Thursday, November 11, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

Toyota/Tesla Rav4 To Debut at L.A. Auto Show

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 03:22 PM PST

Toyota made waves this summer when they announced a strategic alliance with Tesla. Toyota infused $60 million into Tesla, and together the two will develop an all-electric Rav4, which will debut at the L.A. Auto Show.

Tesla and Toyota have been coy on the subject of the electric Rav4, though rumors have been swirling since their partnership was announced. They didn't bother to give out any details on the electric Rav4 either, but hopefully they will have something good to share with us besides these two pictures. An all-electric Rav4 could hit showrooms as early as 2012.

I’m guessing the electric Rav4 will have a range not quite that of the Tesla Roadster (as there is a substantial weight difference) but probably in the range of 150-170 miles. If Toyota can keep the price under $50,000, they might have a winner.

Source: Toyota

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Chevy Cruze Eco Earns 42 MPG Highway Rating

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 12:46 PM PST

Things are heating up in the small car segment. GMhas rated its Chevy Cruze Eco model at 42 mpg highway. That beats out many pricier hybrids and sets a new bar in the under-$20,000 segment.

I hope you can drive standard though. Otherwise, you are stuck with the six-speed automatic transmission, which gets 26 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, not bad but not class-leading numbers either. GM got a bulk of its mpg-improvements from aerodynamic enhancements, like a lower grille that closes off at highway speed, under-body panels, and a lowered ride height. They also added a baby spoiler, the same low-rolling resistance tires as the Volt, and a few other nips and tucks. A good way to keep costs down, but I have a feeling that lower automatic transmission rating will lose them a few customers.

If you do opt for a manual transmission, the Eco is rated for 28 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. That beats out the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Ford Focus (which is getting replaced next year with a 40 mpg version). With an MSRP of $18,995 for a turbocharged 42 mpg small sedan, that really isn't too shabby. If you're somebody who has a long commute on the highway, this car could save you a few bucks.

I also like that the standard engine for the Cruze is turbocharged. Despite being a gas-friendly car, it still makes a healthy 138 horsepower and 148 ft-lbs of torque. The manifold-integrated turbocharger might be a bit difficult to upgrade, but there is a way around everything. I hope to see a few Cruze Eco hot rods on the road too. Those aero enhancements don't just improve your mpg's, if you get my drift.

Source: GM

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Chevy Volt Could Go Up to Two Years Between Oil Changes

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 09:51 AM PST

GM is touting its new Chevy Volt as something of a money-saver. It can go up to 50 miles without using any gas. GM says the range-extending engine could go up to two years between oil changes too.

The Volt is due to hit dealerships sometime soon, and GM has been going through something of a media blitz touting the Volt as "more car than electric." This is because once the 50-mile all-electric range is used up, a range-extending gas engine kicks in, charging the battery and giving the Volt another 300 miles. However, if you use the Volt for just short jaunts, you can go weeks, even months on just a single tank of gas.

Yet that raised the question of what about the oil? The range extender is a regular engine, after all, and needs oil to be lubricated. The Volt will use a patented oil life monitoring system that notifies owners via email, smartphone apps, and even OnStar when the oil needs to be changed. Depending on usage, oil age, and temperatature, Volt owners could go up to two years between oil changes. As GM gets more data about oil usage though, they could raise that cap, depending on how the Volt performs.

If you drive 12,000 miles a year and change your oil every 3,000 miles (though with modern oils you can often go twice as long between changes) that is four oil changes a year. Since 80% of Americans don't even change their own oil, that could add up to quite a chunk of change. Just letting all this oil sit around though isn't good for the range extender, even if it isn't being used, so every six weeks the Volt will ask owners to allow it to run maintenance mode. This lets the range extender run briefly, lubricating the engine with oil and burning off some gas so it doesn't go stale.

I wouldn't mind changing my oil a lot less often. Then again, the Nissan Leaf doesn't need any oil at all…

Source: GM-Volt

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Honda to Roll Out New EV Concept at L.A. Auto Show

Posted: 11 Nov 2010 08:33 AM PST

For a company that rolled out one of the first hybrids in America, Honda has fallen behind in the electric vehicle race. They seem to realize this though, and will debut a new EV concept at the L.A. Auto Show.

Details on what exactly this new EV concept will be are non-existent, though Honda has provided us with the time and location of the unveiling. Wednesday, November 17th at the L.A. Auto Show, around 1:20 pm. If you can't make it to the show, they will be live-streaming the webcast.

Could it have something to do with Honda's plan to ditch nickel-metal hydride batteries in favor of lithium-ion packs? Maybe.

Personally, I'm hoping for an all-electric CR-Z concept, which to me would make the most sense. It is their newest car, already has a hybrid setup, and the spotlight has been firmly set on it since it first debuted over three years ago. Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but a sporty, all-electric CR-Z for under $30,000 would definitely tempt me and my wallet.

It could be just about anything though, from a new NSX concept (like the Sports Car Concept above we first saw in 2007) to CR-V. What kind of electric vehicle concept are you hoping Honda rolls out in L.A?

Source: Honda

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.
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