FuelEconomy


Average new car mpg levels hit record high in August, spurred by Cash for Clunkers

The success or failure of the Cash for Clunkers program that recently came to an end here in the United States has been and will continue to be debatable, but at least some good was accomplished by the legislation. According to data compiled by Wards Auto, the average new car fuel mileage hit a new record of 23 miles per gallon in August, which is a gain of approximately eight percent from August of 2008. As far as individual automakers go, Toyota came out on top with an average of 26.9 mpg for all cars sold in August, followed by Kia at ... Read more →

REPORT: Porsche Panamera will evade gas guzzler tax Chris Shunk

As far as high-end sports cars go, the Porsche lineup is pretty fuel efficient. Light weight and six-cylinder engines usually do the trick, but those attributes don't exactly describe the new ...

Consumer Reports tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser Jeremy Korzeniewski

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Common sense, right? Absolutely, but it's still helpful to see real-life data, as you'll see by checking out the results of a recent test performed by ...

C/D drills down to find out what goes into EPA fuel economy ratings Jeremy Korzeniewski

Ever wonder what actually goes into determining the rated fuel economy of a new car or truck? Anyone with a vehicle that's failed to live up to its EPA estimated figures would surely fit into that ...

From the Clutches of the Grave: Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid rated at 27/30 mpg by EPA Sam Abuelsamid

While perusing the EPA's fuel economy listings, one of our readers stumbled across a vehicle that we didn't even know had been rated. The 2-Mode Hybrid version of the Saturn Vue had initially ...

Next-gen GM six-speed automatic to boost mileage another 5 percent 2 months ago on Autoblog

It's only been a year since General Motors launched its 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission for mid-size and compact cars. When it was introduced, this new transmission brought with it a five percent bump in fuel efficiency. The engineers at GM Powertrain are now developing a second generation ...

How did GM arrive at 230 mpg for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt? 2 months ago on Autoblog

Neither General Motors nor the EPA are making declarative statements about how, exactly, the 2011 Chevy Volt will achieve it's much-touted 230 mpg rating that was announced today. GM's most clear statement (available in full after the break) says that some consumers "may be able to be in pure ...

REPORT: Nissan engineers tweaking vehicles to meet Cash-for-Clunkers requirements 3 months ago on Autoblog

In an effort to sweeten the incentive for those taking advantage of the government's Car Allowance Rebate System (a.k.a. "Cash-for-Clunkers"), Nissan has reportedly sent its engineers back to the lab in order to pinch every last mile out of each gallon of fuel. As it is written, the program ...

REPORT: Toyota's push to build green cars may destroy 17th century Japanese rice paddies 4 months ago on Autoblog

Toyota has worked hard to cultivate its image as the "green" automaker. And with so many hybrids on the road, it's hard to argue. Some critics have cited the fact that mining for battery components is bad for the environment and the thousands of miles that massive, CO2-spewing ships travel to park ...

2010 Subaru Legacy gets its EPA numbers, hits 31 mpg highway 4 months ago on Autoblog

The 2010 Subaru Legacy is bigger, wider, and more powerful than ever, yet the engineers made a point to increase fuel economy as well. The new Legacy will hit 31 mpg on the highway and 23 around town, but you'll have to opt for the 2.5i model with the CVT transmission. With the more enjoyable ...

2010 Chevy Equinox expected to hit 32 mpg highway 6 months ago on Autoblog

When General Motors rolled out the new 2010 Chevy Equinox in January, they announced the new EcoTec 2.4-liter four-cylinder version equipped with direct injection was expected to get 30 mpg on EPA highway cycle. Since then, the powertrain engineers have continued to tweak the calibrations to ...

California to require mandatory tire-pressure checks at automotive businesses 7 months ago on Autoblog

Keeping your tires properly inflated is a very good idea. An under-inflated radial can increase wear while also decreasing performance and fuel economy. But if the state of California can help it, under-inflated tires may soon be a thing of the past. California has passed a new law requiring most ...

REPORT: CAFE fuel economy standards to rise 8% by 2011 7 months ago on Autoblog

The nation's Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards will swell to 27.3 miles-per-gallon by 2011. That's the word coming out of Washington, where the U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to bump the fleet fuel economy standards for the first time in more than a quarter-century. The 27.3 ...

Freightliner debuts RunSmart Predictive Cruise Control 7 months ago on Autoblog

The next step in cruise control comes courtesy of Freightliner semis and GPS data company NAVTEQ. Freightliner broadened communication between the cruise control and map data: the GPS transmits information on the road ahead up to a mile, and then the cruise control computes the best speed at which ...

First Drive: Sailing in Stuttgart with Porsche's Cayenne S Hybrid 8 months ago on Autoblog

While charging along at 85 mph with a particularly poker-faced Porsche engineer riding shotgun, traffic begins to cluster on the horizon. Not willing to risk our seven-figure prototype, I gently roll off the accelerator, at which point a funny thing happens: Without warning, the tachometer ...

Commercial Appeal: Ford Transit Connect gets higher-than-expected EPA rating of 22/25 8 months ago on Autoblog

Ford is making an interesting habit of giving low-ball estimates regarding the mileage of their new vehicles, only to later announce final EPA numbers that are higher by several miles per gallon. This happened with the Fusion Hybrid which was estimated at 39 miles-per-gallon city and then ended ...

New vehicle wraps claim to increase fuel economy by as much as 25% 8 months ago on Autoblog

Say you've got a company making plastic vehicle wraps for advertising. One day, you drive your graphic'd-up car to the golf course, and after losing three balls trying to drive across a water hazard, you get to pondering the golf ball itself. Those distinctive dimples on the surface of a golf ball ...

Evergreener: Long-running Ford Ranger augments safety features for 2010 9 months ago on Autoblog

Despite dwindling sales in a dwindling segment, Ford's Ranger refuses to pack up. For 2010, the compact pickup looks unchanged on the outside, but beneath the skin it gains some new electronic gubbins to help make it more competitive. In the main, the trucklet soldiers on into its next model ...

2010 Ford Fusion 4-banger scores best-in-class 23/34 mpg! 10 months ago on Autoblog

When we drove the thoroughly refreshed Fusion out in California after the LA Auto Show, it proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable ride. It now turns out that the Fusion is not only fun to drive, but also fuel efficient in forms other than the new Fusion Hybrid. The EPA has just finished crunching ...

Bush declines to enact higher fuel-economy standards 10 months ago on Autoblog

Fuel efficiency. It's an issue that has seemingly fallen onto America's the back-burner for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are declining fuel prices and economy along with the auto industry's financial plight. Still, few would argue that the issue of cutting down on petroleum use is ...

Autogas Chevrolet Matiz Concept = LPG for the masses 10 months ago on Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the fahgmitgas Matiz LPG Concept Thanks to a company called fahrmitgas ("go with gas", get it?), our European readers will soon be able to cut their fuel costs to the low, low price of €3 (about $4.20 USD) for every 100 km of driving. Of course, they'll ...

Chrysler's new hybrid SUVs score a 20/22 mpg from the EPA 1 year ago on Autoblog

Those who have had a hard look at their needs and still come to the conclusion that a full-size SUV would fit the bill officially have a new option. The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids are now on sale and the EPA has determined that the pair have the best fuel economy of any such ...

Electricity + gasoline = more mpg? 1 year ago on Autoblog

Kids, do not try this at home. Researchers at Temple University have been experimenting with what happens when an electric current is run through fuel. Big boom, right? Well, apparently not. According to a paper the Temple team has published in "Energy & Fuels", done right, a small electric ...

VW Jetta TDI sets Guinness World Record of 58.82 mpg 1 year ago on Autoblog

The VW Jetta TDI has proven to be quite popular in the short time it's been on sale here in the U.S.: it has put sales of the Tiguan in the cooler and the ones that are available are very hard to get. Now the fairest Jetta of them all has set a Guinness World Record by traversing the lower 48 U.S. ...

Lincoln Navigator to get fuel economy bump for 2009 1 year ago on Autoblog

The window sticker on a 2008 Navigator shows a mighty low 12 mpg in the city and only 18 on the highway, so Ford went back to the drawing board to improve on that number for this year. The Blue Oval's blinged-up luxury sled boasts a fuel friendlier average of 14/20 for 2009, a marginal ...

Chrysler ekes out additional 2 mpg on 2009 minivans 1 year ago on Autoblog

With moms now actually reading EPA fuel economy figures on the window sticker before trying out the dozen cup holders found in most modern minivans, Chrysler went back to the engineering lab and knocked out a few more miles per gallon for its 2009 minivan offerings. Bragging that no other minivan ...

GM launches Facts and Fiction site to correct what's written on the bathroom wall 1 year ago on Autoblog

There's a lot of smack talk about Detroit automakers these days, and while some of it is spot on, other myths are no more credible than what's written in the men's john. General Motors is apparently tired of fielding questions surrounding this bathroom fodder and the embattled automaker is busting ...

Surprise! - well, not really: Insight, Prius top Consumer Reports most frugal used cars 1 year ago on Autoblog

If you're already stretched paper thin under the financial weight of a thirsty, expensive vehicle, getting out of it for something more fuel efficient might seem like an unattainable dream. Fear not, the smarties over at Consumer Reports have rightly pointed out that since depreciation accounts for ...

Nissan ECO Pedal puts pressure on lead foots 1 year ago on Autoblog

As if "shift lights" weren't annoying enough... Nissan's new "ECO pedal" has been engineered to encourage good fuel economy with a servo-actuated gas pedal that will push back on the driver's lead foot when on-board computers detect wasteful acceleration. According to Nissan, vehicles equipped ...

Cars.com creates True Mileage Index to debunk CAFE 1 year ago on Autoblog

In an effort to expose the underreported truth behind the government's corporate average fuel economy ratings (CAFE) and to define more accurate fuel economy estimates, the team over at Cars.com has created their own True Mileage Index. The consumer website points out the flaw behind CAFE is that ...

One MPG is not enough: Automakers desperate to make a gallon go further 1 year ago on Autoblog

If anyone were to come along and do an updated version of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing," the could change the background vocal from "I want my MTV" to "I want my MPG" or "I want my low Cd." Coefficient of drag, that is. Carmakers are taking every step they can, starting with aerodynamics, to ...

Chrysler's Volt competitor coming by 2013 1 year ago on Autoblog

A tanking light truck market has hurt Chrysler more than most automakers, and a quick glance at the Pentastar's lineup shows that its lack of a small car isn't helping matters, either. Another thing that Chrysler doesn't appear to have in the immediate future is a plug-in hybrid or electric car. ...

Low-rolling resistance tires going mainstream 1 year ago on Autoblog

The car-buying public has put its collective foot down and demanded fuel-efficient vehicles, and automakers are likely to do anything to answer customer demand. That may include reinventing the wheel, as more automakers look into incorporating low rolling resistance tires into non-hybrid vehicles. ...

Hyundai Santa Fe to get four-cylinder in 2010 1 year ago on Autoblog

In a trend that is sure to prove popular, Hyundai will add a less powerful and more fuel efficient four-cylinder to the available engine lineup on its Santa Fe model when it is redesigned for 2010. As of today, the four-door crossover is available with a choice of either a 2.7-liter or a ...

Ferrari cutting CO2 output by 40%, hybrid sports car in the works 1 year ago on Autoblog

Mainstream automakers are faced with the reality of improving the efficiency and cleanliness of everyday vehicles, but companies like Porsche and Lamborghini say drastic change would effect the underlying character of their products. Ferrari apparently doesn't feel the same way, as the exotic ...

Toyota: The solution to high gas prices? Drive less! 1 year ago on Autoblog

Automakers understand that the buying public is struggling with high gas prices, and the entire industry is working on new technologies to ease our financial burden. Unfortunately, new fuel efficient products are going to take a while to develop on a large scale, so for now we're just going to have ...

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Autoblog Podcast #151: With Car and Driver's Eddie Alterman

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

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