Quantcast
Channel: Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Viewing all 70 articles
Browse latest View live

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt Will Be Sleeker and Cheaper

0
0
2016 Chevrolet Volt

Source: Chevrolet

If there are two themes circulating around the automotive world to start 2015, it’s that things things are going autonomous, and things are going electric. For one already-established player in the hybrid-electric segment, this year means that it’s time to get hyped about a significant retooling and redesign.

For the 2016 Chevrolet Volt overhaul, GM evidently went back to the drawing board. The first-generation Volt suffered from some serious issues: Specifically, it was way too expensive, only had seating for four people, and had a different look that evidently didn’t resonate with many consumers. That, coupled with some other gripes, left Chevy and its Volt on a second-tier in the hybrid and EV arms race. With the new Volt, however, it seems that the company is taking a serious swing at reinventing its leading hybrid sedan.

“The 2016 Chevrolet Volt provides our owners with a no-compromise electric driving experience,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America. “We believe our engineering prowess combined with data from thousands of customers allows us to deliver the most capable plug-in vehicle in the industry.”

We had an idea of what to expect when the new Volt was finally unveiled, but now everything is confirmed: It will be 12% more efficient and 100 pounds lighter than its predecessor.

The two-motor design will allow for 19% more power and 7% better acceleration, going from zero to 30 miles per hour in 2.6 seconds, and to 60 miles per hour in 8.4 seconds. Overall, the Volt’s range will allow for trips of over 400 miles between fill-ups (up from 380), with an electric-only range of 50 miles, using a second-generation Voltec propulsion system. The drivetrain will also be able to deliver 294 pound-feet of torque and 149 horsepower using the new 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine — which is slightly bigger than the current Volt’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder.

“Volt owners complete more than 80% of their trips without using a drop of gasoline and they tell us they love the electric driving experience,” said Andrew Farah, the vehicle’s chief engineer. “Putting that experience at the center of the new Voltec system’s development helped us improve range, while also making the new Volt more fun to drive. We established a precedent when the original Voltec propulsion system debuted and this newest iteration sets the EV technology bar even higher.”

A major issue among many consumers was the fact that the first-gen Volt could only seat four, putting it at a disadvantage among its rivals. Previously, the car could only fit four due to the way the battery pack was engineered. With the rehashed model, the battery has been re-situated and re-engineered, allowing not only for better performance, but also for additional design enhancements, like an extra seat.

2016 Chevrolet Volt

Source: Chevrolet

Aside from the mechanical and interior differences between the old and new Volt, the biggest difference is in the obvious external redesign that has resulted in a sleeker aesthetic. The result? A vehicle that seems to resemble a Honda Civic more so than the first-generation Volt. What truly makes the Volt’s redesign significant is that it marks the first time a major plug-in hybrid vehicle has undergone a serious facelift, as Autoblog points out.

In all, the new Volt looks much more likely to put up a serious threat to other competitors in its segment — at least much more so than the first-generation Volt did. The car is becoming lighter and sexier, and the performance has been augmented as well. But perhaps the most important aspect that will make the Volt a more viable option for consumers is the price. We’ve already seen Chevy lower the current Volt’s price by a significant amount to make it more competitive, and it was obvious that that was holding it back.

The new Volt’s asking price? It’s expected to retail for around $10,000 less than the original, putting it in the $25,000 range, though word has not come down from official channels. This would make a good deal of sense, and put the Volt right into the ring with rivals like the Toyota Prius, which costs roughly $24,000, and the Honda Accord Hybrid, which costs $29,300.

With a new design, drivetrain, interior, and flashy new price point, it’s clear Chevy really wants to hit a home run with the second-generation Volt. In 2014, the car’s sales suffered an 18.6% drop-off from 2013, as dealers were only able to move around 18,800 models from their lots. That’s a trend that will need to turn around, otherwise the Volt may find itself following models like the Cobalt and TrailBlazer out the door.

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

Chevrolet Bolt Starts the Clock on Mainstream Electric Vehicles in U.S.

0
0
cq5dam.web.1280.1280 (1)

Source: General Motors

General Motors made a huge statement when it introduced the Chevy Bolt EV concept car at the Detroit Auto Show. With a projected range of 200 miles, a post-rebate price of $30,000, and the looks of a BMW i3, Chevrolet has done some great work in the lab. If it indeed arrives (as rumored) in 2017, GM may be the first automaker with a long-range, affordable solution on the market. However, other automakers are preparing their own answers. Let the clock start ticking on mainstream electric vehicle adoption in the U.S.

Chevrolet Bolt EV concept

To get started with the Bolt, we’ll just list the specs as GM explained them and what we see in the prototype itself. Chevy’s Bolt EV will have:

  • 200 miles of electric range, with no gas engine backup
  • A sticker price near $37,500, which post-rebate would cost consumers near $30,000 (provided the credits are available in 2017)
  • 4 seats
  • A mystery powertrain that will be based on the mini Chevy Spark EV (140 horsepower, 327 pound-feet of torque)
  • Tech-heavy interior features like a 10-inch touchscreen

Since GM is still a ways from delivering a production version of this mass-market electric vehicle, everything has to be taken with a grain of salt. In its press release, Chevy said the Bolt is “designed to offer more than 200 miles of range starting around $30,000″ with a target of reaching “all 50 states and many global markets.” Dates and timelines are conspicuously absent. Nonetheless, one could say GM has fired the first shot in the battle for the mainstream EV market.

2015 Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept all electric vehicle – glass roof

Source: General Motors

…And electric vehicles for all

To look at the Bolt EV concept in profile, you might mistake it for the BMW i3. Chevy’s concept shares the same snub-nosed design as the i3 and not so subtly borrows similar wheels and color that BMW trotted out with its first electric car. To hear about the Bolt’s range and price point, you might mistake it for the Model 3 Tesla has been developing.

Bolt

Source: General Motors

You would be right on both counts, and we give credit to GM for its approach. The BMW i3 is selling well and there has been incredible enthusiasm for the Tesla Model 3 (shooting for around $35,000 pre-incentives), so why not show the world the General is in the game? Autoblog quotes one GM executive saying that very thing at the Bolt reveal in Detroit.

“This is us [GM] bragging that we can do this kind of car.”

Of course, the Bolt will have to hit these markers and provide competition on the performance front to win the day. As everyone has seen, wimpy EVs do not sell, and people will gladly invest more in a BMW or Tesla to get a more captivating car. The other big question is whether this holy grail of an EV will make it to market by 2017, and how the playing field will look by that date.

Bolt, Model 3, and other future EVs

So it’s GM versus Tesla in a head-to-head battle for the mainstream EV market, right? Well, not really. By the time the Bolt EV makes it to market (or the Model 3 before it), other electric vehicles will be fast approaching, if not already available. Nissan has already claimed it will have the goods to take electric range off the table in the coming years, and Volkswagen agreed, adding that an affordable 300-mile EV should be possible by 2020.

2015 Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept all electric vehicle – rear exterior

Source: General Motors

We’ll happily cross that bridge (i.e., to 300 miles of electric range) when we come to it. For now, the clock has officially started on 200-mile EVs that would end range anxiety for most Americans and penetrate the U.S. auto market on a significant level, provided they cost about as much as a small premium sedan.

(Electric vehicle credits have an expiration of 200,000 vehicles per automaker, so it may need legislation or luck to expand that in the future. With a Republican-led Congress, such things are far from guaranteed.)

Despite the fact you might see preposterous “R.I.P Tesla” headlines at some of the investing websites, you might say the Bolt’s introduction was a stroke of good fortune for Elon Musk’s team in Fremont. Just like Toyota wants other automakers to join the hydrogen fuel cell movement, the rising EV tide will raise all battery-powered (land) ships, especially the most hyped electric car company on the planet.

A great day for Tesla?

GM has been studying Tesla since the late reign of Dan Akerson, and Tesla’s decision to open up its vehicle patents for free use was aimed at growing the electric vehicle industry as a whole. Tesla and Nissan have been investing heavily to get the charging infrastructure in place for their top-selling EVs. Getting the No. 2 automaker on board while No. 1 Toyota heads in the direction of fuel cell vehicles? Priceless for Tesla, Nissan, and any other automaker with an EV in the works.

For any U.S. citizen who considers current gas prices a brief stop on the way back to $3.75 per gallon, the release of the Bolt EV concept is also great news. In fact, General Motors’s decision to lay down the gauntlet with its 200-mile, $30,000 electric vehicle is a win for everyone concerned about toxic emissions.

Range will need to come off the table in the form of an affordable car to make electric vehicles truly viable in the U.S. and around the world. Of all car companies, GM is the one that can say it fired the first shots way back in 2015, out in old Motor City, U.S.A.

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

All-Electric Car Sales Sizzled in 2014

0
0

Source: Nissan

Enthusiasm surrounding all-electric vehicles appears to be getting infectious, because more and more Americans are opting go green than ever before. According to figures compiled by EV Obsession, sales of fully electric cars spiked by 58% in 2014, led once again by the Nissan Leaf. The Chevy Volt came in second place, and both Ford and BMW made ripples in the market, as well.

Possibly even more impressive than the 58% yearly jump are the electric-only sales reported for the month of December. EV Obsession reports that those numbers increased 79% during the final month of 2014, leaving the year on an excellent note and giving the auto industry a preview of what consumers may be buying throughout 2015. Though the models in terms of sales were not much of a surprise, there were a few cars that barely got any traction at all, much to the disappointment of EV Obsession writer Zach Shahan.

“I’m quite disappointed at initial Kia Soul EV, Mercedes B-Class Electric, and Volkswagen e-Golf sales,” Shahan writes. “Hopefully the companies behind those cars will be pushing them a lot more in 2015. Each of them could be a contender for a medal.”

Though there were some disappointments, it’s hard to deny the numbers: a 58% bump in overall sales for the market as a whole. But it’s important to keep in mind that the all-electric segment is still incredibly small. To illustrate, Nissan sold 30,200 Leaf models over 2014 in its entirety. In comparison, Ford sold nearly 754,000 F-150 pickup trucks. Granted, the F-150 is the best-selling car in America, but when you hold the Leaf’s numbers up against what the F-150 is able to do on the market, it’s clear just how far electric cars have to go.

Source: Chevrolet

Despite the relatively small size of the electric market, we have to give credit where credit is due. Autos Cheat Sheet previously unveiled the best-selling all-electric cars from 2014 with a top 10 list, and if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that the Nissan Leaf is carrying a big portion of the segment on its back.

The Leaf, as mentioned before sold more than 30,000 units in 2014 by Inside EVs’ numbers, vastly more than any other all-electric model. We previously wrote of the Leaf, “Not only did that represent a 33.57% increase over 2013 and the first time an EV sold 30K units; it also represented a sales record for every month of the year and a record for EV sales in the United States.”

Nissan’s all-electric car set another high-water mark for itself in December, making it the 23rd straight month in a row that it had broken its own sales record. Behind the Leaf was the Chevy Volt, which sold 18,805 units. The Volt has not been the big seller that Chevy was hoping for, but a 2016 redesign — featuring a fifth-seat and an augmented powertrain — should help it going forward.

Hot on the heels of those two models, we estimate that Tesla’s Model S was able to keep pace. Because Tesla doesn’t actually report monthly sales numbers, analysts are stuck more or less estimating what the company is shipping, and Inside EVs pegs that number at 17,300 for the year. The only other all-electric models that sold more than 10,000 units in 2014 were the Toyota Prius PHV and the Ford Fusion Energi.

While it’s clear that the Leaf is shouldering the load in terms of sales at this point for the all-electric segment, there are signs that others will pick up the pace. Again, Chevy’s redesigned and cheaper Volt is due out next year, and Tesla has a few projects in the works that should garner plenty of consumer attention. BMW’s i3 just spent its first year on the market and will likely see more sales in 2015. There are also a slew of new electrics from a number of automakers that have yet to be released.

Source: Toyota

While all-electric sales surged last year, green cars as a whole didn’t do so well. Hybrids, electrics, and diesel vehicle sales fell a total of 6.5% during 2014, much to the dismay of many green car advocates. There are several reasons that may have happened, and a lot of it likely has to do with the dramatic drop in the price of gas, which pushed many consumers to choose bigger, less-efficient models instead of hybrids or diesels.

SUV sales saw a spike as the price of gasoline dropped, but as NPR reports, automakers aren’t close to throwing in the towel on green cars, instead opting to take a long-term approach when conceiving their strategies going forward. “There’s no doubt that when you have these kinds of fundamentals in place that you open the door to bad behavior,” Scott Painter, CEO of TrueCar, told NPR. “When gasoline falls below $3, consumer interest in low-mile- or lower-mile-per-gallon vehicles, bigger vehicles, picks up.”

Cheap gasoline won’t be around forever, but there are some other threats that could steal some of the all-electric segment’s thunder. Notably, the introduction of fuel-cell vehicles like the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Tucson Fuel-Cell could sway some consumers away from all-electric vehicles and toward hydrogen power. The issue surrounding those vehicles, however, is that the infrastructure to support them, like refueling stations, are in limited supply and only in certain cities. Electric cars, on the other hand, can be recharged at home, or even incorporate solar cells (like Ford’s C-Max Energi Solar concept) to get back to 100%.

So in the face of incredibly cheap gasoline and fuel-cell technology, there’s reason to believe that electric car sales should only continue to increase, driven by the substantial momentum the segment gained in 2014. While it’s true that it still makes up a small fraction of the overall auto market, it’s clear that automakers seem to think electrics are where consumer tastes are shifting, and they are willing to invest to meet that rising demand.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

10 Future Cars That Are Worth Waiting For

0
0

It’s car show season, and that means the world’s premiere automotive companies are hitting the circuit while firing salvo after salvo of PR blasts, panel discussions, and, of course, offering sneak peeks or unveiling new models for the first time publicly. Needless to say, there’s an awful lot going on in the world of cars, and it makes it easy for some of the most exciting new vehicles to get lost in the shuffle.

Well fear not, for Autos Cheat Sheet has your back. With 2015 models already hitting the streets and 2016 models hot on their heels, we’ve combed through the best of the most recent auto shows to select a small handful of vehicles that, quite simply, we can’t wait to see for ourselves. This includes a hotly anticipated new SUV from Tesla, a new Mercedes, and several others from the likes of Honda, Toyota, and Chevrolet.

So which 10 models do we deem to be 2015’s and 2016’s most anticipated? Read on to find out.

Source: Ford

1. 2016 Ford Focus RS

As a part of Ford’s new, well, focus, on performance, the company’s trusty commuter car is getting a more muscular makeover. The Ford Focus RS — a car that had a short lifespan several years back, but never in the States — is being reborn for 2016. Outpacing the Focus ST, the new RS variant will boast a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, providing more than 315 horsepower, along with standard all-wheel drive. Expect the new Focus RS to go head-to-head with Volkswagen’s Golf R and garner a lot of attention upon its initial release early next year.

David McNew/Getty Images

2. 2016 Honda HR-V

Considering how successful Honda’s Pilot and CR-V offerings have been, why not add another SUV to the mix? That’s precisely what the Japanese auto giant plans to do in 2016, with the all-new HR-V. The HR-V will be small; in fact, it will be built on the Honda Fit platform, putting it in the same market segment as the Nissan Juke and Kia Soul. That size gives it some big advantages over larger SUVs, including class-leading fuel economy of up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway. It also employs more traditional SUV aesthetics than its future rivals, which may or may not play in the vehicle’s favor upon release next year.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

3. 2015 Jeep Renegade

The newest addition to the Jeep SUV lineup is the Renegade, a smaller and shinier offshoot of its corporate siblings like the Cherokee and Wrangler. The Renegade instantly becomes the smallest vehicle offered by the Jeep brand, bumping the Compass out of the lineup. Four trims will be available, each with a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline four that produces 160 horsepower, along with a 4×4 powertrain. If you wanted the offroad capabilities of a Cherokee or Wrangler in a smaller package, the Renegade fills the niche perfectly.

David Becker/Getty Images

4. 2016 Toyota Mirai

There’s been a lot of hullabaloo around the new Toyota Mirai, the first fuel-cell vehicle from Toyota. The Mirai is exciting for a number of reasons, chief among them the fact that it will be the first fuel-cell vehicle to get a nationwide launch. The vehicle itself took more than two decades to come to fruition, and Toyota is hoping the FCV revolution can get a kickstart from the Mirai much like the hybrid segment received from the Prius a decade and a half ago.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

5. 2016 Nissan Titan XD

If there was one truck on the market that was in desperate need of a rehash, it was the Nissan Titan. Luckily, Nissan’s brass gave the project the green light, and we are about to see the company’s hard work hit the open market in the form of the new Titan XD. This is the first new Titan in more than a decade, and Nissan hopes it will fill the gap between full-size and heavy-duty pickups. It will be available with a 5.0-liter Cummins diesel engine, making 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque. The question going into 2016 is how well it will do against a slate of incredibly tough competition from Ford, GM, Ram, and Toyota.

Source: Tesla

6. 2016 Tesla Model X

Perhaps the most anticipated vehicle on our list, Tesla’s Model X SUV has had luxury auto fans salivating for quite a long time now. Considering the success — both commercially and critically — of the the Model S, big things are expected from the Model X. It will be the first production all-electric SUV, with three rows of seats and a similar powertrain to the near range-topping Model S 85D. Oh, and it will be tow-capable, as well. There are still a lot of unknowns with the Model X, but it’s due late this year or in early 2016, so the wait is almost over.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

7. 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C

If you missed Alfa Romeo, your cries are being answered. The 4C is making its comeback to the U.S. and will be the only Alfa Romeo model available in America — for now. To get one, you’ll need to visit Maserati and Ferrari showrooms, where it will be on sale at a starting price of about $55,000. However, the 4C will be a hot commodity, as only 1,200 per year will be imported to the States. With a turbocharged 1.8 liter inline-four that produces 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, they’ll probably go fast, too.

Source: Chevrolet

8. 2016 Chevrolet Volt

Chevy is taking another shot at the hybrid segment with the freshly redesigned 2016 Volt. The car is getting a full facelift and will include a number of improvements over the first generation, including seating for five. Also, the new aesthetics give the car a more mainstream look that’s closer to that of rivals from Honda or Toyota. Perhaps most importantly, the new Volt will be priced much more competitively, around $25,000 or so. Add that on to an improved all-electric range and a more efficient battery pack, and Chevy may have a winner on their hands.

Source: Mercedes

9. 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT S

It doesn’t get much more sexy than this. For 2016, Mercedes is set to roll out the new AMG GT S, a luxury vehicle that incorporates muscle car elements with explosive results. If you want performance, the AMG GT S has it. A 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine allows for top speeds of up to 193 miles per hour and can spring from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. The one downside? It’ll probably cost a pretty penny. Expect to see the AMG GT S hit dealerships this spring with a price tag somewhere between $150,000 and $175,000.

Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

10. 2016 Buick Cascada

Buick has been doing fairly well for itself lately, and as a result, the brand is expanding with the new Cascada in 2016. The Cascada will be Buick’s first convertible in a quarter-century and will be built based on the existing Opel Cascada, which is on sale in Europe and also in Australia. A 1.6-liter turbo-four engine will provide drivers with 200 horsepower, and pricing is expected to be very reasonable at around $30,000.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

Can a $9,000 Price Drop Save the Cadillac ELR?

0
0

Source: Cadillac

Hoping to improve sales, Cadillac has announced that the ELR is receiving a refresh for 2016. Updates to the exterior appear to be limited to an updated grille that includes Cadillac’s new badge, but other than that, the design stays essentially the same. The ELR was already a good-looking car, so there wasn’t much need to change a lot. Instead, Cadillac spent its money improving nearly everything else about the car.

The most notable improvement is not to the car itself, but rather to the price tag. The updated ELR receives a new MSRP of $65,995, which is just over $9,000 less than the original MSRP. With the $7,500 federal tax credit, that gives the new ELR a net price of $58,495. For a car that is receiving a whole host of upgrades, such a significant price drop is surprising. Then again, the new price is probably about what the ELR should have been sold for in the first place, so it’s mot likely a necessary reduction.

On top of being less expensive, the new ELR is less slow, too. Improvements to the hybrid drivetrain mean that it now makes 25% more power. That translates to a 1.5-second reduction in the ELR’s zero to 60 time, a speed that now clocks in at just 6.4 seconds. That’s a second slower than the slowest Tesla Model S, but it’s still a marked improvement over the original time. Its all-electric range is also improved, now allowing for up to 39 miles of driving. With the engine working as a generator, however, the ELR’s total range is stretched to 330 miles. Unlike the Tesla Model S, it doesn’t need to be recharged and can instead be refueled with conventional gasoline.

The already luxurious interior gets an update, too, now offering nicer materials like optional semi-aniline leather seats, a suede headliner, and suede trim. The instruments, infotainment system, and center console have been updated, while a number of optional features are now standard. That means it now comes with side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, and intelligent headlights. It also comes with lane change assist, and adaptive cruise control is available.

Source: Cadillac

To make the ELR more engaging to drive, Cadillac has created the Performance Package. While the suspension has already been stiffened, the regenerative braking has been re-calibrated and the steering improved; the Performance Package offers an even sportier suspension, larger Brembo brakes, a sportier steering wheel, and summer tires. Equipping the ELR with that package will certainly make it more fun to drive, but it also reduces the all-electric range by four miles.

Looking at the improvements and added content, the $9,000-cheaper Cadillac ELR makes a much more compelling case for itself than it did when it first came out. It was never a bad car, but even though it was good looking and offered a luxurious interior, it was way too expensive. For the money that customers had to spend, it was still too similar to the Chevrolet Volt to be worth it. It certainly didn’t help that its $75,000 price put it in direct competition with the much nimbler Tesla Model S.

Whether Cadillac’s updates to the ELR will be enough to save it have yet to be seen. The Model S has the advantage of being a much cooler car for people to own, and it’s also one of the best-looking cars on sale right now. Then again, even with the addition of more Superchargers, the Model S still comes with the inherent limitations of a fully electric car. For buyers who are worried about having access to charging stations, the now-cheaper Cadillac ELR offers an alternative that’s still luxurious and attractive but also comes without any range anxiety.

Maybe this update will be enough to finally convince people to buy more than 100 or so ELR hybrids a month. If so, there may actually end up being a second generation. If not, Cadillac has done about all it can do to convince people to buy its version of the Volt. Without higher sales, the ELR is destined for the great junk yard in the sky, and honestly, that’s a little sad. The excessively high original price ruined what could have been a very nice, fuel-efficient, luxury coupe. Now with more content and a lower price, it has some serious catching up to do. Hopefully it does.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook

Follow Collin on Twitter @CS_CollinW

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

Chevy Volt vs. Spark EV: The Volt Loses, 2 States to 50

0
0

Source: Chevrolet

If there was ever a sign that the American car-buying public was sick of the Chevrolet Volt, it’s this: In April, Chevy sold just 905 examples of its plug-in hybrid model nationwide. To put a finer point on it, it was outsold by the Spark EV, a model that is only available in California and Oregon (it will also be offered in Maryland later this year).

The Chevy Volt, once billed as General Motors’ “moonshot,” is now a lame duck. In its final months on sale (before it’s replaced by the next-generation Volt), the car has remained largely unchanged since its introduction in 2010, and it shows. As the first plug-in hybrid on the market, it offered a 35-mile electric range and became the flagship car for the new post-bankruptcy GM. But five years is an eternity in the Hybrid/EV marketplace, and as the competition and technology have evolved, the first-generation Volt has felt older by the day.

Source: Chevrolet

The car was never the sales success GM hoped it would be. In five model years, Chevy has managed to sell just more than 76,ooo of the hybrids. In comparison, Chevy has sold over 81,000 of its Cruze model (with which the Volt shares its platform) in 2015 alone. But changes will be coming very soon to the company’s entire Hybrid/EV line, and the Spark EV’s shellacking of the Volt at dealerships could be a sign of better days ahead for Chevy’s greenest models.

Source: Chevrolet

Despite the Spark EV’s limited availability, Chevy is aggressively trying to increase its stake in the growing EV market. In April, the company slashed the Spark EV’s price by $1,500, bringing it down to $25,995, with leases offered for as low as $139 per month. After GM’s “Bonus Cash” discounts, the $7,500 federal tax credit, and state-offered credits (California offers $2,500, Maryland will offer $2,300), the price can drop as low as $14,995 — making it the biggest bargain in the EV market.

Almost immediately, Chevy’s gamble has payed off in a big way. By the end of the month, 920 Spark EVs had found new homes. Chevy only managed to sell 1,146 of its subcompact EV in all of 2014, so April’s numbers are an important sign that buyers are beginning to see Chevy as a viable maker of green cars.

Source: Chevrolet

As demand for the the Spark EV spikes, it signals that more car buyers are willing to opt for greener cars if they’re styled and priced competitively. Before the Spark EV’s price dropped, the Mitsubishi MiEV was the cheapest available EV in the U.S., and could be had after tax credits for $15,495.

But an anemic range and cartoonish styling haven’t done many favors for the often-overlooked MiEV. While most automakers earlier attempts at hybrid or electric versions of gasoline-powered cars often came at a premium, The Spark EV’s price falls comfortably within the gasoline-powered $13,000 to $18,000 Spark’s price range, and offers all the comforts of the conventionally powered model.

This real-world usability should also play well for the next-generation Volt when it hits showrooms later this year. While the 2011 Volt was hamstrung by its $41,000 base price (before tax credits), the new model will start at $33,995. After federal and state credits, the car should be available for around $25,000. Even as the plug-in hybrid market continues to grow, with its competitive price, the attractive new Volt could finally become the Prius fighter Chevy always wanted it to be.

There is a world of difference between the outgoing Volt and the Spark EV, and environmentally conscious shoppers can tell. In just five years, the Volt’s once world-class plug-in technology and range have become overshadowed by cheaper and more competitive models. The all-electric Spark’s 82-mile range puts it within striking distance of the best-selling Nissan Leaf’s 84 miles per charge, and with its bargain-basement price, the Chevy provides a pretty compelling alternative.

To better compete with the upmarket BMW i3, and upcoming Tesla Model 3, Chevy’s 2016 Bolt will be the first purpose-built electric production car in the company’s history. The Spark EV’s sales spike may look embarrassing for the outgoing Volt, but with a rapidly expanding Hybrid/EV lineup, its a sign that the future looks greener than ever for Chevy.

Correction: An earlier version of this story reported that The Spark EV was already available in Maryland. It will launch there in the third quarter of 2015.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook

Follow Derek on Twitter @CS_DerekS

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

Why Hasn’t Another Car Company Built a Viable Tesla Competitor Yet?

0
0
OHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

OHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

As cool and popular as Tesla has gotten, you’d think there would be other major automakers trying to take some of Tesla’s market share for itself. While it’s still really a startup company, sales of the Model S actually beat some gasoline-powered luxury sedans like the Jaguar XF. Currently, though, the other available electric cars don’t have the range to match the Model S, and any that do don’t have the sales to compete with it.

The Nissan Leaf, for example, is a competent and fairly popular electric city car, but its range is too short for most people to keep it as their only car. The story is the same for every other fully-electric car offered by an automaker. The fact that several of them are only available in just a few cities in the U.S. certainly doesn’t help their popularity either.

Even range-extended electric cars like the Chevrolet Volt have yet to be embraced by the public in the same way the Tesla Model S has. Using a small engine as a generator to allow owners to massively extend the range of their driving and alleviate their range anxiety is arguably better technology for consumer than a battery-only energy supply. After all, being able to refill a Chevrolet Volt with gasoline means Volt owners can drive anywhere they want and aren’t limited by access to charging stations like Teslas are. Still, the Model S is cool and popular, while the Volt isn’t.

As Autoblog points out, Tesla’s strategy in building the Model S isn’t exactly revolutionary either.

“Take the cheapest and most energy-dense lithium battery cells available, build a thin, rectangular pack and place it in the floor of the passenger cabin. To get around the low-power output ability of these individual cells, use a lot of them. Then, stick the electric motor, inverter, and gear reduction unit between the rear wheels. Immediately, this creates a vehicle with the lowest possible center of gravity and maximum amount of rotational inertia – the two most important fundamental elements for creating a great-handling car.”

Tesla has taken a very practical approach to building the Model S while taking advantage of the handling benefits that result from using a simplistic layout. Removing components like the engine, transmission, drive shaft, and gas tank also maximizes the amount of space designers have to work with and making the more spacious and accommodating than other cars of a similar size. Even better, with no powertrain to work around, designers had more freedom to shape the look of the car.

Tesla_S

Source: Tesla

So why aren’t Ford and GM copying Tesla’s approach? Why is Tesla still essentially on its own in this space while other manufacturers play around with electric city vehicles and a few range-extended electric cars? The biggest reason is that there’s no reason to do so just yet. While gas is still fairly inexpensive, and conventional vehicles are still incredibly profitable, why would a major car company disrupt its own market just yet?

For now, automakers are content to take conventional cars and convert them to run on electricity. Unlike Tesla’s approach, using existing platforms requires compromises in packaging, especially when it comes to the size of the battery pack. There’s simply no way to achieve the driving range or dynamics of the Tesla Model S without developing an electric-specific platform. Sure, cars like the Chevrolet Spark EV might satisfy 80% of a city driver’s needs, but they will never be widespread in rural and most suburban areas except occasionally as commuter cars.

Tesla’s most important feature, however, isn’t battery range or driving dynamics. It’s the charging network. Tesla has invested heavily in making sure its owners can drive across the U.S. using its Supercharger corridors, and other manufacturers simply can’t compete. Between the 200-plus mile driving range the Model S offers and the Supercharger setup, the fear of not being able to drive outside of the city is essentially erased. Until other manufacturers can offer similar nationwide charging capability, it’s going to be hard to convince most people to buy an electric car that isn’t a Tesla.

It’s important to remember that car companies are multi-billion dollar companies for a reason, and they’re not exactly stupid. In the same way Ford completely surprised everyone when it revealed the next-generation GT, don’t be surprised if the major manufacturers that are suspiciously absent from the EV market suddenly reveal fully-developed, long-range electric vehicles in the near future.

Even if they do, without a viable nationwide charging network in place for their customers, these companies are going to spend a long time playing catch-up to Tesla’s electric cars.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook
Follow Collin on Twitter @CS_CollinW

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

5 Things Electric Vehicle Sales Taught Us in May

0
0
Source: Nissan

KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

Maybe Elon Musk was right when he said the media reads too much into monthly EV sales. When the Tesla CEO explained why his electric car company does not publish its number of deliveries every month, he cited the number of issues smaller automakers face with shipping and production, neither of which has anything to do with demand. The overall context is lost when we peer too closely at month-to-month shifts, he said.

Electric vehicles as a segment are showing how Musk’s point of view is valid. The Toyota Prius plug-in, a big seller from 2014 that has fallen out of production, dragged May EV sales figures down by nearly 7% compared to May 2014, according the reliable accounting of InsideEVs.com. Meanwhile, the Chevy Volt, itself being phased out for a redesign, has been wearing out the segment’s sales stats for much of the year.

Nonetheless, there were several glimmers of promise in plug-in EV sales last month to go with the disappointments. Here are 5 things we learned from the electric vehicle sales of May 2015.

Tesla Model S Dealership

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

1. Tesla is continuing its reign at the top.

With an estimated 2,400 sales in May, Tesla’s Model S sedan continues to be the best-selling electric vehicle in the United States. The Model S has downed the competition in four of five months this year and already has a lead of over 1,000 sales on the second-place Nissan Leaf in 2015. Considering the base Model S 70D starts at $75,000, we say that achievement is worth celebrating every month Tesla can manage it. Compared to Tesla’s sales from May 2014 (1,000 cars), the automaker absolutely crushed it last month.

2015 chevy volt

Source: General Motors

2. The 2015 Chevy Volt is not dead yet.

Remember the outgoing Chevy Volt? U.S. consumers seemed ready to forget the plug-in hybrid in 2015, and sales were a fraction of the numbers it posted in 2014 (in March, fewer than half sold, year over year). But May was a comeback month for a car that is being replaced by a 2016 model featuring more power and more electric range, and Chevy has steep incentives (including a $159 per month lease deal) to thank for it. Customers came out in force to get the old Volt in May, and it added up to 1,618 sales — about three times more than Chevy sold in January. Even still, Volt is down 36% on the year.

GM

Source: General Motors

3. The Spark EV’s record April was probably a fluke.

What happens when you offer up a super-efficient EV for lease at $139 per month and expand its sales market to the East Coast? In April, Chevy did just that with its little Spark EV and saw sales soar from 119 in February and 151 in March to 920 the following month, when it outsold even the Volt. Well, the tables were turned in May, when the Spark EV came crashing down to reality with 293 sales and was crushed by the Volt’s incentivized 1,618 units moved. It made the April performance seem flukey, to say the least.

James Derek Sapienza/Autos Cheat Sheet

James Derek Sapienza/Autos Cheat Sheet

4. The Fiat 500e has returned to also-ran status.

Among the wildest headlines of March EV sales was the performance of the Fiat 500e, which sold 1,31o units while humbling the competition and besting its February sales by nearly 1,000 units. (Peruse the review of this mini electric warrior by our own Derek Sapienza at your convenience.) As with the record-setting April for the Spark EV, it appears the Fiat 500e’s 15 minutes have come and gone. After a respectable 717 sales in April, it came back to earth with 420 units sold in May.

2015 Leaf

Source: Nissan

5. Hunger for the Nissan Leaf is strong again.

The Nissan Leaf is the all-time EV sales leader and set the single-year record in 2014 with 30,200 units sold. So why had it been in a relative slump for the first four months of 2015? Whether the cause was nothing specific or the entry of several new competitors, it is difficult to say. We do know U.S. consumers were back in the hunt or Leafs in May, when Nissan sold 2,104 units, its best total of the year. Even still, Leaf will have to continue its momentum throughout the year to match its total of last year. Through the first five months, sales are down 25%, year over year.

Source for sales stats: InsideEVs

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

Hybrid Cars: 5 of the Best Alternatives to the Toyota Prius

0
0
2012_Toyota_Prius_019

Source: Toyota

When most people picture a hybrid in their minds, they almost exclusively think of the Toyota Prius. Thanks to some brilliant work by Toyota, the term “Prius” may as well be interchangeable with the term “hybrid” in America. Even though the interior of the Prius is pretty outdated, it’s still a comfortable, reliable vehicle that gets spectacular gas mileage.

The Prius isn’t even only one car either. The Prius family has grown, offering several different models under the Prius name. Just because Prii are great hybrids doesn’t mean they’re the only hybrids worth buying, though.  There are actually quite a few options to consider. Some of them are better deals than others, and average fuel economy varies widely among the different models. Depending on the model, the list of available features is huge, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

It may be easy for hybrid buyers to buy a Prius by default, but if you take the time to shop around, you may find that there’s another car on the market that you end up liking better. Depending on what you want out of a car, these are five great hybrid options to consider instead of a Toyota Prius.

Lexus CT200h

Source: Lexus

5. Lexus CT200h

The Lexus CT200h starts at $32,200 is EPA rated at 42 miles per gallon combined. It might be a little more expensive than the Toyota Prius it shares a platform with, but the Lexus offers two things you won’t find in the Toyota – a luxurious interior and sporty driving dynamics.

The CT200h’s fuel economy isn’t quite as strong as the Prius’, but it’s still much better than average, and it’s a small price to pay for the increased livability that comes with a more comfortable, high-end interior. The other benefit is that the CT200h is a surprisingly attractive car. In fact, especially in F Sport trim, it’s easily one of the best looking hatchbacks on the market.

Source: Ford

Source: Ford

4. Ford C-Max

The C-Max starts at $24,170 and is EPA rated at 40 miles per gallon combined. That’s almost exactly the same as the $24,200 starting price on the Prius, but you give up 10 miles per gallon if you go with the Ford. What you do get, however, is a hybrid that’s designed to look a lot more like a conventional hatchback. The interior also looks a lot more like what you would expect from a conventional vehicle.

While the fuel economy difference between the two is substantial, the C-Max attempts to make up for it with a more powerful engine, sportier handling, and a significantly more spacious cabin. The interior is also more nicely appointed, and the list of available features is longer. Buyers leaning towards the Prius v may find they get most of what they want for less money in the Ford C-Max.

honda

Source: Honda

3. Honda Accord Hybrid

The Honda Accord Hybrid starts at $29,305 and is EPA rated at 47 miles per gallon. While that’s a few miles per gallon lower than what the Toyota Prius gets, not everyone shopping for a hybrid wants a hatchback. Some people just want a regular car that gets great gas mileage. In that case, assuming you can swing the price tag, you should seriously consider the Accord Hybrid.

When you buy the hybrid, the car you’re getting is still a Honda Accord, so it has everything you’d expect from an Accord, just with better fuel economy. For your money, though, you get a well-optioned car with an interior that puts the Prius to shame. If you want to take your car to near-luxury levels, though, you can always bump up to the Touring trim level for $35,055 and drive what may as well be a de-badged Acura.

2016-Chevrolet-Volt-011

Source: Chevrolet

 

2. Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt starts at $34,170 and is EPA rated at 98 miles per gallon equivalent. While it occasionally uses the engine to power the wheels, most of the time, the Volt operates as a series hybrid: That means it’s an electric car that uses its engine as a range-extending generator to charge the batteries. As a result, you can drive it around town in electric mode and recharge it at night, but you also don’t have to worry about range anxiety or not being able to go on a road trip.

Your real world fuel economy will obviously vary wildly depending on how you drive and how often you use the engine. For people who would really prefer an electric car but can’t spring for a Tesla, the Volt is a great option. Between federal and state tax credits, you’ll also probably pay significantly less than the over-$30,000 MSRP. If you rarely drive more than 40 or 50 miles per day, it may be hard to beat the Volt.

BMW Launches i3 Electric Car Production

Source: BMW

1. BMW i3 with Range Extender

The BMW i3 with the range extending engine starts at $46,250 and is EPA rated at 117 miles per gallon equivalent. It can be purchased as an electric car without the range extender, but for drivers who want to use it as their primary form of transportation, it would be wise to add that option. With the range extender equipped, the i3 has an effective range of up to 150 miles and can be refueled at a gas station.

Despite having an engine, the BMW i3 is a true series hybrid and only uses it as a generator to recharge the batteries. It was also designed from the ground up to be an electric car and is the first mass produced car to be constructed using carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. With its high strength-to-weight ratio, CFRP is regularly used in everything from high-end supercars to airplanes and even a spaceship. Sure, it looks a bit odd, but the BMW i3 is one of the coolest hybrids in production.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook and Tumblr
Follow Collin on Twitter @CS_CollinW

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

5 Most American-Made Electric Vehicles of 2015

0
0
CHINA-AUTO-SHOW-ENVIRONMENT-TESLA

JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

The global auto industry being what it is, we have a curious situation with vehicle production. For example, what do you call a car from a foreign manufacturer that’s made in the United States with a majority of U.S.-sourced parts? Is that car foreign?

Likewise, it is difficult to call a car American when it is assembled overseas using mostly foreign-sourced parts. The only American things about it are the emblem and where the profits from sales land.

Enter the Made in America Auto Index compiled annually by Frank DuBois, a professor at American University’s Kogod School of Business. DuBois created a system of determining a car’s American-made content from the supply chain to assembly and company headquarters.

We’ve covered the vehicles with the most American content in previous posts, and the top 15 run on gasoline. Here are the five most-American electric vehicles of 2015.

Nissan

Source: Nissan

5. Nissan Leaf

The best-selling electric vehicle in the U.S. (and the world) is assembled in America but only has about 40% of its body, chassis, electrical, and interior components made in this country. Nonetheless, Nissan does about half its research and development for electric vehicles in the U.S., where it has a significant inventory owing to the Leaf’s site of production (Smyrna, Tennessee). Overall, Leaf checks in tied for 51st place on the index with a score of 40 out of 100.

volt

Source: General Motors

(Tie) 4. Chevrolet Volt

Jumping way up on the list, we find the Chevrolet Volt tied for 24th place with a score of 65.5 on the Made in America Auto Index. Volt is docked 28 points out of 50 for body, chassis, and interior components made overseas. Still, the electric motor, assembly, inventory, R&D, and GM corporate headquarters are all America, so it tied for third and fourth place among EVs with the most American content on the market. As a point of reference, Volt has the same score as the Camaro for U.S. materials.

North American International Auto Show Held In Detroit

Scott Olson/Getty Images

(Tie) 3. Cadillac ELR

Underneath the fancier exterior and much more pleasant interior of the Cadillac ELR, you find the same mechanicals as the Chevy Volt. Hence the tie for third and fourth place with a score of 65.5 points, 24th place overall on the Kogod index. Due to the general reception of the first electric Caddie, you won’t see the ELR in production following its current cycle run, but while it lasts, it is the third most American EV on the road.

focus electric

Source: Ford

2. Ford Focus Electric

If you lined up the Chevy Silverado and little Ford Focus Electric, which would you say was more American? It’s a trick question: both are tied with a score of 72.5 points in 16th place overall on the Kogod Made in America Auto Index. The Focus EV lost points on body, chassis, and electrical components made outside the U.S. Otherwise, from motor production to assembly, inventory, R&D, and of course Ford’s Dearborn headquarters, this car is one American machine.

tesla model s

Source: Tesla

1. Tesla Model S

Everyone knows about Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory and its plans to dominate the world’s lithium-ion battery production. Well, Tesla already makes the most American electric vehicle on the road, one with a score of 75 points, tied for 13th place overall. Currently, about half of the Model S’s interior, body, and chassis are made from parts sourced overseas, but the percentage may rise in the coming years. Nonetheless, Model S has more American content than a Ram 1500 pickup, Silverado, Camaro, or Ford Edge.

Source: Kogod Made in America Auto Index

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

9 New GM Cars Coming Your Way in 2016

0
0
CamaroSix-Badge

Source: Chevrolet

A new model year means that the cars you’ve been reading about and following in the news are finally going on sale. Soon, they’ll be on your local dealers’ lots, and you’ll have the opportunity to check them out, test drive them, decide what you think, and figure out whether you agree with what your favorite auto writers said about them.

You also have the opportunity to buy one of those cars, and thousands of people actually do exactly that. Which vehicles they buy and which ones they ignore can influence not just the profitability of the companies that sell them but also trends in the industry as a whole. The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet might have failed to ignite the convertible crossover segment, but the Hyundai Sonata completely changed the midsize sedan segment.

For GM, 2016 is an important year. While its SUVs and trucks have been doing well, many of its cars are struggling to compete. Nine new models have the potential to make a name for Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet, but will they succeed? These are the GM cars to keep your eyes on for 2016.

9. Buick Cascada

2016 Buick Cascada Convertible

Source: Buick

Buick has been working hard to re-brand itself over the past few years as something more youthful and fun than it used to be. Recently, though, its efforts have stalled, and it hopes the Cascada and its convertible top will be enough to get people excited about Buicks again. It’s not going to be a sports car, but a comfortable, luxurious convertible that falls somewhere between the old Toyota Solara convertible and the old Lexus SC 430 should still attract its fair share of buyers.

8. Cadillac ATS-V

2016-Cadillac-ATS-V-Coupe-026

Source: Cadillac

The Cadillac ATS has been begging for a V-Series variant ever since its introduction. The interior might not be the best in the segment, but only a few minutes behind the wheel lets you know that the ATS is the perfect starting place for a high performance version. Cadillac’s engineers worked their magic, and now the ATS-V makes 455 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. Even better, it offers a manual transmission as standard, which you can’t even get on competitors like the Audi RS5 and Lexus RC-F.

7. Cadillac CT6

Cadillac CT6

Source: Cadillac

Like Buick, Cadillac has also been working on re-branding itself in America for the past few years. The CTS was a huge step in the right direction, but Cadillac sees the full-size CT6 as something even more important. It’s supposedly the car that’s going to re-establish Cadillac as a serious player among luxury automakers. It’s packed with technology, and it promises to be incredibly comfortable. The question is, though, will buyers opt for the Cadillac CT6 over competitors like the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

6. Cadillac CTS-V

CadillacCTS-VReveal01

Source: Cadillac

The first generation CTS-V was a great car, but its inexpensive interior turned a lot of buyers off. When Cadillac came back for the second generation, the CTS-V finally made a name for itself. Its 556-horsepower V8 made it extremely fast, but Cadillac also took a few risks and offered both a coupe and a station wagon version as well as the sedan. The station wagon is regrettably gone for 2016, but the upcoming CTS-V will probably be good enough that buyers won’t care. It now makes 640 horsepower, and rumor has it that the CTS-V is even better to drive than the M5.

5. Chevrolet Camaro

2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Source: Chevrolet

Ford has enjoyed a humongous amount of publicity after the launch of the current Mustang, and even more importantly, it’s been selling them like crazy. Chevrolet is hoping to steal some of Ford’s thunder with the redesigned Chevrolet Camaro. There’s no brand-new independent rear suspension to celebrate because Chevrolet has been selling the Camaro with one for years, but evolutionary changes to the exterior design, improved engine choices, and a more premium interior will make the Camaro versus Mustang competition a fun one to watch.

4. Chevrolet Cruze

Source: Chevrolet

Source: Chevrolet

When Chevrolet introduced the first-generation Cruze, it was a marked improvement over the Cobalt it replaced, and compared to the rest of the segment, it was pretty competitive. Unfortunately for Chevrolet, several redesigns of competing cars quickly made it an also-ran. Chevrolet is hoping to take back some of those lost sales with a redesigned version of the Cruze that should be a significant improvement over the first generation. Whether it will be enough of an improvement to connect with buyers, though, remains to be seen.

3. Chevrolet Malibu

2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Source: Chevrolet

The story of the current-generation Chevrolet Malibu follows the story of the Cruze almost exactly. Chevrolet gave the Malibu a major redesign, improved it drastically over its predecessor, and unfortunately, very quickly ended up unable to compete. With sales of crossovers stealing sales from the midsize sedan segment, there should be less pressure on the next-generation Malibu to be a sales success, but if Chevrolet can’t connect with buyers after this most recent redesign, it may have to rethink its position on the Malibu.

2. Chevrolet Spark

spark_2

Source: Chevrolet

When the Aveo was graciously killed off, the space it had occupied in Chevrolet’s lineup was filled with the larger Sonic and the smaller Spark. While the Spark isn’t the most refined car on the road, it’s still a solid choice for people who want an inexpensive city car. The upcoming next generation promises to take what made the original Spark successful and make it even better. With more power and better packaging, you can expect the new Spark to be a great choice for drivers living in crowded areas with limited space.

1. Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt

Source: Chevrolet

The Tesla Model S and the Toyota Prius get most of the attention for being cars that convinced Americans to rethink the way they drive around, but while the Chevrolet Volt never garnered quite the pop-culture following as either of those two, it’s just as technologically advanced. With the second generation Volt, Chevrolet is hoping to connect better with buyers by offering a car with a more engaging design and potentially a lower price. Whether Chevrolet lowers the price or not, the new Volt will also have a longer electric range, get better fuel economy, and accelerate more quickly.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook and Tumblr
Follow Collin on Twitter @CS_CollinW

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

The 10 Best Car Engines for 2016

0
0
All-new BMW X1 and 340i launch drive in Chihuahua, MX.

Source: BMW

With another year having come and gone, it means that there is a whole new year of new powertrains and engines to look forward to. As auto technology progresses, so do propulsion systems, as they become more powerful and efficient with every new calendar cycle. Last year brought a slew of new tech and engineering quirks from the world’s automakers, and with 2016 right around the corner, automakers continue to make their engines more refined and user-friendly.

While most people may not give much thought to engines and motors beyond what options they have in a particular vehicle, there are those out there who put a considerable amount of time and energy into testing and investigating all of the options on the market. One of those organizations, WardsAuto, evaluated 31 engines and powertrains to come up with a list of 10 winners for its list of 2016’s best. These are all new or improved powertrains, and the winner’s list encompasses a wide variety of different configurations and systems — plug-in hybrids made an especially strong showing this year.

“This is a list that’s loaded with innovation, from hybrids to muscle cars,” said Drew Winter, the director of content at WardsAuto. “We have three groundbreaking electrified drivetrains for the first time ever, each representing a different technology: the gas-electric Prius hybrid, the plug-in hybrid Sonata and the extended-range electric Volt.”

Which engines made the cut? Read on to find out.

1. BMW’s 3.0 Liter Turbocharged Inline-Six From the 340i

All-new BMW X1 and 340i launch drive in Chihuahua, MX.

Source: BMW

Since 1995, when Wards began its 10 Best Engines awards, BMW has walked away with 32 of them. As a new trim for BMW’s line of 3 Series cars, the 340i nestles on the top end in terms of refinement and power and carries on the tradition. Capable of 320 horsepower thanks to a larger twin-scroll turbocharger, higher compression ratio and “the impeccable balance afforded by an inline layout, BMW proves once again an engine need not make outrageous horsepower or torque numbers to be enormously rewarding and thrilling to drive.”

2. GM’s 3.6 Liter V6 From the Chevrolet Camaro and Cadillac ATS

2015-Cadillac-ATScoupe-084

Source: Cadillac

The 3.6 liter V6 sees dual action in both the Chevrolet Camaro and the Cadillac ATS — a peculiar pairing, being that one is so brash and another is so refined. Nonetheless, Wards was impressed enough by the engine that it awarded it and its 335 horsepower and 285 pound-feet of twist a coveted spot on 2016’s best engines’ list. “Editors love both applications of this engine, especially knowing it can be had in the Camaro for as little as $30,795,” Wards said.

3. Chevy’s 1.5 liter four-cylinder/120-kW Drive Motor From the Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt

Source: Chevrolet

New from the ground up for 2016, the Chevrolet Volt uses a next-gen Voltec powertrain that’s been prodded and tweaked to deliver over 50 miles of pure electric driving before the dinosaur juice kicks in. “If consumers found anything objectionable in the first Volt, it appears they’ve all been fixed in the second,” Wards said. “The base price of $33,995 grows even more attractive with a $7,500 federal tax incentive.”

4. Ford’s 5.2 Liter V8 From the Shelby GT350 Mustang

The All-New Ford 5.2-liter V8

Source: Ford

Known colloquially as the Voodoo V8, Ford’s latest engine boasts 526 horsepower and a race-tuned setup thanks largely to its unique flat-crank construction — a strategy usually employed by the likes of Ferrari. Its 8,250 RPM redline is almost as impressive as its gorgeous soundtrack, and the unit — found exclusively in the new Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustangs — manages to nail the 100 horsepower per liter mark, which Wards notes is unusual for V8s without forced induction.

5. Hyundai’s 2.0 Liter four-cylinder/50-kW Drive Motor From the Sonata PHEV

2016 Sonata Plug-in Hybrid

Source: Hyundai

We drove the standard Hyundai Sonata hybrid and were very pleased by how refined and unintrusive the switch off between gasoline and electric was, so we can imagine that the PHEV only improves on that. Boasting 27 miles of electric range before utilizing the gasoline engine, the Sonata PHEV manages between 41 and 80 miles per gallon once the whole system is working in tandem, per Wards’s editors’ experiences. 

6. Nissan’s 3.5 Liter V6 From the Maxima

2016 Nissan Maxima

Source: Nissan

The 3.5 liter V6 in Nissan’s new Maxima isn’t as groundbreaking as other powertrains found on this list, but the “VQ makes for light, lively and refined power delivery, and the sterling midrange torque is still there.” Wards notes that “61% of the new VQ’s parts have been redesigned to reduce friction and weight and promote better breathing. The new heads, intake ports and intermediate locking valve timing make for more complete combustion, and a new intake manifold with wider and shorter runners improves airflow.” All told, it’s the sum of small differences that change the engine completely.

7. Fiat-Chrysler’s 3.0 Liter Turbodiesel V6 from the Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee

Ram EcoDiesel

Source: Ram

Considered the only diesel in its segment, the 3.0 liter V6 built by VM Motori in Italy provides a hefty lump of 420 pound-feet of torque paired with respectable fuel economy figures to make the Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee some of the most competitive in their fields. “Ten days of testing yielded observed fuel economy approaching 24 mpg. Nothing wrong with that,” Wards said of the Ram. That’s where midsize sedans were about five to ten years ago.

“Ram engineers have done such a stellar job of integrating this powertrain that most people wouldn’t guess there’s a diesel under the hood,” said a Wards editor.

8. Subaru’s 2.0 liter Turbocharged four-cylinder Boxer from the WRX

2015_SubaruWRX_064

Source: Subaru

Making Wards’s list for the second time in as many years is Subaru’s stellar “poster child for high-output, affordable turbocharged 4s.” Its flat format keeps weight low, while 268 horsepower from four cylinders is nothing to sneeze at. It beat out four other four-cylinder turbos for the spot, and “makes the WRX fast, fun and spirited, while being perfectly suitable for daily driving. This is a great engine that completes the package: a reasonably priced practical sports car with a rally racing heritage.”

9. Toyota’s 1.8 liter four-cylinder/53-kW Drive Motor from the Prius

Micah Wright/Autos Cheat Sheet

Micah Wright/Autos Cheat Sheet

Though the overall architecture of the Prius drivetrain hasn’t changed, Toyota’s tweaking has resulted in a boost in both power and fuel efficiency. Wards’s editors saw 61 miles per gallon in real-world driving. “The benchmark for hybrid-electric vehicles is setting a new benchmark,” an editor wrote on his scoresheet. At under $25,000, it’s not only the cheapest drivetrain on Wards’s list, but among the best fuel-efficiency for the dollar available.

10. Volvo’s 2.0 liter Turbo/Supercharged four-cylinder from the XC90

Source: Volvo

Source: Volvo

“Porque no los dos?” proclaims the cute Spanish girl in Old El Paso’s ad for taco shells. It’s apparently what Volvo was thinking too, as it said, “Why not both?” and turbocharged and supercharged an inline-four for duty in its XC90. Wards’s editors “routinely got better than 24 miles per gallon in a big 7-passenger CUV with all-wheel drive,” because of the engine, which produces 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook and Twitter.

Like classics? It’s always Throwback Thursday somewhere.

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:

Want more great content like this? Sign up here to receive the best of Cheat Sheet delivered daily. No spam; just tailored content straight to your inbox.

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

GM Willing to Sell Chevy Volt’s Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain to Other Makers

0
0
2016-Chevrolet-Volt-021-e1441473327809.jpg

Source: Chevrolet

The biggest challenge in introducing new technologies is getting to the volume production that permits economies of scale for expensive components.

Toyota is now nearing 9 million hybrids produced, over almost 20 years–but it builds 10 million cars a year.

General Motors, on the other hand, has now built roughly 100,000 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric cars over five years, out of annual production of 9 to 10 million vehicles.

The second-generation hybrid system used in the 2016 Chevrolet Volt is also being used in the 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid and the 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid, but those two vehicles may not be enough to drive down costs.

So, it appears GM has decided that it’s willing to sell the system for use by other carmakers as well–under the right circumstances.

That news came from an interview with Dan Nicholson, GM’s global powertrain chief, published in the auto-industry trade journal Automotive News.

The comment came during the usual journalist scrum at the opening of the new GM Powertrain Performance and Racing Center in Pontiac, Michigan.

2016-chevrolet-volt-010-1-11.jpg

Source: Chevrolet

Nicholson told the publication that GM wanted to be “the partner of choice in propulsion system development” in what he called “this complex and turbulent era” of higher fuel-economy rules and multiple advanced technologies.

He suggested that GM has a longstanding history of being “a good partner” to other automakers.

And while at least a handful of smaller Asian makers–Mazda and Subaru among them–are likely to adopt the next-generation Toyota plug-in hybrid system to meet upcoming regulations, GM might provide an alternative for other makers.

Smaller manufacturers that will face pressure to sell plug-in hybrids under upcoming California zero-emission vehicle laws include Jaguar Land Rover.

It appears that Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Nissan have developed plug-in hybrid systems internally, or are doing so now.

2016-chevrolet-volt_100501810_l

Source: Green Car Reports

Given GM’s strength in China, partnered with SAIC and other companies, it’s also possible that the latest Volt system might be sold to a Chinese company.

That country’s new-car market is currently snapping up so-called New Energy Vehicles, both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid, due to incentives offered by local, state, and national authorities.

Plug-in hybrids are especially popular, because they qualify for incentives even if they’re never plugged in to run on electricity.

Selling fully-assembled Volt powertrains–or even the Voltec drive unit alone–could help GM chip away at the high cost of its latest plug-in hybrids, making them more competitive against conventional cars in an era of cheap gasoline.

With Toyota now on the fourth generation of its hybrid system, having sold almost 100 times the number that GM has, any incremental volume has to be a plus for GM.

Especially if marketing the Volt continues to be as much of a challenge for Chevrolet as it has proven to be thus far.

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter.

See more from Internet Brands Automotive:

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

Does the Chevy Bolt EV Make the Chevrolet Volt Irrelevant?

0
0
Chevy Bolt EV

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Sometime during the last three months of this year, the first 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV will be delivered to its buyer in a blaze of flash photography and publicity. The 200-mile electric car, base-priced at $37,500 before incentives, will be the first car in the world with those specifications. And it will bring battery-electric vehicles with ranges of 200 miles or more into the mass market well ahead of the promised Tesla Model 3.

Electric-car advocates have waited eagerly for the Bolt EV, which was unveiled by General Motors CEO Mary Barra as a concept less than two years ago at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. That was the same show, remember, at which she first introduced the new 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, a much-improved second-generation version of the ground-breaking Volt that had launched in 2011.

2016 Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt | Chevrolet

Since then, the Volt has received excellent reviews from many outlets, among them this site’s 2016 Best Car To Buy award. But plug-in hybrids have proven very hard to explain to car shoppers, who “get” that battery-electric cars run only on battery power (like a cellphone) and hybrids run only on gasoline but get better gas mileage than regular cars.

So with the Bolt EV offering 200 miles combined of all-electric travel, at a price only $3,000 or so higher, where exactly does that leave the Volt? It’s worth noting that in the Volt’s best sales years, 2012 and 2013, it sold around 23,000 units a year. Suppliers have suggested that Chevrolet’s production target for the Bolt EV over its first 12 months is around 30,000.

That number, however, likely includes some units not only for the U.S. and Canada, but also South Korea and certain European countries. And GM has said it’s not production-limited, so if Bolt EV demand proves greater, it can build more.

2017 chevrolet volt

2017 Chevrolet Volt | Chevrolet

The latest Volt is selling decently, holding at a pace of about 2,000 units a month in the U.S. and 400 a month in Canada, which could bring it to a combined North American total around 25,000 units or more.

Still, Chevy continues to face the challenge of explaining why the Volt offers the advantages of an electric car for eight or nine of every 10 trips, without range anxiety. We don’t know anything yet about how it plans to market the Bolt EV, but we do know its Volt marketing has been exceptionally targeted—meaning the car gets little national or broad-based exposure.

Instead, Chevy is working hard to find more buyers very much like those who have already bought Volts. They tend to be knowledgeable about the benefits of plug-in cars already, and in many cases they know far more about the Volt than do the salespeople they encounter at dealerships.

Chevrolet has also maintained that its 3,200 franchised U.S. dealers give it an advantage over Tesla, though aside from pervasiveness, it’s not clear what advantages they convey to tech-savvy buyers used to purchasing pricey electronic goods online. The biggest problem for the Volt, though, is simply in comparing it to the Bolt EV.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV | Chevrolet

The all-electric car has 200 miles of range, which is expected to reduce range anxiety greatly for potential buyers who felt that the preceding Chevy Spark EV’s 82 miles of rated range simply wasn’t sufficient. The Volt was the response to that—”electric when you want it, gas when you need it”—but how much is its selling point reduced by the presence of a Bolt EV next to it on the showroom floor?

Both cars are small five-door hatchbacks by U.S. standards. The Volt has sleeker, racier lines but a more cramped interior, while the Bolt EV is far more spacious inside than its upright shape and small footprint would suggest.

So what advantage, exactly, does the Volt have over its newer, cooler sibling? As always, the market will answer that question.

More from Internet Brands Automotive:
Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

5 Electric Vehicles That Drove an August Sales Record

0
0
2016 Chevy Volt

The totals from August add up to another electric vehicle sales record | General Motors

The records have been rolling in for the plug-in car segment in 2016. With the results from August in, there have been records set in seven of eight months this year, including the all-time best month (15,063 units in June) over the summer. You can point to increased inventory and more options on the market to explain the progress we’ve seen.

August’s 14,882 sales were just a shade off the industry’s high-water mark and a whopping 66% gain, year-over-year. Compared to the auto industry as a whole, which fell 4.2% compared to last August, you can see why there is reason for encouragement for environmental advocates and automakers focusing primarily on electric vehicles.

Here are the five electric cars that drove the new August high with the most gains, according to InsideEVs.

5. BMW X5 xDrive40e

BMW X5 xDrive40e

BMW X5 xDrive40e | BMW

While the Nissan Leaf (1,066) and BMW i3 (1,013) outsold the BMW X5 xDrive40e, neither could compete with the gains shown by the plug-in hybrid SUV, which had its best month to date with 876 sales. Prior to August, the X5 xDrive40e never topped 655 units, making these 35% gains a reason for the segment record. At a base price of $62,100 and its relatively hidden place on the BMW website, this car is more evidence the automaker’s EV program is working.

The X5 xDrive40e travels up to 14 miles on electric power and reaches 60 miles per hour from a standstill in 6.5 seconds. Drivers have access to 308 horsepower from the twin turbo engine and electric motor.

4. Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Fusion Energi helped push the segment to an August electric vehicle sales record | Eric Schaal/Autos Cheat Sheet

Ford Fusion Energi has had an impressive year anyway you approach it. First, its 9,998 sales through the first eight months of the year are third in the segment, trailing only Tesla Model S and Chevy Volt. Second, the plug-in Fusion has already topped its 2015 total (9,750) with the final third of the year still to be tallied. Third, its August performance (1,422 sales) was a scorching 50% better than its August 2015 tally. This car’s no-compromise green appeal is finding its widest audience yet in 2016.

3. Tesla Model X

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 10: A Tesla Model X is displayed inside of the new Tesla flagship facility on August 10, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Tesla is opening a 65,000 square foot store, its largest retail center to date. The facility will offer sales and service of Tesla's electric car line. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Tesla Model X | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Tesla always has a few unique factors that directly impact its sales totals. One is the issue of how many cars they send overseas versus how many they deliver to American consumers; another is the production levels the EV maker is constantly pushing at its Fremont plant. In August, Model X came close to its all-time high with 1,850 deliveries estimated by InsideEVs. That tally gave the electric SUV the third-highest total of the month and a jumpstart for the rest of the year.

2. Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet Volt | General Motors

With 2,081 sales in August, the new Chevy Volt crushed its total from 2015 (1,380) by over 30% and gave the plug-in hybrid its second-best month of 2016. After a sluggish start to the year, this model has found its way in the summer and could challenge the original Volt’s record set in 2013 (23,094). With 53 miles of range that you can drive all the way down to zero before switching to gas, Volt is the model that makes range anxiety an afterthought while making electric driving the focus.

1. Tesla Model S

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 10: A Tesla Model S is displayed inside of the new Tesla flagship facility on August 10, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Tesla is opening a 65,000 square foot store, its largest retail center to date. The facility will offer sales and service of Tesla's electric car line. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Tesla Model S | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Thanks to the latest Ludicrous upgrade, the Tesla Model S is now the quickest car you can buy in America. It only takes 2.5 seconds to gun this luxury sedan to 60 miles per hour, and it can cover 300 miles on a single charge, provided you don’t drive near its top speed the whole time. There is no comparison on the sales charts, either. Tesla delivered 3,125 Model S sedans in August, according to InsideEVs. That total dominated the pack once again and more than doubled its count from 2015 (1,300 sales). Maybe Tesla will reach its lofty sales projections after all.

Source: InsideEVs

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

5 Electric Vehicles That Powered an All-Time Sales Record

0
0
Chevrolet Bolt EV charging at an owner's home station

Though Chevy Bolt EV should boost plug-ins to new highs, a new electric vehicle sales record was set in September | General Motors

It will take a few more years and a few more long-range models before the electric vehicle revolution actually begins. However, EVs on the market are already finding their share of customers. September sales totals of 16,974 plug-in cars represented an all-time high for a single month. If you like measuring progress over 12-month periods, sales surged 70%, according to InsideEVs.

Compared to the auto market as a whole, which fell 0.5% in September, electric cars are headed in the opposite direction. The plug-in segment’s 1.2% of the total market represented another all-time high. With the new Chevrolet Bolt and all-new Toyota Prius Prime headed to the U.S. market by the end of 2016, expect more records ahead.

In the meantime, Tesla and a few other automakers can celebrate their success stories now, in 2016. Here are the five best-selling EVs from a record September. Data includes estimated sales for Tesla by InsideEVs.

5. Nissan Leaf

2016 Nissan Leaf

Sales of the Nissan Leaf hit a new high for 2016 in September | Nissan

While the Nissan Leaf has been a plug-in sales leader since it debuted in 2010, its momentum slowed in 2015. The trend continued for most of 2016, but Leaf made a comeback in September with 1,316 sales, its best showing of the year. That performance nearly guaranteed Nissan’s pioneering electric car would end the year in the top five. Following the reveal of the new Renault ZOE at the Paris Motor Show, Leaf enthusiasts hope more range comes to America soon.

4. Ford Fusion Energi

2017 Ford Fusion Energi

Ford’s plug-in Fusion showed 105% sales gains in September | Ford

Ford Fusion Energi is one of the segment’s biggest success stories in 2016. Its 11,650 sales through the first nine months of 2016 already beat the plug-in hybrid’s total (9,750) for all of 2015. Meanwhile, September’s 1,652 sales beat the previous year’s totals by 105%. The updated 2017 model is appealing for a lower MSRP than the previous model and increased efficiency. We’re guessing the deals on the outgoing model (with $11,000 in incentives) are bolstering totals as well.

3. Chevrolet Volt

Image of 2017 Chevrolet Volt with Golden Gate Bridge in backdrop

2017 Chevrolet Volt sales remained strong in the plug-in segment’s record month | General Motors

Chevrolet Volt obliterated its sales totals from September 2015 (949) with 2,031 deliveries. This 120% gain, year over year, helped power the segment to its record total. The obvious appeal of the redesigned Volt is its ability to drive mostly electric with 53 miles of range. When the battery goes empty and no chargers are in sight, drivers can go over 350 miles using the efficient gas engine. But having the option doesn’t mean drivers actually use it much. About 85% of Volt miles are on EV power.

2. Tesla Model X

The all-electric Tesla Model X SUV

The 3,200 Tesla Model X deliveries were a record high for the automaker | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Tesla may have struggled with the transition to a two-car factory, but the growing pains ended in September. The automaker set a new record for EV sales in a month with Model X (3,200, estimated) crushing its previous high set in June (2,145) and Model S continuing its own historic pace. In fact, the gains over its limited September release sales (5) accounted for a good chunk of the segment growth. So it’s easy to see how the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3 will eventually shake up sales figures.

1. Tesla Model S

Image of 2016 tesla model S

After its record September, Tesla Model S is on pace to set a new EV sales record | Tesla

No electric vehicle ever topped 4,000 sales before September 2016. According to InsideEVs, Tesla Model S was the first with 4,350 (estimated) deliveries, a new record for a single car in one month. Actually, Model S represented over one quarter of the entire segment’s sales. Meanwhile, its 7,550 total brand sales rewrote the record books. Tesla outsold 13 established auto brands — including Fiat, Mini, and Land Rover — in its historic month. At 21,715 sales through the first nine months of 2016, Model S is poised to set a new record for annual sales.

Source: InsideEVs

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook!
Connect with Eric on Twitter @EricSchaalNY

Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

10 Great Concept Cars That Fell Short as Production Models

0
0
2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept

2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept | Chevrolet

Just because an automaker hauls a concept car to an auto show doesn’t mean it will ever get made (we’re looking at you Cadillac Elmiraj, Nissan IDx, and Buick Avista). In fact, more jaw-dropping concept cars never see the world beyond an auto show podium, which is generally the plan from the start. Design teams want to show off their skills and hint at the direction of future models. They want consumers to start paying attention to the models hitting the showrooms; the fancy car at the show is just a tease.

When a concept does make it to production, it’s never the same as the sparkling specimen that captivated audiences at Detroit, Geneva, or Tokyo motor shows. However, it gives critics and car lovers the opportunity to measure the production model set against what could have been. That may be unfair to the car, but after safety requirements, engineering compromises, focus groups, and company bean counters, more than a few former concepts reek of disappointment by the time they hit dealerships.

Though this list is far from exhaustive, here are 10 concept cars (including one van) that fell short after showing so much promise on the auto show circuit.

1. Toyota 86

2011 Scion FR-S Concept

2011 Scion FR-S Concept | Toyota

Many sports car fans love the corner-carving Scion FR-S, but let’s just say the soft-edged final product was a significant departure from the concept. The triangular head and tail lights didn’t make the cut, nor did the aggressively sloped hood. The car will live on after 2017 as the face-lifted Toyota 86, and comes much closer to the original concept, but alas, it still doesn’t have many of the concept’s aggressive lines. Styling may be small potatoes since the car has such fantastic road manners; nonetheless, here’s the notably more sedate Toyota 86:

2017 Toyota 86

2017 Toyota 86 | Toyota

2. Chevrolet Volt

2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept

2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept | Chevrolet

It wasn’t just a pretty auto show model that got people excited about the Chevy Volt concept. There was a sense of Camaro-esque intimidation to the concept that just never made it into the production model. Introduced in 2011, the first-generation Volt plug-in hybrid not only lacked muscle, it also had little definition, and no head-turning characteristic to quiet the critics skeptical of electric vehicles. Once upon a time, the Volt concept hinted electric cars could be aggressive and make the Prius pale even further in style comparisons. Here’s how the real-world Volt turned out:

2015 Chevrolet Volt

2015 Chevrolet Volt | Chevrolet

Chevy brought some style to the Volt for 2016, but there’s still no trace of the muscular original concept:

2016 Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt | Chevrolet

3. Lincoln Continental

2015 Lincoln Continental Concept

2015 Lincoln Continental Concept | Lincoln

In 2015, Ford decided to recommit to its Lincoln brand and invest billions to bring the once-proud marque back from the brink of irrelevance. It showed it was serious with the Continental concept, then announced that it would be brought to production in about a year. While the production version (out as a 2017 model) is handsome and contemporary, it somehow lost the concept’s longer, smoother lines and perfect proportions:

2017 Lincoln Continental

2017 Lincoln Continental | Lincoln

4. Pontiac Trans Sport

1986 Pontiac Trans Sport concept | General Motors

1986 Pontiac Trans Sport concept | General Motors

Eat your heart out, Model X. When the Pontiac Trans Sport Minivan concept hit the stage in 1986 – just two years after the first minivans hit dealerships – its gull-wing passenger door and aerodynamic design caused a sensation. Inside, removable bucket seats and near-360 degree visibility were joined by a “TV-like” display console. Somehow, a minivan had pushed the envelope and got people talking at auto shows.

Unfortunately, the production Trans Sport bowed in 1990 as just another minivan. Its plastic-clad, aerodynamic body was different, but auto journalists of the day took to calling the Trans Sport “the dustbuster.” Honestly, they weren’t far off. Here’s the production model:

1990 Pontiac Trans Sport | General Motors

1990 Pontiac Trans Sport | General Motors

5. Dodge Charger

1999 Dodge Charger Concept

1999 Dodge Charger Concept | Dodge

The idea of a four-door performance “coupe” is enough to enrage most purists, but had the 1999 Charger concept been put into production, it probably would’ve been easier to get used to. Even stacked up against the classics from the late 1960s, the proposed twenty-first century Charger looked as if it would hold its own on the drag strip. The back door handles are almost invisible, while the side scoops, low front, and menacing appearance demanded the car be taken seriously.

Despite a huge amount of interest, then-parent company Mercedes-Benz felt the performance-focused sedan wasn’t a cost-effective project and shelved it. When the production Charger sedan did appear, it looked clumsy and bloated compared to the concept. Today’s Charger is pretty sharp, but compared to the original concept, the 2006 Charger fell a little far from the mark:

2006 Dodge Charger SRT8

2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 | Dodge

6. Subaru Impreza WRX

2013 Subaru WRX concept

2013 Subaru WRX concept | Subaru

Subaru’s 2013 concept for the fourth-generation WRX suggested aggression, style, and a bit of intimidation were on the redesign menu. Unfortunately, the automaker’s production model went back to playing it safe in design on all fronts. For all its awesome performance at a reasonable price, the WRX’s looks haven’t matched its excitement level in a long time. Here’s how the fifth-generation car turned out:

2016 Subaru WRX

2016 Subaru WRX | Subaru

7. Pontiac Sunfire

1990 Pontiac Sunfire Concept | General Motors

1990 Pontiac Sunfire Concept | General Motors

Pontiac had a great run of concepts in the 1980s, and its run extended to the wild Sunfire concept from 1990. But by the time a production Sunfire hit the streets in 1994, the thrill was gone. The low-slung form, the slick sports car nose, the cool headlights? Gone, gone, gone. In fact, the Sunfire ended up being a little more than a re-bodied Chevy Cavalier. Instead of going into the future, the Pontiac Sunfire was stuck in the distant past – its J-body platform was already 15 years old. It may have been impossible to pull off, but the scale of compromise was painful following the terrific concept. Here’s what the Sunfire became:

1995 Pontiac Sunfire | General Motors

1995 Pontiac Sunfire | General Motors

8. Dodge Power Wagon

1999 Dodge Power Wagon

1999 Dodge Power Wagon | Dodge

The ’90s and 2000s were Chrysler’s golden era of concept cars, releasing everything from a modern-day prewar Bugatti (the Chrysler Atlantic), to a world-class supercar (the Chrysler ME412) and Dodge Viper V10-powered motorcycle (the Dodge Tomahawk). But truck fans were in for a surprise when the company unveiled its Power Wagon concept in 1999. Inspired by the iconic military-grade trucks Dodge built from 1946 to 1978, the concept was a perfect retro-futuristic take on a classic design. But instead of a spartan interior, the concept had a luxurious, tech-filled cab, somewhat foreshadowing today’s truck market.

The Power Wagon name was brought back in 2005, albeit as a trim line for the Ram 2500. The current model’s looks are striking too, but probably for the wrong reasons:

2017 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4x4

2017 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4×4 | Ram

9. 2013 Subaru Legacy

2013 Subaru Legacy concept

2013 Subaru Legacy concept | Subaru

Subaru has done this a lot lately. The 2013 Legacy concept hinted at a slim, sexy, well-proportioned sedan that would really stand out in the midsize segment. But when the 2015 production model debuted at the following year’s Chicago Auto Show, the 2015 Legacy dulled the senses of most observers. The Legacy’s comfortable interior and all-wheel drive powertrain have made it incredibly popular, but its styling leaves a lot to be desired:

2016 Subaru Legacy

2016 Subaru Legacy | Subaru

10. 2005 Ford Mustang GT

Ford Mustang GT Concept

Ford Mustang GT Concept | Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images

In all fairness, Ford scored a major hit with the 2005 Mustang, the fifth generation of the ponycar that took retro back to the future. But again, lost details made a big difference. The Mustang GT concept featured a lower-slung stance, more aggressive fender flares, larger wheels (per concept car protocol), functional fender and hood scoops, and a different rear fascia. The resulting production Mustang ended up just a bit more sedate than its menacing concept had predicted. The fifth-gen Mustang was a good car, but there was still enough lost in translation for us to wonder what could’ve been. Here’s how it turned out:

2005 Ford Mustang GT

2005 Ford Mustang GT | Ford

Additional Reporting by James Derek Sapienza

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook.

Like classics? It’s always Throwback Thursday somewhere.

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:
Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

7 Plug-In Hybrids With the Most Electric Range in 2016

0
0
Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Fusion Energi has been among the plug-in hybrids with the most electric range since its debut. | Eric Schaal/Autos Cheat Sheet

Plug-in hybrids offer a great product to consumers looking to reduce fuel consumption and live a greener lifestyle in general. If you drive short distances most days — Americans overwhelmingly do — you are likely to drive over 80% of the time in electric mode. Should you need more range for a longer trip, you can turn to the gas engine and cover hundreds more miles between fill-ups.

With plug-ins able to cover as many as 53 miles on a full charge and 610 miles overall, there is no need to to get any of that range anxiety that scares drivers off pure electric vehicles. Plus, fuel economy figures of 100 miles per gallon or better (42 miles per gallon in gas-hybrid mode) ensure those miles will be green no matter how you drive them.

It’s safe to say this news has not reached U.S. consumers. In a study conducted by Ford in spring 2016, the majority thought a plug-in hybrid could cover about 260 miles with a charge and full tank of gas. (Tesla EVs actually go farther with no gas whatsoever.) Upfront prices ought not discourage consumers, either, as dropping costs and incentives make these cars reasonable even at the dealership.

Here are the seven plug-in hybrids with the most electric range. Only vehicles on sale for the 2016 or 2017 model years were considered. The BMW i3 range-extender model was not used due to its short gas-only range.

7. Porsche Panamera S E-hybrid

porsche-panamera S E hybrid

This Porsche may be the brand’s greenest car. | Source: Porsche

If you want a Porsche and don’t want to pay the gas guzzler tax or find yourself at the pump every few days, the Panamera S E-Hybrid is an option worth considering. It’s capable of 16 miles in EV mode and offers 560 miles of total range in the 2016 model year. While it’s still a Porsche offering 416 horsepower at a starting price of $93,200, it also delivers up to 51 miles per gallon. Your dad’s Porsche can’t do that.

6. Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

Audi

Audi tops new plug-ins by BMW and Mercedes with the A3 e-tron’s 17 electric miles. | Source: Audi

The three big German luxury brands all have plug-in hybrids on the U.S. market in 2016, but the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron ultra has the longest electric range of the bunch at 17 miles. If you have a road trip on your mind in this variant of the popular A3, the e-tron can get you about 430 miles between stops at the gas station. It offers an exceptional 86 miles per gallon in EV mode and 39 miles per gallon otherwise.

5. Ford C-MAX Energi

Ford C-Max Energi

Ford C-MAX Energi remains one of the plug-in hybrids with the longest electric range in 2016. | Source: Ford

Ford jumped into the fray early with its plug-in hybrids, and the C-MAX Energi has remained one of the most economical options with 19 miles of electric range. EV mode gets drivers traveling at 88 miles per gallon, while hybrid mode means economy of 38 miles per gallon. Between a full charge and a tank of gas, C-MAX drivers can roam about 550 miles before filling up or finding a plug.

4. Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Fusion Energi offers 21 EV miles and a segment-best 610 miles of total range. | Source: Ford

Want to travel in comfort and style with space for five people and a good bit of electric-only driving? Ford Fusion Energi, one of the best plug-ins we’ve tested, can deliver on those counts. For the 2017 model year, Ford bumped Fusion Energi’s EV range to 21 miles and its 610 miles of total range make it the segment leader. Fuel economy peaks at 97 miles per gallon on electric power and 42 miles per gallon in hybrid mode.

3. Hyundai Sonata PHEV

Hyundai Sonata PHEV plug-in hybrid

Hyundai Sonata PHEV adds another solid option to midsize plug-in segment. | Source: Hyundai

There is not much of a plug-in midsize sedan selection, but Hyundai Sonata PHEV makes it two solid entries for U.S. consumers. Offering 27 miles of electric range and 600 miles total range, there are few compromises consumers have to make with this car. The EPA estimates EV economy at 99 miles per gallon and 40 miles per gallon when the gas engine kicks into service.

2. Cadillac ELR

Cadillac ELR

Cadillac ELR sings its swan song in the 2016 model year. | Source: Cadillac

At 36 miles of range before the gas engine kicks in, the Volt-based Cadillac ELR was always a contender among plug-in hybrids. However, its insane introductory sticker price guaranteed it would never be popular. Now that Cadillac has officially killed the ELR, we expect dealers are more willing to negotiate than ever. This model offers 320 miles of total range and 80 miles per gallon in electric mode (30 miles per gallon otherwise).

1. Chevrolet Volt

chevy volt

Volt extended its lead among plug-in hybrids with the most electric range in the 2016 model year. | Source: General Motors

GM may describe the 2017 Chevrolet Volt as an electric vehicle with range extender, but as long as the most range comes from gas engines it’s really a plug-in hybrid. Regardless, the 53 miles available in EV mode (420 miles total range) make it light years ahead of the nearest competitor. At 106 miles per gallon (42 miles in gas-hybrid mode), the redesigned Volt also leads the pack on economy until Prius Prime makes its debut.

Source: Fueleconomy.gov

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook
Connect with Eric on Twitter @EricSchaalNY

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:
Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

5 Major Obstacles for Electric Vehicles in America

0
0
Hyundai Sonata PHEV

Sonata PHEV | Source: Hyundai

A year is a long time in the world of electric vehicles. When we looked at the biggest problems facing EVs at the start of 2015, issues like image and cost still played a huge role in the slow adoption rate across America. The cars you wanted to be seen in you couldn’t afford, and the ones that were cheap were laughingstocks at the curb.

A year and a few months later, these concerns seem to come from a vault sealed for a decade. Thanks to Tesla (and the automakers trying to compete with it), few people consider plug-in cars “ugly and slow and boring like a golf cart,” which was the perception Elon Musk hoped to change about the segment when he founded his company.

Cost has come down considerably as well. For the segment of EVs ranging between 76 miles and 93 miles, many are available for $20,000 or less after incentives. (In some states, you can purchase a Nissan Leaf for $8,500.) Despite these seismic shifts, perceptions had not changed a great deal when the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducted a survey of the general car-buying public in 2015.

Here are five obstacles that stand in the way of EV adoption according to the national study published in spring 2016.

1. Charging infrastructure

Nissan Leaf charging on NYC's Lower East Side

Nissan Leaf charging on NYC’s Lower East Side | Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Everyone knows where the local gas station is. Do you know where your nearest EV charging station is located? Not many people in the NREL study did. Just 18% said they knew of places to charge along routes they drove. When people talk about range anxiety, they usually mean charging anxiety. Without a means to fuel the car, an EV seems practically impossible. More public charging stations with proper signage can correct this problem.

2. A lack of information

Chevy Volt

Chevy Volt | Source: General Motors

As of early 2015, U.S. auto consumers didn’t know a great deal about electric cars. Only 48% could name a specific make and model (e.g., Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf). Another 56% said they needed cars with 300 miles of range to consider them. Considering gen-one Chevy Volt drivers covered 80% of their driving on electric power in a car with 38 miles of EV range, there is a serious information deficit here.

3. Automaker marketing

Ford Focus Electric charging

Ford Focus Electric charging | Source: Ford

There is a severe lack of electric car marketing: Tesla doesn’t advertise on TV; GM did a poor job getting word out about the Volt; and Ford just released its first ad for the Focus Electric in 2015. Even worse, salespeople have been seen steering shoppers away from plug-ins at the dealerships. Facing such an uphill battle, it’s no wonder just 20% of people NREL surveyed said they were considering an EV for their next car purchase. If major automakers want to sell more of them, they’re going about it in a funny way.

4. Media coverage

Elon Musk showcases the Tesla Model X

Elon Musk showcases the Tesla Model X | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Outside of Tesla, is there any electric vehicle getting any press? Not really. Tesla has stock speculation and “cult of entrepreneur” appeal for media outlets. Emissions reductions and practical cost-savings are far less sexy, and thus the media is happy to avoid all most other EVs in regular news coverage. Considering energy independence and the respiratory health of U.S. citizens are at stake here, that’s a shame. It took until the debut of the Model 3 to really shake up the world media. Before that, one in two U.S. consumers couldn’t call out an EV by name.

5. The cars themselves

2016 Chevy Bolt EV charging

Chevy Bolt EV | Source: General Motors

With less than 100 miles of range, most electric vehicles are only viable as second cars in the household. An EV would probably work for the 60% of people surveyed who said they have two or more cars at home, but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Until EVs hit at least 200 miles, they are a tough sell for the general car-buying public. We’ll see how much that changes when the Chevy Bolt EV appears in late 2016, followed by the Model 3 in 2017.

Study: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (PDF)

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook
Connect with Eric on Twitter @EricSchaalNY

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:
Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet

Here’s Where All the Cheap Electric Vehicles Are

0
0
2015 Nissan LEAF

Nissan Leafs from the 2012 model year and older are the type of cheap electric vehicles on sale near L.A. | Source: Nissan

The electric vehicle segment has been a tricky one to navigate in its first five years of existence, financially speaking. There were the sky-high costs of new models like the Chevy Volt and Ford Focus Electric, both of which had starting prices of $40,000 in 2013. Just two years later, you could find either on the used market for a fraction of that figure. So EVs not made by Tesla became known for their terrible resale values. But there was the flip side: cheap, used plug-ins.

You had to take into consideration the generous incentives that came with every purchase. Anyone buying a Volt or Nissan Leaf a few years back would have taken the $7,500 tax credit and another $2,500 (at least) in state credits, given the purchase took place out west. So the cheap electric vehicles on the used market weren’t a disaster for their owners. If you’ve been looking for one, most are located in California and are equally distributed between north and south.

2013 Chevy Volt

Models like the 2013 Chevy Volt selling for around $12,000 with fewer than 50,000 miles in Southern California | Source: General Motors

Cars.com used listings for L.A.’s east side show over 100 pure electric models going for under $15,000 within a radius of 50 miles. At the top end of that price range, you’ll find many offerings from as late as the 2015 model year, including the Fiat 500e and Leaf. At the low end, between $7,000 and $8,000, you can find the 2011 Nissan Leaf (30,000 miles), 2013 Ford Focus Electric (28,000 miles), and 2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive (19,500 miles).

None of these cars top 80 miles of range, and after these years probably come closer to 70. However, as a new study about range anxiety by MIT showed, that type of range is more than enough for the vast majority (87%) of trips taken on the average day by American drivers.

2014 Focus Electric

Great deals on used Ford Focus Electrics are available in California | Source: Ford

The focus of the MIT study was on “affordable” models already on the market, with the 2013 Nissan Leaf as the point of reference for the authors, who estimated 73 miles of real-world range in the battery. Nowhere are they more affordable than on the used market, and Angelenos are the beneficiary of these deals, as are Bay Area residents. A home charging system retailing at $400 or so would be necessary for fueling, but as a commuter car any of these early EV models would do.

For those who need the comfort of several hundred miles of range, many Chevy Volts from the 2011 model year on are available for under $14,000, with several cars reading fewer than 50,000 miles. Anyone worried about the dreaded battery degradation with this plug-in hybrid can take solace in the fact there have been zero Volt battery replacements for general capacity loss since it went on sale years ago.

To recap, as of summer 2016, we are still several months away from the time the Chevy Bolt EV will arrive in dealerships with a list price of $37,500 before extras and incentives. We are over one year away from the moment Tesla Model 3 ($35,000) deliveries begin. Anyone who wants to go gas-free now has the opportunity to pick up a pure electric model for under $7,000. There are many available across America, but the most are in Southern California near L.A. and in the Bay Area up north.

Check out Autos Cheat Sheet on Facebook
Connect with Eric on Twitter @EricSchaalNY

More from Autos Cheat Sheet:
Read the original article from The Cheat Sheet
Viewing all 70 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images