Ford makes sure that the Lincoln MKZ will not only look different from its current Ford Fusion in terms of style but will also have something different under its hood. The new MKZ will be rolling out this Fall and an insider has confirmed that the designs of the production models are already done before the concept vehicle was ready.

It might be a bit difficult to imagine what the production version will look like but there will be for sure side mirrors, door handles, and a space for an extra passengers (the concept MKZ had only space for four).

The details about the hybrid powerplant has not been released yet but it is scheduled to be unwrapped during the auto show in New York where the production model MKZ will go on display.

The Lincoln MKZ might also get the 4-cylinder EcoBoost that is also being used by the current Ford Fusion. The car can be calibrated to improve the electronic throttle, suspension, and noise control.

The Ford Fusion will be marketed with three gas engine options, plug-in hybrid, and a hybrid while the Lincoln MKZ will only get one gasoline powerplant and a hybrid. A plug-in is possible if there will be a demand for it.

The Lincoln MKZ will also have an 8-speed automatic gearbox, adjustable suspension, and a bunch of automobile technologies.

The first hybrid of the brand rolled out in 2010 and already helped in boosting sales. The current hybrid version of the MKZ has a 2.5L 4-cylinder gas engine paired with electric motor and has a combined fuel mileage of 39 mpg. This number is almost twice the mileage of the conventional MKZ 6 cylinder engine that returns 21 mpg.

The F125! actually checks a lot of boxes in the wish list of car manufacturers for the future. It has high quality materials, driving that is computer assisted, high tech telematics, and the fuel cell hydrogen drivetrain.

The F125! might sound like a big science project but according to the research and development team of Mercedes-Benz, it holds the key to the future of the S-Class line of the brand. The car, according to the team, was built keeping in mind what the car in 2025 will look like.

The future S Class puts it way above the regulatory standards of today. By 2025, the fuel mileage of a vehicle must average 54.5 miles per gallon while in EU the CO2 emission must average only 130 grams per kilometer by 2015. These limits puts manufacturers of big internal combustion engined vehicles like the S Class against the wall, that is why Daimler decides to go with an electric drive.

Going electric does not solve the dilemma on the S-Class since the market for this car demands power, and cruising range. And Mercedes-Benz is thinking of 1,000 kilometers with zero emission which will meet tough regulations by 2025. To address the range and power issue, the only answer is to go with fuel cells to run the 4 electric motors of the F125!.

Daimler though is giving the F125! the feel when you start your ride today, so instead of using the standard design, the concept vehicle makes use of a system which is still on research stage. The technologies involve are next generation systems but is still under development.

Experts are speculating that the Audi A6 Hybrid that will reach the US soil will have the similar specs as the one that Audi will roll out in Europe next year.

The European version will make use of a parallel hybrid setup which makes use of a 2.0L TFSI petrol engine that generates 211 horsepower and 258.15 lb-ft of torque with a 45 horsepower, 155.63 lb-ft torque electric motor.

Combining the capabilities of the electric motor with the gasoline dependent engine, they have a combined output of around 245 horsepower and roughly 354 lb-ft of torque. The power will be transferred to the front wheels via an 8-speed modified tiptronic gearbox.

The electric motor will be dependent on a system of lithium ion battery that will weigh around 36.7 kilograms. The battery pack will be placed under the luggage compartment. The luggage compartment has a good space for around 375 liters but is less that the regular model’s 530 liters.

The Audi A6 Hybrid can blast from 0 to 100 kilometecrs per hours in just 7.3 seconds and can reach a top speed of 238 km/h. The combined fuel economy with this setup will be 6.4 liters/100 kilometers. The hybrid A6 can go on pure electric power for about 100 kilometers.

Because of such issues in safety regulations, the car company Think North America has recalled all of the 16 2011 Think City units that has been sold in order to address the improper installation of the seat belts by Think’s Elkhart, a final-assembly plant based in Indiana. According to the NHTSA, the seatbelt on the driver’s side do not have a tensioner that is a requirement in order to support the mandatory Child Restraint System. NHTSA added that due to the improper installation of the seat belts, there is an increased risk of injury.

The company’s dealers are willing to do a free inspection and replacement of the seat belts. However, Think North America has yet to coordinate with NHTSA for the scheduled owner notifications so the owners have yet to be notified, otherwise, you can reach Think North America at 855-698-4465.

As for the defroster system problem, the NHTSA has said that the car’s fluid heater system is functioning poorly and might have a hard time cleaning the windshield during cold weather, which then adds to more risks in injury and accidents. Likewise, the company’s dealers will address the problem and replace the existing defroster system in your 2011 Think City unit.

Brumby said in a statement that these i-MiEV units will play a part in the Victorian Government’s trial for electric vehicle.  He mentioned that the government is fully committed in their initiative to make the state a greener and cleaner environment; therefore, the $5 million electric vehicle test trial is the government’s way of ensuring that the state is electric vehicle-friendly.

Brumby also mentioned that the Victorian Government is working hand-in-hand with the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) in looking for at least 180 families who are willing to take part in the test trial.  These families will get to test drive the electric vehicles for almost three months.  This is a good way to see how the plug-in charging, electricity network, and the test drives will fit into the daily lives of the test applicants and how successful the electric vehicles are in adapting to day-to-day situations.  The test trial will also include light commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and two-wheelers.  Brumby said that the test trial is part of the Victorian Government’s $38 billion Transport Plan and that this will enable the government to see how they can make the these electric vehicles more useful on the road and for the people.

In Israel, smallness is the theme. Israel researchers announce that they have come up with a way to store hydrogen without eating up too much space. Now, there’s no more need for super-insulated, bulky tanks which claim to be able to keep coffee warm for up to 28 days. The team of Israeli researchers found a way to keep hydrogen in glass filaments which are only slightly thicker than the human hair.

The “glass hairs” or “capillaries” will then be bundled into a glass tube to form a capillary array. The array consists of up to 370 glass filaments and will be about as wide as a drinking straw. 11,000 of these arrays should be enough to fuel a car for 240 miles’ worth of driving. This isn’t such a bad deal. The capillary arrays definitely take up less space and weight less than a bulky hydrogen storage tank.

The array system was developed in Switzerland under the watchful eye of C.En.Ltd.’s chief scientist Dan Eliezer. The system was first unveiled in Berlin at the Institute of Materials Research and Testing. There’s no word yet about any automakers who are interested in developing a similar technology.

Recently the Japanese car manufacturer revealed the interiors of the Mazda2 through photos released to the members of the press.

The Mazda2 has an open and straightforward interior. Mazda responds to the demand of its core market which goes for better handling over flashy gimmicks and gadgets.

The designers of the Mazda2 want to convey a roomy and open interiors so they had to exert some effort to decrease the effects of the pillars that support the windshield.

The dominance of a piano black theme inside gives the Mazda2 a classy feel. The shapes of the different elements were also toned down to convey simplicity. The sides of the gauges were curved forward to give an illusion of bigger space. A little silver is use for contrast.

The feel of the stick is a bit odd since its extending from the dashboard rather than as a continuation of the floor. Comparing it to the Ford Fiesta with its center stack resembling lines from mobile phone designs, the Mazda2 has a simpler interior and a simpler center console.

The Mazda2 is scheduled to hit dealerships in the US on the latter part of the summer.

The grant was a chunk from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which has an allotted fund of $2.4 billion.

The UltraBattery is a project of CSIRO or Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization based in Australia. The battery is capable of delivering more power with lower resistance compared to the latest known technology. This is achieved by forming a single unit using a super capacitor together with a battery made of lead acid.

The company was able to simplify the process of generating and storing power by combining the lead acid fuel cell and the super capacitor which traditionally has been implemented as separate units.

East Penn sees a big market in using this UltraBattery for powering hybrid vehicles which makes use of electric motors or which may utilize regenerative braking. The lifespan of the UltraBattery is also better than NIMH batteries used by some hybrid technologies.

The UltraBattery is expected to reduce costs, improve cycle life, and be more environment friendly since they are easier to recycle compared to Lithium Ion and NIMH batteries.

East Penn was licensed by Furukawa Battery Company to market UltraBattery in North America. The Japanese firm on the other hand got its permission from the Australian CSIRO.

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.