Cars, Cars & Cars » Green Cars

Italdesign Giugiaro Presents the Proton Concept

Heather — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:27:28 +0000

I do not remember a whole lot from chemistry, mainly because I was horrible at it and because I hated the subject — but I do remember quite a bit about protons and electrons. However, I don’t think my dry old chemistry professor had this particular concept in mind when he was droning on and on about protons.

“This,” by the way, is the Proton concept, which comes to us courtesy of Italdesign Giugiaro. It is part of an entire family of vehicles specifically designed to have a low environmental impact. They are to be created in conjunction with the Proton company, a manufacturer working out of Malaysia.

This is the first of those series, revolving around a hybrid drive system, and it will be unveiled at the motor show in Geneva.

Blow in the Wind with the Nissan Leaf

Heather — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:58:17 +0000

So how cute is this car? The Nissan Leaf was unveiled quite recently, at Nissan’s brand new headquarters, located in Japan.

The Leaf is a C segment, electrical powered vehicle capable of holding five passengers. Its platform is brand new as well.

It is characterized primarily by its front end, which is shaped like a vee. Reviewers thus far love its LED headlamps as well, which are long and slant upwards. They are made to split, thus causing airflow to redirect away from the mirrors on the door.

Inside the vehicle, the cabin has a floating center stack which has been classified as elegant and has a black lacquer finished — tres chi chi!

The New 2010 Mazda CX-7 MZR-CD!

Heather — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:22:32 +0000

When I think of green cars – the first company in my head always is Toyota. While that is my default company, the next company that I usually think of is Ford and Mazda is not a company that I usually think about for hybrid cars. However, the brand new and redesigned 2010 Mazda CX-7 MZR-CD is slowly but surely emerging as one of the premium cars that is green. This is the first Japanese brand diesel that will feature a selective catalytic reduction system.

What this means is that it will use a urea injection to convert NOx emissions to nitrogen and water, which is honestly the best thing for the environment. It is a different approach, but it is an approach that I think that the 2010 Mazda CX-7 MZR-CD is taking for a good reason. The great thing about this particular car is that we are getting a sneak peak, for this beauty is not supposed to debut until next month!

So if you want a brand new car that is a little on the greener side, the 2010 Mazda CX-7 MZR-CD is going to be the car for you!

Congress Could Pay for Your Clunker

Heather — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:22:42 +0000

You know that clunker that is sitting in your backyard, taking up space (and dripping various car fluids) in your driveway, or cluttering up your garage? Well, let us just say that Congress would not only help you get rid of it, but they would pay you for it in the bargain — would you take advantage of that?

Because not only is it happening, there is talk of having the unique, one of a kind cash for gas guzzlers program extended to early fall, as long as the program which is currently in place ends up being successful.

The program has an amazing one billion dollars worth of funding, in the hopes of covering about two hundred and fifty thousand gas guzzling clunker vehicles. The program will begin officially within the next thirty days or so.

Incentive for Ditching Gas Guzzlers

Heather — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:29:44 +0000

Good news for Americans who have gas guzzling vehicles they are eager to get rid of, but who may not be able to afford a trade in. The House of Representatives has just approved new legislation known as “cash for clunkers.” It may allow people buying a new car to receive an incentive of up to $4,500 if they will trade in a gas guzzling vehicle for a more fuel efficient one.

There are some strings, of course — aren’t their always? For instance, to qualify for the trade in, a vehicle has to be rated at eighteen miles per gallon and absolutely no more than that. However, that is good new for people who own vans, trucks, or SUVs. If a vehicle gets four miles per gallon more, at least, the owner will get a $3,500 voucher. For cars that get ten miles per gallon more, owners are eligible for an additional thousand dollars.

Natural Cruising with Toyota Camry

Louis — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:42:41 +0000

The Los Angeles Auto Show became the ultimate event to be as Toyota unleashed its natural gas concept for its own Camry series.

With all the consumer hype on the rising costs of gasoline, Toyota offered an alternative through its Camry hybrid concept. The automobile company’s brainchild fell into the second category at the said auto show last Wednesday.

The hybrid edition of Toyota Camry runs on a 2.4 liter Toyota Hybrid Synergy four-cylinder engine. Instead of using the traditional system for gasoline engines, Toyota replaced the engine’s compression system with the one that uses Compressed Natural Gas or CNG. Despite the change, the unit still boasts off a 170 horsepower rate.

The concept amazed participants when they learned that the unit does not even use a drop of gasoline to work. The hybrid Toyota Camry recorded a 33 mpg fuel economy rating.

Wondering where in the unit does one put the reserve CNG? Two tanks of the said alternative gas are installed on the storage space located near the area for spare tires. The tanks carry an approximately 8-gallons worth of regular gasoline.

Hybrids and fuel economy are not entirely new ideas for Toyota. As a matter of fact, the company has had a program on natural gas in California since 1999. Toyota, however, stashed the program due to the lack of refueling structures. The company opted to revive the said program after learning that almost half of the 1,000 natural gasoline stations in the country are serving the public.

Car enthusiasts present in the event also remarked that they first saw the hybrid Toyota Camry at the Sustainable Mobility Seminar of the automobile company last fall.