Audi's Q7 arrived at America's SUV party just as the clean-up crew were packing up and heading for home. Despite the timing, questionable looks and hideous fuel efficiency (12/17), it's a hit. Year-to-date, Audi's moved 14,458 Q7s, outselling every other American Audi save the A4. Automotive News [AN, sub] reports that Audi's looking to capitalize on this success by fitting that Billy the Big Mouth Bass snout with a 3.6-liter, 280-hp engine mated to an electric engine. The Volkswagen Group's box fresh gas – electric parallel hybrid will up the Q7's mpg count to a claimed 23 mpg (highway? combine? AN doesn't say). If that doesn't float your boat– the Q7 is a heavy old girl– Ingolstadt will also offer a 50-state compliant 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel Q7 producing "about" 230 hp and 400 ft.-lbs. of torque. AN couldn't get an mpg number for the oil burner, but repeats Audi's claim of a 600-mile range. NOW will you take it off road?

Henrik Fisker left Aston Martin to reskin (and rename) the BMW 6-Series (Latigo) and Mercedes SL55 (Tramonto). When we spoke with the Danish designer back in May '06, we were not entirely convinced there was enough of a difference between "coachbuilding" and "tuning" to justify the $200k premium Fisker asked for his sheetmetal makeover and [relative to Alpine and Brabus] mild performance tweaks. So we were not surprised to read that lackluster sales (15 claimed units) have led the great Dane to go green. Hoping that F. Scott Fitzgerald was wrong about that whole "no second act" thing, Fisker's now a Tesla wannabe. He's hooked-up with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide. Together they might will build a $100k plug-in hybrid. Of the exact details of this venture– platform, body style, propulsion, etc,– Fisker knows says nothing. But he's well into the whole eco-cake-and-eat-it deal. "We want people to drive beautiful fast cars that make environmental sense– cars that are eco-chic and will have less of an impact on global warming."

Austin-based EEStor says its cracked it. It's developed an electric car battery that will allow a car to travel for 500 miles on a five-minute charge. According to the AP, the Texas company's ultracapacitor (that's ultra, not flux) has a secret ingredient: "a material [barium titanate] sandwiched between thousands of wafer-thin metal sheets, like a series of foil-and-paper gum wrappers stacked on top of each other. Charged particles stick to the metal sheets and move quickly across EEStor's proprietary material." Although Canadian electric car maker ZENN Motors says its taking delivery of the new battery for its "short-range, low-speed vehicles" and hailed the technology as "paradigm shift… that would would make internal combustion engines unnecessary" (note: would not will), skeptics are plenty damn skeptical. Ultracapacitor competitor Maxwell Technologies says the EEstor's doo-hickey won't work with regular wall outlets, could crack from road surface jolts or slowly discharge on it own, leaving the driver stranded. Georgia Tech Prof Joseph Perry shares similar concerns, but "I'd be very happy to be proved wrong." Amen.

Hot on the heels of the launch of their new 67-horse 1.4-litre diesel Mazda 2 (something about that doesn't sound right), the triple-Zoom meisters have announced their intention to go green. Mazda says they'll spend a good part of the next two years fitting their cars with hybrid engines and stop/start technology (presumably nothing to do with the key or brakes). As What Car? points out, Mazda has already shown its commitment to the environment by building and leasing the Japan-only RX-8 Hydrogen RE, which runs on either high-pressure hydrogen or gas. Does this mean the brand will stray from maximum-bang-for-the-buck? The same What Car? article reveals Mazda engineers' fanatical efforts to reduce the Mazda 2's weight to increase efficiency and (we hope) performance. So there is hope.

And that's it: the whole story, via contactmusic.com. While some of us have never forgiven the former Mrs. John Lennon for breaking-up the Beatles, this stunning example of political incorrectness is bound to awaken an entirely new generation of Ono detractors. You know, provided she said it. 'Cause we can't find the origin of this remark, which the aforementioned Beatles fans are sure to spread throughout cyberspace (with our help). Anyway, THIS is the time for Lexus PR to step up to the plate and promote their forthcoming 600h L. Something tells me Ms. Ono wouldn't mind accepting a free loaner in exchange for promoting the world's most expensive– and luxurious– hybrid. Of course, she'd need to keep making stupid statements to get enough publicity to make it worth their while, and God knows WHAT she might say. I dunno, something like, curry powder prevents Alzheimer's. Wait, done.

The Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) is a German environmental organization that advises corporations, lobbies governments and generally represents for Mother Earth. And just for fun, each year the VCD names the Eurozone’s most “environmentally-compatible” car. For the second year in a row, the 68K member pressure group has bestowed that honor upon the European Honda Civic Hybrid. The Toyota Prius scooped second. The Temple of VTEC (we are not worthy) reports that The Civic and Prius were the only compact cars to make the VCD’s Top 10; the remaining eight were mini and super-minis. The diminutive VW Polo BlueMotion was the only diesel-powered motor to make the grade. Oh, and if you haven’t tried Google’s translation service, we highly recommend you click on the first link above for further insight into VCD's goals (e.g. “We approach the vision of a lasting and futurable mobility only with the help of many particulars.“).   

Who said you can't have your cake and drive it too? Wired Magazine continues the top ten transport trend (thanks Forbes) with its list of "The 10 Fastest Green Cars on the Planet." They range from the ridiculous (muscle-powered FM-4 HumanCar) to the ridiculous (1200hp, ethanol-powered SVS Power Dodge Viper). The list also includes Audi's LeMans-winning diesel R-10 TDI, Ford's record-setting fuel-cell Focus and (of course) the "Where is it Now?" Tesla Roadster. Unfortunately, very few of the cars on Wired list are street-legal or in production. Even fewer qualify as anything remotely resembling practical transportation. Still, gearheads and greenies together forever? As Rodney King famously enquired, "Why can't we all just get along?"

Last week, GM told the world its '08 models would hit the streets with 14 new or "significantly revised powertrains" with a "focus on saving fuel and improving performance." Public Citizen ("We fight for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources") has accused the automaker of mistaking "old" for "new." The consumer advocacy group claims that "most of the good ideas in the new powertrain lineup… are old news technologies that were listed five years ago." The sole exception? GM's two-mode hybrid. Even then Public Citizen slates the automaker's hybrid efforts for "putting it in some of the largest models, undermining efforts to build more efficient functional family vehicles." What's more, Public Citizen has an answer to SUV and pickup truck economy and safety: unibody construction! "Building the body and frame as a single piece, instead of the Frankenstein monster of a car body stuck to a truck frame, could help protect occupants of a vehicle struck by an SUV." And reduce their ability to tow or haul. At least Public Citizen questions the wisdom of biofuels. Looks like that initiative may be losing momentum amongst the chattering classes. 

While GM is trash talking about selling 60K plug-in Chevrolet Volts in their first year on the market (whenever that may be), Toyota is more circumspect about the technology's chances. The International Herald Tribune reports that the world's largest automaker (ToMoCo) wants to conduct more consumer testing and market assessment before offering a plug-in Prius. Toyota's U.S. manager for advanced vehicle technology admits "there's a lot of enthusiasm right now about plug-ins." But, Bill Reinert adds, "I'm a little cautious about how much of that ends up as real consumer behavior." In other words, will consumers walk the talk? Cost and convenience may be the critical factors. GM pegs the cost of their plug-in Volt– with a 40-mile electric-only range and mandatory extension cord fun– at around $30K. Toyota's gas-electric Prius currently sells in the low 20s– and experienced a major surge when the price was lowered. Do the math. 

You wait all decade for GM to produce a high-tech, high mileage, low emissions vehicle and then the company shows up in Germany with three. Just-auto [sub] says The General will place the following models on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show: 1. a Corsa equipped with a stop – start diesel electric engine with a lithium-ion battery-powered alternator starter 2. a 'Flexpower' Vectra with a two-liter turbocharged engine that can run on a bioethanol/gasoline mix and 3. a Corsa with a superclean 1.3-liter CDTI ecoFLEX engine. The latter is no concept vehicle; the world's smallest common rail diesel (75hp) will go on sale in Europe next year. Its debut will be shared with a natural gas-powered Corsa and Zafira– vehicles that can run on both compressed natural gas and the standard liquid energy source. Gentlemen, place your eco-bets.

PRNewsWire wants us to know that the U.S. Army has unveiled a hybrid-electric propulsion system for their latest Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV). The hybrid design is a bit like a Chevy Volt on steroids: a traditional engine (de-coupled from the drivetrain) powers a generator that drives the motors, juices the vehicular sub-systems and recharges the batteries. Before you start thinking that our military forces are becoming tree-huggers, the hybrid MGV nothing to do with increased efficiency. "The Army is using hybrid-electric power because the more modern [combat vehicles] have much greater electrical power requirements than [the ones currently in use]. Hybrid-electric vehicles provide the requisite electrical power because they employ a rechargeable energy storage system."

Creativity thrives in times of chaos and transition. Dada was born in World War I. Punk Rock arrived in the strife-torn streets of 1970s New York City. Automotive engineering– the art of bringing order to chaos– also fits this template. German automakers did some of their most innovative work in the turbulent years immediately after WWII. And now that environmental regulations and changing business conditions have upset the international automotive applecart, we’re looking at another explosion of engineering creativity. Ground zero for some of this work: the alternative propulsion experiments of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) collegiate branches. 

The name of this game is Challenge X – Crossover to Sustainable Mobility. The contest challenges fledgling engineers from 17 American universities to design, build and test a hybrid vehicle architecture based on a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. They must utilize alternative fuels to reduce the vehicle's energy consumption while maintaining standard-issue performance, utility and safety.

The Challenge X’ timeline is modeled after GM’s development cycle. SAE students have four years to turn Chevy’s hunk of charcoal (sorry Equinox lovers) into an eco-friendly gem. For those readers who suffer from ADD, here are the Challenge X Cliff Notes:

Year one: teams devise theories, build models and create simulations for a new, more mpg-friendly Equinox powertrain. Year two: the judges determine which teams get the keys. The teams take delivery of their high tech kit, and attempt to install it into their prototype. Years three and four: they refine their handiwork and restore their eco-modded Equinox to “near showroom quality.”

If you think the Chevy Equinox is another forgettable CUV, you may be right. But you haven’t driven the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Challenge X variant, christened Moovada. A Movado watch for bovines? Hey, they’re engineers (they probably don't know what I'm talking about). Speaking of which… Geek alert! If you’re not technically inclined, you might want to skip the next two paragraphs.

The Moovada is a split-parallel hybrid holstering a GM 110 kW 1.9-liter CIDI engine (found in the Fiat Punto-D) coupled to a GM F40 six-speed manual transmission. The rear axle is powered by a Ballard induction motor/gearbox powerlimited to 59 kW by the 44-module (317 volts nominal) Johnson Controls’ nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery pack. The vehicle is fueled by B20, which has a lower GHGI impact than conventional diesel fuel.

The hybrid controller is a Motorola MPC555 based Powertrain Control Module (PCM) embedded controller with 38 inputs, 28 outputs and dual CAN bus capability specifically designed for automotive applications. Wisconsin is utilizing ANSI C language for code development and MotoTron development tools for programming the controller.

Simply put, the team’s five groups (each responsible for a different vehicle system) have engineered a new powertrain package for the Equinox that delivers both fuel efficiency and entertainment. That’s right: it’s fun to drive.

Forget about the 36mpg and super-duper clean emissions. The Challenge X Equinox from the “Eat Cheese or Die” state delivers smooth and seamless power that combines golf cart-like torque with the progressive power of a diesel mill. The shifter is as wonderfully flickable as the clutch is progressive. Using Challenge X-specific Michelin tires, the Equinox not only corners with precision, it provides a quiet and comfortable ride. 

Aside from the electric motor’s straight-cut cogs doing their best impression of an M-22 Rockcrusher running down the dragstrip, the Equinox behaves as well as any CUV, with a much more enjoyable powerband. Ladies and gentlemen, The University of Wisconsin-Madison team nailed it.

And now they’re perfecting it. The team is rebuilding the Moovado’s exhaust system, refining the controls system and repackaging the batteries. They’re modifying both Equinox’ interior and exterior to reflect a more "consumer acceptable" vehicle. And then, of course, there’s more testing and calibration, to assure the Moovado's performance, economy and ride quality.

Ten years ago, I was in their shoes. Back then, my team was fitting a Chrysler minivan with propane propulsion. Looking into the team members' eyes brought it all back, and puts everything in perspective. They work as a team for a common goal under a common budget. They believe in their product and their eco-friendly mission: take what GM builds and improve it for the environment– without sacrificing comfort, convenience or credibility.

Just think what these manager/creator/mentors could do at GM if the people who make cars got to “make” cars. It could happen. In these desperate days, when GM has finally realized that plug-in hybrids and other new tech could be their last, best hope for survival, GM’s engineers may once again assume their rightful place at the head of the development table.

Meanwhile, the kids are alright.

For the sixth consecutive year, Lexus will hang out its shingle at the National Police Fleet Managers Association Conference in Swindon, UK. According to Easier Motoring, the brand will be "demonstrating the qualities that make Lexus models ideal for police work." ToMoCo's hybrid models, known for their low operating costs and reliability, are already popular with UK law enforcement fleet managers. Meanwhile, the McCook (IL) police department's approaching its patrol car needs from a more "traditional" perspective. Suburban Life reports they've just taken delivery of two Hemified Dodge Chargers. The Chief's making no bones about his carbon-oblivious reasoning: "The new cars are painted metallic black with white graphics that are slightly slanted. McCook Police Chief Frank Wolfe hopes that these graphics give the effect that the cars are moving very quickly, and that they cannot be outrun… 'With the new cars, people will notice us, and hopefully, in most cases that will stop them from committing a crime.'" Old School. 

ConsumerAffairs.com has collected complaints from Toyota Prius owners regarding throttle control. One, a new Prius with 600 miles on the odometer, accelerated wildly while the owner was attempting to merge onto a busy interstate. On another occasion, the traction control system (itself another problem reported on the site) kicked in and the car accelerated. A third time the car refused to slow after passing another car. One Prius owner, an engineer, discovered that tapping the lever that disengages the cruise control solved the problem– even though the cruise control system was already turned off. Toyota denies any mechanical or software problem exists. They suggest that a wadded carpet may have caused a sticky go-pedal. 

Yesterday, we reported on Tesla and Toyota's [potential] troubles with lithium-ion batteries. Little did we know there'd be an explosion (so to speak) of Li-ion news. Detroit Free Press reports that GM Car Czar Maximum Bob Lutz announced an "expanded" deal with lithium-ion battery maker A123Systems (first in the phone book!). The Watertown, MA company will develop nanophosphate-based Li-Ion battery packs for GM's E-Flex hybrid system.  "I think that our No. 1 competitor has some problems with their technology, and I do think that it very definitely opens a window of opportunity for us to be first to market with a genuine plug-in hybrid." Lutz promised to have the technology sorted by 2010, when GM's E-Flex-equipped Volt is scheduled to appear at a Chevy dealer near you. Meanwhile, Automotive News [sub] also reveals that Chrysler will shove some lithium-ion batteries into their Sprinter vans this fall. As for fire and explosions… ""We are approaching safety…with a layered system approach," says Johnson Controls-Saft engineer Mary-Ann Wright. "We will ensure safety performance is achieved at the cell, pack and system level." Sounds like a plan.