Fuel Economy
-
Two more days. That's all the time owners of 2.0-liter diesel VWs have to file claims to receive a large financial settlement and to have their cars repaired to meet emissions standards. TDI owners have had plenty of notice to file paperwork to receive a financial settlement to replace or fix their cars, yet the latest report from the class action claims administrator shows that almost 10 percent of owners have not done so. Nationally, 91.1 percent of owners of 2.0-liter VW turbodiesels have filed to receive claims benefits as of Aug. 19. Among California owners the number was slightly higher...
-
Americans still want better fuel economy, survey says
Just as the Trump administration moves to roll back fuel economy standards, a new survey shows that Americans are dissatisfied with the fuel economy their cars already get. The American Customer Satisfaction Index survey for cars was released Tuesday, and among the 10 attributes the survey studied...
Eric C. Evarts -
2019 Chevy Cruze's upcoming CVT rated at 33 mpg combined (Updated)
Fuel economy estimates posted to the EPA's website for the redesigned 2019 Chevrolet Cruze show some changes—plus a big surprise. The latest ratings reveal that the EPA has certified a gas-fueled Cruze with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that boosts city fuel economy...
Eric C. Evarts -
Electric Jaguar E-Type, EPA blowback, Tesla pileups, and giant hybrid drones: The Week in Reverse
Who objected to the Trump administration's plans to freeze emissions and fuel-economy standards? What was recalled going back to the beginning of modern electric cars? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending August 24, 2018...
Eric C. Evarts -
Explainer: What is WLTP and why should you care?
Starting next month, Europe will implement the first phase of new fuel economy and emissions standards that were intended to take effect worldwide. Automakers are required to release initial ratings based on lab tests using the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) on Sept. 1...
Green Car Reports -
Commentary: Fuel-economy standards don't need to be rolled back to make cars SAFER
Smaller, lighter cars always get the blame when politicians want to lower fuel-economy standards. They lobby that too many Americans will be driving lighter cars and that that will lead to more deaths on America's roadways. That's exactly the argument that the Trump administration made earlier this...
Eric C. Evarts -
The Mazda CX-5 diesel took one step closer to production by receiving an EPA rating. Jalopnik made the find and reported the ratings on Wednesday. With front-wheel drive, the CX-5 diesel is rated at 28 mpg city, 31 highway, 29 combined. With all-wheel drive those numbers each drop by 1 mpg for ratings of 27 city, 30 highway, and 28 overall. The 2.2-liter diesel inline-4 gets no better ratings than the gas engine in the CX-5 on the highway, but it does boost city fuel economy ratings by 3 mpg across the board. Where the diesel shines is in torque, where it produces 280 pound-feet of torque and...
-
Multi-speed transmissions and turbochargers don't save much fuel–oh, really? Analysis (Updated)
In President Trump's plan to freeze fuel economy standards last week, the EPA and NHTSA made a strange statement. They said that two of the main technologies used to improve fuel economy standards—turbocharging and multi-speed transmissions—were not as effective as had been expected...
Eric C. Evarts -
EPA could base emissions, mpg rollback on tired safety argument
In the latest draft of new fuel economy and emissions standards obtained by the Associated Press, the Trump administration argues that reducing mileage standards will improve safety. It's an argument that dates back to the beginning of fuel economy standards in the 1970s, and one that ignores...
Eric C. Evarts -
2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan sets wind-cheating record
Efficiency comes in many automotive forms: electric powertrains, continuously variable transmissions, smaller-displacement engines. More aerodynamic designs help efficiency, too. With the 2019 A-Class, Mercedes-Benz says it's raised the aerodynamic bar. Mercedes-Benz claims that the new 2019...
Eric C. Evarts -
What level is appropriate for fuel economy standards: Twitter poll results
We didn't know last week when California and 16 other states might file a lawsuit against the EPA over President Trump's decision to roll back emissions rules, but it seemed pretty clear that it would happen soon. Our Twitter-poll subject for last week still managed to address the topic directly...
Eric C. Evarts -
California and 16 states sue EPA over emissions rules
California, along with 16 other states and the District of Columbia, have formally launched a long-anticipated lawsuit against EPA over its proposed rollback of emissions rules for 2022 through 2025.
Eric C. Evarts -
With a legal showdown approaching between the Trump Administration and California, we thought it was high time to ask our readers who you think should govern emissions standards.
-
Shell Airflow Starship semi truck aims for fuel-economy record
Bob Sliwa aims to set a new semi-truck fuel-economy record when he leaves San Diego, Calif., on May 17 in his Shell Airflow Starship truck. Hauling his full-sized trailer fully loaded to the truck's 80,000 pounds capacity, he aims to set the fuel economy record for a loaded Class 8 truck in a...
Eric C. Evarts -
Ford, BMW, and Infiniti electric car strategy, Trump loses in court, and electric car chargers everywhere: The Week in Reverse
This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending on Friday, April 17, 2018.
Eric C. Evarts -
Cars out at Ford, small crossovers and SUVs left to take up efficiency banner
Passenger cars at Ford have short lives. The automaker announced Wednesday that it would pare its lineup to just two cars: The Mustang and a new Focus Active crossover, which is based on the next-generation Focus unveiled this month. The Ford Fiesta, Fusion, Taurus, and Focus hatchback and sedan...
Aaron Cole -
Is the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta the most fuel-efficient small car?
Over the lifetime of a car, small things can make a big difference. When it comes to fuel economy, just 1 or 2 mpg can add up to hundreds of dollars left in owners’ pockets. That may not mean much to luxury buyers, but for compact sedans that start at less than $20,000 and their owners, every...
Aaron Cole -
2019 Jeep Cherokee gas mileage review
While plug-in electric cars are steadily growing in sales, they still pale in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of compact crossover utility vehicles sold each year by virtually every major carmaker. In 2017, Toyota's most popular vehicle became the RAV4 small SUV, supplanting the Camry...
John Voelcker -
As promised, the Trump administration has embarked on regulatory rollbacks across many fronts, some immediate and others taking longer. It remains unclear whether the EPA's plan to loosen carbon-dioxide emission limits for 2022 through 2025 vehicles will survive inevitable court challenges. However, despite shrill rhetoric from environmental groups, automakers in general—especially the Detroit Three—don't want those standards tossed out the window. DON'T MISS: Pruitt's EPA emission rollback reasoning may well fail in court They might like to see them delayed, and some minor...
-
Possible retrofits in Germany for dirtiest diesels could cost carmakers more
These are not good times for the makers or owners of diesel cars, particularly in their European stronghold, where on average half of all new vehicles had been sold with diesel engines. Strict new real-world emission tests have proven hard to meet, consumers are starting to shy away from buying new...
John Voelcker -
More sedan, smaller, entry models bite the dust in Detroit
Two years ago this month, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles essentially threw in the towel on the "automobiles" part of its name. Canceling the compact Dodge Dart and the mid-size Chrysler 200 sedans, the company doubled down on the pickup trucks and utility vehicles that had long been its profit centers...
John Voelcker -
EPA does not set fuel-economy limits: get this right, journalists!
Journalism as an industry is under great pressure these days. There are far more people writing "content" than in past decades, and in general they are having to produce more of it for less money than they did 10, 20, or 50 years ago. That's no excuse, however, for getting the basics wrong. DON'T...
John Voelcker -
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe launched with diesel; hybrid, plug-in hybrid for US or not?
Along with the 250-mile 2019 Kona Electric hatchback it launched Wednesday at the New York Auto Show, Hyundai unveiled an entirely redesigned version of a much higher-volume vehicle. That's the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe mid-size crossover utility vehicle, which gains size, features, and considerably...
John Voelcker -
Auto parts suppliers support current fuel-economy rules, overwhelmingly: survey
As the auto industry and environmental groups count down the days until the NHTSA releases proposals to revise fuel-economy standards, surveys show one industry wants the standards to stay just as they are. That is the auto-parts supply industry, according to a study released Thursday morning by...
John Voelcker