Motor Authority - blog Tag: Fuel

The RX line of SUVs has been Lexus' best-selling luxury utility vehicle since its launch in 1998, and the new generation takes the vehicle into a larger, more powerful realm, while at the same time adding new efficiency-enhancing measures in the hybrid model. Currently, the RX SUV range is manufactured in Japan but it’s been speculated recently that Lexus is considering building the RX 450h petrol-electric hybrid in Canada.

During a press event, a Lexus executive Paul Williamsen said the first hybrid built outside of Japan will go into production this summer in Ontario, Canada, reports Automotive News. Williamsen is the national... The RX line of SUVs has been Lexus' best-selling luxury utility vehicle since its launch in 1998, and the new generation takes the vehicle into a larger, more powerful realm, while at the same time adding new efficiency-enhancing measures in the hybrid model. Currently, the RX SUV range is manufactured in Japan but it’s been speculated recently that Lexus is considering building the RX 450h petrol-electric hybrid in Canada. During a press event, a Lexus executive Paul Williamsen said the first hybrid built outside of Japan will go into production this summer in Ontario, Canada, reports Automotive News. Williamsen is the national manager of Lexus College. He creates dealer courses on such topics as Lexus product knowledge and customer satisfaction. However, Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister denied the claims, stating that “Lexus does not have any plans to build the RX hybrid in Canada”. Other details suggested by Williamsen was that Lexus originally planned to produce hybrid powertrain components in North America for the RX and other Toyota and Lexus hybrids but the plans were put on indefinite hold because of Toyota's record losses as well as the cancelation of plans to produce the Toyota Prius in Tupelo, Mississippi.2010 Lexus RX Read More

It wasn't so long ago that the superior fuel efficiency of diesel-powered vehicles could be rationalized away due to the higher per-gallon price of the fuel compared to gasoline. Now, however, a dip in the price of diesel has pushed it below gas, and lit sales on fire in the process.

The price difference is significant, especially when taken in light of the stronger fuel efficiency of most diesel engines. According to the Department of Energy, the average price for a gallon diesel as of June 22 is $2.61, while the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.69. If your car requires premium, that'll be another $0.25 or so -... It wasn't so long ago that the superior fuel efficiency of diesel-powered vehicles could be rationalized away due to the higher per-gallon price of the fuel compared to gasoline. Now, however, a dip in the price of diesel has pushed it below gas, and lit sales on fire in the process. The price difference is significant, especially when taken in light of the stronger fuel efficiency of most diesel engines. According to the Department of Energy, the average price for a gallon diesel as of June 22 is $2.61, while the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.69. If your car requires premium, that'll be another $0.25 or so - but you already knew that. So now that it's not just more efficient, but also cheaper, to drive a diesel, it's no surprise that Americans are flocking to the few carmakers that offer them. In fact, Volkswagen saw a rise of 71% in sales of the Jetta TDI between April and May, reports AutoWeek. They are expecting to do just as well or better in June. Mercedes-Benz is also benefiting hugely from the sales trend, in part because it offers both the M-Class and GL-Class SUVs with diesel powertrains, in addition to the R-Class crossover. Between the three, Mercedes has sold about 15,000 diesels so far this year in the U.S. BMW could also see some benefit from the lower fuel prices thanks to its offering of the 335d and X5 xDrive 35d. Those vehicles, along with the Volkswagen and Mercedes models, are also eligible for a tax break of between $900 and $1,800 under a provision of the Lean Burn bill. Read More

Subaru has been curiously unaffected - or nearly so - by the tremors shaking the foundations of so many other carmakers' sales figures. And despite the 2010 Legacy's not-so-adorable face, it's developing its own following already. Today, that following will have a fairly tough pill to swallow with the release of the EPA's fuel economy figures.

It's not all bad news, as the Legacy 2.5i with CVT transmission manages 23mpg in the city, 31mpg on the highway and 26mpg combined, putting it solidly in the upper half of its class, especially considering the sedan's size, power, and AWD capability. In fact, Subaru says it's the most efficient 2010... Subaru has been curiously unaffected - or nearly so - by the tremors shaking the foundations of so many other carmakers' sales figures. And despite the 2010 Legacy's not-so-adorable face, it's developing its own following already. Today, that following will have a fairly tough pill to swallow with the release of the EPA's fuel economy figures. It's not all bad news, as the Legacy 2.5i with CVT transmission manages 23mpg in the city, 31mpg on the highway and 26mpg combined, putting it solidly in the upper half of its class, especially considering the sedan's size, power, and AWD capability. In fact, Subaru says it's the most efficient 2010 mid-size AWD sedan in the U.S. "We are thrilled that the all-new 2010 Legacy not only offers more space and a more rewarding drive than the competition, but it also delivers better fuel economy at a very competitive price," said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and CMO of Subaru America. But the sportier and more powerful 2.5GT and 3.6R versions offer significantly worse efficiency, ticking over 18mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway for 21mpg combined. That's only marginally better than some SUVs, and not very competitive in the Legacy's segment. With real-world figures likely to fall somewhat below that mark for many drivers, it's an even darker picture. The only remaining model, the 2.5i with the six-speed manual transmission, does little to brighten the picture. Rated at 19mpg city, 27mpg highway and 22mpg combined, the manual is blown out of the water by the CVT. All of that said, however, the 2010 Subaru Legacy is actually more fuel efficient than the preceding generation, so current owners have something to sweeten an upgrade.2010 Subaru Legacy (Liberty) Read More

Anyone in the market for the new 2010 Lexus RX can rest assure they are buying one of the safest crossovers available as the vehicle has just earned the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Along with the 2009 Toyota Venza, the new RX receives the agency’s Top Safety Pick award in the latest round of testing because of the vehicle's ‘Good’ results in the frontal offset and side impact tests. Furthermore, the seats of both models pass the agency’s rear protection test with flying colors and another Good rating.

In order to be named a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must come with... Anyone in the market for the new 2010 Lexus RX can rest assure they are buying one of the safest crossovers available as the vehicle has just earned the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Along with the 2009 Toyota Venza, the new RX receives the agency’s Top Safety Pick award in the latest round of testing because of the vehicle's ‘Good’ results in the frontal offset and side impact tests. Furthermore, the seats of both models pass the agency’s rear protection test with flying colors and another Good rating. In order to be named a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must come with electronic stability control and earn Good ratings in all front, side, and rear tests. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic safety aids. Other elements that saw the Lexus RX gain top marks include the fitment of thorax side-impact bags for front and rear occupants, along with knee airbags for those in front, side-curtain bags, and anti-lock brakes – all as standard. A Pre-Collision System (PCS) is optional with the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. For more on oth the RX, read our first drive impressions here. "Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," said IIHS president Adrian Lund with today's release of the results. Via: TheCarConnection2010 Lexus RX2010 Lexus RX first drive Read More

Driving simulators such as Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) and Need for Speed: SHIFT (NFS) are set to be released soon, and while much of the focus will remain on these two realism-focused games, a dark horse in the form of Codemasters' new FUEL title may upset the two heavyweights. This is because of some unique features - including the advantage of holding the Guinness World Record for the most virtual space in a game.

While GT5 and NFS will focus on recreating famous tracks such as the Nurburgring and Silverstone in intricate detail, the team at Codemasters are taking a more arcade approach with their FUEL game. They have created a world with over... Driving simulators such as Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) and Need for Speed: SHIFT (NFS) are set to be released soon, and while much of the focus will remain on these two realism-focused games, a dark horse in the form of Codemasters' new FUEL title may upset the two heavyweights. This is because of some unique features - including the advantage of holding the Guinness World Record for the most virtual space in a game. While GT5 and NFS will focus on recreating famous tracks such as the Nurburgring and Silverstone in intricate detail, the team at Codemasters are taking a more arcade approach with their FUEL game. They have created a world with over 5,500 square miles of drivable area. This area will feature different terrains, ranging from country roads to urban settings. There will also be long desert highways, coastal roads, and even mountain passes with snow. With the focus on having arcade-style fun rather than creating a totally realistic driving experience, the new FUEL title bypasses the need to bring real world vehicles into the game, and will instead focus on different types of vehicles, including cars, trucks and even motorcycles. Being able to take a motorbike down a coastal road and then switch to a truck for a desert stage is something that the NFS and GT5 titles will struggle to match, especially considering the vast area that the player will be able to explore in FUEL. Codemasters is the same team that brought us arcade hits such as Grid and DiRT, which were lauded for being fun to play and easy to get into compared to full-on racing sims. Its latest title, FUEL, is just hitting shelves and is available for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PCs running Microsoft Windows.Codemasters’ Fuel sets new Guinness World Record Read More

The RX line of SUVs has been Lexus' best-selling luxury utility vehicle since its launch in 1998, and the new generation takes the vehicle into a larger, more powerful realm, while at the same time adding new efficiency-enhancing measures in the hybrid model. Launched in Los Angeles at last year's show, the RX today received its first price tag.

The RX 350, the combustion-engine-only variant of the new RX line, will start at $36,800 in base FWD form. Upgrading to AWD raises the price to $38,200. This puts the new RX 350 very close to Audi's Q5 SUV, which was revealed today to start at $37,200. Pricing for the RX 450h hasn't yet been... The RX line of SUVs has been Lexus' best-selling luxury utility vehicle since its launch in 1998, and the new generation takes the vehicle into a larger, more powerful realm, while at the same time adding new efficiency-enhancing measures in the hybrid model. Launched in Los Angeles at last year's show, the RX today received its first price tag. The RX 350, the combustion-engine-only variant of the new RX line, will start at $36,800 in base FWD form. Upgrading to AWD raises the price to $38,200. This puts the new RX 350 very close to Audi's Q5 SUV, which was revealed today to start at $37,200. Pricing for the RX 450h hasn't yet been announced. MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $825. The 450h, available in both AWD and FWD configurations, features two new technologies to boost fuel economy and reduce emissions. The first is an exhaust heat recovery system that reduces engine warm-up time, enabling the engine to shut off sooner, more frequently and for longer periods, reducing its use in daily driving, cutting fuel consumption and emissions. The second new feature is the electronic AWD system. Unlike mechanical AWD systems, the electric-powered rear-mounted motor/generator allows all four wheels to perform regenerative braking and obviates the power-sapping inefficiencies of transfer cases and the weight of extra driveshafts. Rated at 295hp (220kW), the Atkinson-cycle 3.5L V6 gasoline engine in the RX450h picks up 27hp (20kW) over the 2008 model, but still has the same 3,500lb towing capacity, and still manages to secure a SULEV emissions rating. The RX350 uses a similarly-sized V6 engine rated at 275hp (205kW), a gain of 5hp (3kW) over the 2009 model. Though the RX had been speculated to grow to accommodate seven passengers, the new vehicle is still billed as a five-seater despite the larger overall dimensions. The cockpit has grown to include a dual-zone layout, featuring the 'display zone' and the 'operation zone'. The 'display zone' centers around an eight-inch navigation and information display set back into the dash for visibility, while a white OLED adds multi-function information on a separate screen. The 'operation zone' features access and control of a large range of information via the 'Remote Touch' navigation controller and steering-wheel mounted switchgear. On the outside, the new RX features a more muscular design and an aggressive stance. To complement the bigger look, the RX also gets standard 18" alloy wheels with 19" alloys optionally available. Despite the large size and typical SUV profile, however, the RX's coefficient of drag is just 0.32. For more on both the RX 350 and RX 450h, read our first drive impressions here.2010 Lexus RX Read More