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

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side.

Nearly every major car manufacturer has either already come out with a hybrid, or has plans to come out with one. It is said that automakers must maintain a minimum mileage of 27.5 miles per gallon in its product line. If you purchase a hybrid, it will offer you faster and larger engines in the rest of the lines. Some of the most current hybrid cars can get up to 60 miles per gallon on the highway. Along with fuel economy, it boost lower emissions and depreciation than gasoline powered cars. Some time in the future, the Hybrids are expected to get fuel mileage as high as 190 miles per gallon. You can't find that gas mileage in a Chevy from Chevrolet Malibu Dealer.

Though Hybrids and there parts tend to be a little expensive, dealerships provide warranties like free replacements of the most expensive parts. The United States Government also supports the hybrids so much in fact that they are allowing a tax write off for hybrid car ownerships. The Hybrid cars have quite a few environmental benefits and economical benefits. Hybrids like the 2011 VW Jetta of Peoria VW, produce 90 percent less pollutants than comparable non-hybrid cars, by putting less harmful chemicals in the environment. The harmful effects of pollution can be stopped or even reversed.

The Hybrid like the Toyota Camry of Toyota Deals Santa Ana, is powered by two sources. These sources are an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Hybrid cars have no use for plugs, as they are charged by movement of the wheels and strong kinetic energy that is generated through a process called regenerative braking. Environmentalist embrace hybrid cars as a solution to today's pollution problems.

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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Friday, October 22, 2010

Honda CR-Z: Mean and Green


It really was only a matter of time before an auto brand would find a way to effectively compete with the great deals at Cheap Used Cars in Lamesa.  Honda is proud of their brand new 2011 CR-Z hybrid, a small and sporty addition to the hybrid world.  Plus, the price is low enough (starting out at only $19,950) that you won’t have to go into debt with a Boston Bad Credit Auto Loan.  This small hybrid is smaller than their Insight hybrid, a car that was brought back to the market after dwindling sales.  Its new facelift, however, still isn’t stealing away business from the Prius as quickly as Honda had hoped.  Honda is hoping that the nostalgic appearance resembling the CR-X from the 1980s will help sell the new hybrid.  Many drivers are loyal 1980s Honda drivers and seek occasional repairs from places like Body Shop Cape Girardeau

All of the 2011 CR-Z hybrids are front wheel drive and seat two passengers with a rear hatch third door.  Under the hood you will find an inline four cylinder engine coupled with a brushless DC electric motor.  There is an option for a six speed manual transmission or a CVT (continuously variable transmission), both of which produce relatively high fuel economy.  Drivers are going to get 122 horsepower plus 128 pound feet of torque.  That seems like plenty of power, but the CR-Z weighs 2,700 pounds while its muse CR-X only weighed around 1,800 pounds; that extra weight can be attributed to modern safety features plus the weight of those heavy hybrid engine parts. 

Drivers can choose from three different trim levels, ranging from $19,950 all the way up to $23,960.  The base model comes nicely equipped with LED taillights, power accessories, stability control, a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes, the choice of driving in sport, normal, or eco mode, cruise control, auto climate control, and USB auxiliary ports for your audio.  There is limited room in the back for cargo, but that is to be expected.  Immediate competitors include the Toyota Prius, Scion tC, and Honda Insight. 




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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

American Hybrids.


If you are in the market for a green car but are too eager to wait for the new electric vehicles to hit the market, see if you can find one at Used Cars Sarasota.  There are lots of hybrid models available that have excellent fuel efficiency.  Buyers that prefer something newer can go to their local VW Dealer.  If you don't see a hybrid model there that you like, remember that the diesel engine options they offer have low emissions as the diesel burns clean.  Plus, they typically have the Volkswagen turbocharged engine, which is sporty and fun to drive! 

The popular hybrid may still be the Prius from Toyota Los Angeles, but American auto makers are stepping up their hybrid game.  While Ford may have offered other hybrid models in past years, currently there are hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and the Ford Escape.  With a starting price of only $28,100, the Fusion Hybrid offers drivers great fuel economy in an attractive vehicles.  The Ford Escape starts out at $29,865 and is still SUV capable.  Lincoln is offering the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid at the same price as the regular gasoline engine model.  So for only $34,330 drivers will have luxury and 41 mpg city!  Mercury offers their Milan and Mariner in hybrid versions as well as regular engine options.  That is impressive for a company with only four vehicles in their entire line up!

General Motors offers a wide array of hybrid options to choose from.  There is the Cadillac Escalade, but the starting price of $73,425 makes this hard for many people to afford.  The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is a bit more affordable, with a starting price of $50,720.  GM is proud to have the two hybrid full size truck models in their inventory.  The GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado are both available in a hybrid form, while their full size truck cousins from other companies have yet to follow suit.  GMC has their full size SUV in hybrid form; the Yukon and Yukon Denali both have hybrid counterparts.  Keep in mind when you are looking at the larger hybrid vehicles that the fuel mileage won't be drastically improved like you see with the smaller cars.





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Saturday, August 14, 2010

Hybrid Sales Down 33%


The folks at Washington DC Lexus should be happy with the recent news of their hybrid sales for July 2010 compared to last year's sales.  Lexus and Toyota combined represented 73.9% of the total hybrid sales in the United States.  This is great news, but the fact that hybrid sales only accounted for 2.27% of the entire sales and fell 33% compared to last year is not so great news.  While the economy is doing better and there was a 5% increase in vehicle sales compared to last year, Americans should be being more eco-conscious and paying a bit more for the hybrid models.  You already don't see many hybrid models at Cincinnati Used Car Auctions because their owners end up loving them so much they don't get traded in often, unless someone needs a different size for some reason.  Of course, Arizona VW Dealers are sitting pretty this month, as their total sales increased by 27% compared to last year's sales.  While it didn't itemize out their hybrid sales, VW does sell many hybrid or clean burning diesel engine vehicles. 

Other vehicles that did well include Honda and some of their hybrid models.  The Honda Civic Hybrid sold 617 cars and the brand new model Honda Insight sold an impressive 1,858 units!  Ford's hybrid line up did pretty well in total sales.  Ford and Mercury combined sold 2,986 hybrids for July 2010.  The Fusion sold 1,586 and the Escape sold 1,260!  People like the trusted reputation and quality you get from Ford products anymore.  The more costly Mercury Milan sold 90 units and the Mercury Mariner sold 100 units.  Toyota, as mentioned before, had the biggest piece of the hybrid pie this last month.  14,102 Prius models were sold and the Camry Hybrid sold 1,276.  Even the large Highlander Hybrid managed to move 575 units off the lots.  The new Lexus hybrid models are selling better than expected, with the RX450h selling 1,356 models! 






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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Leno not so hot on the Chevy Volt



Jay Leno is not very excited about the Chevy Volt, which will be Chevy's upcoming hybrid model that is a major talking point for several automobile analysts. Mazda Cars Sarasota dealers sell Mazda models of which there is one competing hybrid vehicle and potentially more to come. Volkswagen has also made an announcement that they will be producing several vehicles that feature hybrid or electric engines in the upcoming years and will be bought during VW Dealer Specials. Leno is one of the biggest celebrity car fanatics, and it may be that his opinion has an effect on Chevy Volt sales. Leno said that he does not like the Volt which is a competitor to Acura St. Louis models.

Leno said of the Volt, "If you didn't know, you might think it's a Cobalt or a Camry... I don't think there's a lot of cachet in having the first one. It's meant to be a people mover, not a people impresser." Some might agree with Leno since the Volt is not attempting to become a real visual pleaser but more of a standard bread and butter sedan that Americans can consider more along the lines of a Camry.

The focus and point of GM making the Volt less sporty and more sedan like was probably for the purpose of the model to be more considered as a family model instead of a sports vehicle. Although sports lovers may not enjoy the Volt, it should be noted that the Volt will feature up to 40 miles of driving on solely electric power, a very unique vehicle feature that can not be found on very many sports coupes or other models.

In the future it might turn out that there will be sports vehicles and other models that are electric. The Tesla Roadster is probably the sportiest out of all the electric models, but for now the Volt will do as being a great family sedan and also a somewhat sporty electric-gasoline hybrid.