Do you happen to be an "engineer for hybrid development and transmission controls"? Is your title "Project Engineer High-Voltage Safety and Batteries?" Or, as a matter of fact, do you do anything at all that touches the hybrid field? Then Porsche wants you! In a recent full-page, national newspaper ad, Porsche revealed that it's not ashamed to admit that its hybrid talent pool is a bit, er, thin. But the ad also indicates that (oddly enough), the automaker's taking this gas – electric stuff seriously; no mild hybrids for the sons of Ferdi. According to Automobilwoche [sub], the first model on which the (new) engineers will be able to cut their teeth will be the second-generation Cayenne, starting in 2010. The Panamera sedan will be introduced in 2009, but it won't be hybridized before 2011. Other politically-correct plans include lower weight: The Panamera's four doors will probably be made of magnesium. (Let's not be callous and picture the bright colors in which a Panamera with Li-Ion  batteries and magnesium doors would burn). Even Diesels, God forbid, are on the horizon. According to Porsche's boss Wendelin Weideking, oil burners are being "taken into consideration." Porschefiles, the end is nigh.

According to mlive.com, auto industry analysts predict that the hybrid “premium” and consumer acceptance of $3 a gallon gas will dampen near-term demand for gas – electric vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates senior manager Michael Omotoso says the arrival of the next gen Prius will revive the genre. "In 2009 we see hybrid sales going over 600,000 units." Over at AutoNation, some 70 percent of car shoppers inquire about hybrids– but only two percent end up buying one. Spokesman Marc Cannon claims the Prius has been successful because "Americans really like that fact that the Prius stands out and it's a social statement; if you have a Prius, everyone knows it's a hybrid." And what of battery-powered cars? "The lithium-ion battery is nowhere near ready for showtime," says Brett Smith, a hybrid analyst at the Center for Automotive Research. Still, the Volt hype has raised expectations– and how. "Whoever sees those concept cars thinks it's ready to go." As Albert Einstein said, “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

In 2002, Leon County (Florida) commissioners passed an ordinance earmarking three dollars from every traffic ticket for driver-education programs. This year, educators got $230k to spend on teaching the next generation how to navigate our roadways. They spent the money on salaries for one full-time and one part-time teacher and cars for the county's five high schools. But Tallahassee.com reports they didn't buy just any cars– they bought a fleet of Toyota Priora. You have to wonder how the students will react going from one of those with its video game dashboard and engine cut-off back to the family chariot where they actually have to learn to read an instrument cluster and listen to the engine idle.

Is it dangerous to drive a Prius in the snow? ConsumerAffairs thinks so, based on reports they've gathered from several states. It seems that the traction control system in some of the gas-electric hybrids shuts down the power to the drive wheels when they start slipping, a complaint that's been around since last year. Back then Toyota admitted the traction control system could impact performance but isn't a safety problem. Spokesman Bill Kwon stated that a "fairly steep grade [eight to 10 degrees] and … snow would cause a loss of traction which will activate the traction control system and therefore reduce or cut power." Reducing power is one thing, but cutting it out altogether? "In my opinion, it's better to have the vehicle stop then to have the wheels spinning and out of control." That would be fine if the vehicle did stop, but on a snow-covered incline slippery enough to activate the traction control, a powerless car isn't going to stop. For our Prius-owning readers living in snow country, have you experienced this, or has your traction control been behaving itself?

If you were 20 when GM equipped the Cadillac Seville with a 105hp 5.7-liter LF9 diesel engine– a powerplant whose feeble power, clattering noise, belching smoke, mechanical unreliability and brand defilement made oil burners about as fashionable as AM stereo– you'd be 43 now. So… I guess there's still a mountain for the marketing men to climb. Kelley Blue Book confirms this suspicion. In a January survey of an unspecified number of in-market car buyers, nearly half said diesels are "dirty and noisy." What's worse, "shoppers increasingly believe that diesel-powered vehicles get poorer fuel mileage than conventional gasoline engines, and fewer consumers are seeing diesels as fuel-efficient." That's right, diesel's appeal is actually declining amongst car buyers. Meanwhile, hybrids are ascendant, with 61 percent of shoppers claiming an interest in buying a car with a gas – electric engine. "When asked about the premium they are willing to pay for a gas/electric hybrid over a traditional gasoline-powered version of the same vehicle, this month shoppers are willing to pay an average premium of $3,135, up from an average premium of $2,645 a month ago in December 2007." Can any automaker break the American diesel curse? If they do, it's going to be a long, tough job. 

Proving the old bromide that "many a truth is spoken in jest," Wal-Mart may be fulfilling a prediction made by some of TTAC's erudite readers: selling Chinese cars alongside the toilet plungers and plastic shoes. According to Bloomberg, Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott has revealed that the monolithic megastore chain has been talking with automakers about selling gas-electric hybrids and plug-in EVs at Wal-Mart. Lee decline to specify which carmakers are involved, or where they were located. Scott would only say the potential suppliers were "major" companies. He also unveiled a proposal to provide recharge stations for EVs, generating the juice via wind turbines or solar panels or some other politically correct means. Of course, there are logistical challenges, such as getting planning permission for a windmill at your local Wally World, training part-time minimum-wage stock clerks how to sell cars, and figuring out a way for customers to get their shiny new EV through the self-service checkout lane.

Audi has dominated the Le Mans series with the diesel-powered R10; Peugeot is also fielding a diesel race car. Now The Daily Yomiyuri reports that Toyota's considering jumping into the alternate powertrain fray with a hybrid-powered Le Mans car. Although Toyota last ran the Le Mans in 1999, they recently won the Tokachi 24-hour race last year in a Supra retrofitted with a hybrid drivetrain. The LeMans cars will have a "special capacitor" (no, they didn't use the word "flux") to "facilitate an extremely fast power supply and charging function." Apparently, ToMoCo sees a hybrid-powered endurance racer as a way to generate interest in the gas – electric powertrain in Europe, which already has plenty of cars equipped high mileage gas and diesel powerplants. Considering Toyota's "success" in F1, they better hope they don't need a checkered flag to make the point.

All right– enough with the nay-saying and snarking at GM Car Czar Maximum Bob Lutz. He promised a Volt by 2010 and by George, Chevy's made good on that promise! You, yes you can now buy your very own Chevy Volt! Unfortunately (or fortunately for you!), they're only building 7,500 in this production run. So if you want your very own zero emissions automobile, you need to get your order in right now! Yes, it's a little cramped. Sure, luggage space is limited. But you can park it almost anywhere. And the best part? Its affordable! Be the first on your block to own the new "gas free" Chevrolet Volt! (Batteries not included.)

Now that Toyota's co-opted the Camry to make the ES, hijacked the Highlander to make the RX, fine-tuned the 4Runner to make the GX and liberated the Land Cruiser to make the LX, Lexus is planning to pimp a Prius. Bloomberg reports that Lexus wants to add "something different, and that's highly-efficiency" to their current hybrid offerings, which currently emphasize performance over fuel economy. Market research has revealed that more than a third of the people who bought a Prius last year have a family income over $100k. Half of those top $150k. (Previously blogged by TTAC here.) Not surprisingly, Lexus sees gold in them thar' demographics! That said, I guess they've never heard of "reverse snob appeal" (a.k.a. slumming). And you gotta wonder how you can add upmarket appeal without adding weight. The Japanese manufacturers didn't release any details about the new hybrid– other than the fact it'll be added to the Lexus lineup next year.

CNN reports on a gathering of more than 40 of Prius-driving “mileage maniacs” near Tokyo. During this rolling geekfest, Takashi Toya (a.k.a. “The Shogun”) showcases his plug-in rechargeable Prius. Toya's also tricked his Prius' ECU into thinking the gasoline engine is warmed up (when it’s not) so it can run on battery power right from the git-go. So, how far can a Prius take you on a single fill up? The self-proclaimed “world record holder” says she got 1.5k miles (2500 Km) out of a single tank of gas. Well, that and battery power. After the gathering, the group “raced” their Prioras to find out who can use the least fuel. As a counterpoint, we offer one Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Sports Illustrated, Mr. James was recently clocked driving his 2008 Mercedes Benz at 101mph on I71 near Medina, Ohio. The incident occurred at 2:34 A.M. on December 30, on his 23rd birthday. Happy birthday. Sign here.

A source at GM China has told the China Car Times that the Malibu hybrid will be launched in China on January 22. Not only that, but GM's going to build the Chinese 'Bu in country. Since price is a prime consideration, the 'Bu 'brid will be the "mild" version with its alternator/starter/battery charger thingie, instead of a full-blown two-mode system. However, once GM gears-up their hybrid powertrain production line in the PRC, you can bet they'll offer the whole gas – electric schmeer. Once production begins, I reckon it's only a matter of time before they'll send the Chinese version of The Car You Can't Buy Ignore to American showrooms. Maybe the U.S. market will only receive the Chinese hybrid 'Bu to "test the waters" for wider Chinese exportation. But if GM's planned to build ALL its 'Bu's in China right from the start, it would explain the verrrry slow ramp-up of American Malibu production. It's either that or sheer incompetence. Or both. 

The heat is on the Chevrolet Volt's yes/no/yes/no/maybe 2010 timeline. Bloomberg reports that Toyota has reversed course, set aside their publicly declared antipathy to lithium-ion batteries and announced their intention to have a plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) by, coincidentally enough, the Volt's 2010 deadline. "The company will provide a significant number of plug-in hybrids to global fleet customers," Bloomberg revealed. "With a large percentage coming to the U.S., President Katsuaki Watanabe said at the Detroit auto show yesterday, without elaborating. The cars will help Toyota meet new U.S. fuel-economy rules early, he said." Uh, isn't that second bit considered elaboration? Still, point taken. While GM execs Luzt and Wagoner have been shooting their mouths off about the Volt in a consistently contradictory fashion, Watanabe simply says "we're going to do it" and then, if past history is a guide, does it. "You combine Toyota's experience with nickel metal, the lithium expertise for Panasonic and lithium research from Toyota, definitely they are the strongest player,'' said Menahem Anderman, president of the Advanced Automotive Batteries consulting firm.

If there's anyone left who still thinks hybrid cars are just a fad, you need to rethink: the Prius was one of America's best-selling vehicles in 2007. That's vehicles, not just hybrids. Toyota sold 181,221 of the gas-electric hatchbacks. That's more than the entire Acura or Mercury lineups, and the model was nipping on all of Buick's heels. The Prius also outsold the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Toyota Tacoma, the Honda Odyssey, every Jeep, every Chrysler, every Dodge (except Ram) and every Ford but the F-series. No wonder Maximum Bob is trying to jump onto the hybrid bandwagon so fast, after pooh-poohing hybrids for so long. Only problem is that train left the station a long time ago, GM and Co. will have to run mighty fast to catch it.

You have to admire Bob Lutz' chutzpah. After his boss publicly backpedaled on when we might finally see an operational Chevy Volt electric – gas hybrid vehicle in the showrooms, he goes on the GM FastLane blog wishing the Volt a happy first birthday. How something that has yet to be birthed can have a birthday is beyond me. Maximum Bob brags about everything done since they announced their intent to build something with batteries to sell someday:

– Shuffled around 600 scientists and engineers
– Signed three contracts for battery development
– Begin testing a couple of batteries
– Opened an E-Flex design studio

And in spite of media reports of him having said otherwise, he insists "we are holding tight to our 2010 deadline." Ahhhh, the optomism and hope that comes with the start of a new year. Or the miscellaneous ramblings of a madman. We report. You decide.

At the risk of flagellating the proverbial deceased equine, the Volt's development team is falling right in step with what Rick Wagoner is saying about its possibility of seeing a showroom floor in 2010 (well, DUH!). Lyle Dennis, editor of www.gm-volt.com (no affiliation with GM) asked Rob Peterson, spokesman for the E-Flex development team, what he thought about all the negative press surrounding Rick's recent reneging. "I think people are reading more into this than what's really there. Program timing for the Volt has not changed, nor has our commitment to this program." But, taking a page from the boss' playbook, he added, "we continue to work aggressively toward our 2010 internal target, but that date is dependent on the availability of battery technology…. Only through rigorous testing of the battery…will we be able to accurately determine where we are in the development of the battery and the ultimate production date of the Volt." So there you have it: it's all about the batteries. And when they don't make their originally proclaimed date for whatever reason, they have an excuse already prepackaged and waiting on the shelf. Pretty convenient, huh?