2009 Toyota Camry will be first hybrid pace car for entire NASCAR race.

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Posted in Toyota

Every time the flag waves at the Coca Cola 600, NASCAR fans will be watching their favorite drivers line up behind a car that has a legal, but new modification: hybrid technology.

A 2009 Toyota Camry hybrid has earned the honors of being the first pace car with hybrid technology approved for use in an entire race, reports USA Today, and it is slated to lead the field at several other tracks.

The Camry, which had no engine modifications made in order to perform its race day duties, gets 33 miles per gallon, but Toyota spokesman Ed Laukes says, “It’s a tribute to the torque and other performance characteristics of the Camry Hybrid that allows it to meet NASCAR’s requirements for pacing the longest race of the season.”

For those not lucky enough to find the “golden can” of Coca-Cola that is the ticket to win the car following the race, it may be less expensive than one thinks to get behind the wheel of a hybrid.

Toyota has offered hybrid versions of the mid-size model for the past several years, and the fuel economy in the used cars may provide an added benefit for those looking to save some money not just when they buy their car, but at the pump, too.

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Mazda to focus on electrics, hybrids in effort to promote fuel economy

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Japanese automaker Mazda says that it will ramp up efforts to deliver better fuel economy on many of its product lines.

The company wants to increase fuel economy across all models by 30 percent in the next five years, aided in some cases by a move towards hybrid vehicles, according to an Automotive News report.

“Our new gasoline engines will achieve the same fuel economy as current diesel engines, and our diesel engines will achieve similar fuel economy as existing hybrids,” Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi told the news provider.

While some Mazda fans may be willing to wait, there are many used cars that offer similar fuel economy, and some may be less expensive than their newer counterparts.

Diesel-powered vehicles, such as those made by German makes like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes Benz offer used car buyers up to 30 percent more fuel economy than those powered by standard engines, and a variety of models have been using the power train for years.

Other opportunities for used car buyers looking for a car that’s stingy in gasoline consumption are hybrids such as the Toyota Prius or the Honda Insight, which incorporate electric motors and see combined efficency ratings above 35 miles per gallon.

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Chrysler unveils electric concept car for USPS

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Posted in Chrysler - DO NOT USE

Chrysler showcased four all-electric Town & Country minivan concepts to the U.S. Postal Service yesterday and vowed to apply for a grant to manufacture a “fleet” of such cars for the government agency.

The car manufacturer said it intends to apply to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Transportation Electrification stimulus program for a federal grant, enabling Chrysler to make enough zero-emission electric minivans for most of the postal workers around the country.

“Our ENVI electric minivan concepts illustrate Chrysler’s innovation with electric vehicle technology and show what the future could hold,” said Frank Klegon, executive vice president fo product development at Chrysler.

ENVI, which gets its name from the first four letters of the word environment, is a team within Chrysler charged with the task of integrating electric-vehicle technology into existing products.

Sam Pulcrano, vice president of sustainability at the USPS, said the department is currently looking to replace its “aging fleet” with energy-efficient vehicles.

Because of an established relationship with Chrysler, the USPC currently has more than 10,000 minivans in its fleet from the car manufacturer.

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Nissan to introduce zero-emission vehicles in 2010

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Posted in Nissan

In celebration of Earth Day, the Renault-Nissan Alliance announced a new partnership that will reportedly bring a zero-emission vehicle to the U.S. next year and be mass marketed global two years after.

The partnership will be between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Nissan in Tennessee, which expands an existing deal between the car manufacturer and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

“Nissan in Tennessee is working with partners that share in the belief that the introduction and expansion of electric vehicles is one of the best solutions to reducing CO2 emissions,” said Dominique Thormann, senior vice president, administration and finance, of Nissan North America. “It’s only through collaborative efforts such as this that we can make zero-emission mobility a reality.”

People who are in the market for a used car may want to look at some at the 2007 Nissan Altima hybrid as a way to cut down on fuel costs and be environmentally friendly.

According to Edmunds.com, the Altima hybrid combined the features fans of the model have grown to love (good handling, ample room) with being fuel efficient.

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Team to test range of new Ford Fusion in endurance trial

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Posted in Ford

A team of drivers and engineers are about to get to know each other very well as part of a nearly two-day long race to see just how far the new Ford Fusion hybrid can travel on a single tank of gas.

On Saturday, a team will set out from Mount Vernon, Virginia to see if the Fusion will average 57 miles per gallon when driven by NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, a team of Ford engineers, and a self-professed “hypermiler” known for milking more miles about of regular cars.

Some tactics planned by the team to increase mileage can help lower gas consumption in many other cars, including anticipating traffic conditions, minimizing the use of accessories, and allowing the car to coast when possible.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Buyers who may not be in the market for the 2010 hybrid can nonetheless use those tactics to improve the fuel economy on used versions. The 2009 model averaged about 23 miles per gallon in city and highway conditions, as did the model introduced the year before.

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Two Ford cars make KBB top green list

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Posted in Ford

One U.S. car company has increases its profile as a hybrid vehicle manufacturer thanks a recent Kelly Blue Book top 10 list.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid appeared on KBB’s Top 10 Green Cars list, which factored in fuel economy and powertrain when deciding which cars made the cut.

“What we really like about both the Fusion and Escape Hybrids is that they do everything great hybrids should do – in terms of providing excellent fuel economy – but at the same time, they drive like conventional vehicles,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com.

Nerad added that the inclusion of two of Ford’s cars on the list said “strong things” about the company as a hybrid manufacturer.

People who are interested in a hybrid vehicle, but may want a cheaper alternative to the cost of a new car may want to look into the used models of the Ford Escape and Fusion, both of which got favorable reviews as fuel-efficient vehicles from Edmunds.com.

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Infamous Google Street View car photographed

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Posted in General Auto News

A part-time photographer recently snapped a picture of the car used by Google for its Street View technology, which in turn reportedly upset the employee of the search engine company, UK newspaper the Telegraph reports.

The 58-year-old man who took the photograph asked to remain anonymous and stated that it was “ironic” the Google driver would get upset at having his picture taken, especially with privacy issues some organizations have brought up concerning Street View, according to the article.

At the time, the car was reportedly mapping a street in the village of Wool in Dorset when it was spotted by the photographer who then decided to take out his camera since the car is so rarely seen.

From the picture taken, the car appears to have a large tripod with a massive camera on top of a metal pole strapped to the roof, allowing it to take the 360 degree angles computer users have gotten used to with the technology.

Google has been using the vehicle, and presumably other similar ones, all over Britain in recent months to capture various neighborhoods.

Diesels offer affordable way to increase mileage, save money

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Posted in BMW, Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

While it may feel weird to line up behind a tractor-trailer to use a diesel pump at the local gas station, some of the most fuel efficient used cars don’t run on regular.

Those looking to save money by buying a “sipper” rather than a gas guzzler can look to the fact that two of the top 10 most fuel efficient cars on sale in America don’t use spark plugs, according to Kelly Blue Book’s recent review.

Although “green” options like hybrids tend to dominate fuel economy and rankings of cars that are environmentally friendly, used cars such as the Volkswagen Jetta and BMW 3-series can be had cheaper than their electrically-enabled brethren.

More importantly, they’re much more affordable than comparable hybrids, while offering similar fuel economy, often up to 40 or 50 miles per gallon, depending on the model.

Although diesel is generally more expensive than regular gasoline, it should average only about 4 cents more per gallon this summer, according to federal forecasts.

So for a couple pennies more, a used diesel car may travel 10 to 20 miles farther for every gallon a customer puts into it.

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Cash for Clunkers may not make new cars affordable for all

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

A program being considered by several states and the federal government to offer thousands of dollars in vouchers for citizens who traded in vehicles during new car purchases may not benefit many Americans of modest means according to some critics.

The amounts being considered, $3,000 to $5,000, could provide some impetus in new car purchases, writes economist Steven Leavitt in a blog post for the New York Times, but he says that most people who own older cars are more likely to buy used cars as replacements.

He is joined by Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, who says that the program would “limit access to affordable transportations” for families who can’t afford new car prices, even with a voucher.

According to Comerica, a bank that offers new car loans, the average price of a new car was $29,000.

Although used car prices have risen slightly, according to a price index released by Manheim Consulting, a substantial number of cars were sold at prices between $8,000 and $12,000 at auction.

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New Toyota Prius to start at $21K this May

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Posted in Toyota

Toyota has announced the suggested retail prices for the third generation of its acclaimed hybrid vehicle, set to roll out on sale this May.

The Toyota Prius will start at $21,000 and will continue onto five different levels with various standard equipment combinations, according to the car manufacturer.

“The 2010 Prius delivers outstanding mileage, performance and advanced technology at a great price,” said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division.

Carter also added that he expects the most popular version of the Prius will be the car at the second price level, which will be at $22,000 (features for the first level have yet to be released).

As always, the company says the hybrids will be fuel efficient with EPA fuel economy estimates of 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway and 50 mpg combined.

However, those in the market looking for a used car may want to look at past Prius models, which are still fuel efficient when compared to other vehicles.

The Kelly Blue Book places the value of a 2005 Prius with 60,000 miles at under $17,000.

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