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1. Hybrids in North American Auto Show Spotlight - Jan-10-05
New hybrids, fuel-cell vehicles and other earth-friendly cars and trucks are debuting in numbers at this week's North American International Auto Show, reports The Detroit News. It signals that the battle for the hearts and minds of environmentally conscious car shoppers is intensifying. The stunning success of the Toyota Prius hybrid and strong initial demand for gasoline-electric hybrid versions of the Ford Escape SUV and Honda Accord sedan are helping prove that hybrids are in demand, boosting fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent while reducing emissions. Ford Motor Co. has announced plans to expand its hybrid lineup to five vehicles within the next three years. General Motors displayed two strikingly different hybrid concept vehicles -- a diesel-electric Opel Astra sedan geared for the European market and the full-size GMC Graphyte SUV. The vehicles feature a scaled-down version of the gasoline-electric powertrain -- known as the Advanced Hybrid System 2 -- used in city buses GM and its Allison Transmission unit have sold in 18 cities. The Graphyte and diesel-electric Astra rely on advanced hybrid technology to deliver benefits beyond enhanced fuel economy that distinguish hybrids including more towing capacity and better driving characteristics respectively. Toyota will show final versions of its next two hybrids: the Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander SUV. It also will announce plans for another hybrid -- its fourth -- the Lexus GS 450h, a luxury sport sedan. Honda, whose Insight was the first hybrid car marketed in the United States, says its next hybrid will be a "truck" -- or an SUV, minivan or pickup.
Source: Calstart