Remember the Honda Accord Hybrid sold from 2004-06? You may have to dig deep because Honda sold fewer than 6,000 of those cars in its final year before deciding to cancel the hybrid model. New rumors suggest that the Honda Accord Hybrid may make a comeback soon, though.

But first, why did the first generation Accord Hybrid fare so poorly?  Critics say it’s because Honda engineered the car for performance instead of fuel economy. Rather than convert electrical energy into miles per gallon, Honda used the hybrid’s motor and battery pack to add about 15-horsepower to the already stout 240-horsepower V6 engine.

The result was the world’s first “performance hybrid” that boasted the power of a 6-cylinder engine and the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder engine. Had Honda added its hybrid system to the Accord’s thriftier 4-cylinder engine, it may have given competitors like the Toyota Camry Hybrid a run for their money.

Maybe the Honda Accord Hybrid was simply ahead of its time, though. I had a chance to drive two new muscle-bound hybrids recently: the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. While these large sport utility vehicles are very different from a midsize sedan, they do share the old Accord Hybrid’s preference for power.

Both of the models I drove featured burly V8 engines with a two-mode hybrid system that allows for all-electric driving at low speeds. The fuel efficiency gains of these two hybrids are modest, but no one can complain that these brawny ‘utes are slow.

So what will the new Honda Accord Hybrid offer? It’s too early for specifics, but my hope is that Honda will change direction this time and uses those extra electrons to eke out more MPGs instead of horsepower.

If there are any muscle hybrid drivers out there, sound off and share your thoughts.

I’ve been searching and waiting for a top-notch video that clearly explains the benefits of electric drive and today I think I’ve found it.

General Electric has a new video series called “The GE Show” where they showcase some of the innovations they’re working on. The latest episode features electric vehicles and includes information on what GE is doing to make recharging those vehicles easy and convenient.

What I like the most about this video production is that it helps drivers decide whether an electric car is right for them based on their real-world driving patterns. Since we’ll have several plug-in vehicles on the market within the next two years, it is important to understand how electric drive can fit into our everyday lifestyles.

The first part of the episode starts off asking viewers for their zip code and average daily miles driven. The viewer is then taken to a virtual map of their neighborhood and you can specify the location of places you frequent most. In other parts of the episode, you can watch real-world people ask real-world questions about how to charge an electric vehicle. Other features include an interactive driving game, as well as a brief history of how our transportation system has evolved and continues to change today.

And yes, there’s a link to that WattStation commercial with the catchy jingle:

Would a plug-in car fit your lifestyle? Let me know your thoughts!

An eagle-eyed Honkster has captured photos of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class in the suburban wilds of Orange County, California.  As you can see in the photos, the ML was heavily camouflaged and was being tailed by an E-Class wagon support vehicle.

We’re told that the vehicle is about the same size as today’s M-Class, though you can expect Mercedes to adopt new engines under the hood. Car shoppers will be pleased to know that both the V6 and V8 engines will offer more power and significantly better fuel economy.

At a press event earlier this year, Mercedes said to expect 306-horsepower and 24-percent better fuel economy from their new 3.5-liter V6. The new 4.7-liter V8 has been turbocharged to produce 435-horsepower with 22-percent better fuel economy.

It’s worth noting that most of those mileage gains are the result of a new stop/start system that shuts off the engine when the vehicle is not moving. Unfortunately, it’s not clear if the system will make it to the US because of concerns over cost and whether or not government fuel economy ratings will give enough credit to the system.

Inside, we’re expecting Mercedes to equip the new ML with it’s latest generation of active safety equipment. Several new or improved technologies like Blind Spot Assist, Distronic Plus, and Attention Assist are available now on the E-Class family and it’s likely that they will make their way into the new ML when it hits the market next year.

Land Rover has just released fresh details of its new Range Rover Evoque luxury crossover, one week ahead of the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

The Evoque is Land Rover’s attempt at offering a sport utility vehicle that treads lightly. Under that stylish sheetmetal lies a lightweight chassis, electric power steering, and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, each designed to squeeze more distance from each drop of fuel.

But the real story is the Evoque’s breathtaking design. It’s the most aggressive and street-oriented interpretation of the Range Rover design language, with a rising beltline and sloping roofline that give the car an athletic stance.

Inside, the company’s ties to Jaguar are obvious (both brands are now owned by Indian automaker, Tata). There’s a rotary shifter for the transmission that rises at engine startup, a leather-covered dash, and crisp blue mood lighting.

Although the Evoque is the most street-biased Range Rover model yet, the company claims that it was still put through its paces off road. The Evoque was subjected to over 16,700 tests, including desert heat and sand in the Middle East, thick mud and clay in England, and ruts and deep water from a military proving grounds.

There’s an arsenal of electronic aids to keep the Evoque on track, including Land Rover’s excellent Terrain Response system, which adjusts various software and hardware around the car to suit conditions at the push of a button. Back in urban environments, the new Surround Camera system shows a virtual 360-degree view of the vehicle from overhead, to make parking in tight spaces a snap.

The new Evoque is meaner and greener, but is the world ready for a Range Rover that treads lightly?

Electric cars have been a familiar sight on the auto show circuit the past few years. But a new concept from Mini promises to shock audiences at the 2010 Paris Motor Show by taking a different route: an electric scooter.

Details are scarce at the moment, but new photos from Mini show off the scooter’s retro-futuristic lines and hint at the technology underneath.

Beneath the plug-shaped “E” logo lies a charging port. And though unlikely due to the cost it would add, those metal surrounds on each of the wheels have us wondering if there might be a second electric motor on board.

A large circular gauge plays homage to the Mini Cooper and is both stylish and functional.  Though the navigation system takes center stage, Mini cleverly packaged the speedometer and state-of-charge (fuel level) meters so that they run around the outer edge of the gauge.

There’s no word yet on whether these stylish scooters will ever make it to production, but it does signal that Mini is very serious about electric drive.  The Mini E test fleet of electric cars gave the company valuable data about how electric cars are used in the real world and it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing the first mass-market electric Minis.