Mazda Green Car Advisor Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

October 5, 2009

Mazda Seeking Billion-Dollar Capital Boost To Help Fund Green Initiatives

In a bid to catch-up to other major players in the auto industry's green sweepstakes, Mazda "Zoom-Zoom" Motor Corp. say is is planning to raise as much as $1.1 billion in new capital with much of it earmarked for development of hybrids and other fuel-efficient technologies.

The Japanese automaker does have a hybrid in the market, the slow-selling Tribute hybrid SUV, but it is simply a re-badged version of Ford's escape hybrid.

Now that Ford no longer owns controlling interest in Mazda, that kind of cross-corporate product and technology sharing is likely to stop.

So Mazda needs its own fuel efficiency lineup, and fast.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell October 5, 2009, 11:16 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: Mazda Hybrids

September 29, 2009

2009 Tokyo Auto Show: Mazda To Debut New Fuel-Efficient Engines, Transmission

The upcoming 209 Tokyo motor Show is going to be the slimmest in decades, with no US or major European automakers slated to attend - casualties of the recession.

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Mazda says its Kiyora city car concept will be updated with newest technologies for the Tokyo Show next month.
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That may, however, work to the advantage of hometown automakers such as Mazda.

The company said late Monday that it will use the show to spotlight the world premiers of two new fuel-efficient engines - a clean diesel and a direct-injected gasoline model, as well as a new high-efficiency automatic transmission,

Mazda also will stage the Japanese introduction of its Kiyora concept car that showcases the car makers' next-generation environmental and safety advances.

Originally unveiled at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, the Kiyora is a flame-shaped, glass-roofed. 4-seat city car concept that foreshadows the replacement for the Mazda 2 city car.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell September 29, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Diesel, Fuel Economy, Japan, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Tokyo Auto Show

September 18, 2009

Mazda2 Coming to America; Fuel Economy Likely 35+ MPG, Price Around $16,000

After wavering awhile, Mazda has decided to jump into America's rapidly growing small-car segment with the company's fuel-efficient Mazda2 model.

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Right, the current Mazda2. The U.S. version will debut in L.A. in December.
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The five-door hatchback, which is currently sold in Europe, will begin appearing in U.S. showrooms during the fall of 2010, company officials told Mazda dealers at the automaker's annual meeting this week.

The vehicle will share a platform as the Ford Fiesta, which is scheduled to launch in America next summer. In addition to the Fiesta, the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Chevrolet Aveo will provide the Mazda2 with some stiff competition.

The U.S.-spec Mazda2 will be unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show in December. The current version of the Mazda2 has been on sale in Europe and Japan since 2007. In Japan, it is known as the Demio.

In Europe, the Mazda2 is offered with several gasoline and diesel engines. The U.S. edition will feature only a gasoline-powered, 1.5-liter four-cylinder.

That version in Europe delivers 103 horsepower and 101 pounds-feet of torque. It propels the Mazda2 from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 10.4 seconds while delivering 41 miles per gallon in Europe's combined driving cycle test; in the more real-world American combined driving cycle test, fuel economy should be 35-38 mpg.

The Mazda2 is offered as both a three- and five-door in Europe, but only the five-door will be available in the U.S. It comes only with a five-speed manual transmission in Europe, but the U.S. version will be available with a five-speed automatic.

Mazda would not disclose U.S. pricing, but in the U.K. it's priced around $16,750 not including taxes and fees. A Mazda source said the U.S. version will be priced somewhat lower.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett September 18, 2009, 2:41 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Mazda, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Chevrolet Aveo

September 16, 2009

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Mazda Introduces a Dreamy MX-5 Superlight Concept

Mazda celebrated 20 years of the Miata sports car with the unveiling this week of the MX-5 Superlight Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and oh what a wonderful thing the Japanese automaker has done.

Like a sculptor working a clump of clay -- and we're NOT referring to any Miata as a clump of clay -- Mazda's engineers took a third-generation face-lifted 2010 MX-5 and pared it back to create a sports car weighing only 2,189 pounds; the regular MX-5 weighs more than 3,000 pounds.

In other words, they took a two-seater an Edmunds.com's Inside Line writer referred to as a "feisty little roadster" in a glowing review earlier this year and made it even nimbler and punchier. Who wouldn't love that?

Said project lead designer Hasip Girgin, the challenge was "to evolve the MX-5, developed to perfection during the last 20 years, to a higher and extreme level."

Girgin and his team responded to the challenge by removing the windscreen and roof, replacing the standard hood with a longer one made of carbon fiber, substituting carbon-fiber bucket seats for the standard, removing the air-conditioner, using an aluminum gearshift and handbrake...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett September 16, 2009, 1:51 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Fuel Economy, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: Frankfurt Motor Show

September 14, 2009

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Greenest Car Show Begins Previews Tuesday

Hyundai Motors' ix-Metro Hybrid city car is one of several dozen 'green' cars and concepts debuting at Frankfurt show.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

This week's Frankfurt Auto Show promises to be the greenest major auto show to date - a showcase for fuel efficiency improvements and alternative powertrains that are coming to the forefront as the mainstream auto industry finally begins coming to grips with the need to begin weaning itself - and us - from petroleum.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 14, 2009, 1:49 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Citroen, Diesel, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show

August 21, 2009

Mazda Says Fuel-Saving Rotary and 4-Cylinder Engines Will Arrive in 2011

Mazda will introduce a more fuel-efficient powertrain by 2011, kick-starting its pledge to increase fuel economy across its model line 30 percent by 2015, Automotive News (subscription required) reported today.

Mazda is developing a range of four-cylinder and rotary engines that are expected to result in higher fuel economy ratings.

For example, Seita Kanai, head of Mazda's R&D department, said a redesign of Mazda's best-selling 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with a new six-speed automatic transmission will see city fuel economy increase to 32 miles per gallon from 22. Highway fuel economy would increase to 42 mpg from 32.

"We want to provide this technology to all owners, not just through a few eco-friendly vehicles," Kanai said in a media briefing in Monterey, California.

Mazda did not say which engine or vehicle would be the first to market with the increased efficiency. But Robert Davis, senior vice president of Mazda North American Operations R&D, said the new powertrains cannot be retrofitted to an existing product line.

Given Mazda's product cadence, the redesigned MX-5 convertible or Mazda5 small minivan likely would get the new engines first. The entire model lineup will be equipped with the new engines by 2015, Kanai said.

The 30 percent improvement in fleet fuel economy does not include improvements from idle-stop, regenerative braking or hybrid powertrain development, he said. And although hybrids are a part of Mazda's future, such technology is minor compared to the company's concentration on improving internal combustion engines.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (4); Scott Doggett August 21, 2009, 4:13 PM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Japan, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: Engine

July 31, 2009

Still Shopping? With Big Rebates, Hybrids and Diesels Can Be Attractive

If C4C Comes Back, Tech Premium For Many Could Be Offset; Manufacturer Rebates Would Do Same

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Got a gas guzzler that would qualify under the cash for clunkers program for a federal credit toward a new, more efficient car or truck? (That's if we still have a cash for clunkers program when the dust settles from Thursday's reveation that the programs's initial funding apparently has run dry.)

The situation's up in the air right now, but if you are in the mood to keep doing research, or perhaps have had the car-buying impulse jump-started and have decided to take the plunge - clunker incentive or no - this is a good time to look at hybrids and diesels.

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2009 Camry Hybrid has lowest technology premium, $239.

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If Congress keeps cash for clunkers going, or automakers step up with bigger incentives of their own to keep the market moving, the credits - ranging in the C4C program from $3,500 to $4,500 depending on the fuel economy of the new car or truck - could help make a previously unaffordable hybrid or clean diesel a lot more compatible with your budget.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 31, 2009, 7:09 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Diesel, Ford, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Cash For Clunkers

June 11, 2009

Mazda Seeking Alliances to Help Develop Hybrids, EVs and other Fuel-Saving Technologies

Mazda Motor Corp., already in a partnership with part-owner Ford Motor Co. to develop a hybrid vehicle, says it is looking at more alliances, with Ford and others, to develop electric cars and other "electric devices" that will help boost fuel economy.

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Mazda, seeking to boost its overall fuel efficiency, recently began commercial leases of this hydrogen-powered Premacy vant in Japan.
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Those devices could run the gamut from electric power steering, brake and climate systems to hybrid, hydrogen and fully battery-electric drive systems for cars and SUVs.

Ford, which once controlled Mazda, now holds a 13.8 percent stake in the company. The two already share some vehicle platforms (such as the Mazda 3 and Ford's European Focus) and Mazda's president said Wednesday that they intend to continue to develop shared vehicle platforms.

The company announced in April that it would develop a new Mazda hybrid as it seeks to increase its overall fleet fuel economy by 30 percent in the next six years.

To accelerate development of fuel efficiency technologies, the company now is considering multiple alliances, Mazda Senior Managing Director Seita Kanai said at a Wednesday press conference in Japan.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 11, 2009, 11:57 AM
Categories:: Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Mazda Hybrid

May 18, 2009

Are Automakers Finally Seeing the Light? Will Government and Greens See it Too?

Auto Industry Lines Up To Praise National Program Idea, Now the Hard Work Begins

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

The auto industry, tired of being seen as the bad guy whenever fuel economy and emissions regulation is on the table, is wasting no time lining up in support of tomorrow's White House announcement on development of a national carbon emissions and fuel efficiency program.

A cynic might think this doesn't bode well for the ultimate result of the rulemaking process that President Obama will outline at a press conference in Washington Tuesday morning: That the auto industry figures it has enough clout left to wring the life out of any effort to significantly improve fuel economy.

But we think it simply shows that an industry on life support and dependent on government largess here and overseas has finally read the writing on the wall and realizes that this is as good as it is ever going to get and that if it doesn't play ball it will have no say in the rules it eventually will have to live by.

Automakers also have been caught in a trap of their own making. They've been fighting California, the national leader in establishing greenhouse gas controls on motor vehicles, insisting that individual states shouldn't be able to set carbon emissions rules and that a national standard is needed.

Now the Obama administration has stepped to the table and said, as the president is wont to: "Okay, let's develop a national rule."

To oppose that would be political suicide.

In that vein, the two lobbying groups representing almost every car maker that does business in the U.S. have jumped on board and are voicing support for the so-called National Program for Autos.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 18, 2009, 6:00 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BMW, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: National CAFE Plan

March 25, 2009

Mazda Launches Japanese Lease Program for Hydrogen-Electric Hybrid

A year after road testing began, Mazda has launched commercial leasing in Japan of its hydrogen-electric Premacy hybrid delivery van.

The exteded-range system uses a hydrogen-fueled Mazda rotary engine to generate power for a 110 kilowatt electric drive motor. Electrical energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack while the hydrogen fuel for the internal combustion engine-generator is stored in a 5,000 psi high-pressure tank.

Mazda says the hydrogen-electric series hybrid system (similar to the gasoline-electric system used in the upcoming Chevrolet Volt) gives the 5-seat van a range of 125 miles on a tank of fuel.

The automaker has been developing hydrogen-burining rotary engine technology since 1991 and last year began testing hydrogen-rotary RX8 sports cars. The hydrogen-electric Premacy van, introduced at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, is the first to use engine in a series hybrid setup.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 25, 2009, 8:26 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, Hydrogen, Japan, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Hydrogen Electric Hybrid

March 16, 2009

Mazda Develops Japan's First Clean Diesel Urea Treatment, for 2010 CX-7

Mazda says it has developed Japan's first urea treatment system for clean diesels, to be used in Japanese and European diesel models of the 2010 Mazda CX-7 crossover.

Spraying urea - a form of ammonia - into the exhaust stream sets off a reaction that neutralizes much of the smog-causing NOx, or nitrates of oxygen, in diesel exhaust, transforming it into nitrogen and water vapor.

The technology is called selective catalytic reduction, or SCR.

The urea treatment to knock down NOx in diesel exhaust was first developed in Europe and for a time it looked as though Japanese automakers would ignore it in favor of a system, developed by Honda Motor Co. that employs engine heat and catalysts to create ammonia from NOx and then uses it to neutralize the pollutant.

The Honda system is self-contained while the urea system favored in Europe, and now by Mazda, requires car owners to top up a special urea tank, generally with every oil change.

Mercedes-Benz and several other European automakers are using urea-treatment systems in diesels sold in the U.S., but Mazda hasn't said whether it plans to bring the 2.2-liter clean diesel 2010 CX-7 (below) or any other diesel model to this country.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell March 16, 2009, 11:49 AM
Categories:: Diesel, Emissions, Japan, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Mazda CX 7

February 3, 2009

Two All-New Mazda3 Models to Receive Fuel-Saving Start-Stop System

Mazda Motor Corp. will debut two fuel-efficient models of the all-new second-generation Mazda3 product range at next month's 2009 Geneva Auto Show.

One of the models will be the standard Mazda3 fitted with a 2.0-liter engine. The other will be the higher-performing Mazda MPS, eqipped with a 2.3-liter turbocharged engine.

Both models will feature "i-stop," Mazda's advanced fuel-saving start-stop system. Mazda claims the system will boost the fuel economy of both models by 12 percent over their first-generation predecessors.

Further details, including mileage figures for the second-generation models, were not available. However, the 2009 Mazda3 is EPA rated at 24 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg highway with a 5-speed manual transmission, and 22/30 city/highway with an automatic transmission.

The 2009 Mazda3 MSP is EPA rated at 22/29 city/highway with a stick shift, and 22/28 city/highway with an automatic transmission.

The Mazda3 is one of Mazda's core products, with more than 2 million first-generation sport compacts sold. The second-generation, European-specifications Mazda3s are pictured here, with the sportier MSP version on top.

Mazda hasn't announced when the second-generation models will likely start appearing in showrooms. No doubt that's one of the salient pieces of information the company will withhold until the day the vehicles make their world debut in Geneva. That show will run March 3-15.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett February 3, 2009, 11:51 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Fuel Economy, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: Fuel Economy

November 11, 2008

Green Solutions -- Automotive and Otherwise -- Highlighted at "Opportunity Green"

By Dori Merifield, Contributor

The Opportunity Green conference held at UCLA over the weekend showcased a host of businesses that have reduced their environmental impact, with speakers from the likes of Patagonia, Whole Foods and Nike discussing their companies' missions, strategies and environmental solutions -- such as Patagonia's line of clothing made from recycled soda bottles .

The conference also recognized the green efforts of companies that brought us cupholders for carrying those soda bottles around all day, with an automotive panel featuring speakers from Toyota, Mazda, and newcomer Venture Vehicles, which is developing a fuel-efficient three-wheel hybrid (above) scheduled to launch in 2010.

David Stokols and Guy Mangiamele of Automotive Marketing Consultants, Inc., moderated and several other AMCI employees volunteered their time to help make the conference a success. "Our goal was to give the automotive industry a voice" said Stokols, AMCI's president and chief executive.

"We wanted members of the environmental community to understand the challenges in developing more fuel-efficient technologies."

One vehicle maker participating in the panel that definitely captured the attention of veteran environmentalists attending the show was Venture Vehicles, which is developing a plug-in hybrid three-wheeler that the company says will deliver fuel economy of more than 100 miles per gallon.

While the VentureOne will be classified as a motorcycle (as is any motor vehicle with fewer than four wheels) the "urban life vehicle," as Venture founder and chief operating officer Howard Levine likes to call it, has a fully enclosed seating compartment for two -- the passenger sitting behind the driver.

Both sit atop the battery pack and electronics and in front of the gas and electric powerplant, according to the company's illustration (right).

The company said that 20,000 people had pre-registered for the vehicle that will sell for approximately $25,000. The VentureOne's unique wheel-tilting technology will provide stability for the small, lightweight vehicle.

"Southern California has a huge influence on auto culture around the world. We can support change by adopting it here first," said AMCI's Stokols.

Speakers from the mainstream auto industry took pains to explain why that change hasn't happened as quickly as some want.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 11, 2008, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Opportunity Green Conference

November 7, 2008

Tax Credits for Leanest Hybrids Axed Despite Recognized Importance of the Cars

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

In Washington's infinite wisdom, the tax incentives that have bolstered U.S. sales of the most fuel-efficient hybrids are gone or soon will be at a time when experts agree the vehicles could play an important role in reducing America's addiction to foreign oil and in stopping global warming.

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Honda's 42-mpg 2008 Civic Hybrid; its tax break ends next month.
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Tax incentives tied to Toyota's 2005-2008 model-year Prius, which gets a phenomenal EPA-rated 48 miles per gallon in the city, 45 mpg on the highway and 46 combined, expired in October 2007.

That same month saw the tax credit for the 2007-2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid vanish, despite the fact that model gets an EPA-rated 34 mpg combined.

And soon we'll witness another mystery: In the final minutes of next month, as people around the world usher out the old year and celebrate the new, the U.S. tax incentive for the 2006-2008 Honda Civic Hybrid (42 mpg combined!) will dissolve at the stroke of midnight.

But the strangeness won't end there.

Beginning next spring, Honda will offer a hybrid achieving a claimed 60 mpg. What tax break will Uncle Sam provide buyers of this gas-sipper, the 2010 Honda Insight? None whatsoever.

None, as in the 2,200 fewer taxpayer dollars than he's offering buyers of the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid right now, despite the fact that big ol' honkin' SUV achieves only 21 mpg combined.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett November 7, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Nissan, Opinion, Saturn, Tax Incentives, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2007-08 Nissan Altima Hybrid

November 4, 2008

Hybrids Losing Ground in Shopper Consideration as Gas Falls, Credit Tightens

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

About the only thing sinking faster than new car sales these days is consumer interest in hybrids.

As the economy continues to tank and gas prices continue to fall, the number of consumers using the various Edmunds.com information channels to gather data on hybrid models has plummeted.

Hybrid consideration -- tallied by tracking the number of visitors to Edmunds' sites who spend time looking at model specifications and pricing data and cross-shopping hybrids with other hybrids and with conventional models -- is off 86 percent from its peak in mid-June.

By comparison, considerations of all new car and truck models are down 35 percent from the peak in May, according to data compiled for Green Car Advisor by Dr. David Tompkins, Edmunds.com's executive director of business solutions.

Consideration doesn't necessarily predict sales -- it could be that we're seeing the casual shoppers being knocked out of the box with only hard-core, determined buyers left looking.

Indeed, hybrid sales in October, while down 45 percent from their peak in April, were off only 9.4 percent from a year earlier. If seven models that weren't sold a year ago are omitted, the drop is sharper, at 16 percent. By comparison, total sales for the month were off 39 percent from the year's high in May and were down 32 percent from October 2007. Subtracting the 1,551 extra hybrids sold this year makes almost no difference in drop in total sales.

The sales figures show that hybrids continue to be popular among a significant slice of the public that's still buying cars -- they accounted for 2.6 percent of total October sales, their highest market share since July.

But Edmunds' hybrid consideration numbers may portend a bigger drop as the year progresses.

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Hydrid consideration (green) grew as gas prices rose but since summer has fallen faster than has consideration of all vehicles (red), according to Edmunds.com data. (Click on chart for expanded view.)
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With the nation in a recession that's been building since summer, you'd expect the numbers of people shopping for new cars, on-line and in dealerships, to decline, said Daniel Hall, vice president and data analyst at global auto industry consulting firm AutoPacific.

That the rate of decline for hybrid consideration is so much sharper, said Edmunds analyst Tompkins, shows that shoppers are being far more cautious about expenses than when gas prices were at their peak this summer and the line for hybrids at any price stretched around the block.

Back then, shoppers were enamored of the fuel economy a hybrid model could deliver in comparison to a conventionally powered model of the same vehicle.

Now, shoppers are looking not only at fuel economy -- which is less important to many as gas prices fall -- but at the so-called hybrid premium automakers charge to cover the extra cost of the battery packs and advanced powertrain components a hybrid requires.

Additionally, the nation's economic woes have made it more difficult for people to obtain loans, especially for big-ticket items such as homes and cars. When credit is already tight, a hybrid's premium price thins the herd, said Edmunds.com pricing and sales analyst Jessica Caldwell.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 4, 2008, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Consumer Interest In Hybrids

October 21, 2008

Automotive Designers Go To Town on Alternative-Fuel Racing Machines for 2025

The rules were crystal: chow mescaline and Twinkies, crank Hendrix or Led Zep, and design alt-fuel race cars for model year 2025 that defy normal imaginations.

At least that's our understanding of the rules given the nine Southern California automotive design studios competing in the fifth annual L.A. Auto Show's Design Challenge.

This year's entries will be judged by Tom Matano of San Francisco's Academy of Art University, Imre Molner of Detroit's College for Creative Studies, Stewart Reed of Pasadena's Art Center College of Design, and Daniel Simon, founder of Cosmic Motors.

The winning design will be announced at the auto show on Nov. 20. And now for your dreaming pleasure:

Audi R25 / Audi Design Center California

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 21, 2008, 4:10 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Alternative Fuel

October 15, 2008

Smart ForTwo, VW Diesels Join EPA's Top-10 List of Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued its 2009 fuel economy guide , with Smart cars and Volkswagen diesels now appearing on the government's top-10 list of most fuel-efficient vehicles available in America.

The Toyota Prius once again retains its position atop the list, with fuel-economy ratings of 48 miles per gallon in the city and 45 on the highway.

The additions to the top 10 list this year are the Smart ForTwo convertible and coupe and the Volkswagen Jetta diesels.

The Smarts, which arrived in the U.S. in January, were too late to make the 2008 guide. This year the Smart models hold down the No. 5 spot with ratings of 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.

The Jetta diesels were too heavy on emissions to enter the U.S. market last year, but they are in this year with improved emissions controls.

The Jetta diesel sedan and wagon with manual transmissions are in seventh place with ratings of 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The sedan and wagon with automatic transmissions are in eighth place with ratings of 29 city and 40 highway.

Without further ado, here is the top 10 list for 2009:

1. Toyota Prius (hybrid) -- 48/45

2. Honda Civic Hybrid -- 40/45

3. Nissan Altima Hybrid -- 35/33

4. Ford Escape Hybrid FWD; Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD; Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD -- 34/31

5. Smart ForTwo convertible; Smart ForTwo coupe -- 33/41

6. Toyota Camry Hybrid -- 33/34

7. Volkswagen Jetta (manual, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (manual, diesel) -- 30/41

8. Volkswagen Jetta (automatic, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (automatic, diesel) -- 29/40

9. Toyota Yaris (manual) -- 29/36

10. Toyota Yaris (automatic) -- 29/35

And the least fuel-efficient of all 2009 models? That would be the Lamborghini Murcielago, rated at 8 mpg city and 13 mpg highway.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 15, 2008, 5:53 PM
Categories:: Diesel, Emissions, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Lamborghini, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD

Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine Validation Vehicle Takes to Norwegian Roads

Mazda Motor Corp. today introduced an RX-8 Hydrogen RE validation vehicle to Norway's public roads in collaboration with the Norwegian national hydrogen project, or HyNor.

This marks the first time that a Mazda hydrogen rotary vehicle has been put into regular use on public roads outside Japan.

Initially, only one hydrogen RX-8 validation vehicle will be put in use in Norway, but the number will rise to 30 under commercial lease contracts beginning in fiscal year 2009.

The sole hydrogen RX-8 RE (rotary engine) was delivered in advance so that Mazda and HyNor, a national project that aims to establish a clean energy transport system based on hydrogen fuel, can jointly assess its driving performance in Norway.

HyNor includes a hydrogen energy infrastructure -- think filling stations -- under construction along a 360-mile route from Oslo to Stavanger.

Said Akihiro Kashiwagi, Mazda's program manager in charge of hydrogen rotary engine development: "Up to now, real world use of Mazda's hydrogen rotary vehicles has been limited to Japan. Participation in the HyNor project marks our advancement to the next stage."

Kashiwagi said Mazda will use the project's data to further develop hydrogen vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett October 15, 2008, 7:12 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hydrogen, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: Akihiro Kashiwagi

October 9, 2008

Mazda Says It Will Begin Mass Producing Hydrogen Rotary Engines as Early as 2013

Right, Mazda's RX-8 Hydrogen RE.

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Mazda doesn't get nearly the attention of Japan's Big 3, but it's hard to believe the automaker would remain No. 4 if its work on hydrogen-powered vehicles continues as it has.

And now the company known for extensive use of the Felix Wankel engine (think rotary) is gunning to become famous for hydrogen hybrid rotary engines.

Speaking to the British publication Autocar Wednesday, Mazda CEO for Europe James Muir said the automaker "will do the hydrogen rotary engine, but it won't be in production for at least five years."

That's significant, because while many automakers are working on hydrogen vehicles, most are focusing on running hydrogen through a fuel cell to generate electricity for an electric motor.

Very few carmakers -- Mazda among them -- are burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine. And that's something Mazda has been doing for a while with success.

Indeed, it has been four years to the month since the Japanese government granted Mazda approval to road test modified RX-8 sports cars that can run on gasoline and hydrogen with the flick of a switch.

With that approval, Mazda built a test fleet of more than 30 hydrogen-fueled rotary RX-8 Hydrogen RE (rotary engine) sports cars and drove the heck out of them.

The result of all that testing: The engine "proved ideal for burning hydrogen as the intake area of a rotary engine stays relatively cool in temperature, reducing the tendency for engine backfire -- a significant challenge in conventional engines."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett October 9, 2008, 8:43 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mazda
Technorati Tags:: Mazda Hydrogen Rotary Engine

October 1, 2008

Mazda Aims to Shed 440 Pounds From Each of Its Next Generation of Cars

Building on weight-reduction efforts it made in the design of its 2 five-door hatchback (pictured ), Mazda has announced that it will try to shed 200 kilograms, or 440 pounds, from each of its next generation of cars.

Japan's fourth-largest automaker says it will concentrate on lighter materials, new designs for vehicle chassis and new material-bonding techniques to achieve its goal. Reaching it is part of Mazda's effort to produce more fuel efficient vehicles.

One of the challenges Mazda engineers are working on is designing underbody structures in such a way that crash forces can be transferred to the floorpan instead of through the car's body. That would allow the top half of the shell to be lightened.

Expect Mazda's future vehicles to be less curvy along the sides, as straighter sides produce a stronger frame with less metal.

As for lighter materials, Mazda says it will make greater use of its recently developed "micro-cell" plastic. The company believes it can reduce the weight of all the plastic parts in a vehicle by up to 10 percent using this product, which features an aerated foam core.

The company also expects to shed powertrain weight with continued development of its rotary engines.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (5); Scott Doggett October 1, 2008, 9:56 AM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, Mazda

September 12, 2008

A Comprehensive Look at U.S. Tax Incentives for Buyers of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

Some blogs are reporting today that the U.S. government is now offering tax incentives for five diesel models, three from Mercedes-Benz and two from Volkswagen.

We brought you that information weeks ago, when it had just come out of the oven, so to speak.

But in case you missed it, here it is again, in a wrap-up of all the fuel-efficient vehicles that are now eligible for U.S. tax credits.

Just click on the charts below for easily readable charts of what's available.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 12, 2008, 12:26 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Natural Gas, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen

September 9, 2008

Mazda Unveils Technologies That Will Make Its Vehicles Substantially Greener

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Mazda Motor Corp. announced today that it has developed three technologies that will make the vehicles it manufactures considerably greener.

The Japanese automaker says its unique idling stop system -- Smart Idle Stop System -- improves fuel economy by about 10 percent in areas where vehicles frequently stop at traffic lights or in heavy traffic.

Conventional idling stop systems restart a vehicle's engine with an electric motor using exactly the same process as when the engine is started normally.

Mazda's system, on the other hand, restarts the engine through combustion. It initiates engine restart by injecting fuel directly into the cylinder while the engine is stopped, and igniting it to generate downward piston force.

In order to restart the engine by combustion, the pistons must be stopped at exactly the correct position to create the right balance of air volume in each cylinder. The Smart Idle Stop System, Mazda says, provides precise control over the piston positions during engine shutdown to accomplish this.

The system indexes each cylinder and initiates fuel injection before the engine begins to rotate. This enables the engine to be restarted in just a third of a second, or roughly half the time of a conventional electric motor idling stop system.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 9, 2008, 12:48 PM
Categories:: Diesel, Fuel Economy, Mazda

September 3, 2008

Mazda Said to Be Developing Hybrid System Very Similar to the Chevy Volt's

By Scott Doggett, Contributor
and John O'Dell, Senior Editor

General Motors has reaped a ton of publicity from its Chevrolet Volt, a car with a grid-charged battery pack that will power an electric motor and an on-board gasoline engine that will generate electricity to keep the electric motor running and recharge the batteries when the initial plug-in charge is depleted.

Often missed in all the high-voltage buzz is that Ford Motor Co. showed a concept car with essentially the same system during the same January 2007 Detroit Auto Show at which the Volt took its bows.

Now comes word that Ford's Japanese subsidiary, Mazda, is putting its zoom into development of a Volt competitor of its own.

The British blog autocar says it has "learned that Mazda engineers are hard at work trying to develop a rival to the Chevrolet Volt -- a car which uses a petrol engine to charge a battery pack which powers the wheels via an electric motor."

High-ranking sources at Mazda, autocar reports, "say that trials are currently underway in Japan, with a prototype that uses a rotary engine to charge the battery pack. The tests are sufficiently advanced that Mazda has a working prototype in a Mazda 5 MPV bodyshell. Company bosses are said to be keen to put this system into production but no firm decisions will be made until the cost of batteries is reduced.

"In the meantime the company will concentrate on simpler green technologies. The first stop-start Mazda will go on sale in Japan next year and the system is expected to be rolled out globally on a variety of models."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett September 3, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Chevrolet, Diesel, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric, Volvo
Technorati Tags:: Chevrolet Volt

August 18, 2008

Website Helps Motorists Become Fuel Efficient -- and Automakers Appear Green

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

The nerve of some people.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers today distributed a press release, saying that it had trademarked "EcoDriving" and launched a Website with fuel-saving tips for motorists.

This is the same Alliance that has vigilantly opposed legislation that would compel automakers to meet government-mandated fuel-economy standards.

The Website the Alliance launched -- ecodrivingusa.com -- contains what you'd expect: Nothing on how the industry can clean up its act and provide more fuel efficiency, just tips on how motorists can drive more fuel efficiently, a means to calculate your vehicle's carbon footprint, and of course instructions on how to "promote the EcoDriving program."

As for the Alliance's claim that they possess the trademark to "EcoDriving"?

The term "EcoDriving" is not unique to the Alliance or its services or products -- a litmus test that trademark terms must pass -- and the term has been in the public domain for awhile.

It can, for example, be found on ecomodders.com, ecodrive.org and other Websites that promote fuel-responsible driving and, unlike the Alliance and its new Website, aren't funded by BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 18, 2008, 5:58 PM
Categories:: BMW, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Legislation, Manufacturers, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen

August 4, 2008

Mazda Marvel Joins Tesla as Design Chief; Ex-Ford Money Man Named CFO

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Tesla Motors could not have made a bolder statement today with its choice for design director without employing canon fire.

With his blownback blonde hair and sunwashed face, Franz von Holzhausen, director of Mazda's North American Design Center in Irvine until he submitted his resignation last week, can easily be mistaken for a native-California surfer instead of the born-and-bred product of Simsbury, Connecticut, a well-to-do town of 23,000 known for Eggstock, an annual environmental awareness festival.

At Mazda, von Holzhausen oversaw the design and development of all concept and production vehicles for Mazda North America since his appointment in February 2005. Most recently, he spearheaded the design of Nagare (the gold car pictured below) and Furai (above) and played an integral role in the creation of the three concepts Ryuga (the grinning red car), Hakaze (the yellow crossover) and Taiki (the blue-silver manta ray).

Early in his career at Mazda, von Holzhausen earned recognition for his acclaimed work on the Kabura concept car (the manned red sports car, lower left). Sometimes, pictures say more than words. We'll let the images shown here address von Holzhausen's talents as a futuristic automotive designer with one foot planted firmly on the road.

"It's going to be an exciting adventure," von Holzhausen said about his move to Tesla, located in San Carlos, California, 500 miles up the 101 Freeway from Irvine. "I'm looking forward to working at a new startup company that doesn't have the confines of a large OEM."

Prior to joining Mazda, von Holzhausen served as General Motors' design manager, responsible for designing and managing the concept and production design process for the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Chevy SS and other GM programs. He began his career at Volkswagen, where he served as assistant chief designer in VW's Design Center California.

He studied industrial design at Syracuse University and graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, in 1992 with a bachelors' degree in transportation design.

Tesla also announced today the appointment of Deepak Ahuja, a seasoned auto industry finance executive with 15 years experience at Ford Motor Company, as chief financial officer.

Deepak (right) was previously the controller for Ford's small cars product development program, a strategic initiative to bring several fuel-efficient cars to Ford's lineup in the United States. Before that, he was CFO for Ford of Southern Africa, a $3 billion subsidiary where he oversaw the finance, legal and IT functions.

And before that, Deepak served as CFO for Auto Alliance International, a joint venture between Ford and Mazda with over $4 billion in revenue.

In a statement, Tesla CEO Ze'ev Drori said "Deepak's experience as CFO of multi-billion dollar business units with global sourcing and manufacturing operations makes him the ideal person to lead our finance organization through the company's next period of rapid growth."

In the same statement, Deepak described the opportunity to work at Tesla as "very exciting."

Deepak holds bachelors and masters degrees in materials engineering from Banaras Hindu University and Northwestern University, respectively and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 4, 2008, 7:17 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: EV

July 22, 2008

Acura, Smart, Chevy Models Top List of Healthiest Cars Tested by Ecology Center

Soy foam in the seats the Ford F-150 pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Locally farmed hemp , "ethically produced" woolen fabric and floor mats made of sisal in the Lotus Eco Elise.

Some automakers are increasingly going to great lengths to make the interiors of some of their models if not environmentally friendly, at least a bit wholesome.

But others, well...

Early today the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan, posted its second-annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children's car seats at www.HealthyCar.org.

More than two hundred 2008- and 2009-model-year vehicles and more than 60 children's car seats were tested for unhealthy chemicals that seep in gaseous form from the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats and carpet.

The "new-car smell," as the gases are commonly called, mingle with the air occupants breathe and have been linked to allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.

The Ecology Center reported that Mazda, General Motors and Nissan improved since last year's findings, with GM showing the greatest gains of the domestic automakers, with an average vehicle ranking improvement of 27 percent.

The list of the 10 best and 10 worst vehicles as picked by the Center appears in the chart above.

Average child-car-seat scores improved 28 percent overall. The list of 10 best and worst car seats for 2008 as picked by the Center appears at left. Click on the chart for a better look.

For more information, go to www.HealthyCar.org.

Below are the three worst 2008-model-year vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki Reno and Volkswagen New Beetle.

Below are are the three best vehicles by interior pollution, according to the Center (click on each to enlarge). From left to right: Acura RXD, Chevrolet Cobalt and Smart Passion Cabriolet.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 12:21 AM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Think, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 17, 2008

That New Car Smell Might Kill You

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

That's our sensational headline for 2008, but there's more than a smidgen of truth in it.

Last year Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center released the first-ever consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats -- and what they reported was sickening.

The odor you inhale when you slide into a new car? It might very well be bromine, chlorine, lead, other harmful chemicals or a witches' brew of them. They've been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and, no doubt, cancer.

If you think the government protects you against such things, think again. Some of the vehicles on the road today are veritable toxic dumps on wheels. And many drivers are exposed to these chemicals through inhalation and contact with dust every day.

In case you missed last year's report, Ecology Center found the most toxic vehicles were the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB 5dr and the Kia Rio. The least toxic vehicles were the Chevy Cobalt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Odyssey and the Volvo V50.

Next Tuesday -- July 22 -- Ecology Center will release its second annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and child car seats, and if you're thinking of buying a new car anytime soon, you'll want to check it out. The guide will be posted at www.healthycar.org a little after midnight on the 22nd.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 17, 2008, 1:39 PM
Categories:: Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Legislation, Lexus, MINI, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Pontiac, Porsche, Renault, Saab, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

July 12, 2008

A Little Knowledge of Transmissions Can Save You Big Bucks at the Pump

All images click to enlarge.

By Robert E. Calem, Contributor

Choosing a fuel-efficient automobile was a whole lot simpler 30 years ago, the last time the U.S. was in the throes of a gasoline price crisis. It was often as simple as buying a small vehicle with a manual transmission.

Today, with gas prices soaring to new record highs almost weekly, finding fuel economy means navigating an almost bewildering selection of vehicles. Even enormous SUVs can qualify if they come equipped with gasoline-electric hybrid drive systems.

Behind this tremendous hike in choices -- to a fairly significant extent, experts say -- has been a concomitant increase in the variety of transmissions.

Whereas in the 1970s there were only four- and five-speed manual transmissions and three- and four-speed automatic transmissions, now there are six-speed manual, six-, seven- and eight-speed automatic, six- and seven-speed "dual-clutch" automatic-manual, and continuously variable transmissions.

The result: more efficient engine operation and higher fuel economy in every car, whether it's a high-performance Porsche Carrera or a modest Volkswagen Jetta.

But there are important differences among these sophisticated transmissions, including in how much they contribute to better fuel efficiency. Knowing those differences may help you the next time you're in the market for a new car.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett July 12, 2008, 12:53 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Smart, Subaru

July 1, 2008

Automakers Say Federal Fuel Economy Rules Could Leave 82,000 Unemployed

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

A lobbying group for 10 major automakers including Detroit's Big Three, Toyota and Daimler urged federal regulators today to dramatically water down its proposal to hike fuel efficiency standards or run the risk of costing 82,000 autoworkers their jobs and the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars.

In a thousand-page document filed today by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the automakers condemned the April 22 proposal by the U.S. Transportation Department that would boost fuel economy requirements to a fleetwide average of 31.6 miles per gallon by the 2015 model year.

That average includes 35.7 mpg for passenger cars and 28.6 mpg for light trucks. The nation's new passenger cars currently are required to meet a fleet average of 27.5 mpg, while the light-truck fleet - generally encompassing port utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans - must hit a target average of 22.5 mpg.

"This goes beyond what is technologically feasible and economically practical," the automakers said. "It would require manufacturers to expend resources at a pace that is excessive given the fact that the auto industry is already under economic stress."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 1, 2008, 1:31 PM
Categories:: BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Courts, Daimler, Dodge, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen

June 27, 2008

Mazda Plans Major Mileage Improvements for All Models

Mazda Motor Corp. says it will improve the fuel efficiency of its cars 30 percent by 2015 in a broad campaign that will see Ford's Japanese affiliate replace almost every engine in its lineup and shave at least 220 pounds from every car it builds.

The push begins with next year's models, when the company says it will introduce a proprietary Smart Idle Stop System in "one of its cars." The system stops the engine at idle, then restarts it by forcing fuel directly into the cylinder and igniting it to start the car â€“ a procedure Mazda says improves fuel economy as much as 8 percent. The automaker also plans to introduce an E-85 "flex fuel" engine in North America next year...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett June 27, 2008, 9:33 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric

June 25, 2008

Hybrids Don't Shine in True Cost To Own Study

Chevy Aveo tops ownership cost study. Civic hybrid and other gas-electric vehicles don't fare well because of hybrid premium in initial purtchase price.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

If saving money is your thing, and in these rugged economic times who isn't into that, then Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota and Nissan all have cars for you.

But they aren't hybrids

Previous studies using Edmunds' True Market Value calculations have shown that the so-called hybrid premium makes it difficult for the fuel-efficient cars and SUVs to save enough on fuel to earn back the higher price automakers charge for the advanced technology packed into a gas-electric powertrain.

Now a new Edmunds.com True Cost to Own study finds that even with their sometimes hefty federal tax credits, hybrids slip well down into the pack when long-term ownership costs are considered.

The Civic Hybrid is No. 14 in the TCO rankings being released today, while the nation's best-selling hybrid, Toyota's Prius, doesn't even make the top 25. It finished 34th overall, although it is in second place among hybrids.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (10); John O'Dell June 25, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Suzuki, Tax Incentives, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Cost to Own Hybrid

June 16, 2008

Mazda, University to Collaborate on Bioplastic

Mazda Motor Corp. has signed a collaborative research agreement with Hiroshima University to develop a bioplastic from non-food-based cellulosic biomass and have it ready for use in motor vehicles by 2013.

The bioplastic will be made from cellulosic biomass produced from inedible vegetation such as plant waste and wood shavings, Mazda said in a statement Friday.

Because cellulosic biomass is plant-derived and therefore carbon neutral, the bioplastic will reduce reliance on limited fossil fuel resources and alleviate carbon-dioxide emissions...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); June 16, 2008, 10:25 AM
Categories:: Ethanol, Mazda

May 8, 2008

Soaring Gas Prices Shrink Hybrid Payback Period, Boost Small Car Sales and Sink Big Trucks

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

The idea of spending less on gas seems to be driving far more people into the green car ranks than the idea that you are doing something good for the planet and those who occupy it.

We can see this pretty clearly in the astonishing growth of small car sales in the U.S. â€“ hardly anyone was buying them a few years ago and last month they accounted for a record 22.6 percent of the new car market, according to Edmunds.com's market analysts.

Meantime, large trucks' market share plunged to just 11 percent, down from a high three years ago of 19 percent.

Small used to mean cheap. Now it means fuel efficient (although not all small cars are particularly miserly with gas). And as compacts and subcompacts continue to capture market share, look for automakers to start piling high-margin luxury goodies into their small cars as they seek ways to replace the profits they used to book from truck sales.

Hybrids Rising Too

We can also see concern about fuel prices in the steady rise of hybrid sales â€“ they accounted for a record 3.2 percent of the market in April, with Toyota's Prius the month's 10th best-selling model of any type.

That hybrids are increasing their market penetration even though they cost more than comparably equipped conventional versions of the same models (except the Toyota Prius, which has no conventional counterpart) is testimony to people's desire to pare their fuel bills.

Just a year or so ago, the Prius was the only hybrid with a reasonable chance of providing sufficient fuel savings to pay back the so-called hybrid premium â€“ the price a hybrid purchaser pays to get a car or SUV with two powertrains and enough complex electronics to make a NASA engineer jealous.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (7); John O'Dell May 8, 2008, 3:03 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota

April 7, 2008

Japanese Automakers To Show Green at G8 Meet

A fierce battle among Japanese automakers is likely to be staged during the Group of Eight summit in Japan this July, with carmakers using the session as a showcase for their fuel-efficient cars, including hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.

Toyota, Mitsubishi and other automakers will provide about 100 fuel-efficient cars to transport participants at the summit meeting, The Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper, reports in Tuesday's edition.

Toyota will provide about 80 hybrid cars, including luxury Lexus models, minivans and compact cars for participants making short trips around the venue. The company also is planning to provide plug-in hybrid electric cars for participants' use...

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 7, 2008, 3:03 PM
Categories:: Fuel Cell, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota

January 15, 2008

Green Racing Challenge To Debut in American Le Mans

Challenge wants to encourage more cars like Audi's clean-diesel racer.

DETROIT -- The American Le Mans Series, already a showcase for diesel power and ethanol-blend fuel, will inaugurate a "Green Racing Challenge" this year encouraging automakers to put developing environmental and fuel economy technologies to the test on the track.

Scott Atherton, ALMS chief executive, said at a press conference at the Detroit auto show that the series has formed a green racing coalition with the federal Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Society of Automotive Engineers International, to develop criteria for the Challenge.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell January 15, 2008, 9:45 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Audi, Auto Shows, Biofuels, Diesel, Ford, General Motors, Hybrid, Mazda, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche