MINI Roadster
As it’s not a hybrid, the MINI Roadster might not look like a vehicle that shoppers for choice power autos would fancy. This was also mentioned about the normal MINI Cooper, yet the Cooper’s most cross-shopped auto is none other than the Toyota Prius. Could the Roadster carry on this trend?
These who would consider a MINI vs. a Prius are most likely much less interested in the remarkable fuel economy of the Prius (although it’s certainly a element) and more impressed by the car’s appear and the picture it portrays. These “lifestyle buyers” are exactly the sort of shopper that would also consider buying a MINI Roadster.
Fuel financial system numbers have yet to be released for the Roadster, but if they’re something like the Coupe, assume digits in the high 30s on the highway – not in Prius territory, but again, this unlikely competitor is not only about fuel efficiency.
Enthusiasm
In base form the Roadster is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 114 pound-feet of torque at 4250 rpm. It gets a -60 time of eight.7 seconds, but in genuine MINI style will probably experience quicker. Despite some added weight, surprisingly, acceleration is enhanced over the convertible Cooper model, due in part to sportier gearing.
As pointed out, no fuel economic climate numbers are nevertheless readily available, even though the mechanically equivalent Coupe gets 29 mpg city and 37 mpg highway with the manual transmission or 28/36 for the six-speed automated – projected to be the a lot more well-known option.
Honda Prices 2012 Four-Cylinder Crosstour EX, Starts at $28,465
January 27, 2012 at two:45pm by Alexander Stoklosa
Honda has priced the new four-cylinder version of the humpbacked Accord-primarily based Crosstour—note that it’s no lengthier known as the Accord Crosstour—from $ 28,465. That figure applies to the entry EX model the EX-L adds leather and charges $ 31,515, although the top rated-shelf EX-L with navigation rings in at $ 33,615. Pricing for the V-six Crosstour starts at $ 31,150 for an EX and rises to $ 37,350 for an all-wheel-drive EX-L with navigation. The front-wheel-drive-only 4-cylinder variant was added to the previously V-6–only Crosstour range for 2012. Its 192-hp four is down 79 hp from the obtainable 3.five-liter V-six, but need to return better fuel economy. (You can go through a far more detailed comparison of the 4- and six-cylinder Crosstours and their fuel economic system here.) All Crosstours received extra equipment for 2012, possibly most importantly a backup camera to mitigate awful rear visibility, and are accessible now.
Tags: Honda, Honda Crosstour, pricing |
Is Infiniti getting Ready to Drag Race the M Hybrid Against the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid?
Just moments ago, Infiniti dropped an email into our inbox pointing us to a video on YouTube titled “What is the fastest accelerating full hybrid?” The short clip exhibits a driver dressed like The Stig getting into a Porsche Panamera S Hybrid and obtaining ready to race the sports activities saloon in the desert.
Infiniti’s email also notes, “Check out out this teaser video and allow us know wherever you assume it’s going…. Really don’t miss the benefits, coming January 23rd, 2012“.
Given that we find it challenging to believe that the Japanese automaker would develop a promotional campaign for Porsche and its new Panamera Hybrid we think it is all about displaying the prospective of the also new M Hybrid (named M35h in particular markets).
And far more importantly, let us not overlook that final September, the M Hybrid created it into the Guinness book of globe records as the “Fastest Accelerating Total Hybrid” following it finished the quarter mile run in 13.9031 seconds with a passing speed of more than 160 km/h (100 mph).
The query is, will Infiniti engage in all out bragging war displaying the M Hybrid and Porsche Panamera Hybrid racing side-by-side or will it wimp out and be content with just stating the numbers? Guess we’ll have to wait until Monday to find out.
2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Starts at $61,845
BMW has announced the pricing for the 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5, which starts at $ 61,845.
The 2012 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is powered by BMW’s 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine, an electric drive system and an 8-speed automatic transmission for with a combined output of 335hp. It reaches 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
The ActiveHybrid 5 can operate in full-electric mode up to 37 mph and the lithium-ion battery has enough power to allow the hybrid to drive up to 2.5 miles on electricity alone. BMW has yet to release the official fuel economy stats.
The ActiveHybrid 5 will reach showrooms in late spring.
1-Liter Mondeo?
Launched at Detroit you know it as the Ford Fusion, but when the European version debuts at Paris this autumn it will be re-badged as the Mondeo. 4-door saloons are not that popular over right here, so Ford’s major thrust will be concentrating on a 5-door hatch and a wagon variant.
Insiders at Ford mentioned the car’s coupe-like profile will continue to be largely unchanged for the hatch version though there will, naturally, be re-worked rear 3-quarter panels.
As however there is no indication as to no matter whether the European marketplace will be provided the hybrid engines as in the Fusion array, but there’s the intriguing prospect of the 1-liter EcoBoost getting employed.
Producing 118 bhp and upwards of 147 lbs.-ft. of torque on transient overboost, it surely has got adequate energy but, what would be the public’s response? Are automobile customers in this class ready for this kind of radical downsizing in the interests of fuel economy and emissions?
Ford Escape Hybrid
By Larry E. Hall
Finally, after just much more than a decade, Ford is bringing out an all-new Escape compact sport utility car, or probably we must say, crossover utility vehicle. Because its debut as a 2001 model, the Escape has retained the exact same shape and all round dimension with just simple exterior and interior refreshes. In reality, the largest news about the Escape over the previous ten-plus years was the introduction in 2004 of the Escape Hybrid as a 2005 model. It was not only Ford’s first hybrid vehicle, it was the world’s first hybrid SUV.
When the new Escape arrives in late spring it will have shed its boxy, dated SUV look, replaced with today’s trendy jelly-bean crossover styling – joining these inflated family members wagons slightly insecure about their location in the automotive pecking order.
Inspired by the European Ford Kuga, the new Escape is a giant leap forward but will leave some thing behind – a hybrid variant. That’s proper, Ford will no longer provide an Escape Hybrid.
Why drop the hybrid powertrain soon after all these years? Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of international product improvement, said that Ford’s EcoBoost four-cylinder engines would offer fuel economic system that “approaches the present hybrid.” He extra that the automaker reasoned that an Escape with a increased mpg rating would not be essential to entice purchasers.
The far more compelling explanation is Ford is placing its hybrid bets on the upcoming C-Max designs. The C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid are committed designs produced to compete with the expanding Toyota Prius lineup. Kuzak stated the C-Max is a multi-activity vehicle that provides virtually the same functionality as the Escape whilst delivering better fuel economy. C-Max will go on sale in the 2nd half of 2012.
Porsche Unveils 2013 Boxster
Soon after officially revealing the much anticipated 2012 911 Carrera Cabriolet at this year’s Detroit Car Display, Porsche has wasted no time introducing the latest of its upcoming models, the 2013 Boxster. While the mid-engine roadster will not make its official debut until finally the Geneva Motor Show in March, here are some preliminary particulars.
In terms of re-design and style this really desirable Porsche exhibits off revised headlamps and a lot more svelte running lamp/air intake setup with a wider stance and longer wheelbase. The 2013 Boxster’s aluminum skin minimizes fat in comparison to its predecessor that serves to make it a lot more engaging on the roads although simultaneously enhancing fuel economy.
Behind the seats there are two flat-six engines with direct injection, thermal management and start/stop performance. The base Boxster uses a two.7-litre flat six, great for 265 horsepower while the Boxster S is powered by a three.4-litre six that produces 315 hp. The standard Boxster will run to 60 miles per hour in five.four seconds with the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, whilst the Boxster S will do the identical in just 4.seven seconds. A six-speed manual gearbox is also offered with either engine.
The official press release describes the new Boxster as ”Lighter, a lot more muscular, a lot more distinctive and far more fuel-effective.”
The 2013 Boxster will be offered in U.S. display rooms this summer season in the Northern hemisphere at a price of $ 49,500 for the Boxster and $ 60,900 for the Boxster S.
