While the government of Dubai is testing in Chevy Tahoe Hybrids as taxis, ordinary drivers aren't being quite so conscientious. So far record high prices for crude oil aren't being felt at the pump by drivers. While Americans are now paying over $4/gallon for gasoline, people in Dubai are paying only $1.36. Dubai itself has limited oil supplies and is getting only six percent of its revenue directly from crude. Nonetheless, the high price of oil benefits Dubai as people from more oil rich areas of the Middle East invest and spend their money in the emirate.

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So, we already know that Toyota will be showcasing its new third-generation Prius hybrid sedan at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show early in 2009. It's long been assumed that this new third-gen Prius would spawn a Lexus vehicle using the same platform and a similar hybrid system. Differences would include a higher price, obviously, and lithium ion batteries in place of the nickel metal hydrides installed in the Prius. What may be more interesting to some, though, is news that Toyota will also be displaying a third hybrid vehicle at the same show. Without giving away too many details, Masatami Takimoto, a VP in charge of research and development, indicates that this third hybrid will be a totally new car based on a larger platform than the current and next Prius.

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When most people look over a Reva G-Wiz, "award-winning" isn't usually the expression that comes to mind. However, the makers of the little electric quadricycle, the Reva Electric Car Company (RECC), are now in a position to claim such an accolade. Because of their impressive sales volume, market penetration, and high customer satisfaction in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, the 2008 Frost & Sullivan European Automotive Powertrain Company of the Year award has been bestowed upon their heretofore unadorned brow.

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When Toyota unveiled the Venza in Detroit, the only details about what would motivate the CUV/wagon/Camry-on-stilts were two possible powerplants. The first was the range-topping 268-hp 3.5-liter V6, while details about an "all-new" 2.7-liter four-cylinder were scarce...

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While Sam took some amazing photos of the three Chrysler concepts - the Jeep Renegade diesel RE-EV, the ecoVoyager and the Dodge ZEO BEV - during their respective live reveals at the Detroit Auto Show, he wasn't able to get inside the vehicles. When I went down to the show floor a little later, the cars were all lined up and waiting for me...

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We are pretty surprised that BMW’S CEO, Norbert Riethfor, didn’t mention anything about an X6 hybrid yesterday during the press conference but according to Automotive News, BMW’s first full-hybrid vehicle will be the X6 and it will go into production very soon...

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Best Concept: Lincoln MKT
This is a close one, but I am leaning heavily towards the Lincoln MKT, which shows that there's still life left in the old brand. Finally, something that really breaks out in the increasingly crowded luxury segment. A close second, in my mind, was the Cadillac CT Coupe , which shows you can draw on your heritage without going retro...

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Maybach brought its 62S Landaulet Concept over to Detroit after unveiling it at the Dubai Motor Show in November. This exclusive Mayback convertible offers fun-in-the-sun for rear-seat passengers as the driver pushes the 6.0L V12 engine with twin turbochargers that produces 612 horsepower...

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As gorgeous as the 2009 Corvette ZR1 may be on the outside, it's what is under the skin that gets our blood pumping. Fortunately, GM stripped down its new supercar to the bare essentials and put it on display here at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show...

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Fresh from ripping up the Le Mans racing rulebook with the diesel-powered R10 TDI, Audi is exploring the possibility of breaking yet another mould with a road-going TDI super car based on the R8...

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Five Chinese automakers are here at the North American International Auto Show, and I've covered two of their press conferences, that of Geely and BYD. I'm familiar with both from last year's Shanghai motor show...

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The LRX concept is important to Land Rover for two reasons: It shows a new design direction for a very traditionally styled lineup, and it features a diesel hybrid powerplant...

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Besides the exciting new Audi R8 diesel concept, Audi revealed the new Audi TT-S at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Powered by a 2.0L TFSI engine the Audi TT-S produces 268 horsepower with a peak torque 258 lb-ft. The engine is mated with an S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission...

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Back in September 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, General Motors main European brand Opel unveiled the second body style and third power-train variant of their E-Flex architecture. Since the product lines of Opel and Saturn have been converging over the past few years it makes sense to display the Flextreme at U.S. auto shows with Saturn badging...

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Tucked away among its more pedestrian brethren was Dodge's Caravan R/T concept. We have no details on the powertrain or what else may lie beneath its skin, but the appearance changes are rather obvious...

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