Zoom Zoom may soon rhyme with Green Green as Mazda has added itself to the growing list of automakers investing heavily in hybrid automotive technology. While it’s true that the Japanese automaker has offered a hybrid version of its Tribute SUV, that car is really little more than a rebadged Ford Escape Hybrid. Mazda’s next hybrids will be developed in-house and will be adapted to existing nameplates, not standalone models such as the Toyota Prius, Lexus HS 250h and Honda Insight

2010 Chevy Spark – Click above for high-res image gallery General Motors has narrowed down its selection process for its new small car assembly plant to three locations. The Lake Orion, MI plant that until recently built the Pontiac G6 is one possibility as is Janesville, WI which had been building full-size SUVS.

2010 Lexus HS 250h – Click above for high-res image gallery Just like the rest of the industry, Toyota’s sales are down this year, and that includes its standard-bearing Prius hybrid hatchback. There are signs that the new 2010 model will revive Prius sales somewhat, and the Japanese automaker is hoping to have similar success with its new Lexus HS 250h luxury hybrid sedan

The city of Amsterdam has launched its Smart City project, which comprises a number of sustainability initiatives which will be tested in the city, the most successful of which will be adopted. Over the next two years projects will be tried out in four areas: Working, Living, Mobility and Public Spaces. The first three are estimated to account for a third of the city’s emissions each

Cisco has been tracking the potential impact of visual networking applications on the internet, under the title of Visual Networking Index, and a couple of days ago released its latest forecast. It makes fascinating, if slightly depressing, reading. The full details of the forecast are here and the following are some selected ‘highlights’: – Annual global IP traffic will exceed two-thirds of a zettabyte (667 exabytes) in four years.