Based on the high price of hybrid and electric vehicles, not to mention how long it takes to recoup the added cost through fuel savings (if ever), the number one reason to purchase one should be environmental concerns. The opposite appears to be true for the majority of green car buyers, 75 percent of whom...
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Consumers are reacting rapidly to rising gas prices, switching gears away from gas guzzlers and instead purchasing small, fuel efficient cars. According to the latest statistics released by Baum and Associates, sales of hybrid and diesel models saw the biggest jump, climbing at three times the industry average in the month of March. Compared to...
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The BMW 335d was voted “Diesel Car of the Year” at the New York Auto Show, by readers of The Diesel Driver magazine. Diesel gets its own magazine? You better believe it, buddy, and those fans are pretty influential—the 335 beat out 12 other cars and SUVs who make their diesels available in the United...
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Mazda confirmed that their previously unveiled Minagi concept will go into production as the Mazda CX-5, a small crossover intended to slot beneath their mid-size CX-7 and full-size CX-9. The CX-5 will be the first Mazda vehicle to come with a full suite of SKYACTIV fuel-saving technologies, among them an all-new engine designed for maximum...
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The Jeep Grand Cherokee will once again be offered with a diesel powerplant says Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne. Jeep cut the diesel option from its flagship SUV when it introduced the current generation model and Jeep has been officially quiet on its return – until Marchionne’s comments now. An exact date for the new diesel...
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Two intrepid travelers set out to make the run from Marlow, U.K. to Mayrhofen, Austria on just one tank of fuel, using a Volvo V50 wagon. This particular V50 example is a European market model, which features a 1.6-liter, diesel engine. Their task was to use hypermiling techniques to cover the distance between Volvo cars...
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Another result of this has been a further reduction in emissions output, enabling the diesel engine, already fitted with Mercedes’ AdBlue urea injection system, to easily clear the tough new Euro 6 smog requirements designed to take effect in 2014.
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Enthusiasts have wanted them for a while—a low-revving torque monster under the hood of our Jeep Wranglers or clean-burning Grand Cherokees. Now Jeep executives are actively considering the idea of importing diesel models to the United States. “Diesel in some of our models makes absolute sense,” said Michael Manley, president and CEO of Jeep, who...
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The 2012 Jaguar XF seen in the above spy shot may not look too different from the existing car, but the improvements you can’t see are what caught our attention. Jaguar claims that this XF is motivated by a 2.2L 4-cylinder diesel engine making 187 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque, while delivering about 52...
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Given the current state of gasoline, the Toyota Prius has been hotter than Justin Bieber tickets. Unfortunately, there’s a nationwide shortage of the popular hybrid across the American market: Cars.com lists just 9,014 available. Chalk it up to the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, but the Prius has been selling fast for months now...
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Remember the Tata Pixel concept at Geneva? If not, this link should help refresh your memory…or, you can wait until your next European vacation, where you’ll be seeing the tiny little Pixel on the streets. Tata Motors has green-lit the Pixel for production and sale in Europe, replacing the previously-planned Nano Europa, which was just...
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TrueCar.com released their rankings of the Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient vehicles in both the hybrid and non-hybrid category, an important distinction according to TrueCar, because “Hybrids offer great fuel economy but most don’t provide the value consumers are seeking.” The hybrid list is predictably topped by the Toyota Prius, followed by the Lexus CT200h...
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Now Chrysler, thanks to its alliance with Fiat is at it again, this time looking at bringing the IVECO daily to North American shores.
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For the fourth year in a row, the overall Fiat brand has produced the lowest CO2 emissions in Europe, a continent that actually pays attention to CO2 emissions figures. The brand’s average, 123.1 grams per kilometer, dropped 4.7g from last year. And from the past four years the company’s CO2 emissions have dropped 10 percent, from...
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Despite plans by both Mazda and General Motors to bring diesel passenger cars to North America, Ford isn’t biting. The moves made by both automakers are partially in response to demand, but more importantly in response to increasingly strict CAFE standards that they need to meet. According to Ford global product boss Derrick Kuzak, the...
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Audi and parent company Volkswagen have long been proponents of diesel-powered vehicles, and now the German automaker is looking to further the penetration of the original gas-alternative in North America. During a press conference today, Audi of America boss Johan de Nysschen confirmed that along with the current A3 and Q7 clean diesel models, the...
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Diesel hot hatches have always been a bit of an oddity – one would think that a big, heavy diesel engine would throw off the superb balance and lightweight that are the hallmarks of most front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks, but the MINI Cooper SD is one diesel hot hatch that deserves the benefit of the doubt...
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While Volvo was apparently set to discontinue North American sales of all station wagons – arguably the vehicle they built their reputation on – in favor of crossovers. But that looks like it will change starting in 2012, with the launch of their V60 plug-in hybrid. Unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, the V60 Plug-In...
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Debuting for the first time at the Geneva Auto Show, the Land Rover Range_e Range Rover is a plug-in hybrid concept based on the popular luxury SUV. Making use of both a hybrid powertrain and a 3.0-liter diesel V6, Land Rover Global Brand Director John Edwards has confirmed the Range_e will see production in the...
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One strange aspect about the Chevrolet Cruze hatchbackhas less cargo room than its sedan counterparty. While the Cruze sedan has 450 liters of cargo space, the hatchback has 50 fewer liters because of the model’s shorter rear overhang. Nevertheless, 65 percent of vehicles sold in Europe are hatchbacks, and a Cruze hatch is a necessity...
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Volvo fans can rejoice now that the famous station wagon variant, the V60, is back (in North America), but it couldn’t be further from the rugged, mechanically simple station wagons of the past. The V60 Plug-In uses a 215 horsepower 2.4L diesel 5-cylinder engine to drive the front wheels, with a 70 horsepower electric motor...
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Chevrolet will begin selling a diesel version of its new Cruze compact sedan starting in 2012. Currently the car is available with two gasoline engines, but according to GMInsideNews, sources at the Lordstown, Ohio plant that builds the car are confirming the diesel model will arrive for the 2013 model year, with sales starting some...
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Mazda‘s announcement regarding a SKYACTIV diesel engine in future products had car geeks hoping for a diesel Mazda3, but it looks like the oil-burner will actually make an appearance on the mid-size Mazda6, putting it squarely against the updated Volkswagen Passat, which will be available with a TDI diesel engine. While details on the SKY-D...
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Revealed today at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Mazda has confirmed that the SkyActiv-equipped Mazda3 will arrive at dealers in the U.S. and Canada this Fall. In addition, a diesel SkyActiv engine will be available a year later, with Mazda joining Volkswagen as the only non-premium automaker to offer a diesel in a...
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