Honda is set to tease hot hatch fans at the Geneva motor show with a preview of the Civic Type-R. Like it's previous model it uses the same 197bhp engine and six-speed gearbox. Type-R is based on the three-door Civic hatch, which goes on sale in less sporty forms later this year. Honda has not commented on the price but it says it will cheaper than the Volkswagen Golf GTi when it goes on sale in February 2007.

More...

IC Corporation, North America's largest school bus manufacturer, is working with Enova Systems, Inc. to introduce the nation's first hybrid school bus. The two companies have developed a prototype school bus with a hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain that is currently undergoing testing. "Together, IC Corporation and Enova are delivering an integrated solution that allows the customer to attain an approximate 40 percent increase in fuel economy and also greatly reduce emissions," said Mike Staran, Enova's vice president of marketing. The project features Enova's post-transmission 80 kW Hybrid Drive System and is currently being evaluated at IC Corporation's research and technology facility in Fort Wayne, Ind. The hybrid school bus will be delivered to a school bus customer in spring 2006.

More...

The German auto giant BMW has decided to jump into the hybrid bandwagon with the Concept X3 EfficientDynamics. In contrast to the gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles from Toyota, Honda, and Ford, the X3 uses high-performance capacitors ("Super Caps") to store and supply electric energy to the vehicle's well-packaged "Active Transmission." The Active Transmission combines an electric motor with the functionality of a conventional six-speed automatic gearbox, and attaches directly to a BMW straight-six gasoline engine that employs jet-guided direct injection to further increase efficiency.

More...

Those of us who are car freaks will remember when Police had to be called in at Times Square to control the crowds, sometime in November last year. Lexus had unveiled its latest offering, the Lexus IS. But it was not just the car that was generating so much interest. It was the way in which Toyota was showing it off. They were using a three dimensional hologram technology called as "Free format" making the car spin, stop and in short show off to the crowds. The best part was a touch screen which allowed visitors to change the size, color, and setting of the car that was spinning around in front of them.

More...