Antony Ingram, Contributing Writer
Articles
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BMW might have a reputation for producing performance cars and sport sedans, but there's no denying that the company is also taking electric and plug-in vehicles seriously too.
First came the...
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Will The CO2 In Your Car Exhaust Become Valuable?Whether or not you subscribe to the theory that carbon dioxide released by human activity is to blame for global warming, theres no doubt that we do release a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere. Many countries have now introduced measures to curb those emissions, something that goes hand-in-hand with...
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Lexus LF-CC Hybrid Coupe Concept: Paris Auto Show PreviewLexus has unveiled its first images of a new hybrid coupe concept, set to be unveiled at the impending 2012 Paris Auto Show. Called the Lexus LF-CC, the concept is the latest in a line of conceptual vehicles shown by the brand at recent auto shows, many of which have used hybrid and electric...
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Porsche Panamera Diesel Sports Sedan: Is It Fast Enough? (Video)You could argue that there are two types of buyers looking for fuel efficiency. The first are those who want absolutely the most gas-sipping car they can get their hands on--the Prius, the Volts and the VW TDIs of this world. The second want cars like the Porsche Panamera Diesel luxury sport...
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Smart Forstars Concept: Paris Auto Show PreviewIs this the most aggressive-looking Smart concept car yet? With a longer wheelbase, coupe-like roofline and frowning eyebrows over the headlights, it's certainly a step up from the usual squat city cars, and it gives us yet another indication of what the next generation ForTwo might look like...
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BMW Concept Active Tourer: Paris Auto Show PreviewBMW producing a front-wheel drive car ranks alongside hell freezing over on the plausibility scale, so the announcement of the Concept Active Tourer is sure to get Beelzebub dressing for the winter. The Active Tourer previews the look of a new small BMW, similar in size to the brand's current...
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Well, that didn't take long, did it?
It's not unusual to see rare and exclusive cars pre-sold to buyers before cars are delivered--the practice has been going on for decades, every time the latest...
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The 3-Cylinder, 40 MPG... Mazda Miata?As sports cars go, the current Mazda MX-5 Miata isn't too bad when it comes to fuel efficiency. Okay, so at 25 mpg combined and 28 mpg highway it's a long way off the sort of vehicles we usually feature, but let's just say it's one of the best of a bad bunch. That's not to say that it can't be...
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Making A Small French Car Do 138 MPG? Easy, In 1981It's no surprise that some of the most economical cars that have gone on sale have also been some of the most aerodynamic--the two go hand-in-hand. Light weight helps too, and a small engine that sips as little gas as possible. The best example of modern times would be the first-generation Honda...
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2013 Smart ForTwo: Strong Enough To Wear A Full-Size SUV As A HatYou either like the 2013 Smart ForTwo minicar, or you don't. Few are ambivalent to a shape and a concept so divisive as the Smart, but U.S. sales would suggest that rather more people dislike it than appreciate its cheeky nature. One popular misconception about the ForTwo from those rather less...
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Not Driven An Electric Car Yet? Try These Five FirstIf you've not yet driven an electric car, we think you're really missing out. Even if you consider yourself an electric car cynic, it's worth having a drive in one, experiencing the smoothness and silence, and the surprising acceleration available even in less powerful models. Whether you're a...
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2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: Strong Sales, Owners HappyThe 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In hybrid has got off to a good start in its first six months on sale, with over 6,000 units sold so far. That, says Toyota, is more than the first six months of Chevrolet Volt sales, at 2,745 units, and Nissan Leaf sales, which managed 3,875 cars in its first month...
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Some lead, others follow. And with poor sales and Toyota's Prius C now on the market as a head-to-head rival, the Honda Insight can definitely consider itself a follower.
That's a shame, for those...
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Electric Car Trip From SF To LA? Take Note Of King CityIt's no surprise that California is becoming the heart of electric car ownership. Its weather, state incentives and even public attitudes make for an ideal environment in which to run an EV, and a healthy network of charging stations ensures that drivers can even tackle occasional longer trips...
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Want 40 MPG, Don't Want Hybrid? Here's Your Top Five OptionsLook to the top of the fuel economy charts and, if you're not in the market for a plug-in vehicle, it's hybrids that typically top the list. Cars like the 2012 Toyota Prius C, which currently tops the list, sip gas whether in the city or on the highway, and ultimately they're the greenest way of...
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Bob Lutz: Huge Chevy Volt Cost Estimates Are Wrong, Here's WhyYesterday, we ran a story sourced through Reuters, asking how much money GM was losing on every Chevy Volt it builds. The Reuters article was based on figures from several Michigan-based industry analysts, claiming that Chevy might be losing up to $49,000 on every Volt it makes. Those figures were...
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Classic Mini Voted Greatest British Car EverIf you were to compile a list of the greatest American cars ever, it's unlikely you'd find many gas sippers near the top. But in Europe, where small cars rule and gas has long been more expensive, some of the continents most iconic cars were also fairly green in their day. That's why readers of...
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Ford May Sell EcoBoost Racer: Most Economical Sports Car Ever?Sports cars aren't typically known for their high gas mileage, and racing cars even less so. But Ford's EcoBoost-powered single-seater is a little different, and following its high-speed Nurburgring lap, the company now suggests it might produce it for the road. Speaking with U.K. magazine EVO...
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Compared to its electric contemporaries, Chevrolet's range-extended Volt is currently proving the most popular plug-in, posting its best-ever sales figures during August.
It's out-punching the Leaf...
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Honda CR-Z Hybrid Hatchback Update TeasedIf you want a car that's both sporty and economical, there aren't many choices under $20,000. The Honda CR-Z is one of those choices, but both gearheads and green-minded buyers have criticized the car for failing to offer enough of what they want. As revealed by our sister site MotorAuthority...
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Want A Challenge? Restore THREE Old CitiCar Electric CarsEvery so often we like to feature older electric cars, as well as those you can buy new from the dealer. That means scouring eBay for items of interest, and it's often surprising to see what vehicles people have stored away. This time, we've found three 1976 CitiCar electric vehicles for sale...
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Four Small Cars Get IIHS Top Safety Pick DesignationFour new 2013 vehicles have picked up 'good' ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) crash tests. The Acura ILX, a small luxury car, the new Ford Escape crossover, and the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S sports car twins have all been awarded the IIHS top award for good performance...
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7,700 Miles, 42 Days: Nissan Leafs Complete 'Orange Trophy' TripThree Nissan Leafs have completed an epic road trip of over 7,700 miles as part of the 'Oranje Trophy' (Orange Trophy) road trip. In only 42 days, the Leafs traveled through ten European countries, starting out in Amsterdam--as hinted at by the vivid shade of orange each car was painted--before...
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Renault Blesses Pope Benedict With A Free Electric CarThe current head of the Catholic church, Pope Benedict XVI, is rather fond of electric cars. We know this because back in 2010, the Vatican revealed that he was eager to count an electric vehicle among his throng of armored cars--presumably to go with the solar panels he's had installed on the roof...
Antony Ingram