CleanMPG

The proven most efficient turbo diesel in the world receives efficiency updates.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 17, 2017


For European consumption, Honda just introduced a revised 118 hp and 221 lb.-ft. of torque 1.6L i-DTEC turbo diesel I4 powers the 10th gen Civic from zero to 60 in just 10.3 seconds. The revised turbo diesel will be available in the 10th gen Honda Civic beginning in March of 2018.

Remember that the current iteration of this engine set a European Circumnavigation Lowest Fuel Consumption Guinness World Record just two summers ago.

Honda Civic Tourer Sets Guinness World Record in Europe

The new engine is one of the first engines to be tested under the new Worldwide...

Pushing the limits of combustion efficiency without electrification is alive and well in Europe.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 17, 2017


Volkswagen’s range of engines for the European Golf has been expanded with an all-new 128 hp and 148 lb.-ft. of torque 1.5 TSI with a bevy of unique efficiency boosting enhancements. Fantastic! The all-new VW 1.5L engine design is based on the Miller combustion cycle which is forced charged through a late intake valve opening Atkinson cycle thanks to the turbo and a high level of compression. The turbo itself is variable vane turbine providing high torque even at low RPMs.

The high-torque and fuel-efficient direct injection, turbocharged I4 works on the Miller combustion cycle while providing lower NVH than its...

A must see Sundance award winning documentary describing how the 2 degree C temp rise in ocean temperatures that occurred over the past 5 decades is only the beginning.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 15, 2017


I watched Chasing Coral on Netflix last night and am a much more educated citizen of earth because of it.

The Immediate Need to Prevent Coral Reefs from Going Extinct

Jeff Orlowski won the U.S. Documentary Audience Award at Sundance earlier this year for "Chasing Coral,” a stunning documentary about the fight to protect coral reefs from going extinct. The film featuring breathtaking and distressing underwater footage of coral around the globe while educating viewers about the life cycle, recent history, and how endangered coral reefs are.

Netflix brings the fight to save coral reefs straight to your computer...

Not to be outdone, RAM/Cummins up the bar.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 14, 2017


With recent talk of a Chinese buyer of FCA including the American Icon RAM Trucks brand, a more product oriented story came out of the real money making brand within. Late last week Ram one-upped Ford’s 925 lb-ft. of torque 6.7L V8 Power Stroke turbo diesel with a power uprate of its own for the 2018 MY.

All 2018 1-Ton RAM 3500’s equipped with the 6.7L Cummins will offer a best in segment 930 lb.-ft. of torque and the ability to tow 30,000 lbs. with a RAM designed fifth-wheel hitch.

Working with Cummins, the 2018 turbo diesel includes higher boost limits through a variable geometry turbo and flow rate increases through the fuel delivery system. This was the key...

A long wait that is finally here with a segment leading EPA highway result.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 14, 2017

2018 Chevrolet Equinox FWD Turbo Diesel – $31,435 (incl. the $945 D&H Charge) when it arrives at dealerships nationwide this fall. A 39 mpgUS highway figure is a sight to behold.


The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox when equipped with the 240 lb-ft. of torque 1.6L Turbo Diesel w/ Stop Start offers an EPA-certified 39 mpg on the highway (FWD model). And it’s B20 compatible as well.

From the release, GM stated the 1.6L TD is a clean-sheet “redesign” developed entirely within GM, including the engine control system. Development was driven from GM’s diesel product center in Torino, Italy, and involved more than 24,000...

For the second time!

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 10, 2017

2017 VW I.D. Buzz Concept - 270 miles of All-electric range battery electric concept Microbus.


For the second year in a row, a VW concept – the I.D. Buzz BEV -- has been named “2017 Concept Truck of the Year” at the 16th Annual North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards. The I.D. Buzz was honored from a panel of judges who praised its inventive combination of electric mobility and forward-thinking style based on the throwback Microbus without mimicking it. The award ceremony was held at the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s in Plymouth, Mich., on July 30, 2017.

The new electric MPV concept is the second model in the three I.D. concept vehicles shown so far. Built on the Modular...

In a German Five PHEV vehicle shootout, the Prime ends up on top by a significant margin.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 7, 2017

2017 Toyota Prius Prime PHEV-25 – Retails for $28,219 incl. mats and $895 D&H charge. Toyota rebates of up to $3,125, Federal Tax Credit of up to $4,500 if you qualify, and both state and local incentives of $1,500 in CA and MA + others and even HOV Lane Access in some states as a single occupant.


Owners receive a PHEV with 25-miles of all-electric range and an incredible 55/53 mpg city/highway rating as a std. long range hybrid.

The 2017 Toyota Prius PHEV was the top scorer in a recent German ADAC EcoTest comparison. Of the five vehicles tested including the Toyota Prius Prime, Kia Optima PHEV, BMW 225xe, VW Passat GTE, and Volvo XC90 T8, the Prime was the one and...

I did not see this one coming.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 8, 2017


Nissan announced it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with GSR Capital (GSR), a private investment fund, for the sale of Nissan's electric battery operations and production facilities to GSR.

The sale and purchase agreement covers Nissan's battery subsidiary, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), as well as battery manufacturing operations in Smyrna, Tennessee, owned by Nissan North America Inc. (NNA), and in Sunderland, England, owned by Nissan Motor Manufacturing (U.K.) Ltd. (NMUK). Assets sold to GSR will also include part of Nissan's Japanese battery development and production engineering operations located in Oppama, Atsugi and Zama.

The workforce...

The most powerful and efficient F-150 yet.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 9, 2017

Ford’s refreshed 2018 F-150 when equipped with the upgraded 325 hp and 400 lb-ft. of torque 2.7L EcoBoost mated to the all-new 10-speed AT is now rated at 20/26 mpg city/highway.


Just three years ago, Ford introduced its high-strength aluminum-alloy-bodied F-150 with a massive loss in pounds and a large increase in capability. For 2018, the truck has been refreshed new styling, the latest technology, and what we have been talking about for over a year. That is the all-new 10-speed AT. Ford also added a few tidbits on its upcoming hyper efficient 3.0L V6 turbo diesel for F-150.

The new F-150 offers the F-150’s most advanced engine offerings ever – all to offer the right engine for every...

CO repairs caused by Police Interceptor upfitter work announced.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 8, 2017


Ford engineering teams continue working with law enforcement agencies in their communities to address carbon monoxide concerns in some Ford Police Interceptor Utilities.

From the Ford release.

Ford has worked side-by-side with more than a dozen police agencies nationwide to inspect and repair more than 50 vehicles in cities and towns, such as Auburn, Massachusetts, and Galveston, Texas.

While there have been reports of exhaust odors in some non-police Explorers, those instances are unrelated to reports of carbon monoxide described by some police departments. If a vehicle has such an odor, customers should bring it to a Ford dealer to address that issue.

Ford’s investigation into this matter continues. However, while inspecting...

Compression Ignition’s efficiency and simplicity on gasoline is near commercialization. Maybe?

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 7, 2017


Mazda just announced, “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030,” a long-term vision for technology development to 2030. Within this announcement, they stated they have created and will introduce a next-generation engine called SKYACTIV-X, the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition in 2019.

SKYACTIV-X Engine

According to the company’s release, SKYACTIV-X is/will be the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition, in which the fuel-air mixture ignites spontaneously when compressed by the piston. A proprietary combustion method called Spark Controlled...

A great idea that is now standard feature on the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 7, 2017


What a great feature!

With summer heat here, potential deaths posed by interior car temperatures are even more real, but Nissan hopes its new Rear Door Alert (RDA) may help reduce concerns.

Elsa Foley, an industrial engineer and mother of two young children, and Marlene Mendoza, a mechanical engineer and mother of three, decided to work on an idea to help remind drivers to check their back seats before walking away.

Hi All:

There is nothing like having a smartphone in your hand to catch this horrific scene almost live...

This accident occurred on the SB 5 just north of Oceanside. The driver fell asleep at the wheel, sideswiped at least one other car, and flipped over in the ditch. He was pulled out before the car was fully engulfed.


What was I doing out on the 5 at that hour on Monday morning? More steady states with this week's ride, the 2017 Volkswagen #Golf S #Sportwagen with 4Motion.

Wayne

Employees of a Japanese auto manufacturer in the south again say no to Unionization.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 4, 2017


This evening Nissan employees voted to outright reject the United Auto Workers (UAW) effort to unionize the Canton plant by nearly a 2-to-1 margin. The NLRB conducted election tally was 2244 to 1307, opposing the UAW.

With this vote, the voice of Nissan employees has been heard. They have rejected the UAW and chosen to self-represent, continuing the direct relationship they enjoy with the company. Our expectation is that the UAW will respect and abide by their decision and cease their efforts to divide our Nissan family. Now that the election is complete, Nissan will focus on bringing all employees back together as one team, building great vehicles and writing our next...

This should add another thousand sales to the brands U.S. totals each month.

Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Aug. 4, 2017


It was less than 6-months ago when I declared the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT was the best reveal at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show.

2017 Chicago Auto Show - Best of Show: Hyundai’s All-new 2018 Elantra GT

Within we walked its details through from initial reveal to the first drive in San Diego last month.

The European i30 known as the all-new 2018 Elantra GT with the 162 hp and 150 lb-ft 2.0L GDI I4 here is a viable alternative to small CUVs and is priced from $19,350 not incl. the $885 D&H.

The 201 hp and Elantra GT Sport with the 1.6L GDI-T I4...