Showing posts with label hybrid news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hybrid news. Show all posts

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Lexus Luxury Hybrid Hatchback


When you think of hybrid cars you probably think of a Prius, which can be found at Danvers Toyota Dealerships. The hybrid world will never match the original popularity and success of the Prius, just like no one can really compete with the success of the iPod compared to other MP3 players. Lexus is trying their hand once again at a luxury hybrid car that people will want to buy, and after the mild sales of their Lexus HS 250h, it won’t be too difficult to improve upon. You can find great deals at Master Automotive, but you will need to visit a certified Lexus dealership to catch a glimpse of the brand new 2011 Lexus CT 200h. This new hybrid luxury car might be able to compete with the electric vehicles being released at Salisbury Pohanka Nissan.

The exact pricing of the Lexus CT hasn’t been released yet, but there are estimates it will be in the $30,000 range. The vehicle weighs in at 3,130 pounds which is lighter than the HS but still a little heavier than the Prius. The EPA estimates that you can get 42 mpg around town and 41 mpg on the highway. The CT offers the EV mode, just like the Prius, which allows you to operate in solely electric power at speeds up to 23mph. The list of standard features is handsome like we would expect and the options could likely push you into the $40,000 range.

The 2011 Lexus CT 200h gives drivers the choice of how their hybrid powertrain will perform. The Normal mode is going to give you a typical hybrid driving experience and take advantage of the same engine set up that you find in the Prius. Drivers can switch into Sport mode, which is still fuel efficient but changes the suspension and steering components, making the CT super fun to drive. Lastly, there is Eco driving mode. This is how you will get the best fuel economy out of your cute hatchback luxury hybrid car.




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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

EVs at the Paris Auto Show!


Electric vehicles are the new "it" concept, and we will see plenty of them unveiled at the Paris Auto Show 2010 at the end of this month.  Car makers are realizing that we have to do something above and beyond what is currently being done to make cars more fuel efficient.  It is unlikely Freightliner Trucks Fort Lauderdale will ever have something that is powered by an electric motors, but wouldn't it be impressive if they did!  Even though Sprinter Vans Miami still consumer a fair amount of gas, at least they promote carpooling which helps reduce emissions overall.

Most of the new vehicles that will be unveiled at the auto show are concept cars that are still works in progress.  Some of the cars that were concept cars in the past are now in actual production.  The new Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt are both electric vehicles that are going to soon be available in select urban markets where commuters have a greater need than their rural counterparts.  The cars at Honda Jackson have already been known for their fuel efficiency, but there are always bigger and better things on the horizon.

Cars that are actually in production and will be unveiled in their new and improved form include the Ford Focus and the Chevy Aveo.  Both have had a makeover to improve just about every facet of their being!  Saab, Mini, Nissan, Audi, and Kia all have electric vehicle concept cars that they are set to have debut in Paris at the end of this month.  The Kia Pop is a three seat electric vehicle that is incredibly affordable to operate.  The Nissan Townpod will be a larger version of the already popular Nissan Leaf, and specifications won't be released until the auto show.  Consumers can expect some exciting news reports after the auto show takes place and the media is allowed inside to snoop around!




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Monday, August 30, 2010

Smart ForTwo Sales are Down!



When you think of a green automobile, chances are you think of a small Toyota rather than a vehicle from Dodge Jeep Dealer Connecticut.  One of the original icon green cars to be released stateside is having problems keeping up its annual sales; the Smart For Two is continually having decreasing sales.  The main reason sales are down is that there are so many hybrids on the market and people typically need more than two seats.  Think of the little sports car from Birmingham Nissan Dealers; we would be willing to bet that the sales of the less versatile vehicle don't compare to their popular Altima model. 

So what exactly are the numbers for the Smart For Two sales in the United States?  Well, they don't compare to the success of the sporty engine line up at Sarasota Mazda Dealer!  In 2008, there were 25,000 units of the small car sold in the United States, and it is expected that sales for 2010 will only be about one third of that!  On the global market, there were 114,000 sold in 2009 but it is only anticipated that 100,000 or so will sell this year!  As the popularity and variety of small efficient cars increases, the limited variety that Smart offers its consumers is hurting its sales.  There has been no innovation recently and the car is still only offered as a coupe or cabrio model. 

Summer sales have not done well stateside either.  Compared to July 2009, sales are down by 60.5%, or 560 units.  Looking at global sales for July, there is only a decrease of 20%, meaning that the bulk of the failing sales are coming from the United States.  Daimler has announced that a newly redesigned Smart For Two will be released during the third quarter, and that that is anticipated to increase sales.  If not, though, there is already talk of reviving the Smart For Four.  The car went out of production in 2006, but if sales don't pick up, we will see them on the market again in 2013. 



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Thursday, August 26, 2010

World's First Diesel Hybrid SUV!



The world's first diesel hybrid SUV has been revealed. The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is the latest new vehicle design for SUV models. The model is sold by the French automaker Peugeot and it is now being shown at auto shows throughout the country. Sarasota Used Cars also sells several hybrid and fuel efficient vehicle models. The latest vehicle design has optimal fuel efficiencies and an excellent build quality. The Chevy Volt is another new hybrid model that is coming out and it will be found at dealerships such as Orlando Chevrolet Dealers.

The SUV will not be sold in the United States, but it might be an initiative for a trend of diesel automobiles to enter U.S. markets where they have not been very popular. Wichita Chevrolet Dealers will be selling the Chevy Volt, and they currently sell other great fuel efficient models that Chevrolet has released over the years.

The crossover vehicle will be capable of 68 mpg which is one of the highest fuel efficiencies out of all the vehicles in the world. The all wheel drive vehicle only emits 99 grams per kilometer of CO2. This vehicle is a 163 horsepower 2.0 liter turbodiesel engine with a manual transmission that is electronically controlled. The engine switches off every time the vehicle is stopped as many other hybrids do.

Diesel hybrids have not been as popular as gasoline hybrids because they develop their higher torques at lower engine speeds. Also, diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines already, and it is more difficult to improve efficiency with diesel models than with gasoline models. Diesel engines convert 35 percent of their energy to torque, whereas gasoline engines convert only 25 percent of their energy to torque. As a result, the designers of diesel hybrids have a long way to go to improve the models, but the French automaker of Peugeot did.