Motor Authority - blog Tag: Gasoline

Last year's sudden surge in oil prices sent many car buyers - and the industry - into shock. Prices over $4 per gallon were outside most people's frame of reference. This year, in the weak economy, even fewer people are prepared to fork over more money for their fuel, and Hyundai has taken note.

It is offering a deal to anyone that buys a Hyundai before August 31: $1.49 per gallon gas for a whole year, or 12,000mi - whichever comes first. The program is called Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock

Chrysler and Hyundai both experimented with fuel-based offers last year with varying success, but by setting the price at a low $1.49 per gallon, Hyundai... Last year's sudden surge in oil prices sent many car buyers - and the industry - into shock. Prices over $4 per gallon were outside most people's frame of reference. This year, in the weak economy, even fewer people are prepared to fork over more money for their fuel, and Hyundai has taken note. It is offering a deal to anyone that buys a Hyundai before August 31: $1.49 per gallon gas for a whole year, or 12,000mi - whichever comes first. The program is called Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock Chrysler and Hyundai both experimented with fuel-based offers last year with varying success, but by setting the price at a low $1.49 per gallon, Hyundai is saving its customers $1.50 or more per gallon in many parts of the country. “Our research shows that nearly 40 percent of potential new car buyers are staying out of the market specifically due to uncertainty around future gas prices,” said John Krafcik, CEO and president of Hyundai Motor America The innovative plan is hoped to help push Hyundai past its current sales rank in the U.S. Last month alone, Hyundai sold nearly 37,000 cars, putting it on nearly even ground with Chrysler and Nissan. Hyundai has already had its Hyundai Assurance program in action for several months now, which allows buyers to walk away from their new car if they lose their job. 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

Pain at the pump is a thankfully remote sensation for most Americans these days. Just last summer we were all hurting everytime we had to go somewhere, to the point where we traveled 30 billion fewer miles than the year before. But the absence of pain at the pump means we don't have much in the way of incentive to pay extra for hybrid cars, and they are stacking up at the nation's dealerships.

AutoNation, a national dealership network based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL - America's largest car dealer - has over half a million hybrids sitting on lots all over the country, CEO Mike Jackson told the Boston Herald at The Wall Street Journal's... Pain at the pump is a thankfully remote sensation for most Americans these days. Just last summer we were all hurting everytime we had to go somewhere, to the point where we traveled 30 billion fewer miles than the year before. But the absence of pain at the pump means we don't have much in the way of incentive to pay extra for hybrid cars, and they are stacking up at the nation's dealerships. AutoNation, a national dealership network based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL - America's largest car dealer - has over half a million hybrids sitting on lots all over the country, CEO Mike Jackson told the Boston Herald at The Wall Street Journal's ECO:nomics conference. The hybrid overstock is part of the larger problem of a 40% drop in sales over the last quarter of 2008. All those cars are testament to the fickle nature of the market: the same consumers that have chastised the Detroit 3 for not being quick enough to hop on the hybrid train are now shunning all hybrids because they don't make financial sense. Jackson is so desperate to turn around the consumer calculus on hybrids that he's even advocating a tax on gasoline that would push pump prices back up to the $4 mark we were all so afraid of. His argument: the taxes would somehow push down petroleum prices and keep money in the U.S. that would otherwise be exported. If the largest dealer in the country is having trouble selling hybrids, the situation raises a serious question about the success of newly introduced hybrids such as the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, Honda's Insight (pictured) and others. Will they be able to trade on their strong efficiency as long as fuel prices remain low and consumer credit stays tight? Or will the Insight's sub-$20,000 price target mean it sells well while other hybrids fail?2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid2009 Honda Insight Hybrid2010 Toyota Prius Read More

The 2009 Geneva Motor Show will play host to a wide range of concepts and production vehicles, from speedy supercars to family sedans and even raw engine technologies. One of Toyota's additions to the show will be a new variant of the iQ, powered by a peppy 1.3L gasoline four-cylinder.

The current iQ is powered by a 1.0L three-cylinder engine shared by the Aygo, rated at 67hp (50kW) and a healthy 55mpg US (4.27L/100km). The new 1.3L engine will feature VVT-i and 99hp (75kW) plus a fuel-saving stop-start feature. Despite the jump in power, the new engine is expected to return better fuel efficiency, around 59mpg, or 4.0L/100km. Toyota... The 2009 Geneva Motor Show will play host to a wide range of concepts and production vehicles, from speedy supercars to family sedans and even raw engine technologies. One of Toyota's additions to the show will be a new variant of the iQ, powered by a peppy 1.3L gasoline four-cylinder. The current iQ is powered by a 1.0L three-cylinder engine shared by the Aygo, rated at 67hp (50kW) and a healthy 55mpg US (4.27L/100km). The new 1.3L engine will feature VVT-i and 99hp (75kW) plus a fuel-saving stop-start feature. Despite the jump in power, the new engine is expected to return better fuel efficiency, around 59mpg, or 4.0L/100km. Toyota announced the engine late last year. The new model complements the 1.4L D4-D diesel that is currently the most powerful unit in the iQ range at 90hp (67kW), though the diesel is still likely to be torquier and more suited to city driving. All of the engines in the iQ can be fitted to either a five-speed manual or an optional CVT. After its Geneva show debut, expect the iQ to hit European showrooms in the middle of the year. There's still no official announcement of the iQ for the U.S., though with consumer budgets shrinking and fuel prices likely to rise again, the potential for the car is high.2010 Toyota iQ minicar Read More

Imagine being able to pull up to a fuel station and take your choice of the cheapest or highest-performing fuel, without limitation by your engine. Lotus Engineering is working to deliver an engine that can efficiently use both alcohol and gasoline fuels to help promote sustainable transport.

American carmakers have built flex-fuel engines capable of running of ethanol blends and gasoline for years now, but the alternative fuels haven't caught on and efficiency is often compromised at both ends to allow for that flexibility. The idea behind the Omnivore engine from Lotus Engineering is to use a variable compression ratio and a two-stroke... Imagine being able to pull up to a fuel station and take your choice of the cheapest or highest-performing fuel, without limitation by your engine. Lotus Engineering is working to deliver an engine that can efficiently use both alcohol and gasoline fuels to help promote sustainable transport. American carmakers have built flex-fuel engines capable of running of ethanol blends and gasoline for years now, but the alternative fuels haven't caught on and efficiency is often compromised at both ends to allow for that flexibility. The idea behind the Omnivore engine from Lotus Engineering is to use a variable compression ratio and a two-stroke operating cycle. On top of those techniques, they add direct injection for precise fuel metering and even more efficiency. One unique element of the variable compression design is a cylinder head and block that blend together, eliminating the need for a gasket between the two. The compression ratio is varied by a puck at the top of the combustion chamber, which can adjust compression dynamically based on engine load. The Omnivore project was first revealed last year as a joint project with Jaguar. The statement on the program released today contained no mention of Jaguar, however, so it's not clear if the Leaping Cat is still involved with the experiment. A similar proof-of-concept vehicle, the Lotus 270E, demonstrated the flexibility of fuel use, if not the advanced technology and high efficiency of the Omnivore engine. Due to some of the complications arising from introducing variable compression ratio technology into four-stroke engines, however, don't expect to see a Lotus 270 Omnivore any time soon. The ongoing debate over the sustainability and 'greenness' of alcohol-based fuels is also another potential hurdle, though if projects like those being undertaken by Coskata and the like bear fruit, things could work out well for Omnivore.Lotus Omnivore monoblock engine concept Read More