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[Haf-E]

Plug-in electric for "only" 22 miles, but 50+ mpg the rest of the time. So no big loss.

I really doubt that one could get 50+ mpg once the plug-in battery has been depleted - The 50+ MPG "real world" test drive porsche did apparently consisted of the invited journalists doing a specific 18 mile loop and starting out with a full battery apparently - so how much of the drive was powered from the battery versus the fuel powered engine?

Not including the electric energy from the utility grid in the stated MPG value is stupid. Using the same thinking I could say that my sprinter van gets 2000 MPG of diesel when I run it on B99 biodiesel...

The chevy volt drops to the 30's mpg once the plug-in battery has been used up - I bet the Porsche drops into the 20's under a similar situation. Remember the "100 MPG" plug-in prius and the "230 MPG" plug-in volts? Its possible to do if you never go very far and always plug it in... but under that circumstance you would be better off with an all electric leaf or a tesla.

 

[Kaisen]

I really doubt that one could get 50+ mpg once the plug-in battery has been depleted - The 50+ MPG "real world" test drive porsche did apparently consisted of the invited journalists doing a specific 18 mile loop and starting out with a full battery apparently - so how much of the drive was powered from the battery versus the fuel powered engine?

Agreed on all points. I assumed wrong without reading an accompanying article. I went back, read an article, and came to the same conclusion you did. It's rather misleading when not in context.

 

[haven]

Another area where buyers are re-thinking their choice of diesel is in the F250, 2500 HD pickup market. The new 6.2-6.4L V8 gas engines have 400-450 ft-lb of torque running regular gas. If you routinely need to tow 15,000 lbs, then a diesel is still the right choice. But if that's the case, you should be shopping for a dual rear wheel F350, not an F250.

The 2014 Chevrolet 6.2L V8 is looking particularly attractive, with 420 HP and 450 ft lb. it's very similar to the engine in the next generation Corvette.

 

[haven]

Car and Driver editors got their hands on a Chevy Cruze diesel last weekend. They managed to record better than 50 mpg on a couple of long highway runs. This reinforces the notion that the EPA underestimates the highway performance of diesel cars, while overestimating highway mpg of gasoline models.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-chevrolet-cruze-diesel-first-drive-review

 

[Clutch]

The 2014 Chevrolet 6.2L V8 is looking particularly attractive, with 420 HP and 450 ft lb. it's very similar to the engine in the next generation Corvette.

That engine is very attractive.

Chip, any information about what kind of mpg the new V8 ecotecs are going to able to achieve?

 

[Kaisen]

That engine is very attractive.

Chip, any information about what kind of mpg the new V8 ecotecs are going to able to achieve?

The 2014 5.3L V8 is rated up to 23 mpg, the only EPA rating that has been released by GM. The 5.3L is SAE rated 355 hp and 383 lb-ft torque, and rated to tow up to 11,500 pounds in a half-ton.

The 2014 6.2L V8 numbers were released today, as Chip pointed out, estimated at 420 hp and 450 lb-ft, and up to 12,000 lbs tow. I would guess it will be rated 19-20 mpg hwy. I'm also betting that the actual SAE ratings will be more than 420/450....perhaps 430/455....the Corvette LT1 6.2L is 460 hp and 465 lb-ft and there's not much difference in the motors.

The 2014 4.3L V6 is 285 hp and 305 lb-ft, tows 7,200 lbs. I would guess 25-26 mpg when the ratings are released.

 

[Clutch]

The 2014 5.3L V8 is rated up to 23 mpg, the only EPA rating that has been released by GM. The 5.3L is SAE rated 355 hp and 383 lb-ft torque, and rated to tow up to 11,500 pounds in a half-ton.

The 2014 6.2L V8 numbers were released today, as Chip pointed out, estimated at 420 hp and 450 lb-ft, and up to 12,000 lbs tow. I would guess it will be rated 19-20 mpg hwy. I'm also betting that the actual SAE ratings will be more than 420/450....perhaps 430/455....the Corvette LT1 6.2L is 460 hp and 465 lb-ft and there's not much difference in the motors.

The 2014 4.3L V6 is 285 hp and 305 lb-ft, tows 7,200 lbs. I would guess 25-26 mpg when the ratings are released.

Thank you sir. That 5.3 looks to be the goldie-locks engine.

 

[haven]

In Washington, DC, a diesel ambulance was on the road when the diesel vehicle's emissions system detected that the particulate trap was plugged. The emissions system caused the vehicle to shut down for a regeneration cycle, in which the particulate trap is heated to a high temperature and diesel fuel injected to cause a controlled burn of the carbon buildup in the trap.

Unfortunately, the ambulance was in the process of transporting a shooting victim to the hospital. There was a seven minute delay before a second ambulance could arrive and continue the transport. The patient died at the hospital.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...he-epa-caused-a-seven-minute-ambulance-delay/

Starting in 2008, diesel trucks have included DPF filters which require periodic regeneration cycles. Most of the time, these cycles occur automatically, without driver input. If the conditions required for a regen (generally, a period of driving at highway speed to heat up the system) are not met, then the emissions system flashes a light on the dash to inform the driver to perform a regen manually. If the driver doesn't comply within a few miles, the warning light starts flashing faster. Finally, if no regen cycle is performed, the vehicle's check engine light comes on, the engine goes into "limp home" mode, and a trip to the dealer is necessary to reset everything.

In the Washington DC case, it's not clear if the ambulance driver saw the warning lights, or understood what to do. It's possible that the emissions system was faulty in some way. An investigation is underway to sort it all out.

This is not the first time emissions control equipment has interfered with the operation of emergency vehicles. Since a fire engine or ambulance often idles for long periods at the scene of an emergency, carbon buildup in the DPF happens faster than in vehicles that are driven more. In 2012, the EPA modified its rules for emergency vehicles to avoid problems with shutdowns during emergencies. However, the vehicle owner is responsible for purchasing and installing the extra equipment necessary to take advantage of the rules, and many owners have not done so.

 

[Kohburn]

i still don't understand why they haven't done a diesel hybrid (i suspect the EPA makes everything involving diesel difficult and expensive) - especially in the Volt where the regeneration would be at the peak engine efficiency rpm, not needing a broad powerband or high rpm.

 

[haven]

Several 2014 Audis running the upgraded 3.0L V6 turbodiesel now have EPA ratings

Q5 SUV EPA 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway
A6 Sedan EPA 24 city and 38 highway
A7 Sedan EPA 24 city and 38 highway
A8 Sedan EPA 24 city, 36 highway

The new V6 diesel produces 240 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.

 

[Redline]

Good highway numbers on those sedans.

 

[SSF556]

i still don't understand why they haven't done a diesel hybrid (i suspect the EPA makes everything involving diesel difficult and expensive) - especially in the Volt where the regeneration would be at the peak engine efficiency rpm, not needing a broad powerband or high rpm.

Diesel is evil to the enviros....even in a hybrid situation the enviros snobs would frown upon diesel.

 

[JHa6av8r]

i still don't understand why they haven't done a diesel hybrid (i suspect the EPA makes everything involving diesel difficult and expensive) - especially in the Volt where the regeneration would be at the peak engine efficiency rpm, not needing a broad powerband or high rpm.

Diesel Hybrid Range Rover in works - http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/land...et-for-us.html

 

[haven]

Diesel prices are trending lower, as the price of unleaded regular is moving higher. At this point in time, diesel is actually cheaper than unleaded gas in Northern California. So owners of those big Audi and Mercedes diesels are smiling all the way to the bank.

 

[CJ8D]

diesel hibrid

There are a few good reasons why there are no diesel hibrids. 1 the frequent starts of a hibrid diesel would consume extra energy (glow plugs), and they don't run as efficiently cold as gas. 2 since gas engines when needed would be run at higher load, lower than average (for a non hibrid) vacuum they close the gap on diesel for efficiency. (One main reason a gasoline engine gets less milage than diesel is that the intake runs under vacuum and thus has to do more work just to "breath".) 3 since the USA (and 51st State Canada) has been the ONLY civilized country to burn high sulfer diesel for the last decade or longer, selling diesel to well healed tree huggers is a tough sell, "it smells!". 4 Since diesel has more energy per gallon and is in high demand worldwide for planes, trains, ships, trucks, autos, and homes the US is one of the few countries where the oil companys have had enough clout to keep the sulfer (stink) in diesel. Additionally, the oil companys have enough influance to skew the EPA tword gasoline cars 'cause what else and where else are they gona get rid of the stuff? Pour it on the ground like Rockefeller did in the 20s-30s? (lamp oil was the $$$ product). 5 Diesels cost more to build and would have less cost advantage than one might think, as a hibrid.