GM and Suzuki plan to develop a hybrid SUV in order to break into the American hybrid market. These two companies see the American Market heading into this direction. It is reported that their sport utility vehicles will have engine displacements around 3 liters.

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If Honda is the first manufacture to release hydrogen fuel cell cars, that will boost them into the new realm of autos. In theory, the hydrogen car would use hydrogen to generate electricity that powers a motor.  In fact, Britain already has a hydrogen filling station because some of their public transportation system has hydrogen engines.

Right now, Honda claims, their in the process of refining and working on more efficient ways for the fuel cells to operate. They’re hoping in three to four years they will have met the desired output and efficiency needed to be worth buying.

The first hydrogen based car will be based on the FCC concept, which was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.  It is interesting that Honda is so positive about the outlook because GM and Toyota, not to long ago, stopped working together because it was too difficult to produce and they (GM and Toyota) were unsure of the hydrogen fuel cell’s future.  

You need to plug in the car
Usually, whenever you talk about electricity, almost everyone’s mind jumps to the outlet. In that, you have plug-in a hybrid every night before you go to sleep. However, that could not be more untrue. Hybrids today don’t need to be plugged in; engineers developed regenerative braking.  Whenever you brake, that friction and energy that is produced is harnessed and stored in multiple batteries in the car.  However, there are some hybrids that you do plug in that get better gas mileage because they stay plugged up over night. There are some hybrids that have regenerative braking and plug in technology together.

Hybrid batteries need to be replaced.
With the charge of a hybrid battery staying between 40%- 60%, automakers have greatly extended the hybrid’s battery. There is, however, the standard warranty that comes when you buy a hybrid that includes the batteries, so if something goes wrong you’ll have the warranty.

Hybrids are a new phenomenon
The first gas-electric patent was filed in 1905.  However, when the self starter was introduced in 1913, gasoline engines became more prevalent and easier and cheaper to make.

People buy hybrids only to save money on gas
Saving gas at the pump is probably the foremost outcome of owning a hybrid, but the majority of owners actually have them for environmental reasons. A hybrid car sends a message. It sends a message that “I care about the environment.” That’s what some people want others to know about them. (bumper stickers are cheaper)

Hybrids are expensive.
Beginnings in 2006, hybrids were available in 10 different models. The price varies largely. Some hybrids barely cross the $13,000, while other companies have luxury hybrids that can cost up to $60,000.  Hybrids do add about $3,000 to the price tag of any car, but that figure is dropping rapidly.  

Now, they’re at it again. Nissan unveiled the new Sentra earlier this year and it will be in the hands of dealers in the fall. Nissan is almost in the same position as it was in the 90’s. They’re banking on the remake of the Sentra to boost them into car heaven. Nissan sold 119,000 Sentras in 2005, and they’re looking to increase that number substantially for 06-07. Since the car does not launch until the fall, Nissan will not see the benefits until late 07.

And, with any redesign, there are always people who see otherwise. Not everyone is convinced the new Sentra is enough to help Nissan. When the car was debuted earlier this year, there were mixed reviews about it on their website.  A company is never in a good situation when they’re banking on a redesign to get themselves out of murky water. 

Hopefully this redesign will renew hopes throughout the entire auto industry.

GM sales fell nearly 16 percent due to cut back in rental company sales.  Rental companies are now switching to Honda and Toyota. Trucks and SUV sales were also down a whole 10 percent.  This was a record setting year for foreign auto manufactures and most analysts suggest that things will continue this way until Ford and GM refocus and revamp their strategy.

However, it seems, at least through commercials, that GM and Ford are both busy advertising about their fuel flex vehicles that are hitting the market. But, I’ve actually yet to see a fuel flex vehicle on the road. So, I wonder if GM and Ford’s strategy will work.  

GM still thinks it has some life left in it.  Just like Saturn, Pontiac will get an image make over.  They looked to modern European design to infuse Saturn with for new life, but they will take a different approach with Pontiac.  They will look back into Pontiac’s past.  Pontiac’s new focus will be providing high performance rear-wheel-drive cars.

This plan, which is not final yet, will phase out the front-wheel-drive Pontiacs over the next two years.  These will be replaces with rwd models.  Some of these models will be brand new, while others will be rwd versions of current ones.  

This move may reduce the volume sales Pontiac will incur,  but GM is focusing on more streamlined line-ups from its brands.  

Some of these new standards will soon be taking effect and will most likely hurt Volkswagen, who is a leader in the area of diesel passenger cars.  They will not be able to offer diesel versions of several popular models in 2007.  However, they hope to be up to the standards by 2008.

In last weeks blog, I mentioned a few options for automakers to use when lowering nitrogen oxide emissions.  Honda has just announced a patent for new technology to do just that.

Ford’s goal is to sell half a million by next year.  This would definitely make them a major player in this area because the total sold for this year was only 1.5 million.  Ford’s aim will be to capture the middle market.  BMW and Audi, among others, offer AWD luxury models while Subaru has catered to the other end of the market.

Ford is not the only automaker getting into this field.  GM and Chrysler will offer new AWD options soon, although on a smaller scale than Ford.  You might expect Subaru to feel some pressure now, but they seem to welcome the help to convert the masses to all-wheel-drive passenger cars.