Ford Fusion Paces NASCAR at Homestead-Miami Speedway
The first of two 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrids sporting camouflaged graphics will pace the drivers at the start of the NASCAR race at Florida’s Homestead-Miami track this Sunday. The other, a 263hp sport model of the Fusion, will lead during race cautions…Ford is overtly proud of the Fusion and is excited about showing off the car to race fans at the track and those in the television audience…Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas, will wave the green flag at the start of Sunday’s Ford 400. Says Fields, “…pacing the Ford 400 showcases exactly what our customers want, fuel economy and fun - and we’re pleased to be able to offer racing fans a glimpse of what’s to come at Sunday’s race.”
Chevy Volt Receives Preliminary Electric Rating, May Mean 100 mpg
The Chevrolet Volt will use electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds and so General Motors is asking the EPA to certify the Volt as an electric vehicle. But the volt has a 1.4 liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine as well as a plug-in battery pack, and is therefore a hybrid.
CARB, the California Air Resources Board, has already given the Volt preliminary certification as an electric. The reason it matters is that the Volt would become the first vehicle rated at 100 mpg, a huge marketing edge for GM.
Crash Tests Determine Toyota Prius Expensive to Repair
Comments OffThe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated Toyota Prius among the most expensive small cars to repair after a low-speed impact. Eighteen of twenty cars subjected to the same series of tests boasted less expensive repair costs than the Prius.
The world’s most popular hybrid car, Toyota Prius, didn’t fare so well in a recent series of crash tests performed on small cars by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Of the twenty cars tested by the Institute the poor performance of the Prius netted it a spot at the bottom of the roster, just ahead of the VW Rabbit.
What the test confirmed for Prius owners is this … if a Prius suffers a minor bump, such as a light tap in a parking lot at less than six-mph, bills at the auto body repair shop could be staggering – higher than they would be if the owner had chosen to drive any of the other small cars that were tested, sans the Rabbit.
The total damage suffered by the Prius in four low-speed crashes – two of them at 3mph and another pair at 6mph – was $9,070, nearly the same amount as the damage estimates for repairing most luxury cars in a similar series of IIHS crash tests last year. IIHS believes cars should not suffer damage from minor low-speed impacts such as those mimicked by the crash tests.
Hybrid Car Owners Show Manufacturer Loyalty
Owners of hybrid cars are a loyal bunch according to a recent report from Experian Automotive. Consumers having previously purchased a hybrid often choose another. In fact, 47 percent of consumers choose another hybrid car from the same manufacturer, while 18 percent choose the same hybrid make and model they previously owned…Of all hybrid car brands, Toyota Prius owners are most loyal, says Experian. One in four replaces a Prius with another Prius. There was slightly less loyalty among hybrid truck owners where 37 percent choose to buy another hybrid truck of the same make.
2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Lightened Using Aluminum
The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is the perfect example of a vehicle boasting a weight savings as a result of an expansive use of a lightweight material - aluminum. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), aluminum weighs about one-third as much as steel or copper; is malleable, ductile, and easily machined and cast; and has excellent corrosion resistance and durability. It’s use in auto manufacturing improves safety for occupants; performance, drivability and longevity of cars; and is easier on the environment.
Hybrid Car Repairs Cost Consumers More Money
If you want to drive a hybrid car, the latest nationwide Mitchell Industry Trends Report (Q3 2008) says hold on to your wallet. When repairs are necessary you will have to dig deeper into your pocket to pay than you would if you drove an equivalent car in a gasoline version. Access the full report here.