Entries Tagged 'chevrolet' ↓

The compact Chevrolet S10 pickup truck premiered as a 1982 model and was replaced by the Colorado after the 2004 model year. When equipped with the most fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine and manual transmission, the S10’s gas mileage ratings floated in the high twenty mile per gallon (MPG) highway range for much of its run. For a time in the 1980s, the S10 could be ordered with a 2.2 liter four-cylinder diesel engine.

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While today’s hybrid gas mileage figures may seem impressive when compared to the majority of conventional vehicles on the market, there’s still a long way to go. This unfulfilled dream is clearly evident when studying the historical chart of hybrid gas mileage. The earliest models of the Honda Insight set the bar remarkably high (regardless of the change in the EPA’s testing procedures implemented in 2007); so high that they remain to be equaled by a production vehicle today.

Viewing the statistics, it’s easy to understand how the Insight hybrid achieved those remarkable gas mileage results. Weighing in at under a ton, Honda’s little spaceship had a big headstart, with a diminutive 1.0 liter three cylinder engine providing just enough oomph and efficiency to land the micro hybrid’s gas mileage in the stratosphere.

With the Insight put out to pasture after the 2006 model year, the Toyota Prius snatched the hybrid gas mileage crown, edging out the Honda Civic Hybrid.
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The Chevrolet Camaro is due for a long-awaited comeback in the 2010 model year and given the times, we should expect at least one fuel-efficient engine among the tire-smoking options. Throughout the history of Chevy’s pony car, the entry-level Camaro’s gas mileage ratings were an important part of the marketing mix. While many enthusiasts only remember the V8 engines, six cylinder Camaros have always been popular, dating back to the earliest days. Throw on a set of chrome rims and you could cruise the boulevard with coolness on a fraction of the gas consumed by the boy racers.

Chevy went so far in the early-to-mid eighties as to bolt a four cylinder engine under the Camaro’s hood. 2.5 liter Iron Duke equipped 1982 to 1986 entry level models were the undisputed Camaro gas mileage champs of all time (never mind their overly underwhelming performance).
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The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid competes with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion among others in the Family Sedan category.

The Malibu Hybrid’s Ecotec 2.4 liter four cylinder engine and 36-volt NiMH battery powered electric motor assist produce 164 horsepower (HP) and 159 foot pounds of torque.

While this obviously isn’t the Malibu you’d bring to the drag strip (the 3.6 liter V-6 boasts 252 HP), it’s more than adequate on the road for a great many folks and feels more sprightly than the Saturn VUE Green Line, which uses the identical drive train.

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At MPGomatic, we take a different tack when it comes to covering industry events like the big trade shows. At the huge venues the press are often herded around like a flock of hungry … well … reporters. (If there’s a conference around lunchtime, you’ll find the herd at the feed trough.) Rather than succumb to the thunder of the big press conference reveals, we like to take the opportunity to crawl over the cars at the other (empty) end of the hall and talk to the manufacturers one-on-one.

It was late on the second press day before we had the chance to stop in and get a good look at the Chevrolet Volt. By that time of the afternoon, most of the manufacturers reps had packed it up for the day. As we started filming the Chevy Volt, we had the good fortune to catch up with Chevy’s Scott Settlemire …