Our Jeep Wrangler gas mileage improvement project is proceeding, albeit slowly. We headed out to SEMA last month to see what the aftermarket options exist to help squeak an extra mile or two out of a gallon of gas. Lo and behold, we quickly tripped into two very cool alternatives that offer a peek into a domestic energy-independent future.
One thing’s for sure. If you’re serious about improving the fuel economy of your Jeep and have serious money to spend the options are out there. The first article in this series mentioned the HPA Motorsports TDI diesel engine swap. We found another cool diesel swap option while scouring the aisles of SEMA’s off-road exhibit hall at the Bruiser Off-Road booth.
Hold onto your hats. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have finally pulled the curtain on their proposed rule for the Obama Administration’s new gas mileage standard. An average of 54.5 miles per gallon (MPG) by 2025 may seem like a huge leap in a short time, but the numbers are not what they appear.
The 54.5 MPG figure is the EPA number for passenger vehicles, not what you’ll see on the window sticker. It’s a fudge factory powered by greenhouse gas emissions. The automakers will be able to use a range of technology incentives in one place to offset their numbers in another, including flex fuel, hybrid, and electric power trains. In real world terms, we might expect a sticker average of 40 MPG for cars that run on liquid fuel. That’s not all that extraordinary, considering all the cars with gas mileage ratings around 40 MPG highway that we can buy today.
And they wonder why so many Americans are so skeptical of what goes on in Washington. Continue reading →
A funny thing happened along the way (back) to $4 per gallon gasoline. The hybrid car is no longer the darling it once was. An excellent article from Peter Valdes-Dapena at CNNMoney spells it out: the sale of hybrid cars in the USA peaked back in 2008.
Take a look at the list of the best gas mileage cars sold in America. The plethora of choices have cut into the hybrids’ market share. An abundance of vehicles with competing technology – namely clean diesel and high-efficiency gasoline engines – have diminished the hybrids lock on the field.
While the hybrids may dominate the high-MPG charts, the cost of hybrid technology can work against its favor with drivers of limited means (as well as those with the ability to perform slightly more advanced mathematical equations). Increased monthly payment costs need to be justified by savings at the pump, week-after-week. If the savings aren’t there, fewer sales will be made. Continue reading →
While fuel efficiency might seem like the latest craze, we’ve been tuned into it for years. 40 MPG cars are nothing new. Other sources may be content to simply throw up a photograph and a paragraph or two about any given economy car. We take the time to put hundreds and hundreds of miles on each and every odometer. We test for real-world fuel-efficiency with a light-footed driving style … because mileage matters.
Through comprehensive testing, we’ve found that a number of cars are capable of exceeding their highway fuel efficiency ratings when driven conscientiously. Some cars rated in the high 30 MPG range can eclipse the 40 MPG mark. It’s all in the way you drive. Over the last few years, we’ve tested a range of 40 MPG (highway) cars, including:
MPG-o-Matic Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Review Summary:
The mid-size 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sedan shares a proven platform with the Ford Fusion Hybrid and adds an array of luxury features. Lincoln is looking to spur increased acceptance of hybrid technology in the mid-size luxury sedan market by offering the MKZ Hybrid at the same price as the non-hybrid MKZ sedan. If you’re considering a standard MKZ, why not go for the Hybrid?
