The Green Car

THE GREEN CAR is revving up

Coloradans, who’ve had a relationship with their wheels since the West was won, are re-looking at expectations from their ride, as are Americans nationwide. Drivers are looking for ways to avoid the gouging gas prices, do more for the environment and receive a healthy value in the exchange. Automakers are coming out of the shadows loaded with ingenuity and a new look at the future of transportation.

At last, the smart cars have arrived in our neighborhoods. These tiny gas sippers are popular in Europe simply because it’s so small and energy efficient. Popular, no doubt, since Europeans have had to deal with out-of-sight gasoline prices longer than Americans. The two-seater is a gas-only user with the 2008 smart fortwo (its new name) purported to get 68.9 mpg packaged in a 4-foot shorter length than the Mini Cooper.

Smart car’s 2009 pure coupe and 2009 passion cabriolet are offered in the U.S. The pure gets 40 mpg, is made from 80 percent recyclable materials and features front and lateral airbags, ABS brakes and an Electronic Stability System. It runs under a base price of $12,000; the passion with full factory-installed options is expected to run under $14,000. It has a reinforced tridion safety cell, all-season tires come standard and features restraint systems that meet Mercedes-Benz’s passive safety standards.

Toyota is in the running to go small in America with its iQ model, which will also be initially introduced in Japan and Europe. Toyota claims it will give the smart car a run for its money in America, once it has met U.S. safety standards. The iQ is a four-passenger vehicle, comes in 11.4 inches longer than the smart vehicles, and claims it will have fuel economy, though not as much as its Prius, rated at 48 city/45 highway.
Auto companies are pushing the government to put incentives on the table to encourage auto buyers to look at the plug-in hybrid vehicles. The Department of Energy has doled out $30 million between Ford, Chrysler and GM for plug-in research over the next three years. Meanwhile, Chrysler will be joining the plug-in race, since it has partnered with GE (offering up its locomotive diesel-electric hybrid experience) to help make it happen.

Car magazine, published in Britain, writes Volkswagen has a concept One-Liter car made of magnesium, titanium and aluminum weighing in at only 660 pounds. Besides the few pounds of weight, VW engineers are going for aerodynamics. Car says its 11.4 feet long, only 3.3 feet tall and has a canopy cover like you’d see on an airplane. The engine will be of diesel variety, and price estimates range from $30 grand and up. Plus its purported to have a whopping 235 mpg.

VW is also promising a 2009 clean-diesel Jetta TDI, with a 16-valve, four-cylinder direct injection engine purported to reduce emissions by 90 percent. VW claims fuel economy in the mid-40s for city driving; mid-50s for highway driving. VW fans are also waiting to see the next generation of the hybrid Touareg, due out in 2010.

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 claims to have the world’s cleanest diesel, a Bluetec turbocharged engine. Reportedly, it’s clean enough to breathe from the exhaust pipe.

The Chevrolet Volt will be heading our way – a plug-in hybrid electric (using a common 110-volt household plug). It makes use of a small internal combustion engine to operate a generator and resupply the battery. GM suggests a possible range of 640 miles on the highway. If you drive less than 40 miles a day to your job, Chevy says you will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions.

Meanwhile, Chevrolet introduced the 2008 Malibu with its mild hybrid system, which has garnered rave reviews and honors as Car of the Year at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show. Still to appear will be the 2009 Silverado, a two-mode hybrid pickup. Chevy is promising four- or eight-cylinder power for towing and climbing, yet giving the efficiencies of a full hybrid system.

There are many choices out there for fuel efficiency and value. GreenCar.com writer Todd Kaho recommends the Honda Fit, Ford Focus and Toyota Yaris for a price range under $15,000; Nissan Rogue, Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic under $20,000; Honda Civic Hybrid or Toyota Prius under $25,000; Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid under $30,000 and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec in the premium price range over $30,000.

There will always be those drivers in their Fiat Maseratis priced at over $100 grand that get 12 miles per gallon on our highways, but for most drivers, we can hardly wait to see the development of the green cars of the future. The race is on.
— Marywyn Germaine