Nother CarGuy

Toyota has revealed the 2021 Mirai Concept, essentially a production-ready preview of the second iteration of the brand’s hydrogen fuel-cell electric sedan that will go on sale in select markets in late 2020. The original Mirai that debuted in 2015 had many things going for it, including being the first production hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) offered for sale to retail customers in North America, but desirability was not one of them. With the new model, Toyota is rebooting the series with a more coupe- and Lexus- (and less Prius-) inspired design, while surprisingly ditching the first Mirai’s more common front-wheel drive architecture for a sportier rear-wheel drive setup, all in the name of creating a more desirable car. Yoshikazu Tanaka, Chief Engineer of the Mirai, explains: “We have pursued making a car that customers feel like driving all the time, a car that has emotional and attractive design appeal, as well as dynamic and responsive driving performance...

Honda has announced that the 2019 Insight will celebrate its global premiere at the New York Auto Show in its final production version. Under its sleek design, the new Insight uses Honda’s third generation two-motor hybrid powertrain, featuring a 1.5-liter petrol engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle combined with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. The combined output of the new powertrain is 151hp and 197lb-ft of torque, with Honda claiming best-in-class power-to-weight ratio, as well as an estimated 55-mpg in the city. “The Honda Insight shows consumers that the efficiency of a hybrid car doesn’t mean sacrificing style, refinement or performance,” said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of American Honda Motor. “The Insight is another symbol of a new era in the evolution of Honda electrified vehicles, where customers can have everything they want with no compromises.” The driver will be able to choose between three driving modes –Normal, Econ...

Hyundai has revealed the NEXO will have the longest range of any fuel cell vehicle on the market. Set to be launched in South Korea next month, the NEXO has a certified range of 609 km (378 miles) which bests rivals such as the Honda Clarity and Toyota Mirai. Hyundai notes the range is comparable to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and says this “allows drivers to travel long distances without nervousness about range.” While range isn’t as important in fuel cell vehicles, it’s nice to be able to travel long distances as the hydrogen refueling infrastructure is still in an its infancy in many places. In the United States, the Department of Energy estimated there would be around 50 retail refueling stations by the end of 2017. A majority of them are located in California and that’s why a number of automakers restrict fuel cell vehicles to the state. In order to get the impressive range, the NEXO has been equipped with three storage tanks which each hold 5...

Mercedes revealed the new GLC F-Cell, the first car destined for series production that combines a hydrogen fuel cell with a plug-in battery pack. The new GLC F-Cell debuted as a preproduction model, with the car currently offering a combined driving range of up to 437km (272 miles) and an electric range of up to 49km (30 miles). The innovative powertrain offered a combined output of 197hp (200PS - 147kW) and 350Nm of torque (258lb-ft). Mercedes claims that the fuel cell system in the GLC is around 30 percent more compact than the one in the B-Class F-Cell, allowing it for the first time to be housed entirely in the engine bay, like a conventional engine. “Our many years of experience with fuel-cell technology pay dividends in the new GLC F-CELL: its long electric range, short refuelling times and everyday practicality of an SUV will make it the perfect vehicle,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler. “This is made possible by the compact co...

Hyundai has just unveiled its upcoming hydrogen fuel-cell SUV in near-production form, dubbed the Next Generation FCEV. Debuting in Seoul, the vehicle is a follow on from the FE Fuel Cell Concept shown at March’s Geneva Motor Show and is a close representation of what the production vehicle will look like. When it launches, it will serve as the replacement to the Tucson fuel-cell and according to the Korean automaker, be capable of travelling 360 miles (580 km) on a single tank. From a design standpoint, the Next Generation FCEV is the second vehicle in Hyundai’s range to adopt its new design language, recently previewed by the compact Kona crossover. As such, it has thin headlights matched by separate LED daytime running lights and fog lamps. Some exact technical specifications remain unknown but the SUV is said to feature an electric motor with 120 kW and 400 Nm of torque driving the front wheels. Hyundai has yet to announce if it intends on offering the new fuel-cell SUV ...

Following reports that Genesis was going to unveil an SUV concept during this year's NY Auto Show, the GV80 fuel cell concept is here to prove all those voices correct. The GV80 Concept represents Genesis' first take on a versatile luxury SUV, displaying a confident posture on the road, while also boasting a spacious interior with immersive technology for passengers to enjoy. In order to get you from A to B, the GV80 Concept uses the latest plug-in hydrogen fuel cell electric technology, with Genesis determined to continue studying the benefits of such an alternative propulsion system for future product applications. "The GV80 Concept is a SUV that alludes to the confidence and evolution of the Genesis brand – its design is timeless, with an understated yet dynamic overall surface complexity," said head of Genesis Design, Luc Donckerwolke. "These are all characteristics that embody Genesis products and delicately reflect distinctive elements, which you’...

Part of Hyundai's plan that will see the launch of at least 14 new environmentally-focused models by 2020, the new FE Fuel Cell Concept has been unveiled in front of the 2017 Geneva Motor Show audience. Its name, FE, stands for Future Eco, which according to the Koreans, reflects "the innovative new technologies that complement the car's eco-friendliness". But that's not its most important feature, as the concept is capable of running for more than 800 km (~ 500 miles) between refueling, due to the fourth generation of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Thanks to that, the fuel cell tech is now 20 percent lighter, achieves 10 percent greater efficiency and has a 30 percent increased power density in the fuel cell stack when compared to the Tucson ix35 Fuel Cell. Moreover, the show car also features portable battery packs, which are charged by the vehicle's energy output to power passenger devices, and it has an integrated storage and charging space in t...

The  2017 Honda Clarity  has the best range rating of any electric vehicle that lacks an internal combustion engine, in the United States.  According to the Japanese-based automaker, the  fuel cell vehicle  returns the petrol equivalent of 68 mpg (3.46 lt/100 km) combined, which translates into an EPA driving range of 366 miles (589 km) on a full tank of hydrogen.  " Not only does the Clarity Fuel Cell fit five passengers and refuel in three to five minutes, it offers customers a driving range on par with gasoline-powered cars. The Clarity leads the pack with a 366-mile driving range rating, and with a growing network of hydrogen stations and fast fueling time, the zero-emissions family road trip is no longer science fiction ", said American Honda's VP of the Environmental Business Development Office, Steve Center.  With a fuel cell and integrated powertrain almost the same size with a V6 engine, fitted entirely under the hood an...