Canada's top fuel-efficient vehicles
Natural Resources Canada has announced the names of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the country, and once again import brands dominate the list.
Natural Resources Canada has announced the names of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the country, and once again import brands dominate the list.
This year’s most fuel-efficient vehicles in their respective classes are:
Two seater: Smart ForTwo
Subcompact: Mini Cooper/Clubman and Toyota Yaris
Compact: Honda Civic Hybrid
Mid-size: Toyota Prius
Full-size: Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata
Station wagon: Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Pickup: Ford Ranger/Mazda B2300
Special purpose: Ford Escape Hybrid
Minivan: Mazda5
Large van: Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana.
The winners of the ministry’s annual ecoENERGY awards are determined by testing that simulates 20,000 kilometres annually (55 per cent city, 45 per cent highway.) To find out more details like annual fuel use, costs and CO2 emission ratings, visit ecoaction.gc.ca/vehicles.
Geneva puts on the glitz
If you felt this year’s Detroit auto show was short on glitz, glamour and the high-performance cars usually found at these events, next month’s Geneva Motor Show may be more to your taste.
Here’s a look at some of the new models being promised for the 79th version of the annual auto exhibition:
As part of Porsche’s mid-cycle refresh of its iconic 911 lineup, the German automaker will take the wraps off its new 2010 911 GT3. Its naturally aspirated flat-six has been enlarged to 4.0 from 3.8 litres, and now pumps out 435 horsepower, enabling a 0-to-100 km/h run in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 310 km/h.
On sale in Canada in October for $138,100, the GT3 receives a new rear spoiler, more angular LED taillights, new bi-xenon headlights, modified air intakes on the front bumper, and a new front spoiler that can be adjusted by the driver.
For now mysteriously known only as the Extreme Bentley, this Continental GT-based model sports ominous-looking blackout grilles and enormous vertical air intakes on its bumpers. It will be the automaker’s “fastest, most powerful production car yet,” says the Volkswagen-owned brand.
No technical specifics have been released, but Bentley says the Extreme Bentley will run on biofuel. And seeing that the current “most powerful” Bentley is the 600-hp Continental GT Speed, the performance bar has been set as to what this Geneva-bound model needs to exceed.
A pair of range-topping models of the Aston Martin Vantage and DB9 are rumoured to be making their debuts on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Reportedly, the first new Aston is a convertible version of the current DBS hardtop that’s been seen driven by a certain celluloid Mr. Bond.
Next up is a production version of the track-only V12 Vantage RS – essentially a V8 Vantage stuffed to the gunwales with a 600-hp V12 engine from the DBRS9, plus the requisite cooling ducts, aerodynamic bits and carbon fibre interior pieces. Expect both new Astons to be limited in quantity and high in price.
Taking a few dozen steps down the price ladder, both Mini and Mazda also plan to unveil high-performance models.
Rumoured to appear in Geneva (along with the not-planned-for-Canada Mini One Clubman) is a Mini John Cooper Works Convertible edition.
As in the JCW hardtop, the new cloth-top version will have the more powerful 211-hp version of the Cooper S’s blown 1.6-litre four-banger.
As a follow-up to the just released 2010 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, expect to see the high-performance 2010 Mazda-speed3 in Switzerland.
There was speculation the Mazdaspeed tuners would borrow the 295 hp 2.5-litre five-cylinder found in the European Focus RS for its refreshed hot hatch. Instead, thecurrent Mazdapseed3’s turbocharged 263 hp 2.3-litre four will be retained.
Germans go hybrid
Volkswagen and Audi seem finally ready to launch gasoline-electric hybrids to the market next year in an attempt to catch up with the likes of Toyota’s premium Lexus brand, General Motors and Mercedes-Benz. Like GM’s strategy, VW/Audi will roll out the new technology in utility vehicles.
Volkswagen’s first hybrid will be its new Touareg BlueMotion Hybrid. The Touareg uses the new supercharged gas V6 from the recently announced Audi S4, and like GM’s two-mode system, an electric motor will be sandwiched between the engine and transmission (in VW’s case, an eight-speed autobox).
VW says its hybrid system is capable of operating in electric boost, electric only (up to 50 km/h) and regenerative braking modes. Total combined output from the gas-electric powertrain is 374 horsepower and 406 lb.-ft. of torque. Allegedly, this enables the Touareg hybrid to get to 100 km/h from rest in 6.8 seconds and tow up to 3,500 kg – besting the 2,721-kg capacity of the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.
However, the hybrid Touareg’s combined European test cycle rating is only 9.01 L/100 km (31 m.p.g.) – only slightly better than the 9.3 L (30.3 m.p.g.) achieved by the 3.0 L clean diesel Touareg.
Over at sister brand Audi, its first hybrid will be the one-size-smaller compact Audi Q5 Hybrid.
Once thought cancelled, Audi’s Q5 hybrid program has apparently been revived with a production launch coming as soon as late next year. And while Audi is being less generous than VW in providing technical details, it has provided some insight into the economics of developing hybrids for production.
First, in recognition of North American new-car buyers’ acceptance of hybrids (compared to the rest of the world where diesel reigns) the Q5 Hybrid is expected to be launched in Canada and the U.S. first – a reversal in policy.
Audi told Automotive News Europe that despite the decision to move ahead with the Q5 Hybrid, it still believes that diesel is the “best path” for its vehicles.
The German automaker said it costs Audi about 50 per cent more to develop a diesel powertrain compared to a conventional gas system. In comparison, a hybrid powertrain costs three to four times as much to develop.
Future is electric … Still
Despite the current low price in gas, a less-than-rosy economic outlook and the concerns of where to recharge, a new study suggests that there’s still a viable market for electric cars.
The survey of 4,000 people in eight countries, including the U.S., China, Japan and Germany, by U.S. consulting firm Bain & Co. found that high-income buyers – people who already own luxury cars and have the money and desire to buy an electric vehicle because they’re concerned about the environment – are the most likely to buy all-electric vehicles as a second vehicle for short trips.
These kinds of customers (similar to the Hollywood types who jumped on the Toyota Prius) are willing to pay a premium, but also care about the environment and want to make a statement, said a Bain spokesperson.
Because they would only use their EVs for shorter trips while continuing to take the larger gas-only car when driving long distances, the survey also concluded that urban customers are willing to accept the range limitations of electric vehicles of only 200-300 km.
