Alfa Romeo 2000cc Engine Block W/ Front Cover on 2040-parts.com

Toyota Yaris Hybrid: Previews new Yaris

Toyota Yaris Hybrid - a preview of the next-gen Yaris Toyota are determined to shove hybrid gubbins in anything they build that moves, so we now get a hybrid version of the next generation Yaris revealed at Geneva. Just as Toyota aren’t saying if the new Prius+ will get the regular 1.8 litre hybrid drivetrain (we think it will), they’re also not saying if the Toyota Yaris Hybrid will get it. We’re assuming not, because it would then out-perform both the Prius and the Auris Hybrid, which would never do.

Subaru Advanced Tourer concept

The 2011 Tokyo motor show will see Subaru reveal a second concept alongside the hotly anticipated BRZ sports coupe. The Advanced Tourer Concept appears to be an evolution of the 2009 Hybrid Tourer Concept. The gullwing festooned body of the previous concept has been dropped in favor of a five-door station wagon.

2013 Nissan LEAF updated

Nissan has updated the LEAF EV in Japan for 2013 with better range, less weight and a new LEAF S entry-level model. Revealed in Japan – but likely to come to the UK from 2013 when the LEAF starts rolling out of Nissan’s Sunderland factory – there are significant upgrades to the powertrain which result in both less weight and better range. Nissan has had a play with the electric powertrain and made it both smaller and lighter with a new motor that uses 40 per cent less dysprosium (a rare earth metal) than before, and comes in 30 per cent smaller and 10 per cent lighter, and a new streamline battery case and a few other tweaks drops the LEAF’s weight by 80kg.