thinks it can be improved. That includes one of the people who helped create lithium-ion batteries in the first place. CHECK OUT: Tesla granted patent on metal-air battery...

2017 Geneva auto show: green car preview

Teaser for Techrules GT96 debuting at 2017 Geneva auto showThe 2017 Geneva Motor Show marks the next stop on the annual auto-show circuit. With press days beginning March 7, we aren't expecting an overwhelming number of green cars at the Swiss show this year. A smattering of production and concept cars with some green elements will debut there, though. DON'T MISS: 2018 Lexus LS 500h hybrid luxury sedan to...