We talk a lot about fuel efficiency, but it’s places like Bosch who are actually doing something about it.  One of their great advances comes in electronic solutions to help current cars get better fuel economy.

Two of the biggest systems used to improve fuel economy, as well as safety, are Bosch’s Electronic Battery Sensor and Electric Power Steering.   The Electronic Battery Sensor is designed to not only monitor a battery’s current performance, but also its expected performance down the line, giving you a jump ahead on a dying battery and improving the chances you won’t wind up broken down somewhere with a dead battery.

Electric Power Steering, meanwhile, starts with a sensor that registers the movements of driving and sends electrical signals to a motor on the steering column to augment that steering motion, cutting down on the amount of force involved and thus saving wear on the vehicle and improving fuel efficiency by cutting down on jerky movements.

It’s surprising how deeply involved Bosch components are to fuel savings, but you learn something new every day.

Tags: bosch, electric power steering, electronic brake systems, electronics, fuel economy

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Mazda will be among the many car manufacturers at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show on October 24. For their part, Mazda is expected to debut the Mazda Kiyora Concept Car although that is not the only thing they will be unveiling. They will also unveil their next-generation engine and automatic transmissions lineup. This includes the Mazda SKY-G direct injection gasoline engine Mazda SKY-D clean diesel engine and the Mazda SKY Drive high-efficiency automatic transmission.

These new technological advancements are expected to help in the improvement of fuel-efficiency as well as some eco-friendly enhancements and optimized combustion systems. But a lot of the focus is sure to be on the Mazda Kiyora Concept car which highlights the next-generation Mazda SKY concept powertrain technologies and comprehensive advancements in weight reduction for better fuel economy at 32 kilometers per liter.

(Source) Auto Racing

Tags: auto racing, automatic transmission, automatic transmissions, car manufacturers, combustion systems, concept car, diesel engine, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, gasoline engine, generation engine, high efficiency, kilometers, Mazda, new technological advancements, october 24, powertrain, sky drive, tokyo motor show, weight reduction

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Kia Motors continues to introduce larger vehicles as it has revealed that an all-new Kia Sorento model will start production at their U.S. plant. The latest model is the 2011 Kia Sorento CUV which is scheduled to begin rolling off the assembly line at the West Point, Georgia plant.

The 2011 Kia Sorento CUV boasts of an improved fuel economy and more passenger room and seating capacity that previous Kia Sorento models. It will be longer and lower and carries a sleek styling and futuristic touch. The 2011 Kia Sorento CUV will also highlight two- and four-wheel drive options and a variety of upscale appointments to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

(Source) Pres

Tags: appointments, assembly line, consumers, CUV, four wheel drive, fuel economy, georgia plant, KIA, kia motors, kia sorento, models, west point georgia, wheel

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Thanks to its quirky styling, interior, extensive warranty, fuel economy and other comfortable features, the 2010 Kia Soul racks up another feather to its cap by being named in the Top Top 10 Back to School Car List by KBB.com. This comes at the heels of garnering another previous citation for being the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

The feedbacks were based from what the editors had gathered together from what vehicles offer as far as reliability, safety features, affordability, practicality, good handling and attractive styling are concerned which may be appealing to parents and students. The 2010 Kia Soul prices start from $13,300 which also makes it a lot preferred on the car of choice.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, pricing for the versatile five door begins at $13,300 for the base trim, while Soul+ starts at $14,950. Moving up to the Soul! offers a price beginning at $16,950 and the Soul sport, designed for those with active lifestyles, starts at $16,950 and tops out at $18,600.

(Source) Press

Tags: active lifestyles, affordability, back to school, citation, feedbacks, fuel economy, KIA, parents, practicality, safety features, school car, soul soul, trims, warranty

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Call it a marketing gimmick, but the best way to guide motorists on how it is to save fuel is through an actual vehicle the proves to be fuel-efficient. This promotion comes right in time for the summer when people are expected to do a lot of traveling.

And the person tasked to head the cause is Penske Racing driver Sam Hornish Jr., who will be driving a special no. 77 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 11.

The event will also highlight a retail promotion in which consumers can receive a $10 rebate when they buy five one-quart bottles or one five-quart jug of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy. The promotion runs from May 18 to August 31, 2009.

(Source) Press

Tags: chicagoland, consumers, Dodge, fuel economy, gimmick, jug, lifelock, marketing, mobil 1, motorists, nascar, quart bottles, retail promotion, right in time, sam hornish jr, speedway, sprint cup

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One car that has been quietly in the roster of vehicles of Subaru of America is the 2010 Subaru MY Outback. This all wheel-drive has been reported to achieve a 24MPG combined and 29 MPG, exhibiting better fuel economy than other vehicles under the same category. This includes the likes of the Toyota Venza, Volvo XC70, VW Passat, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer.

“The all-new 2010 Subaru Outback combines great on- and off-road capability, comfortable space, incredible cargo carrying ability and fuel economy all for a great price,” said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and CMO of Subaru of America, Inc. “We think this new Outback will really raise the bar in the crossover segment.”

The new Subaru Outback starts at an entry-level price of $22,995. It is a great alternative vehicle for customers looking for more room than a midsize sedan and features the off-road capabilities of an SUV.

(Source) Press

Tags: Crossover, ford explorer, fuel economy, jeep grand cherokee, other vehicles, road capabilities, road capability, subaru of america, subaru of america inc, subaru outback, volvo xc70, vw passat

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Among the new bumper crop of vehicles out in the market, there are certain features that people would love to change among them. But if there are two cars which have the least number of attributes that potential car buyers would change, two familiar brands popped out above the rest. The two car brands are Porsche and Ford which topped the 2009 Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA). The IVAs are based on owners’ ratings of their new 2009 model year cars and trucks across 15 key vehicle attributes.

“In today’s economy, car buyers take many factors into consideration – styling, safety features, fuel economy and more,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “IVA winners deliver the most of what consumers are really looking for in their vehicles.”

The selection doesn’t seem that easy. Most cars offer great features while others leave it up to the buyers to modify. The Porsche and Ford Motor vehicles are equipped with one of the common and yet unique features which some would leave if the survey is any indication.

But basing it on tradition, these two car models have lived up to their name and such a selection should not really be surprising. For 2009, the top-rated premium brand is Porsche, outscoring Buick and Jaguar for the most ideal premium vehicle brand honors. The top-rated mainstream brand is Ford, outscoring Mercury for top mainstream brand results. Porsche and Ford were also the highest scoring premium and mainstream brands in the 2008 IVA rankings.

(Source) Press

Tags: attributes, Buick, bumper crop, car brands, car buyers, car models, economy car, ford motor, ford motor vehicles, fuel economy, george peterson, ivas, jaguar, mainstream, Mercury, Porsche, premium brand, safety features, two cars

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Score one for the less heralded SUV of Kia Motors of America, the Kia Sportage as it bagged the AutoPacific Inc.’s 2009 Ideal Vehicle Award. These awards are handed out depending on how a vehicle matches the car owner’s expectations and apparent the Kia Sportage was able to achieve such a feat.

“We take great pride in knowing our owners are satisfied with their vehicles and Sportage’s recognition as an ideal vehicle is a tremendous compliment,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, Kia Motors America (KMA). “This second AutoPacific award directly reflects the satisfaction of smart, discerning Sportage owners, and this type of consumer feedback validates Kia’s commitment to providing high levels of quality, style, safety and practicality in all of our vehicles.”

Among the features that feted the Kia Sportage this award included the following:

• Passenger and Cargo Space
• Off-Road Capabilities
• Fuel Economy
• Six Airbags with full-length side curtain airbags
• SIRIUS Satellite Radio with three months complimentary service and USB and auxiliary input jacks
• 2.0-liter engine delivers impressive fuel economy at 20 mpg (city) and 25 mpg (highway)

(Source) Press

Tags: autopacific, auxiliary input, cargo space, complimentary service, consumer feedback, curtain airbags, fuel economy, input jacks, KIA, kia motors america, kia sportage, liter engine, michael sprague, mpg city, practicality, quality style, road capabilities, satellite radio, score one

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The type of lubricants used by trucks and machinery may play a vital role in determining their fuel efficiency and carbon footprints. While we have our share of old hand lubricants in the market, here is a new one that aims to add some eco-friendly finesse and savings for people who really want to be economical and green.

The new lubricant is the Boron CLS Bond. This new technology was developed at Argonne National Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Dept. of Energy. This non-toxic, biodegradeable product reduces energy consumption, reduces GHG emissions, saves fuels, increase the life of equipment. The product is more advanced than any other type of similar lubricant. This product has been subjected to rigorous user field tests and extensive laboratory testing for several years.

The benefits of Boron CLS Bond include:

• Up to 80% reduction of friction and metal wear
• Up to 16%(most vehicles)to30%+ (other applications) increase in fuel economy
• 50%-100% reduced maintenance intervals: increased equipment uptime
• Reduction of GHG emissions and capture of carbon credits
• Reduced wear and longer useful life (one treatment lasts 100,000 + miles)

(Source) Press

Tags: biodegradeable, boron, carbon credits, cls, energy consumption, finesse, footprints, friction, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, ghg emissions, lubricant, lubricants, lubrication technology, maintenance intervals, new technology, trucks

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Here is another friendly reminder for people who have travel plans this Summer. EcoDriving has always been a reliable recourse especially during these critical times and apparently the aim of most motorists today is to make sure that they practice sensible driving as well as watching out for their carbon footprints.

EcoDriving helps a lot when fuel savings are concerned. And for the summer, here are some tips to remind people about eco-friendly driving once they hit the roads with their cars or RVs:

• Turn the engine off when waiting at a curb to save more than half a gallon of fuel for every hour that would have been spent idling.
• Tire pressure changes an average of one PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in temperature, so maintaining proper tire pressure can improve gas mileage by about 3 percent. This can earn drivers a free tank of gas every year.
• Avoid rapid starts and stops. This is not only safe, but it can save more than $1 per gallon, according to the U.S. EPA. While improving fuel economy by up to 33 percent.

These may seem like common and simple tips but practicing them is different. Be aware of your driving prowess. Being and eco-friendly driver can save more for you than it can for society.

(Source) Press

Tags: aim, Cars, critical times, fahrenheit, free tank, friendly reminder, fuel economy, fuel savings, gas mileage, motorists, pressure changes, proper tire pressure, prowess, psi, recourse, u s epa

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Each tip helps is what most people are looking for today. With traveling expected to peak this Summer, you can bet a lot of people are looking for leads and tips on how to be an economical vacationer through the use of their vehicles.

For that, the Alliance to Save Energy and its 13 diverse nonprofit, governmental, trade association, and for-profit partners in the Drive $marter Challenge fuel efficiency campaign aim to provide vacationers and everyday drivers with hundreds of dollars of money-saving gas tips, resources, and myth busters on an interactive website that responds to the call of frugal drivers.

Among the highlights for drivers include:

• Decrease your speed. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 mph. Each five miles per hour over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents or more per gallon for gas.
• Drive sensibly. Speeding, rapid acceleration (jackrabbit starts), and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds.
• Use cruise control and overdrive gear. Cruise control cuts fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving. Overdrive gear, when appropriate, reduces engine speed, saves gas, and reduces engine wear.
• It’s a “drag.” Avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. A loaded roof rack or carrier increases weight and aerodynamic drag, which can cut mileage by 5%. Place items inside the trunk when possible to improve fuel economy.
• Turn down the AC. Operating the air conditioner on “Max” can reduce mpg by 5-25% compared to not using it.
• Avoid idling, which gets 0 mpg. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
• Navigate with a GPS system. GPS systems can help you find your way and, increasingly, GPS programs can search for low-priced gas at nearby stations.
• Fill up before returning rental. Rental car companies charge higher gas prices if you don’t fill up the tank before returning the vehicle. Keep your gas receipts in case the company requires them to remove a gas surcharge.

Follow these simple tips and you may be surprised at the savings you will get. If you want to get an idea of how much money you are wasting on fuel, here is a website calculator that may be of some help as well.

(Source) Press

Tags: aerodynamic drag, alliance to save energy, cruise control, engine speed, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, gas mileage, gas receipts, gps programs, gps system, highway speeds, jackrabbit, myth busters, nearby stations, rapid acceleration, rental car companies, roof rack, steady speed, vacationer

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Hankook Tire, the seventh-largest tire manufacturer in the world, says its enfren range of low rolling-resistance tires present significant fuel savings and environmental benefits without consumers having to upgrade their vehicle. The silica compound enfren tire achieved a 5.1% saving over conventional steel belt radials in a recent “Fuel Economy Challenge” in Australia. Two Hyundai i30 SLX CRDi hatches, the same apart from the tires, were driven 382km in the city and on motorways in a variety of conditions. The Hankook enfren equipped car used 5.5 liters per 100 km while the traditional tire used 5.8 liters per 100km.

According to official Korean Automotive Institute testing, equipping a car with Hankook enfren tires can reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 4.1 g/km. Over a ten year life span, a car with enfren tires will emit up to 820kg less CO2 than the same car on conventional tires. The enfren low rolling-resistance tire is only available in Korea and Australia at the moment but is expected to be available to other markets soon.

Tags: enfren, fuel economy, hankook tire, Korean, low-rolling, resistance, tire manufacturer

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General Motors has officially launched the Global Battery Systems Lab, a new facility that is expected to be a haven for the expected swarm of electric cars thriving on electric batteries. This new facility is likewise expected to speed up the car manufacturing efforts of General Motors for new hybrid vehicles which also includes the Chevy Volt.

The state-of-the-art facility is the size of seven basketball courts and is the largest in the United States. A team of more than 1,000 engineers will work on energy alternatives and advanced technologies that reduce dependence on petroleum, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions; putting cleaner, more efficient cars on the road more quickly and affordably.

You can check the video on this new battery lab here.

(Source) Press

Tags: art facility, automotive battery, basketball courts, battery systems, chevy volt, efficient cars, electric batteries, electric cars, emissions, energy alternatives, fuel economy, General Motors, hybrid vehicles, largest in the united states, petroleum, swarm

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With lesser need to kick up the cooling system of cars, PGW Glass has proven that it can make a difference as far as in-car temperature and fuel consumption issues are concerned. Apparently this is because a car’s air-conditioning system adds load towards a car’s performance.

However, if they are properly aided by shielding sun rays from making changes within the desired car temperature, car engines such as this one from the PHEV can perform better.

“Over repeated UDDS cycles, the Sungate EP glazing reduced the air conditioning power and resulted in an increase in fuel economy,” said John Rugh, Senior Mechanical Engineer for NREL. “The adjusted, utility factor-weighted fuel economy increased from 36.8 to 42.9 mpg for the Sungate EP thermal load case, while the adjusted, UF-weighted electrical energy consumption was roughly equivalent.”

Even in gas-fueled cars, this is the same. The only thing different here is that the PHEV runs totally on electricity. Either way, the impact of proper cooling can change the fuel-consumption or energy-consumption level of cars if the load is attended to. And it looks like Pittsburgh Glass Works has given motorists something to smile about.

(Source) Press

Tags: air conditioning system, car engines, consumption issues, consumption level, cooling system, electrical energy consumption, electricity, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel efficiency, glass works, mechanical engineer, motorists, phev, sun rays, sungate

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It has been quite some time since we last saw a Ford Capri. In fact, it has almost been 30 years or so. But if rumors persist, we may yet see the return of the Capri in a smaller version like a 3-door hatchback. The new Ford Capri aims to compete against the likes of the Volkswagen Scirocco, offering a coupe-like hatchback with a heavy appearance on the rear.

Design will be influenced by the Ford iosis Max Concept that was shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. The iosis Max Concept will also set the stage for the rest of the next-generation Focus lineup along with the next C-Max.

Power will come from the 1.6L 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine that made its first debut in the Lincoln Concept C – it was also featured on the iosis Max Concept. The engine produces up to 180-hp while providing fuel-economy that is 20 percent better than the conventional gasoline engines.

Would the Ford Capri become a hit once again? Only time will tell. But at the rate that some cars are slowly coming back, it may just have its share of customers though more buildup may be in order to really make an impact for its return to the automotive scene.

(Source) EGM Car Tech

Tags: appearance, c max, car tech, concept c, conventional gasoline, debut, ford capri, ford iosis, fuel economy, gasoline engines, geneva motor show, Lincoln, lincoln concept, max power, new ford, next generation, volkswagen, volkswagen scirocco

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