Nik J Miles

Posts Tagged ‘Hybrid’

“Honda’s New Civic Hybrid moves to a higher level on all fronts”

Honda’s 9^th generation Civic takes the 2012 Civic Hybrid to a higher plane with the latest version of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) System. It now ranks as the most fuel-efficient sedan available in the U.S. with an estimated EPA rating of 44 mpg across the board including city, highway and combined mpg.

Read the rest of this entry »

“2013 Ford Fusion: A global vision”

 Detroit, MI – Ford Motor Company recently offered automotive journalists a sneak peek at several of their new products to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The most impressive, and perhaps the most stunning, was the all-new, midsize Ford Fusion sedan, slated as a 2013 model year vehicle, which signals the next generation Ford Mondeo for the global marketplace. It is unquestionably the most beautiful Ford Fusion ever to be produced; showcasing the “New Face of Ford” look that will dominate and influence future Ford vehicles. Not only is it the most beautiful Fusion in history, it may well be the most alluring passenger car to be produced by Ford in recent years – okay, Mustang is another story.

Read the rest of this entry »

Focus : A fast charging electric Ford

Dearborn, MI –  At a recent symposium for national automotive journalists, Ford Motor Company executives and subject matter experts provided a sneak preview of products geared toward achieving the automaker’s goal of providing more fuel efficient vehicles.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mercedes-Benz is expanding its hybrid offerings to the E Class in 2012.  Scheduled to debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit is the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid and the E 400 Hybrid which both promise impressive performance on the highway and at the pumps.

The 4-cylinder diesel engine of the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid produces 204 horsepower, which is combined with a 20 kW electric motor. The result is the most economical luxury-class vehicle in the world.  The powertrain will be offered in both the sedan and Estate wagon. Read the rest of this entry »

With the record keepers from Guinness World Records® standing by and automotive journalist Tom Pollard at the wheel, the Infiniti M Hybrid became the world’s fastest accelerating full hybrid.

Recording an average time of 13.9031 seconds for a series of quarter mile runs, Pollard,  said he got the best times by just letting the automatic transmission shift on its own. Read the rest of this entry »

The Porsche powers that be decided to bring the totally revised and still officially unclassified Porsche GT3 R Hybrid back to the U.S. for what could possibly have been it’s last appearance at the most recent ALMS (American Le Mans) race, held at the legendary Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca and presented by Tequi;a Patron. That decision may be rethought, since the highly unusual racer finished tenth overall in the grueling six hour race, ahead of even the GT Class winners.

Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine an SUV that accelerates from 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds, has a top speed of 150 mph and handles like a Porsche.  In addition, it has excellent off-road capabilities, if someone has the heart to take it there, and did we mention it could get up to 24 mpg?

Any way you look at it, the Porsche Cayenne is an entirely different kind of SUV and this one just happens to be a Hybrid, too.

Read the rest of this entry »

Palo Alto, Calif. – Buick has gone through some fascinating changes through the years.  Remember when it was only old guys that drove Buicks?  That stigma made it difficult to sell to the younger and mid-age car buyers and probably still affects sales today.  Then in a strange twist Buick became the top selling brand in China – having never been to China, I don’t understand that.

However, the most interesting thing the brand has done in the last few years has been build some good new vehicles like Enclave, LaCrosse and Regal.  Now the market is starting to pay attention to the brand and the products seem to be getting even better. Read the rest of this entry »

Using the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show as a backdrop, Ford is unleashing a new brand DNA on the automotive world.

 “We wanted the Ford Evos Concept to give a clear message about where Ford design is heading – shaping vehicles that are fun to drive, have a strong premium visual appeal, and above all, are stunningly beautiful,” said J Mays, group vice president, Design and chief creative officer. Read the rest of this entry »

From first glance, the Lexus CT 200h gets high marks for styling. The five-door hatchback wears a stylish European look that sets it apart from the crowd of other smaller hatchbacks and sedans.  The distinctive style comes from the drawing pencils of the Lexus L-finesse design school.  It’s most noticeable in the sculpted front grille and fascia area and the complex “C” pillar treatment that is unlike any other hatchback.

Overall, the interior has a high quality feel with a sculpted dash accented with a choice of brushed aluminum, ash or bamboo and finished with a look that says “hand-sewn leather”, even though we imagine it’s more likely machine stitched high grade vinyl.  The broad center console is ‘control central’ for the CT with the shift control mounted far forward, audio controls, electric parking switch, the handling dynamics control panel, controls for the heated seats and the Lexus exclusive Remote Touch controller which works like a computer mouse.  Read the rest of this entry »