Land Rover will unveil the next step in its mission to become a ‘greener’ automaker at the Geneva Auto Show in just a few weeks time. Set to take the stand alongside the new 3-door and 5-door Evoque models is the Range_e Range Rover Sport. Powered by a turbo-diesel V6 engine, mated to a plug-in...
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Last year, the Obama Administration heavily backed Detroit’s automakers with a big helping of government funding. The bail-out money that was partly provided to General Motors and Chrysler, was for these companies to develop and sell hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles. The end result was the hardly amazing Chevrolet Volt. However, the Obama...
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NHTSA is investigating certain Volkswagen Golf and Jetta TDI cars, as well as the Audi A3 TDI for a suspected fuel pump defect that could cause vehicles to stall at highway speeds and render them unable to restart. The agency claims that it has received 160 complaints and one accident report relating to the defect. The TDI...
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Mazda has long been rumored to be planning to offer diesel-powered vehicles in North America and an official announcement is expected at the New York Auto Show in April. With relatively low fuel economy across its fleet, Mazda no longer has access to Ford’s more advanced hybrid powertrains. The company is working with Toyota to...
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At the recent Qatar Motor Show, Volkswagen proudly showed off the XL1 Prototype, which according to its maker can manage 260-mpg. While the XL1 might not be headed to production per say, VW is working on a more conventional car that will cost only pennies to run. The Up mini-car concept has been around for...
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With two new major debuts in 2011, Volkswagen is hoping to raise their profile in the United States with a coupe Super Bowl commercials that show off their new Passat and give a hint at what the 2012 Beetle will look like when it bows at the end of the year. The Passat spot evokes...
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MINI has confirmed the launch of a new SD line of performance diesels for all of its models. Using a new 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine, the oil burner will deliver 143-hp and a significant 225 ft-lbs of torque at from 1750 rpm. This new diesel engine sits above the current Cooper D with 112-hp. The SD...
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Volkswagen is planning to spread the platform love with its new Up city car, with Czech subsidiary Skoda being the first VW division to get the tiny car, with a SEAT-branded version to follow. Packaged as a three-door five-seater, a 1.0L gasoline engine and a 1.2L diesel engine will be offered, with an all-electric version...
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Volkswagen‘s 261-mpg XL1 concept car is headed to production, easily besting fuel economy claims by cars like the Chevrolet Volt. Unveiled this week at the Qatar Motor Show, the vehicle is actually billed as a prototype and not a concept, with Volkswagen commenting in an official press release that this latest rendition of its 1...
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Volvo will strive to be the first to market with a diesel plug-in hybrid, debuting a near production ready V60 wagon at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The V6 Plug-in Hybrid will get a claimed 1.9 l/100 km says Volvo, which translates to an incredible 124-mpg. Combining a 5-cylinder turbodiesel with 215-hp and 325...
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Do you enjoy watching the Dakar Rally? If so, then you probably have day dreamed about driving those awesome off-road racers to the mall or to work. Only problem is, while these racers have minor details like the shape of the headlights and names in common with models you’d find in showrooms, technically, they’re completely...
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While Infiniti has been a household name in North America for over 20-years, the luxury brand of Nissan is new to buyers in Europe. To win them over, Infiniti is offering a new special version of the EX30d (yup, a diesel Infiniti) called the Black Premium Edition. Based on its diesel powered variant, the Black...
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Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how American buyers take to more diesel models, though in Mercedes’ defense, the company has had more success than most at peddling them here. The company’s original 300 SD turbo diesel sedan became an icon in the late 1970s and 1980s and many are still in use today.
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Ahead of its debut at the Qatar Motor Show, Volkswagen has unveiled a a new version of its 1L (1 Liter) car, bringing the company’s goal of delivering a production vehicle that can travel 100 km (62 miles) on a single liter of diesel fuel. The XL1 Prototype, achieves 0.9 l/100 km, or 261-mpg. Powering...
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Chrysler’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, automatic transaxle and AWD, currently offered on the Journey, are slated to join the options list down the road, but given high taxes and fuel costs in Europe, the vast majority of Freemonts sold there will be diesel powered.
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Porsche is likely to unveil both a diesel and a hybrid version of its Panamera sedan at the Geneva Auto Show in March. While no official word has been given by Porsche, a company insider has disclosed that both models will arrive before Summer, signaling a Geneva unveiling in March. Porsche chose the Geneva Auto...
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Porsche continues to debate whether it will sell diesel models in the U.S. According to recent reports, if the go-ahead is given, diesel models would not only include the Cayenne SUV, but also the new Panamera sedan. An announcement could come as early as this March, when Porsche will debut the Panamera Hybrid and Diesel...
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Car companies pay close attention to the Middle-East market, but it’s usually in relation to high-priced exotics and luxury cars. So it comes as a big surprise to hear that Volkwagen might be launching a concept car at the upcoming Qatar Motor Show that will consume only 1-liter of fuel to travel 100 km. That...
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Rumored for some time now, MINI is set to introduce a rival to the Golf GTD in Europe at the Geneva Auto Show. Powered by a 2.0-liter BMW turbo-diesel, the car should make around 143-hp and a more robust 225 ft-lbs of torque. But there’s more. MINI will reportedly introduce the more potent diesel powerplan...
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However, actual details of the plan, including the specific types of targeting, the areas and hours of zone enforcement, along with fees and charges have still yet to be determined.
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Jeep‘s entry-level Compass model could get a diesel powerplant when the current soft-roader is replaced with an all-new model in 2013. According to officials at Chrysler, the replacement vehicle for both the Compass and Patriot could get an oil-burner which would be sourced from Chrysler’s new Italian owners at Fiat. Currently the Compass is sold...
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Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley, said that he expects demand to increase still further and is looking for around 20 percent growth in sales outside of North America, spurred by the updated 2011 Grand Cherokee and Compass models.
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Consumer Reports released their ranking of fuel efficient cars in their upcoming January issue, and their rankings may come as a shock to conventional wisdom. Scoring highest was the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, a car that previously had a reputation for anything but reliability(although it was less about reliability than overall performance). The Ford Fiesta and...
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Despite the American introduction of diesel engines from most major European brands, Volvo remains non-committal to the prospect of diesel powertrains in America. Volvo offers a broad range of diesels in Europe and other markets, but Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volvo, offered little, stating “We are taking a deep look at whether we will introduce...
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