2015
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The 2014 Fiat 500e has far lower power and torque numbers than the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV; yet at city speeds, of below 40 mph or so, the 500E feels (and is) quicker. Given their nearly identical curb weights, the numbers would suggest the Spark being far quicker. The Chevrolet Spark EV is rated at 141 horsepower and—as Chevy has been pushing in ads—an astonishing 400 pound-feet of torque; and as Chevrolet boasts, it's available from zero rpm. Meanwhile, the motor system in the 500E makes 111 horsepower and 147 lb-ft. ALSO SEE: Harley-Davidson Livewire Electric Motorcycle...
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2015 Nissan Leaf: Full Details, Pricing Released
Out with the old, in with the new: It's hard to believe the Nissan Leaf is already entering its fifth model year. With the 2015 Nissan Leaf models that are already reaching dealerships, there's no boost in range or performance, but there are some minor feature improvements that might be cause to...
Bengt Halvorson -
Ford Details Small Fuel-Saving Engine For Big F-150 Lineup
It's been a while since full-size trucks have used engines as small as 2.7 liters, but that's exactly what the 2015 Ford F-150 will use when you tick the Ecoboost box in the dealership. It's not just 2.7 liters, of course--you also get six cylinders and two turbochargers, and it's those that Ford...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Vs. Golf TDI: Back-To-Back Test Drive
With the introduction of the 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf late this year, VW will be the only automaker to offer (in the U.S.) both diesel and all-electric versions of the same model in the U.S. While we expected to plan a back-to-back drive of these two models at some point, we didn’t expect it to...
Bengt Halvorson -
Opel Ampera (Euro Chevy Volt) Axed Over Slow Sales?
European buyers may soon have one fewer plug-in vehicle to choose from, with news that the Opel Ampera--European cousin to the Chevrolet Volt--could be dropped due to slow sales. The Ampera arrived to much critical acclaim, just as the Volt did in the U.S. While expensive--it hit the market at just...
Antony Ingram -
Audi Confirms V-6 Diesel For Plug-In Hybrid A8 Sedan
Audi has revealed more details of its second major plug-in hybrid drivetrain, set to appear first in the upcoming Audi A8 e-tron luxury sedan. The German automaker has chosen to go down the diesel route with its larger plug-in hybrid setup, which Auto Express reveals will use a new 3.0-liter V-6...
Antony Ingram -
Volkswagen has bet very heavily on diesel, with its TDI models; yet it's preparing to bring its all-electric Golf, called the e-Golf, to the U.S. later this year. And we took another short drive in it this past week—this time on U.S. shores. The e-Golf, as it will be sold beginning this November, in California, Oregon, and a few other 'select markets,' uses a 115-hp synchronous permanent-magnet AC motor that will deliver up to 199 pound-feet of torque, enabling acceleration to 25 mph in 4.2 seconds or to 60 mph in about ten seconds, and top speed is limited to 87 mph. ALSO SEE: 2015...
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2015 BMW 2-Series Active Tourer: More Details Announced
BMWs are big, aggressive gas-guzzlers, right? Not so much, in recent months. The BMW i3 electric car is already finding fans, as is the plug-in hybrid i8. And while the new BMW 2-Series Active Tourer doesn't have electric drive on its side, the small, front-wheel drive BMW compact car certainly...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid: First Drive Of Luxury Compact Utility Vehicle
The 2015 Lexus NX is the first compact crossover from Toyota's luxury brand, and it's been a long time coming. Unlike the mid-size Lexus RX, which helped to launch the luxury crossover category 15 years ago, the smaller NX faces established competitors from the German luxury brands. But Lexus will...
John Voelcker -
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-In Hybrid: More Details Revealed
Mercedes-Benz revealed back in May that it would launch a plug-in hybrid version of its all-new C-Class in the fall of 2015. Further details of that car have now emerged, including drivetrain specifics and its efficiency figures in European testing. Mercedes sources have revealed to Autocar that...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Chevrolet Volt: Bigger Battery, But 38-Mile Electric Range Remains
With widespread expectations that we'll see a redesigned second-generation model unveiled early next year, the 2015 Chevy Volt was expected to be a carryover model with few changes. And so it is, with one important exception: Without any fanfare, its battery capacity rose to 17.1 kilowatt-hours for...
John Voelcker -
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Carries Over, Eco Gets 32 MPG--But Where's That Plug-In?
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is nearly entirely new--save for the steadily improving Hybrid edition. Hyundai says the Sonata Hybrid will stick with its existing gas-electric drivetrain and body style through the 2015 model year, while the rest of the range takes on a more subdued look and more refined...
Martin Padgett -
BMW has revealed full pricing and options details for its plug-in hybrid sports car, the i8. It's the first glimpse we've had of pricing beyond the i8's regular base price, and what BMW's 'World' trim levels offer beyond the standard i8's equipment tally. Revealed by BMW Blog, the i8's base price comes in at $135,700, before BMW's $950 destination fee. That said, BMW has limited initial sales to the $10,800-extra 'Pure Impulse World' launch package. Those models include a long list of unique features including perforated grey leather, i8 script on the headrests, BMW i blue seatbelts...
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2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco: 32 MPG Combined From 1.6 Turbo Sedan
Mid-size car buyers now have another option if they want to reduce their gas consumption--the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco. Joining the Sonata 2.0T and the 2.4-liter model in the range, the Sonata Eco uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine to deliver combined EPA fuel economy of 32 mpg (28 mpg...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-Tron Plug-In Hybrid On Sale This Winter--In Germany
Audi has promised plug-in models for some time, and towards the end of this year its first production plug-in will finally arrive. The 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron will hit European roads in winter 2014, priced at 37,900 Euros. That's around $51,500 at current exchange rates, or similarly priced...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Audi A3 TDI Diesel Luxury Sedan Priced From $32,600
While gasoline versions of the all-new 2015 Audi A3 compact luxury sedan went on sale in April, the model line also includes a TDI diesel version as well as an S3 performance sedan and an A3 Cabrio convertible. Those models will go on sale late this summer, and now pricing has been released for the...
John Voelcker -
2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI: First Drive Of All-New Diesel Hatchback
In today's American car market, 45 miles per gallon is a rare occasion, and 50 miles per gallon is pure fantasy. That's the case for nearly any vehicle that has a fuel tank and isn't a hybrid—and for many hybrids, actually. Enter the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI, a vehicle that seems to buck...
Bengt Halvorson -
2015 Subaru Legacy Video Road Test: 30 MPG, All-Wheel-Drive Mid-Size Sedan
The new 2015 Subaru Legacy is a stealth car: Other drivers may not pay it much attention, but it's sneaking up on the high-volume vehicles in the ultra-competitive mid-size sedan segment. The latest Legacy, redesigned and re-equipped for 2015, is the most competitive Subaru sedan yet--and it also...
John Voelcker -
The redesigned 2015 Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan goes on sale later this month.
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How Do You Make Start-Stop Systems More Pleasant For Drivers?
Stop-Start systems are the low-hanging fruit of city gas mileage, but like many fruits, they can be an acquired taste. General Motors has attached such a system to its 2015 Chevrolet Impala with the base 2.5-liter Ecotec engine, and has worked hard to ensure it's actually a system drivers will want...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Chevrolet Impala Gets Start-Stop, But Hybrid 'Eco' Gone
New information on updates for 2015 to the Chevrolet Impala full-size sedan range note that a start-stop system will be fitted to the four-cylinder model as standard equipment. So the 2015 Chevy Impala LS model with the base 196-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder will now switch off its engine when...
John Voelcker -
2015 Honda Fit: First Deliveries Delayed From April To June
It's not a good week for getting your hands on innovative Japanese cars. Following the news that Mitsubishi has delayed its plug-in Outlander yet further, Honda Fit customers will now have to wait until June to get their cars--following an original April 14 release date. There's no solid reason...
Antony Ingram -
Tour Of Ford's 'Green' Truck Plant To Be Updated
Back in 2011, we visited 'Rouge'--the Ford plant responsible for churning out F-150 pickup trucks in their tens of thousands each year. Alongside the F-150 itself, now more efficient than ever, Rouge is an example of how automotive facilities are being cleaned up, as well as the products they...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Chevrolet Spark EV Switches Battery Cells; 82-Mile Range Remains
The Chevrolet Spark EV has been on the market for only a year, but already it's being updated. And in this case, the update is major: The 2015 Chevy Spark EV will have an entirely new battery pack. General Motors announced yesterday that it will bring assembly of the electric Spark's battery...
John Voelcker