Toyota News - Tundra 5.7L V8 gets flex-fuel option for ‘09

Tundra 5.7L V8 gets flex-fuel option for ‘09

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Toyota, USA

Toyota has announced updated pricing information for the 2009 Tundra full-size truck, along with a few new options that weren’t available before. Chief among these new features is flex-fuel capability on the largest, most powerful 5.7L engine option. Toyota has been planning on adding this capability since the new Tundra was introduced, which makes sense considering that all of its major competitors offer the ability to run on ethanol mixtures higher than 10 percent. The Japanese automaker will specifically be focusing in on the Midwestern states where E85 is more common, and will in fact be made standard on four-wheel drive models in certain areas. There will be no price increase on models equipped with the ethanol capability, which is good since the 2009 Tundra can top out at well over $40K. Prices have risen only modestly across the line - just an average of four percent, or $109 per truck for the new year.

[Source: Carscoop]

Tundra 5.7L V8 gets flex-fuel option for ‘09 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]toyota cars, toyota news, toyota suv, toyota[/tags]

Ford News - Nancy Gioia discusses hybrids, plug-ins and battery leases

Nancy Gioia discusses hybrids, plug-ins and battery leases

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Ford, LA Auto Show

Following the reveal of the Ford Fusion Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto show last week, Ford’s director of sustainable mobility technology Nancy Gioia spoke with Green Fuels Forecast about a number of topics. Top of the list, of course, was the new hybrid sedan and the fact that Ford has decided not to make its hybrids more visually distinct from conventional cars. The Fusion is just the latest of Ford’s hybrid programs, but the most advanced is the plug-in hybrid Escape that Ford is testing with Southern California Edison. That program is apparently going very well and in fact Ford will be announcing soon that several more electric utilities are joining the test program. So far the Escape PHEV is averaging 120 mpg running in charge-depleting mode and 70 mpg overall. Gioia also discussed battery exchange programs. She told GFF that while battery technology is still changing so quickly, such systems may not prove to be technically viable. Check out all of what Gioia had to say at Green Fuels Forecast.

[Source: Green Fuels Forecast]

Nancy Gioia discusses hybrids, plug-ins and battery leases originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]ford cars, ford news, ford models, ford[/tags]

Dodge News - Consumer reports points out automotive turkeys of ‘08

Consumer reports points out automotive turkeys of ‘08

Filed under: Hybrid, Chrysler, Dodge, SMART, Toyota, Green Daily

What’s more appropriate to talk about on Thanksgiving Day than turkeys? Americans are set to consume a few hundred tons of the gobblers today, tomorrow and likely well into the next month as leftovers are slowly taken out of the fridge until they just can’t be tolerated any longer. And that’s not the only turkey that’s likely to outlive its welcome. Consumer Reports has gathered up a quick list of automotive turkeys - cars, options or automaker decisions that leave us questioning their sanity. A prime example is the oft-maligned BMW iDrive, but there are a few others that seemingly deserve the right to dethrone that hated accessory.

For instance, we’re wondering what Chrysler was thinking by dumping all kinds of money into the joint project to develop the 2-Mode hybrid system with its partners BMW and GM. After all that was complete, the automaker moved forward with the Durango and Aspen hybrids, which used the brand-new technology to good effect, outscoring their GM rivals in fuel efficiency and pricing. Then, the two models were unceremoniously dropped before the production line workers even got comfortable. Major turkeys, turducken even, and an obvious monumental waste of money and resources.

Also making CR’s list, though not necessarily ours, is the smart fortwo, which the mag claims is too expensive given its capabilities. Also on the list are the Feds for approving a tax credit for GM’s full-size hybrid ‘utes. CR also comments on the poor head lamps of its Prius hybrid. Any current-gen Pirus owners out there willing to comment on their lighting performance?

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer reports points out automotive turkeys of ‘08 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]dodge cars, dodge news, dodge models[/tags]

Volkswagen News - VW adds Twin Drive technology to sixth-gen Golf

VW adds Twin Drive technology to sixth-gen Golf

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Volkswagen

Volkswagen still has yet to announce a production hybrid drivetrain of any sort, instead choosing to focus its efforts on clean diesel technology, and with good effect - the new Jetta TDI was named the 2009 Green Car of the Year. Despite the lack of production plans, VeeDub has been testing some interesting hybrid concepts for the last few months, especially the Golf Twin Drive. Up until now, all of the Twin Drive models had been based on the previous fifth-generation Golf, but that has just been rectified as the German automaker has updated its concept with the latest chassis and sheetmetal.

Twenty Golf Twin Drive cars currently exist and are undergoing testing. Independent tests of the Twin Drive indicate that it can achieve over 90 miles per gallon (US). Three electric motors are used, one up front with the 1.5L diesel engine and one for each rear wheel, making this an all-wheel drive car. Despite its excellent efficiency, there is a high monetary cost to pay for this much technology, so don’t expect a production version any time soon.

[Source: World Car Fans]

VW adds Twin Drive technology to sixth-gen Golf originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]volkswagen cars, volkswagen news, volkswagen models[/tags]

Toyota News - Consumer reports points out automotive turkeys of ‘08

Consumer reports points out automotive turkeys of ‘08

Filed under: Hybrid, Chrysler, Dodge, SMART, Toyota, Green Daily

What’s more appropriate to talk about on Thanksgiving Day than turkeys? Americans are set to consume a few hundred tons of the gobblers today, tomorrow and likely well into the next month as leftovers are slowly taken out of the fridge until they just can’t be tolerated any longer. And that’s not the only turkey that’s likely to outlive its welcome. Consumer Reports has gathered up a quick list of automotive turkeys - cars, options or automaker decisions that leave us questioning their sanity. A prime example is the oft-maligned BMW iDrive, but there are a few others that seemingly deserve the right to dethrone that hated accessory.

For instance, we’re wondering what Chrysler was thinking by dumping all kinds of money into the joint project to develop the 2-Mode hybrid system with its partners BMW and GM. After all that was complete, the automaker moved forward with the Durango and Aspen hybrids, which used the brand-new technology to good effect, outscoring their GM rivals in fuel efficiency and pricing. Then, the two models were unceremoniously dropped before the production line workers even got comfortable. Major turkeys, turducken even, and an obvious monumental waste of money and resources.

Also making CR’s list, though not necessarily ours, is the smart fortwo, which the mag claims is too expensive given its capabilities. Also on the list are the Feds for approving a tax credit for GM’s full-size hybrid ‘utes. CR also comments on the poor head lamps of its Prius hybrid. Any current-gen Pirus owners out there willing to comment on their lighting performance?

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer reports points out automotive turkeys of ‘08 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: www.autobloggreen.com

[tags]toyota cars, toyota news, toyota suv, toyota[/tags]

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