2011
-
Yesterday the monthly sales figures for the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt were released, giving rise to the usual slew of articles picking apart the buying decisions of U.S. car buyers. But behind the traditional media frenzy on the first of every month as plug-in vehicle sales figures are released comes the news that Nissan says it can finish delivering the 2011 Leaf to every customer who has been patiently waiting for one since the pre-ordering process started back in April last year - and perhaps more besides. Slow start So far deliveries of the all-electric family hatchback...
-
Are Volt Dealers Really Pocketing Federal Rebates? Maybe Not
It doesn’t take a scientist to figure out that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is in high demand right now--despite its May sales numbers, which are behind those of the 2011 Nissan Leaf. But despite General Motors’ planned increase in production, buying the plug-in hybrid is a little more...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Standard 2011 Electric Nissan Leaf To Climb Pike's Peak
The all-electric 2011 Nissan Leaf will be joining the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 26th. But, surprisingly it won't be the race-modified Nismo Leaf RC. Instead, the 2011 Leaf, driven by veteran Nissan off-road truck racing champion Chad Hord, will be a car fresh off the factory...
Kevin Lee -
Nissan Doubles Leaf Sales, Volt Stays Steady: Some Perspective, Please
Sigh. Here we go again. It's the first of the month, which means that auto journalists are scrambling to put together their monthly sales reports. Sales in May weren't great, for a variety of reasons: higher prices and shortages of some Japanese models, among others. Unusual scrutiny But the most...
John Voelcker -
Chevrolet Cruze Gas Mileage
With two models--one all about gas mileage, with two transmission options, plus the other one, which has two engines and two transmissions--the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze may take some sorting out if you're looking to maximize your fuel economy. At least there's only one body style for the new 2011...
John Voelcker -
Daimler CEO: 1 Million Electric Cars in Germany by 2020? Not Likely
It may only be two weeks since Germany’s Chancellor Merkel announced that her government would help bring 1 million plug-in vehicles to the roads of Germany by 2020 but her bold goal is already being dismissed as impossible by the very automakers her Government is planning to help. Enter...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
According to startup plug-in hybrid maker Fisker Automotive, production of its 2011 Fisker Karma luxury sports sedan recently started in Finland. The company says it is focusing on delivering cars to dealers, so aside from giving a very small handful of journalists some quick driving time within the confines of a race track, Fisker has largely ignored the automotive media. So we can't tell you anything at all about what the car is like to drive, or ride in, or how well it performs, or what its real-world gas mileage is. But at least we know that founder Henrik Fisker has a thing for royalty...
-
BMW i3 Electric Car to Debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show?
According to sources close to BMW the German automaker is reputedly working on five models to premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, including its long-awaited i3 electric car. BMW has kept details of its first mass-produced electric car quiet, although the ongoing stream of...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
By Royal Appointment? Electric Cars Welcome in Prince of Wales’ Eco-village
While many in the United Kingdom doubt that he will accede his mother Queen Elizabeth II to the throne and become King, HRH the Prince of Wales has never been one to shy away from helping his subjects combine quintessential British values with new technology. His latest project does exactly that...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Cadillac SRX Plug-In Hybrid Crossover: Killed Before Birth?
It may be the most star-crossed program in recent automotive history, and now it's apparently dead. According to Reuters, General Motors has canceled work on the planned plug-in hybrid version of its Cadillac SRX crossover sport utility. The canceled SRX plug-in would have been the second GM car...
John Voelcker -
Small Cars Dominate TheCarConnection.com’s Efficient Convertible List
With the rising gas prices it may seem like you have to give up things in order to save money at the pump. You can combine trips to save fuel, keep your tires inflated properly, make sure your car is tuned up and drive to maximize your mpgs. With the latest top of top list from TheCarConnection.com...
Jonathan McGrew -
DRIVEN: 2011 Nissan LEAF Comes To Colorado For BOLDERBoulder
Memorial Day weekend is a time of year where we honor veterans, look forward to the three-day weekend and for some in Colorado run the BolderBoulder 10K. This year in a newly announced “Innovation for Endurance” partnership, Nissan and Rodale are connecting the Nissan LEAF with a series...
Jonathan McGrew -
In automotive news the electric car is like the sci-fi section of a bookstore—full of technological advances and experiences that some might think were alien. That said, Nissan is trying to put their all-electric, zero-emissions LEAF in a new light. The latest round of commercials from Nissan are set in a “Gas Powered” world to show what life could be like in an alternate universe where electricity didn’t exist. The results are pretty comical, if not pretty out on a limb. The new television, print and Internet advertising are set to air on Monday, May 30, 2011...
-
Toyota Prius Gas Mileage
The 2011 Toyota Prius hybrid gets the best gas mileage rating of any car for sale in the U.S. market today. It's rated at 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 50 mpg--and that's a number no other car can match. At least, no other car that doesn't plug into the wall for some (2011...
John Voelcker -
Toyota Corolla Gas Mileage
The 2011 Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling compact sedans in the U.S. market. But its gas mileage isn't necessarily anything to write home about. The most fuel-efficient model is the one fitted with the 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter engine and a five-speed manual gearbox, a transmission many...
John Voelcker -
Can You Charge a 2011 Nissan Leaf by Towing it? Apparently So (VIDEO)
Imagine the scene: You’re out in your 2011 Nissan Leaf only to discover you have 6 miles of available range left but need to travel 26 miles to reach your youngest daughter’s birthday party. Oh, and there’s no-where to charge. At least, that’s the crazy premise which lead...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Electric Cars? Even NASCAR Drivers Want them
Think of motor racing in the U.S. and you’re likely to think of NASCAR. But while the race track may still be the ultimate celebration of high-power, high-octane internal combustion engined glory , it turns out that NASCAR isn’t the antithesis of electric cars that you might expect. At...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
GM Adds New Styling Cues To Concepts For Transformers “Dark of the Moon”
Who doesn’t love a good action flick? We especially love them when they have some good chase scenes with some pretty cool modern automobiles. Then if you ad superhero transforming cars from outer space into the mix, well you have the Transformers franchise. As you might remember, the first...
Jonathan McGrew -
Oh, the horror, the horror. Once again, the world is coming to an end. No, not tsunamis, or earthquakes, or tornadoes, or plagues. Not even locusts. Nope, it's the evil specter of hybrid technology that will conclusively decimate all of mankind, depriving it forever of driving fun, pleasure, and anything else close to godliness. Or, at least, that seems to be the tone of certain auto writers who are treating the rumor that Mazda might use hybrid-electric drive, paired to its Wankel twin-rotor engine, in the replacement for the slow-selling but pleasantly oddball RX-8 four-door sports coupe...
-
Toyota Prius: Estella Warren's Weapon Of Choice
Here is what we know about Estella Warren from her Wikipedia page: • She is a fashion model, with a portfolio that includes work for Victoria's Secret, Chanel, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. • She is a swimsuit model, which is like being a fashion model, except the fashion is less important...
Richard Read -
Porsche Boxster E Electric Sports Car A Hit At 2011 Michelin Challenge Bibendum
The Michelin Challenge Bibendum is an annual event run by the French tire company aimed at promoting the development of sustainable mobility. At this year’s event in the German capital of Berlin Porsche rolled out its Boxster E electric car prototype, revealing a few more saucy details about...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
One-Off MINI Cooper For Life Ball Charity Wets Taste For Off-Road Variant
The MINI is a car that has captured audiences for decades from the original MINI Cooper to today’s modern edition. In a country where people didn’t believe that a small car would do well, err except for the Miata, the MINI proved that this small car had style, speed (in the S) and a...
Jonathan McGrew -
Mazda 1.3-Liter Engine Boasts 50% MPG Gain Over Current 1.5-Liter
If you have driven by the gas pump recently then the interest in cars with more fuel-efficient gasoline habits probably doesn’t surprise you. Most manufacturers are trying to accommodate the change in consumer perspective, especially in the U.S. automotive market. Mazda is onboard with their...
Jonathan McGrew -
Advice: Better Gas Mileage, Used Small, All-Wheel-Drive SUV--UPDATE
UPDATE: Well, we got a note from Denise: I bought a car today. It's a certified pre-owned 2005 Toyota RAV4, single owner, 41K miles. The only thing I need for it is an iPod adapter! It's really nice, fabulous condition, and I did fairly well on both the price and trade-in. What do you think of her...
John Voelcker