Car Promises That Weren't Kept

Ever wonder what happened to events in the auto industry that were supposed to occur but didn't? You might have seen a news story on a site like ours of a promise by an automaker that sounded legitimate with lots of potential, but in the end a decision was made and it never happened. We look back at a few from the past decade.

Lotus' New Lineup
Think back to November 2010, when Lotus unleashed its soon-to-come lineup into the lower halls of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The niche automaker had four near-production sports cars — the Elite, Esprit, Elan and Elise — plus a four-door concept called the Eterne. All five came fresh from the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The reception in America was phenomenal; Lotus even slapped model years as early as 2013 on some of them.

Turns out we were California dreamin'.

Toyota Reveals 'Anti-Excess' Concept

In honor of Earth Day, we recently told you about automakers that use renewable and recycled materials in their vehicles; Toyota is taking that to a whole new level with the ME.WE concept.

The stocky, futuristic-looking compact wears a tubular aluminum frame with lightweight polypropylene plastic composite body panels. The concept weighs just 1,653 pounds and is versatile — Toyota calls it an "anti-excess" vehicle. The panels are 100% recyclable and come off to transform the car from a sedan to a convertible; an extendable rear deck turns it into a pickup truck.

The electric concept gets power from four in-wheel motors and a lithium-ion battery pack that is mounted under a bamboo floor. The ME.WE makes extensive use of bamboo; it lines just about all the car's interior surfaces.

Toyota teamed with French designer Jean-Marie Massaud to design the concept, which was unveiled at a Paris event this week. Not surprisingly, the automaker has no plans to produce the concept.

Check out more photos below.

EPA Rates 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV 119 MPG Equivalent

Chevrolet announced Wednesday that it expects an EPA rating of 119 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) for the 2014 Spark EV. The all-electric version of the mini-hatchback will travel 82 miles when fully charged, Chevrolet says.

With a dedicated 240-volt (Level 2) charge, the Spark EV’s battery reaches full capacity in about seven hours. Chevrolet says the Spark EV can charge to 80% capacity in as little as 20 minutes with a direct-current Level 3 quick charger. It's also among the first cars to get the industry's new combo charger, which integrates all types of charging into the same connector.

Chevrolet says that the Spark EV's electric drivetrain, which makes some 130 horsepower and 400 pounds-feet of torque, accelerates the car to 60 mph in less than 8 seconds. The efficiency figures compare well with other EVs. See how they stack up below:

Snapshot of a Hybrid Owner

According to new data from Experian, hybrid vehicles still make up only a small percentage of all cars on the road today, but they're gaining market share. The data company's study showed that hybrid car market share went from 2.2% in 2011 to 3.1% in 2012.

Who's buying hybrids? The study also took a look at the typical hybrid owner and came up with an interesting snapshot. First off, hybrid consumers have a higher credit score than those buying a non-hybrid car; the average score of a hybrid owner who applies for a loan is 790 compared to 755 for non-hybrid loan applicants. Experian also notes that hybrids tend to appeal to a younger audience; 25- to 34-year-olds are 16% more likely than average to live in a household that owns or leases a hybrid vehicle, the agency reports.

When a Hybrid Doesn't Outperform at the Pump

Luxury and hybrid don't necessarily go together in the car world. Buyers who can afford an expensive luxury car typically can afford an expensive stop at the gas station. Why even consider a hybrid version?

There are entry-level models that return excellent mileage resulting in significant savings at the pump, and savings are savings. Then there is a different breed of hybrid where the electric-assisted powertrain is designed to deliver a better driving experience — or more power — without the drain at the pump more power typically demands.

Lexus was the first luxury car maker to offer a hybrid model in its lineup: the RX 400h back in 2006. Today it makes entry-level hybrids like the ES 300h and CT 200h. Both start at less than $40,000 and return an impressive EPA rating of at least 40 mpg combined.

Then there's the LS 600h L, a full-size luxury flagship that sports a unique hybrid system that teams a 5.0-liter V-8 engine with a 165-kwh electric motor and 288-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery to make a grand 438 combined horsepower. It also starts at $120,805 (including destination of $895).

We decided to see how the mileage of this uber-hybrid really shook out in the real world, driving it and a non-hybrid LS 460 on a nearly 200-mile round-trip commute. We were a bit surprised at the results.

The Top 10 Cities Where Car Shoppers Go Green

In celebration of Earth Day Cars.com has compiled a list of the U.S. cities with the greenest car shoppers.

We analyzed data from millions of our visitors to find out where searches for hybrid and other environmentally friendly cars were most concentrated.

Cars.com's Best Hybrids For The Money

It turns out only two cities weren't located on the West Coast.

"It is not surprising that California and other West Coast cities top the list with some of the greenest car shoppers. That part of the country has long led the charge in the green movement," said Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com's executive editor.

GM Expects EPA to Rate 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel at 27/46 MPG

GM said today the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel will get an EPA rating of 27/46 mpg city/highway with its standard six-speed automatic transmission. The highway rating represents the highest of any non-hybrid car in the U.S., GM says, but the EPA's combined rating — 33 mpg — is just 2 mpg better than a gas-powered Cruze Eco with its automatic. It also falls 1 mpg short of the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI with its six-speed auto.

The Cruze diesel's turbo-diesel 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes 148 horsepower and, typical of diesels, a prodigious 258 pounds-feet of torque. An overboost mode can crank out as much as 280 pounds-feet for short bursts. GM says the car hits 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, which beats the Jetta TDI's 8.7-second rating by a smidge.

Detroit Electric SP:01: First Look

• Competitors: Pre-owned Tesla Roadster, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive
• Looks like: A lightly restyled Lotus Exige (basically a Tesla Roadster or Hennessy Venom GT)
• Drivetrain: Mid-mounted 201-horsepower electric motor, 37-kwh lithium-ion battery pack; choice of four- or five-speed manual or two-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Late 2013 (so they say)
• MSRP: $135,000

A new company using an old name has unveiled an extraordinary state-of-the-art electric sports car in the heart of the American auto industry. Detroit Electric, an electric-vehicle company that ran from 1906 through 1939 and built 13,000 cars well before anyone else was making EVs, has been reborn in the Motor City.

It intends to produce the SP:01 electric sports car using a Lotus Exige platform modified to accept an electric powertrain. Sound familiar? It should; that's the formula that created the original Tesla Roadster. But the Detroit Electric people say they have improved upon Tesla's designs, and the specs are indeed impressive.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Lexus CT 200h

The market hasn't been very kind to luxury hybrids, but Lexus should have no trouble making a sales case for its charming CT 200h. The compact hatchback continues to be a fun-to-drive, fuel-efficient hybrid, and an updated grille and athletic F Sport model keep the hatchback fresh for 2013, says Cars.com reviewer David Thomas.

2013 Lexus CT 200h Review

2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive Photo Gallery

Not only is this the first time the Mercedes-Benz B-Class will be available on our shores, it will be sold as a plug-in electric that gets an estimated 115 miles of electric driving range.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage.

The hatchback, which seats five, is set to go on sale early next year. Engineers designed the B-Class with cargo room and passenger space in mind, putting its 28-kwh lithium-ion battery — which teams with a 134-horsepower electric motor — underneath the vehicle floor. Mercedes claims the B-Class needs just two hours to reach a charge capable of a 60-mile range when hooked up to a 240-volt household power source.

Check out photos of Mercedes’s first electric car below. Cars.com photos by Evan Sears.