2012 Infiniti M35h

Hybrid sedan for driving enthusiasts

By Nina Russin

2012 Infiniti M35h

Although hybrid vehicles are by no means a new idea, engineers continue to develop new performance matrices using the combined attributes of gas engines and electric motors. Unlike the first generation of hybrid sedans, fuel economy improvements in newer models sometimes take a back seat to power. This isn’t to say that the hybrid cars don’t outperform their gasoline-powered counterparts in terms of gas mileage; rather that they may well out-accelerate those cars as well.

Infiniti’s new M35h sedan is a case in point. Because electric motors develop maximum torque at extremely low speeds, the gasoline-electric M produces neck-snapping acceleration off the line, worthy of a top fuel car. The fact that it also averages 32 miles-per-gallon on the highway as compared to the gasoline-powered M’s 26 is an added bonus.

The closest hybrid technology to the M35h is probably Porsche’s, as seen in the Cayenne Hybrid. In both cases, the vehicle can operate at extremely high speeds on pure electric power. In the case of the M35h, top speed in electric mode is 62 miles-per-hour, with a range of 1.2 miles before the gas engine cuts in.

Base price on the M35h is $53,700, not including an $895 destination charge. The test car comes with a premium package which adds semi aniline leather seats, a Bose 5.1 surround-sound audio system, wood accents, a suede headliner and power rear sunshade ($3800). A technology package includes Infiniti’s hard drive navigation system with XM real time traffic and weather updates, climate controlled front seats and a heated steering wheel ($3350). A trunk mat and first aid kit cost $200, while an 18-inch wheel package adds $650. Illuminated kick plates priced at $360 bring the total cost as tested to $62,955. Read the rest of this entry »

2012 Toyota Prius v

Versatile hybrid wagon seats five passengers

By Nina Russin

2012 Toyota Prius v

The 2012 Prius v arrives in dealerships this fall: eleven years after the first model debuted in the United States. The “v” stands for “versatility.” The first member of the extended Prius family is a five-passenger car with a larger cargo area to meet the needs of active families.

While Prius v fuel economy is slightly lower than for the lift-back, EPA estimated 42 miles-per-gallon should appeal to buyers wanting minimize their carbon footprint.The Prius v comes in three grades: Two, Three and Five. Toyota has yet to announce pricing, but says that MSRPs will start between $25,000 and $30,000.

The powertrain is essentially the same as for the lift-back: a 98 horsepower four-cylinder engine which works in concert with two electric motors to develop 134 net horsepower. Dimensionally, the Prius v is six inches longer, three inches taller and an inch wider than the lift-back, translating to better headroom for both rows of passengers and a 34.3 cubic foot cargo bay with the rear seats in place.

The coefficient of drag is slightly poorer than the smaller car: .29 as opposed to .25. That and some additional weight account for the decrease in fuel economy. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Nissan Leaf SL

Electric car seats up to five passengers

By Nina Russin

2011 Nissan Leaf

Thanks to the advent of lithium-ion batteries, Nissan’s electric car has 100-mile range between charges: enough to function for the average commuter. The lightweight, compact battery pack located beneath the floor of the car doesn’t add a significant amount of weight to the vehicle; nor does it impinge on passenger space.

A level one 120-volt port set comes with the car, enabling the owner to recharge his Leaf by plugging into a conventional household outlet. Buyers will probably opt to install a 220-volt level two port at home, which cuts recharging time from 20 to eight hours. Nissan estimates the cost of installing the level two port at about $2000.

The SL is the more upscale of two trim levels, beginning with the SV priced at $32,780. MSRP for the SL is $33,720, not including an $850 destination charge. All models come with keyless ignition, an AM/FM/CD audio system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, navigation, a rearview camera, USB port, power windows, and Carwings. The free iPhone and Droid app enables Leaf owners to turn on the air conditioning, start and monitor charging from a smart phone.

A quick charge port on the test car interfaces with a 440-volt commercial quick charge port ($700). The level three port recharges the battery in 30 minutes. Floor mats and a cargo mat add $170 to the MSRP, bringing the price as tested to $35,440. Read the rest of this entry »

Toyota Prius vs. Nissan Leaf

Choosing the right green option

By Edward Pacheco
 

2011 Nissan Leaf

The Toyota Prius and the Nissan Leaf have proven to be two environmentally-friendly cars. That said, the propulsion systems for the models are quite different.

The Prius has a gasoline engine and electric motors. Power for the motors comes from a nickel metal hydride battery as well as regenerative braking. The Leaf, on the other hand, is a fully-electric vehicle which the owner recharges by plugging into an electrical outlet. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Tiptronic

Full parallel hybrid system delivers powerful performance

By Nina Russin

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Last year Porsche introduced a gasoline-electric hybrid version of its Cayenne sport-utility vehicle. The parallel hybrid system can run in fully electric or gasoline modes independently, as well as a combination of the two. The electric motor boosts power from the V-6 supercharged gasoline engine to mimic the performance of a V-8 with better gas mileage: about 24 miles-per-gallon on the highway according to the EPA.

For the German automaker to have developed a hybrid simply to reduce the car’s carbon footprint would have been out of character for the brand. Porsches are always first and foremost about performance. Engineers who developed the Cayenne’s hybrid system made sure that the new SUV was no exception, delivering a driving system which is both unique and distinctively Porsche.

Peak torque of 428 foot-pounds is available at 1000 rpm. As a result, the new Cayenne accelerates off the line with the alacrity of a quiet rocket ship. Once up to speed, on-board computer controls utilize large overdrive gears on the eight-speed automatic transmission to maximize gas mileage. It’s hard to make the car rev over 2000 rpm, except when accelerating.

Engineers also added a rather magical feature which they call “sailing.” When the Cayenne is travelling at steady speeds up to 97 miles-per-hour, the gasoline engine can cut out completely. An electronic clutch couples and decouples the electric motor and gasoline engine. The entire process is so seamless as to be imperceptible to the driver.

Base price on the Cayenne S Hybrid with Tiptronic is $67,700, not including a $975 delivery charge. Options on the test car include leather trim and a silver metallic exterior, 14-way power seats with memory, air suspension with an adjustable height feature, extended range fuel tank, heated front seats, navigation, park assist, a trailer hitch and bi-xenon adaptive headlamps, bringing the price as tested to $84,590. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

First drive

By Nina Russin

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

The Optima Hybrid sedan is the third and final chapter in the marketing strategy for the Kia’s flagship model. The Korean automaker unveiled its hybrid prototype at last year’s LA Auto Show; a move that came as no surprise to journalists familiar with the company’s business model.

Kia has closely emulated Toyota since coming stateside seventeen years ago. Not only do high fuel economy cars fit well with the company’s value-pricing strategy; alternative fuel models give Kia panache among more affluent customers who believe that “green is good.”

Priced from $26,500, the Optima Hybrid uses a lithium-polymer battery pack produced by LG Chem to power the electric motor. The 30 kilowatt electric motor and a four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine give the gasoline/electric powertrain 206 horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque. Peak torque is available as low as 1400 rpm.

There are two grades: the base model with standard 16-inch wheels and low rolling resistance tires, and a Technology package which includes 17-inch rims. The Technology package adds $5000 to the hybrid’s base price. All models carry a $750 delivery charge.

The Optima Hybrid carries 10 year/100,000 mile warranty for all components, including the battery. The replacement interval for the battery pack is 10 years or 150,000 miles: significantly longer than some competitive products.

Standard comfort and convenience options on the upscale Technology grade include dual-zone climate controls, satellite radio, Bluetooth interface, push button start, a power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar control and a rearview backup camera. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Honda CR-Z EX

Hybrid sport coupe is red hot and raging green

By Nina Russin

Konig Wheels 2011 Honda CR-Z

Power comes from Honda’s 113-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a 13-horsepower electric motor. Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual and continuously-variable automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Three modes of operation allow the driver to economize when power demands are low, and enjoy exceptional power off the line in Sport mode. A Normal mode compromises between the Eco and Sport modes for a combination of fuel economy and performance.

Base price for the upscale EX model with navigation is $23,210, not including the $750 delivery charge. A base grade with the manual transmission starts under $20,000, meeting the criteria for our urban category. Honda includes the safety, comfort and convenience features most buyers want in the MSRP, sparing them the confusion of wading through option packages.

Convenience features on the test car include the hard-drive navigation system with voice recognition, 360-watt audio system, auxiliary and USB ports, leather wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth interface, automatic climate control, a digital information display and cruise control. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Prius technology in a family sedan

By Nina Russin

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Camry has never been the flashiest car on the road, nor the most expensive. Its long-lived popularity stems from reliability. Toyota’s midsized sedan is the Zen master of the automotive world, going about its daily tasks with an endearing lack of presumption.

Buyers who want to leave a better world for their children will find even more to love in the Camry Hybrid. Toyota uses the same hybrid synergy drive system found in the Prius to shrink the Camry’s environmental footprint. Average fuel economy for the Camry Hybrid is 33 miles per gallon. The four and six-cylinder gasoline Camrys average 26 and 23 miles-per-gallon respectively.

Base price for the Camry Hybrid is $26,400, not including a $750 destination fee. The hybrid sedan is considerably more expensive than the base four-cylinder model, which starts at $19,720. Product planners equip the Camry Hybrid with similar comfort and convenience features to a mid-grade gasoline model.

Options on the 2011 test car include leather upholstery ($1295), heated front seats and outside mirrors ($470), front fog lamps ($130) a carpeting and trunk mat set ($200), rear bumper appliqué ($69) and fancier door sills ($179). A navigation package also adds 16-inch alloy wheels, an audio upgrade with satellite radio, USB port, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, and an integrated backup camera ($2960), bringing the price as tested to $32,453. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

Electrification and a slightly sunnier industry forecast

By Nina Russin

Jaguar C-X75 Reveal

As the first major North American auto show of the season, Los Angeles is also the place where automakers report on the state of the market. While the industry has yet to return to 2008 sales levels, traffic into the showrooms appears to be on the upswing. Land Rover reported that its US sales were up 23 percent year-over-year, thanks to the success of the new LR4.

Mercedes-Benz also enjoyed a spike in sales, up twenty percent for the first three quarters of 2010 compared to last year.

Sales for the all-new Honda Odyssey are up 52 percent compared to the outgoing model, while overall sales for October are up 20 percent year-over year.

Korean automaker Kia set sales records seven out of ten month in 2010, thanks to the popularity of its US built Sorento. Sorento sales have exceeded 100,000 units since the roll-out: a first for the brand. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Lexus CT 200h

Compact hybrid sedan makes Lexus luxury affordable

By Nina Russin

2011 Lexus CT 200h

The CT 200h is Lexus’ second hybrid-only model, following on the heels of the HS 250h sedan. The CT uses the same hybrid synergy drivetrain as the Toyota Prius, averaging 42 miles-per-gallon in city and highway use. The platform is similar in size to the Toyota Corolla.

Power comes from a 1.8-liter gasoline engine rated at 98 horsepower and an 80 horsepower electric motor. Together, they produce 134 net horsepower. A continuously variable automatic transmission is standard.

The CT accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 9.8 seconds. Lexus opted for a nickel metal hydride battery pack in lieu of lithium due to concerns about flammability in lithium batteries.

Although the compact premium cars can be a challenge to market in North America, Lexus hopes the new CT will entice current Prius owners who want to move up to a luxury vehicle.

Only one grade of the CT comes stateside, since Lexus anticipates a relatively small market. Sales projections prior to the spring 2011 launch are about 1000 units per month. The model includes standard keyless entry and start, 17-inch wheels, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth interface and Lexus safety connect. The car’s interior is constructed entirely from recyclable materials.

Buyers can customize their CTs with option packages that include a premium audio system, navigation with rearview camera, and leather upholstery in lieu of the standard NuLuxe. Dealers will also offer 28 factory accessories: the most for any Lexus model.

Although pricing has yet to be announced, the automaker says that the new sedan will be the most affordable in the Lexus lineup, with MSRP starting close to $30,000. Read the rest of this entry »