Lamborghini

February 3, 2009

ACEEE Dubs Honda Civic GX Greenest Car For 6th Year; Prius In Second Place

GM Gets Three Models on 'Greenest' List and Tops 'Meanest' Ranking With Hummer H2

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

In an anticlimactic repeat, Honda's natural-gas burning Civic GX topped the annual "greenest vehicles" of the year listing being published this morning by the non-profit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

It is the 12th year the Washington-based environmental and economic lobbying group has published its Green Book Online, which ranks passenger cars and light trucks for overall environmental impact.

Although the list for the 2009 model year contained no big surprises, it was marked by the reappearance of General Motors Corp., with trio of small cars among the dozen "greenest" vehicles in the market - the Chevrolet Cobalt compact and its Pontiac G5 twin placed eighth overall and the Chevrolet Aveo subcompact finished10th.

The GM cars, which were rated highly for their fuel economy, knocked Ford's Focus off the "greenest" list after its appearance there last year as the only domestic car in the top twelve.

The Ford didn't get a lower score - but the average scores in the top 12 were higher this year than last.

Evolution, Not Revolution

Generally, the 2009 list was marked by continued improvements in the fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions of scores of vehicles rather than by stellar performances from just one or two models.

Manufacturers are fine-tuning their engines and transmissions, improving materials, and adding emission control technologies, said ACEEE transportation program director Therese Langer.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell February 3, 2009, 5:00 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hummer, Hybrid, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: ACEEE Green Book Online

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

August 5, 2008

Ballot Measure Would Ban Most SUVs, Sports Cars From Swiss Roads

America's auto-emissions regulators have nothing on the youth brigade of the Swiss Green Party.

The youth have obtained the 100,000 signatures needed to put a measure before Switzerland's voters that would ban passenger vehicles that have a curb weight of more than 4,820 pounds, emit more than 250 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, or have front ends deemed dangerous to pedestrians.

The measure would also ban diesel cars lacking particle filters. Non-compliant cars registered before the measure goes into law would be fitted with a governor limiting them to 62 miles per hour.

The measure, which is viewed as moderate by its proponents, would remove all but the most fuel efficient models from Swiss roads. The forbidden list contains 785 models. In Porsche's lineup, for instance, all but the Boxster and Cayman fitted with 2.7-liter engines would be barred.

Lots of Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs and Audis would be history, as would every Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini. Not all automakers would suffer. Lotus's entire lineup, for example, would be compliant.

The vote has not been scheduled and could be a couple of years away. Also, more than 90 percent of initiatives presented to Swiss voters since 1848 have been rejected. But "moderates" can hope.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett August 5, 2008, 11:22 AM
Categories:: Audi, BMW, Diesel, Emissions, Ferarri, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Lamborghini, Legislation, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Audi

August 1, 2008

Qatar Sheikh Flies Lamborghini 6,500 Miles for Routine Service

An Arab sheikh had his Lamborghini flown 6,500 miles round trip from Qatar to Britain for regular maintenance, a British newspaper reported today.

The $376,313 MurciÃ©lago LP640 supercar was put on a scheduled flight from Qatar to Heathrow and flown back following the automotive service.

The transit cost was estimated to be about $40,000, The Sun reported.

The move sparked fury from green campaigners, but the best quote of a bunch in response to the news came from an airport worker who said: "This car doesn't have a carbon footprint - more of a crater."

David Price, of Lamborghini Club UK, had a slightly different take: "I'm not surprised," he said. "Thankfully the age of excess in some areas continues."

The tabloid said the sheikh paid about $7,000 for the mechanical work performed on the MurciÃ©lago LP640, a model also owned by rock star Rod Stewart and soccer player David Beckham.