Volkswagen E-Up! concept

Volkswagen and Audi have announced aggressive plans for electrification of their model lines over the coming years. Volkswagen is just now launching its first production hybrid with Touareg and will add three more mainstream models in the next four years. Audi is also launching two hybrids and both brands are bringing a range of battery electrics to market.
 

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Porsche is unveiling an all-new second generation Cayenne SUV next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Cayenne gets a significant weight reduction to go along with a new hybrid powertrain.

Denise Gray

General Motors director of global battery systems Denise Gray is leaving the automaker to join a California based battery start-up company. Gray's new employer has not been announced yet, but her last day at GM will be March 5, 2010. Gray has lead battery development at GM since December 2006.

Hyundai i-Flow

Hyundai will unveil its first diesel hybrid concept next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The new i-Flow is a D-segment sedan that will be joined by low CO2 emissions versions of most of the company's lineup as well as a fuel cell version of the new Tucson crossover.
 

2011 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai will publicly unveil its first hybrid vehicle for the American market at the New York Auto Show in April. The new 2011 Sonata will get two additional powertrain options, a hybrid and a new turbocharged direct injection four cylinder engine to be offered instead of a V6.
 

Mercedes-Benz F800 concept

Mercedes-Benz will unveil a new concept next week at the Geneva Motor Show that previews both the next generation CLS sedan and an upcoming plug-in hybrid powertrain. The F800 Style concept is designed on a flexible platform that can also support a purely electric fuel powertrain.
 

Ford Transit Connect Electric

Ford unveils two new versions of its Transit Connect small van at the Chicago Auto Show. The Transit Connect Electric that was announced at this show one year ago is now approaching production late this year with a powertrain supplied by Azure Dynamics. The second is a taxi variant with optional natural gas or propane fuel systems.

 

Volkswagen Touareg hybrid prototype

For the last several years, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche have been collaborating on the development of a new hybrid drive system. Audi's plans have changed numerous times over the course of development, with the Q7, A4 and Q5 all being identified as that brand's first application. Recently, Audi CEO Dr. Rupert Stadler announced that the Q5 hybrid would finally debut sometime in 2011 as the brand's first mass produced hybrid. Before that, the first applications out of the gate will be the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne will go on sale in mid-2010 with this new system.

Audi e-Tron Detroit showcar

At the Detroit Auto Show today, Audi unveiled a new electric sports car called the e-Tron Detroit Show car. The new concept is significantly shorter than the similarly named concept that appeared the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 and may be based on the platform of the Volkswagen Bluesport concept that appeared in Detroit in 2009.

Volkswagen New Compact Coupe concept

Volkswagen's new concept being unveiled the Detroit Auto Show may be a preview of both the next generation Jetta and a new hybrid powertrain. The New Compact Coupe is virtually the same size as the current Jetta in sleeker two door coupe body style. The concept also features one of Volkswagen's 1.4-liter TSI gas four cylinder engine.