Ford has chosen a different path to electrification of the automobile. While the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt enjoyed a substantial marketing blitz in the build-up to their debuts, Ford was rather quiet by comparison. (If Jay Leno’s ill-fated prime-time show had not flopped, America would have seen more Stars in an Electric Car). Those in the know might recall that MPGomatic first reported on the low-key/high-result Ford Electric Car efforts way back at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
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2011 Kia Sportage Review
MPG-o-Matic 2011 Kia Sportage EX AWD Review Summary: The aggressively-styled 2011 Kia Sportage stakes out a bold space in the highly competitive five-seat crossover market. Sharing its platform with the Hyundai Tuscon, the Sportage plays the design card, and trumps the competition with features for the dollar. This one is stuffed with all the goodies, in a quest to one-up the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
2011 Lexus CT 200h: First Drive
DELRAY BEACH, Fla.—I have to admit, I felt the need to redeem myself. I am a notorious lead foot, and I habitually get low mileage numbers in every car I drive. Even when I try to do well. Hybrid. TDI. Gasoline. It’s all the same. And it’s all bad.
So, when the folks at Lexus announced during the press preview for the all-new 2011 CT 200h that the worst gas mileage they’d seen thus far was around 37 mpg, I considered the gauntlet thrown. I absolutely could not get below that number.
2011 Ford Fiesta Review – Part 2: PowerShift Dual-Clutch Automatic
The 2011 Ford Fiesta breaks new ground on a number of levels, with the optional PowerShift dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission being the perfect case-in-point.
It’s not often that we get to test a vehicle with both manual and automatic transmissions comprehensively. We had that opportunity with the 2011 Fiesta, spending a week with a manual (back in early autumn) and an automatic (just recently).
The Fiesta’s PowerShift transmission isn’t just the only six-speed automatic in its class. It’s also the only dual-clutch design. While the Honda Fit is equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission, the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo and Hyundai Accent are fitted with four-speed automatics.
2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid: First Drive
Toyota Motor Sales better get in the game. Quick.
Yet another manufacturer has launched yet another hybrid that is infinitely better than anything the previous hybrid king has put out in recent years.
Exit Lexus RX 450h. Enter the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid.
As far as first drives go, I didn’t have nearly enough drive time in this all-new SUV. Only about 30 minutes behind the wheel and another 30 minutes as a passenger.
Surely not enough time to get a realistic gauge of fuel economy over a period of time. My partner and I averaged just more than 20 mpg in combined driving, which is just under the VW estimated ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. (At the time of publication, the EPA had not yet completed their official fuel economy values.)