Electrified transportation is not a new idea. When I was a kid, my grandparents lived in Sun City, California. Sun City was a master-planned retirement mecca right up Interstate 15 from the yawn-inducing Lawrence Welk Resort, where the yards were covered in green-painted gravel, where the ladies pedaled three-wheeled bikes to the See’s Candies shop, and where the garages contained
Review – 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid is Kinda Like Jumbo Shrimp
“Porsche Hybrid? Isn’t that kinda like jumbo shrimp?” That question from a friend eyeing the script on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid’s flanks reflects the uphill battle Porsche faces as it strives to improve the fuel economy of a
Review – 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is a Fantasy in Reality
When you think “hybrid,” you think fuel economy. We averaged 16.7 mpg over a week of driving the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, not bad for a full-size, crew cab pickup with four-wheel drive, but a far cry from EPA estimates of 20 mpg in the
Review – 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is All Talk, No Action
At the end of our week with the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid, the average fuel economy display read 29.1 mpg. We’d covered about 300 miles in a mix of city and freeway driving, and quite frankly expected better given that the EPA numbers on the window sticker read 35 mpg in the
First Drive – 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist Drives Like Traditional Car with Hybrid Efficiency
Palo Alto, California — Over the coming months, you’re going to hear quite a bit about a technology Buick calls eAssist. That’s because the first two eAssisted vehicles will soon arrive in dealer showrooms and you can guarantee you’ll see a bunch of slickly produced TV spots heralding this new technology and the improved fuel efficiency it offers
Review – 2011 Chevrolet Volt is a Ready Road Tripper
At one time or another, chances are we’ve all experienced some type of anxiety. A quick Google search indicates that there are seven types, including specific disorders and a number of phobias related to most anything you can think of. Now, thanks to the debut of models like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, I’m thinking we
Review – 2011 Lexus CT 200h Would Make More Sense as a Scion cT
The new 2011 Lexus CT 200h would have made a terrific halo model for Toyota’s youth-skewed Scion brand, something green to contrast with the upcoming Scion sports coupe that’s being co-developed with Subaru. The CT – or should we
5 Cars That Get Great Gas Mileage
I ran into a friend yesterday and he said, “My wife is convinced we need to buy a more fuel-efficient car. Which hybrid should I buy?”
It’s a common question we hear as gas prices near or top $4 per gallon. But the answer for many drivers isn’t always a hybrid, though hybrids like the Toyota Prius remain the fuel-economy leaders
Nissan Leaf Races To The Clouds
A Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle (EV) will compete in the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on June 26th. The Leaf will race in the electric vehicle production class. Except for the necessary removal of interior components to allow room for the required roll cage and safety equipment, the Pikes Peak Leaf will be showroom
Ford’s EcoBoost Engine Family to Include 1.0-liter 3-Cylinder
Ford Motor Company is expanding the EcoBoost line of downsized fuel efficient engines to include a new 1.0-lter three cylinder engine. It is the smallest displacement engine ever offered in a Ford passenger car. The goal is to deliver hybrid-like fuel efficiency at a lower cost to the consumer.
“With our global family of EcoBoost engines, we’ve replaced V8s
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