Lexus LF-Ch Concept in Production in 2010

At last month's 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Lexus LF-Ch Concept made it's debut on the world stage. This is the first Lexus full hybrid for the European premium compact segment, which is expected to be the largest share of the European premium car market by 2010. It has advanced interior design with an asymmetric dashboard, Remote Touch controls, Blacked-out B-pillars, and concealed rear door handles. It also features Lexus' unique L-finesse exterior styling with powerful surfacing and hand-sculpted details.

The inside features a set of concave passenger compartments, aluminum and wood trim, ambient lighting in the headliner and iPhone docks for rear seat passengers, but Lexus isn't releasing details on the powertrain. They did, however, say that the system is a full hybrid and can be driven in fully electric EV mode - an option not available to mild hybrid drivers. It should also feature the the same engine that powers the HS 250h along with six-speed automatic transmission and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

According to a press release from Lexus, the car "reflects a growing demand for cars that are smaller and more fuel and CO2 efficient, but with no compromise in levels of refinement and driving pleasure."

BMW's Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Car

BMW's new Vision EfficientDynamics car is high-performance and environmentally friendly. The concept car, soon to be on display at the 2009 Frankfort Motor show, doesn't just get 63 miles per gallon of diesel and have the ability to go 31 miles in all-electric mode, it can also go from zero to sixty miles per hour in about 4.8 seconds or less. BMW promises a 2+2 sports car with a three-cylinder diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain that tops out at 155 miles per hour.

The drivetrain consists of direct-injection, 1.5-liter, 163-hp, three-cylinder turbodiesel to two electric motors (one per axle), a set of lithium-ion batteries and a software controller for a combined total of 356 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power to the rear wheels using only the diesel engine power. The hybrid powertrain consists of a hybrid system on the rear wheels that operates along with the diesel engine and a hybrid motor on the front wheels that operate on battery power alone.

The cars' sleek curves give it a definite progressive look. It measures 181.1 inches long, 74.8 inches side, and 48.8 inches tall; weighs 3076 pounds; and it has 5.3 cubic feet of luggage space. Its engineers say the body is lightweight in design and execution. The shell and suspension are rendered in aluminum. The roof and doors are made of polycarbonate glass that lightens and darkens according to the climate it's in. The seats are framed in Kevlar. It features LED lighting inside and headlights and taillights are linked to ambient lighting that shift in color and intensity based on the condition outside.