Hybrids are trendy, and, as an automotive writer, I’ve had the opportunity to drive all of the current production gasoline-electric hybrid cars and a few prototypes. Knowing this, friends and acquaintances have asked me if they should buy a hybrid.

The first thing I do is ask them a question: how much city and traffic driving do you do? Because that’s where hybrids have the most advantage in fuel economy. When a hybrid is stopped at a light, or in traffic, where a regular car will get zero miles per gallon, it doesn’t use any fuel. And when running at slow, steady speeds and light engine loads, as in under 35 mph or so on level ground, a hybrid will run under electric power, using no gasoline.

Under acceleration and at highway speeds, the hybrid uses its gasoline engine, perhaps with an assist from the electric motor while accelerating. Because the gas engine is smaller than the one in a similarly-sized gas-only car, it may be running under a higher load, particularly under acceleration or while climbing a hill. Because of that, fuel savings might be less than expected.

The dirty little secret of the hybrid world is that EPA highway fuel economy ratings are more than a little optimistic. Because of the abstract way that the ratings have been calculated, internal-combustion engine fuel economy is also inflated, but not usually by as much. Changes in calculation methodology have been announced, which is good, because most of us do not drive at a steady 50 mph on level ground when on the highway.

Still, if you do a lot of city driving or commuting, a hybrid makes sense. If you want better fuel economy and do more highway driving, buy a diesel.

Yeah, you heard that right. Modern diesels are less like the ones we’d rather not remember from the 80s than modern gasoline engines resemble their counterparts from the 1950s. They are quiet, smooth, and smoke-free, thanks to new design and construction technology and new ultra-low sulfur fuel. Spark-ignition (gasoline) engines have been the focus of development for passenger car use, especially in the US, for the past century. Compression-ignition (diesel) engines are just beginning a period of development. Consider the diesel of today to be where the gasoline engine was in about 1970. New fuels and emissions technologies are about to make some major changes for cleanliness and efficiency – and the diesel is already more efficient than the spark-igniton engine.

The Lexus RX 400h I drove recently got 24 mpg overall in a week of mostly highway driving. Not bad for a two-ton vehicle. But I recently drove a 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec turbodiesel under similar conditions, at mostly higher speeds, and got 34 mpg. Yes, the Benz is lighter, by about 500 pounds ( a 13 percent difference), but the diesel’s fuel economy was 40 percent better than the hybrid’s.

Diesel-electric hybrids? Likely in the future. Note, too, that diesels are amenable to alternative fuels. Biodiesel, produced from used cooking oil, is available today. No surprise that a diesel engine can run on cooking oil – the petroleum product known as diesel fuel was not available when Dr. Rudolf Diesel developed his compression-ignition engine. Among the fuels he used before the development of a petroleum-based fuel was peanut oil.

By Carey Russ – autochannel

Nissan Motor Co. is recalling 140,582 of its 2007 Altima cars, the automaker’s best-selling U.S. vehicle, because the air filter can catch fire if a hot object is drawn into it.

The recall affects Altima cars with a 2.5-liter, four- cylinder engine, the Tokyo-based automaker told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nissan told the Washington-based agency it began notifying owners July 3. Four fires were reported in February and March, the company said.

The filter will be replaced because it can ignite if something hot such as cigarette ash enters through the vehicle’s fresh-air intake valve, Nissan said. An air deflector also will be installed to prevent a buildup of debris at the filter.

The Altima accounted for 140,253, or 26 percent, of Nissan’s U.S. sales this year through June. The model was ninth in sales among all cars and light trucks in the U.S. during the period.

The recall affects Altimas built from Sept. 25 to May 11 at its plant in Smyrna, Tenn., and from Oct. 30 to May 11 at its Canton, Miss., factory, Nissan told the agency. The vehicles are under warranty, the company said.

Tony Pearson, a spokesman for Nissan’s Nashville, Tennessee- based U.S. unit, declined to say how much the recall will cost the automaker. Nissan expects to notify all owners by Oct. 1, he said in an interview.

Nissan’s American depositary receipts rose 3 cents to $21.58 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. They have fallen 11 percent this year.

Most people learn when they are very young that everyone has five senses: hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and seeing. Similarly, today’s vehicles have sensors in the engine that must be maintained and checked regularly so that the vehicle can get maximum fuel economy, and that everything stays running smoothly.

“Pay attention to your check engine light and your vehicle’s sensors or you could pay the price,” says Bryan Gregory Advance Auto Parts’ director of consumer education.

“Sensors monitor air-fuel mixture, engine temperature, air-flow, wheel speed and more, so essentially they are telling your vehicle’s computer what to do,” Gregory states. “If your sensors fail, your engine may experience poor mileage and performance, and in severe cases your engine may fail altogether.”

In most cases, a “check engine” light will illuminate to let you know that there is a problem. Any Advance Auto Parts store will scan your OBD (On-Board Diagnostic) port at no charge and print out the fault code to help you determine your next steps.

Access to these sensors is usually the most difficult part of the replacement process. In the case of oxygen sensors, the project can be simplified by using a specially designed O2 sensor socket that accommodates the sensor wiring. A Haynes Repair Manual specific to your vehicle can be very helpful when replacing sensors.
source:autochannel

Rental car agencies are starting to go green in increasing numbers. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Co. recently announced that it will establish an E85/Flexible Fuel branch in Washington D.C. The rental car outlet will stock about 50 E85-friendly General Motors vehicles (representing about 50 percent of the branch’s fleet). Overall, it plans to dispatch some 41,000 flex-fuel vehicles to its offices around the country (it currently offers around 3000 gas-electric hybrids in its fleet nationwide).

The move by Enterprise comes on the heels of Hertz establishing its Green Collection, which touts fuel-efficient offerings like the Toyota Prius. The company plans to have some 3400 units of the hybrid in fleets by next summer.

We haven’t yet to learn if there will be pricing premiums for these greener models from either Enterprise or Hertz (versus similar-sized gasoline-only models), but it’s reasonable to expect a surcharge of some kind.

All of this begs the question: Would you be willing to pay more for a green rental car? Have you made any efforts before to rent a more fuel-efficient vehicle? Have your say in ‘Comments.’

source:windingroad

Back when we were being all green last month, we brought you news from the US fast food chain Burgerville, which was creating thousands of gallons of lovely biodiesel – from its discarded cooking oil.

‘it was a plan we approved of heartily, and now you don’t even need to travel Stateside to enjoy the distinctive smell of double cheeseburger ‘n’ fries as a delivery truck thunders past.

Because McDonalds has today announced that it is to convert all of its UK delivery vans to run on cooking oil-based biodiesel.

Once the oil has been used to bubble your Freedom Fries to a tasty state of crispiness, it’ll be combined with rapeseed oil to power McDonald’s 155 lorries, saving some 1,650 tonnes of carbon each year.

All very impressive, but what’s happened to the to-hell-with-ya, free-livin’ McDonalds of old? Next thing they’ll be offering salads with your Big Mac.
source:topgear

According to BusinessWeek, the well-loved MG marque was revived by its new Chinese owners, Nanjing Auto, and was unveiled at Silverstone’s 2007 MG Car Club gathering last weekend in the UK.

The Chinese company also announced an agreement with Healey Automobile Consultants to take over and revive the Austin Healey, another sports car that has been out of production for over 35 years.

With MG production starting later this year, Nanjing is receiving strong interest in global dealer partnerships from a number of major brands. Leading up to the commercial launch of the new MG TF 2-seater sports car, Nanjing has received an overwhelming response to their request for applications to become an MG franchised dealer.
source:autochannel
The high level of enthusiasm has not only come from retailers within the UK, but also from those located as far as Greece and South Africa.

M3 enthusiast site

M3Post.com has snagged what are easily the best spyshots yet of Bimmer’s upcoming 4-door hot rod. They don’t come from any of the spy photo big guns, either. Instead, they’re sourced from within their own ranks, as site member Larry Blunk was clicking the shutter as the silver M3 sedan prototype lapped the Nürburgring and then spent quality time with the car as it sat parked out in the open afterwards. Appearance-wise, think of an E90 3-series sedan with the new M3 coupe’s front and rear end treatments, bulging, vented hood,side extractors, and wheels. It’s looking good so far, and we’re sure there’ll be no shortage of takers for the slightly more practical version of the M-enhanced speed merchant. We’re guessing it’ll debut on its home turf at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
sources; m3post and autoblog

Silverstone Circuit England-It was an unusual traffic jam on the Silverstone circuit that triggered more pride than road rage. And the pictures — a massive gathering of mainly red Ferraris and owners wearing baseball caps with the Prancing Horse logo — says it all. A breathtaking group of 385 Ferraris on Saturday set a new Guinness World Record for the “largest parade of Ferrari cars.”

Ferrari said the event more than tripled the previous record and calculated that the value of the assembled Ferraris would “be in excess of £60 million [$118.4 million] — a perfect number to mark the company’s anniversary year.”

Guiness World Record!-The cars in the impressive field included a 250 California Spider, a 275GTB/C, FXX, F40, F50 and Enzo. The rules were straightforward: The cars had to travel over a minimum 2-mile course, no more than two car lengths apart, and had to be counted at the beginning and end of the parade. An official from the Guinness World Record organization confirmed the count and presented Ferrari officials with a certificate.
source: edmunds

Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Lotuses, and Maseratis… Dream cars on the roads. The AIADA newsletter reported that auto makers are turning out a new breed of supremely fast sports cars that sell for upwards of $250,000 and share many characteristics of purebred racecars.

Unfortunately, a growing number are ending up wrapped around trees.

The California Highway Patrol reports that the total number of accidents involving Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Lotuses, and Maseratis rose to 141 last year, an 81% increase from 2002.

A story in the Wall Street Journal illustrates the point; in March, a 39-year-old driver caused an international stir by crashing a Bugatti Veyron — an extremely rare $1.5 million turbocharged missile with a top speed of 253 miles per hour.

On the way to an M.B.A. class near San Diego one recent morning, Nasar Aboubakare lost control of his new 550-horsepower Ford GT and wrenched it over a lane divider. “The car is like a wild animal,” he says.

To compound matters, people notice when you damage a $150,000 automobile. After Mr. Aboubakare’s accident, several passing motorists snapped pictures while one leaned out the window of his pickup truck and shouted: “What an idiot!”

source: autochannel