New York (dpa) – The new Dodge Ram to be unveiled at the New York Motor Show has been spruced up with an eco touch including a start-stop automatic system and improved aerodynamics for the 2013 model year.

Fighting rising fuel prices, the renowned fuel guzzler also comes with an eight-level automatic transmission, weigh reduction, electric power steering and low-resistance tyres.

On longer trips the chassis can be lowered by three centimetres to reduce drag in a so-called ”aero-mode.”

In addition a ”Uconnect system” connects mobile phones and MP3 players with the onboard GPS system without the hassle of cables.

The basic Dodge Ram comes with a 3.6-litre V6 motor with an output of 305 hp. Compared to the current version, performance has been increased by 42 per cent, putting it on par with its main competitor, the Ford F-150. Chrysler claims a fuel consumption some 20 per cent lower than the predecessor model but has not yet released figures.

Cologne (dpa) – Toyota will compete in next year’s 24 hour Le Mans race with a hybrid racing car, the company’s motor sport division based in Germany has announced.

“We want to write a new page in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as in the FIA World Endurance Championship, through our use of hybrid technology,” said Tadashi Yamashina, the Toyota Motor sport chairman.

The racing car will be fitted with an electric-petrol powertrain built in Japan, while the car’s chassis will be designed, developed and produced by Toyota Motor sport based in Cologne, Germany, the carmaker said.

Toyota returns to Le Mans, one of the world’s hardest endurance races, for the first time since 1999, when it fielded its GT-One cars.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world’s first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.

Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility – the zero-emission era. The car is the embodiment of Nissan’s radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment and research.

Key characteristics of the LEAF include:

1. Zero-emission power train and platform
2. Affordable pricing
3. Distinctive design
4. Real-world range autonomy – 160km (100 miles)
5. Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system

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