vLane Blog

Articles Matching “Mileage”

• Recap: Cash for Clunkers Twitter chat, August 4

  Banovsky on August 4, 2009

  Social media is such a cool thing that we're constantly evolving how we communicate. Take #carchat: the first few originated out of a spirited conversation. We applied that logic to a special discussion about Cash for Clunkers (aka CARS), and invited automobile manufacturers — as well as dealers — to chime in and let us know how the program is going.

  

  Cash for Clunkers is a hot topic here on vLane, and we want to keep you up-to-date on the latest news and developments.

  Since our recaps are ever-evolving, we've included it here on vLane as a discussion thread, and we feel it suits the nature of the discussion well — and you can see that we had a huge response! Enjoy!

  So? What are you waiting for? Click through to the recap.

  Read full article | Comments (1) | Filed under Government, Industry, Mileage, News, Misc, Advice , Discussion, Twitter, Beat the Recession, vLane, Cash for Clunkers, Car Allowance Rebate System, CARS, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

• Driven! 2011 Chevrolet Volt and 2012 Ford Focus EV

  Banovsky on August 4, 2009

  This guest post was prepared by esteemed green car expert John Voelcker, editor-in-chief of GreenCarReports.com. He also drove both the Volt and Focus EV test mules…lucky guy!

  

  The 2011 Chevrolet Volt prototype (nee-Chevrolet Cruze)

  Well, the big day has come and gone: Now we've driven a 2011 Chevrolet Volt prototype. More than 18 months before buyers can walk into a Chevy dealer and test one, we got behind the wheel.

  What's the Volt like? It's remarkably ... unremarkable.

  And we mean that as praise. General Motors has managed to build a radical car that seems so normal it'll make the average American driver completely comfortable with electric drive.

  For half an hour today, we drove a Volt "mule" – a Volt powertrain installed in the body of a 2010 Chevrolet Cruze subcompact – around the roads of the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. It uses "production-intent" components and, said vehicle line executive Frank Weber, provides about 80 percent of the capabilities of the final car.

  Click through for more.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, Feature, Ford, Ford, Chevrolet, EV, Grant, Detroit, 2011, Cruze, Electric car, Guest post, Focus

• 2010 all-electric Nissan Leaf

  Banovsky on August 4, 2009

  Welcome to the future. This is the first look at Nissan's world-leading all-electric car, on-sale here in America in late 2010.

  

  The 2010 Nissan Leaf

  
  

  Here are some stats:

  • Fully-electric powertrain
  • 107 horsepower, 206 lb-ft of torque
  • More than 100 mile (160 km) range
  • Priced close to $30,000
  • Slightly larger than a Volkswagen Rabbit
  • Top speed of over 90 mph (140 kph)
  • Equipped with an advanced IT system that provides driver support, range information, etc.

  Click through for more photos and the official release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Wagon, Technology, Nissan, 2010, US, Electric car

• Tiny Tuner: Gazoo Racing Toyota iQ

  Banovsky on July 30, 2009

  This is a customized Toyota iQ microcar to be sold in limited quantities from this November, in Japan.

  

  The Gazoo Racing Toyota iQ

  Unlike the Smart fortwo, the Toyota iQ has seen a little bit of tuner attraction. This version is lowered, with an exhaust, 16-inch wheels, and a snazzy bodykit.

  And although it's unlikely to come to North America exactly as you see here, it may arrive on our shores as a Scion. And that has us excited.

  Click through for a video…and yes, it sounds awesome.

  [via paultan.org]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Japan, Misc, Toyota, iQ, Coupe, Smart, 2009, MPG, LOL, Gazoo Racing, iQ

• Ford confirms 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine

  Banovsky on July 21, 2009

  To meet more stringent fuel economy standards for 2015, car manufacturers have to make smaller engines…much smaller engines.

  

  We drove the European Ford Fiesta

  Ford's twin-scroll EcoBoost turbo technology allows for smaller engines to make big power. The new motor will displace 2.0-litres and deliver "at least" 230 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Our guess for the first vehicle to get the new motor? The 2011 Ford Explorer.

  News:

  • Driving the European Ford Fiesta
  • 2010 Ford Flex with EcoBoost
  • The Ford Taurus SHO is Back
  [via Edmunds]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, News, Misc, Ford, Detroit, US, 2011, Engine, EcoBoost

• Upcoming: #carchat 19; July 15 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on July 15, 2009

  This week, we're talking with Seth Leitman, clean energy and electric vehicle expert about plug-in cars, about how GM and Chrysler are doing (some great links below), and interior design.

  Check out the #carchat How-To, or click through for a #carchat widget. Anyone can join us at 8PM EST July 15, on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."

  This week:

  • Ask the Expert: Seth Leitman, clean energy and electric vehicle expert
  • Discussion: GM and Chrysler updates
  • Discussion: What's good interior design?
  • Discussion: Maybe we'll talk some #NGM talk…

  So click through and read a few links related to tonight's discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Industry, Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Misc, Advice , Humor, This week, Chrysler, Discussion, Social Media, Hybrid, Detroit, Twitter, vLane, MPG

• Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Experimental Safety Vehicle

  Banovsky on July 13, 2009

  Readers: take a long, hard look at this car, because it's the future of motoring. With a hybrid powertrain and safety gizmos like — get this — airbags in the seatbelts (!), Mercedes-Benz has pulled out all the stops for this experimental safety concept.

  

  Pay no attention to all the decals and rice-boy rims…

  Because the release is incredibly long and dry, here are the main features of this concept:

  • PRE-SAFE Structure: Inflatable metal structures save weight and increase the stability of structural components. When at rest, the metal section is in a folded state to save space. If its protective effect is required, a gas generator builds up an internal pressure of 10 to 20 bar within fractions of a second, causing the sec-tion to unfold for significantly more stability.
  • Braking Bag: This auxiliary brake accommodated in the vehicle floor is a new type of PRE-SAFE® component. If the sensor system concludes that an impact is unavoidable, the Braking Bag is deployed shortly before the crash and stabilises the car on the road surface by means of a friction coating. The vehicle's vertical acceleration increases the friction, and helps to decelerate the vehicle before the impact occurs.
  • Interactive Vehicle Communication: The ESF 2009 is able to communicate di-rectly with other vehicles, or via relay stations. Using "ad hoc" networks and WLAN radio technology, it is e.g. able to receive and transmit warnings of bad weather or obstacles in the road.
  • PRE-SAFE Pulse: This further development of PRE-SAFE® is able to reduce the forces acting on the torsos of the occupants during a lateral collision by around one third. It does this by moving them towards the centre of the vehicle by up to 50 millimetres as a precautionary measure. As an active re-straint system, it uses the air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests.
  • Spotlight lighting function: This partial LED main beam specifically illuminates potential hazards. If the infrared camera of Night View Assist PLUS e.g. detects deer at the roadside or pedestrians on the road, these can be briefly il-luminated beyond the normal area covered by the main beams, as if by a spot-light.

  Read on for photos and videos of this very safe Merc in action

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Future, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Europe, Sedan, Concept, Misc, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Safety, Hybrid, Car seat, 2009

• The Future of GM Part 3: 2011 Buick CUV

  Banovsky on July 7, 2009

  In this five-part series (parts one one, two, and three), we'll take a look at some of the most exciting products that GM has in the pipeline.

  

  It's not a commercial, either: with 60.8 per cent of the company now owned by the US taxpayers — and 11.7 per cent by Canadian taxpayers — it's a good time to look at how well our investments are holding up.

  GM had — well, Saturn had — a wonderful vehicle slated for launch this year: The Vue plug-in hybrid SUV.

  Well what's the problem? After selling the automaker Saturn to the Penske Group, GM announced that the upcoming Vue plug-in would be put on hold indefinitely…IE: forever.

  Thing is, GM won't just waste the technology. And a few weeks ago, some reporters got a glimpse of a full-sized clay mockup of a future vehicle…

  Click through for the photo, and more info!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Saturn, Lexus, Future, Green, Mileage, SUV, Feature, Concept, Crossover, Hybrid, SUV, Detroit, 2011, plug-in, Buick

• Have Cash for Clunkers and CARS questions?

  Banovsky on July 3, 2009

  Take a look at our official Cash for Clunkers discussion thread (Discussion)

  

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Government, Environment, Green, Mileage, News, How-To, Misc, Advice , Discussion, Grant, 2009, vLane, Cash for Clunkers, CARS

• Recap: #carchat 17; July 1, 2009

  Banovsky on July 3, 2009

  Social media is such a cool thing that we're constantly evolving how we communicate. Take #carchat: the first few originated out of a spirited conversation.

  

  Since #carchat is ever-evolving, we've included the recap here on vLane as a discussion thread, and we feel it suits the nature of the discussion well — and you can see that we had a huge response over two hours — despite Twitter being down over the first hour!

  Anyone can join us each week at 8PM EST on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."
  
  
  
  
  

  We had:

  • Ask the Expert: John Voelcker, Greencarreports.com
  • Discussion: Misguided models (Aston Martin Cygnet, Chevrolet SSR, etc…)
  • Discussion: Auto manufacturers and social media
  • Help-A-Shopper: Dalibor Dimovski

  So? What are you waiting for? Click through to the recap.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Government, Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, Feature, Crossover, Misc, Advice , Humor, Link, This week, Discussion, Social Media, Twitter, vLane, Cash for Clunkers