Electric and Hybrid

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Toyota Prius C, 2012: New city car could get 60 mpg

As the smallest, least expensive and most fuel efficient hybrid in the expanding Toyota fleet, the Prius c will make its North American debut January 10 at 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Oringinally unveiled in January as the Aqua at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota said the Prius C will get more than 50 mpg in the city, the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle. Some reviewers believe the vehicle will average more than 60 mpg. The Prius C will be equipped with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder Hybrid Synergy Drive engine. Toyota hasn't announce the price of its small hybrid. But it's expected the Prius c will be significantly less than any current Prius and may be

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Toyota Prius 2012: Prices announced for five models

The Toyota Prius has increasing competition in the hybrid car segment. But as the most successful green car in history, Toyota has now announced pricing for the 2012 Prius liftback while the MSRP for three new Prius family members, the Prius v, Prius Plug-in Hybrid and Prius c, are still pending. The Prius Liftback will be priced from $24,000 (Prius Two) to $29,805 (Prius Five), reflecting a price increase ranging from 2.0 percent to 4.3 percent. The 2012 model year Prius receives a refreshed front fascia, revised tail lamps, newly styled 15-inch wheel covers and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature. The 2012 Prius interior is updated to include a standard 6.1-inch Display Audio system with USB for

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GM will buy back your Chevy Volt — on fire or not

General Motors, in a unique automotive industry maneuver, announced it will buy back Chevy Volts from customers who are unsatisfied, But the automaker insists its hybrid vehicles are safe if the battery is powered down according to proper safety procedures after a serious crash. The offer is unusual since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't issued a recall after the recent fire and smoke that occurred in Chevy Volt battery testing and prompted NHTSA to open and investigation General Motors had earlier offered a loaner car to owners concerned with the investigation — an offer that only 34 of the 6,142 Volt owners have accepted, according to Chevrolet. Customers who want to participate in the buy-back program should

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Lexus, 2013: Vast media blitz set for redesigned GS 350, 450h

Lexus GS 350 and GS 450 H prototypes, unveiled Nov. 30 in a regional preview in Las Vegas to international journalists and broadcasters, showcased the brand's traditions and new highlights for the 2013 models to debut next spring. The most obvious changes are the newly designed front grill and appreciably improved technology packages. Pricing for the GS 350 won't be announced until near the end of the year, while the hybrid model's price, according to Lexus representatives, won't be for "a couple of months." Other keen features and relevant info: * Mark Levinson sound system with 835 watts, 17 speakers; * 12.3 inch navigation screen; * Lexus expects to sell 20,000-25,000 2013 models per year for the lifespan of the

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Best all-time gas mileage equivalent among electric cars

With gas, hybrid, electric and now natural gas vehicles all vying for better gas mileages averages and the marketing of fuel efficiency among manufacturers at its peak, it's hard to keep track of what carmakers top the list. Pure electric cars, of course, top the list. But what might come as a surprise, it's not all current models that make the all-time list of best gas mileage average among electric cars — at least dating to 1984. Here are the top-10 Electric cars gas mileage average (electric equivalent), 1984-2012, with vehicle model, configuration and mpg combined/city/highway: 1. Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2012), 112/126/99 2. Nissan Leaf (2011–12), 99/106/92 3. MINI Mini E (2008), 98/102/94 4. smart fortwo electric drive cabriolet, coupe, (2011),

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Honda Civic Natural Gas, 2012: Green Car of the Year

The 2012 Honda Natural Gas, which for the first time is nationally marketed and available in dealers throughout the United States, is the Green Car of the Year. The designated has been awarded yearly since 2005 at the Los Angeles Auto Show by the publication Green Car Journal. The cleanest running internal combustion vehicle certified by the EPA, the redesigned 2012 Civic Natural Gas is the fifth generation of the alternative fuel vehicle and the only assembly-line produced natural gas passenger model manufactured for sale in the United States. It runs on a clean fuel almost exclusively domestically sourced and priced about 30-50 percent less than gasoline. While averaging 38 highway MPGe, the Honda Civic Natural Gas is an Advanced

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Mitsubishi i-MiEV top mpg on EPA 2012 list, Nissan Leaf 2nd

As expected, the much-touted 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV has the highest gas mileage of any vehicle available in the United States, according the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new Mitsubishi gets a combined 112 mpg, with the combined mileage weighted via 55 percent city and 45 percent highway mileage calculation. The Mitsubishi attained a 126 mpg average in city driving and 99 mpg on the highway.

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Honda Fit EV, 2013: Another new car joins green car parade

Key Takeaways Unveiled at the 2011 LA Auto Show: The production Fit EV followed its concept debut at the same show one year earlier, marking Honda’s entry into the mass-market battery electric vehicle segment. 90 mph top speed with 70-100 mile range: The concept demonstrated respectable performance limits and a driving range that would cover most daily commutes without needing a mid-day charge. Honda’s challenge to Toyota’s EV dominance: The Fit EV represented Honda’s direct response to Toyota’s leadership in alternative fuel vehicles, joining the FCX Clarity, Civic Natural Gas, and Insight in Honda’s green lineup. Familiar Fit platform with electric powertrain: By using the popular gas-powered Fit as its base, Honda aimed to deliver an EV that felt familiar

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Tesla debuting three new retail stores to unveil Model S

Tesla Motors, which next year will introduce Tesla Model S, the newest offering from the California-based, high-end electric sports car manufacturer, is opening three more retail stores in North America. Tesla Bellevue Square at the plush shopping center in Bellevue, Washington, opens today (November 5, 2011). It will be followed by Tesla store opening in Chicago's Oakbrook Center (Nov. 12) and a store at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California (Nov. 19). The Bellevue Square store will feature a display of a Model S Beta prototype and drivetrain components. All of the new stores, like the current Tesla sales areas, are designed to demonstrate the technology involved in the new Model S and the benefits of driving electric. Specifically, the

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Hybrid market expands in 2012, Toyota Prius v to BMW

Citing impressive statistics, the Auto Channel on MSN.com has a comprehensive listing of 2012 hybrids, from the industry standard Toyota Prius to its new sibling, the Prius v, as well as debuting high-end offerings from Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. MSN.com states as many as 50 hybrids could be on the market by 2015 and that ghe overall hybrid market share has nearly doubled in 2011 to about two percent. Here, for example. is what MSN.com said about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Toyota Prius v: Hyundai Sonata: "This impressive hybrid entry is fast gaining converts, and it's not hard to see why: The Sonata is a fully equipped, smartly designed midsized fuel sipper, comparable to but cheaper than hybrid versions

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Toyota Prius v, Mitsubishi i among five best 2012 'green' cars

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric, 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, 2012 Mitsubishi i, 2012 Toyota Prius v and 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI are the finalists for The Green Car of the Year award presented by the Green Car Journal yearly at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the seventh consecutive year, the Green Car of the Year will honor environmental leadership in the automotive field, with the winner being announced during a press conference Nov. 17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. These five finalists are also honored as Green Car Journal’s Top 5 Green Cars for 2012 for rising to the top of a field replete with increasingly more environmentally conscious and exciting models. What is notable about this

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Toyota, Honda pace top-10 best gas mileage car list

The 2012 Mitsubishi i, sometimes described as a jellybean, tops the list of the 10 cars with the best gas mileage currently available in the United States. Honda and Toyota each have two cars on the list. The website www.greencarreports compiled the list, which features 2012 and 2011 models and cars rated by MPG (miles per gallon) and MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). The website describes the leader of the list as "Mitsubishi's powered jellybean, the 'i' electric car. The looks might not be to all tastes but with an average of 112 MPGe, it currently ranks top on the EPA's leaderboard of fuel efficiency." Here's the list: 2012 Mitsubishi i, 112 MPGe 2011 Nissan Leaf, 99 MPG 2012 Chevrolet

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Toyota Camry, 2012: Reinventing the wheel in 30 seconds

The 2012 Toyota Camry is now in the beginning stages of its heavy marketing campaign, as witnessed by several commercials, including the 30-second ad featured below, broadcast during the World Series. Toyota is reportedly spending $175 million to promote the 2012 Camry. In this instance, the commercial is creative, compelling and humorous. In 30 seconds, the viewer sees the "magic" in the construction of the Camry and the same wonderment of creating the appropriately sized dog for the guy driving the car. It's clever, for sure, although some critics, say Toyota's new slogan, "It's Ready. Are You?" is too close to a new Boy Scouts promotion Regardless, the commercial for the 2012 Toyota Camry "works" on several levels. To receive

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Chevy Spark EV set for U.S., global debut in 2013

The Chevrolet Spark EV mini-car will join the manufacturer's expanding fraternity of electric vehicles and beginning in 2013 will be sold in California among other select markets in limited qualities in the United States and globally. "The Spark EV offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option," said Jim Federico, global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles at Chevrolet. "It complements Chevrolet’s growing range of electrified vehicles, including the Volt extended-range EV and the 2013 Malibu Eco with eAssist technology." Feedback from participants in Chevrolet’s electric vehicle demonstration fleets in Shanghai (Sail EV), Korea (Cruze EV) and India (Beat EV) are being incorporated into the Spark EV. A123 Systems will supply

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LA Auto Show, 2011: BMW i8 Concept to Toyota Prius Plug-in

Fuel Efficiency and Green will be among automakers' key topics at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show — from entry level brands to high performance machines. As the first major North American auto show of the season, the 2011 L.A. Auto Show is scheduled Nov. 18-27 and will host some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts. New entries into this fuel-efficient category include the Hyundai Veloster, the 2012 Kia Rio and the 2012 Mazda3 with SKYACTIV technology. Mazda's new SKYACTIV powertrain and chassis technologies will also be featured in the North American Debut of its all-new CX-5 crossover. BMW will introduce new, more-powerful, four-cylinder engine technology, but placed in popular performance cars-the Z4 and 528. Both boast improved

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Infiniti M, 2012: Luxury hybrid sedan no longer oxymoron

The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid may be the first hybrid that simultaneously features some of most advanced technology in the "green" industry while also eliminating many of the cumbersome traits of the expanding automotive segment. Infiniti, of course, is a luxury brand and the new hybrid M with its plush interior, stylish wood trim and sculpted interior and exterior designs only adds to the manufacturer's reputation. Speed was rarely mentioned in hybrids a few years ago, but now it seems important. And that's another big plus for the Infiniti Hybrid M. With its 360 horsepower engine, the four-door season now holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s fastest accelerating full hybrid. It covers the standing quarter mile in 13.9031

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