Ford, Microsoft to charge up cars; cheap Mazda subcompact; New Infiniti SUV; Acura wagon

Roundup of news and notes from New York auto show

Hyundai to sell hybrid version of midsize Sonata

NEW YORK (AP) — Hyundai unveiled a gas-electric hybrid version of its popular Sonata midsize sedan at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday.

The 2011 model will get an estimated 39 highway mpg and 37 city mpg. It also can run fully on electricity at speeds up to 62 mph, said Hyundai Motor America President John Krafcik.

Most hybrids typically do better in city driving because of regenerative braking technology that makes heavy use of the car’s battery in stop-and-go traffic. But Krafcik said Hyundai engineered its hybrid to get greater highway mileage because that’s where most driving is done.

The Sonata Hybrid will go on sale in November or December. Pricing will be announced later.

Hyundai also unveiled its Sonata 2.0T, a four-cylinder turbocharged version with 274 horsepower. Krafcik said the vehicle will be priced under $25,000.

The Korean automaker has made the Sonata a major focus of its marketing efforts recently. The Sonata is Hyundai’s second-most popular vehicle in the U.S., where it sold 7,500 units in February, up 58 percent from last year.

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Acura hopes sporty wagon will catch on

NEW YORK (AP) — Honda Motor Co.’s Acura luxury brand hopes to counter the station wagon’s stigma of 1970s boredom with the new TSX Sport Wagon that it unveiled Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show.

The company says the wagon will balance hauling capability with efficient performance. It is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a five-speed automatic transmission and can get up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

The five-seat wagon has a removable side panel in its cargo area so it can handle wide items such as golf clubs, and it has bins under the floor for hidden storage.

The price was not announced, although Honda says it will be somewhere between the four-cylinder TSX sedan at a base of $29,310 and the V6 TSX at $34,850.

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After showing electric car, Nissan unveils Infiniti SUV

NEW YORK (AP) — Nissan Motor Co., which announced pricing for the all-electric Leaf on Tuesday, moved to the other end of the fuel-economy spectrum Wednesday with the debut of the 2011 Infiniti QX56 full-size SUV at the New York auto show.

Nissan said the 2011 QX has 25 percent more horsepower and 10 percent better fuel economy with its new 5.6-liter V8 engine with direct injection and a seven-speed transmission.

The 2011 QX, which goes on sale this summer, will start at $56,700, the same price as the 2010 model.

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Mazda to price new subcompact under $14,000

NEW YORK (AP) — Mazda Motor Co. says it will sell its new subcompact, the Mazda2, for a starting price of $13,980 when it arrives in showrooms this summer.

The company also announced at the New York auto show that two new gasoline and diesel engines will debut in the U.S. next year, boosting the automaker’s fuel efficiency.

The tiny Mazda2, designed to compete with the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris subcompacts, will have a 1.5-liter, 100 horsepower four-cylinder engine. The base model has a five-speed manual transmission, but buyers can get a four-speed automatic. It can get up to 35 mpg on the highway.

Mazda says the car will go on sale in July.