Zoomi Life

Honda’s Insight PHEV, which we covered during the Detroit Auto Show in January, hit the streets of Japan today at a base price of less than $21,000USD. The EX trim package is at $23,000.

Read More: Honda Insight Hits the Streets of Japan Today for $21,000

Here’s a great video of Henrik Fisker, creator of the Fisker Karma, talking about the Karma and his company’s plans. The video was shot at the NAIAS Detroit Auto show the day that Fisker unveiled the Karma-S, their new convertible model.

Read More: VIDEO: Henrik Fisker Talks About the Karma

Toyota’s Lexus brand showcased their new hybrid-only model, the HS 250h, which is slated to hit showrooms as a 2010 sales model, at the Detroit Auto Show this year. It’s Toyota’s second hybrid-only model (after the Prius) and is the second luxury hybrid model to hit the streets in production, the Fisker Karma being first.

Read More: The Lexus Hybrid: 2010 HS 250h Unveiled

Soon after the NAIAS Detroit Auto Show finishes up at the end of the month, the Society of Automotive Engineers will convene their World Congress in Michigan. This year’s congress, presented by Honda, is titled “Racing to Green Mobility” and will focus on how the industry can better address climate change and green issues.

Read More: The SAE “Racing To Green Mobility” Conference

Ford and Chrysler have both announced that they will be showing off their electric vehicle plans at the upcoming NAIS Detroit Auto Show. The show begins (publicly) on January 17th.

Read More: Ford, Chrysler to Reveal Electric Vehicle Plans At Detroit Auto Show

Dodge unveiled their new electric sports car at the LA Auto Show in November last year, but had another surprise for Detroit today. The newest version of the sport EV, which Chrysler based on a Lotus platform, has seen some changes: including getting a name.

Read More: Dodge’s New Electric Sports Car Gets a Name

Both GM and Ford have announced electric vehicle plans for release in the near future. Both companies, neither of which has a pure EV currently on the market, have claimed plans to produce one for sale in the U.S. before 2011.

Read More: Chevy and Ford Promise Electric Cars in 2010 and 2011

While the question of whether Boy George will be re-releasing his hit song as “Karma, Karma, Karma Conver-ti-bllllle” is left unanswered, Fisker has finally unveiled the new convertible version of the Karma.

Read More: Fisker Unveils New Karma-S Convertible at Detroit Auto Show

The Toyota Prius 2010 model was officially unveiled at the NAIS Detroit Auto Show this morning, though pictures of the car had been leaked a couple of months ago and confirmed by Toyota.

Along with a new design, which is much closer to the popular Corolla model, the Prius sees some other improvements as well. The greatest of those is an efficiency boost: up to 53mpg, by all reports. No EPA numbers are available yet and the company is only releasing estimates right now. Over 50 is the key here.

Read More: Toyota Officially Unveils the 2010 Prius in Detroit

General Motors, not to be outdone by Chrysler’s debut of the 200C at the Detroit Auto Show, wowed the audience with the unveiling of the new Cadillac Converj. This is an “extended range” PHEV with great luxury sports styling. It’s a 2-door coupe and has a drive train very similar to the Volt, using the same E-Flex system.

Read More: Electric Cadillac Converj Wows Crowds at Detroit Auto Show