Future Chevrolets to Get New Small Gas Engine Family

Advanced electric and diesel technologies are promising for their efficiency, but the regular gasoline engine still has room for improvement. Chevrolet plans to roll out a new lineup of small gas engines by mid-decade that will use technologies like turbocharging and direct injection to increase gas mileage, performance and quality.

The engines are planned for global use and are being developed alongside GM's Chinese partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. The technology will likely make its way to U.S. as well. The new engines will be tiny, using three to four cylinders and displacing 1.0 to 1.5 liters.

The downsizing trend of small engines with technologies like turbos and direct injection is also being rolled out at Ford with its EcoBoost engine lineup. Chevrolet’s current turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine in the subcompact Sonic and compact Cruze doesn’t use direct injection and has a maximum highway mileage rating of 40 mpg and 42 mpg, respectively.

On top of increased gas mileage and power, these new engines are reported to have reduced noise, vibration and harshness — common traits in small engines. Chevrolet estimates more than 2 million examples will be on the road by the end of the decade.

Diesel Chevy Cruze Coming in 2013

If you want an efficient diesel powerplant in a compact Chevrolet, you’re going to have to wait at least 17 more months. The company confirmed today that it will release a diesel version of its popular Cruze compact car in calendar year 2013. That means it could debut as either a 2013 or 2014 model.

Currently, the Cruze has an Eco model that uses gas-saving features with a standard gasoline engine. When equipped with a manual transmission, it gets 42 mpg highway.

The Cruze is sold with two different diesel engines in Europe. One makes 127 horsepower and 221 pounds-feet of torque and the other gets 163 hp and 266 pounds-feet of torque. The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI sold in the U.S. has 140 hp and 236 pounds-feet of torque and gets 42 mpg highway.

Chevy hasn’t specified which of its engines it will use in the upcoming diesel Cruze, but we’d expect the automaker to go with the most fuel-efficient choice. Of course, by 2013 there could be an entirely new diesel engine to choose from.

Tell us in the comment section below if you would consider a diesel from Chevy.

2012 Scion iQ Starts at $15,265

When it goes on sale this October, the Scion iQ will not only be the smallest four-seater on the market, it will be one of the most affordable. Starting at $15,265 before $730 in destination charges, the iQ is one of the least expensive cars with an automatic transmission besides the 2012 Nissan Versa sedan ($12,760) and the 2011 Smart ForTwo ($12,490).

The iQ’s continuously variable automatic transmission is teamed to a 94-horsepower engine and gets an impressive 36/37 mpg city/highway and 37 mpg combined, which beats the ForTwo’s 36 mpg combined figure on premium gas and the Versa’s 33 mpg combined figure. That’s also the combined figure for the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent with automatics.

The iQ comes well equipped with standard air conditioning, power windows, keyless entry, Bluetooth for phone and streaming audio, USB input, four-speaker Pioneer stereo, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, 11 airbags, stability control, 16-inch steel wh1eels, folding side mirrors and trip computer.

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What's the Most Affordable New Car?

New Car Tracker: 7.15.2011

Summer has arrived, which means so have new droptops. The 2012 Fiat 500c with its large retractable cloth roof is now at dealerships, as is Nissan's convertible crossover SUV, the 2011 Murano CrossCabriolet. The battle of 40 mpg small cars continues with the 2012 Hyundai Accent, which is now available for sale.

As always, we remind our readers that we don't list rumored models, only confirmed vehicles and time frames.

New Car Tracker: 4.28.11

After the New York International Auto Show this month, it’s clear that 40-mpg cars will come out at a furious rate this year. The 2012 Kia Rio, Mazda3, Hyundai Accent and Honda Civic can all reach that mark, and all are either on the way or on sale now. To see which ones will be available sooner rather than later, keep track below.

As always, we remind our readers that we don't list rumored models, only confirmed vehicles and time frames.

2011 Ford Edge to Get 27 MPG on Highway

As the redesigned 2011 Ford Edge approaches its sales launch later this summer, Ford’s PR operation is gearing up. Today, Ford delivered three separate releases regarding the crossover’s EPA rating and a little more information about the Edge’s upmarket 3.7-liter V-6. 

The base SEL and Limited models achieve an EPA rating of 19/27 mpg city/highway with a 285-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 and front-wheel drive. The automaker has yet to release fuel economy numbers for the all-wheel-drive Edge. 

The new rating compares well against the 2010 Edge’s 18/25 mpg. The Edge’s closest V-6 competitors — the 2010 Toyota Venza (19/26 mpg) and 2010 Nissan Murano (18/23 mpg) — get similar gas mileage in the city, but the Edge has an advantage on the highway. 

In another press release, Ford unveiled that the 3.7-liter, 305-hp V-6, which is standard on the Ford Edge Sport (above), achieves an EPA rating of 18/25 mpg. Neither the Murano nor the Venza has a similarly powerful option. The Venza does go in the other direction and offers a four-cylinder option that gets 21/29 mpg. The Edge will get a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder a few months after the official launch and will likely achieve 30 mpg on the highway. 

The Edge goes on sale in August.

2011|Ford|Edge

What New Car is as Anticipated as the Next iPhone?

In mere minutes we’ll learn about the next-generation iPhone, which is surely one of the hottest tech gadgets of the year.

While cars are rarely so coveted, hot new models tend to be hard to find in the configuration you want and often have few, if any, incentives attached.

Which new car for 2010 (or the 2011 model year) are you most looking forward to? You can check out our most recent New Car Tracker for a cheat sheet and tell us know in the comment section below. Or if you’re lazy, take our poll in which we’ve selected a handful of our favorites.

2011 Buick Regal Gets a Nice Price

The all-new 2011 Buick Regal goes on sale in late spring/early summer, and GM has just announced a starting price for the CXL trim. This midlevel trim will be the only one available at launch. A turbocharged CXL will go on sale in late summer, with the rest of the lineup arriving as 2012 model year Regals in early 2011.

The starting price for the CXL will be $26,245 not including $750 in destination charges. The CXL turbo will start at $28,745. Both come standard with six-speed automatic transmissions, heated leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port and 18-inch wheels. The base engine is a 182-horsepower four-cylinder, with the turbo producing 220 hp. They get 30 mpg and 29 mpg highway, respectively. Full EPA figures weren’t announced. A six-speed manual transmission will be offered on the turbo, but not until after launch. No specific date was given.

The pricing is surprisingly good, even for the turbo model, as Acura’s TSX with a 201-hp four-cylinder and five-speed automatic starts at $29,310 and the Lexus IS250 with a 204-hp V-6 starts at $32,145. The slightly larger Buick LaCrosse CXL, which was redesigned for 2010, comes standard with a V-6 engine and starts at $29,645. While they may offer distinctly different driving experiences, we think many shoppers might look at the slightly less expensive Regal CXL turbo and be smitten.

More Buick Regal News

Toyota Bringing New 4Runner to State Fair of Texas

Toyota is introducing an all-new 2010 Toyota 4Runner at the State Fair of Texas in late September. The venue, which is often used by automakers to announce pickup truck news, should be just right for this truck-based midsize SUV. Toyota says the 4Runner is now “more rugged than ever” and “offers sure-footed off-road capability.”

Other SUVs this size are disappearing (Chevrolet TrailBlazer) or emphasizing on-road duty and moving to a unibody, or carlike, platform (next-generation Ford Explorer). The current 4Runner offers V-6 or V-8 engines and is available in rear- or four-wheel drive.

Details on the 2010 are minimal at the moment, but our sibling site PickupTrucks.com will be on hand at the State Fair of Texas when the 4Runner officially debuts.

Volvo S80 Refreshed for 2010

 
The S80 isn’t exactly an old vehicle — it was launched in 2007 — but Volvo has refreshed it for 2010. Given the age of Volvo’s flagship sedan, the changes aren’t dramatic. Like many cars, the S80 has seen sales fall lately.

Exterior changes include a larger, prominent “Volvo” badge on the front grille; in the rear, the “Volvo” decal is now spaced out and larger. Other tasteful enhancements include a bright chrome strip lining the front lower intake, side sills and below the taillamps.

On the inside, Volvo has added some metallic trim to the center stack to make it look more like the new XC60. There’s also a restyled instrument cluster and a brand-new four-spoke steering wheel. The automaker says the new steering wheel will find its way onto other Volvos down the line.

There are no mechanical changes to the S80. It can be equipped with an inline-six-cylinder engine, a turbocharged inline-six or a V-8. All-wheel drive is available on the turbo and V-8 models.

The 2010 S80 will be unveiled at the Geneva auto show in March, and will go on sale in the U.S. shortly thereafter. Pricing will be announced closer to launch. Check out some photos below.