The 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid

Ok so the whole fuel economy thing has finally made its way into the last possible auto segment; the man’s vehicle group. Yes now even manly men are aware of their fuel economy and its impact on the environment. Well GMC is the first company to address this portion of our population. New for 2009 is the Yukon which weights almost a ton and yet can achieve that magical 20 MPG mark that SUV’s were never meant to obtain.

This remarkable feat was achieved by designing a 2-mode hybrid system. The Yukon has the ability to run on electric power alone up to 25 MPH which does wonders for the in town fuel economy. When more power is need the gas engine simply kicks in. And the Yukon also benefits from cylinder deactivation technology which essentially turns the V-8 power plant in to a more economical 4 cylinder when less power is needed. This hybrid can still tow 6,000 lbs. plus seat 8 in the process. The future of manly cars is looking good for the environment and wallet! Check out the 2009 Yukon Hybrid SUV!

The New Infiniti G37 Luxury Car

Each year Car and Driver does a 10 of the Best Cars list. Cars are judged on three points, the first being performance and functionality, second emotional engagement, and finally pricing and versatility. All cars that are new or significantly redesigned are eligible for the 10Best. If a car consistently impresses year after year it is possible to remain on the list indefinitely, even without updates. As a second runner up to BMW, Infiniti has always been a great competitor for the top spot in entry-level luxury sports sedans and coupes, but has never ruled this class. Infiniti has been a winner for the 10 Best Cars in 2003, 2004, 2007, and now a 2009 winner for the G. The Infiniti new G37 has an improved 3.7L V6 engine with 328hp which is speculated to be the large facet in winning the title for ’09. The new engine has a reported increase off 22hp over its 3.5L predecessor. Not only was more muscle added to the G but other features underwent refinement like in the V6, and overall feel of the 6-speed manual transmission.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/best_worst_lists/2009_10best_cars_10best_cars/2009_infiniti_g37_10best_cars

The Transformers Chevy Camaro Edition

GM announced a limited Chevy Camaro Bumblebee Edition from Transformers to be available on June 1st. The Camaro will feature the same yellow and black stripes that Bumblebee rocks in the movie as well as Transformer badges on wheel centers, door sill plates and embroidered on the console lid. The package will be offered on the Camaro LT and SS models. The production run is restricted so you better go out and order one today! Pricing has not been yet revealed, but you can bet these will one day become collector’s items.

source:http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/090521-Chevy-to-Offer-Transformers-Themed-Camaro/

The Cobalt Receives Turbo Power!

The new Chevrolet Cobalt SS is one vehicle that manages to rise above its mundane life. In comparison from the original Cobalt SS that was supercharged, GM has refined and polished the new Cobalt SS by exchanging the supercharger for a turbo to make it the most impressive performance front-wheel drive car ever. Exactly how General Motors turned a bottom-of-the-pack, basic economy box into a class-leading sport compact rocket is finally revealed.

The first thing that grabs your attention is the unique exterior design that accentuates the clean sweeping roofline, lip spoiler kit, and rear wing. It’s not all about looks though! Something much more exciting lies under the hood of the Chevy Cobalt SS is under the hood. The new Cobalt SS Turbo still upholds the same 2.0Liter engine that the Cobalt SS Supercharger has but with one major significant difference, the peak horsepower jumps from an astounding 205 to 260, making this Chevy extremely fast. Surprisingly, the Cobalt SS is a relatively light compact with it 260ft-lbs. of torque and has amazing torque steer. The torque achieves 260ft-lbs at 2,000 rpm and stays there until before the 5,300 rpm power peak.

Along from a much improved and faster car, GM added sophisticated electric-assist steering so when you lay into the throttle, the steering takes a few degrees off center instead of yanking the car toward the curb. GM also upgraded the rest of the mechanics and tweaked the full package on the world’s most demanding race tracks. Traction is also aided by an optional limited slip alternative.

Today, you can bring home a top- performance sport compact Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo for a retail price in the lower twenties.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/review-2009-chevy-cobalt-ss-coupe/

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/in-the-autobog-garage-2009-chevy-cobalt-ss-turbo/

The 2010 Prius – 50 MPG at Least!

The 2010 Toyota Prius is set to break the 50 MPG barrier that the American public has been salivating for. According to the EPA which is the governing body for all things MPG related, the 2007 Prius gets a combined 46 MPG which is the leader among all hybrid vehicles. Well Toyota is at the forefront of battery technology and the batteries on the horizon will be able to charge easier and last longer. This is where the PHEV or Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle will come into play. For the 2010 Prius you can get a PHEV model which will allow you to charge the batteries that power the electric motor at home. This will help the Prius to use the electric engine more often which will increase the fuel economy and lower emissions; a win/win situation for the public.

Visit the Palm Springs Auto Mall to see a giant selection of hybrid vehicles. Also the I-10 Toyota website will have upcoming feature on the new Prius.

The New 2010 Cadillac SRX – Midsized Luxury

Cadillac is about the only U.S. automaker to actually learn from what their Japanese counterparts are doing. Mid-sized fuel efficient SUV’s are what the American Consumers are buying and the newly redesigned 2010 Cadillac SRX targets this potential market.

The current SRX is a large SUV with horrible gas mileage. Well new for 2010 the SRX will shrink, lose the 3rd row seat, and get a boost in fuel economy. Gone will be the staple V-8 engine replaced with a direct-injected V-6 and maybe even a 4 cylinder. The SRX will also become a front wheel drive based on the “theta premium” platform.

Now there is finally a Luxury mid-sized SUV, and Cadillac plans to target the Honda CRV!

Toyota’s Got Gas – Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)!

Honda has been the sole automaker with a reliable CNG car for way too long. On the heels of Honda announcing they will make twice as many natural gas cars as last year; Toyota has recently displayed the new CNG Camry hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show. What better place to show off the future of green cars than at the city that is the mecca for all things eco-friendly.
One of the World’s largest reserves of Natural Gas lies here in the U.S.! So why should be pay other countries for oil when we could use our own resources and tap into those large pockets of natural gas. I’ve been wondering this for years now and since Honda is doing so well, and there are home fueling kits for natural gas, this seems like the next logical step for the world’s most powerful auto maker.

The CNG Toyota Camry Hybrid will be based on the current gas-electric version, just instead of a gas engine this car will be powered by natural gas-electric motor. Horsepower will suffer a tiny bit and the average fuel economy will shrink from 34 MPG to 33 MPG, based on estimates. The range on this eco-friendly car will be over 250 miles. But when you consider that natural gas is cheaper than regular petrol…..this seems like a viable car!

Sources: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/11/toyota-shows-co.html
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/la-preview-toyota-to-display-cng-fueled-camry-hybrid-concept/