It is up to the U.S. court to decide on a case filed by Paice LLC with the International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. Paice claims that they own several patents to engines for hybrid vehicles. The complaint serves as a hurdle for importing Toyota models into the U.S. market. Vehicles like the Prius, Camry Hybrid, Highlander hybrid, and some hybrid units of Lexus might be banned if the court favors Paice.

In 2005, Paice edge on the legal battle that Toyota used Paice’s invention in making the drive trains for the RX400h of Lexus, Highlander, and Prius. The next trial in October will explore the infringement claims for the production of the Camry hybrid.

The trials scheduled to be heard in Marshall, Texas are just minor compared to what Paice wants to happen as they filed the case in the nation’s capital. If the trade commission decides to hear what both companies may say, the trial may stretch to about 15 months. If Paice LLC wins, the International Trade Commission can impose the ban for the models which appear to have patent issues.

The Japanese car maker treats this as a major legal battle since these cases can significantly affect their hybrid sales in their U.S. market. It is a Davide and Goliath picture, but the first throw of Paice LLC knocked down Toyota.

The concept revolves around utilizing parallel cylinders to divide the four strokes of the engine cycle which can lead to reducing pumping losses.

Last week the engineering team of Scuderi went beyond computer simulation of the split-type engine and was able to fire up for the first time the prototype of the engine. Further testing is being conducted by the laboratory engineers to tune the engine to its optimal and efficient levels. The data of the study is shared to other experts in the industry under a non-disclosure deal.

The prototype which is a 1L naturally aspirated engine running on gasoline is said to have 80% fewer emission than the combustion engines we know today. The Scuderi Group is planning to fully develop the engine for hybrid use and turbo charged settings where fuel efficiency will be achieved at its highest.

Two-paired cylinders are used by the engine to dive the Otto cycle so it can produce a more efficient combustion. An ordinary engine takes two revolutions of the crankshaft to complete a single combustion while the split type achieves the same in just one revolution. Aside from the fuel efficiency, the spit-type engine also has the potential to produce more torque compared to the conventional engines we have today.

The development of the split-type engine will present a cost efficient solution for the car manufacturers so they can be compliant with the tougher laws on emission which are set to take effect in different countries in the near future.

Italdesign Giugiaro will reveal its latest concept of a speedy but fuel-efficient hybrid car at the Geneva motor show.

Italdesign-Giugiaro S.p.a , commonly called Italdesign, is a famous automobile designer and is a highly-specialized engineering company that is located in Turin, Italy.

It was founded in the year 1968 with its first name as Studi Italiani Realizzazione Prototipi S.p.A that worked in collaboration with the Volkswagen. At present, the company is recognized for the famous works of its subordinate, the Giugiaro Design, the home of the renowned car designer Giorgetto Guigiaro.

Today, with their innovative concept, Italdesign revealed that the hybrid coupe is a two-seater and can achieve a top speed on the road at 186 miles per hour, or 300 kilometers per hour. It can also be accelerated from an amazing zero to 62 miles per hour in less than 4 seconds.

Italdesign remained the concept anonymous until the Geneva motor show. As mentioned, the car manufacturer guarantees a fast and furious design on the coupe, but will be an ideal partner for fuel efficiency. The unnamed car can travel 117 miles per hour on a gallon of gasoline.

If you are interested with the car’s technical information, as to engine configuration and other revving mechanisms, you have to wait for its launching on Geneva.

According also to Italdesign, this coupe is shaped like a wedge, and is wrapped fully with aluminum and carbon, with its chassis covered with carbon fiber.