Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Best of the 2011 New York & Shanghai Auto Shows

The automobile industry’s stars aligned to make this year’s New York and Shanghai auto shows open on the same week, and because of this overlap, several new models were introduced almost simultaneously on separate continents.

Shanghai showcased more concept cars, while New York focused mainly on production models. But with oil prices off the charts (the average price for unleaded gasoline in the U.S. is nearing $4 per gallon) the common theme was fuel economy -- and not just for small economy cars, as even Porsche premiered a new hybrid model. There were also five major compact car debuts, and several major updates to various compact and subcompact models.

Of course, a few manufacturers (Chrysler, Jeep, and Shelby, to name them) didn’t get the efficiency memo and debuted hot rods and over-the-top muscle cars, just to keep us guessing (and scratching our heads). But those were the exceptions to the rule.

Volkswagen sold 23 million original Beetles, and 6 million in the United States alone. As a testament to the global market, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle was unveiled nearly simultaneously in New York and Shanghai, with a third appearance in Berlin.

Sales of the New Beetle had stalled in recent years, so VW went back to the drawing board for only the third redesign in the car's 73-year history. Klaus Bischoff, head of design for the Volkswagen brand, sums up the new design in one word: "Masculine."
2012 Volkswagen New Beetle
2012 Volkswagen New Beetle
 Indeed, while the last Beetle skewed feminine with dash-mounted bud vases and a three-circle form, the new version aims to strike a different chord.
“We started from scratch,” Bischoff said. “We wanted to give it a whole new character, to make a dynamic, sportier, more masculine car.” The car eschews the three-circle simplicity of the outgoing model and its high roof. Instead, Bischoff looked back to the original Beetle, as designed by Ferdinand Porsche. “We had an original one in the studio,” he said. The hood of the new car is longer, the windshield moves rearward and rests at a lower angle, while overall width and length have increased. As a result, the car sports a hunkered-down appearance while remaining instantly recognizable as a Beetle. 
The newfound machismo may come down to the 19-inch, 10-spoke wheels. “Big wheels are masculine,” Bischoff said. The interior also brings in exterior color in a similar fashion to the new Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper. The top-end TSI model is available with an XDS differential and  traction control system. Luca De Meo, VW’s director of marketing says “it makes it sporty, like the Herbie in the movie." The standard engine will be a 2.5-liter, 170-hp four-cylinder and a 2-liter, 140-hp turbodiesel four-cylinder that gets between 29 and 40 mpg.
Carroll Shelby has not been satisfied in the horsepower department for all of his 88 years. Thus begat the latest beast to wear the Shelby name, the 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake unveiled at the New York Auto Show.
The Super Snake package includes a six-speed transmission with short-throw shifter, a Ford Racing handling package with adjustable shocks, special springs, anti-roll bars, a front strut tower brace, forged
2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
 Shelby/Baer brakes with six-piston calipers, a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, and a fiberglass hood like the 1967 GT500.
Shelby's been down the Super Snake road before, but this latest iteration is the most powerful. The standard package develops 550 hp from the supercharged 5.4-liter V8. The next stage brings that up to 750 hp. The final stage uses a supercharger to churn out an incredible 800 horsepower.
The base Super Snake package costs $34,245 on top of the $48,645 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, for a total of $82,890.

Due to the tremendous costs, which can easily exceed $5 million per car, most automobile manufacturers build only one copy of any given concept car. Mercedes-Benz doubled down with its latest effort, the Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class concept car, which premiered in both Shanghai and New York.
The A-Class will spawn four compact-platform Mercedes models over the next few years, says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes-Benz's chief sales and marketing executive.

Mercedes says the car's power will come from a 2.0-liter, 210-hp four-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection via a dual-clutch transmission. Electric, hybrid, and high-performance AMG variations are planned.

 “
Mercedes-Benz A-Class concept
Mercedes-Benz A-Class concept
 Mercedes wants all the emotion attached to sports cars like SLS and SLK transferred to this small car segment," says Thomas Engl, chief engineer on the A-Class project. "This will attract younger customers we don’t have today in the [subcompact and compact] segments.”

The concept showcases Mercedes designers' love for short side glass, which is attractive, if impractical from a visibility standpoint.
Starting at $10,990, the Versa sedan is the least expensive car in America. On the heels of the Leaf electric vehicle, Nissan has given the 2012 Nissan Versa improved economy, lower emissions, and a surprising amount of interior room (Nissan claims more legroom than in the Lexus LS460, the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class). A hatchback model will follow shortly after the summer launch of the sedan.
2012 Nissan Versa
2012 Nissan Versa
 Nissan built the new Versa on a new global front-wheel-drive platform which, while similar in size to the one it replaces, weighs 150 pounds less. That means better efficiency and less power required to achieve the same performance. 
“High gas prices have indeed shifted our focus and development away from trucks,” Carlos Tavares, Nissan's chairman of the Americas, said. “Oil prices may go even higher, so we plan [ahead] with products like the Versa,” Tavares said. The new Versa achieves better fuel economy than the outgoing model by 5 mpg.

The base Versa is equipped with standard air conditioning, stability control, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, and electronic power steering. Bluetooth, touch-screen navigation, satellite radio, and an iPod/USB interface are also available. 
The new Versa’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine develops 109 hp, achieving 30 city mpg and 37 highway mpg (or 33 combined mpg, which Nissan says is a better representation of real-world results) with the continuously-variable automatic transmission. The five-speed manual returns an estimated 27/36 mpg city/highway. Nissan has deleted the previous 1.8-liter engine version of the Versa with this redesign.
All 2012 Nissan Versas will be offered in three trim levels; the S will be available with either a five-speed manual or CVT, while the SV and SL will be CVT-equipped only.
Porsche continues to expand its model range. Having shown the hybrid 918 supercar a year ago and currently offering the Cayenne Hybrid SUV, the company's second production hybrid is the Porsche Panamera Hybrid S

“The feedback on our hybrid technology has been surprisingly positive,” said Detlef von Platen, Porsche Cars North America's CEO. “Customers understand that the performance they expect is there while being more efficient. Hybrid is a technology we’ve embraced because it's a strong alternative to improve performance and comply with more stringent upcoming fuel economy regulations.”

Porsche Panamera Hybrid S
Porsche Panamera Hybrid S

This combination of a supercharged, direct-injected 3.0-liter V-6 with an electric motor is also used in the Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid. Boosted by a 47-hp electric motor, 380 hp drives the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. 
Porsche claims the car can reach 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, which is not exactly slow, but not exactly fast for an “S” model Porsche. Top speed is 168 mph. The Panamera can accelerate up to 50 mph on electricity alone, although the range in this mode is just 1.3 miles. The car has not been EPA certified, so fuel economy figures are not yet available. 
“You can disengage the engine from the transmission completely at speeds up to 103 mph,” von Platen said. The result is a drastic decrease in mechanical drag, so that maintaining high speeds requires less power and therefore less fuel. “In the end, you get the power and torque of the V8 Panamera S with the economy of a six-cylinder.”
The Panamera Hybrid enters the market while other luxury hybrid sedans have already launched, like the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid with 295 hp, the BMW ActiveHybrid 750i/Li with 455 hp and the Lexus LS600hL with 438 hp. Though Porsche’s approach using a six-cylinder engine is similar to that of Mercedes, the Porsche can be propelled solely on electric power. However, with the goal being heightened efficiency, there is an unavoidable wrinkle. Diesel versions of each sedan (in the European market, not the U.S) return better fuel economy than the hybrid.
“We did consider using a diesel engine in the U.S. when we introduced the diesel in Europe some time ago, but the tax advantages for diesels are much more favorable in Europe,” says von Platen. “Also, the U.S. market was not ready in terms of perception. Today, those perceptions are much different. Diesel is much better thought of as a high-tech product, it is considered clean, and we are strongly considering it in the U.S., but we have not made a decision yet.”
“From another perspective, social acceptability is important to us. In a moment when the economy is bad, unemployment is high, and the mood in the environment for luxury products might not be as favorable as it might have been before, we strive to be mindful of that,” von Platen says. “We’re keen to keep the brand exclusive but also socially responsible. Clean, innovative technology and alternative propulsion development is one way an engineering-focused company like Porsche can express itself.”

For now, the Panamera S hybrid holds the green & efficient playing card in the Porsche deck and will open the bidding at $95,975, some $5,000 more dear than the Panamera S. It will hit showrooms this summer.

Hyundai is focused on fuel economy, but not necessarily with the aid of hybrid technology. Pure electric and other alternative fuels make cars like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf “somewhat questionable as a mass-market solution,” according to John Krafcik, Hyundai's president and CEO. “Continued development of the conventional engine is the key to providing the biggest benefit to the customer.”

Indeed, Hyundai outsells the high-mileage, conventional-drive competition -- those vehicles that achieve 40 mpg -- by a 6-to-1 margin. In 2011, Hyundai estimates that 200,000 vehicles rated at 40 mpg will be sold, a that number will increase to 285,000 cars in 2012 (which is more cars than Mercedes-Benz sold in the U.S. -- in total -- in 2010).
The 2012 Hyundai Accent is one such car. It gets better fuel economy, delivers more power, more interior room, and a higher level of safety features than the previous model. The new Accent (available in both four- and five-door versions) uses a 138-hp, 1.6-liter, direct-fuel-injection four-cylinder engine. When it goes on sale in May, the new Accent will be priced at $12,445.

The Accent’s 40-mpg highway rating is possible by its ActiveECO system that modifies engine and transmission responses. Hyundai claims up to 7 percent greater real-world fuel economy with the function. With the upcoming new Accent, Hyundai will have four 40-mpg models that don’t rely on hybrid powertrains.

2012 Hyundai Accent
2012 Hyundai Accent

Using what Hyundai calls its "Fluidic Sculpture" design (also seen on the Elantra and Sonata models), the new Accent is slightly longer and wider than the outgoing Accent, providing more interior space for passengers. “Though it’s a subcompact, it's categorized as a compact car, one class up from the competition,” said Brandon Ramirez, the Accent’s product manager. “It has greater cargo capacity than an Infiniti EX35.”

Fuel economy drove the Accent’s redesign, but it wasn’t the only factor. “We got feedback from three-door owners that rear-seat access was a problem, so we decided to make a five-door hatchback and forego the three-door,” Ramirez said.
Vehicle stability control, traction control and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution are all standard. The 2012 Hyundai Accent will hit showrooms this summer.
Hyundai also announced their “Hyundai Assurance Trade-In Value Guarantee.” The company promises to give customers a certain price for their now-new Hyundai when it’s returned for trade-in a few years away. Hyundai’s Krafcik says it’s “more car for your money now and more money for your car later.”


2012 Kia Rio
2012 Kia Rio

The 2012 Kia Rio five-door and four-door sedan models are slightly larger than last year's models, yet return 40+ mpg highway fuel economy through direct fuel injection and the first start-stop system in the subcompact class, which shuts off the engine when stationary, restarting it as the brake pedal is released.

The new Rio five-door goes on sale in November with the four-door sedan following in early 2012. Historically, Rio sales have skewed towards the sedan, but the 5-door version will compete with the Honda Fit, the new Nissan Versa, and the new Hyundai Accent (which shares its platform and engine).

The all-new chassis is joined by a new 1.6-liter, 138 hp engine with variable valve timing, plus six airbags and four-wheel disc brakes. Pricing has not been announced, but may increase due to the additional standard features.

“Rio has always gotten a lot of credit for value, safety and fuel economy,” says Tom Loveless, Hyundai's vice president of sales. “What was missing was an emotional connection with the car."
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
2013 Chevrolet Malibu

GM announced that it will launch the Eco mild hybrid version of its new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu sedan in the first quarter of 2012, going directly after the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Shortly thereafter, Chevy will launch the conventional 2.5-liter Malibu models.

The new Malibu features sporty cues with its high rear, sizable integrated rear spoiler, and a wider track.

“There’s a definite Camaro influence in body side surfaces with broader shoulders and an athletic appearance,” Bryan Nesbitt, GM’s executive director of exterior design. Dual tail lights frame the rear of the car and recall Malibus and Camaros of years ago.

“We wanted to change its persona to make it much more sporty, but what’s equally gratifying is setting -- and meeting -- very aggressive goals for aerodynamic efficiency," Nesbitt said. "The final wind tunnel testing shows that Malibu is right near the Chevy Volt in aero numbers, and that’s our most aerodynamic sedan ever.”

Chevy will sell this Malibu in global markets including Asia and Europe, and therefore various different regulatory factors were considered early on.

Conventional Malibus use the new 2.5-liter, 190-hp four-cylinder engine while the Eco gets the 2.4-liter, 180-hp four-cylinder coupled to a mild hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery. Chevy expects between 26 and 38 mpg, whereas the 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid achieves between 31 and 35 mpg, and the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid yields between 35 and 40 mpg.
The Impreza has provided the entry point for Subaru ownership for almost 20 years and has played a pivotal role in the growing success of the brand in the U.S. market. Also notable is that the Impreza is high in value, long in durability, and provides the foundation on which the rally-inspired WRX and WRX STI have won over legions of rally fans.
Which is why the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza is a bit of a surprise. The appearance is somewhat busy with “hawk-eye” headlights, a prominent chin, and a Legacy-inspired grille that doesn’t quite fit the smaller Impreza’s fascia and bulging fenders. Compared to designs coming out of Kia, Hyundai, even Chevrolet, the Impreza is trailing the competition.
The wheelbase is slightly longer than last year's model, but the rest of the car’s exterior dimensions remain effectively the same. There’s more cargo capacity and less weight. 
Base, Premium, and Limited trim levels will be available.
2012 Subaru Impreza
2012 Subaru Impreza
 The natural trend in engine evolution is slightly larger, slightly more powerful year after year. The 2012 Impreza bucks this trend, getting a new smaller engine with 22 fewer horsepower (from 170 to 148). The upside, however, is that the new Impreza takes a 30-percent leap forward in fuel economy. Coupled to its CVT automatic, the 2012 Impreza yields between 27 and 36 mpg. (The five-speed is rated at 25/34 city.highway compared to the previous 20/27.) This is all underpinned by a proven all-wheel-drive chassis that’s standard on this and every Subaru and essentially unavailable from other subcompacts in the Impreza’s class.
With less power, less weight, and better efficiency, the 2012 Impreza will no doubt do well, if you can get past the looks department. The Impreza's beauty is definitely beneath the skin.
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
 Jeep’s lineup went SRT8-less for a year in the Grand Cherokee lineup as the old model made room for the new one, but the sabbatical ends this summer. Chrysler unveiled the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 in New York, calling it the "most powerful Jeep vehicle ever."
The 2012 SRT8’s 465 hp, 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine picks up where the 2010 Grand Cherokee SRT8’s 425-hp, 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine left off. Via a five-speed automatic transmission, the new Grand Cherokee SRT8 will go from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds -- thanks to tenacious traction -- and accelerates to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.
Chrysler does not yet have fuel economy estimates on the SRT8, but it’s safe to say it's nothing like a Toyota Prius.
Inside, the SRT8’s race-inspired cockpit offers the driver steering-wheel-mounted paddles to shift the transmission manually, and displays performance stats in the center console. The cabin also gets a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, carbon-fiber trim and leather-and-suede seats. An 825-watt sound system will pump out the most bombastic Wagner or White Stripes.

Oddly, the previous-generation SRT8 Grand Cherokee was not rated for towing. No longer. The new SRT8 can haul 5,000 pounds.

Chassis highlights include a new SRT-tuned suspension with adaptive damping, Brembo brakes and new split-five-spoke 20-inch forged aluminum wheels. SRT8s ride one inch lower than standard models and receive body-color fender flares, side cladding, and a dual-sport exhaust system with huge 4-inch exhaust tips.
Scared of full throttle or winding around the back roads with this much “go” on tap? Jeep will throw in one day of professional driving instruction from the Richard Petty Driving School when you purchase one!
The recently redesigned Chrysler 300 is now joined by a fortified 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 high-performance stud with 6.4-liters of roaring Hemi V8 making 465 horsepower and 465 ft-lbs of torque (an increase of 40 hp). Aerodynamics and bodywork are uniquely tucked and tuned, too. Pricing has not been officially announced, but should start around $45,000.
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
 “The Chrysler 300 SRT8 is no-compromises, king-of-the-hill, the ultimate combination of world-class luxury and performance, in our most powerful, best-handling sedan ever,” said Olivier François, Chrysler’s president and chief executive.
The latest 300 debuted last fall and garnered plenty of accolades, though there was a hole in the lineup where the old SRT8 model stood. The new 300 SRT8 can reach 60 mph in the 4-second range and, with a full head of steam, reach 175 mph. Not to be pigeonholed as only a taker, the SRT8’s fuel economy should be improved 25 percent thanks to a cylinder deactivation program that shuts down four of the eight cylinders.
Unique, lightweight 20-inch wheels in a menacing black finish partially hide huge brake discs and racing-derived Brembo calipers. The SRT Group within Chrysler has adopted a benchmark performance test that goes back over 40 years to racing and test driver, Ken Miles, then in the employ of Carroll Shelby. Miles reckoned braking was every bit as important as acceleration and devised an exercise of racing to 100 mph and immediately throwing out anchor to stop the car as rapidly as possible. Thus, the 0-100-0 mph measurement was born. The SRT Group’s braking system enables the SRT8 to do the 0-100-0 mph run in under 16 seconds and go from 60-0 mph in just 120 feet.
Across the front, the SRT8 has a new lower fascia and a unique slotted grill that's echoed in the lower fascia openings. New sills lower the car visually, and the trunk lid sprouts a subtle spoiler. Inside, the SRT8 is leather-lined and swathed in racy carbon fiber. The large touchscreen offers Performance Pages, which displays performance data like horsepower output, torque output, and cornering forces, and can tabulate zero-to-60 acceleration, 60-to-zero braking, and standing quarter-mile elapsed times.
Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters have been added, and allow manual operation of the five-speed automatic transmission. Also, adaptive dampening shocks allow either a smoother or more athletic setting of the suspension. Seven-spoke, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in beefy tires meet the road.
For those who want to get their Lightning McQueen on, Chrysler offers a free day of driver training at the Richard Petty Driving School for SRT owners.

Post Source:http://autos.yahoo.com

Top 10 Urban Cars


The Ultimate Urban Car

2011 Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper refuses to release its grip on the title of Ultimate Urban Car. Yes, it's short — just over 12 feet long — and it turns a fairly tight circle and offers rear parking sensors. But being the ultimate urban car isn't just about parking. The Cooper's wee size and nimble handling make it good for scooting around delivery vehicles or slowpokes, especially if you opt for the turbocharged S trim level. All Coopers have excellent brakes, too, so you're well-protected against the indiscretions of others, such as cellphone-obsessed pedestrians who don't know street from sidewalk. Consider the convertible if you live in a warm climate, but if you're in a wintry city, think twice about the S trim level, which rides too firmly for pothole-ridden streets.

Length: 146.8 inches
Turning circle: 35.1 feet
Seats: 4
City MPG: 28-29 (premium gas)


Other Worthy Contenders

2011 Chevrolet Cruze

It's not flashy — OK, it's really not flashy — but the Cruze satisfies the basic transportation needs of any driver extremely well. Chevy also delivers one of its highest-quality interiors along with good fuel economy and, most importantly in the city, a suspension that eats up potholes. Unlike many other small cars, the Cruze also has a sizable backseat for taking friends out to dinner, and the trunk is as big as those you find in some midsize sedans. Plus, if it gets a ding, you're really not going to be too heartbroken.

Length: 181.0 inches
Turning circle: 35.8-36.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 22-28

2011 Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
Ford's cosmopolitan-looking Fiesta is all the rage in city-flocked Europe, and it should suit urban America equally well. The manual transmission's light clutch and smooth throws suit the city better than the optional automatic, whose twin-clutch setup has the Fiesta lurching around a bit at low speeds. Either way, the car's near-30 mpg city mileage should minimize trips to the pump. The suspension ticks off manhole covers and alley ruts without lingering aftershocks, and the car's nimble steering will have you maneuvering around stopped taxicabs without breaking a sweat. Ford's available Sync system should appeal to tech enthusiasts, with app integration for a number of smartphones.

Length: 160.1 inches
Turning circle: 34.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 28-29

2011 Honda Fit
Honda Fit
Honda Fit
Like an efficiency apartment, the Honda Fit is a packaging marvel, and it can hold a lot more stuff than its small exterior size would suggest. A tall roofline and low load floor help the hatchback achieve a cavernous 57.3 cubic feet of cargo room with the backseat down. The backseat also flips up, giving it versatility not normally seen in its class. When you take into account gas mileage as high as 28/35 mpg city/highway with an automatic transmission and the Fit's light-on-its-feet nature, this is one hatchback that's made for tackling — and moving things in — cities.

Length: 161.6 inches
Turning circle: 34.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 27-28

2011 Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Elantra
We've been impressed with the new cars coming from Hyundai lately, like the Sonata family sedan, and the redesigned Elantra compact car impresses, too. The 2011 model's all-new design brings a heavy dose of style to the small-car segment, but Hyundai delivered on the practical front, too, as all versions of the Elantra get an EPA-estimated 29/40 mpg. The emphasis on design carries over to the cabin, which is distinctive and functional. All in all, the Elantra drives, looks and feels like a more expensive car than it actually is, and it's hard to put a price on that.

Length: 178.3 inches
Turning circle: 34.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 29

2011 Kia Forte
Kia Forte
Kia Forte
Kia's Forte debuted as a compact sedan, with a coupe and four-door hatchback following in quick succession. While the two-door is fun and the four-door is sensible, the hatchback may be the best option for city dwellers. You get the same well-designed interior and a capable engine, along with the numerous standard features and the low price of the sedan. And don't forget the extra cargo room. It may not drive as sportingly as the Mazda3 or even the Toyota Matrix, but the Forte costs significantly less and delivers better gas mileage. Those are two convincing reasons to go with the Kia.

Length: 170.9 inches
Turning circle: 33.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 22-25

2011 Kia Soul
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
The Soul's boxy lines liken a sort of Mini-Me version of the delivery trucks crawling any city street. Get one in brown, and the UPS driver might give you a friendly honk. (Not that you'd be able to distinguish it from the other honks.) The Soul's four-cylinder engine — most trims have a 2.0-liter — gets the job done, if unremarkably, and the highly assisted steering comes in handy at urban speeds. The trendy interior will appeal to a certain type of city dweller, with available features that include speakers that illuminate in sync with your music. Not surprisingly, they tend to work better with Lady Gaga than Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Length: 161.6 inches
Turning circle: 34.4 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 24-26

2011 Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is perfect for the city, and vice versa. With a range as high as 100 miles, the battery-electric Leaf is great for the average commute. It's more efficient at moderate speeds than on the highway, so trips around downtown areas are where it's most capable. Unlike gas-powered cars, which waste fuel in traffic jams, the Leaf's battery isn't depleted as it crawls along, barring excessive use of the heat or air conditioner. City centers are where public charging is proliferating, which should diminish range anxiety. An optional backup camera is a coup for parking purposes.

Length: 175.0 inches
Turning circle: 34.2 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 106 MPGe

2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI
Volkswagen Golf TDI
Volkswagen Golf TDI
With the diesel-powered Golf TDI, fuel economy and driving fun happily coexist. The Golf TDI is rated at 30/42 mpg in all its forms, and the diesel four-cylinder's robust torque — combined with a nimble chassis — will have you slicing through urban traffic in no time. This is an entertaining driver's car. Inside, the Golf TDI features a level of quality that not many competitors can match, and whether you get the two- or four-door hatchback model, the cabin is versatile, capable of swallowing loads of cargo for that crosstown move. It's a car that will turn diesel skeptics into believers.

Length: 165.4 inches
Turning circle: 35.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 30 (diesel)

2011 Toyota Yaris
Toyota Yaris
Toyota Yaris
Not many cars can turn a full circle in under 35 feet. The fact that the Yaris does it in under 31 feet is extraordinary — and handy in tight corners and parallel parking. The car's basic exterior leaves no fog lights or chrome trim at risk for curb encounters, and in hatchback form, its stubby dimensions should make it easy to wedge into tight spaces. Inside, the cabin's three glove compartments allows space to stash valuables away from prying eyes, and the car's four-cylinder is peppier than its 106 horsepower might suggest. The car also starts under $13,000 — which gives at least one cheap aspect to city living.

Length: 150.6 inches
Turning circle: 30.8 feet
Seats: 5
City MPG: 29

Post Source:http://autos.yahoo.com

New Malibu counts on styling, eAssist

Chevrolet Malibu: 3 inches wider, half an inch shorter than the current model
 General Motors is counting on a sportier Chevrolet Malibu -- and a fuel-efficient Eco variant -- to extend the mid-sized sedan's successful run.
Last week Chevy unveiled the 2013 Malibu at the Shanghai auto show and followed that at the New York show with an Eco version GM says will get an estimated 38 mpg on the highway, a level that mid-sized cars usually reach only if they are hybrids.
Before the current Malibu debuted in late 2007, the previous generation had been rental-fleet fodder. The improved styling and refinement racked up awards and made the Malibu GM's best-selling U.S. car with 198,770 units sold last year, up 55 percent from 2007.
"We made such a big move with the current car to get ourselves solidly in the game in this segment," said Russ Clark, Chevrolet product marketing director for mid-sized and performance cars. "We want to push it even further."
The Malibu Eco will have GM's eAssist technology, a stop-start system to be introduced this year in the Buick LaCrosse and Regal sedans. The redesigned Malibu, which goes on sale early next year, will be the first Chevrolet to get the fuel-saving technology.
Mark Reuss, GM's North American president, said the relatively inexpensive technology gives buyers a moderately priced option to boost fuel economy significantly without having to buy a conventional hybrid or plug-in hybrid such as the Chevrolet Volt.
"Not everyone can afford those. We know that," Reuss said. "The customer base finds cars like this very attractive because they pay for themselves."
The 2013 Malibu is about 3 inches wider than the current model and a half-inch shorter. It has a wedge-like profile, with the hood line lower to the ground than the trunk lid.
Bryan Nesbitt, General Motors' executive director for North America exterior design and global architecture strategy, said, "The term I used on the last car was 'elegance,' elegance in the profile and the length." In contrast, the 2013 version "is definitely a sporty persona, not an elegant persona."
The Malibu will soon face revamped rivals. A redesigned Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in the United States, is scheduled to arrive later this year, to be followed by a redesigned Honda Accord for the 2013 model year.
Greg Heinrich, a dealer with three Chevrolet stores in Nevada, said the redesigned Malibu can't arrive too soon. He noted that makers of other mid-sized sedans, such as Hyundai, which builds the Sonata, have "raised their game."
"It's a good sign when GM takes a product that's already successful and tries to refine it and make it even better," said Heinrich, Chevrolet's representative on GM's National Dealer Council. "That's something they didn't do much of in the past."
 

Monday, May 30, 2011

Electric Cars: All Charged Up, but Still Stuck in First Gear

[eyesRoad]
Nissan's electric-powered Leaf, scheduled to be in showrooms in December, has attracted 16,000 advance orders.
Electric-car fever is rising again.
Battery-powered-sports-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. just launched one of the hottest initial public offerings in years. Nissan Motor Co.'s electric Leaf is generating buzz ahead of its scheduled December debut and has 16,000 advance orders. President Barack Obama plans to visit an electric car battery factory in Michigan Thursday to promote the government's $2.4 billion program of grants to subsidize development of electric-vehicle technology.

eyesRoad
Tesla Motors has sold about 1,000 of its electric Roadsters since it debuted in 2008.
And of course, the catastrophic Gulf oil spill is reviving anxiety over the national addiction to oil.
So, it's all systems go for a future in which most of our driving doesn't depend on fossil fuels, right?
Not so fast.
Tesla Motors says its Roadster can be driven 245 miles before needing to be recharged.
To appreciate the obstacles standing in the way of the electric-car dream, you don't need to talk to electric-vehicle skeptics or hybrid haters. Instead, you can listen to the people who believe in electric vehicles, and are investing in those beliefs.
Proponents of the technology will tell you that anyone buying an electric vehicle will want to know at least two things: How far can I drive before I have to recharge? And, where can I go to recharge when I am on the road, far from home? Companies acknowledge that clear answers to those questions aren't yet available—and may not be until a good while after the coming flock of electric cars has hit showrooms. 
Tesla Motors outlines as part of its public-offering documents a lengthy recitation of risks to its business. It's sobering reading for electric-vehicle enthusiasts. One of the concerns Tesla raises is that the Environmental Protection Agency is looking at new ways to measure how far electric cars can go before they need to be recharged. The aim is to make the advertised range figures better reflect how people drive their cars in the real world. Some of the new test methods the EPA is considering could require electric-vehicle companies to reduce the advertised range of their vehicles by as much as 30%.
The EPA won't comment on its rule-making. Tesla currently tells people who buy its $101,500 Roadsters that they can expect to drive as many as 245 miles between charges, a figure company officials say is based on existing EPA tests. (Their reasoning is explained here: www.teslamotors.com/blog/roadster-efficiency-and-range.) Tesla has sold about 1,000 Roadsters since 2008.
Nissan has told prospective buyers of the Leaf that they can expect to drive up to 100 miles on a charge. "Up to" is a critical qualifier in the electric-vehicle business, given how cold temperatures, speed, the power drain from air conditioners and other factors can cut into battery life.
If electric-vehicle marketers are forced to scale back their advertised range figures, it could diminish the number of potential buyers. But large numbers of customers getting stuck by the side of the road with a dead battery because they believed exaggerated range claims would be worse.
The best solution would be a consistent, easy-to-understand federal standard that produces range figures that correspond with real-world experience. That could take a while for the EPA and industry to develop. So consumers who jump to buy a Tesla, Leaf or other electric models coming in the next couple of years will likely have to make purchase decisions without the comfort of a clear federal standard.
Then there's the "where-to-charge" issue.
That's a top-of-mind issue for Shai Agassi, a former software executive who founded Better Place, a Palo Alto, Calif., company that is best known for developing a system for rapidly swapping the batteries out of specially designed electric vehicles so that motorists can drive with fresh batteries while the old ones recharge. The system is designed to eliminate the need for vehicle owners on long trips to wait for hours while their batteries charge up.
Better Place also plans to offer recharging stations for electric vehicles that aren't designed for the battery-swapping system. The company earlier this year secured a $350 million fresh round of funding from an investor group led by HSBC Holdings PLC. The company has charging stations in Israel and Denmark and in October 2008 announced a deal to build charging stations in Australia. The company also has agreements with Renault SA and Chinese auto maker Chery Automobile to develop cars that can use the company's battery-swapping systems.
In the U.S., Better Place plans to develop a charging network in Hawaii. It also has announced a plan to develop a $1 billion network of charging stations in California. A company spokeswoman says the first of the charge stations could be up and running later this year.
Mr. Agassi says it would cost between $5 billion and $10 billion to outfit the major travel corridors of the U.S. with Better Place charging and battery-swap stations. That's the equivalent of "one week's worth of gasoline," he says.
So why isn't he doing it? Because when he talks to investors about bankrolling a big play in the U.S., they tell him, "let's do Holland," he says. That's because gasoline in the home of the World Cup runner-up team is two to three times the price in the U.S., which makes the electric alternative more attractive.
"The only way to get off oil is with a system that's cheaper than gasoline, and more convenient than gasoline," he says. "I can't raise the investment in the U.S. to put this (Better Place) on the ground."
Auto makers have called on the government to make it easier for utilities and others to build public charging stations. A bill proposed by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D., N.D.) and others proposes spending $10 billion in federal money to boost electric-vehicle adoption, including offering subsidies for public charging stations and $2,000 tax credits for people who install in-home charging systems. In the current political climate, it's not clear Congress will agree to spend taxpayers' money to make it easier for electric-vehicle early adopters to charge their rides.