| 2014 Impala’s 2.5L I4 Promises To Use Less but against an Avalon Hybrid? |
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May 25, 2013 - 2:18 PM - by xcel
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 The comparison was pretty even until we got to the pump.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 25, 2013
The Full sized 2014 Chevrolet Impala - $27,535 to start and a 21/31 mpgUS rating with the 2.5L I4. Unfortunately the LS trimmed 2014 Impala lacks even A/C so it will not be on anyone’s purchase list. Add $2,250 for this item…
It does however promise to be less thirsty thanks to its upcoming 2.5L I4 with a new advanced valvetrain.
In practice the 305 horsepower 3.6L is powerful – as in and 0-60 mph time of just in just 6.8 seconds -- but impractical. Fortunately more than 2/3 of Chevrolet buyers purchased an I4 in the first quarter of... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 1 Views
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| Nissan Dashboard for the week of May 19th through 26th |
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May 25, 2013 - 8:44 AM - by xcel
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 As always, some interesting highlights from the folks at Nissan.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 25, 2013
Exotics invade Tokyo… With the Nikkei up, so are luxury and exotic sales. Japanese buy the non-luxury variants even though they are a bit more expensive.
Keiko Ihara is the first Japanese female representative acting as Nissan's ambassador for the FIA WEC. She will be on the track during the 24 hours of Le Mans next month.
Honda’s light jet makes... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 85 Views
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| Quarter Million Passat’s Roll off the Chattanooga Assembly Line |
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May 25, 2013 - 8:32 AM - by xcel
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The most fuel efficient midsize sedan in all of North America keeps on rolling out the door.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 25, 2013
A 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI as seen and experienced at the short lead in Chattanooga, TN back in mid 2011 -- For 2013, they start at $27,255 including mats, destination and handling and provide an easy to achieve 31/43 mpgUS city/highway rating.
Volkswagen of Chattanooga announced yesterday that its workforce has produced the 250,000th Passat midsized sedan.
The Night Blue with black leather interior Passat TDI SEL rolled off the LEED Platinum-certified factory line was equipped with navigation, sunroof, 18-inch alloys and... [Read More]
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1 Reply | 151 Views
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| Autobahn speed limit proposal revs up debate in Germany |
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May 24, 2013 - 8:04 PM - by ALS
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 Germany’s roads, constructed to some of the strictest safety standards in the world, rank firmly in the middle of industrialized countries in terms of traffic deaths.
Michael Birnbaum - WASHINGTONPOST - May 24, 2013
For many in this car-crazy nation, the freedom to hurtle down the famed autobahn at 120 mph or more is an inalienable right.
Germany, one of the world’s top car producers, is alone among industrial countries in allowing drivers to decide for themselves how fast to race along the highway. So a proposal this month to impose... [Read More]
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4 Replies | 177 Views
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| The High Plains Aquifer And The Entire Western Half Of The U.S. Are Rapidly Drying Up |
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May 24, 2013 - 8:36 AM - by ALS
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Scientists tell us that the 20th century was the wettest century in the western half of the country in 1000 years, and now things appear to be reverting to their normal historical patterns.
Michael Snyder - THEECONOMICCOLLAPSEBLOG - May 24, 2013
What is life going to look like as our precious water resources become increasingly strained and the western half of the United States becomes bone dry? Scientists tell us that the 20th century was the wettest century in the western half of the country in 1000 years, and now things appear to be reverting to their normal historical... [Read More]
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14 Replies | 399 Views
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| Honda’s CR-Z Hybrid and Fit EV Scheduled to Tackle Pikes Peak |
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May 24, 2013 - 7:17 AM - by xcel
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The company is also now a partnering sponsor.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 24, 2013
The HPD CR-Z Sport Hybrid shown at last fall’s SEMA show revealed a number of performance enhancements that improved acceleration thanks to a turbo mated to the 1.5L, an upgraded hybrid drivetrain and sport exhaust that delivers a total of 200 hp. Handling and braking were also improved thanks to the addition of a sport suspension, high performance tires and sport brakes.
Honda made a major commitment to the 2013 running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb when it revealed it was both a sponsor and multi-vehicle race... [Read More]
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2 Replies | 233 Views
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| Spark EV At $199 A Month With $999 down |
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May 24, 2013 - 6:52 AM - by xcel
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Lease term has some ambiguity about it however.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 24, 2013
2014 Chevrolet Spark EV - $27,495 to start including destination and handling if you want to purchase one for your very own and an EPA estimated range of 82 miles. Knock off upwards of $10,000 in Federal, State and local incentives, it’s a bargain.
Yesterday Chevrolet announced a “low mileage” lease on the new 2014 Spark EV 1LT for as low as $199 per month for 36 months, with $999 due at lease signing including security deposit (tax, title, license dealer fees extra), making the vehicle one of the most affordable EVs on the market.
Where... [Read More]
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5 Replies | 345 Views
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| The Cruze Turbo Diesel Ready for North America |
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May 23, 2013 - 9:19 PM - by xcel
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Great performance and real fuel efficiency combined.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 23, 2013
John Tavel - Vehicle Performance Manager providing the reasons for diesel today.
Chevrolet Cruze Diesel - $25,695 to start including Destination and Handling is rated at 27/46 mpgUS city/highway with the 6-speed automatic.
GMs states that the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is a “better value” than a similarly equipped 30/42 mpgUS rated VW Jetta TDI automatic. The Cruze Diesel offers more standard equipment including the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system, larger... [Read More]
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16 Replies | 467 Views
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| Toyota Tops Auto’s in Top 100 Brands |
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May 23, 2013 - 7:20 PM - by xcel
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No auto manufacturer in the top 10 but there was movement in the ranks.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 23, 2013
According to BrandZ’s Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand for 2013, Apple remains the most valuable brand of all with a staggering $185 billion of worth. Apple grew just +1% in the last year compared to a +51% growth for its closest competitor, Samsung, which is now #30 in the global ranking with a brand value of $21 billion.
Google is also a serious challenger for the #1 spot, reversing last year’s decline to grow +5% in brand value this year. The brand is #2 in the ranking with a value of $114 billion. IBM is no.3 in the ranking with a brand value of $112... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 296 Views
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| The Buckeye’s EcoCAR2 to Use Lightweight components by JCI |
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May 23, 2013 - 6:50 PM - by xcel
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Competition supports students working to reduce environmental impact.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 23, 2013
A 2013 Malibu ready to be modified for EcoCAR2 competition.
Johnson Controls Automotive Seating is supporting the next generation of vehicle designers as the seating sponsor of Ohio State University's (OSU) EcoCAR 2 entry.
Established by the DOE and GM, “EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future” is a three-year collegiate engineering competition that challenges university students from across the country to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles without compromising real-world performance or safety.
... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 221 Views
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| Detroit roars back after years of quality issues |
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May 21, 2013 - 12:04 PM - by ALS
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The results of the Total Quality Index don’t appear to be a fluke. In one study after another, GM, Ford and Chrysler have been gaining momentum.
Paul A. Eisenstein - NBCNEWS - May 21, 2013
Is Motor City getting its mojo back?
After years of losing loyal customers frustrated by quality and reliability problems, domestic automakers are showing a new-found focus on customer service that is winning back skeptics – boosting sales, market share and profits.
Despite the improvement, it may take awhile for the industry to totally repair its tarnished image.
“I’d love to buy something... [Read More]
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4 Replies | 381 Views
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| Ford’s Fusion Energi Earns a 5 Star Crash Test Rating |
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May 21, 2013 - 6:48 AM - by xcel
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Ford’s doing a lot of things right these days.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 21, 2013
2013 Ford Fusion Energi PHEV-21 - $35,820 after Federal TC incl. mats, destination and handling to start. And this is for a car that offers 21 miles on the plug and maybe a 41/37/39 mpgUS city/highway rating (real) when on the liquid gold.
Ford’s most fuel-efficient sedan arrives with a PHEV option allowing what Ford deems to be a total range of over 600 miles and the ability to drive up to 21 miles in electric-only mode. While the 21-miles range from the 7.2 kWh (useable) Li-Ion pack appears solid, the EPA rating 44/41 mpgUS city/highway rating remains suspect... [Read More]
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9 Replies | 559 Views
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| Boeing: > 37% Sun to Electricity Conversion Cell without Concentration |
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May 21, 2013 - 6:01 AM - by xcel
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No pricing detail was provided but with this kind of advance, the energy security and future for all mankind is looking brighter than ever.
Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - May 21, 2013
A Spectrolab solar cell recently set a world record by converting more energy from the sun into electricity than any other ground-based solar cell without solar concentration.
First a little history
Spectrolab was established in 1956, when local entrepreneur Alfred Mann brought together a group of engineers to provide high-quality optical filters and mirrors for use in government contracts. Spectrolab established its credibility in the space industry with... [Read More]
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6 Replies | 561 Views
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| Battelle to Upgrade Pickup Trucks for Special Operations |
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May 20, 2013 - 8:20 AM - by ALS
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A purpose-built pickup truck will likely become a requirement for special operations forces in the future, but the lower cost of a modified commercial vehicle is appealing in this fiscal environment.
Valerie Insinna - NATIONALDEFENSEMAGAZINE - May 20, 2013
As the Defense Department pinches pennies, the military increasingly is choosing to modify commercial off-the-shelf products instead of building a new system from the ground up.
Such is the case for special operations forces, who in the next few years will be driving around in souped-up pickup trucks.
... [Read More]
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0 Replies | 424 Views
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| Toyota plans huge boost in lithium-ion battery output |
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May 20, 2013 - 8:04 AM - by ALS
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Nearly all plug-in vehicles depend on lithium-ion batteries. Nickel metal hydride, which powered the first generation of hybrids, are cheaper, but are clearly on the way out.
Chris Woodyard - USATODAY - May 20, 2013
Toyota is planning a giant increase in production of lithium ion batteries as prepares to use them in its flagship Prius sedan, Reuters reports.
Toyota plans a six-fold boost in it use of the batteries, which are substantially lighter and more powerful than the nickel-metal hydride batteries it uses in the current Prius.... ... [Read More]
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11 Replies | 681 Views
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