Geneva Preview: 37 mpg (U.S.) Lexus RX 450h CUV
Click above for a high res gallery of the RX 450h When we first met the RX 450h hybrid CUV – excuse me, the “car-based luxury utility vehicle,” during the LA Auto Show last November, Lexus wouldn’t say what mileage the vehicle would get. Now that we’re a bit closer to the release date and the CUV’s European debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week, Lexus has announced that the RX 450h gets 44.8 mpg (37 mpg U.S.) on the combined cycle, an improvement of 28 percent. Combine that with CO 2 emissions of 148 grams per km, and Lexus has a numbers to brag about. The RX 450h goes on sale in the UK this summer. We’ll get more details on the European debut from Geneva this coming week. Gallery: Lexus RX 450h [Source: Lexus UK] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Lexus , Geneva Motor Show Geneva Preview: 37 mpg (U.S.) Lexus RX 450h CUV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Geneva Preview: 37 mpg (U.S.) Lexus RX 450h CUV
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Leave a commentLuxurious and green: Europe’s (relatively) low-CO2 luxury sedans
Some drivers love large luxury sedans sedans. What’s more, there’s nothing that denotes luxury quite like the largest car from a premium brand. They might be impractical in some European cities, but that’s for the chauffeur to worry about. For the green-minded baron, though, there are always concerns about high fuel consumption and, well, sometimes you can do the job with a smaller car. However, for those times when we just need to be driven in a big sedan, let’s see what the European market has to offer. After the jump we have a list of luxurious sedans ordered by CO 2 emissions. And for once, this is a list – despite the inclusion of a few diesels – that includes many players from the American market as well. Click past the jump for the complete list. Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj [Source: Auto News ] Continue reading Luxurious and green: Europe’s (relatively) low-CO 2 luxury sedans Auto Blog: Etc. , Audi , Bentley , BMW , Cadillac , Chrysler , Honda , Jaguar , Maybach , Mercedes Benz , Rolls Royce , Europe/EU Luxurious and green: Europe’s (relatively) low-CO 2 luxury sedans originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Luxurious and green: Europe’s (relatively) low-CO2 luxury sedans
Saab improves efficiency of 9-3 diesel, now up to 44.4 mpg (U.S.)
Saab has just tweaked the diesel versions of the 9-3 to reduce the fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. Over in Europe, the Saab is available with a 1.9L turbodiesel four in two power flavors. The milder single turbo 150 hp variant is now rated at 44.4 mpg (U.S.) in the sedan or 42.8 mpg (U.S.) in the wagon. The CO 2 emissions of the two body styles are now at 139 g/km and 144 g/km respectively. The average 7 percent gains in efficiency are due to revised gearing, taller (lower numerical) final drive ratio, revised engine calibrations and lower rolling resistance tires. Gallery: 2008 Saab 9-3 diesel [Source: Saab] Continue reading Saab improves efficiency of 9-3 diesel, now up to 44.4 mpg (U.S.) Auto Blog: Diesel , MPG , Saab Saab improves efficiency of 9-3 diesel, now up to 44.4 mpg (U.S.) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Saab improves efficiency of 9-3 diesel, now up to 44.4 mpg (U.S.)
U.S.-EU biodiesel "splash and dash" tariff fight escalating
While biodiesel advocates go about setting up sustainability principles , the EU and the U.S. are in a growing dispute over the biofuel. The problem is that the Europeans see the $1-a-gallon tax credit that the U.S. provides for B99 (made up of 99 percent biodiesel and one percent petro-diesel) as an unfair subsidy that is harming the European biodiesel market. The EU’s response: slap new (but temporary) tariffs on biodiesel imports from the U.S., maybe. The European Commission is looking into applying the tariffs, and should make a decision by March 13. One of the big problems, according to an article in the Seattle TImes , is a practice called “splash and dash.” This is when American producers import pure (that is, B100) biodiesel made somewhere else, add a bit of petro-diesel to the fuel and collect the tax credit and then ship the biodiesel to Europe. This has been going on for years . The Financial Times says that the American companies’ practices are pushing biodiesel prices in Europe down by between 89 and 99 U.S. cents per gallon. The U.S.’s National Biodiesel Board says European comanies are “not being hurt by US competition,” and wants the U.S. to take action against the EU through the World Trade Organization. Sigh. [Source: Seattle TImes , Financial Times ] Photo by ? Redvers . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0. Auto Blog: Biodiesel , Legislation and Policy , Europe/EU , USA U.S.-EU biodiesel “splash and dash” tariff fight escalating originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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U.S.-EU biodiesel "splash and dash" tariff fight escalating
Mitsubishi iMiEV New Zealand tour ‘Tubed and Twittered
Click above and scroll down to watch the video As we informed you last week, Mitsubishi and Meridian Energy have brought the iMiEV to New Zealand to introduce Middle Earth to the electric car concept. To help with that outreach, they have an expanded web presence that includes a microsite, a YouTube vid and an impressive social networking effort. If you’re a Twittering fool, you can follow them there and learn about its various reviews and appearances, including this cool one from iMotormag . Their Facebook account already has a few dozen fans and features photo galleries and a way to connect with other Kiwis excited about the car. Interested in having an i MiEV of your own? Just like the UK site , the microsite has a place to tell Mitsubishi you want a battery-powered vehicle and allows you to check out the tour schedule. We suspect this iMiEV motherlode should be enough to tide most readers over until the upcoming reveal of the updated left-hand-drive version is made. If not, hit the jump to view video of the car in New Zealand. [Source: YouTube ] Continue reading Mitsubishi iMiEV New Zealand tour ‘Tubed and Twittered Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Mitsubishi , Pacific Region Mitsubishi iMiEV New Zealand tour ‘Tubed and Twittered originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Posted in Auto Green | earth, european, european-union, europeans, mitsubishi i miev, new zealand, tariff, tour | Leave a commentBranson wants to buy Honda team only if F1 goes green and cuts costs
Richard Branson would like to go racing with his Virgin brand that is known around the world. The withdrawal of Honda from Formula One at the close of 2008 provided a perfect opportunity to pick up all the pieces that are needed on the cheap. But you don’t get to be as wealthy as Sir Richard by doing dumb stuff, and Branson is apparently aware of Roger Penske’s warning about using racing to make small fortunes out of large ones. Therefore, before he proceeds with taking on the remnants of Honda’s F1 effort, he wants to see some real change in the way F1 is run. Branson wants teams participating in F1 to be able to make ends meet – and with sponsors dropping like flies that’s becoming increasingly difficult. The other thing Branson wants is to see F1 get more green by promoting new fuel saving technologies. Aside from adopting hybrid KERS systems for 2009, F1 hasn’t done much in this regard. If anything, most of the recent cost cutting moves have actually tended to choke off innovation rather than foster it. Perhaps Branson should be looking to Le Mans-style racing instead of Formula 1, since series like ALMS are actively promoting alternative energy . [Source: F1-Live ] Auto Blog: Honda , Racing Branson wants to buy Honda team only if F1 goes green and cuts costs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, branson, european, formula1, honda, richardbranson, tariff | Leave a commentPiaggio MP3 Hybrid set for sale this summer
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Piaggio MP3 Hybrid Piaggio has said that a new hybrid version of its MP3 three-wheeled scooter will debut in Italy and Spain later this summer. We’d wager a guess that the €150 million in low-interest loans from the European Investment Bank to Piaggio late last year spurred on the vehicle’s development somewhat. The new hybrid scooter will reportedly be capable of about 12 miles using nothing but electricity, but the MP3′s single cylinder, 250cc gas-powered engine will be able to kick in and provide extended range when necessary. Regenerative braking is also included in the package. The MP3′s electric motor should also provide a usable boost in performance, especially at low speeds, all the while promoting fuel mileage that could be as high as 140 miles per gallon . A lithium ion battery pack will be used by the MP3 Hybrid, which will take up to 4 hours to recharge and likely accounts for a large portion of the scooter’s expected price range of €8,000 to €10,000 when it goes on sale later this year in Europe. Gallery: Piaggio MP3 hybrid scooter [Source: Visordown ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , On Two Wheels , Europe/EU Piaggio MP3 Hybrid set for sale this summer originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Piaggio MP3 Hybrid set for sale this summer
Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, a-new-hybrid, entry, european, greenwheel, italy, piaggio-mp3, piaggiomp3, spain, summer | Leave a commentOpel Ampera caught undisguised in Germany
Sources suggest that General Motors is readying the Opel Ampera for an expected debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The Ampera will be the first production vehicle in Europe using the Voltec powertrain that should make its first appearance in the Chevy Volt in 2010. We got an early sneak peek at the general shape of the Ampera earlier this week from the European Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market, aka the patent office. Now, some sleuthy spy shooters in Germany have managed to catch the car completely naked while posing at an unnamed German facility. We can clearly see that this car will share most of its sheetmetal with its sibling from America, with most of the changes being most apparent in the Cylon-like front fascia. Underneath that skin, we are not expecting to see any real changes to the specifications outlined by the Chevy Volt, which means an electric-only range of 40 miles that’s augmented by a small 1.4-liter four cylinder engine. Thanks for the tip, Mehdi ! [Source: Autocar ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Geneva Motor Show , Opel , Europe/EU , Spy Shots Opel Ampera caught undisguised in Germany originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Opel Ampera caught undisguised in Germany
Hybrids account for 2.3% of January auto sales
Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Although the global and U.S. automotive markets are suffering a huge setback in sales, it’s not impossible for automakers to find a few positive trends to hang their hats on, and one of them centers around hybrids. On the surface, it seems that now may not the best time to be charging extra for fuel saving options, especially since gas prices have fallen mightily from their precipitous highs last summer. Regardless, hybrid vehicles managed to carve out a bit more market share last month, with the official figure standing at 2.3 percent. The fact is that automakers sold fewer hybrids last month than they did a year earlier, but that rate of decline is actually better than what’s being seen in other segments. It may be a shallow victory, but it’s a possible ray of good news in an overall negative climate. There’s reason to believe things will continue to improve on the hybrid sales front with the upcoming introductions of volume sellers like the new 2009 Honda Insight , 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid . Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid [Source: TerraPass ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , USA Hybrids account for 2.3% of January auto sales originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
Geneva Preview: Porsche to publicly debut Cayenne diesel
Click the Cayenne diesel for a high res gallery Porsche started building the new Cayenne diesel SUV several weeks ago but the German sports car maker will publicly show it for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of weeks. Like its platform-mates the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7, the Cayenne uses the VW group 3.0L TDI V6. The 240 hp diesel engine allows the new Cayenne to be the most efficient variant yet by a long shot. The Cayenne diesel is rated at a combined 25.3 mpg (U.S.) on the European cycle. The 405 lb-ft of torque motivates the Cayenne to 62 mph in 8.3 seconds with a top speed of 133 mph. The 25.6 gallon fuel tank gives the Cayenne a bladder-busting range of 620 miles. Like its siblings, the Cayenne is only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission. So far, Porsche hasn’t indicated any intention of offering the diesel Cayenne in the U.S. market even though the engine is already certified for the Audi and VW. The press release is after the jump. Gallery: Porsche Cayenne Diesel [Source: Porsche] Continue reading Geneva Preview: Porsche to publicly debut Cayenne diesel Auto Blog: Diesel , Porsche , Geneva Motor Show Geneva Preview: Porsche to publicly debut Cayenne diesel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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