Electric and Hybrid Archives - Page 12 of 22

Chevy Volt gets coveted Consumer Reports recommendation

The Chevrolet Volt has received a recommendation from Consumer Reports magazine adding to the growing list of honors for General Motors' plug-in car, described by the carmaker as a "range-extended electric vehicle." The Volt has also been named Motor Trend Car of the Year and North American Car of the Year. Consumer Reports, highly regarded, anonymously purchases all the cars it tests from dealers rather than using cars provided by manufacturers. The magazine does not accept advertising. The magazine tests cars at its Connecticut track as well as on roads. To be "Recommended" a car must perform well in several tests and must be deemed to have at least average "predicted reliability." "Predicted reliability" is based on surveys taken by

Electric and Hybrid

Honda Civic Natural Gas 2012: more states for October debut

Honda has announced the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas will have an MSRP starting prices of $26,155 with the manufacturer hoping to expand the only natural gas car made in the United States to 200 dealers across the country. Formerly called the Civic GX, the Natural Gas will go on sale October 18th at dealerships in 38 states. The car, set to be built in Indiana, was previously only available in California, New York, Utah, and Oklahoma. Honda claims the Civic Natural Gas emits almost zero smog-forming particles and is the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle certified by the EPA. It will receive a decal that qualifies for single-occupant access to HOV carpool lanes in several states across the country including California.

Electric and Hybrid

Tesla plans faster model S with 0-60 mph, 4.5 second speed

Tesla has announced it's making a faster sport edition on the Model S, the already quick luxury electric sedan, according to company CEO Elon Musk. The new Model S, according the company literature released in Fremont, California, the sport model will accelerate 0-60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds, more than one second faster than the current model. The sport version of the Tesla features the same 85 kilowatt-hour, 300 miles-per-charge battery pack found in the 2012 Model S Signature series. The additional model, complete with enhanced powertrain to cope with the additional current required for faster acceleration, will be available from launch alongside the 120 mile, 230 mile and 300 mile 2012 Model S cars. Tesla says 6,000 buyers

Electric and Hybrid

Ashton Kutcher goes green with Fisker Karma TV role

Ashton Kutcher is a spokesperson for digital cameras, among other products, and the former child actor married to Demi Moore is among the most popular celebrities on Twitter. Now he's also given Fisker Automotive its biggest dose of mainstream exposure. The 2012 Fisker Karma was featured for the first time Sept. 26 in what is scheduled as a recurring role in the newly revamped television program Two And a Half Men. In its supporting role, the Fisker Karma is driven by Kutcher's character, Walden Schmidt. Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen, who departed the show in controversy last year during his reign as the highest paid actor on television. The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan from the Los

Electric and Hybrid

Toyota Camry Hybrid, 2012: More car, less money

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid will feature a slightly larger engine and, depending on the model, will be priced $800-$1,000 cheaper than the 2011 versions. The base model 2012 Camry Hybrid will be priced $25,900, approximately $1,000 less than the 2011 model. The premium will be priced at $27,400, a decrease of $800 from last year’s model. Equipped with the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, the new Camry features a four-cylinder, 2.5 liter engine that can produce 200 horsepower. It has a combined fuel economy of 41 mpg. During the Green Drive Expo, a recent media brand launch in Richmond, Calif., the Toyota Camry hybrid presented itself well. It's handsomely designed with a spacious cabin, upgraded trim and, most importantly,

Electric and Hybrid

Toyota Prius, 2012: Some old, some new for hybrid leader

The 2012 Toyota Prius will retain many of the same features offered in the hybrid's third generation that debuted in 2010. But new year models of the United States' best-selling hybrid will also offer exterior and interior upgrades. In other words, Toyota knows it has a good thing, but it's tweaking its existing offering while other manufacturers continue their quest to gain increased shares of the still-small hybrid market. For 2012: The Prius will feature updated headlamps and tail lamps, plus a new front fascia and bumper; The Prius Two will feature 15-inch wheel covers for 2012 and standard LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL); The Prius Three will feature a standard three-door Smart Key entry system; The Prius Four will

Electric and Hybrid, Luxury cars

Lexus GS 450h, 2013: Faster, greener, better mpg

Lexus, which now has five vehicles in its hybrid lineup, has debuted the 2013 GS 450h. It’s the first premium performance sedan equipped with a V6 Atkinson cycle gas engine and two-motor hybrid system in a front engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle. The hybrid version of the 2013 GS 450 incorporates improvements to its hybrid powertrain and is equipped with a second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system. With a total system power output of 338 hp, the GS 450h will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Conversely, fuel consumption is expected to be improved by more than 30 percent. The GS 450h is targeting certification as a Super-Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II (SULEV II). The new GS hybrid also features

Electric and Hybrid

2012 Toyota Prius v: Car of the Year front runner

The recently debuted Toyota Prius v is touted by the manufacturer as having attributes that will “meet the needs of growing families with active lifestyles.” After driving the Prius v at the Green Drive Expo, a media launch in Richmond, Calif., and speaking with Wayne Gerdes, owner of the site, www.cleanmpg.com, and my test drive colleague, I had four quick reactions: 1. The Prius v, like Gerdes espoused several times, is the most fairly priced model in Toyota‘s green fleet; 2. The Prius v logically should prove so popular, Toyota may find it has two Prius models competing against each other for top hybrid honors; 3. The Prius v, is being promoted by Toyota as having the highest fuel efficiency

Electric and Hybrid

Toyota Prius, 2012: Plug-in hybrid debuts, 87 MPGe

Toyota has introduced the Prius Plug-in hybrid, joining the third-generation Prius Liftback and the new Prius v and Prius c models, the latter of which is set to debut in 2012. The Prius Plug-in combines the benefits of the standard Prius model’s hybrid vehicle operation with extended electric vehicle (EV) driving. Marketed as seating five, the 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is expected to achieve a manufacturer-estimated 87 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined driving and 49 MPG in hybrid mode. The recent introduction of the larger Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid gives Toyota four eco-focused vehicles, including the Prius c, which will debut in 2012. The 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybridwill allow EV operation and performance for up

Electric and Hybrid

Volkswagen set to debut electric Nils at Frankfurt Show

The Volkswagen Nils, an all-electric, single-seat urban concept car not much bigger than a larger motorcycle, will make its debut in October at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. Less than 10 feet in length, four-and-a-half feet wide and shorter than a Porsche 911, the Volkswagen Nils has 17-inch alloy wheels positioned outside of the main body. Volkswagen claim the Nils has a range of about 40 miles and a top speed of 80 mph. The Nils weighs about 1,014 pounds has laser-controlled cruise control, hazard avoidance systems and a full safety cell. More details on the new futuristic-looking Volkswagen are available on the website, www.greencarreports.com. To receive The Weekly Driver newsletter via email, visit: Free Newsletter James RaiaA sports, travel

Electric and Hybrid

Dodge Charger, 2011 car review

Six years ago, the Dodge Charger re-emerged from its famed muscle car heydays during the 1970s. For 2011, with a redesigned exterior and interior the Charger has now become a borderline oxymoron — a sedan sports car. The Charger name has been featured on several different Dodge products since its debut as a concept car in 1964. The latest addition is the new 3.6-liter V6. It replaces the outgoing 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter V6s. With an increase to 292 horsepower, it’s as if the muscle car returned alright, but in a refined version. The Weekly Driver Test Drive With its new front grille and Rallye Plus options, the Charger I drove for my weekly test drive was going to be the

Electric and Hybrid

Ford, Toyota announce auto marriage for hybrids, SUVS

In perhaps the most overt example of the ever-changing automotive industry, Toyota and Ford Motor will collaborate to develop hybrid trucks and sport utility vehicles that will be available to the public by the end of the decade. Two companies announced Aub. 22 they will manufacture rear-wheel drive hybrids as well as telephone, Internet and entertainment systems for the vehicles. Developing the hybrids will help each automaker meet stringent U.S. fuel economy standards, said Takeshi Uchiyamada, vice president for Toyota research and development, and Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s product development chief. There are no plans for collaboration beyond rear-wheel drive hybrids and on-board phone, navigation and entertainment systems. Toyota has been the world leader in hybrids (3.3 million) since it introduced

Electric and Hybrid

Seven car electric charging stations installed in Portland

Owners who have electric cars will enjoy Portland Street, (Portltand, Oregon), particularly since the street has also been dubbed as the “Electric Avenue.” This street will also help automakers to study the use of electric cars. Seven electric car-charging stations have been put up by around six manufacturers for a two-year study at Portland State University. The interesting component about the Electric Avenue street is that drivers can charge their cars for free for the same time allotment as they pay standard parking meter rates. Among the sevn-quick charge stations, one station has a quick-charge which will charge a car battery in 30 minutes; The other six stations will take 4-6 hours for a full charge. James RaiaA sports, travel

Electric and Hybrid

Honda offers greenest car in U.S. and it's a (natural) gas

With the ever-increasing debuts of green cars, Honda, not Toyota, Nissan nor Chevy is still at the industry forefront. But Honda’s marketing division just hasn’t done the PR spin as well as the manufacturers touting the Prius, Leaf and Volt. Nonetheless, the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, formerly known as the Civic GX NGV, costs about half the price to operate that gasoline cars. And for eight straight years, the Civic GX NGV has named “Greenest Vehicle” by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). According to a report on Forbes.com via the Mother Nature Network, there are estimated 117,000 CNG vehicles on the road in the U.S., although the majority are commercial trucks. The Honda Civic Natural

Electric and Hybrid

BMW debuts electronic concept i3 at Frankfurt auto show

BMW has joined the green car market with the i3, an all-electric small city car, and the i8, a powerful hybrid sports car featuring an electric motor with a three-cylinder combustion engine. The BMW i3 Concept, which features rear-wheel drive, is making its debut at the current Frankfurt auto show. Both cars are constructed with light-weight aluminum structures and carbon fiber bodies and will operate on smaller batteries without sacrificing efficiency. The i3 is expected to travel as far as 95 miles on a single charge; the i8 will have 21-mile range on its electric engine. BMW hasn’t announced pricing, but the i3 should be available in late 2012 or early 2013 and the i8 in 2014. Selected specifications of

Automotive News, Electric and Hybrid

Driving the Tour de France, July 1: Me and my Renault

NANTES, France — A Mercedes-Benz more than a decade ago to several Renault models. A Citroen C4 sedan to a BMW 320i a few years back with a navigation system an 18-year guy from Australia showed me how to use. It all adds up to more than a decade of driving the Tour de France route start to finish in a variety of rental cars. This year, with the race beginning Saturday in Passage du Gois, I was looking forward what was supposed to be a 3 1/2-hour drive Friday (July 1) from Charles DeGaulle Airport outside of Paris to the media center in Les Herbiers. From there, on paper at least, it’s supposed to be 45 minutes to the

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