Car Blog News

Kia Says Optima Hybrid is a No-Compromise Vehicle
2012 Buick Regal GS Comes Up with A Power Boost [Video]
Nissan Altima Hybrid Annulled

Kia Says Optima Hybrid is a No-Compromise Vehicle

Posted: 16 Jun 2011 03:24 AM PDT

Official sources from Kia Motors have made it clear that the 2011 Optima Hybrid is a non-compromise vehicle!

Expected to legitimize the Korean automaker as an eco-friendly company, the variant boasts of being way different from many other gas-electric vehicles. For instance, you doesn't need to compromise on your cargo space for the compact lithium-ion battery pack.

Besides, Optima comes up with more standard equipments than the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, including a rear backup camera, rear spoiler, auto-down front windows for the driver and passenger, a cooling glovebox, compass and Kia’s brand new infotainment system.

Under its hood, the 2011 Optima hybrid features the carmaker's highly-advanced hybrid powertrain technology that enables the car to deliver up to 35 MPG in city driving and 40 MPG on the highway. Kia's in-house developed hybrid system known as "full parallel hybrid system" allows you to drive the car at full-electric drive mode with speeds of up to 62 miles per hour.

So, how many of our viewers are willing to spend $26,500 to grab the hybrid?

Share with us.

(via Ward’s Auto)

2012 Buick Regal GS Comes Up with A Power Boost [Video]

Posted: 16 Jun 2011 01:23 AM PDT

Buick has now released the final performance specifications for the 2012 Regal GS. Have a look at the pictures below before going into the details.

Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 270 hp (201kW / 274 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400Nm) of torque, which is 15 hp (11 kW / 15 PS) more than original estimates. It enables the GS to accelerate from 0-60 mph in approximately 6.7 seconds, when equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

It is claimed that the Regal GS 2.0L turbo delivers the highest specific output of any production engine GM has ever offered, and at 135 hp per liter is the most power dense engine ever certified by SAE.

Though the model is expected to be available at US markets this fall, no official confirmation has come regarding the price.

We will let you know as soon as it is out. We have for you a video of 2012 Regal GS. Check out.

Nissan Altima Hybrid Annulled

Posted: 16 Jun 2011 12:50 AM PDT

Has Nissan axed its Altima hybrid? It seems so.

The decision seems strange in a scene when the fuel prices are near all-time highs, right? However, the consumer interest the variant created has not been promising either. For instance, Nissan were able to sell only 35,000 Altima Hybrids since 2007 in US. Given the fact that the model was available only in seven states across US, was the sales percentage that bad?

So, there’s another reason why the fuel-efficient variant was killed. Let's explain.

The car used Toyota hybrid technology, which will eventually be replaced by Nissan’s own hybrid system. It was debuted on the Infiniti M35h recently.

Reports coming from authentic sources indicate that the Infiniti’s system will soon spread to additional models.

Stay tuned.

(via Automotive News)