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Cadillac recently provided some Detroit-area media an opportunity to drive the new Cadillac Escalade hybrid. From a driving perspective the Escalade is indistinguishable from the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids, which should come as no surprise since it is mechanically identical. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as these big SUVs are the most fuel-efficient of their type. One area where we had hoped to see a difference, however, was in the hybrid signage. When the Tahoe and Yukon launched, their flanks were emblazoned with huge hybrid stickers. They’ve apparently done little to stimulate sales. Unfortunately, the Escalades on hand for the drive were similarly marked, though the lettering was a bit more subdued. Nonetheless, we asked Cadillac officials, “Will it be possible for customers to order a hybrid without the rocker panel and window graphics?” The response was that all hybrids would be shipped from the factory with the decals. However, at customer request, the dealers can easily remove the lettering with a heat gun. We also learned that some states actually prohibit any stickers on the glass, so vehicles shipped to those states will go without the windshield and tailgate decals from the factory. Even without the sticker package, the Escalade still has prominent hybrid badges on the fender vents, the C-pillar and tailgate, so no one is likely to miss what it is.

Subaru debuted its new 2.0L diesel boxer engine earlier this year in the Legacy and Outback, and soon it will also be offered in the Forester and Impreza, though only in Europe. These two latest models to feature the unique horizontally opposed oil-burning engines will debut at the Paris Motor Show next month. The Forester 2.0D will offer 147 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque while returning 44.8 combined mpg in the European cycle, which is class-leading for a small CUV over there, while the Impreza 2.0D offers 148 hp and 258 lb-ft (fuel economy for the Impreza 2.0D was not released for some reason). The diesel Forester will hit showrooms later this month while Euro shoppers will have to wait until January for the diesel Impreza. While we certainly hope Subaru is tweaking its 2.0L diesel boxer engine to meet emissions standards in all 50 U.S. states, we haven’t heard one word about it.

While we’re clamoring for small, efficient transportation, Europe is already awash with micro cars, diesels, and hatchbacks. When Toyota designed and engineered the tiny iQ, it had to go smaller and greener than the competition, so the little four-seater is only about 1.5 feet longer than a Smart fortwo. AutoExpress is reporting that Toyota is prepared to take iQ to the next level of green, with a plug-in hybrid version of the micro mini. Plug-in technology would reportedly be shared with the next generation Prius, save for an engine that goes from 1.0L to a displacement of only 500 cc. Chargeable batteries will enable the iQ to travel 15 miles or more without a drop of CO2-spewing combustion, and the smaller engine would stay stingy when it does come to life. While the iQ is probably still a little too small for large scale US consumption, we’re sure the vehicle would have quite the cult following if it could pull off fuel economy in the 100 mpg range. If gas decides to travel back north of the $4 mark, though, even a clown car would be acceptable Stateside.

While everyone is aware of what GM, Honda and Toyota have been up to when it comes to fuel-saving technology, Chrysler has been playing it close to the chest. The Auburn Hills-based automaker, however, will show its dealers three new all-electric cars at the end of this month that are said to be production capable. Jim Press, the Chrysler exec who came from rival and current hybrid-leader Toyota, added that Chrysler’s future platforms were being designed with electrification in mind and that is still has access to technology from its previous owner, Daimler.

Like General Motors, Chrysler seems convinced that its EVs need to have plug-in capability. The goal, says Press, is 300 miles of range. To make that a reality, a very good set of batteries will be necessary – likely lithium-ions – and Press assures us that his company is working with multiple suppliers. Will any of the production-ready models be anything like the concepts shown off last year in Detroit? We’ll see.

Toyota is the undisputed leader in the hybrid space, and the Japanese automaker is looking to expand its kingdom by adding an all-electric vehicle to the mix. While there are few details available, Toyota has said the EV would likely be an urban city-type vehicle that will be available in the “early 2010s”. Hopefully it will be more accommodating than Toyota’s last attempt at an EV: the eCom (above), which used the innards of the RAV4 EV to achieve a top speed of 62 mph and a range of just 60 miles. Toyota’s new EV, however, will be preceded in 2009 by the arrival of the brand’s first plug-in Prius hybrid.

Honda is reviving an old name for its new Global Hybrid that goes on sale next spring by calling it the Insight. The new five-door hatchback “Prius-Killer” will be the most direct competitor yet for Toyota’s iconic hybrid. Learning from the lesson that hybrid buyers apparently prefer their cars to be recognizable as such rather than being derivatives of existing models, Honda has modeled the new Insight after its low volume FCX Clarity fuel cell car and will be debuting it as a concept at the Paris Motor Show next month before it goes on sale as the least expensive hybrid in the world in 2009. Recent comments by Honda have hinted at a price starting at $18,500 for the Insight, which goes on sale 10 years after the original. Unlike the tiny two-seater that had limited appeal and utility, this new one is expected to appeal to a much wider audience. Honda is planning for worldwide sales of 200,000 units a year with 100,000 going to the U.S. market.

Lotus Engineering has kept on hard at attempt developing new engine technologies too aide the use of replenish&wshyp;able alcohol fuels. It’s newly drafted Exige 270E Tri-Fuel idea contended overly the British establishment knows how to initiate an engine run on a large number of fuels, combined with gasoline, ethanol and methanol. In fact, the 270E Tri-Fuel idea was the a large amount of powerful Exige repeatedly conceived by the Hethel-based establishment and earned its largest electricity output paying synthetic methanol fuel. Lotus has began a new investigation anticipate dubbed the OMNIVORE engine — cleverly signaling the present it serves to run on everything — this uses a single cylinder investing in direct injection and a variable compression ratio in circumstances to maximize fuel and efficiency additonally running on a large number of alcohol fuels. The even greater octane screen of alcohol fuels ought to let the engine to run among bigger compression, thereby giving a greater amount of power, additonally additionally toning itself downhill to run on lower-grade fuels as well. Read the urge release subsequent to the break for a great deal more details.

Though it’s usually the adventure touring crowd that excels at turning their motorcycles into rolling technology test-beds, we’ve recently run across a Yamaha Vino scooter that has been fully farkled. Featuring an on-board computer based around a VIA mini ITX form factor motherboard that’s cleverly been hidden under the stock Vino’s seat, this rolling geek-mobile packs in WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, GPS, FM radio, a TV tuner and a front-mounted camera in its diminutive frame. With the full-spec computer, pretty much anything should be possible right from the road using this scooter. While this is certainly a cool project, we have a few questions regarding its durability. How long will the acrylic plate that makes the structure for the computer hold up? Perhaps most importantly, how long will the scooter’s battery be able to power all this technology? In the name of science, of course, we graciously offer our services for a road trip on the machine to find the answer to these all-important questions. Thanks for the tip, jared!
[Source: Thought Lab]

Now that it’s all hip to be green, you may look at your hybrid car with its properly inflated tires and Love Earth bummer sticker and think “what else can I do to help the environment?” Turns out the answer is to drink beer out of recycled windshields turned into pint glasses. These glasses from Uncommon Goods are handmade in Colombia from old car windshields. The green tint that once protected your eyes from glare now protects your beer from harmful rays.

Not a beer drinker? They also sell recycled windshield wine glasses. And of course, you’ll want to protect your sustainable-wood coffee table with drink coasters made from recycled road signs. Then you can sit back and relax in your one-of-a-kind Speed Chair made from recycled speed limit signs.

[Source: Uncommon Goods]

How’s this for an idea: add a plug-in hybrid conversion kit to the outside of your car. Sound good? It’s called the Poulsen hybrid and it’s in the running for the Auto X Prize. Other cool news from the battery-powered vehicle world is more info about the electric Triac, which also might come in truck form. We’ll need these options if the predicted $200 oil “Super Spike” happens in the next six months. Shudder.