Tuning Truck

As major introductions go, the Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid isn't that impressive. The first-ever hybrid electric vehicle introduced by automaker Hyundai will be sold only in South Korea, and its engine runs on liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

While its sales goals for this Elantra Hybrid are modest--7,500 by the end of December, 15,000 for the full year 2010--that car is the first small step in an aggressive plan by the ambitious and growing Korean

It's been a rough couple of years for cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. As the drums beat louder for electric cars--the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, Nissan's upcoming EV, and more--the hydrogen chorus is waning.

But perhaps there's hope. And perhaps it's as close as your nearest urinal. Or, more politely, your local sewage treatment facility.

Let us explain. One of the problems with hydrogen is that while it's prolific in nature, hydrogen molecules

If you happen to have a vehicle that's worth less than $3500 and are interested in purchasing a new vehicle, then the current Cash For Clunkers legislation may help you out. Provided it passes out of Congress and is signed by President Obama.

Assuming that it passes, when you visit a dealership to purchase a new, fuel-efficient vehicle, you'll benefit from the program if your extant vehicles is nearly worthless and gets lousy mileage ... the worse the better. If the new vehicle you

Last week, we wrote that the smash success of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is leading the company to plan five additional electric cars.

We've now driven electric-car prototypes from a number of automakers: a 2011 Chevrolet Volt mule, the 2012 Nissan EV prototype, the 2012 Ford Focus EV prototype, and the disappointing Mini E. And we've ridden in the 2011 Coda Sedan prototype.

But the only actual production EV we've driven was the 2010

Last year if you said the word “micro” and “car” in the same sentence you were likely to get people’s attention, especially here in the U.S. where regular unleaded was near or above $4 a gallon. The rise in gas prices led to an increase in small car sales and consumer interest in cars like the Smart ForTwo and hybrid technology (a.k.a. Prius). However, the end of 2008 threw another curve ball with the so-called economic meltdown that caused gas prices to drop back below $2 a gallon. With

We told you about the radical Jaguar "LimoGreen" hybrid project several months ago, and now more details and even some renderings of the 2011 Jaguar XJ are starting to emerge.

The latest is the teaser photo above, from Jaguar itself. Combined with dozens of Jaguar XJ spy photos, it's clear that Jaguar's new XJ full-size sedan will metamorphose into a shape inspired by the striking and popular 2009 Jaguar XF.

The new 2011 Jaguar XJ will be previewed on July 9, and Britain's

So here's an idea: Take an existing car, re-engineer it with a large lithium-ion battery pack, rebrand it, and sell it in the US as the first all-electric car of its kind.

Aha, you say! The 2009 Tesla Roadster!

Errrrr ... well ... no. It's the Coda, a new four-door, five-passenger electric sedan expected to go on sale in autumn 2010, a couple of months ahead of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle.

Coda is the new