2012
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What can you say about driving a Mercedes-Benz S-Class? It's luxurious, smooth, powerful, packed with features, impressive on the road, and very, very large. Now you can add another adjective: green. While the S 400 Hybrid has been in the mix for two years, Mercedes-Benz is launching a clean-diesel version of the S-Class for 2012. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz S 350 Bluetec ears EPA ratings of 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 25 mpg--versus the 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined ratings of the hybrid S-Class. 700 miles of range With its 22-gallon fuel tank, the...
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2012 Honda Insight: New Front Styling, Better Gas Mileage
Although the Honda Insight was eagerly awaited before it launched as a 2010 model, the little hybrid hatchback has never come remotely close to its sales goals. But the company isn't giving up, and the new 2012 Honda Insight features revised front styling, a nicer interior, and improved gas mileage...
John Voelcker -
Whoops: 2012 Toyota Prius C Compact Hybrid Shown In Brochure Leak
In the automotive industry, leaks about an upcoming product normally fall into two categories: genuine mess-ups, or a purposeful, pr-driven leak designed to give a new car extra attention. But we the latest leak from Japan -- an entire Toyota Aqua Hybrid sales brochure -- falls squarely in the...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
2012 Subaru Impreza: AWD, 36 MPG Highway, First Drive Report
Subaru is known for its no-nonsense, durable, all-wheel drive Forester and Outback crossover utility vehicles. What U.S. buyers don't seem to know is that the company also makes compact sedans and hatchbacks. For 2012, Subaru has restyled its Impreza compact, increasing interior space while keeping...
John Voelcker -
2012 Ford Focus Electric Won’t Have a Pedestrian Alert Noisemaker
For some time now there’s been a battle raging between politicians, advocacy groups and the electric car industry over compulsory noise-makers in electric cars. Now the latest twist comes courtesy of Ford, which has announced that its 2012 Ford Focus Electric will initially ship without any...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Sedan: Weekend Test Drive
"Bracket creep" is the phenomenon where each successive generation of a car gets slightly bigger. It's what allowed the Honda Civic to evolve from the 1973 model, which today we'd call a minicar, to the compact it is today. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, deemed a subcompact by GM, is a prime example of...
John Voelcker -
Natural gas vehicles aren't particularly common on U.S. roads, and with relatively cheap and plentiful gasoline, it's fairly clear why. Pumps are few and far between and only the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas gives private buyers an option over gasoline or diesel. If you had the chance to fill at home instead of hunting down a suitable pump, you might be more tempted. Ecofriendly LLC, run by Paul Gianakas, gives you just such an option. Ecofriendly installs natural gas fueling stations at homes and businesses. The system compresses natural gas from your home's service line into the CNG that...
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2012 Tesla Model S To Use Panasonic Lithium-Ion Battery Cells
Well, this one's not a big shock: Tesla Motors announced yesterday that its 2012 Model S electric sport sedan would use Panasonic lithium-ion cells in its battery pack. Panasonic is one of several companies that have invested in Tesla, and the two companies had announced in 2009 that they would...
John Voelcker -
2012 Chevrolet Sonic: What Do You Want To Know About New Subcompact?
The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is the first subcompact car built in the U.S. in a very long time, and one of several new Chevy models that aim to lift the carmaker's overall fuel efficiency. We'll be driving at least three separate 2012 Sonics within four weeks, so we're seeking your input. What do you...
John Voelcker -
Is Hyundai Working On An Elantra Touring Plug-in Hybrid? Possibly
Despite reports that it won't offer battery electric cars, Hyundai might just be working on a plug-in car after all, says German website Auto Motor und Sport. A month after Hyundai unveiled the 2012 Elantra Touring (known as the i30 in other counties), Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Korean...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
2012 Mitsubishi i Just Wants To Be Normal, Goes On Road Trip
The town of Normal, Illinois is no stranger to electric cars. Home to one of Mitsubishi’s factories, the town became home to a 1,000 strong electric vehicle test fleet earlier this year. Then in July, town officials announced residents would get an additional purchase incentive worth an...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
GM Makes 2012 Volt Production Line Tweaks, Delays 2nd Shift
Earlier this year, General Motors announced that it would start a second shift at its Detroit-Hamtramck factory some time towards the end of 2011 to meet its production goals for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt. But on Friday the company announced that it was shelving plans to introduce a second shift...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
The 2012 Mitsubishi i batteries will retain 80 percent of their original charge after ten years—and that includes a consideration that the battery might be frequently quick-charged.
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Natural Gas Vehicles Expected To Expand Share, Outside U.S.
Which alternate vehicle or fuel do you know least about? You've almost surely heard about hybrids. You may have seen ethanol, even biodiesel, debated in the news. And if you read this site, you're likely to know that cars that plug into grid power to recharge their battery packs are now on sale...
John Voelcker -
2012 Hyundai Accent SE: Quick Drive Report--Commuter Car Test
Over a short test that mimicked commuter duty, our 2012 Hyundai Accent SE hatchback returned 33.4 mpg.
John Voelcker -
No, 2012 Ford Focus Electrics Don’t Have Roof-Mounted Solar Panels
Back in August, Ford announced that it would enter into a partnership with solar panel firm SunPower to help 2012 Ford Focus Electric owners install photovoltaic solar panels on their houses, which could let them power their cars from solar energy. Called “Drive Green For Life”, the...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
National Plug-In Car Day: Promoting Electric Cars, Educating Future Buyers
Cities around the US will host special events on Sunday, October 16, 2011, to promote and educate the public about the growing number of plug-in cars and how they work in real-world driving.
George Parrott -
2012 Ford Escape Hybrid: Sentenced To Death, So Buy One Now If You Want One
The Ford Escape Hybrid was not only the first U.S.-built hybrid electric vehicle, it was also the first hybrid sport-utility vehicle--or crossover, if you prefer. It's had a good run, starting in the fall of 2004 and continuing through the 2012 model year. As of the end of September, Ford has sold...
John Voelcker -
You’ve heard about the 2012 Tesla Model S Sport, read our first ride review, and seen our 2012 Tesla Model S gallery -- but unless you’ve already put down a deposit for the 2012 Tesla Model S you won’t be getting one for a while. So who is getting a 2012 Model S? What kind of people put down $5,000 deposit on a car well before they had even seen it for the first time? And what sort of cars do they already drive? We were at the 2012 Tesla Model S reservation event and talked to many different reservation holders about the electric car they’ve put $5,000 down on...
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2012 Chevrolet Sonic Goes Extreme To Attract New Customers
When automakers start designing a new car, it’s customary to have a specific demographic of customer in mind. This not only helps to design a car which best suits the needs of a particular subset of buyers, but it also gives the advertising teams something to aim for when coming up with crazy...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Electric-Car Sales: Does GM Have A Chevy Volt Sales Problem?
It's that time of month again. Car sales reports spewed forth from the High Gear Media teletypes yesterday (September sales were up), and analysis stories followed. On the electric-car front, Nissan sold 1,031 Leaf battery-electric vehicles and Chevy shifted 723 Volts. While that's an improvement...
John Voelcker -
Tesla's 2012 Model S Charging Equipment. Redesign For Redesign's Sake?
Last weekend, Tesla released more details about its up-coming 2012 Model S all-electric luxury sedan at an exclusive reservation-holder and media Model S event in Fremont, California. While some of the new information -- like the sub-4.5 second 0-60 time of the new Model S Sport variant -- got us...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
2012 Mitsubishi i: First Drive, U.S.-Spec MiEV
The 2012 Mitsubishi i (what it’s called here) is the most efficient DOT-legal vehicle for sale in the U.S. market, with an official MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating of 112.
Bengt Halvorson -
2012 Tesla Model S: Photo Gallery
This week's most discussed car may well be the 2012 Tesla Model S. And that's by design. Startup electric-car company Tesla Motors opened its Fremont, California, factory for the last three days to let a select list of customers, reservation holders, and journalists from around the world see...
John Voelcker