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Mileage musings
Monday, May 07, 2012
Every week, your writer spends about 2,000 kilometres driving one of the hottest and most important new cars on the road today. And I measure fuel consumption at each and every fill-up by hand.
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Hybrid owners don't go for seconds
Monday, April 09, 2012
Although the selection of hybrid models on the market has doubled in the last five years, only 35% of hybrid owners bought another hybrid when they returned to market in 2011, according to Polk, a Michigan-based automotive data and marketing company.
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2012 Toyota Prius c First Impressions
Monday, March 26, 2012
SEATTLE, Washington - The first thing you should know about the 2012 Toyota Prius c is that it is the most fuel-efficient vehicle you can buy in Canada, that does not plug into the electrical grid.
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2013 Lexus GS 450h First Impressions
Thursday, March 01, 2012
It's hard to believe we're lapping the famed Laguna Seca raceway in a car whose legacy was established on its ability to provide the ultimate in disconnect between road and driver. Not only that, but it's a hybrid to boot.
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The Green Zone at the Toronto Auto Show (video)
Thursday, March 01, 2012
One of the Canadian International Auto Show's features is the ECO-Drive Showcase. In this display, we find a number of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric cars and some cars with highly advanced conventional technologies.
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2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan: diesel is out, hybrid is in
Friday, February 03, 2012
This will probably make diesel-engine lovers cringe, but BMW will retire the 335d from its lineup in 2012. Its 425 lb-ft of torque will be missed. On the other hand, the 2012 3 Series Sedan will host much more fuel-efficient engines, negating the true need for a diesel powertrain.
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What is MPGe?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
This month Ford proudly revealed that the new 2012 Ford Focus Electric will be the first all-electric five-seat vehicle to achieve a fuel efficiency rating of 100 MPGe. This sneaks it just ahead of Nissan LEAF, with a 99 MPGe rating, but a fair shot below the four-seat Mitsubishi i-MiEV, with its 112 MPGe rating.
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2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi Preview
Thursday, January 19, 2012
In the lead up to the 2012 show in Detroit, Ford released a few more specifications for the upcoming Ford C-MAX Hybrid and its plug-in variant, the Ford C-MAX Energi.
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2012 Toyota Prius v Review
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Most of us are concerned about fuel economy, but I don't think we're obsessed by it. Paying for gasoline isn't as enjoyable as paying for, say, dinner in a fine restaurant or a good movie. Fortunately, for those who can't stand giving money to the oil companies, there's the Toyota Prius family of vehicles.
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VIDEO: Tesla Model S at Detroit Auto Show
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
One of the first 100% electric luxury cars on the market, the Tesla Model S blends environmentally-friendly driving with a high level of quality and technology.
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VIDEO: Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept in Detroit
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Presented at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept shows off its three-mode powertrain that consists of a turbocharged, 2.0L inline-four, an electric motor and an integrated starter/generator, all managed by an 8-speed automatic transmission.
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Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid
Friday, January 06, 2012
Volvo is gearing up to unveil its newest
hybrid offering at the upcoming Detroit
Auto Show. The XC60 Plug-In Hybrid is
like the love child of a fuel-sipping
hybrid and a high-performance car.
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2012 Infiniti M35h Review (video)
Thursday, January 05, 2012
To sell a luxury hybrid, it's preferable to offer one that doesn't force the customer to make sacrifices. After all, that's why people buy luxury cars, right? It's safe to say that very few people buy luxury hybrids for their sheer greenness; in my humble opinion, they'll buy them if there's added performance, added features and less stops at the dirty gas station.
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Electric Cars tested!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Although you may not be seeing many on the road as of yet, there are far more electric cars coming our way than you might imagine. What is especially interesting about EVs, other than the fact that they do not produce any emissions, is that they will come in all shapes, sizes, and vocations.
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BMW i3 & BMW i8 concepts headed for NA
Friday, November 04, 2011
BMW's i3 and i8 concept cars will make their North American debuts next week in New York, where the automaker will lift the veil on the two cutting-edge, eco-friendly models.
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Lancer Evo not dead yet, evolving into hybrid
Friday, October 21, 2011
After tolling the bell for the Lancer Evolution earlier this year, Mitsubishi backtracked on its controversial decision and will continue to offer the car... as a hybrid!
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Chrysler forced to produce more hybrids
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Sergio Marchionne, president and CEO of Fiat and the Chrysler Group, doesn't believe in hybrids and never made it a secret. He'll be forced to change his tune shortly, however.
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Volvo V60 Hybrid, the perfect formula
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Volvo will finally be introducing its V60 diesel plug-in hybrid wagon, an absolutely remarkable piece of automotive machinery.
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Have We Reached Infotainment Saturation?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Yesterday, I drove the family, including in-laws, to Thanksgiving dinner. The vehicle of choice was this week's tester, the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid equipped with an optional Premium Technology Package, which interfaced through a 7-inch touch-screen in addition to voice-activated navigation. But this was not the only LCD screen onboard.
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Nissan Hybrids, Take Two
Friday, October 14, 2011
Although Nissan said it would retire the Altima Hybrid by the end of 2011, we can assume the model will be back as early as 2013, with a new and very promising powertrain.
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Ferrari may replace the Enzo with a hybrid
Monday, October 10, 2011
Ferrari's head honcho has revealed some information on the replacement of the legendary Enzo, and it looks like hybrid technology may be in the cards.
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2012 Honda Civic Hybrid First Impressions
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Unfortunately, we can't say that Honda has done very well with their hybrid models over the past couple of years. Two-thirds into the 2011 calendar year, Honda moved out 33 Civic Hybrids, 438 CR-Zs and 220 Insights. Add them up, and they account for just 1.6% of the brand's car sales this year. But wait, isn't fuel economy one of the buying public's priorities when purchasing a new car?
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Two new turbos and a hybrid for Subaru
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Subaru wants to improve fuel economy across its lineup by 30 percent by 2015. Several major changes are to be expected, starting with the introduction of two new turbos for 2012.
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Hyundai-Kia divided to conquer
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
As parent companies, Hyundai and Kia should theoretically work in the same direction. In reality, however, their future green cars will take different paths.
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Volkswagen gearing up to introduce a Jetta Hybrid for 2012
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Even if the Frankfurt Auto Show has only just begun, information about the upcoming Detroit event is emerging. Volkswagen sources have revealed that their employer is planning to introduce a hybrid version of the Jetta in the motor city and to sell it later the same year.
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2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Review
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Lincoln is a brand of opposites. The vehicle line-up, with five nameplates, attempts to cater to a large portion of the luxury car market with everything from a mid-size car to a full-size SUV. As the large vehicle craze is slowly but surely losing steam, this leaves two products in the portfolio to seriously consider.
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Hyundai to launch mid-sized electric car for 2014
Friday, August 12, 2011
Hyundai has managed to obtain 70 million won (approximately $64.6 million) from the South Korean Government to develop and commercialize a mid-sized electric car for 2014.
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Will hybrids make us better drivers?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
I'm not a fan of hybrids. I'm not afraid to admit it, despite the raised eyebrows and scowls from greenies everywhere. I like a gas-burning, carbon-dioxide-spewing, earth-murdering vehicle that's got some oomph behind the wheel and some attitude on the road.
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2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Review
Monday, August 08, 2011
Lincoln pitches it as the "most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in Canada". After a week of living with this upscale ride, I'm happy to accept that claim as credible, especially in terms of city driving. I don't think that any true luxury car I've driven throughout my years has returned real-world, 'in-town' economy under the 6.0 L/100 km threshold--until now.
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GM to Take eAssist to Buick and Beyond
Thursday, July 07, 2011
PALO ALTO, California - The 2012 Buick LaCrosse is GM's first vehicle equipped with its new eAssist system, but it certainly won't be its last.
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New Lexus CX 300 h Compact Crossover
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Surprised? We didn't think so. It would appear as though Lexus will be introducing a Toyota RAV4-based compact hybrid crossover between now and the end of 2012 as a 2013 or 2014 model year.
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What's in store for Toyota in the coming year
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Toyota Motor Sales USA held its annual dealer meeting in Las Vegas yesterday, and TMC President Akio Toyoda made some statements about what's coming up for Toyota in the next year.
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New Popemobile to be greener than ever!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Of all the celebrity cars built by Mercedes-Benz, the Popemobile is certainly the most recognized around the world. Serving as a dependable travel companion, the Papal vehicle is about to undergo a significant makeover.
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GM to showcase a plug-in hybrid crossover at the Detroit Auto Show
Monday, June 20, 2011
Three weeks ago, GM's president and CEO, Dan Akerson, announced that the plug-in Cadillac SRX hybrid had gotten the axe, though he had been in favour of the project. He did say a similar initiative was in the works, just not a SRX. Apparently he wasn't lying.
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2013 Audi Q5 Hybrid First Impressions
Monday, June 20, 2011
MALLORCA, Spain-- Not much more than the width of an oxcart, the narrow road wound its way up the mountainside, flanked on one side by thickets of holm-oak and juniper, on the other by yellow stone walls.
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Suzuki to introduce a plug-in hybrid Swift in 2013
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
According to the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Suzuki is currently developing a plug-in hybrid version of the fuel-efficient Swift to be introduced in Japan in 2013 and possibly later in North America.
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Ford: C-MAX only available as hybrid in N.A.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Ford took the auto world by surprise this afternoon with the announcement that the C-MAX, the family vehicle that caused such a stir at the latest auto show in Detroit, won't be available as a seven-passenger gas model. The America automaker has instead chosen to market two five-passenger hybrid versions.
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Stop calling your hybrids hybrids
Thursday, June 09, 2011
For all you car manufacturers struggling to sell your hybrid vehicles, I've got a great idea for you. After all, hybrid vehicles are commonly criticized as expensive and too sophisticated, and potential buyers might be concerned about long-term reliability and resale value.
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Weekend outing idea: Green Vehicle Rendez-Vous in Kingsey Falls
Thursday, June 02, 2011
The sun has finally returned and is reportedly here to stay, at least for the weekend, and many people will be looking to get out and about. If that's your case, we've got a suggestion for you: head out to the beautiful Eastern Townships on Sunday, June 5, to soak up some sun and learn more about hybrid vehicles at the 3rd edition of the Green Vehicle Rendez-Vous in Kingsey Falls.
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GM Pulls the Plug
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
While it seemed like a Cadillac hybrid crossover was well underway behind closed doors at GM, those endeavours have recently been unplugged as plans to continue with the new vehicle were brought to a halt, according to Reuters.
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Volkswagen plans multiple plug-in hybrids for 2013-2014
Monday, May 09, 2011
At the 32nd International Vienna Motor Symposium, Volkswagen announced a range of important models with plug-in hybrid technology starting in 2013-2014, joining several other manufacturers that have made a commitment to this alternative powertrain.
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Toyota to accept online orders for the plug-in Prius
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Prius is a true pioneer where electric vehicles are concerned and has literally become a green car icon. To celebrate the arrival of the plug-in version of this classic eco-friendly model, Toyota's American subsidiary has announced the creation of a dedicated ordering website.
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Land Rover to launch a first hybrid in 2013
Friday, April 08, 2011
Having showcased its green technology know-how at several auto shows, Land Rover has announced the launch of a gas hybrid version of the of 2012 Range Rover as early as 2013 as well as a range-extender variant one year later.
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A Ford F-150 V8 burning 5.88 L / 100 km in town? Never say never
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Ford is currently working with the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) on the development of an F-150 with a fuel efficiency rating of 5.88 litres per 100 km and still powered by the 4.6-litre V8. How is that possible, you may ask? Well, the answer lies with hydraulic hybrid powertrains.
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Volvo previews diesel-powered V60 Plug-in Hybrid
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Volvo announced that the all-new V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the first car in the world to combine diesel with plug-in hybrid technology, will offer three driver-selectable modes at the touch of a button.
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Geneva 2011: Porsche reveals details on the new Panamera S Hybrid
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Porsche revealed some details today about the most recent addition to its range of hybrid vehicles, highlighting the importance of the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy for the brands future with the all-new Panamera S Hybrid.
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Geneva 2011: Porsche to debut new hybrid
Friday, February 11, 2011
Hot on the heels of the 918 RSR hybrid race car, Porsche will keep the green ball rolling by introducing another ''full hybrid'' vehicle at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
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A plug-in Dodge RAM Hybrid powered by Canadian technology
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
For many, buying a pickup truck means sacrificing fuel efficiency. Chrysler is well aware of this and has decided to change our perception of these vehicles by developing a plug-in RAM powered by a 100% Canadian technology.
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2012 Infiniti M Hybrid to premiere at Toronto's CIAS
Friday, January 21, 2011
Infiniti today announced the vehicles that will be on display at the 2011 Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) in Toronto, highlighted by the Canadian premiere of the 2012 M Hybrid sedan.
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Chrysler to develop hydraulic hybrid minivan
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Most automakers have already or will soon have added electric or hybrid vehicles to their portfolios as a way to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. One of them is Chrysler, which just partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a new hydraulic hybrid powertrain for the Town & Country.
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Future Mercedes-Benz AMGs will use hybrid technology
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Herbert Kohler, Daimler's head of future mobility and advanced engineering, confirmed that future AMG models from Mercedes-Benz would be available with hybrid technology in order to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
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A hybrid Chrysler 300 in the works for 2013
Monday, January 17, 2011
There's no doubt about it, Chrysler LLC has some grand plans for the future and doesn't intend to rest on its laurels in the upcoming years. After announcing the return of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, the end of either the Dodge Grand Caravan or the Chrysler Town & Country, the introduction of a nine-speed transmission and the possible replacement of the Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty, Sergio Marchionne is back with another statement.
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Detroit 2011: Porsche reveals the 918 RSR Hybrid (video)
Monday, January 10, 2011
The North American International Auto Show kicked off with a bang with the unveiling of the Porsche 918 RSR, a racing laboratory that mixes and matches the technology of the 911 GT3 R, the style of the 918 Spyder and the design of the 917 that has dominated the Le Mans 24 Hours.
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2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid achieves 3.92 L/100 km!
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
World-famous hypermiler Wayne Gerdes took the new 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid for a spin... and wound up covering 2,300 miles (3,701 kilometres) with two full tanks of gas, achieving a remarkable 60 mpg (3.92 L/100 km) in the process.
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No hybrid variant for the Land Rover Evoque
Monday, December 13, 2010
Those who were expecting a hybrid variant of the new Land Rover Evoque will have to make do with a fuel-efficient gasoline-powered model instead. In other words, the company's baby crossover won't follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, the LRX Concept.
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Even more hybrids for Purolator in Canada
Monday, December 13, 2010
Purolator has announced that it will be doubling its fleet of hybrid vehicles in Canada with the arrival of 201 additional models to be distributed across the country.
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2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid First Impressions
Monday, November 29, 2010
You may have recently read my reviews on Audi's Electromobility Strategy where I was given the opportunity to drive three very distinct yet engaging products: The R8 e-tron, the A1 e-tron and the Q5 Hybrid.
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U.S. government artificially boosts hybrid sales
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Bloomberg reported this week that the Barack Obama administration has bought almost a fourth of all GM and Ford hybrid vehicles sold since he took office, thereby artificially boosting hybrid sales numbers. The question now is: how popular exactly are these vehicles on the American market?
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Audi makes some of the sexiest coupes on the road today. The TT and S5 are both examples. So is the iconic R8, which is particularly badass because Iron Man drives one.
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