Audi plans an offensive against BMW electric Hybrid cars by introducing at least four Plug-in Hybrids in coming years

BMW has introduced several Plug-in Hybrid models in the past years and created a potentially competitive environment in the markets where BMW and Audi are direct competitors. Audi has never let its customers down and they plan to introduce at least four Plug-in Hybrid models in coming years.

It will begin with the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron which is ready to be unveiled next year in United States.

Audi is introducing its first Plug-in Hybrid compact hatchback this month in Europe and sales are expected to start in the second or third quarter of next year. It plans to start deliveries for the Chinese market in the first or second quarter of 2015. It will give tough time to battery powered BMW cars like the i3.

The CEO of Audi Rupert Stadler said the A3 Sportback e-tron will be followed by several other plug-in Hybrid vehicles. He further said that Audi strongly believes in plug-in Hybrids and plans to add a new model each year and the next model to convert in to a Plug-in Hybrid is the Q7, while A6 and A8 are also in the pipe line.

These vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine along with electric motor that has zero emissions. He further said that the Hybrid versions are best fit for our customers as they ask for electric vehicles for everyday driving.

Audi Sportback e-tron can be driven under electric power for 30 miles and 370 miles on Audi engine while the i3 has a 100 mile rane and after a massive up gradation it has an extended range of 186 miles but Audi is still on the top.

Toyota is the undisputed King of Hybrids. No one makes Hybrids better than the Japanese automaker. The Japanese company was a hybrid pioneer and its Prius became a fashionable hit with Hollywood stars. This new Prius Is not just any new Prius, but the most efficient version yet of the world’s best-known hybrid, boasting 134.5mpg and 49g/km of CO2 emissions.

The new Plug-In Prius has incredible fuel consumption, smooth and silent in electric driving, big boot and five seats. It can manage 15.5 miles on electric motor where as the simple Prius can only manage 1.2miles.  If you become too enthusiastic you can turn on the 1.8-litre petrol engine combined with electric motor in hybrid drivetrain. A full charge will take 90 minutes.It is on sale now from £27,695.

Mazda 3 Hybrid – Is it too little too late?

Mazda has taken its time to join the hybrid race but it has done it with a style. Mazda 3 Hybrid has been fitted with Toyota’s tech, giving it a massive boost. Toyota’s petrol-electric drive train works well plus Mazda 3 has a better ride and handling than Toyota. It is certainly more refined and more attractive. For now, Mazda 3 Hybrid will only be sold in Japan.

Hybrids are massive in Japan with 60% of new car sales going towards Hybrids. Yet Mazda 3 is the first Hybrid from the company. It efficiently mixes the 2.0-litre SkyActiv petrol engine with hybrid technology. Mazda 3 Hybrid is only available as a saloon. Making the 3 Hybrid means a loss of 107 litres of boot space and increase of 80kg in weight. The 3 Hybrid has the same batteries, electric motor, CVT gearbox and hybrid control systems as in the Prius. The driving position gives good visibility. There is no plug-in version of the Mazda 3 Hybrid where as its competitors have offered plug in versions.

Inside, Mazda 3 boosts a modern dashboard and better-quality materials which gives it a more upmarket feel than the Prius or Auris Hybrid. Its driving experience is also better than the two with sharper steering, better body control, agile handling and more comfortable ride. In other words, it is much more impressive than a Prius. It switches from idle to EV running smoother than a Prius. The pedal is also less grabbier than in a Prius. Mazda’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is more refined than the 1.8-litre engine fitted in the Prius. Mazda 3 Hybrid is unlikely to make it to British shores as hybrids don’t feature in Mazda’s European plans. Nonetheless, Mazda 3 Hybrid is a stylish alternative to the boring and dull Toyota Prius and is set to have a strong future.

Ford is also joining the race of hybrids by adding two hybrid versions of its Mondeo. The new Mondeo is being awaited long after it made its debut in the 2012 Detroit Motor Show. The plug-in hybrid has the carbon emissions of less than 50g/km, the version to be launched in the UK will have less than 99g/km of emissions. The fuel economy is great at 65mpg. These figures make the Mondeo a good choice as compared to rivals.

Apart from the electric motor, the hybrid Mondeo has a 2.0 litre petrol Ford engine under the bonnet and both of them combine to give a total output of 188bhp. The drive is agile from the start. The front wheels are driven independently at lower speeds and when in stationary. The top  speed in on the electric motor is 85mph. On pushing the accelerator hard, the petrol engine comes to life with a roar, however, the transition from electric mode to the petrol isn’t very smooth.

The engine is mated with a CVT gearbox which struggles to catch up with the engine revs. However, if driven smoothly, the Ford Mondeo gearbox feels much refined but still it’s a lot less flexible while driving as compared to the 2.0 TDCi. Inside, the cabin of the Mondeo feels inspired with the Chevrolet Volt’s and has a wide centre console and touchpad-like control buttons.

However, the build quality is disappointing and is much less than what one expects from Ford, cheap plastics have been used inside the cabin and thanks to the battery taking up all the space in the boot, there is only 100 litres left for the luggage which is much lesser than a standard car.

The Ford family car, Mondeo has a new version; it was revealed at Detroit Motor Show. Like the Fiesta, Focus and Kuga, the newcomer is a world car produced under the ‘One Ford’ banner that means it will be sold unchanged across the globe. It will be called Fusion in the US, but will continue to be known as Mondeo in the UK and Europe.

It’s all change in the new Mondeo. From the body to the chassis to the engines, everything about this fifth evolution of the Mondeo is brand new. And for the first time ever, there will be hybrid and plug-in hybrid models that’ll return 56mpg and 140mpg respectively. It will come as a hatchback, an estate and a saloon.

The new Mondeo is being equipped with all the technology it needs like inside, the new Mondeo will also get SYNC, Ford’s Microsoft-developed in-car entertainment system, which streams music to the car’s speakers from your phone and also incorporates Bluetooth and Internet access. The MyFord Touch system will also be available which offers voice control for all major systems.

It will also feature 1.6 and 2.0-litre turbo EcoBoost petrol engines, equipped with stop-start technology. Diesel choices will include updated versions of the 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDCi engines already seen in the Focus. All cars will also offer a choice of six-speed manual or paddleshift SelectShift automatic gearboxes. The stars of the show will no doubt be the petrol-electric hybrids. Pricing is likely to match the current car which starts at £17,795. It will be arriving in the UK in September 2013.

No one does Hybrids better then Toyota. It Is the King of Hybrids. Hybrids are the cleaner, greener face of motoring. Unstill now the prices have been quiet higher but this is all changing now with the arrival of Toyota Yaris Hybrid and Honda Jazz Hybrid.

Yaris Hybrid is the smallest hybrid Toyota makes and second only to the Prius Plug-In in the green stakes, with CO2 emissions as low as 79g/km. These great figures are achieved by hooking up the 1.5-litre petrol engine to a compact electric motor. Together, they produce 98bhp and can launch the Yaris Hybrid from 0-62mph in 11.8 seconds. The luggage space or passeneger room hasn’t been compromised as it is the same as the petrol Yaris.

Changes have been made to the front end to improve aerodynamics, LED running lights have been added and Toyota badge is blue. Prices start from around £15000 going up to £16,995.