Fuel Efficiency
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With the permanent end of diesel sales in the U.S. by three VW Group brands—Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche—the number of diesel passenger cars and light trucks has plummeted. In fact, for the 2018 model year thus far, there are only 11 basic models listed in an annual publication issued by the EPA, along with a handful more certified since it was produced. One of the two companies offering the largest number of them may come as a surprise, too. DON'T MISS: Diesels Still Needed For Truck Fuel Economy Despite VW Scandal: Advocate (Feb 2016) Adding in different drive setups (all-wheel...
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Diesel redux: 2018 BMW 540d sedan certified for US sale (but will it matter?)BMW has announced it will resurrect the diesel 5 Series sport sedan, in the form of a 540d model, one year after the introduction of a thoroughly updated 5 Series. The company says the diesel edition will list for $62,995, including destination, once it arrives at dealerships in February. According...
Mark Stevenson -
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for January 2018Is one of your New Year's resolutions to go green? We're here to help with this month's deals on electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, and other efficient vehicles. Against last month, the cars offering the best incentives haven't changed—but the incentives themselves have. Click ahead to find...
Mark Stevenson -
German magazine compares real-world electric-car ranges, efficiencies in cold weatherIt's 41 degrees F outside. Your electric car, rated for 100 miles, has been charging all night in the cold. Ahead of you lies a 80-mile drive. How confident are you that you'll make it to your destination? What if you want to set your climate control to a comfortable 70 degrees F? Germany's...
Mark Stevenson -
As expected, 2018 Ford F-150 gets V-6 diesel engine optionFord's best-selling full-size pickup truck will be powered by a diesel engine for the first time in its 70-year history. Monday morning, Ford revealed details of the new diesel-powered 2018 Ford F-150 Power Stroke, which it claims will achieve an EPA-estimated fuel-economy rating of 30 mpg highway...
Mark Stevenson -
Sales-weighted new-car fuel economy stuck at 25 mpg, for fourth year in a rowEven as vehicles become more fuel-efficient, the unending market shift toward crossover utilities, SUVs, and trucks kept the overall average U.S. new fleet efficiency stagnant for the fourth year in a row. For 2017, sales-weighted new-car fuel economy landed at 25.2 mpg, an improvement over 2016 of...
Mark Stevenson -
Amidst all the coverage on Wednesday of the Tesla Model 3 production numbers, we realized we'd forgotten one piece of the Model 3 saga. That would be the official EPA range and efficiency ratings for the 2017 Tesla Model 3 Long Range version. Those were issued at the end of November, and they seemed worth highlighting as a way to compare the Model 3 both to competing electric cars and its larger, heavier, more powerful siblings. DON'T MISS: Tesla delivers 1,550 Model 3s in Q4; Models S, X over 100,000 in 2017 The EPA says the Tesla Model 3 Long Range provides 310 miles of battery range, and...
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Gas prices primed to rise in 2018, highest in four years: reportAs Americans collectively sigh at their credit-card bills from the holiday season, GasBuddy has some bad news that won't help ease the financial pain. The fuel price-tracking website predicts the cost of a gallon of fuel will rise by $0.19 per gallon in 2018, on average, to the highest level gas...
Mark Stevenson -
Automaker push to delay, modify, or kill CAFE is nothing newAs automakers yet again lobby Washington to roll back planned fuel-economy targets for 2025, they've employed some familiar tactics to drive the point home to lawmakers. It cannot be done. It will cost too much. It will destroy the industry and kill jobs. Consumers do not want this. The science is...
Mark Stevenson -
2018 BMW i3s: range, efficiency lower for sportier model of electric carAs a given generation of any vehicle ages, German companies in particular often spice up the allure of the aging car with new and sportier versions. Porsche is a master at rolling out new versions of its models across the entire life of a generation, but BMW has learned the trick too. Thus in the...
John Voelcker -
China is serious on fuel economy: 500-plus models to go out of productionChina has taken a major step toward cleaning up the new cars sold in the country beginning January 1. As numerous countries debate plans to end sales of fossil-fuel vehicles completely at points in the future, China has now forced the end of production for some 553 models, starting Monday. The...
Mark Stevenson -
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for December 2017If you're looking to give the gift of efficient motoring this holiday season, numerous manufacturer incentives are available this month that'll save you from breaking the bank. For December, CarsDirect has uncovered leases as cheap as $159/month and discounts as much as $18,100 on fuel-efficient...
Mark Stevenson -
Efforts by automakers to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions have intensified in recent years as emission rules have tightened and the effects of climate change are better analyzed. While electric cars and hybrids will grow in popularity, the internal-combustion engine remains the default way of power—and likely will for years to come. The latest effort to make engines more fuel-efficient will come from Nissan's premium brand, Infiniti, in the form of itsnew variable-compression turbocharged (VC-T) inline-4 engine. DON'T MISS: Infiniti variable-compression engine: more...
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New 2018 Jeep Wrangler boosts fuel economy, from bad to less badAhead of the next-generation 2018 Jeep Wrangler's debut, the EPA released fuel-economy estimates for the V-6 powered model of the archetypal SUV. They're higher, as are the ratings for pretty much every new model, courtesy of steadily rising corporate average fuel-economy rules for model years 2012...
Sean Szymkowski -
Discounts soar on many small cars as market stampedes toward SUVsThe market's shift to crossovers and SUVs is well documented, but what may be less well known are the massive discounts some automakers now offer on small cars as a result. While those small cars may deliver smaller profit margins, automakers must now add in steep discounts to move them from...
Sean Szymkowski -
Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for November 2017This month's best deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars are in and buyers will find a handful of eco-friendly bargains. Most cars have held their spots from October 2017, but a few newcomers may surprise shoppers, including the brand-new 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Read on to see where...
Sean Szymkowski -
Saving gas by lifting the pedal: engine braking vs coasting (video)The way a driver operates a car can produce very different fuel-economy numbers, and when driving downhill, two notable techniques come into play. The first is leaving the car in gear and using so-called engine braking to provide at least some deceleration. But many believe putting a car in neutral...
Sean Szymkowski -
Those fuel-efficient diesels? Actually worse on lifetime CO2, study saysDiesel-powered cars have enjoyed a comfortable market share in Europe for decades, but their decline in popularity continues following numerous diesel-emission cheating scandals and regulatory crackdowns. As if diesel cars hadn't already had enough negative press, a new study says "fuel-efficient"...
Sean Szymkowski -
Toyota can’t be blamed for a lack of effort: The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is dripping with it. From the creased hood and cascading brow to the Modernist center console enclosed by flickers of chrome, the mid-size stalwart is anything but lazy. Our first, limited exposure to the hybrid sedan left us impressed, but with unanswered questions. Namely, how the nickel-metal hydride battery setup in the XLE Hybrid would fare in providing real-world fuel economy. Also, what kind of Camry Hybrid can customers expect to find on dealers’ lots? After all, the early pre-production prototypes...
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Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for October 2017Another month, another round of deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars. This month, many cars hold their spots as solid deals, but the offers have become slightly more generous for a few. The deals on diesel-powered vehicles have also been shaken up. So, without further ado, the best...
Sean Szymkowski -
2017 Toyota Prius Prime real-world gas mileage, electric range reviewThe 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is an automotive enigma. It proudly flaunts its eco-friendly credentials, yet its factory-rated 25 miles of electric range simply pales in comparison to the 53 miles advertised by the Chevrolet Volt. I hopped into a Titanium Glow (think beige) 2017 Prius Prime for a...
Andrew Ganz -
Comment period ends tomorrow on EPA proposal to loosen emission limits on carsThe period for public comments on the EPA's proposed reconsideration of finalized rules to cut emissions of the climate-change gas carbon dioxide from light-duty vehicles will end on Thursday, October 5. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on August 10 it would reopen the Comment...
John Voelcker -
2018 Hyundai Accent small sedan debuts at minor auto showHyundai decided to skip the major auto-show circuit and debut its redesigned Accent subcompact sedan at a relatively minor auto show. The Korean automaker revealed the 2018 Hyundai Accent at the Orange County Auto Show in California, which boasts a new design, more interior space, and an updated...
Sean Szymkowski -
What will happen to U.S. fuel-economy rules through 2025? Poll resultsWith the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president last November, it became clear that the regulatory environment for businesses would change once he took office. Indeed, dozens of regulations limiting corporate activities involving emissions, fossil-fuel exploration, hiring and firing, and a host...
John Voelcker