General Car News

11th October 2008 12:00 pm General Car News

At 33 miles per gallon highway, four-cylinder, non-hybrid versions of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura midsize sedans equipped with six-speed transmissions carry a higher EPA highway fuel economy label than comparably equipped Toyota Camry and Honda Accord models.

In addition, the Chevrolet Cobalt XFE and Pontiac G5 XFE, at 37 mpg highway, achieve a higher EPA highway fuel economy rating than comparably equipped versions of the Toyota Yaris and Corolla, or the Honda Fit.

“Fuel economy is top-of-mind for many of our customers, and we’re providing great-looking, well-equipped and fuel-efficient choices across our lineup – from subcompacts to crossovers to full-size pickups and SUVs,” said Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. “We are using our technology leadership to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of gas, and we are investing our global resources to develop advanced technologies to help us diversify the energy sources for our future transportation needs.”

In all, GM delivers 18 ’09 models – including three hybrids – that achieve EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, more than any other automaker. Chevrolet, GM’s largest brand, leads with eight – including the popular Malibu midsize sedan – followed by Pontiac and Saturn with five each. (Please see separate release for a complete list of GM’s 30-and-up performers.)

The following is a look at some of GM’s more fuel-efficient 2009 model year vehicles.

Cadillac: The all-new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, the world’s first large luxury hybrid SUV, achieves an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 21 highway using GM’s two-mode hybrid system and Active Fuel Management technology. That’s a 50-percent improvement in city fuel economy over the non-hybrid Escalade.

Chevrolet: While GM’s largest brand offers eight models that achieve 30 miles per gallon or more highway, that’s only part of Chevy’s fuel solutions portfolio.

New ’09 Chevrolet models include the Traverse crossover, which seats up to eight and is equipped with GM’s fuel-saving, 3.6L direct injection V-6. With an EPA fuel economy rating of 24 mpg on the highway, the two-wheel-drive Traverse model beats the eight-passenger Honda Pilot and seven-passenger Toyota Highlander.

Already a fuel economy leader in full-size SUVs and trucks, Chevrolet’s new Tahoe XFE model is expected to maintain its segment leadership at 21 mpg highway and beating a comparably equipped Toyota Sequoia. In addition, a new V-8-equiped Chevrolet Silverado XFE 2WD achieves highway fuel economy of 21 mpg.

Chevrolet also will debut the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, featuring GM’s two-mode hybrid system. Silverado Hybrid 2WD achieves an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway – a 50-percent city improvement over the non-hybrid – while the Silverado 4WD is rated at 20 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

Other noteworthy fuel-efficient vehicles for the 2009 model year include the 3.5L V-6-equipped Impala full-size sedan, which seats up to six, at an EPA-estimated 29 mpg highway.

Even performance-oriented Chevys are tuned to sip fuel: The powerful Cobalt SS is rated at 30 mpg highway and the HHR SS and Panel SS are rated at 29 mpg. And GM’s world-class supercars get super fuel economy, too: The Corvette, equipped with the 6.2L LS3 V-8, gets 26 miles per gallon highway when equipped with a manual transmission, 25 with the automatic.

GMC: The new GMC Yukon XFE and Sierra XFE debut with highway fuel economy of 21 mpg, The GMC Sierra Hybrid also is new for ’09, featuring GM’s two-mode hybrid system. The 2WD model delivers 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway; and the 4WD delivers 20 mpg city and 20 mpg highway

Pontiac: Pontiac offers five models that achieve 30-plus highway, including the 2.4L Pontiac G6. When equipped with a six-speed transmission, it achieves an estimated 33 mpg highway and beats the gasoline-equipped Volkswagon Jetta, Mazda 3 and 2.4L-equipped Toyota Corolla.

Saturn: Saturn also offers five models that deliver 30-plus highway, including the industry’s highest-rated highway fuel economy in an SUV, the Vue Hybrid, at 32. This compact yet capable vehicle provides a 27-percent increase in fuel economy over the non-hybrid model, allowing it to make a round trip from New York to Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles to Las Vegas on a single tank of gasoline.

Later this year, a Vue 2 Mode hybrid debuts, and promises impressive performance and fuel efficiency. It is expected to be more fuel-efficient than any other V-6-powered crossover vehicle or SUV.

Saab: The 2009 Saab 9-3 2.0T sedan and SportCombi are EPA-rated at 29 mpg highway when equipped with a manual transmission, making them fuel economy leaders among luxury sedans.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.

British drivers ‘may benefit’ from speed camera locators

4th September 2008 10:56 am General Car News

According to www.honestjohn.co.uk, British drivers with a need for speed may benefit from satnav technology that comes with a speed camera locator, according to the chief executive of RoadPilot.

A recent survey carried out by the group found 71 per cent of motorists admit to speeding on more than one-quarter of all their journeys.

In addition, some 60 per cent of respondents asserted that the 70 mph speed limit on dual carriageways and motorways is not fast enough and should be increased.

However, James Flynn of RoadPilot asserted that motorists need to take care on the roads, as speeding offences could lead to penalty points on a driving license, which may result in higher car insurance premiums.

Mr Flynn explained that an in-car speed camera locator may be one way to help cut down on the number of motorists who drive too fast - and may help them to avoid fines and penalties.

The Telegraph reported last month that traffic officers from Kent have been called in to help police the A26 motorway in France near Calais.

Some eight out of ten drivers caught speeding in the region are British, according to French police.

Range Rovers are a menace, say cyclists

4th September 2008 10:54 am General Car News

According to www.whatcar.com, cyclists have voted Range Rover drivers as the worst menace on British roads.

The poll, by electric bicycle retailer 50cycles, revealed that Range Rover drivers particularly angered cyclists for tailgating and being prone to road rage.

Drivers of white vans came second, and were also singled out for tailgating.

Third were BMW drivers, who were described as smug and as having a tendency to weave in and out of traffic.

The elderly came fourth, being seen as too slow and not likely to pay attention.

Retail interest in used cars holding up

1st September 2008 10:47 am General Car News

According to car-news.co.uk, a survey of 100 UK franchised dealers conducted by Manheim Retail Services, shows that demand for used cars is holding up in spite of the general economic uncertainty. Across the five main vehicle segments (Small Hatchback, Medium Family, Large Family, Executive, 4×4) enquiry levels and test drives are only marginally down compared with the previous three months. The study shows a third of enquiries came from customers who had registered interest in specific vehicles prior to visiting the showroom and the balance being showroom walk-ins. Not surprisingly, sales-to-enquiry conversion rates were down by 8.3% for Executive models and 7.6% for 4×4s. However, they actually increased for Medium Family vehicles by 0.9%.

John Simpson, Managing Director, Manheim Retail Services said: “With negative consumer confidence forcing new car registrations down in July by 13%, it is encouraging to see that dealers are maintaining activity in used car sales. In the five vehicle segments analysed, used car sales were only down by an average of less than one unit per dealer per month. And as to be expected, interest levels and sales were highest in the Small Hatchback and Medium Family segments.”

10 eco-driving tips for everyone

1st September 2008 10:44 am General Car News

According to Ford Company, below are a few tips to help drivers conserve fuel and save money at the pump, while at the same time helping the environment and improving traffic safety.

Slow down and watch speed – Drive 55 miles per hour instead of 65 to save fuel. EPA estimates a 10-15 percent improvement in fuel economy by following this tip. Also, aim for a constant speed. Pumping the accelerator sends more fuel into the engine. Using cruise control whenever possible on the highway helps maintain speeds and conserve fuel.
Accelerate and brake smoothly – Accelerating smoothly from a stop and braking softly conserves fuel. Fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and hard braking wastes fuel and wears out some of the car components, such as brakes and tires, more quickly. Maintain a safe distance between vehicles and anticipate traffic conditions to allow for more time to brake and accelerate gradually.
No idling – Today’s engines don’t need a warm up. Start the car immediately and gently drive away. Don’t leave your car idling. Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes fuel. Turn the engine off in non-traffic situations, such as at bank and fast food drive-up windows, when idling more than 30 seconds.
Check your tires – Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended tire pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4 percent. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle’s door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure.
Be kind to your vehicle – Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the Owner’s Manual for proper maintenance.
Travel light – Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The added frontal area reduces aerodynamics and will hurt fuel economy, reducing it by as much as 5 percent. Remove excess weight from the vehicle. Unnecessary weight, such as unneeded items in the trunk, makes the engine work harder and consumes more fuel.
Minimize use of heater and air conditioning – Use heating and air conditioning selectively to reduce the load on the engine. Decreasing your usage of the air conditioner when temperatures are above 80 degrees can help you save 10-15 percent of fuel. Use the vent setting as much as possible. Park in the shade to keep car cool and reduce the need for air conditioning.
Close windows at high speeds – Don’t drive with the windows open unless your keep your speed under 50 mph. Driving with the windows open at highway speeds increases aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and lowers fuel economy.
Choose the right oil – Use good quality oils with the viscosity grade recommended in the owner guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most cars and trucks to provide the best fuel economy. Only oils “certified for gasoline engines” by the American Petroleum Institute (API) with the starburst symbol should be used.
Consolidate trips – Plan ahead to consolidate your trips. This will enable you to bypass congested routes, lead to less idling.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Arrive

28th August 2008 10:48 am General Car News

As reported by Ken Thomas of the Associated Press (AP), the Chevrolet Equinox has been delivered to people participating in a trial program that involves free loans of the innovative vehicles to a small group of consumers. In addition to General Motors, Honda and BMW are supplying hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars for initial trials in real-life driving conditions. The AP report is summarized here, with additional information provided (links to sources are given).

The Chevy Equinox carries up to 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) of hydrogen gas in pressurized tanks. In the fuel cell, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to generate electricity and the byproduct, water. Although explosive under some conditions, hydrogen is considered safe in these cars because a leak in the system would simply cause the hydrogen to become diluted by air, reaching concentrations that aren’t flammable. Equinox driver Tom Albert has covered 2300 miles in two months, and is enthusiastic about the car, citing only the lack of filling stations and the 200 mile range as real limitations (there are only two filling stations in the Washington, D.C. area where he lives).

Reportedly, the performance of the Equinox is equivalent to approximately 43 miles per gallon with conventional gasoline. The cars themselves are considered to be zero emission vehicles, though the source of hydrogen affects the ultimate environmental impact of this technology. Currently, most hydrogen comes from fossil fuels in a process that does generate CO2. However, the goal is to generate hydrogen from renewable sources. In addition, as reported by Thomas, extracting hydrogen from natural gas results in about half the CO2 production associated with equivalent gasoline use by a vehicle. This information comes from Patrick Serfass, director of technology for the National Hydrogen Association.

There is a Federal Government target of producing hydrogen at a cost equivalent to $1.50/gallon of gasoline by 2010; current costs are estimated to be $3.00/gallon.

The Chevy Equinox is joined by the Honda FCX Clarity, which is being leased for $600/month to about 200 people in California. There were 50,000 web-based requests for leases, but the program was limited in part by the location of filling stations. Of the 61 hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S., about half are in California. A press release from Air Products, a major supplier of hydrogen, provides more information about present and future health of hydrogen as fuel.

The FCX Clarity travels about 270 miles on one tank of hydrogen, and Jon Spallino is one happy driver:

You’re not sacrificing anything, and actually for me it’s an enhanced driving experience… I think that’s a misconception people have, that you’re puttering around in an underpowered cramped little soapbox

BMW’s Hydrogen 7 runs on gasoline or hydrogen, with separate tanks to take you about 130 miles on hydrogen and 300 miles on gas.

So far, the production of fuel cell cars requires custom manufacturing, so the real costs per car are very high and undisclosed, but things are certainly being driven in the right direction.

German Cars Lead in CO2 Reductions

28th August 2008 10:43 am General Car News

Cars sold in Europe last year reduced carbon emissions slightly, with manufacturers managing to achieve an average improvement of 1.7 percent, according to a new report.

Green campaign group Transport & Environment, the authors of the report released on Tuesday (26 August) tracking the progress of Europe’s major car manufacturers have made in reducing CO2 emissions, welcomed the reduction.

The group celebrated the fact that the companies had beaten their all-time nadir last year of an improvement in fuel consumption of just 0.7 percent, but warned that such figures showed the firms are still not on track to meet climate targets.

“The lack of progress was, again, explained to a large extent by the lack of progress in cutting weight. In 2007, cars again became 10 kg heavier…Heavier cars use more fuel,” reads the study.

In a turnaround of its fortunes however, BMW showed a marked improvement in the fuel consumption of its fleet, with the average new car sold by the German firm in 2007 consuming some 7.3 percent less fuel than in 2006.

Jos Dings, director of the environmental group said: “With the threat of legislation looming, BMW has shown that even premium carmakers can seriously reduce CO2.”

“But the slow response of most carmakers shows that the EU needs to keep up the pressure with challenging, long-term CO2 targets.”

The group credits BMW’s ‘Efficient Dynamics’ programme with engineering the reductions. The programme introduced a series of fuel-saving measures across the entire range of BMW’s models.

German cars gaining
Indeed, the report shows that German carmakers now appear to be gaining on their French and Italian rivals, which traditionally produce much lighter and efficient than German firms.

The change is particularly notable, argues the campaign group as in 2006, emissions from German cars increased on average.

Hyundai and Daimler came in second and third in the rankings of emissions reductions, dropping an average of 3.9 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.

However, the latter’s reduction is deceptive, as more than half of Daimler’s improvement was a product of the company selling off Chrysler, its heavier, fuel-intensive American wing, instead of coming from enhanced fuel efficiency of its vehicles.

The report criticises both French car makers, Renault and Peugeot, for achieving reductions of less than 1 percent.

American firms Ford and General Motors performed similarly to their French counterparts, while Japanese car companies performed worst of all.

Italy’s Fiat came fifth overall, having achieved a reduction of 2 percent.

“It is striking that three of the bottom four carmakers are Japanese: Suzuki, Mazda and Nissan,” says the report. “All three did not close the gap sufficiently in 2007 and will have to speed up their efforts.”

Legal proposal
In December 2007 the European Commission published a legal proposal to regulate the fuel efficiency of vehicles, with new cars being restricted from emitting, on average, more than 130g of CO2/km by 2012.

The legal proposal has to be approved by the European Parliament and member state governments before becoming law, a process that is expected to end in early 2009.

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee is scheduled to vote on the car CO2 law on 8 September.

Transport & Environment, for its part, wants to see a target of 120g/km by 2012, in line with an official EU target first proposed in 1994 by the then German environment minister, Angela Merkel.

The 14-year-old target was supposed to be achieved by 2005 and has been postponed three times—in 1996, 1997 and 2007.

Discounts and carbon off-set programme with new Green Car Warranty

26th August 2008 10:30 am General Car News

Warranty Direct, the leading automotive warranty provider, has launched the Green Warranty (www.greenwarranty.co.uk) to support motorists of Low CO2 emitting vehicles and those looking to off-set their carbon footprint.

Under the scheme, customers receive a discount off the normal price of cover based on the Road Fund Licence Tax Band of their vehicle. They will also off-set the carbon footprint of their vehicle, and sign up to the firm’s “Driving Greener Charter” of tips on improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.

For every tonne of carbon offset, Warranty Direct will contribute £10 to the Carbon Footprintä UK Tree Planting project*.

Owners of models in the lowest emitting Tax Bands A and B of less than 120g/km will receive a 25 percent discount off the normal price of their chosen level of warranty cover. Those in Groups C and D - 121g/km to 165g/km - get a 10 percent discount, and Group E (166-185 g/km) 5 percent.

Although higher polluting vehicles in Group F and G, over 186g/km and 226g/km respectively, will not be eligible for discounts, they can still opt for the Green Warranty by signing the ‘Driving Greener Charter’ and off-setting their annual carbon footprint.

The offset contribution is calculated by multiplying estimated annual mileage by the average carbon emissions for the vehicle’s Tax Band**.

For example, a MINI One produces Tax Band C emissions of 128g/km, or approximately 2.3 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide for every 10,000 miles travelled. With a Green Warranty, the Company’s ExtraCare cover would cost £237.09 and include a £23.69 carbon offset contribution to the Carbon Footprintä UK Tree Planting project.

The “Driving Greener Charter” is a pledge to try wherever possible to reduce CO2 emissions by driving in a more environmentally friendly way. The latest awareness campaign by the EU estimates that the average driver can cut fuel consumption by up to 30 percent by adopting simple ‘eco-driving’ techniques.

And with underinflated tyres costing the British motorist an estimated £1.2bn in additional fuel***, every Green Warranty customer will receive a digital tyre pressure gauge.

Explaining the motivation behind the Green Warranty, Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct explains: “We wanted to incentivise those who had consciously bought more environmentally friendly cars with a discount and at the same time allow them to off-set their carbon footprint.”

The level of cover available with the Green Warranty is the same as a normal policy and includes Warranty Direct’s industry firsts of cover for faults discovered during MoT and Service, plus Consequential Loss and Wear & Tear protection.

GM’s newest Pace Car Concept, the Z06 E85 combines power with alternative fuel capabilities.

12th August 2008 11:03 am General Car News

The Z06 E85 concept pace car is based on the production Z06 – already one of the fastest and most powerful cars on the market – and blends its performance with the high-octane, renewable alternative fuel that is derived from a variety of crops grown across the United States.

E85 is blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Its benefits include reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and a reduced dependence on petroleum. GM is the leader in E85 production models, with more than 2.5 million E85-capable cars, trucks and SUVs on the road – with more on the way. Chevrolet offers seven E85-capable models in 2008.

Apart from the fuel system and powertrain controller revisions required to run E85, the Z06 concept pace car is mechanically stock. It is distinguished by a unique Gold Rush Green color-shifting paint scheme that changes between hues of green and gold when viewed from different angles and in different light. A subtle checkered flag pattern also is part of the paint scheme. Safety equipment and strobe lights are the only other equipment added to the car.

Aston Martin tease us with a silhouette of their new £1m supercar

8th August 2008 2:58 pm General Car News

Teaser pictures have been released by Aston MArtin of their new £1m supercar. The One-77 will be a super limited edition (Only 77 will be made).

This is the first all-new car from the company since they were sold off by Ford earlier this year. Rumours state that the One-77 will be powered by a 7.0-litre V12 and feature an aluminum & carbon fiber chassis.It’s thought that the car’s top speed will excede 200mph.