explains GM Powertrain group vice president Thomas G. Stephens, adding that “we believe this strong hybrid on a full size truck will save twice as much fuel per mile as a comparable small hybrid vehicle, with no compromise in performance or utility.”

GM’s implementation strategy for hybrid vehicle technology isn’t geared to make bold headlines. Rather, it’s a long-term, step-by-step approach that tackles lower mile-per-gallon vehicles with the highest margin for improvement first. While the marketing department might be scratching their heads on how to make news against the onslaught of high mileage full-hybrid compacts and mid-size [...]

We will see other hybrid adaptations come to the fore, including the possibility of plug-in hybrids that allow driving a hybrid vehicle solely on electric power most of the time. This hybrid’s internal combustion or compression ignition engine would only be used for more extended travel. Of course, such a configuration would require a much [...]

While these three currently available models do illustrate the use of highly efficient, moderate horsepower powerplants, this doesn’t mean that hybrids must by necessity be at the lower end of the horsepower chart. In fact, the Acura DN-X hybrid concept shows just what automakers might have in mind for hybrids, as this performance-oriented sport sedan [...]

Honda’s follow-up hybrid, an iteration of its popular Civic, uses a larger 1.3-liter, 4-cylinder, dual port sequential ignition engine with two spark plugs per cylinder and the same supplemental electric motor. This IMA powerplant puts out a combined 110 horsepower to provide a very satisfying driving experience.