Whoo yeah.

It was impossible to miss the Lamborghini green Gasser in the Luxfer booth while strolling the show floor aisles at the 2010 Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference in Las Vegas this week.

The Gasser started out as a Factory Five ‘33 kit and made a hard left into crazy land. Fairfield, California-based Daytech Auto and AFVTech of Goodyear, Arizona steered the ‘33 roller into uncharted territory when they dropped a specially prepped LS-7 427 cubic-inch GM Performance crate motor between the frame rails.

So what’s so special about a 427-inch V8 in a ‘33 Ford hot rod?

Hang onto your hat …

The LS-7 was rebuilt to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), with upgrades to the valves, seats, piston rings, to produce an estimated 650 horsepower. The engine uses MSD ignition system components and a Peterson Fluid Systems oil tank. Other goodies include electric power steering and a drive shaft-powered alternator.

There are four Luxfer CNG tanks nestled in the trunk, promising a 200-mile range.

The Gasser’s six-speed T.C.I.-prepped automatic transmission is controlled via Momo steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, along with a 2 button handle Outlaw shifter between the seats. Wilwood pedals handle the chores underneath the dash.

The dashboard is aeronautically-inspired. Builder Wayne Day started his career as an aircraft mechanic in the United States Air Force, and has raced in both Top Fuel/Alcohol dragsters and SCCA road racing.

Needless to say, the Gasser was designed to go fast around the corners, as well as in a straight line.

Ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber HRE wheels are wrapped in beefy rubber, with a Ford 9-inch rear bringing all that clean power to the rear wheels. Alcon got the nod for brake components.

The Gasser is fully OBD-compliant and uses an Impala-sourced traction control system. There are over two miles of wiring in the car.

Each of the fully functional sidepipes sport water-cut logos and contain a pair of catalytic converters, for total of four. The custom headers and side pipes were build by Lemons Headers.

The 2010 Taurus Limited AWD is fitted with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 263 horsepower (HP) and 249 foot pounds of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic overdrive transmission. (By comparison, the Taurus SHO is equipped with a Twin-Turbocharged EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 that produces 365 HP and 350 foot pounds of torque.)

The EPA’s fuel economy estimates for the 3.5-liter Ford Taurus Limited AWD are 17 city / 25 highway miles per gallon (MPG). (The AWD Ford Taurus SHO is rated at a similar 17 city/ 25 highway, while the FWD Ford Taurus is rated at 18 city / 28 highway.)

We traveled more than four hundred miles in our Red Candy Metallic tinted review unit, scoring an average of 26.6 MPG on the Interstate highway and 18.9 MPG combined.

Overall test period temperatures ranged from the low-thirties through the low-sixties. Interstate highway testing temperatures were in the low-fifties, with wind gusts in the twenty-to-thirty mile per hour (MPH) range. The test vehicle was equipped with 19-inch aluminum chrome-clad wheels clad with Goodyear P255/45Rx19 tires and was delivered with slightly over 2000 miles on the odometer. (We’d expect fuel economy to improve a bit as the engine is broken in.)

Interstate Mileage Testing:

• Adaptive cruise control set to 68 MPH, A/C off, heat on, drivers seat heater on, windows up: 25.9 MPG
• Cruise control off, target speed 60-72 MPH, A/C off, heat on, drivers seat heater on, windows up: 27.3 MPG

The 2010 Taurus Limited AWD is equipped with a 19 gallon fuel tank. 87-octane regular unleaded gasoline is recommended. Towing capacity is limited to 1,000 pounds.

The naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 moves the Taurus Limited AWD’s 4,224 pounds (curb weight) off the line with ease.

The Taurus’ central display provides two trip meters, miles to empty, average miles per gallon, and real-time fuel economy. As always, we recommend driving with the real-time fuel economy display active, to help develop a light-footed driving style.

The Taurus handles with reassurance, as it delivers an exceptionally smooth and quiet ride. The all-wheel-drive system is fully automatic and is optional on the SEL and Limited and standard on the SHO.

The optional Adaptive Cruise Control system uses forward radar sensors to detect slower moving vehicles and automatically reduces the speed of the Taurus to accommodate a pre-set following distance. The Collision Warning system provides audible and visual warnings, along with brake support that includes pre-charging and automatic braking to avoid potential accidents.

Rearward visibility is aided through technology. The Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) works on the highway as well as in parking lots. When radar sensors at the corners of the rear bumper identify an oncoming vehicle, an indicator lights up on the corresponding outside mirror.

A rear view camera is available. Video is displayed on the interior rear view mirror or on the navigation screen (if so equipped).

The interior of the Taurus is welcoming, roomy, and well-designed for driver and passengers alike.

The front seat provides 39 inches of head room, 41.9 inches of leg room, 57.9 inches of shoulder room, and 56.3 inches of hip room.

Ten-way power driver and passenger bucket seats provide adjustable lumbar support and driver memory.

The Multi-Contour option provide subtle massage for the front bucket seats. The seat back provides a gentle rolling lumbar massage, while the bottom cushion delivers “active-motion” to alleviate driver fatigue.

Our test vehicle was equipped with the Rapid Spec 303A option package, which includes heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, rear window power sunshade, blind spot monitoring, push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, adjustable pedals, automatic high beams, and a twelve-speaker Sony audio system.

The leather-wrapped, wood-accented steering wheel delivers reassuring heft and controls for cruise control and the Microsoft Sync system.

Sync greatly benefits from the visual expanse of the voice navigation package.

The Taurus provides three 12-volt power outlets in the cabin: one at the base of the dash, one inside the center console, and one at the back of the center console.

There’s plenty of room for rear seat passengers, with 37.8 inches of head room, 38.1 inches of leg room, 56.9 inches of shoulder room, and 55.8 inches of hip room.

The trunk provides generous storage area, with 20.1 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats up and plenty of room for larger items with the 60/40 rear seats folded down.

One caveat: We had a somewhat difficult time getting in and out of the driveway without scraping the front air dam of the Taurus. While one might expect this from a low-slung sports car, it was unexpected coming from a full-size sedan.

All-in-all, the 2010 Ford Taurus Limited AWD marks a renaissance for the big American sedan, as it delivers a wonderfully quiet, smooth, and comfortable ride. While mileage in any AWD vehicle takes a hit when compared to its two-wheel-drive version, the Taurus is quite likely to attract folks downsizing from far less fuel-efficient full-size SUVs. An abundance of technology woven into a stylish and thoughtfully designed package ensure its success.

Parts Content Info
Final Assembly Point:
Chicago, Illinois Assembly Plant
Country of Origin:
Engine – Lima, Ohio Engine Plant
Transmission – Van Dyke Transmission Plan, Sterling Heights, Michigan

While some folks have complained that their hybrid cars’ gas mileage falls short of the stated numbers, we found quite the opposite to be true. We were able to meet or beat the estimates with every hybrid we tested.

But here’s the rub …

Hybrid gas mileage depends largely on technique. If a driver fails to use the tools at their disposal and drives in an inefficient manner, they’ll struggle to hit the numbers.

Truth be told, it can take some effort to beat the official gas mileage estimates, no matter what you’re driving.

This is amplified with a hybrid car or SUV, where the right techniques can pay off with eye-popping numbers under the right conditions.

To achieve the best gas mileage in a hybrid, you’ll want to use the data provided by the dashboard to alter your driving technique.

When you minimize the pressure put on the pedals and maximize the use of inertia, you’re light footing.

The accompanying video shows the dashboards of three hybrid cars that deliver the highest gas mileage results: the Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, and Honda Insight.

Each manufacturer takes a different approach when displaying real-time fuel efficiency.

The 2010 Toyota Prius tops the charts with an estimated 51 city / 48
highway miles per gallon (MPG).

Although the center-mounted real-time fuel-efficiency display in the Prius can draw the eye away from the road to a degree, our 55.1 MPG combined results – calculated from tank fills – proved the capabilities of a conscientiously driven Prius.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid official ratings of 41 city / 36 highway provide a hint of the car’s potential.

Using the configurable (although somewhat distracting) Smart Gauge dashboard display, we were able to easily trounce the estimates in the Fusion Hybrid, scoring an average of 44.5 MPG combined. The Smart Gauge display is an excellent training aid for light footed driving.

We found the 2010 Honda Insight to be conservatively rated at 40 city / 43 highway, and were able to easily trump the numbers with an average of
46.5 MPG combined.

The Insight’s subtle glowing ambient meter surrounds the speedometer allowing the eyes to maintain focus on traffic conditions. With a change in color from green to blue, the driver instantly senses fuel efficiency, without the need to draw attention away from the road.

Hybrids have been traditionally touted as shining over conventional vehicles in stop-and-go traffic. But the benefits clearly carry through to more open roads, when driven appropriately.

The Fusion Hybrid’s ability to cruise under electric power at speeds up to 47 miles per hour is a case-in-point. If you can adapt not just your driving technique, but also the route traveled, you can achieve remarkable results.

Although road conditions can prevent you from getting the optimum gas mileage at all times, the more in tune you are with your vehicle, the better the results.

Stay tuned for more videos on techniques and tactics that you can use to dial up your fuel efficiency.

2010 Hybrid Gas Mileage Ratings

Steve’s Restorations propane-powered 1956 Ford F-100 pickup drew plenty of attention in SEMA’s Making Green Cool Zone, with an abundance of custom copper work, suicide doors, a slick tilt bed, and dazzling pearl metallic paint. While the 460 cubic inch Ford engine delivers the equivalent of nine miles per gallon or so, it doesn’t use a drop of gasoline. How many big bad hot rods can say that?

With propane prices significantly lower than conventional fuels, propane conversion offers hot rod enthusiasts the opportunity to maintain an investment in existing vehicles and drive trains.

The AMP=D ‘33 garnered plenty of attention. The E Hot Rod wasn’t in the “Making Green Cool Zone” at the back of the second floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South hall … it was front and center in Factory Five’s booth in the middle of Hot Rod Alley. This placement allowed the maximum number of show attendees to get a good long look at what just might be the future of hot rodding.

While the 0-60 time is projected as a mere three seconds and the driving range at 100 miles, the car has yet to be put to the test.

Many thanks to Mike at AMP=D and Jeremy at Factory Five for their help in shooting this segment and to CNN’s iReport for airing the clip.

The 2010 Mustang V6 is fitted with a 4.0-liter SOHC engine that can be mated to either a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Mustang’s V6 produces 210 horsepower (HP) and 240 foot pounds of torque. Although the Mustang V6 gives up a bunch of HP to both the Camaro and Challenger V6s, Ford’s pony car is significantly lighter than the competition.

The EPA’s fuel economy estimates for the 2010 Ford Mustang V6 are 18 city / 26 highway miles per gallon (MPG) with the manual transmission and 16 city / 24 highway with the automatic.

When driven conscientiously, the V6 Mustang can easily exceed its fuel economy ratings. We put over six hundred and fifty hundred miles on the odometer of our automatic-equipped Sterling Gray review unit and slipped past the official mileage estimates with an average of 27.9 MPG on the Interstate highway and 21.3 MPG combined.

Overall test period temperatures ranged from the fifties through the seventies, with Interstate highway testing temperatures in the sixty degree range.

The 2010 Mustang V6 rolls in at approximately 4,300 3,400 pounds with the manual transmission (tack on another fifty pounds or so for the automatic). The Camaro is more than 400 300 pounds heavier, while the Challenger weighs in at the heaviest of the bunch at over 3800 pounds. While the Mustang’s 4.0-liter V6 delivers adequate punch on the roll, off the line performance falls behind the Camaro’s 300 HP direct-injected V6.

In the battle between Chevy, Dodge, and Ford, the Mustang V6’s weight advantage allows its less powerful engine to deliver middle-of-the-pack acceleration.

Fuel economy displays include both average mile per gallon and real-time fuel-efficiency. We always recommend light-footed driving and the use of a real-time fuel economy display as a means to improve gas mileage.

The Mustang’s 16.0 gallon gas tank provides a good amount of highway range. The 4.0-liter engine is designed to run on regular unleaded fuel. The Easy Fuel capless fuel-filler system ensures that you’ll never leave a gas cap behind at the service station.

Top up or down, this one’s a joy to drive.

Out in the twisties, the V6 Mustang out-handles the competition. Never mind that it’s still sporting a coil spring 3-link solid-axle rear suspension setup. A 33.4 foot curb-to-curb turning circle bests the competition. Four-wheel anti-lock power disc brakes are standard.

Our V6 Convertible Premium review unit was equipped with the V6 Pony Package, fog lights, fender badges, pony tape stripe, rear decklid spoiler, and 18-inch polished aluminum wheels. Sequential LED tail lamps are standard.

The 2010 Mustang’s interior sets a high mark, with excellent fit and finish. Our Mustang featured leather-trimmed upholstery, with the Comfort package adding heated driver and passenger seats and six-way power adjustment. Power lumbar support hits the spot.

This little pony delivers the tunes, with an eight-speaker, 500-watt Shaker Audio System, voice-activated Microsoft SYNC, SIRUS satellite radio, and steering wheel controls. SYNC’s USB iPod support and Bluetooth cellphone support earn high marks. There are two power outlets, one on the dash and one in the console. A standard audio input jack is also provided.

Convertible top operation was smooth and easy, although not exceptionally speedy. The Mustang was relatively quiet with the convertible top up. SYNC voice-operation was challenged with the top down, but functional. Although rearward visible isn’t too bad for a convertible (with the top up), a rear view camera is available.

The 2010 Mustang has two gotchas.

Rear seating is rather tight, especially with the top up. Needless to say, it’s much easier to climb into the back seats with the convertible top down.

The Mustang’s trunk is relatively small. The Mustang coupe’s cargo area is rated at 13.4 cubic feet (larger than the Camaro, but significantly smaller than the Challenger), while the Mustang convertible’s cargo area is rated at just 9.6 cubic feet. While the rear seat folds down in the coupe (allowing for more flexible cargo arrangement), the rear seat does not fold down in the convertible.

All-in-all, the 2010 Ford Mustang V6 represents a significant step up over previous years. While a bit down on power, the Mustang V6’s solid handling, sweet interior, rocking sound system, and convertible model earn it a slot at the top of the pack. Rest assured, the ante will be upped as Ford switches over to the EcoBoost engines in upcoming models, with higher fuel economy and improved performance.

The Smart Gauge is highly configurable. For example: while the spiffy green efficiency leaves appeal to some folks, we prefer the time bar graph.

There are four basic configurations, from Inform (with just the basics), to Enlighten, Engage, and Empower (which provides the greatest amount of detail).

In order to maximize gas mileage, you’ll need to develop a disciplined right foot. Once you’ve learned how to lighten up on the accelerator pedal, you’ll increase the frequency and duration of driving segments that deliver 60 MPG or more.

With that in mind, here are some ways to boost your gas mileage:

Accelerate at a Crawl

We’re going to start with perhaps the most difficult technique, accelerating at a crawl under purely electric power.

Lift your foot off the brake pedal and press the accelerator as lightly as possible. Watch the green EV bracket in the Power monitor. Do not exceed the top of the bracket … if you do, the gasoline engine will spring to life. This takes a good bit of patience. As the red needle approaches the top of the EV bracket, let off the gas.

You only want to use this tactic if there’s no traffic behind you. It works best when heading downhill or on a level surface. Attempting to accelerating from a stop in EV mode while heading up a hill can be futile.

Accelerate and Glide

Under most situations, you’ll need to accelerate from a stop using the gasoline engine. When you head off from a stop, the Power monitor will show an orange sweep as the red needle moves upward.

Accelerate past your target speed, then take your foot completely off the accelerator pedal. The red needle will drop to the bottom of the Power monitor and the green EV bracket will expand. Now you can lightly reapply your foot to the throttle … you’re gliding under EV power. The MPG gauge will display 60+.

As you approach the next intersection, let off the gas and apply the brakes as necessary. Three circular arrows will appear to indicate that the system is charging the batteries by regenerating electric power.

Inertia and a Light Foot

The Fusion Hybrid’s ability to glide under electric power at speeds up to 47 miles per hour is one of its strongest features. In day-to-day driving, the efficient use of vehicle inertia and a light-footed technique will save a remarkable amount of fuel.

By keeping the Power display’s needle in the green EV bracket, you won’t be using any gasoline during those segments. The trick is to maximize those segments.

Keep Track of MPGs

The Smart Gauge presents a Trip Summary screen each time you turn off the ignition. This feedback provides positive reinforcement for conscientious driving techniques. The more you practice these techniques, the more efficient you’ll become. Before long, you’ll be producing 50 and 60 MPG segments under optimum conditions.

Think that the American auto industry isn’t capable of producing a world-class hybrid? Think again. The Ford Fusion Hybrid takes the crown among the current crop of stealthy hybrid sedans.

The Fusion Hybrid is fitted with a 2.5-liter Atkinson-Cycle Hybrid inline four that produces 191 horsepower (HP) and 136 foot pounds of torque, along with a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor and 275-volt Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) battery pack. An electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) transfers the power to the front wheels.

The EPA’s fuel economy estimates for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid are 41 city / 36 highway miles per gallon (MPG).

We put roughly four hundred miles on the odometer of our Light Ice Blue Metallic review unit, easily rolling past the official mileage estimates with an average of 42.7 MPG on the Interstate highway and 44.5 MPG combined. There’s little doubt that we would have scored much higher in town and on the back roads, given the time to implement the right strategies.

Test period temperatures ranged through the seventies to eighty degrees. Due to time constraints, we did not highway test with the air conditioning running. However, the combined numbers do reflect use of A/C, overall.

• Cruise control set to 68 MPH, A/C off, windows up, roof partially open : 41.8 MPG
• Cruise control off, target speed 60-72 MPH, A/C off, windows up, roof partially open: 43.5 MPG

The Fusion Hybrid’s generous 17.5 gallon gas tank allows a remarkable amount of range.

While there’s enough punch to deal with the day, it’s the way cool LCD dash display that allows the driver to actively tap into all the power and efficiency under the hood. (In the second part of the review, we’ll show you how to use the display to cruise effortlessly at speeds up to 47 MPH in electric mode.)

Out on the road, the Fusion Hybrid rides and drives like a perfectly normal sedan. It doesn’t stand out or wave flags about your EcoConsciousness. It just does what a competent modern car should do, only far more fuel-efficiently.

There’s a certain weight to the wheel, with a solid and reassuring ride. 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) are standard.

The Fusion Hybrid’s cabin is both high-tech and familiar. You needn’t be NASA-certified to glide this bird.

Our test unit was equipped with optional leather-trimmed and heated front seats, along with dual-zone climate controls. An 8-way power driver’s seat is standard, as is lumbar support.

There’s a 12-volt outlet at the base of the dash, a 110-volt outlet at the back of the center console, and another 12-volt outlet inside the console. Auxiliary audio and USB iPod inputs are tucked away inside the center console, as well.

Although Microsoft’s Sync is standard, the 12-speaker Sony audio system is included with the Moon and Tune option package. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and voice controls ensure that your attention stays on the road, whether you’re placing a Bluetooth call or picking a playlist.

The Driver’s Vision Group option package includes blind-spot sensor side mirrors and a slick rearview mirror mounted camera display.

Ford’s signature color-adjustable LED lighting sets the mood with tasteful accents throughout the cabin.

Passengers will appreciate the Fusion Hybrid’s spacious and comfortable rear seat, with 37.8 inches of headroom, 56.5 inches of shoulder room, 53.3 inches of hip room, and 37.1 inches of leg room.

There are 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk. The backseat does not fold down (due to the placement of the battery pack). If there’s one downside to the Fusion Hybrid, it’s the limited cargo capacity.

All-in-all, the Ford Fusion Hybrid is a standout performer and a shining example of America’s competitiveness in these challenging times. This car should be standard issue for energy-conscious consumers, municipalities, and corporate fleets.

Eric Trytko can tell you first hand. He had the opportunity to spend time with Wayne Gerdes, pilot a Fusion Hybrid on one of the two Washington DC-area routes that the record setting team followed, and drive one of the Fusion Hybrid media cars back to Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

The experience (and all that time behind the wheel) provided Eric with some interesting insight on the Fusion Hybrid and how it operates in the real world. While he wasn’t able to come anywhere close to the 81.5 mile per gallon (MPG) mark on his one attempt on the event route, Eric was able to easily break the 50 MPG mark. Eric’s real world highway mileage results on the drive back to Michigan provide tangible proof of the Fusion Hybrid’s fuel efficiency while at speed.

In his Ford Fusion Hybrid review, Eric gets down to the details on the car’s interior and delivers unbiased driving impressions. If you’re thinking about buying a new fuel efficient four door sedan, this is a must read.

We’re hoping to put a 2010 Fusion Hybrid to a week long test drive at some point this summer …

The team set out on Sunday morning with a goal of breaking the 1000 mile mark, in an effort to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The Fusion Hybrid was a standard production model, running on 87 octane gas. It was not modified for the event. After driving for 69 hours continuously, the tank finally ran dry early this morning.

Edwards was at the wheel at the 1000 mile point. He was flown up to the Washington DC area shortly after crashing out of Sunday’s Talladega NASCAR race.

In order to achieve the remarkable results, the Fusion Hybrid was driven at speeds between 20 and 45 miles per hour (MPH), with cruise control off. (The Fusion Hybrid has the ability to glide under electric power at speeds under 47 MPH.)

When asked (during a Twitter session) what special techniques he used during his high-MPG driving stint, Edwards replied, “Special Driving style today? Took off my right shoe and hardly used the brakes.”

Driving techniques used by the team included:

• Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
• Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
• Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
• Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
• Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
• Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
• Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
• Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
• Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum