China's BYD Debuts Lexus RX-Inspired S6DM Dual-Mode Hybrid at Detroit Motor Show

Chinese automaker BYD marked its fourth consecutive appearance at the North American International Auto Show with the world premiere of the S6DM hybrid, with the DM in the name standing for "Dual-Mode".

The gasoline-electric hybrid is based on the Chinese firm's S6, a mid-size SUV model first introduced at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2009. And no, you're not the only one to find the overall styling of the S6 reminiscent of the previous generation Lexus RX.

The Warren Buffett-backed battery and car maker claims the S6DM is "the world’s first independent 4WD dual-mode electric SUV". Under the hood, the Chinese model is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and three electric motors. Two 10-kilowatt electric motors drive the front wheels while a more potent 75 kilowatt motor powers the rear wheels. A six six-speed dual clutch transmission handles power transfer.

Despite the "Dual-Mode" moniker, BYD says the system offers three driving modes including electric only, hybrid gasoline-electric and gasoline engine only. In detail, here's how the Chinese automaker describes each mode:

THREE DRIVING MODES

Fully electric (BEV) mode: At normal speeds, the vehicle can operate in its all-electric mode, with the electric motor (M2) propelling the rear wheels.

Hybrid gasoline-electric (HEV):

1. 2WD: The gasoline engine not only directly powers the vehicle, but also drives the electric motor (M1) at the front wheels to charge the battery pack.

2. 4WD: When more power is needed, the gas engine and the electric motor (M2) power the vehicle together. If the combined power is enough, the gasoline engine will also drive the electric motor (M1) to charge the battery pack. As speed increases, the gasoline engine can take over seamlessly with support from the 6-speed DCT; when braking, the gas engine automatically shuts down and the electric motor (M2) takes over.

3. 2WD: When battery power is low and not much driving power is required, the gasoline engine drives the electric motor (M1) to charge the battery pack and the electric motor (M2) powers the vehicle by itself.

Gasoline powered: When driving on the highway or in case the battery pack is depleted, the gasoline engine can power the vehicle on its own very efficiently.

According to BYD, the S6DM can travel over 38 miles (60km) purely on electric power (BEV) and over 500km (310 miles) combined when engaging the gasoline engine.

BYD said that the S6DM is amongst the models being considering for the U.S market. At the Detroit show, the company's Chairman, Wang Chuanfu, pushed back the brand's U.S. launch to the first quarter of 2012.

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______________VIDEO: BYD S6 from 2010 Beijing Auto Show ______________

Lexus UK Winters-up RX 450h with New SE-I Special Edition

A new special edition model has been added to the UK range of the Lexus RX450h hybrid crossover. Named the SE-I, the new model sports a host of accessories said to be suited for those "who love the great outdoors" - always according to Lexus.

On the outside the so-called Lifestyle model adds roof rails and a rear bumper protect, plus front and rear under-run plates. Interior features of the package include a tough boot liner, claimed to be designed to cope with muddy boots, and a warm / cold storage box.

Lexus says that if these features were to specified individually, it would cost buyers up to £1,500, but brought together for the new RX 450h SE-I Lifestyle they add just £499 to the on-the-road price of the crossover for a total of £48,899.

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Lexus bringing Five Customized Hybrids Plus CT 200h F-Sport to SEMA Show

Hitting the SEMA Show floors next week will be an array of customized Lexus hybrid models. The Japanese firm's lineup in Las Vegas will include the RX 450h SUV tuned by Paul Tolson, a race-spec GS 450h sedan, the VIP Auto Salon-prepped HS 250h sedan and two modified LS 600h L limos.

Lexus will also show off the CT 200h F-Sport concept fitted with 18-inch wheels shod in Pirelli P-Zero Nero 225/40 tires, a big brake kit with cross drilled rotors and an adjustable sport suspension. Full details and pictures after the break.

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2010 SEMA Show - Lexus RX 450h by Paul Tolson, EST Styling

WHEELS/TIRES

• Leon Hardiritt Vertu wheels
  
• Front: 21 X 10-inch with a - 4 offset
  
• Rear: 21 X 12-inch with a + 9 offset
  
• Dunlop SP Sport Maxx DSST tires
  
• Front: 285/35R/21
  
• Rear: 325/30R/21
  

  BRAKES
  

• Rotora RFK Series 6-piston custom color caliper, 14.0-inch X 1.3-inch 2-piece drilled and slotted rotors
  

  SUSPENSION
  

• Air Runner Integrated Suspension Systems with quad air pressure digital display
  

  EXTERIOR
  

• Hired Gun Paint Werks widebody conversion
  
• Custom BASF 90 Line Water Borne Black Emerald
  
• Wald International Sports Line Black Bison Edition
  
• Lighting by Premium Sound & Security, Inc.
  

  INTERIOR
  

• Materials and stitching by Garcia's Auto Interiors
  
• Trim and accent pieces by Hired Gun Paint Werks
  
• Fizz Autosports: Accessories - Junction Produce
  
• Lighting by Premium Sound & Security, Inc
  

  
  

  2010 SEMA Show - Lexus GS 450h by 0-60 Magazine
  

  WHEELS/TIRES
  

  • Rays Engineering, Volk Racing TE37 SL, mold formed forged racing wheels
  

  • 18 x 9.5 front and rear, gunmetal
  

  • Continental Racing Slicks, 275/35/18 front and rear
  

  BRAKES
  

  • Brembo Gran Turismo high performance brakes
  

  • 6-piston custom painted calipers, 14.0-inch x 1.3-inch 2-piece drilled rotors, front
  

  • 4-piston custom painted calipers, 13.6-inch x 1.1-inch 2-piece drilled rotors, rear
  

  SUSPENSION
  

  • TEIN USA Super Racing Coilovers
  

  • Advanced Mono tube construction, external reservoir tanks, individual 16-way compression, full in-car damping force adjustment via Tein EDFC
  

  • F Sport front and rear sway bars
  

  EXHAUST
  

  • GReddy Performance custom Titanium Race exhaust system
  

  EXTERIOR
  

  • Voltex Carbon GT Wing with Evasive Motorsports custom carbon end plates
  

  • Evasive Motorsports rear diffuser and front splitter with custom carbon work
  

  • Voltex Carbon twin front canards
  

  • Custom Carbon 5-piece body kit with front lip, side skirts, rear window spoiler
  

  • Balistek Autobody Matte White paint
  

  • Graphics/Vinyl Work - S and A Designs
  

  INTERIOR
  

  • Sparco USA Rev Plus lightweight racing seat, racing steering wheel, quick release hub, racing belts/harnesses, fire extinguisher, racing shift knob
  

  • Defi Sports Cluster
  

  • TEIN EDFC
  

  • GReddy gauges
  

  • Design Craft Fabrication racing spec roll cage, custom suede interior, custom carbon panels and covers
  

  MISC
  

  • Genesis Technologies Racing Air Jack system
  

  • Motul – Motor Oil, Brake Fluid
  

  
  

  2010 SEMA Show - Lexus HS 250h by VIP Auto Salon
  

  WHEELS/TIRES
  

  • Work Gnosis GS4 machined center disc, gloss bronze anodized outer barrel
  

  • 20x8.5-inch, ET30 A disc, front
  

  • 20x9.5-inch ET35 A disc, rear
  

  • Yokohama S. drive
  

  • 225/35/20 front
  

  • 255/30/20 rear
  

  SUSPENSION
  

  • Custom suspension provided by Vip Auto Salon and Tanabe
  

  EXHAUST
  

  • Branew axle back system
  

  EXTERIOR
  

  • Branew aero styling package with front and rear lip spoiler, rocker panels, roof and trunk spoiler and replacement sport fenders
  

  • Custom gray/black paint sprayed by Finish Line Auto Craft
  

  • Huper Optik Ceramic based window film 50 percent by STM
  

  • Lexus OEM Japan-market window visors
  

  INTERIOR
  

  • Custom interior by Vip Auto Salon and Top Stitch
  

  LIGHTING
  

  • Exterior and interior premium light packages provided by VLEDS
  

  
  

  2010 SEMA Show - Lexus LS 600h L by VIP Auto Salon
  

  WHEELS/TIRES
  

  • WALD Mahora M11c, machined black polish
  

  • 21x9-inch, ET33, front
  

  • 21x10-inch, ET40, rear
  

  • Pirelli P Zero Nero
  

  • 245/35/21 front
  

  • 285/30/21 rear
  

  BRAKES
  • Brembo high performance front brake kit with 15-inch disk and 6-piston monoblock calipers
  

  SUSPENSION
  • Custom air suspension provided by Universal Air
  

  EXHAUST
  • Performance Tube Systems Joe Z Series axle back exhaust system
  

  EXTERIOR
  • WALD aero styling package with front and rear lip spoiler, rocker panels, roof and trunk spoiler and replacement sport fenders
  • Custom PPG Hue of Macadamia paint sprayed by Finish Line Auto Craft
  • Huper Optik ceramic-based window film 50 percent by STM
  • Lexus OEM Japan-market window visors
  

  INTERIOR
  • Custom interior by Vip Auto Salon and Top Stitch
  

  LIGHTING
  • Exterior and interior premium light packages provided by VLEDS
  

  
  

  2010 SEMA Show - Lexus LS 600h L by Fox Marketing
  

  WHEELS/TIRES
  

  • Rotiform 20x9.5-inch concave BLQ wheels with candy copper finish, front
    
  • Rotiform 20x10.5-inch concave BLQ wheels with candy copper finish, rear
    
  • Toyo T1R 255/35/22, front
    
  • Toyo T1R 265/35/20, rear
    
  • Yonaka Tuner lug nuts
    

  BRAKES
  

  • Lexus/SSBC Modified
    
    • 6-piston calipers, 14.1-inch rotors, front
      
    • 4-piston calipers, 13.2-inch rotors, rear
      

  SUSPENSION
  

  • Factory air ride suspension
    
  • Custom controller – Adjust ride height from 0 – 4 inches
    

  EXTERIOR
  

  • BASF Glasurit 90 Line Glacier Green paint
    
  • BASF Glasurit 90 Line Satin Black accents
    
  • Artisan Spirit front bumper, front fenders, side skirts, rear bumper, dual HID fog lights, light bar, roof wing, rear deck wing
    
  • Color-keyed door handles
    
  • Satin black Lexus logos
    
  • Smoked rear taillights
    

  INTERIOR
  

  • BASF Glasurit 90 Line Glacier Green and Glasurit Black painted interior parts
    
  • Accentz 15 percent window tint
    
  • Rear night shades
    

New Toyota Recall, this time for Toyota Avalon and Highlander, and Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350

Toyota has announced a voluntary recall of some 740,000 vehicles in the United States to address a potential leak problem with a seal in the brake master cylinder. The models that are being recalled in the U.S. are the 2005-2006MY Toyota Avalon, 2004-2006MY Highlander (non Hybrid) and Lexus RX330, and 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350. Another 600,898 vehicles were recalled in Japan and approximately 200,000 in China for the same issue.

According to the company, there's a possibility that a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.

"If the brake warning lamp has illuminated and the vehicle continues to be operated without refilling the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir, the driver will begin to notice a spongy or soft brake pedal feel and braking performance may gradually decline," said the automaker.

Toyota said it will begin notifying owners of the involved vehicles through mail beginning in early November 2010. As with all recalls, Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the brake master cylinder cup with a newly designed free of charge.

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Tesla Working on All-Electric Toyota RAV4 and Lexus RX Prototypes

Electric car partners Toyota Motor Corp. and Tesla Motors will develop battery-powered prototypes of the Japanese automaker's Toyota RAV4 and Lexus RX crossovers according to a news report from Businessweek citing "a person familiar with the matter". Toyota declined to confirm the models.

Earlier this month, a Tesla executive announced that the maker of the electric Roadster will deliver two EV prototypes to Toyota by the end of July, without providing any specific details about the cars.

The unnamed insider added that while Toyota also plans to test an all-electric Corolla, the two SUV models "are better suited to the weight of Tesla's battery pack".

"We anticipate range and acceleration exceeding that of other announced electric vehicles of this class," Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla, said today in an e-mailed message to the news agency.

Toyota partnered up with Tesla in May 2010. As part of the deal, Tesla acquired Toyota's joint-venture NUMMI plant in California to build its Model S and other vehicles, while Toyota bought a US$50 million stake in electric-car producer.

Daimler AG, the company that owns Mercedes-Benz, also invested about US$50 million in Tesla in May 2009, however, the German company reduced its 10 per cent stake in the electric carmaker to around 5 per cent by selling part of the investment to Aabar Investments PJSC, Daimler's largest shareholder.

Source: Businessweek