Infiniti
Infiniti arrives at the hybrid party in 2010 with a new, Nissan-developed system comprised of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, an electric motor, an automatic transmission, and lithium-ion batteries. This arrangement provides electric-only propulsion to speeds exceeding 60 mph, according to Nissan. The plan is to fit this hybrid powertrain into an existing Infiniti-we're guessing the rear-wheel-drive G sedan-to achieve 1.6-liter Versa-like mileage figures at a cost premium of less than $5000.
General Motors
The two-mode hybrid system currently offered in GM's large SUVs expands into Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra crew-cab pickups in 2009. As in the SUVs, the pickups' V-8 hybrid powertrain will be offered with 2WD or 4WD. The Saturn Vue two-mode hybrid, which uses a 3.6-liter V-6, is due by the end of this year. It will be available only with front-wheel drive, and it should provide a 50-percent boost in fuel economy over a standard V-6 Vue. The two-mode hybrid will be sold alongside the current four-cylinder Vue hybrid.Come 2010, GM should start rolling out its plug-in hybrids. First, we'll see a plug-in version of the Vue two-mode (which will be the third Vue hybrid model), followed by the company's Great Green Hope, the Chevy Volt. In total, GM is promising twenty hybrid models by 2012.
Chrysler
Like General Motors, with whom it shares two-mode hybrid technology, Chrysler now has large hybrid SUVs (the Hemi-powered Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen). Next, the company will offer the technology in the new Dodge Ram pickup.
BMW
German carmakers were long dismissive of hybrids-favoring diesels instead-but they've come to see them as part of a portfolio of green solutions. Next year, BMW will make its first foray into hybrid powertrains, in the X6. The X6 Active Hybrid promises a twenty-percent improvement in fuel economy.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz will bring out two hybrids in late 2009. The ML450 BlueHybrid is a two-mode that can run at low speeds using only electric propulsion, whereas the S400 BlueHybrid uses its electric motor as an auxiliary power source but still promises fuel economy of nearly 30 mpg. Although Bluetec refers to Mercedes-Benz's new diesel technology, these hybrids both will use a 3.5-liter gasoline V-6. The company also has shown a diesel-powered hybrid, the Vision GLK Bluetec Hybrid, which is currently just a show car, although Mercedes describes it as "near production-ready."