All In Gear
Study: Americans are driving less. Why?That's one way to go green: Americans have been steadily driving less since 2005. RIsing gas prices, the recent recession, and a disinterest among younger people all play a part.
Average fuel economy of US cars reaches an all-time highAverage fuel economy of all cars in the US reached 24.6 miles per gallon – not high for your average hybrid, but the highest it's ever been.
Fisker Automotive cuts more staff. Is this the end?Fisker Automotive will lay off most of its staff, according to various media reports. Fisker faces an April 22 deadline for its next payment to the U.S. Department of Energy, but the company has virtually no income from ongoing operations because it hasn't built a single Karma electric car since last summer.
Hyundai, Kia recalling over 1.8 million vehicles in USThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that the South Korean automakers will recall nearly two million cars and SUVs in the US.
Subaru recalls vehicles for brake problemsSubaru is recalling about 200,000 Legacy and Outback all-wheel-drive vehicles to fix brake problems. The Subaru recall affects cars from the 2005 through 2009 model years sold in 20 states and Washington, where salt is used to clear roads in the winter.
Car sales rise in March. Chrysler up 5 percent.Car sales were strong in March. Major automakers including Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, General Motors and Nissan all reported increased car sales, with some reporting their best monthly totals since the start of the Great Recession in December of 2007.
An electric car – with a side of solar panelsMarrying electric cars with solar panels is a good way of enticing people into buying electric cars, new research shows. Joint efforts from automakers and green energy providers could expand interest in electric cars, Ingram writes.
2013 World Car of the Year Awards announced. Volkswagen wins big.Every year, an international panel of automotive journalists selects the best cars in the world under various categories, handing out its awards at the New York Auto Show. This year, the 2013 Mark VII Volkswagen Golf took top honors.
MPG confusing? Ford holds a contest for app developers to help.With all of the options available to drivers, and the multitude of fuel efficiency claims, finding the greenest option can be difficult. But Ford is offering prizes of $50,000 to software developers to come up with a smartphone app that helps people make sense of the barrage of information.
2014 Dodge Durango shines at times vs. Toyota Highlander, Nissan PathfinderIn battle of SUVs, restyled 2014 Dodge Durango will appeal to those with a passion for driving or a need for heavy towing. Toyota Highlander offers more aggressive styling and better fuel mileage. For even better mileage, see the new 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid.
Kia bares its 2014 Soul, offering a better rideThe 2014 Kia Soul is wider, longer, and stiffer. If Kia can keep the price affordable, the 2014 Kia Soul could appeal to a demographic beyond millennials.
VW shows new Golf in New York. No US sales till next year.VW brought its Mark VII Golf to the New York auto show, which are already sold in Europe and will be available next year in the US. The 2015 VW Golf will be longer, wider, and lighter than its predecessor.
Range Rover Sport: quicker, agile, and 800 pounds lighter2014 Range Rover Sport comes with two options for supercharged engines, which give the much lighter Range Rover Sport good-to-great acceleration.
2014 Cadillac CTS: a leap forward for American luxury cars2014 Cadillac CTS is lighter, more dramatically styled, and more powerful than previous models. The 2014 Cadillac CTS will compete more directly with models from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes.
Fuel from carbon dioxide: Is it too good to be true?Researchers have found a way of using microorganisms to turn atmospheric carbon dioxide into energy, Ingram writes, essentially replicating the processes found in plant life. Fuel from carbon dioxide has promise, he adds, but isn't yet developed into something that can work on a large scale.
An app to end traffic jams?Honda engineers are developing a technology that detects the potential for a traffic jam and then determines the best course of action for drivers in order to prevent one from occurring, Vijayenthiran writes. Honda claims that by using the system, fuel economy can be improved by as much as 20 percent.
Tesla Motors to expand Model S electric car 'Supercharger' networkTesla Motors is planning to open more quick-charge locations along its 'Supercharger' network in various locations over the next three to four months, Voelcker writes. The Supercharger network is meant to allow Tesla Motors Model S drivers to obtain rapid recharges every 100 to 200 miles.
- US drivers more likely to use phones on the road than Europeans, study finds
Americans are far more prone to talk on the go than other developed countries, but texting and emailing may be less culturally specific phenomena.
Where are people under 35 buying their cars?People under 35 aren't as interested in owning a car as their parents and grandparents, but when they are they're focusing less on Japanese brands and turning to Detroit and South Korea.
2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS to debut at New York Auto ShowDrivers got a tease of the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS Wednesday, scheduled to debut at the New York Auto Show next week. Model refreshes can be a mixed bag, Ireson writes, but with the Chevy Camaro, it's hard to know what to expect.
