2013 Mazda CX-5 Tops the Class with 35 MPG Rating
Mazda has announced the fuel economy figures for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover, which is headed to dealerships this spring.
The front-wheel-drive, six-speed manual equipped CX-5 models are rated at 26 city/35 highway/29 combined mpg. When its equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission those numbers drop slightly to 26 city/32 highway/29 combined. The all-wheel-drive CX-5 gets 25 city/31 highway/28 combined mpg.
All CX-5 models are powered by a Skyactiv 2.0L engine with 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft. of torque.
Mazda says that pricing for the 2013 CX-5 will be announced closer to its launch date.
2012 Detroit: Volvo unwraps the XC60 plug-in hybrid
- Crucial Competitors: Lexus RX400h
- Energy: Turbocharged two.0L inline-4 280 hp powering the front wheels, 70 bhp electrical motor powering the rear for a combined 350 bhp.
- Efficiency: -60 in five.8 seconds.
- Availability: TBA.
Volvo lastly unveiled their new plug-in hybrid version of the XC60 mid-sized crossover SUV earlier at the 2012 North American International Auto Show–their 1st ever venture into substitute powertrains for the North American industry. Powered by a 280hp 4-cylinder and a 70hp electrical motor, the Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid churns out a total of 350hp.
“No other manufacturer delivers fuel economy and electrical range on this level in a capable efficiency automobile with a total of 350 horsepower,” mentioned Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Automobile Corporation.
Now, we’re a small confused when Jacoby known as his XC60 a efficiency car, because Volvo isn’t precisely a purchase word in functionality. But either way, the XC60 Plug-In Hybrid promises to deliver up to 35 miles on all-electric energy with fuel economic climate well above one hundred mpg’s on the European driving cycle.
Jacoby didn’t announce when the XC60 Plug-In will be available and at what cost. But I’m sure we can anticipate that info to pop up as 2012 rolls by.
2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept Previews the All-New Accord
Honda has given us our first preview of the all-new 2013 Accord with the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe Concept that was unveiled today in Detroit. In typical Honda fashion, the Accord Coupe Concept is a thinly disguised version of the production version that is arriving this fall.
The 2013 Accord will get three all-new powertrains, including a 181-hp 2.4L direct-injected engine and a two-motor plug-in hybrid system. The new Earth Dreams 2.4L engine will be mated to either a six-speed manual or a new CVT. Honda claims that the 2.4L equipped 2013 Accord models are targeted at delivering class-leading fuel economy.
Honda is not going to follow Hyundai and Ford’s lead by no longer offering a V6 in their midsize sedans, since Honda has announced that the 2013 Accord will be offered with a 3.5L V6 mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The new V6 will generate more power fuel economy than in the current Accord.
The 2013 Accord will see the return of an Accord hybrid, which will be powered by a two-motor plug-in hybrid system that moves continuously through three modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive – to maximize driving efficiency and fuel economy. In all-electric mode the Accord Plug-In Hybrid will use a 6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and a 120 kW electric motor to achieve an all-electric range of approximately 10-15 miles in city driving and a top speed of 62 mph. Fully recharging the battery will take less than four hours using a 120-volt, outlet and less than 1.5 hours using a 240-volt charger. In the gasoline-electric hybrid mode, the Accord is powered by its fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, i-VTEC inline four-cylinder, Atkinson cycle engine, paired with an electric Continuously Variable Transmission. The Accord Plug-In Hybrid launch next winter.
“Marking the 30th anniversary of U.S. production, this new ninth-generation Accord will raise the bar again through a tour de force of new Honda powertrain and safety technologies, geared to ensure that Honda and the Accord continue to lead in fuel economy, safety and fun-to-drive performance,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda.
2012 Detroit: 2013 Buick Encore makes full debut after teasing us
Buick has been teasing us with the concept of a new compact crossover for very some time. But thanks to the 2012 North American International Car Show, the new 2013 Buick Encore was entirely unveiled earlier nowadays.
“Buick Encore is a excellent-hunting, intelligent choice for people who want luxury crossover amenities in a much more maneuverable and agile vehicle,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Advertising and marketing. “It represents a luxury choice for a new audience of Buick buyers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically identified in cars of its dimension today.”
Driven by GM’s worldwide one.4L turbocharged Ecotec four-banger, the Encore gets an estimated 140-hp and 148 lb-ft of torque to perform with. But the engine also receives some adjustments to support increase the Encore’s fuel economy this kind of as a higher-effectiveness alternator, regulated voltage management, electronically-controlled returnless fuel program and deceleration fuel cut-off. Energy is delivered to the front-wheels via GM’s Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is also optional.
Exclusive to the 2012 Buick Encore is an active version of Buick’s QuietTuning, a method that actively cancels out certain sound frequencies and vibrations to give the Encore a new level of luxurious quietness and refinement.
The 2013 Buick Encore will be offered in your local showrooms in early 2013 with pricing to be announced closer to that time.
Toyota NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Could be the Next Prius
Toyota has unveiled what could be the Prius of the future with the NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. According to Toyota, the “NS4 signifies Toyota’s vision for future mobility with a focus on connectivity and the human interface.”
Toyota’s engineers were tasked with designing a new mid-sized concept that could potentially be introduced by 2015. The NS4′s powertrain targets a next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system featuring reductions in component size and weight with improved overall fuel economy, better acceleration and longer all-electric range, while maintaining a short charge time.
In addition to its next-generation hybrid system, the NS4 introduces a next generation Pre-Collision System (PCS) with lane departure, rear-end and pedestrian collision avoidance technologies. The PCS uses millimeter-wave radar and stereo cameras mounted on the front of the vehicle to detect and react to lane departure, pedestrians and other vehicles. Adaptive headlights and new glass technologies integrated into the windows also help improve driver visibility and gas mileage.
The NS4 concept also gets a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) that provides a user interface built around a multi-touch screen with the look and feel of a smartphone. It provides quick information to the driver and controls the climate control, audio system and navigation functions to minimize distractions.
Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Unveiled Ahead of Detroit Debut
We’re just a few days away from the start of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. This year Volvo is bringing a new Plug-in Hybrid Concept version of its XC60 crossover to the show. According to Volvo, “The Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is an electric car, a highly economical hybrid and a powerful high-performance car all rolled into one.”
The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid concept is powered by a 280 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends its power to the front wheels via an eight-speed transmission, while the rear wheels are powered by a 70 horsepower electric motor.
The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept has three different driving modes that can be selected by the touch of a button (Pure, Hybrid or Power).
In Pure mode the car is powered solely by its electric motor as much as possible for up to 35 miles. Hybrid mode is the standard setting, which uses a combination of the electric and gasoline powered motors for a combined fuel economy of 50 mpg. In Power mode, the technology is optimized to create maximum possible power. The 280 horsepower gasoline motor and 70 horsepower electric motor accelerate the concept from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
The battery pack can be recharged in 3.5 hours if a 220V outlet is available. With a 110V outlet a full charge takes 7.5 hours.
Mercedes E-Class Superlight Confirmed for 2015
Improvement News, Mercedes — By Chris on January five, 2012 at ten:48 pm — No Comments
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed a light-weight edition of the E-Class will arrive in 2015. According to BenzInsinder, the Mercedes E-Class Superlight will be a sports saloon produced of carbon fiber which has numerous advantages in weight and functionality.
Carbon-fiber has an unsurpassed strength-to-excess weight ratio and the material is a lot more rigid and much lighter than steel. The total weight of the lightweight E-Class will be about one,300kg (2860lbs) — 350kg (770lbs) less than the standard model. This will improves the functionality as effectively as the fuel economy and emissions.
The stiff and light-weight materials also enables the engineers and designers to attain optimal stiffness and much more freedom in designing the chassis and exterior. The future Benz could feature gullwing doors or sliding doors due to the absence of the B-pillar.
The lightweight Benz is also intended to reduce the fuel-economic climate and emissions of the organizations fleet, specifically as in a lot of countries the guidelines for the emissions of automobiles are turning out to be increasingly strict. Consequently the German carmaker is taking into consideration the two hydrogen fuel-cell and petrol-hybrid drivetrains for the lightweight E-Class.
