Kia Motors seems to be racking up awards one after another these past days. Now, it is the Kia Soul which has solicited another award, bagging the 2010 Automotive Excellence Award by Popular Mechanics. The Kia Soul has already pocketed previous awards including the Top Safety Pick and the Coolest New Cars Under $18,000. Apparently its features which include its appealing style, fuel efficiency and overall value have been responsible for these awards. The Kia Soul is 1 of 10 vehicles acknowledged from the list.

The Kia Soul is available in four trims with starting prices at $14,000.00. Packed with features that include a SIRIUS Satellite Radio and audio (CD/MP3) peripherals, there is no doubt that the Kia Soul is truly a classy vehicle to consider. But add these to the overall stature of the Kia Soul 2010 and you know why this 5-door vehicle is truly getting the recognition it so truly deserves!

Image Credits

(Source) Reuters

Tags: audio cd mp3, automotive excellence, excellence award, fuel efficiency, image credits, KIA, kia motors, new cars, no doubt, peripherals, popular mechanics, reuters, sirius satellite radio, stature, trims

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Jeremy Walton today further proved the obvious, if you know how to actually drive efficiently you will achieve higher fuel efficiency. He did this during this year’s UK MPG Marathon where he drove a Ford Focus RS for 360-miles while maintaining a 32.05 mpg US rating.

To put this into perspective, the Ford Focus RS is rated in the US for just 25.1 mpg meaning Walton achieved 6.95 mpg higher than the factory rating.

Moral of the story: ease up on the pedal, you’ll save gas.

Press release after the break.

via autobloggreen (more…)

Tags: focus rs, fuel efficiency, hypermiling, uk mpg marathon

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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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Mazda has recently announced their intentions to up the fuel efficiency on their entire lineup of cars by 30%. The new engines will reportedly make their debut sometime in 2011 with the automaker first focusing on their 2.0-liter 4 cyclinder engine.

Mazda says that new technology coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission will give the engine a city fuel efficiency boost from 22mpg to 32mpg and a highway boost from 32mpg to 42mpg. There’s no official word on which Mazda model will be getting the boost first but Automotive News believes the MX5 or Mazda5 are likely candidates.

We’ll keep you posted as more news is made available.

Tags: 6 speed transmission, epa, fuel efficiency, MPG, rating, technology

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It seems that Ford’s Executive Chairman of the Board isn’t convinced about the Chevy Volt’s 230mpg claim. In fact, he isn’t even convinced that Nissan’s Leaf EV should be rated at 367mpg like the company said it would.

It’s not the automakers fault, he says, but instead the EPA who uses meaningless method of determining the fuel efficiency of such vehicles. Below is a quote Mr. Ford gave to Green Car Advisor concerning the matter:

“The government will have to come up with a meaningful number for customers – a user-friendly label. And I think they will. I can’t dispute that number, but I’m not sure it’s relevant to the customer either.

Mr. Ford may be onto something as it just doesn’t seem right to base all electric vehicles on the amount of gas they would use. I think instead they should just focus on consumers how much electricity the cars will use for every mile they are driven. Then again, consumers could probably just settle with knowing the vehicle’s range given a predetermined amount of charging.

Tags: 230mpg, all electric, bill ford, chevy volt, epa, ev, fuel efficiency, nissan leaf

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If you want to give a small engine the power of a larger engine you’re most likely going to turn to a turbocharger. That’s exactly what rumors suggest Nissan is doing as they have been said to be looking into turbocharger offerings for some of their new vehicles.

This news comes to us from a manager of Nissan’s Powertrain Engineering Division, Tetsuya Takahashi, who says that Nissan will be looking to replace their larger engines with smaller ones for better gas mileage but not skimping on the power thanks to a turbocharger.

We’ll have to keep you posted as this story unfolds.

Read (MotorTrend)

Tags: fuel efficiency, large engine, Nissan, powertrain engineering division, turbocharger

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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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A new dashboard design for the liquefied petroleum gas-electric hybrid version of the Avante has been released and will be installed upon the launch of the car for next month. The Hyundai Avante is the first hybrid car that makes use of a 1.6-litre LPG engine that manages 17.8 kilometers per liter of fuel.

One highlight of the new gauges is the image of a plant in the center of the speedometer which lights up if the car is well-maintained with the highest fuel efficiency.

The dashboard also has an Eco Guide display that tells the driver how economically the car is being driven.

(Source) Asia One

Tags: Dashboard, eco guide, fuel efficiency, highlight, hybrid car, hybrid version, Hyundai, hyundai avante, kilometers, launch, liquefied petroleum gas, liter, speedometer

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For the Volkswagen who have always had problems getting the right parts for their car, the opening of this new state-of-the-art parts center by Volkswagen of America should settle all those issues in Jacksonville, Fla. Other than putting to rest on how hard it is to get parts, this is also a sign that Volkswagen plans to expand their business in the U.S.

“Volkswagen knows that environmental responsibility requires much more than increased fuel efficiency and fewer emissions. We consider the environment in everything we do, including this distribution center, which uses new technologies to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency.”

Features of the new center include:

• Dock doors with special insulation to prevent the loss of heating and cooling;
• Equipment chargers designed to reduce energy consumption by more than 25 percent;
• Advanced fluorescent lights linked to motion sensors that reduce electricity consumption by up to 60 percent; and
• Nearly 50 skylights providing natural lighting.

With more than $18 million in inventory and nearly 50,000 unique part numbers, the new center is larger than the former Jacksonville parts distribution center that was put up before. Construction on the new facility began in November 2007.

(Source) Press

Tags: chargers, distribution center, doors, efficiency features, electricity consumption, emissions, energy consumption, environmental responsibility, fluorescent lights, fuel efficiency, heating and cooling, insulation, jacksonville fla, motion sensors, natural lighting, skylights, state of the art, volkswagen, volkswagen of america

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With most cars making use of automatic transmission, the need for a reliable transmission fluid is a need. And while we have known brands out there, AMsoil adds another variant in their product lineup with the new low viscosity synthetic transmission fluid.

Even in severe operating conditions, the highly-specialized properties of this light-bodied fluid provide outstanding performance without compromising protection. Formulated with the highest-quality components, AMSOIL Synthetic Low-Viscosity Automatic Transmission Fluid exceeds the most stringent industry standards.

AMSOIL Low-Viscosity ATF is fully fortified with detergents, anti-wear/extreme pressure agents, friction modifiers, anti-oxidants, anti-foam agents and more to improve hydraulic function. Other benefits include improved fuel efficiency, extended gear and fluid life, anti-shudder protection, reduced leaks and rust control.

(Source) Press

Tags: amsoil, automatic transmission, automatic transmission fluid, Cars, control source, detergents, extreme pressure, foam agents, friction modifiers, fuel efficiency, highest quality, leaks, quality components, rust control, stringent industry standards, synthetic transmission fluid, viscosity

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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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Tires play an important role in helping vehicles in their fuel efficiency issues and apparently Michelin has an answer to that. This is of course with reference to their latest line of tires, the Michelin Energy Saver A/S tire. These tires are designed for exceptional levels of fuel-efficiency, while delivering an environmentally-friendly performance package that is unprecedented in the industry.

Michelin Energy Saver Construction technology keeps the tire cooler, helping the engine to improve its fuel-efficiency. It is up to 8 percent more fuel-efficient than other tires in its class and can reduce a vehicle’s CO2 emissions by as much as 2,000 pounds of CO2.

The Michelin Energy Saver A/S tire is now available in four sizes that include popular mainstream and hybrid vehicles. The sizes are: P215/60R16; P195/65R15; P195/60R15 and P185/65R15.

So if your car is due for a tire change, check out these new ones from Michelin, the reliable and familiar name in tires for better performing cars.

(Source) Press

Tags: Cars, co2 emissions, construction technology, efficiency issues, energy saver, fuel efficiency, hybrid vehicles, latest line, mainstream, michelin, michelin energy, passenger car tire, performance package, tire change, tires

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“Don’t Shrink it, Rethink it” is KVA’s motto. They feel consumers don’t want smaller cars but they do want to be comfortable and safe while driving their automobiles. KVA’s ms² advanced high strength steel is able to provide automakers with a direct solution to improve the safety of their vehicles, while reducing overall curb weight without sending sticker prices spiraling out of control. Using KVA’s processed martensitic stainless steel (ms²) can reduce a vehicle’s structured weight by nearly 40% percent. “With KVA’s ms² ™automakers can develop vehicles that are safe and meet all environmental requirements with cost-effective, lightweight advanced high strength steel technology,” says KVA’s Business Development Officer.

President Obama’s administration recently issued new fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks, raising the requisite industry average to 35.5 miles-per-gallon (mpg) by 2016. Under these new rules, passenger vehicles will have to meet an average 39 mpg, while light trucks, 30 mpg. This will require makers to reduce an average weight of 350 pounds, approximated to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil and raise the average fuel efficiency of a new car by 30 percent.

Tags: automakers, environmental, fuel economy standards, fuel efficiency, KVA, steel, technology

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Safety and conservation are two of the main agendas that Michelin Tires aims to focus on as it reminds motorists the importance of well-maintained tires in these hard times. Tires play an important role in the overall performance of vehicles and this includes that of fuel consumption. While many go for style, this is not the time for it especially if you are aching to resolve your car tire maintenance issues.

The MICHELIN Energy Saver A/S tire, on-sale this week, is a concrete example of a tire that offers exceptional levels of fuel-efficiency, without sacrificing other key performances and gives consumers an ideal balance. It is one of the first all-season tires in the industry to combine low levels of rolling resistance with superior levels of wet braking and all-season performance.

The Energy Saver All-Season is now available in four sizes that include popular mainstream and hybrid vehicles. The sizes are: P215/60R16; P195/65R15; P195/60R15 and P185/65R15.

(Source) Press

Tags: car tire, concrete example, energy saver, fuel consumption, fuel efficiency, hybrid vehicles, maintenance issues, michelin, michelin energy, michelin tires, motorists, safety tips, season performance, season tires, tire maintenance, tire safety

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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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