fuel economy

We're starting to get just a little excited about impending U.S. launch of the Toyobaru twins: the 2013 Subaru BRZ and 2013 Scion FR-S. We've taken more than a few longing looks at each of these cars since their announcement, Subaru's pre-order page is already up, and now (thanks to the EPA's fuel economy web site) we have an idea of what fuel economy you can expect, should you chose to make one of of these vehicles your daily driver.

The Subie and Scion feature identical 2.0-liter, four-cylinder boxer engines that make use of … Read more

Short of employing a full hybrid system, automakers are finding many ways to improve fuel economy in current, gas-engine cars. Engineers are looking at every part of the drive cycle to determine where savings can be made.

Some of the technologies being employed are old, such as turbochargers and continuously variable transmissions, but they are being refined to take advantage of new materials and computing power.

There have also been some newer innovations that cut fuel use, such as the use of idle stop and dual-clutch transmissions.

A number of factors are helping push these developments. Consumers are trying to cope with increasing gas prices, and governments are pushing for reduced carbon dioxide emissions, which relate directly to fuel economy.

Check out these 11 technologies that reduce fuel consumption. … Read more

Recently, I took a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles to drive the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid. When I told friends that I'd driven over 5 hours one-way just spend even more time driving when I got there, the question I got most often was, "Wouldn't it have been cheaper to just fly?"

Had I known about the Cost2Drive Web service and iOS app at the time, I'd have been better equipped to answer that query.

After entering a starting address, ending address, and a make, model, and year of a vehicle, Cost2Drive … Read more

The Obama administration yesterday said it will give more than $175 million to car companies and research centers to spur clean auto technology and production of advanced car batteries.

The announcement came ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to a battery factory in Michigan, and followed the introduction of the country's new standards for auto fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions.

"The Department of Energy is investing in new advanced technologies that will significantly improve vehicle fuel economy, save consumers money, and create skilled jobs for Americans," U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a … Read more

Raising federal fuel economy standards to as high as 56 mpg in the 2025 model year would yield fuel savings to consumers that more than offset higher vehicle prices, a new study found.

But lifting corporate average fuel economy to 62 mpg would result in vehicle price increases that exceed fuel savings over a five-year period, according to the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research.

The report highlights room for compromise on the Obama administration's preliminary proposal to raise CAFE to between 47 mpg and 62 mpg from the 2017 to 2025 model years.

Environmental groups have pushed for 62 … Read more

Consumers should have an easier time comparing the fuel economy of cars and light trucks once new consumer labels unveiled today go into effect.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson unveiled the new set of labels this morning at a live press conference hosted on the Web.

Prior to this, car labels hadn't been updated for 30 years.

Each new label differs slightly depending on the car's drive train or fuel source. (Click for a PDF of all labels.) Labels in the set include those for gas, flex-fuel gas-ethanol blends, … Read more

Many of you come to Car Tech looking for high-tech cars with Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation, and high-tech infotainment systems with audiophile-quality stereo systems. Some of you are just looking for the most fuel-efficient vehicle possible. For the latter group, we've rounded up 10 of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road today. What's most interesting is that, particularly with the hybrids, the most fuel-efficient vehicles are often also among the most high tech.

To keep things simple, we've set a few rules for this throwdown. First, we're separating hybrids and conventional vehicles into separate categories--otherwise, … Read more

analysis DETROIT--Major automakers are scrambling to strip hundreds of pounds off future pickup trucks in an effort to meet new U.S. standards for fuel economy without sacrificing strength or towing capability.

The new mandates take effect in 2016, giving automakers such as Ford and General Motors just one design cycle to make significant changes that will require costly steel substitutes including aluminum, new steel alloys, and magnesium.

Automakers are faced with having to pass on those higher costs to consumers who have come to associate mass with performance.

"There is a lot of hand-wringing in the industry right … Read more

Which 2011 car gets the worst miles per gallon? GE makes the biggest electric car order in history, a speed camera that busts you for way more than your speed, and we drive the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

• 2011 EPA MPG lists are outLINKTEXT

• GE makes biggest electric car order ever

• We spy the 2011 Hyundai Elantra before it's out

• Most diabolical speed camera ever

• CNET's LA Auto Show preview

• CNET's LOL cars gallery!