2009
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Forgo the Fortwo? Smart or Not?
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2009 MINI Cooper Clubman: Will You Rock One in 2009?
The MINI stretches out for its consumer legs.
Jonathan McGrew -
2009 Mazda Miata Gets Facelift; Will You Dig It?
Is a makeover enough to get you to buy one?
Jonathan McGrew -
Small Cars: Is It the '80s All Over Again?
Economic downturns and small hatchbacks seem to go hand-in-hand.
Jonathan McGrew -
Mazda Decides Not to Join the EV Race
If this year's Detroit Auto Show taught me any one lesson, it was that every automaker is developing a line-up of electric vehicles, from plug-in hybrids to battery-electric vehicles. Every display boasted at least one new or improved electric vehicle, from the modest and somewhat dull BYD set to...
Jennifer Knightstep -
Lithium Polymer Batteries For 2011 Hyundai Sonata
Here's more news falling under the "Korean Automakers Are Taking Over the World" category. Hyundai plans to introduce a hybrid version of their popular midsize Sonata sedan for 2011. The Korean car company expects to meet the 2020 Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in 2015. The Sonata hybrid...
Robert Scardino -
Ford made an especially strong jump on the EV scene at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show announcing that they will begin mass production of a battery-electric vehicle, yet unnamed, in 2011. I was invited by Ford to actually test drive a prototype. At this point the vehicle is based on the Ford Focus body, which is known as a C-class sedan. When I arrived for my test drive out on the cold street in front of the Detroit Cobo convention center, I found the unassuming Focus was adorned with bright yellow plug graphics to let you know what was under the hood. I was given a tour of the engine compartment...
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Cadillac to Unveil E-Flex Coupe Concept at NAIAS
Kate Walsh may be driving something altogether different in her future Cadillac commercials, but it could be just as sexy (the car, that is) as her CTS. Cadillac is expected to unveil an E-flex concept coupe at the upcoming auto show in Detroit. The concept is expected to look "bolder" than...
Robert Scardino -
Nominees for the 2009 Green Car Vision Award
The Green Car Journal has announced the five nominees for their 2009 Green Car Vision Award: the Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma, Honda FCX Clarity, Mitsubishi iMiEV, and the MINI E. It's worth noting that despite the fact that so many critics have declared the electric car revolution won't be...
Jennifer Knightstep -
Its Official: Ford Fusion Hybrid Gets 41 MPG EPA
Ford has announced that the EPA officially gave its new Fusion Hybrid 41 MPG highway and 36 MPG city fuel eficiceny ratings. This notes Ford is the highest ratings given to a mid-sized car and even beats the much smaller Civic Hybrid by 1 MPG in city driving. The Fusion hybrid also unique from...
Lyle Dennis -
The Right Cord for the Electric Car
Saturn Vue Plug-In Hybrid If you envision your future electric car being connected to the wall with the standard bright orange extension cord, you're living in the past. The growing interest in electric vehicles is already leading to advances in cord technology. To make sure that there's no Blu-Ray...
Robert Scardino -
Indy Cops Buy Camry Hybrids - Chevy Dealer Complains
Detectives in Indianapolis will soon be driving Toyota Camry Hybrids to crime scenes. The city has already purchased 85 of the hybrid vehicles and expects to buy more. Indianapolis Mayor, Greg Ballard, cited fuel economy and reducing pollution as the primary motives for choosing hybrids. The cars...
Robert Scardino -
The small 2-seat variety of electric car remains a favored configuration. The diminutive Smart car has undergone electrification in prototypes, and currently a fleet of 100 electric Smarts are in European test fleets. These use older technology nickel sodium batteries. Lithium-ion battery version are due to go into test fleets in 2009. However, anxious consumers hoping to purchase their own electric Smart have got a long wait on their hands. It is reported that these may not go on sale until 2012 at the earliest and may cost about $23,000. Source (Verdict on Cars)
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Fisker Karma Gets GM's Ecotec
Fisker announced Friday that they've chosen GM's turbocharged 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder Ecotec engine to extend the range of their plug-in hybrid performance sedan. The Fisker Karma has an electric-only range of 50 miles. After that, the Ecotec will kick in to generate more electricity. This is the...
Robert Scardino -
Hyundai Green Effort = Blue Drive
Hyundai Sonata Remember that South Korean automaker with a reputation for producing the cheapest econoboxes ever? These were the people who brought us the deplorable "Excel" in the early 90s . That was Hyundai then. This is Hyundai now. This is the company that channeled the Lexus RX with the...
Robert Scardino -
Chevy Releases Hybrid Silverado Pricing
Chevy announced pricing for the 2009 Silverado Two-Mode Hybrid pickup today. The 2WD model starts at $38,995 plus a $975 destination charge and gets 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The 4WD model will get 20 mpg city and highway and likely add about $3,000 to the price. "For customers...
Robert Scardino