2009
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While the 2010 Honda Insight has gotten a lot of attention lately, it's far from Honda's only hybrid. Now the company has announced that it will put two more hybrid-electric vehicles on sale in Japan next year: the 2011 Honda CR-Z and the 2011 Honda Fit Hybrid. Honda had previously announced both cars, but this is the first time it has confirmed timing. The CR-Z goes on sale in Japan next February, and will likely be shown at this fall's 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Fit Hybrid will go on sale "before the end of 2010". Small, sporty two-seater The 2011 Honda CR-Z will be a small, sporty hybrid...
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Finance Your Tesla Roadster With Bank of America
Tesla Motors announced today that they're partnering with Bank of America to offer financing on their Roadster. This begs the following question: If you need to finance the Roadster, should you be buying one? Tesla has always been very protective of their customers' identities, but we know at least...
Robert Scardino -
Family Rivalry: MINI Cooper S Versus the High Tech MINI E
This Competition Is Being Kept In the Family
Jonathan McGrew -
The Green, The Bad And The Ugly: Our Least Favorite Green Cars
We like green cars, and we define the term loosely. Sure, the 2010 Toyota Prius is green. But so's the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid pickup truck, because a full-size truck that gets 20 miles per gallon is much easier on the planet when you need a pickup truck. But try as we might, there are a...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Dealership to Open in New York City July 14th
Tesla Motors freshly infused with nearly a half billion in loan guarantees from Uncle Sam will now be expand its dealership base from the Golden State to the Big Apple. On July 14 the electric car maker will open its first dealership for a media preview in New York City. The store will be in the...
Lyle Dennis -
BMW Receives Criticism Over Exploiting CARB Loophole by Leasing Mini-E Prototypes
BMW recently began leasing the electric MINI to consumers in select areas of the US. The program entailed an application period of nearly 8 months and a detailed selection process that lands the electric car in the hands of a few select individuals. At nearly $850 a month, it's far from cheap. But...
Eric Loveday -
Let us pay tribute to the car that defined not only defined 'hybrid' but paved Toyota's path toward world domination
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2009 Chevrolet HHR Review: Chevrolet’s 1940s Suburban Throwback
PT Cruiser Copy or Competition?
Jonathan McGrew -
Chrysler PT Cruiser Gets a Reprieve: The Popular Retro Wagon Makes It Through 2011
Another Chrysler Model Dodges a Bullet
Jonathan McGrew -
Chrysler PT Cruiser Survives Through 2011
We're all irrationally fond of some cars, and one of ours is the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Technically, it's a small minivan, but the retro-styled gangster look has always disguised that fact completely. And, it's a remarkably practical car. Now comes the news that Chrysler reversed its previous...
John Voelcker -
2009 AutoPacific Ideal Vehicle Awards: What Small Cars Took Top Honors?
The Results May Surprise You
Jonathan McGrew -
Get a 2009 Smart ForTwo, Just $99/Month (Clunker Required)
No sooner did the 'Cash for Clunkers' legislation pass the Senate and get signed by President Obama than carmakers started marketing around it. The program won't officially launch until next month, but Smart is already pointing out that its 2009 Smart ForTwo is eligible for the highest voucher...
John Voelcker -
Here at GreenCarReports.com, we spend a lot of time reading and writing about green cars of all stripes: fuel-efficient hatchbacks, hybrids, diesels, small cars, you name it. But we also spend time immersed in the fast-changing world of digital media. And lately, we've spent a lot of time looking at Twitter. What's that, you may ask? Well, a "Tweet" (yep, that's what it's called) is a single, short message of 140 characters or less that you can broadcast to a list of people who choose to "follow" what you publish. You can think of it as a series of Facebook status messages (if you're on...
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Diesel's Not A Dirty Word, Say New Audi TDI Ads
European automakers may be taking tentative steps into hybrids, but much of their green-car strategy still depends on clean diesels, adapted from engines that power half the new cars in Europe. Six weeks ago, Volkswagen launched its "TDI Truth and Dares" publicity effort to convince the US public...
John Voelcker -
Subaru STi Passes a Milestone: Museum Opening Marks 20 Year Anniversary
The STi Now Has It's Own Gallery For Posterity
Jonathan McGrew -
MINI E Update: We Get the Scoop On the Lease and What the Car Is Like
MINI E Could Hit A Home Run If It Can Make It To Market
Jonathan McGrew -
What it's Like to Lease and Drive the MINI E Electric Car
A few days ago I took delivery of MINI E #412 in New York. I will have the car for a 1-year close ended lease. As an electric car enthusiast and advocate, actually getting my own EV for full time use to charge and recharge is a dream come true. Though not traditionally a big MINI buff the fact that...
Lyle Dennis -
As Mark Twain is supposed to have said, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." (Although, sadly, he actually didn't say it.) In this case, the "my" is the General Motors mild-hybrid powertrain, sometimes known as the Belt-Alternator-Starter or BAS system. And it will return for 2011, in a far more powerful form. Mild hybrid, minimal numbers Like most mild hybrids, the BAS system essentially shuts off the engine when the car stops, and quickly restarts it as the brake pedal is lifted. It also provided some electric assist to the engine at speed, but no all-electric running. The...
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Mazda To Get (More) Hybrid, Electric Technology From Ford?
Mazda is known for its "Zoom-Zoom" tagline, meaning sporty cars that set the bar for enjoyable handling at real-world prices. But the company has repeatedly expressed its lack of interest in electric cars, and its one hybrid is so half-hearted few know it exists. Now, Mazda may have reversed...
John Voelcker -
2009 Scion xD Release Series 2.0: The Greenest Scion Yet?
Whenever a car company releases a green car, especially if it's a hybrid, it's usually shown in a green color. The first several thousand Ford Escape Hybrids all seemed to come in a kind of pale metallic green, and other makers use similar colors. Now Toyota's mischievous little brother, Scion, has...
John Voelcker -
GM Pulls The Plug On Malibu, Vue Hybrids
Chevy's midsize Malibu sedan has enjoyed widespread praise among automotive media, but one version of the vehicle is conspicuously absent from GM's plans for 2010. The Malibu Hybrid will no longer be available next year, as GM continues to whittle away at its product lineup. The Hybrid achieved an...
Robert Scardino -
Hybrid Ferrari To Launch At LA Auto Show In December?
It's obviously green supercar day here at GreenCarReports. No sooner had we written about Lamborghini's green vehicle plans than more info popped up on our previous story about the plans for Ferrari hybrids as well. Editor Eddie Alterman from Car and Driver writes that a concept could debut at the...
John Voelcker -
VIDEO: Attack Of The Tesla Roadsters! Owners Celebrate 500th Delivery
Over two dozen Tesla Roadster owners hit the streets of L.A. on Saturday to recognize the San Carlos, California, based electric car company's 500th delivery. Sixty miles of driving and one Malibu barbecue later, some impressive videos of the event appeared on YouTube. This was no ordinary car...
Robert Scardino