The ActiveHybrid 5 is expected to be inspired by the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 which is its full size sports sedan on the hybrid luxury class. The 7-Series uses a 3-phase electric motor which is linked to the crankshaft of the car’s V-8 gasoline engine paired with new 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 5-Series will be a mild hybrid. This means that the car will not run relying on the electric engine alone like the 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid. What it will do is utilize the electric motor to restart the gasoline engine after it turns off during stops. The electric motor will also add more torque to help the gasoline engine.

In the 7-Series, the combined output of the electric motor and the gasoline engine is 455 horsepower with a good torque at 516 lb-ft. The bigger ActiveHybrid-7 can zoom from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds but still it offers a 15% better fuel economy than the powerful 750i.

The announcement of the ActiveHybrid-5 release this March confirms that earlier disclosure of plans of the carmaker. The carmaker sees the potential of the 3-,5-, and 7-Series to become mild hybrids. This opens the possibility of an ActiveHybrid-3 any time soon.

It is not yet clear if the ActiveHybrid-5 will be released along side the 2011 5-Series due for roll out in the US by fall or if it will be marketed as a 2012 model.

The Japanese car maker showcased a Camry running on CNG or compressed natural gas during the Los Angeles Auto Show back in 2008. Insiders told everyone that the unit is just a study.

The Camry CNG disappeared somehow until we saw it in the recent 2009 SEMA auto show redesigned as a savvy green buggy coined as the Camry CNG Hybrid. The recent version of the Camry couples the natural gas propulsion system with the Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

Maybe the Japanese carmaker has more plans for the CNG than we expected with legislations in countries like the United States giving tax incentives for the consumers who will prefer natural-gas cars.

The Toyota Surfrider Camry at the 2009 SEMA was pimped with a blue and green theme made cool by aggressive body kit. The ride is lowered through the installed adjustable suspension making it hug the road while rolling on its 20 inch alloy rims. You can also see the CNG cylinder setup through a viewing window cut out from the trunk.

The Camry Hybrid makes use of a 2.4L engine configured to work with the Hybrid Synergy Drive.

There are about 10 million vehicles roaming on the streets around the globe. Only 142,000 of these units are in the United States. The switch to natural gas will decrease the dependency of the U.S. on foreign-sourced oil.

The first versions of the Kizashi will sport a four cylinder engine with 2.4L of displacement that will be coupled with a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable gearbox. Consumers will also have an all wheel driver option for the Kizashi.

The hybrid Kizashi being developed by Suzuki is done in close tie-up with General Motors. The American car maker has a long history working with the Japanese brand since they had a twenty percent stake with Suzuki back in the 1980s. These shares were sold last year when the recession forced a lot of businesses to do some maneuvering to stay afloat.

The hybrid version of the Kizashi is expected to have a 20% better fuel mileage compared to its internal combustion siblings.

Last July, Suzuki disclosed that they will be selling gas versions of the Kisashi to their U.S. market by winter. They did not give a specific date though for the release of the Kizashi hybrid, hoping to compete with hybrids that are already market leaders by car makers Toyota and Honda.

The Japanese car maker was able to sell about 26,000 vehicles in the United States from January to July this year. This is a 60% drop compared to their sales figures last year. Suzuki is hoping that their new Kizashi models will spark renewed interest with their line of products.

The Fisker Karma is set to take the spotlight mid-August. The car transformed to reality from the drawing boards only in a short span of 19 months. During its debut, Fisker will also be boasting about their new concept, the Karma Sunset which is a convertible hardtop. The Sunset was recently awarded the 2009 Production Preview Car of the Year by the SEAMO or the Southeast Automotive Media Organization.

The debut in Pebble Beach will have the Fisker Karma show what it has in its arsenal around the 11-turn course of Mazda Raceway. Fans and car enthusiast will witness the power of the 201 horsepower electric engines serving as the hearts of the plug-in hybrid.

For those who will be impressed and wants to be behind the wheels of the Fisker Karma Super Saloon, the waiting list for the car is a bit lengthy. The production of the $87,500 Fisker Karma is already sold out until the mid of 2010.

The engines of the Fisker Karma have a combo power of 408hp and a torque of 959lb-ft. These figures are enough to bring the car from 0 to 60 mph in a blink of 5.8 seconds.

The Fisker Karma has a top speed of 95 mph in its stealth mode or the car running in pure electric power. When the combustion engine of the Karma fires up on a sport mode, it can go as fast as 125mph. There is also a third mode which operates like a strong hybrid.

The 2009 study put into in depth consideration the real value of 2009 hybrid models and clean-diesel powered vehicles. Ownership cause was based on factors like licensing fees, taxes, insurance, retained value, maintenance, and fuel over a 5-year period or about 70,000 miles.

The proponents of the study found out that among the 51 hybrid vehicles subjected to the survey, 35 of the models has lower cost of ownership compared to their gasoline variants. In the past years, the sticker price on green cars have been the turn off factor to consumers but the agency points out that fuel is not the only thing to consider.

The implementation of stricter CO2 emission guidelines in the future also gives spotlight to the vehicles that were put under the microscope. Most of the hybrid vehicles meet and even exceed the standards that nee to be met by 2016.

Looking at some figures, the 2009 model of the Volswagen Jetta TDI may take out an extra $2070 from the buyer’s pocket but the owner will save about $6,210 in a 5-year stretch compared to the regular Jetta. In the same way, a Prius will demand $1,805 more to purchase than a Camry but after half a decade, the Prius saves the owner about $4,930. The Toyota Hybrid is still a good choice!

The study just emphatically says that hybrids and clean diesel powertrains will really be a game changer for the future of the auto industry.