Autoblog

Survey Says: Fuel economy is #1 factor when buying a car

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising

It seems like it was just a few years ago that car manufacturers used to laugh at us when we'd ask why a new model didn't get any better fuel economy than its outgoing predecessor. "Car buyers don't care about fuel economy," was the refrain, "They certainly won't pay for it."

A few years of three- and four-dollar-per-gallon gas has apparently changed that attitude. According to a new study by Consumer Reports, 37 percent of respondents said fuel economy was now their leading consideration in car shopping, topping all others by a landslide. Quality was the second-most-important factor at 17 percent, while safety was mentioned by 16 percent, and value by 14 percent of shoppers. Two-thirds of respondents said they expected their next new vehicle to beat their current one on fuel economy. And yes, it is the economy, stupid, as 90 percent of those surveyed said high gas prices were the reason why they wanted a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

None of this is too surprising, given what has been going on both in the auto industry and in the larger economy since the economic meltdown of 2008. But we still kind of wonder how performance managed to rate number one with just six percent of those surveyed? Is that it then, there are six times as many tee-totalers than auto enthusiasts out there in the world?

CR says that it called 2,009 people across the country to get its results, obtaining 1,702 responses from adult car owners. Scroll down to read the full press release.

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Survey Says: Fuel economy is #1 factor when buying a car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 May 2012 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California breaks rank again, demands over 15% of cars sold be non-polluting by 2025

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Electric

Less than a year after everyone with any sort of say in the matter seemed to agree that 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025 was a properly attainable goal, the California Air Resources Board has decided to change things up a bit.

In addition to CAFE requirements of a 54.5-mpg fleet average (using the government's formula, not what you see on window stickers), at least 15.4 percent of all cars sold by any major automaker doing business in California will have to be either fully electric, a plug-in hybrid or be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell by 2025. There are questions about the "over-compliance" section of the bill, which we'll be investigating further.

According to Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, 15.4 percent is "actually a relatively modest goal, but that's all that we're mandating." Most automakers are on board, says Nichols. "Probably the most heartening aspect of this whole rulemaking was the level of cooperation that we received from the industry... Overall, the degree of support for the package was just extraordinary."

Even if automakers are on board, though, there's still a question of who will actually buy the vehicles. While everyone wants better fuel efficiency, not everyone is willing to pay for it, counters the California New Car Dealers Association, estimating that the plan would add about $3,200 to the average price of a new car or truck. Perhaps to help dissuade such fears, Nichols added that "direct incentives to people who buy these cars (like) rebates and credits" are also in the works.

At least 10 more states are likely to follow California's lead, reports Automotive News. That would put the total number of advanced green vehicles (either with a plug or powered by hydrogen) at around three million total units by 2025, 1.4 million of which would be in California.

California breaks rank again, demands over 15% of cars sold be non-polluting by 2025 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How much will the EPA's new fuel economy standards cost each automaker?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it will cost automakers an average of $948 to meet the 34.1 mile per gallon Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards that will be adopted in the United States in 2016. The current standard sits at 27.5 mpg. The EPA estimates that the average owner will save some $4,000 in fuel costs over the life of the vehicle, resulting in a net savings of over $3,000 per owner.

Sounds like a fair deal, right? Well... let's delve deeper into the numbers. The New York Times reports that some automakers will be paying much more money to reach the 2016 CAFE requirements than others. With its penchant for hybrid cars, it's no surprise that it will cost Toyota the least amount to comply at just $455 per vehicle. Kia ($501 per vehicle), Honda ($574) and Hyundai ($745) all have it relatively easy as well.

Now things get a little murkier. General Motors will reportedly have to shell out $1,219 per vehicle to comply with the 2016 CAFE regulations; Ford will spend $1,228 per vehicle. Chrysler has it even worse, with an estimated $1,328 per vehicle. Still, that pales in comparison to Volkswagen, which is expected to spend a whipping $1,693 for each vehicle it sells here in the States to hit the 34.1 mpg requirement. Yowza.

As pointed out by NYT, though, we shouldn't necessarily feel bad for those automakers paying more per vehicle. After all, companies like Toyota and Honda have already paid huge sums of money in research and development costs to get their fleet mileage figures where they are - in a way, you could say that the EPA is forcing thirstier brands just to follow suit. For more analysis of the numbers and how they will affect automakers and consumers, click here.

[Source: The New York Times | Image: Rich Pedroncelli/AP]

How much will the EPA's new fuel economy standards cost each automaker? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai CEO targets 50 mpg by 2025, but that figure isn't as high as you think

Chris Shunk — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

The U.S. government is investigating the possibility of raising fuel economy standards to 62 miles per gallon by 2025. The Detroit Free Press reports that Hyundai isn't yet endorsing that number, but CEO John Krafcik feels 50 miles per gallon is well within reach. The Korean automaker already features two vehicles capable of 40 miles per gallon in the Sonata Hybrid and the new Elantra, and the next 15 years promises to show further gains in efficiency.

And that's not the only reason Krafcik is optimistic. CAFE fuel economy is actually figured out differently than the formula used by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Freep points out that while the monroney on an Elantra will show 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, the compact's CAFE number will be 44 mpg. What a difference a formula makes. The outspoken chief executive says that taking a hard look at the CAFE numbers makes 50 mpg seem "a heck of a lot more doable."

Doable, yes, but 50 mpg still isn't an easy task. Hyundai's two best vehicles are still under that number, and the rest of the company's fleet is far below the magic total. But 15 years is a long time in research and development years, and we're thinking most automakers will have at least a fighting chance to reach the big five-oh by 2025.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Second Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Hyundai CEO targets 50 mpg by 2025, but that figure isn't as high as you think originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: U.S. considering 62 mpg CAFE target by 2025

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:41:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

A CAFE standard of 62 miles per gallon by 2025 might indeed come to pass. The Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency today released a "Notice of Intent to Improve Fuel Economy and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2017-2025" (PDF) that includes, as one possibility, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by six percent a year for the years in question. A drop that steep would put us on track for 62 mpg, but the agencies are also looking at three, four and five percent decreases (where three percent equals a 47 mpg level by 2025).

Why does the administration think higher CAFE standards are important? Two reasons: the environment (of course) and the economy. The Notice of Intent says:

The automotive market is becoming increasingly global. The U.S. auto companies produce and sell automobiles around the world, and foreign auto companies produce and sell in the U.S. As a result, the industry has become increasingly competitive. Staying at the cutting edge of automotive technology, while maintaining profitability and consumer acceptance, has become increasingly important for the sustainability of auto companies. Trends in the world automotive market suggest that investments in improved fuel economy and advanced technology vehicles are a necessary component for maintaining competitiveness in coming years.

Nothing has been decided just yet, and we are not in a comment period. The 62 mpg level got a big pile of support from the governors of eight states - New York, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Washington - and other early voices are in favor of the go-big-or-go-home proposal. The governors write:

We urge you to set ambitious new standards for passenger vehicles. We have seen the automakers meet goals time and time again, and we are confident that technological improvements, including the plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles that they are rolling out, will increase efficiency and affordability further and will make 60 miles per gallon commonplace.

Some, though, are urging for a slow process. Dave McCurdy, president of the Auto Alliance, said in a statement that the automakers he represents want to work with the agencies on the new standard and that:

EPA and DOT should now engage a broad range of independent experts to undertake a thorough analysis and balance the technological opportunities to improve vehicle and fleet fuel economy with the economic challenges they present - for automakers and American consumers.

The government plans to issue its proposal next September and won't make a final rule until July 2012. You can read today's official government release here (PDF) and read related press releases after the jump. For more on the higher CAFE targets, read this.

[Sources: DOT, Detroit News, Auto Alliance]

Continue reading Confirmed: U.S. considering 62 mpg CAFE target by 2025

Confirmed: U.S. considering 62 mpg CAFE target by 2025 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey: Consumers find proposed new fuel economy labels confusing

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Electric, Diesel

EPA/DOT Proposed Fuel Economy Labels - Click above for high-res versions

It's always a tough road to hoe when it comes time to make wholesale changes to something consumers know and are comfortable with - just ask Car and Driver. But, progress is progress, and sometimes a redesign is necessary in order to keep pace with the times.

Such is the case with today's fuel economy labels. Although we all understand what miles per gallon means (well, mostly...) and what kind of figures we should expect from a given type of vehicle, the future has plenty in store that will drastically change all of that; namely, electric cars and plug-in hybrids. That being the case, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation were charged with designing completely revised fuel economy labels for new vehicles at the dealership.

Judging by the response from our earlier article on the subject, consumers are split on the new stickers' effectiveness. A new study from Siegel+Gale seems to confirm this suspicion. The full details can be found in the press release after the break and from this PDF, but the gist is as follows:

Two-thirds of respondents preferred the horizontal option over the vertical option (see here), but 38-percent still found something confusing about the winning label. A resounding 86 percent said that miles per gallon was the most important figure, while 68 percent cared most about greenhouse gas emissions.

As for us, we're thinking that much of the problem lies with the fact that the public at large still doesn't understand electric vehicles and, more specifically, extended-range electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Many of the features consumers say they could do without were added to the labels in an attempt to give an accurate representation of electric vehicle mileage benefits.

Gallery: EPA/DOT Proposed Fuel Economy Labels

[Source: Siegel+Gale]

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Survey: Consumers find proposed new fuel economy labels confusing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Federal CAFE standards officially released, 34.1 mpg by 2016

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:38:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Electric

We knew it was coming. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency jointly released new federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) fuel mileage and greenhouse gas emissions requirements that will cover the 2012 through 2016 model years. The estimated fleet-wide fuel economy standard has been set at 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016, though improvements in air conditioning systems will bring that number up to around 35 mpg. That equals a standard of roughly 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile.

The overall fleet fuel mileage requirement will be an average between both passenger cars and light trucks, and NHTSA is predicting that the 2012 numbers will be 33.3 for cars and 25.4 for trucks in 2012, rising to 37.8 for cars and 28.8 for trucks by 2016. As before, credits will be dished out for vehicles that can run on E85 (ethanol), though automakers will need to prove their cars are running on the alcohol fuel by 2015 to continue earning those credits.

Smaller volume automakers that sold fewer that 400,000 cars in 2009 will get a break on the requirements while "specialty automakers" such as BMW and Porsche will reportedly get longer lead-in times. Automakers will also get some sort of incentive for the first 200,000 plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles built by 2016. These standards are said to be equivalent to taking 58 million cars off our nation's roads for a year, representing a savings of 1.8 billion barrels of oil.

Naturally, all of this is going to cost some extra dough. If the Feds are right, automakers will spend $51.5 billion over the next five years putting the standards into effect and the average price of a new car will rise by $985 by 2016. Savings, though, are expected to be even greater, with the average consumer will net an extra $3,000 in their wallets per in fuel savings over the life of the vehicle.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Tim Boyle/Getty]

New Federal CAFE standards officially released, 34.1 mpg by 2016 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:19:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

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 25.1 and Hyundai at 24.9 mpg. American nameplates made the biggest mileage jump, rising about four percent from August of 2008 to 20.4 mpg - a new record.

Nobody knows exactly what will happen when the sales figures from September are calculated, but many experts are predicting that fuel efficiency will take a nosedive now that C4C will no longer be offering up to $4,500 to trade up to a new, more efficient car or truck. Overall though, fuel efficiency is likely to steadily increase over the next few years in correlation with the latest CAFE requirements.

[Source: Wards Auto via Green Car Reports | Image: Kevork Djansezian/Getty]

Average new car mpg levels hit record high in August, spurred by Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST

2010 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

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 Consumer Reports. Not all cars perform the same at various speed limits, and as you might expect, America's most fuel efficient models are also the vehicles most affected by higher speeds.

A total of seven vehicles were tested by CR: a Acura TSX with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder; a new 2010 Honda Insight; a Lexus RX350; a Mercury Mountaineer with 4.6-liter V8; Toyota Camry and RAV4 with 2.5-liter four-bangers; and a Yaris with a 1.5-liter four.

As you're probably aware, today's hybrids are optimized for high fuel economy at city speeds and therefore lose much of their miserly ways on the highway. As it turns out, this was especially true of the new Insight hybrid, which lost over 15 miles per gallon moving the needle from 55 mph to 75 mph - the largest drop in the contest. Click here for the complete test results.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer Reports tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

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 camp - especially if the car or truck were purchased in large part to its high mileage rating - and you can add our names to that list as well. As it turns out, the process is every bit as as complicated as we'd expect.

Car and Driver recently hung out at the EPA's testing facility near the Motor City, and some highly intriguing bits of information were gleaned. For instance, C/D says that just 15 percent of new cars get tested by the EPA each year for fuel efficiency, and the rest get their ratings from testing performed by the manufacturer using the government agency's guidelines. It's reportedly rare that the EPA's figures vary greatly from the numbers provided by the manufacturer, but if they do, discussions and negotiations ensue.

There are a total of five tests performed to measure expected fuel efficiency, some dating all the way back to the late Seventies. More recent protocols are a bit more complex and require specialized facilities that can cost up to $10 million dollars by EPA estimates. There's plenty more to the story, so click here to read the full four-page report. Hat tip to Julio!

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Car and Driver]

C/D drills down to find out what goes into EPA fuel economy ratings originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Industry sets fuel efficiency record in first half of '08

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Government/Legal, Green

In light of the current pain at the pumps, fuel economy is on all of our minds these days no matter what kind of car you drive. That being the case, it might not be surprising to you that the car we're buying are getting more fuel efficient. Don't believe us? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just revealed that the U.S. auto industry set a new record in overall fuel efficiency during the first half of the 2008 model year by averaging 26.8 mpg through March. That's up from an average of 26.6 mpg through the entire 2007 model year.

While this is certainly good news for both consumers and manufacturers that need to meet the government's mandated CAFE standards, the numbers used by the NHTSA aren't really representative of the real-world fuel mileage you should expect to achieve on the road. The testing standards were initially created in 1975 and automakers get certain credits for creating flex-fuel vehicles, which can artificially inflate their miles-per-gallon numbers. Additionally, automakers earn credits for surpassing the CAFE requirements and can carry these credits forward for up to three years. Still, the numbers are somewhat worthwhile when comparing the current model-year with those of the past. Expect to see the year-end numbers set another new record as consumers continue choosing smaller and more fuel efficient models over larger, gas-guzzling choices.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Industry sets fuel efficiency record in first half of '08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes mulling blown four-cylinder for C-Class in the States

Dan Roth — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Sedan, Green, Mercedes-Benz

When the C-Class predecessor launched, it was known as the 190 and carried a four-cylinder powerplant underhood. Mercedes is now considering a return to four-pots in the U.S. market as the price of fuel continues to soar. MBZ is reportedly already testing a 1.4-liter carrying a supercharger, which is strange when you consider there's already a 1.8-liter blown four-cylinder on sale in Europe. The C180 Kompressor seems like it'd be the easy way to get fours back into the U.S. lineup, but Mercedes must have some other ideas driving the decision to develop the smaller 1.4.

Even stranger, while the talk is all about forced induction, the end result will supposedly be underwhelming in the power department, so Mercedes is planning on ramping up the glitter without delivering the gold. Perceived performance is the euphemism for a car that comes with a loud exhaust and twitchy throttle, and that's what Mercedes engineers think it will take to make the car palatable to U.S. buyers. Gee, leave the sound insulation out so that 25 mph feels like 100 and we're sold! Seriously, is this a late April Fool's joke? "Perceived performance?" A car that's not in denial about being thrifty might be more successful than a poseur.

[Source: Inside Line]

Mercedes mulling blown four-cylinder for C-Class in the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keep track of your fuel use with My Milemarker

Chris Tutor — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:53:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Technology

With gasoline prices sometimes spiking above $3, it's good to know just how much of the stuff you're burning. And as a good car owner, you know the best way to do that is to habitually keep track of how many miles you've driven, how many gallons you've pumped and how often you change your car's oil.

The easiest way, of course, is to just keep a small notebook and pen in your glovebox. But if you've abandoned such ancient technology for more modern record-keeping, maybe you should give My Milemarker a try. It's a new website that helps you keep track of things like how much fuel you're burning, how much money you're spending on that fuel and how often you're changing your oil.

It's simple, ad-free interface even lets you text message your information from your mobile phone. Or, if you have a laptop (or an iPhone), you can input the info directly. It will even keep track of multiple cars.

It's a sweet melding of geek and automotive. Oh, and it's free.

[Source: Lifehacker]

Keep track of your fuel use with My Milemarker originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill proposed to raise fuel economy standards 4% a year through 2018

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:35:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

U.S. Representative Ed Markey, D-Mass., is introducing a bill today that will require automakers to raise their fuel economy standards by 4% a year starting in late 2009 for cars and late 2011 for trucks. The key word here is "require," as President Bush proposed a similar plan that was more of a really strong suggestion with a few loopholes than an actual law with penalties for not being followed.

On the brightside, Markey's plan is reportedly less severe than previous ones he's proposed, though it is estimated that raising fuel economy standards 4% a year will cost the auto industry a grand total of $114 billion between 2010 and 2017. U.S. automakers would likely shoulder about $85 billion of that expense. Markey's plan would even require that fuel economy standards continue to rise 4% a year in 2018 and beyond, that is, if it's technologically feasible. Talk about a big if.

The ultimate goal of Markey's plan would get fuel economy standards for automaker fleets to 35 mpg by 2018. In truth, that's a decade of time to add an additional 10 mpg to the current standard. It doesn't sound impossible, especially if vehicles like the GM Volt reach production and prove that hyper mileage cars can be sold alongside relative gas guzzlers to even out the MPG balance sheets. Unfortunately, that doesn't really account for gas guzzlers outselling high-mileage vehicles many times over.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Bill proposed to raise fuel economy standards 4% a year through 2018 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get ready for mileage to drop: new EPA rating system unveiled

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:52:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

For the first time in more than 20 years, the US Government is changing the way they calculate the estimated fuel mileage on window stickers. The changes will be seen starting with 2008 model year cars in the form of a newly styled window sticker and a new test procedure to better reflect the actual mileage customers can hope to achieve.

The test procedure is being changed for a lot of reasons, but mainly it's because the government has realized that people don't drive much like the computer model used in today's testing.

They are going to adjust the procedure to reflect our higher freeway speeds, the fact that people tend to accelerate much harder than the computer, our constant use of air conditioning and the effects of adverse-weather driving. We can only guess that most estimates will go down somewhat in this new formula. And we are not alone.

Scared at the possible backlash when their vehicles appear to be getting poorer mileage, major carmakers have banded together to create a website, www.mileagewillvary.com, to help educate consumers about the apparent drop in fuel economy.

Consumers tend to be pretty savvy and at times ignore the estimates altogether, so we expect most people will adapt pretty quickly. One area that may be a concern, however, is the CAFE requirements, which may or may not be altered to reflect the new measuring procedures.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req]

Get ready for mileage to drop: new EPA rating system unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automakers spared tougher CAFE rules - for now

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 11 May 2006 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Government/Legal

The U.S. congress gave automakers a break Thursday, as the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted down a proposal to require 33 mpg fuel economy standards (averaged over cars and trucks) by 2015.

The same committee voted in favor of a bill to give the administration more authority to change CAFE rules going forward, as part of its attempt to get in front of voters' growing concerns about the rising cost of fuel.

The next stop for the Bush administration's bill is the full House of Representatives - expect a host of amendments as lawmakers try to respond to their constituents' growing concerns about the nation's energy policy.

[Source: Automotive News]

Automakers spared tougher CAFE rules - for now originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 May 2006 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Honda Fit Hybrid to get Insight engine

John Neff — Sat, 06 May 2006 02:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Honda

Guess what happens to fit perfectly between the front wheels of a Honda Fit... the Honda Insight's hybrid powertrain. The distance between the front wheel hubs of both vehicles is identical, and a Honda insider confirmed to Bradley Berman of HybridCars.com that the Fit will arrive in 2007 with the Insight's hybrid drivetrain and the ability to achieve fuel economy in the low to mid-50 mpg range.

This is huge news as the Insight, which sells less than 100 units every month, has always been hampered for being an impractical two-seater. It soldiers on soley for the fact it allows Honda to maintain bragging rights for selling the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the U.S.

With 90 cubic feet of passenger volume and 21.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity, the Fit Hybrid will be as practical and fuel-efficient as a Toyota Prius, but will likely cost between $15,000 and $17,000, substantially less than the Prius and even Honda's own Civic Hybrid.

[Source: HybridCars.com via TreeHugger.com]

2008 Honda Fit Hybrid to get Insight engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 May 2006 02:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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High gas prices inflate nitrogen-in-tires debate. Again.

Stuart Waterman — Wed, 03 May 2006 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Technology

The picture at right nicely captures the sales message at many service centers. But will you get better gas mileage if you inflate your car's tires with nitrogen instead of compressed air? That's one of the claims of advocates of nitrogen inflation systems, like N2Revolution, and auto service centers that offer nitrogen inflation services (often for a fee).

The idea stems from the fact that underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, adversely affecting fuel economy (among other things). Any gas mileage improvement through using nitrogen in tires would come from nitrogen's reported ability to maintain tire pressure at the correct level for longer, because nitrogen is supposed to leak through the walls of the tire more slowly than oxygen. Well, perhaps, but air is already about 78 percent nitrogen, so devotees won't really realize a huge benefit from switching to pure nitrogen. Not only that, but leakage is likely to be more significant at the tire bead or around the valve than through the body of the tire.

Other nitrogen benefits are sort of "inherited" from its use in aircraft tires, truck tires and race car tires. (If it's good for the pros it should be good for us, right?) The use of nitrogen is required in the braked wheels of aircraft over a certain weight, because the inert gas reduces explosion risk under combinations of extreme loads and high temperatures that far exceed the conditions experienced by car tires. As an inert gas, nitrogen may also extend the life of the tire carcass - important if tires are retreaded, as is common for trucks and aircraft, but insignificant for car and light vehicle tires, where tread wear determines longevity. Racers know that the most important benefit of using nitrogen is that it is "dry" - the water vapor in compressed air causes too great a pressure change as the tire heats up, a big deal when a half-pound of air pressure change can affect the handling of a racecar at the outer limits of performance.

The bottom line? Nitrogen is no substitute for checking your tire's inflation regularly. If it's free, go ahead and use it. If you have to pay for it, save your money.

[N2Revolution via CNET]

High gas prices inflate nitrogen-in-tires debate. Again. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 May 2006 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live Green, Go Yellow, Get Directions from OnStar

John Neff — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 17:03:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, GM

OnStar will begin a service in June that can locate ethanol refueling stations for customers with E85-compatible flex-fuel vehicles. OnStar subscribers will first get an email detailing where E85 pumps are in their area and if they venture outside the comfort zone a quick push of OnStar's blue button will dial up a representative who can help with directions. Inside Line is also reporting that OnStar is planning another new service that would let vehicle owners know when their tires are underinflated, a minor maintenance issue that can have a large negative impact on fuel economy.

Live Green, Go Yellow, Get Directions from OnStar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Apr 2006 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan revises down Versa fuel economy

John Neff — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Nissan

In a short-but-sweet press release Nissan announced that it is revising downward the estimated EPA combined city/highway gas mileage for its Xtronic CVT-equipped Versa sub-compact. The original estimate was 38 mpg, which has now fallen to 33 mpg. Nissan offered no explanation for the adjustment. All Versa models are powered by a 122-hp, 1.8L four-cylinder engine.

[Source: Nissan]

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