Browsing Tag

nissan leaf

Behind the Wheel, Car Culture

If cars could talk, what would they say?

July 14, 2010
Have you ever wondered what your car would say to you, if it could? I sometimes catch myself talking to my car. I’ll be driving alone after a long day, and it only makes sense to strike up a conversation, right? Tell me I’m not alone. Well, let’s take a look at some of my clever sayings! 1Chevrolet Corvette: “I go faster on the weekends!” 2Nissan Cube: “I’m Artsy-Fartsy, aren’t I?” 3Hyundai Genesis: “I’m way cheaper than other luxury cars, and look just as good!” 4Chevrolet Traverse: “I’m not a minivan mom!” 5Nissan Murano: “Sleek, smooth and classy … I’m a catch!” 6Hyundai Sonata: “My gas cap is money! Up to 40 mpg on the highway.” 7Chevrolet Silverado: “I can pull more than you can.” 8Nissan Leaf: “I have no tailpipe. How about that?” 9Hyundai Accent: “Gosh, I’m so cheap I speak monetary.” So tell me … If your car could talk, what would it say?
Auto News, Behind the Wheel, Car Culture

Green vehicles: Who wins?

March 8, 2010
When you say electric vehicle, do you mean a little remote control car like when we were kids? It just doesn’t seem possible to have a vehicle run solely on electricity. When are we going to start flying to work? Back to future, here we come! Lately it seems that everyone is going green! So why not with your car? When hybrids hit the automobile market, it was the latest and greatest — interests were peaked and everyone was looking for a way to “be green!” Let’s get this straight: GAS: Uses high-energy fuel (gasoline). You’re probably driving one now. FLEX FUEL: An alternative fuel vehicle, blending gasoline with either ethanol or methanol fuel. HYBRID: Receives 40-60 miles on one gallon of gasoline. It uses more than one power source to run. ELECTRIC: An electric motor powered by rechargeable battery packs. Let’s take a look at what we can expect to see in the near future. The Nissan Leaf is the “world’s first affordable, zero-emission car.” The Leaf is a medium-size hatchback that will seat up to five adults and have a range of 100 miles. It will hit the lot later this year! The Chevy Volt is an electric car that creates its own electricity up to 40 miles(3), free of gas and emissions. After  which running on a single tank of gas for hundreds of miles. It’s an affordable way to power a car, averageing a dollar a day for electricity for the average American driver. All you do is plug it in at night, just like your cell phone, and you’re ready to roll! Look for the Volt mid-year 2011. What are your thoughts on fuel vs. hybrid and electric? Are you an obsessed “go greener” or just a environmentally-cautious citizen?