Fuel Efficient Luxury Cars 2012
Fuel efficient luxury cars may sound like an oxymoron but it really isn’t. While it is true that there are luxury cars that are gas guzzlers, there are also luxury cars that have a gas mileage equal to or even better than conventional sedans. Here are some fuel efficient luxury cars that get an EPA rating of 25 mpg or lower on the highway. Depending on the drive train, transmission and engine, the ratings could even be better.
2012 BMW 335d – For the 2009 BMW 335d, the best EPA rating is a 23/36 mpg. This is a car powered by a diesel engine that has an unbelievable cleaned-up emission for a diesel powered engine, ample low-torque and unobtrusive operation. In addition, the 335d possesses all the best handling and ride characteristics of the gas-fueled 3 series. Of all fuel efficient luxury, the 335d embodies the best combination of driving fun and efficiency.
2012 Audi A4 – The Audi A4 has an EPA rating of 23/30 mpg on a front-wheel drive and automatic transmission plus a stylish cabin and amazing plenteous power from its 4 cylinder turbo charged engine. With a Quattro all-wheel drive and manual transmission, the EPA rating is 22/30 mpg.
2012 Lexus IS 250 – The Lexus IS series is sports sedan that provides great competition to the best German luxury cars like Mercedes Benz and BMW. With its V-6 engine with a choice of automatic or manual transmission, it’s best EPA rating is an acceptable 21/30 mpg and it drives and handles beautifully on the road or on the tracks.
2012 Hyundai Genesis – Hyundai may not be an upmarket brand but the Genesis is definitely a fancy car that can give most of the luxury cars in the market a run for their money. It is also a fuel efficient luxury car with its EPA rating of 18/27 mpg which is a lot better than most luxury cars.
Photo by Automotive Rhythms
Honda Goes Electric
This year sees Honda roll out its first production electric vehicle. The 2013 Fit EV will be on the road in Oregon and California from as early as this summer.
It will look very similar to the gasoline Fit. Honda has obviously decided to stick with a shape that consumers approve of, and the company has simply replaced the gasoline engine with a 92kW electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. There’s also an on-board charger which users can program to take advantage of off peak electricity company tariffs. The charger can be switched on and off via the Multi-Information Display screen on the dashboard or via the Fit EV smartphone app.
2013 Honda Fit EV
Surprisingly, the new car offers much quicker acceleration than its gasoline twin, as it has 77 per cent more torque. And with the handling in mind, the driver can choose from three different driving modes. Normal is as you’d expect, but Sport is for overtaking – as there’s extra throttle response – and ECON adjusts all systems to work at their range-extending optimum. In Normal mode, the range limit is 123 miles, but this can be extended by 17 per cent in ECON.
The Fit EV is a limited edition production of just over 1,000 vehicles. They will be leased by drivers, rather than owned, at a cost of $389 per month. This includes maintenance and roadside assistance.
Honda has also launched its first plug-in hybrid – the 2013 Accord – which will be available later this year in the States.
And, with two electric or semi-electric vehicles coming out this year, Honda has also announced that its preferred supplier for home charging and dealer EV charging is Leviton Manufacturing Company.
Specialist home charging units are recommended for EV users as it guarantees a good 240V supply for the charging of their vehicles.
Unfortunately for Honda fans in Europe, there’s no news yet on when either the Fit EV or Accord plug-in hybrid will be made available in Europe.
Photo by ParagonHondaNY
The Fuel Efficient Cars of the Future
Although oil is used in all sorts of manufacturing processes around the globe and as many and varied types of fuel, it’s still the good old-fashioned car that really dominates our worldwide consumption. And it’s the USA that dominates within that sector.
In fact, gasoline (or petrol) consumption accounts for almost 45% of all oil usage in the USA. In turn, the largest oil-using region of the world remains North America (dominated by the United States), followed by Asia with Japan the largest consumer, then Europe where consumption is more evenly spread.
So it quickly becomes clear that any fall-off in demand for oil could really dislocate international markets. With oil comfortably over $100 a barrel, though, and with demand steadily rising from the world’s fastest-developing countries like China, India and Brazil as they play catch-up with rest, perhaps the rising oil price will simply continue.
On the other hand; car fuel technology is changing very rapidly indeed. Just about every concept car revealed in recent years concerns electric or hybrid cars. Such innovation is driven by the twin factors of ever more expensive oil prices – and the call for reduced CO2 and other emissions, as cars are the world’s biggest polluters.
But then as the Chinese middle classes burgeon, who are we to point the moral finger in trying to deny them a family saloon car or any of the other polluting luxuries we’ve been enjoying in the developed world for 50 years or more? So it seems the fuel efficient cars of the future will be a necessity all round and the manufacturers are gradually waking up to that –hence the concept cars. It also seems like the battery element of the drive will become increasingly important and the fuel drive ever less so. In other words, the future is some type of hybrid – but exactly what type and how big a role recharging will play versus refuelling isn’t exactly clear.
2012 Most Fuel Efficient Cars by EPA – Midsize Cars
The ranking for the 2012 most fuel efficient cars by EPA – midsize cars is based on city, highway and combined fuel economy estimations. In this category an automatic electric vehicle, automatic hybrid and a manual diesel vehicle top the list.
2012 Nissan Leaf
The 2012 Nissan Leaf plug-in hybrid top the list of the 2012 most fuel efficient cats by EPA, midsize car category with a fuel economy estimate of 106 mpg in the city and 92 mpg on the highway and 99mpg combined. It is the 1st battery operated electric car manufactured for commercial sale and the 1st electric car that is reasonably priced. It has a very appealing very contemporary exterior that is very pioneering. The 2012 Nissan Leaf is a 5-door hatch back that handles beautifully cruise silently and has ample space for from four to five passengers. For an electric car, the 2012 Nissan Leaf has plentiful torque, accelerates briskly and goes up to speed smoothly.
2012 Toyota Prius ( Hybrid)
The 2012 toyota Prius is a plug-in hybrid and the 2nd 2012 most fuel efficient cars by EPA –midsize cars category. It is also the top selling hybrid car in the US and in the world. For 2012 it offers an enhanced and novel infotainment system that includes an Entune set of connectivity elements. The 1.8-liter engine of a 2012 Toyota Prius hybrid is paired with the Hybrid Synergy Drive of Toyota that utilizes two motor generators that can generate power for the vehicle exclusively on electricity. The generator motors also increase torque to augment the power of the engine and is capable of recharging the battery pack while engine is braking or on overrun. The combined generated power of the hybrid system and engine is 134 horsepower and the EP fuel economy estimate is 51 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on the highway and a 50 mpg combined.
2012 Volkswagen Passat (manual, diesel)
The 2012 Volkswagen Passat fueled by a 2.0 TDI clean diesel engine ranks 3rd as the 2012 most fuel efficient cars by EPA- midsize car category. It has an EPA fuel estimate of 43 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 35 mpg combined. It has maintained its deluxe interior and reasonable price while providing a more roomy cabin.
2012 Most Fuel Efficient Cars – Two-seater and Mini Compact
With the price of fuel as volatile as ever, going up, up and up like a hot air balloon without any hint that it will ever stabilize in a more acceptable rate, it is but prudent to choose cars that are more fuel efficient. The choice is to leave your car and to take public transport that to some is quite unacceptable. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced but fuel efficient car, take a look at the following most fuel efficient cars classified by category:
Two-seater cars
2012 Honda CR Z – The new Honda CR-Z is a sporty two-seater that delivers a very commendable fuel economy rating of 37 mpg combined and 35 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway ( automatic, hybrid) Because of this it has been named by the EPA as the most fuel efficient 2-seater. With a starting price of $19,545 plus the savings generated by its very fuel efficient engine, a 2012 Honda CR-Z is the best buy for customers who travels light and are very cost conscious. In spite of its very economical cost, a 2012 Honda CR-Z is not bad at all to look at and such as pleasure to drive.
Mini compact cars
Under this category, two cars landed on top of the list:
2012 Scion iQ – The 2012 Scion iQ gets the recognition as being the 2012 most fuel efficient car for the mini compact category with a fuel economy rating of 37 mpg combined, 36 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. It may not be a very fast car, but it is the perfect car for city driving – perfect for slotting in on tight parking spaces and motoring through city streets.
2012 Fiat 500( manual) – the 2012 manual Fiat 500 ranked 2nd as the 2012 most fuel efficient car in the mini compact category with an EPA fuel economy rating of 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 33 mpg combined. It is powered by a 1.4 liter 4 cylinder engine that generates 101 horsepower and 97 lb-ft of torque.
