2013 Nissan Altima Offers Competive Mileage To Former Altima Hybrid

Nissan may have canceled its Altima Hybrid after having only limited commitment to it, and in light of its enthusiasm for all-electric vehicles, but it also now says its new gasoline-only Altima earns better highway mileage than the hybrid, and just two mpg less combined.

Having received EPA certification and reporting its 2013 Altimas are shipping for deliveries later this month, Nissan says the Altima with 2.5-liter four cylinder engine and new Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission will offer 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 31 overall. This contrasts with the outgoing 2011 hybrid that was EPA rated at 33 mpg in all three categories.

"This is a huge day for the Nissan brand as we ramp up production and begin shipping the new, fuel-efficient Altimas to our dealers," said Bill Krueger, vice chairman, Nissan Americas. "The new Altima is a game-changer for the mid-size market and our dealers can't wait to share it with our customers."

The new Altimas are being built at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tenn. plant, and production also just began at its second assembly plant in Canton. Miss. Nissan is aiming squarely at the Toyota Camry lineup and has said by year's end, both its plants will be operating three shifts “to maximize production of the country's second best-selling car.”

Nissan is gauging interest from a few indicators including 1.5 million visitors to a dedicated pre-order Web site from which 30,000 have said they are fully interested in the new Altima.

Customers who pre-order through this online venue are being offered free three-year scheduled maintenance which Nissan says is a $700 value.

 

Features beyond competitive mileage Nissan also promises include:

• Ride comfort, control and fun-to-drive demeanor, including better 0 - 60 mph acceleration than other top-selling mid-size sedans as demonstrated in independent third party testing

• Available Next-generation Safety Shield Technologies, including Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Moving Object Detection (MOD) systems using an innovative single rear camera

• Easy-Fill Tire Alert, which sounds the car horn to notify a person filling a tire with air when the tire reaches recommended tire pressure - no gauge needed

• Headlights that automatically switch on when the windshield wipers are in use

• Windshield wipers that park themselves off the windshield when the vehicle is turned off with the wipers on and in mid-cycle

• Premium exterior styling with a powerful presence and improved aerodynamics

• Upscale interior rivaling premium luxury sedans, including NASA-inspired "zero-gravity" seats, an Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display and BOSE® Premium Audio System

• Standard Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone system and Streaming Audio via Bluetooth®

• Available NissanConnectSM and NissanConnectSM Navigation with a suite of Bluetooth® phone connectivity features, including hands-free text message integration, Pandora® playback, real-time Google® POI search and more

• Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display with 4-inch color screen standard on every model, which is customizable, easy-to-use and integrates key information right in front of the driver

• World-first multi-link rear suspension with connect bushings and Sachs damper to deliver outstanding handling

• Active Understeer Control, which uses advanced electronic stability control algorithms to improve cornering and provide a more confident driving experience

The 2013 Altima will be available for delivery later this month and will start at $21,500.

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GM Insider Says 2014 Chevy Volt Will Get a New Engine

Just days after GM might have slightly cannibalized Chevy Volt sales for the next couple of months by announcing a tweaked battery and other updates due in August, an insider reportedly let the cat out of the bag that 2.0-liter turbo engine will be introduced by summer 2013 for the 2014 model.

Since their respective launches, the extended-range electric Volt and Opel/Vauxhall Ampera siblings have relied on an 83-horsepower 1.4-liter generator mated to electric propulsion for a combined 149 horsepower, 273-pound-feet torque. But that four cylinder is “definitely not” going to make it to 2014, according to an anonymous source at GM speaking to Inside EVs.

The 1.4 was reportedly always considered a compromise pressed into service at a time of limited/frozen budgets when GM was undergoing bankruptcy restructuring. If the info leak is correct, the now better-funded company will select for the gasoline portion of the powertrain something closer in general specification to the 260-horsepower, 2.0-liter (GM-sourced) turbo engine Fisker uses in the Karma – although a better-engineered design.

The 2.0-liter Ecotec Turbo in question – currently rated at between 220-270 horsepower – has “been thoroughly vetted” and “will most likely” be the 2014 replacement, said Inside EVs today.

This more potent powerplant would possibly also call for an upgraded electric motor and the improved gas-electric powertrain would also be used in the pending Cadillac ELR which GM has said will rely on the Volt’s powertrain, and which is positioned as a sleek, high-line corporate halo.

No speculation/news by the GM insider was reported as to possible updates to the 2014 Volt’s battery pack, or what should be specifically expected regarding range, or other performance parameters from the more powerful powertrain.

In any event, since it has also been leaked that the Cadillac ELR will launch in 2014, updating the Volt’s powertrain for that year would make all the more sense to fit with the sporty image portrayed by the extended-range Caddy that would compete with Fisker's six-figure extended-range Karma.

The 2.0-liter Ecotec believed to be in the most-favored status at the moment will be used in the pending Buick Verano as well, and Inside EVs quoted GM Global Chief engineer for Ecotec engines, Mike Anderson, who praised the engine that already sees duty in the Buick Regal GS.

“Our continuously variable valve timing is tuned to work in tandem with direct injection and twin scroll turbocharging to achieve optimum fuel economy, lower emissions, and instant performance when needed,” he said. “Having 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) of torque available over a wide range of engine speeds makes for a very exciting driving experience.”

Of course, if utilized the in the Volt, Ampera siblings, and ELR, the 2.0 Ecotec Turbo engine that was awarded by WardsAuto as one its “10 Best Engines,” would be tuned for use as a generator for the plug-in cars. It nonetheless promises to spice up performance, or it could be optimized to help extend range, or offer a combination of both.

As would be expected, GM refused to confirm or deny truth of the news leak of the 2014 engine, citing the usual policy of not commenting on future product, so this is officially a rumor until further notice.

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2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Tops Consumer Award’s Hybrid Category

Winners of this year’s Autobytel & AutoPacific Consumer Awards have been released and the top-rated hybrid car winner is the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

This is the 16th edition of this annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards.

Based solely on input from actual owners—more than 75,000 of them—taken during the first quarter of the year, AutoPacific’s 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSAs) provide a unique look at which vehicles provide the most satisfying overall ownership experience. Many other awards focus solely on specific aspects of that experience, or the subjective opinions of the media, and can’t identify the vehicles that really satisfy real drivers.

For example, when looking at the top-rated hybrid car in this year’s VSAs, the winner wasn’t the one with the absolute highest mpg ratings. Yes, the main reason people buy hybrids is to save on fuel costs, but, at this stage in the game, people expect that plus all the benefits found in a traditionally powered vehicle, too. And that’s exactly what they get in this year’s highest-rated hybrid car, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Part of the equation is Hyundai’s satisfying price tag of $25,850 that is the lowest MSRP of any hybrid mid-size sedan on the market.

The Sonata Hybrid also delivers the highest net horsepower in its class, and, thanks to Hyundai’s “Blue Drive” hybrid powertrain, EPA marks of up to 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.

Another Blue Drive benefit comes from the system’s advanced battery technology that relies on polymer gel electrolytes instead of the typical nickel-metal hydride setup. In plain English, the result is a battery that is 25 percent lighter, takes up 40 percent less space, delivers 10 percent better efficiency and can maintain available power for 1.7 times longer than traditional hybrid batteries.

An impressive list of standard content also contributed to the vehicle’s recognition as the highest-rated hybrid car in the 2012 VSAs.

Competitors included the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which was completely redesigned for the 2012 model year, as well as two luxury choices: The Buick LaCrosse eAssist and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The highest-rated dedicated hybrid was the Lexus CT 200h, which tied the Camry Hybrid for second place in the segment.

The most satisfying EV was the Chevrolet Volt, coming in just a few points behind the Buick and Lincoln.

In the Hybrid SUV category, the 2012 Lexus RX 450h was named the top-rated hybrid truck. Showing the diversity of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, all of the entrants in the hybrid truck category used this advanced technology, but while the 2012 Lexus RX 450h.

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2013-2014 Ford Vehicles

 

The Ford Motor Company has been working hard under the watchful eye of company CEO Alan Mulally. Mulally who came from Boeing and turned that company around is doing the same for Ford and as the company is producing some very impressive vehicles still were not getting the respect from consumer testing companies. The biggest issue was from the Ford Mytouch infotainment center that had issues such as the stagnant touchscreen that had delays that made you want to put your fist through the screen. There were also problems with transmissions in vehicles such as the Fiesta and Focus as well as the Mustang that were having issues.

So far it seems the board has addressed all of these problems with updates to their Ford Mytouch infotainment center as well as fixes for any faulty transmissions. As a result the company is finally starting to get some respect from consumer testing facilities. Ford has the engineering team to now be a top contender for auto manufacturers and it looks like they’re well on their way. Ford is making great strides in order to make their vehicles stand out on top. See that Ford’s looking to put a turbo on anything and engine in order to produce more horsepower from a smaller displacement engine as well as work on shedding weight. As recently stated by Ford, they would work with DuPont in order to mass-produce carbon fiber components for the vehicles. The carbon fiber components are stronger and much lighter in weight than steel but Ford currently uses, so much so that Ford estimates around 750 pounds being dropped from each of the vehicles in its lineup.

Now with the introduction of the new Ford Fusion, the company looks to rally around the designs of the new car and with designs and technology Ford looks to try and establish itself as building a better vehicle than Toyota. In order for them to do this they will need their vehicles to be brilliant as there are still several individuals that have a bad taste in their mouth from previous car models just a few years ago.

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Four Million Hybrids For Toyota

Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced its global hybrid vehicle sales totaled four million units, as of April 2012.

Toyota currently sells 18 hybrid passenger vehicles in 80 countries and regions around the world. This year, hybrid vehicle accounted for 15 percent of TMC’s global vehicle sales. The original Prius, Toyota’s first hybrid passenger car, went on sale in Japan in 1997. Hybrid technology was later introduced to the U.S. in 2000.

Since then, the Toyota Division of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A. sold 1.5 million hybrid vehicles in the U.S., accounting for 65 percent of all hybrid vehicles sold in the region. Prius, which is now becoming a brand, comprises half of all hybrids on the road in the U.S. with sales totaling 1.2 million units through April 2012.

The expansion of the Prius has been successful in the U.S. since the Prius V was introduced to the market in November 2011, followed by the Prius C and Prius Plug-in during the first quarter 2012. In that time, Prius family sold 60,859 units in the U.S.

In addition to the Prius Family, Toyota’s other U.S. hybrid models include versions of the Camry and Highlander, which feature larger displacement applications of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Toyota calculates that the total number of its hybrid vehicles sold globally since 1997 contributed to approximately 26 million fewer tons of C02 emissions than would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

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Study Find Auto Execs Confident In Full Hybrid Powertrains

A new wave of optimism is overtaking the U.S. auto industry as it rebounds from the depths of the recession and a brutal restructuring, according to Booz & Company's second annual U.S. Automotive Industry Survey and Confidence Index.

In February and March of 2012, Booz & Company surveyed more than 200 executives from more than 75 automotive vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

Key findings include:

• Relative to last year, industry executives are significantly more bullish on the state of the automotive industry; 94 percent of OEMs and 92 percent of suppliers described it as either "somewhat better" or "much better" than last year.

• Relative to 2011, respondents are significantly more confident in the long-term prospects of full hybrid powertrains (70 percent more confident than last year) and mild hybrid powertrains (65 percent), but less confident in the future adoption of plug-in hybrid (46 percent), battery electric (29 percent), and fuel-cell electric powertrains (25 percent).

• Automotive executives cite Hyundai/Kia (88 percent) and Volkswagen/Audi (72 percent) as the OEMs most likely to grow market share over the next five years.

• 86 percent of supplier executives and 72 percent of OEM executives say the Detroit Three will maintain or grow market share next year.

• 53 percent of respondents project a U.S. market share of 4 percent or more for Chinese OEMs by 2020.

• With continued government support, 57 percent of respondents believe that alternative powertrains will command more than 10 percent of the market by 2020. However, without continued government support, only 30 percent of respondents have the same expectation.

• 78 percent of OEM respondents say they are either holding the line on incentives or significantly reducing them.

• 34 percent of suppliers and 50 percent of OEMs say cuts in capacity have left them constrained.

• 55 percent of OEMs and 42 percent of suppliers say they were impacted by the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, demonstrating how global the U.S. auto supply chain is today.

Four key factors emerged from the survey that will shape the automotive industry in the next two years.

• Reemergence of Fundamentals: The U.S. auto industry has learned the tough lessons of recession-driven restructuring, and this is driving a "back to basics" approach focused on strengthening balance sheets, producing excellent vehicles, and not letting supply get ahead of demand.

• Shifting Demand Centers: Emerging markets are gaining steam, and all automakers need to learn how to deal with different economies, consumers, and competitors.

• Powertrain and Technology Uncertainty: Alternative powertrains are still in play, but their success depends largely on government support and fuel prices. The industry is moving toward fully digital, connected cars, but automakers are struggling to decide what to place their technology bets on, and how.

• Interconnected Supply Chain: The unfortunate events of the Japanese tsunami and floods in Thailand brought home the interconnectedness of the global supply chain; 92 percent of OEMs and 85 percent of suppliers say they are seeking ways to mitigate these risks in the future.

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Honda to Assemble Fit Hybrids in Thailand

Honda Motor Co. has made plans to start assembly of Fit Hybrid in Thailand. Also known as the Jazz, this follows previous announcements of Fit/Jazz production expansion, which has seen a new facility open in China to assemble conventional examples, including those destined for other export markets.

To date the Fit has been manufactured exclusively in Japan and it is Honda’s most popular hybrid car; last year some 86,000 examples were sold – mostly in Europe, Japan and the U.S. By adding Fit/Jazz hybrid assembly overseas, Honda hopes to limit the effect of a strengthening yen on profit margins.

A facility in Ayutthaya Province, in the central plains of Thailand has been chosen as the assembly plant for the Fit/Jazz Hybrids, which – initially at least – will be built from Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits. Key components such as the electric motors, the car’s battery system and 1.3-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine will be sourced from Japan. The opening of the Thai facility marks the very first time that Honda hybrid vehicles have been assembled in Asia, outside of Japan.

Besides attempting to minimize exchange rate issues, Fit Hybrid production was also selected for assembly in central Thailand, with the intention of supplying cars to neighboring countries. This will no doubt significantly reduce shipping and logistics issues associated with exporting complete vehicles from the Home Islands.

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Diesel Hybrid Vehicles

We know that diesel vehicles are efficient and usually have a great life span allowing several years of use while still maintaining great overall mileage. Today we see that newly designed diesel engines are running cleaner and more efficient than ever. The same goes for hybrid technology as we see that vehicles are becoming more efficient and thanks to more durable batteries, we are getting more life out of the hybrid battery packs. In fact the battery packs are becoming so durable the companies such as Hyundai are giving a lifetime warranty on the battery packs of their hybrid vehicles. So it’s only a matter time before someone would try to merge a diesel and hybrid powertrain therefore producing a highly efficient vehicle.

At the 2012 Geneva Auto Show, Volkswagen introduced their off-road concept vehicle that utilized a diesel-hybrid powertrain. The vehicle had a turbocharged 1.8 L diesel engine mated to an electric assisted motor and together Volkswagen claims up to 131 miles per gallon. They also claim that the 4000 pound vehicle can get from 0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds. Those results are pretty stunning and since this was a concept, you could pretty much say whatever you wanted to about your product because nobody would be able to drive it. Yet Volkswagen has already been caught testing another diesel-hybrid yet in a car form, sort of.

Volkswagen has been working on a diesel-hybrid car under the name of XL1. The 2014 Volkswagen XL1 uses a 800cc Turbo-diesel engine to produce less than 50 horse power but around 89 pound feet of torque. Then the 27 horse power electric motor assists the diesel engine helping to push the 1749 pound car. Volkswagen is claiming up to 235 miles per gallon with this ultra light and streamlined vehicle. With so little power it appears that the vehicle won’t be winning you any races unless you’re going for extreme distance. But what is neat about these Volkswagens the fact that the company is working on developing highly efficient vehicles by using off-the-shelf technology. So therefore if we can simply get Americans to start purchasing diesel vehicles then we should see some diesel-electric vehicle development being driven by other manufacturers.

We see the trains today offer incredible efficiency thanks to diesel generators producing electricity in order to power the locomotive. So why couldn’t we do this with heavy-duty trucks as well as commercial grade vehicles therefore producing much better fuel efficiency and saving the business owner’s a fortune in fuel bills. Either way it looks though that Volkswagen is making headway with the technology and hopefully we will see other companies catch on and start producing diesel-hybrid vehicles. For 2013 we will start to see diesels coming into American markets but still all depends whether the vehicles sell or not.

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