idle-stop
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Almost every day we hear of a shiny new car that gets a certain number of miles to the gallon, a number often greater than its predecessor. It sometimes seems like witchcraft - until significant steps towards high-tech materials are taken, rarely do cars lose weight from one model to the next (with a few honorable exceptions), and weight is generally acknowledged to be an enemy of performance and MPG. So how are our cars getting not only quicker and safer, but more efficient too? Join us as we explore some of the most common techniques for small mileage gains... Long gear ratios, more gears...
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How To Drive Badly & Lower Your Gas Mileage In The Real World
With gas-mileage standards through 2016 now in place, the EPA and NHTSA are turning their sights toward rules for 2017 through 2025. Proposals are floating around for CAFE standards of up to 62 mpg (which means the vehicles you might buy would average about 50 mpg in actual use). Ah, the hell with...
John Voelcker -
Ferrari California HELE Adds Stop-Start, Gas-Saving Gizmos
No, it's not pronounced "hell" ... although that word was heard from many Modena fans when news first broke that Ferrari was planning a hybrid-electric drivetrain in some models. The first fruits of Ferrari's wide-ranging quest to improve the fuel efficiency of its models was unveiled at the Paris...
John Voelcker -
Preview: Mazda to Show 2011 Mazda5 Minivan at Geneva Motor Show
We've always been fond of the 2010 Mazda Mazda5 small minivan, which gets rave reviews for its sporty character and good roadholding. Because it's smaller than more conventional full-size minivans like the Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna, it has always sold in smaller numbers. But...
John Voelcker -
2011 Mazda2 Subcompact To Launch At Los Angeles Auto Show
We previewed the upcoming 2011 Mazda2 subcompact a couple of months ago, but now we have more details, along with photos of its updated styling. The five-door hatchback will be officially unveiled in early December, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2011 Mazda Mazda2 will go on sale in the U.S. and...
John Voelcker -
Idle-Stop: The Low-Cost 'Micro-Hybrids' We Can't Buy
Our traffic just isn't congested enough to bring us the simple idle-stop systems that are sweeping through Europe
John Voelcker