Monday, November 15, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

First Look at 40 MPG Hyundai Elantra

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 01:25 PM PST

40 mpg is the new magic number when it comes to small cars, and the battle lines are being drawn. The latest entry comes from Hyundai, whose new 2011 Elantra gets 40 mpg, on the base model. Oh snap.

Last week GM was the one making waves with its Chevy Cruze Eco, which set the bar at 42 mpg on the highway. It is a lofty number requiring a number of aerodynamic improvements such as a front grille shutter and lowering the ride height, as the Cruze Eco does. The Elantra, which looks great, also manages to get 29 mpg, which is one better than the Eco. While Hyundai hasn't released pricing for the 2011 Elntra the Cruze Eco is priced at $18,995. The current Elantra starts at about $14,145, and prices shouldn't go up too drastically, meaning the Elantra will have a price advantage over the Eco that ought to make up for that 2 mpg discrepancy.

Under the hood, the 2011 Elantra gets a 1.4 lter engine that makes 148 horsepower and 131 ft-lbs, the same neighborhood as the Cruze. There are going to be just two trim levels initially, GLS and Limited. Even the base model GLS gets power windows, remote keyless entry, six airbags and four disc brakes. Limited models get bigger 17" wheels, fog lights, sunroof, and leather just about everywhere. The Elantra also weighs just 2,661 pounds for the GLS, and just over 2,700 for the Limited, making it quite the light car. Style didn’t suffer though, and I really dig the “flowy” lines. More details will emerge after its official L.A. Auto Show debut.

There are also rumors that the new Elantra might get a "touring" edition featuring a hatchback. Of course there is always the possibility of a hybrid or Eco Elantra as well. 45 mpg Hyundai anyone?

Source: Hyundai

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

German Man Drives Tesla Roadster 40,000 Miles In A Year

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 10:10 AM PST

I have racked up about 20,000 miles between my two (operational) vehicles. Seems like a lot, but it isn’t compared to Hansjorg von Gemmingen, who has racked up 40,000 miles on his Tesla Roadster in just 12 months.

Hansjorg, who is a stock broker, is one of those very wise rich men, who didn't become wealthy by mistake. Writing over at the Tesla Enthusiasts blog, Hansjorg writes that he drives his cars "until they literally fall apart." Some of his previous rides include a Beetle with 182,000 miles, a Mercedes with 347,000 miles and another Mercedes  with over 560,000 miles. That is an epic amount of driving, and it is small wonder he has put 40,000 miles on his Tesla in just 12 months. That is an average of over 3,300 miles a month, more than 100 miles a day!

Hansjorg usually works from home, but the man loves driving, and so often takes jaunts into the nearby Black Forest Nature Park for some scenic, spirited driving. He has also found that charging isn't much of a problem, because most European outlets have 220-240 volts of electric, rather than the standard 110-120 us Americans deal with. That means his roadster gets charged up a whole lot faster.

For Hansjorg, there is no limit to where his roadster can go. While the extra-powerful outlets help, it is a pretty convincing story that electric cars really are feasible for everyday driving.

Source: Tesla Enthusiasts Blog

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.

Buick LaCrosse Hybrid Ain’t No Hybrid

Posted: 15 Nov 2010 07:26 AM PST

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a mouse, right? Such is the case with the 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist, GM's latest hybrid. Just don't call it a hybrid.

First, the nitty gritty on the not-hybrid Buick LaCrosse eAssist. As the LaCrosse accelerates, a 15-kilowatt electric motor kicks in, providing 15 horsepower and 79 ft-lbs of torque to get the car going. When slowing down or coming to a stop, the electric motor kicks in again, shutting off the fuel supply and applying regenerative braking to the 115 volt lithium-ion battery pack. At cruising speed, a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 172 ft-lbs of torque takes over.

This boosts fuel economy by 25% over a non-eAssist LaCrosse, delivering 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Underbody panels, an automatic front grille air shutter, and six-speed automatic transmission contribute to the improved fuel mileage. A 2011 Buick LaCrosse equipped with the same 2.4 liter engine gets just 19 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Starting with the 2012 model (which comes out next year), GM will offer the eAssist as standard equipment on all 2.4 liter-equipped LaCrosses, and prices should be at or under the $30,000 mark.

For whatever reason, GM seems to want to segregate itself from standard terminology regarding electric vehicles and hybrids, and come up with their own nomenclature. For example the Volt is an "extended-range electric car", and this new Buick LaCrosse uses an "eAssist" system, rather than just calling it a hybrid (which it obviously is). It doesn't really bother me, though I wonder if not calling it a hybrid might actually lose them sales.

Buick is starting to really shape up though. Once neglected and almost assuredly marked for death, GM has salvaged the brand, first with the sharp-looking 2011 Buick Regal, and now offering a hybrid system as a standard feature for the LaCrosse. They also announced a Buick Regal GS, a faster version of the regular Regal with a nice horsepower bump. I’m sure eAssist will start showing up in other GM cars, and while the mileage isn’t exactly Earth-shattering, making it standard equipment and keeping the price down will go a long way towards moving these cars off the showroom floor.

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.
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