Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Editor
Articles
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Ford is at the forefront of the alternative power push, having been one of the first on the market with a hybrid vehicle and now less than a year away from launching its first all-electric model....
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Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid On Track For 2012 DebutVolkswagen is intent on becoming the world’s leading automaker by 2018 and that means being the top dog in every segment, including hybrid and electric vehicles. Recently the automaker announced plans to start building its own electric powertrains, and now, following the debut of the new 2011...
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Preview: 2011 Volkswagen JettaSales of the new 2010 Volkswagen Golf (MkVI) are picking up pace all around the country and considering the car’s solid feel, classy styling and German engineering, it’s easy to understand why. Oh, did we mention that it’s also available with a dual clutch transmission and a frugal...
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Audi Shows Off R8 e-tron At 24 Hours Of Le MansWhen most people think of electric vehicles, they think of low cost and environmentally friendly vehicles that are about as much fun to drive as the Flintstones’ car. Automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz, however, are hoping to alleviate that stigma by targeting the top end of town and...
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Mitsubishi Evo XI Going Diesel-Electric Hybrid?Yes, you read that title correctly. Mitsubishi’s next-generation Lancer Evolution is reportedly getting a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain in order to make it as fuel efficient as possible--a key factor to ensuring it meets tightening economy and emissions regulations while maintaining...
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First Look At U.S.-Bound 2011 Suzuki SwiftThe small-car band wagon is piling high with automakers, including those from Detroit, with vehicles like the 2011 Ford Fiesta, 2011 Mazda2, and 2011 Chevrolet Aveo either in showrooms already or on their way. Suzuki has recently moved the other way, introducing what many consider to be its first...
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Chrysler will soon be offering a new eight-speed automatic transmission developed by Germany’s ZF and used by luxury marques like BMW and Audi. The new transmission is said to be both more...
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Buick’s New Compact Sedan Launched In China, Coming To U.S. In 2011General Motors is yet to launch the local version of its 2011 Chevrolet Cruze sedan but instead of speeding up its arrival the automaker is working on a new Buick sedan based on the same platform. This platform is GM’s Delta II architecture, which in addition to the Cruze, also underpins the Opel...
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Mercedes-Benz Installing EV Charging Bays In Dealerships Across UKBuilding hundreds of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its dealerships across the UK is Mercedes-Benz’s (and Smart’s) way of welcoming a new era of motoring. Expecting a rapid roll-out of plug-in hybrid and EVs in coming years, the automaker is rapidly preparing to build a welcoming...
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Report: BMW Working On Three-Cylinder EnginesExpect to see smaller engines for BMW’s future models, as high fuel prices and greater environmental concerns push buyers towards engines with lower displacements. Automakers, even the luxury marques, would be foolish to ignore the trend, which is why BMW's working on a new...
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2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Qualifies For $900 Tax creditThe all-new 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 is currently rolling into dealerships across the country and potential customers will be happy to know that they will be entitled to a $900 tax credit under the Internal Revenue Service’s Alternative Motor Vehicle provision. The standard and long-wheelbase...
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Audi Continues Development Of Fuel-Saving Travolution Traffic SystemMost automakers are focusing their efforts solely on reducing tailpipe emissions of their vehicle lineups through conventional methods such as more efficient engines, advanced catalysts and lighter cars. Attacking vehicle emissions from a different angle, Audi is developing a new traffic management...
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Gordon Murray is widely regarded as one of the most brilliant minds in automotive design today, having been the driving force behind both the McLaren F1 supercar and more recently the Caparo T1. His...
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Onslaught Of Mercedes-Benz Compacts Coming In Next Five YearsGovernments around the world are bowing to public pressure to reduce the levels of greenhouse gases their respective countries produce, and more often than not, the first sector they look at is the auto industry. Here in the U.S. the government has imposed a tough 35.5 mpg fleet-wide fuel economy...
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Report: First BYD EVs In U.S. Going To Government FleetsChinese automaker and battery specialist BYD is accelerating plans to bring its first electric vehicles to the U.S. market, announcing plans for a new headquarters in Los Angeles and claiming that its E6 model already meets all local regulations and standards. However, before you get all excited...
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Toyota Teams Up With Tesla For Electric Vehicle DevelopmentTesla and Toyota have announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support. The two companies intend to form a team of specialists to further those efforts. Additionally, Toyota has agreed to purchase $50 million of...
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Automakers Agree On Minimum Noise Levels For Electric CarsAlthough the relative silence of hybrid and all-electric vehicles have made them the choice of gangsters for drive-by shootings, the rest of the world is less than enamored with the difficulty involved in hearing one coming--especially when trying to cross the street. One of the biggest opponents...
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GM Boosting Fuel Economy With Louvered GrillesWhen it comes to fuel economy, the powertrain is the first thing people think of when it comes time to improving it. After that it’s typically vehicle weight. However, one of the simplest and most effective ways of improving fuel economy is through aerodynamics. Everyone knows that the slipperier...
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Want to save a few dollars or just be a little bit greener with your new commercial van? Now, thanks to GM, you can. The automaker has announced today that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied...
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OnStar Teams Up With Google To Develop New Chevrolet Volt Smartphone AppsOnStar is already one of the most handy features you can get in a GM vehicle but soon it will be even better thanks to a little help from Google. Together, the two will develop a number of new mobile app features that strengthen Chevrolet’s commitment to providing Volt customers with the most...
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2011 Ford Fiesta Gets 40 MPG RatingThe 2011 Ford Fiesta is officially the most fuel efficient model in its class, with the EPA announcing today that the ultra-funky hatchback and sedan rates in at 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway when equipped with the smooth shifting six-speed PowerShift dual clutch transmission. To put...
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Hybrid Range Rover Sport Coming In 2013, Previewed By New Range_eLand Rovers have long been the definition of gas-guzzling SUVs that environmentalists love to hate--that may all be about to change, however. With the development of a hybrid vehicle, the automaker stands a good chance of becoming one of the greenest companies around. Land Rover’s pledge to...
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GM Testing Hydrogen Fuel Infrastructure In Sunny HawaiiElectric powered vehicles are widely perceived to be the way forward for personal transport. Fuel cell vehicles, which create electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen, offer many advantages over traditional battery-based systems thanks to the relatively energy-dense storage of hydrogen in...
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Hybrid And Plug-In Hybrid Ford C-MAX Planned For 2013, U.S. Sales LikelyFord has already confirmed that its boxy C-MAX will be arriving in the U.S. late next year and now the Blue Oval has revealed that hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the car are in the pipeline, although only European plans have been announced thus far. But with the U.S. being the world’s...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran