First Honda Fit EV Enters the U.S. Market

Staying true to its quick-product-launch plan, Honda unveiled the 2013 Honda Fit EV at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show and has already delivered its first production version of the model.

The lucky owner is the municipality of Torrance, Calif., also home to Honda's U.S. headquarters. Technically, the first Fit EV is part of a test program to get real-world feedback before the model's official on-sale date this summer.

The 2013 Honda Fit EV is an all-electric vehicle that's solely focused on poaching potential Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i and Ford Focus EV customers.

Like the Focus EV, the Fit EV is based on its gas-powered cousin, but there are subtle styling changes (such as the absence of a front grille vent) that distinguish the model.

The Fit EV has an average expected range of 76 miles and can get a full charge in as little as three hours on a 240-volt charger.

NHTSA Closes Chevy Volt Investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded its safety defect investigation into the Chevy Volt. It opened the case on November 25 after reports of the Volt catching on fire following severe crashes.

"The agency's investigation has concluded that no discernible defect trend exists and that the vehicle modifications recently developed by General Motors reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts," NHTSA said in a statement.

GM has decided to re-engineer the battery coolant system and make structural enhancements to Volt to protect the battery in the event of a crash. The automaker strengthened the structural elements that protect the battery, added a new sensor to the coolant system reservoir to monitor the coolant level and installed a tamper-resistant bracket to the coolant reservoir to prevent overfilling.

NHTSA also stated that there haven't been any real-world Volt crashes that have resulted in battery-related fires. The original fires were reported after lab tests on the Volt's battery pack resulted in an electric fire days later.

2012 Mitsubishi i Delivered to First U.S. Retail Customers

Gas-free motoring options are expanding in 2012. Mitsubishi's first all-electric car, the i, is now finding its way to retail customers. The four-door hatchback first went on sale in Hawaii last month, and Mitsubishi is now rolling it out at West Coast dealerships. Customers in California, Oregon and Washington were the first in the continental U.S. to take delivery of the i.

The i (formerly called the i-MiEV) seats four and draws power from a 66-horsepower electric motor and 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The EPA lists a 62.3-mile driving range, but this number varies based on city and highway driving. Mitsubishi estimates charging time at 22 hours on a 120-volt outlet and seven hours on a Level 2 240-volt charging station.

The 2012 Mitsubishi i starts at $29,125; the $7,500 applicable federal tax credit brings the price to $21,625. But how much does it cost to drive? The EPA lists an annual fuel cost of $550. It uses the national average electricity rate of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour and an annual driving range of 15,000 miles to calculate the i’s operating costs. 

Mitsubishi plans a gradual rollout for the i, with nationwide availability by this summer.

2013 Toyota Prius c Video

Toyota continues to expand its Prius lineup, this time adding a smaller, less expensive model called the Prius c. It's about 20 inches shorter than a regular Prius, but there still seems to be workable room inside, according to Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder, who says the car's conventional-looking exterior also makes it the best-looking Prius to date.

Hyundai Elantra Electric Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show

• Looks like: The gas-only Elantra, with a big helping of EV stickers
• Defining characteristics: All-electric drivetrain, 124-mile range, 27-kilowatt-hour lithium-polymer battery pack, 90 mph top speed
• Ridiculous features: In the past, maybe the electric drivetrain, but no more
• Chance of being mass-produced: Hyundai says this is just a concept for now

Not to be left out of the electric-vehicle frenzy, Hyundai showed an all-electric version of its Elantra compact sedan at the 2012 Detroit auto show. It's purely a concept car at the moment, but it's yet more evidence of the weight automakers are giving to electric cars.

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If it weren't for the elaborate graphics the Elantra Electric wouldn't have trouble blending in with its gas-only counterpart. The concept also gets a few extra badges, slightly different wheels and a unique Hyundai badge on the grille.

2013 Toyota Prius c: Photo Gallery

This new itty-bitty Toyota Prius — dubbed the Prius c — is part of a comprehensive strategy to make the nameplate the bestselling for the brand in the U.S. by 2020, usurping the Camry moniker.

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This city-fouced Prius has the best gas milage, at 53 mpg in the city, and will have a starting price below $19,000, rivaling the affordability of the Honda Insight.

2013 Toyota Prius c: Up Close

In the proverbial flesh, the 2013 Toyota Prius c looks quite good. It's the least awkward design of the Prius family, in my opinion — and much less dorky than the Nissan Leaf.

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The Prius c looks broad and low-slung. The taillights recall those on the Volvo C30 and Leaf, flanking the liftgate and climbing far up the D-pillars. The design is no doubt effective for a low-riding car, but the clear lenses are a fad that should have been retired long ago.

2013 Toyota Prius c at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show

• Competes with: Honda Insight, Hyundai Accent, Volkswagen Golf TDI
• Looks like: A city car to beat all city cars
• Drivetrain: 73-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and 60-hp electric motor; 144-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery; continuously variable automatic transmission; front-wheel drive.
• Hits dealerships: March

At the 2013 Toyota Prius c hybrid's first North American showing, the company announced a starting price below $19,000 and estimated gas mileage of 53/46 mpg city/highway and 50 mpg combined. Those figures alone make it a major splash in the market.

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The "c" stands for city, which plays up the four-door hatchback's small size and record-setting fuel economy for a conventional hybrid in city driving. (It also draws attention away from its highway figure, which is 2 mpg lower than the regular Prius' highway rating, and its combined rating of 50 mpg, which is an even match.)

The mileage parity with the larger Prius isn't a big surprise.

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid: Up Close

While the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid's styling leaves no question that it's not a regular Sonata, Volkswagen's new Jetta Hybrid could easily be mistaken for the regular Jetta. Or the TDI for that matter.

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Subtle updates include a blue-ringed VW badge on a piano-black grille — a nice look, to be sure — that's bordered by headlights with available LED daytime running lights. There are also some small hybrid badges, but the large hybrid graphic on the doors is strictly an auto-show touch.

2013 Ford Fusion: Photo Gallery

The midsize-sedan market has always been one of the most competitive segments in the United States, and Ford ratchets up expectations with its 2013 Fusion.

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The Fusion features luxury-like styling, a unique and tech-ladened interior, and the first plug-in midsize hybrid with the redesign.