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Some are almost unnoticeable, others make the car shudder each time they activate—but start-stop systems are here to stay. First rolled out in Europe and Asia, where crowded city driving requires cars to spend more time at a standstill, they switch off the engine when the car's not moving. When the driver starts to lift a foot off the brake pedal, they quickly restart the engine in time for the car to move away from a stoplight or traffic jam. DON'T MISS: Start-stop systems to soar in number over next decade Most such systems already keep the car's accessories—lights, wipers...
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GM Performance Parts' E-ROD: A Hot Rod Leans Towards GreenThe 1955 Chevy Bel Air built by GM Performance Parts isn't exactly green, but it is a step in the right direction.
Kurt Ernst -
On Thursday, Why Not Dump The Pump?
Thursday, June 16 marks the sixth annual “National Dump the Pump Day.” A collaboration between the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, Dump the Pump Day encourages commuters to hang up their car keys and give...
Kurt Ernst -
Always Stay In The Bike Lane, Even When You Can't: Video
Cops ticket a Manhattan bicyclist, but #fail to do the same for all the hurdles he captures in a YouTube viral video.
Kurt Ernst -
Zero Announces Recall of Zero S, Zero DS Electric Motorcycle
Electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero Motorcycles has announced the recall of certain model year 2009 and 2010 Zero S and Zero DS motorcycles, to replace the front brake caliper bracket. Under heavy braking, the original front brake caliper bracket may be subject to deformation, which can cause...
Kurt Ernst -
Report: Hyundai Veloster Turbo In the Works
Sources close to Hyundai report that the Korean automaker is developing a turbocharged, high-performance version of their green-tinged Veloster coupe, to broaden their appeal to the enthusiast market while it also pitches a 40-mpg fuel-economy rating to buyers concerned with rising gas prices...
Kurt Ernst -
While you're ripping up old celery shag to lay down fresh berber, you may wonder where the carpet ends up. Probably, regrettably, a landfill somewhere--which is not the case with some automotive carpeting that a Ford supplier is turning into new parts. For years, automakers have used plastics to replace metal in some engine components such as engine covers, valve covers and even intake manifolds. It takes a lot of petroleum to make those plastics, though, so anything that can be done to reduce the amount of virgin plastic used in cars would ultimately benefit both the environment and the...
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GM Looks Local For $40M Carbon-Reduction Initiative
General Motors [NYSE: GM] stock might be up for initial public offering today under the same stock symbol as before, but the company is trying hard to show that it's not the same company in many respects. "We'll do that by demonstrating that GM is doing things differently," said CEO Dan Akerson...
Bengt Halvorson -
2011 Nissan Leaf: While You Wait, Have Some Stickers
You've heard by now that I'm buying a 2011 Nissan Leaf. In case you're wondering, it's a Cayenne Red SV, which I'm hoping implies some hyper-real blend of Porsche and Lamborghini performance. Maybe? Maybe not. I won't be among the first folks to take delivery, though. Lance Armstrong already has...
Martin Padgett -
Could Your Car's Body Be Its Battery Too? Volvo Is Trying
The biggest challenge for battery electric vehicles is clearly the cost and the weight of today's lithium-ion battery packs. Now Volvo is experimenting with a new composite material that can store and release energy more quickly than a convention lithium-ion cell and, it says, might one day replace...
John Voelcker -
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: First Drive
When your lead-in to a first-time-ever hybrid sedan is a North American Car of the Year trophy winner, things are probably okay in your world. That's Lincoln's world right now, where the brand is embarking on a complete renovation that will include 7 new or refreshed vehicles in the next four...
Martin Padgett
