Looking for a way to reduce your monthly bill at the gas pump? You’re not alone. All across the country and beyond, drivers stung by rising fuel costs are looking for relief, and many are taking action by trading in larger vehicles like SUVs for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Sales of the Toyota Yaris (above), for instance, soared by 46 percent in April, when compared to the previous year, while sales of the Ford Focus jumped 32 percent in April, according to reports.

It’s easy to see why — the Yaris with a manual shifter ekes out 36 miles per gallon on the highway, according to the EPA. Thanks to its 11-gallon fuel tank, you can fill it to the brim for 25 or 30 bucks or so, while drivers of big SUVs are shelling out $60 or $80 (or more) per fill-up. The Ford Focus manages a respectable 35 miles per gallon on the highway, comes with six airbags, and can be equipped with such high-end features as the Ford Sync voice-activated communication and entertainment system. These days, it’s a bargain in more ways than one (prices start at under $14,400), and it could represent the wave of the future.

In fact, many automotive observers and experts believe we’ve reached a tipping point, which arrived when gas prices crossed the $3.50 per gallon mark. Sales of compact and subcompact cars accounted for about 20 percent of total auto sales in April, a first for the industry, according to The New York Times. And many believe the trend will continue, with sales of small cars continuing to grow steadily while sales of larger vehicles, such as big SUVs, continue to shrink.

So what’s available in showrooms today for drivers who are looking for better fuel efficiency? Quite a lot, as it turns out, including some models you might not expect. The Pontiac G5, for instance, gets up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway, although Pontiac recommends premium fuel, which sort of negates any mileage benefits cost-wise (the car will run on regular gasoline but not at peak performance). The Chevy Cobalt with the 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine and manual shifter manages 33 miles per gallon, while the Mazda 3 four-door sedan with the 2.0-liter double-overhead-cam engine (above) gets up to 32 miles per gallon while still delivering a respectable 148 horsepower.

Of course, trendy cars like the Honda Civic Hybrid (45 miles per gallon on the highway), the MINI Cooper (up to 37 miles per gallon), the Scion xD (33 miles per gallon), and the venerable Toyota Corolla with the four-cylinder, 1.8-liter engine (35 miles per gallon) all represent good options for budget-crunching drivers. The fact that those cars are imports is not lost on Detroit, which finds itself scrambling as drivers migrate away from profitable SUVs to less-profitable compacts and subcompacts. What will this mean for American automakers, and how will they respond to this fundamental shift in buyers’ driving habits? Stay tuned — we’re about to find out.

For auto aficionados, March Madness of a different sort kicked off earlier this week, when the New York Auto Show opened it doors to the general public. And although it’s late in the auto show season, there were enough debuts and announcements left to make New York interesting, if not on the same level as some of the earlier shows this year.

Among other announcements, the selection committee for the 2008 World Car Awards tapped the BMW 118d Advanced Diesel, available only in Europe, as the World Green Car. Incorporating BMW’s Efficient Dynamic technology, the 118d Advanced Diesel comes equipped with a 143-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine designed for fuel efficiency and low emissions. Fuel savings are also provided by brake energy regeneration, which charges the battery when the driver applies the brakes or when the car is coasting or decelerating. In addition, electric steering and an Auto Start Stop Function, which shuts the car off at stops and automatically restarts it, help provide a 21-percent reduction in fuel consumption, as well as lower carbon-dioxide emissions, when compared to a typical diesel-powered car.

The 118d Advanced Diesel was chosen from an initial field of 10 cars by a selection committee that consisted of nearly 50 automotive journalists. The field of 10 was later narrowed to three cars, including the Smart fortwo cdi and the Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI.

A number of other cars debuted in New York, including the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, scheduled to roll into showrooms sometime next spring. The rear-wheel-drive coupe comes equipped with a 306-horsepower V6, a manual transmission, Brembo brakes and an independent rear suspension, promising drivers a true sport-oriented coupe that will be price-competitive with coupes from Honda and Infiniti, as well as Ford’s Mustang GT. The Genesis Coupe also will be available with a turbocharged four-cylinder.

Other debuts included the Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept sedan, which the automaker recently announced will go into production for 2010, and the Pontiac Solstice coupe. Officially a targa, meaning that only part of its hard-top roof over the passenger compartment can be removed, it’s scheduled to hit showrooms in 2009. Drawing its basic design from the Solstice convertible, the Solstice coupe should generate buzz with drivers due to its affordable price, rumored to be in the low to high 20s when it goes on sale.

What do the 2009 Nissan Murano, the 2008 Honda Civic GX, and the 2008 diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg have in common? They’ve all been singled out for recognition in various automotive categories — some good, some not so good.

First, the good news. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a non-profit research institute based in Arlington, Va., has named the 2009 Nissan Murano (above) the Top Safety Pick for 2008. The Murano performed best in front, side, and rear crash tests out of a field of nine mid-sized, four-door SUVs tested. Redesigned for 2009, the Murano now includes electronic stability control as a standard feature, which helped it claim top honors in the competition. It also excelled in protecting passengers from whiplash injury in rear-end crashes, and in protecting the head, chest, and abdomen in side crashes.

The Mazda CX-7 and CX-9 SUVs, as well as the Mitsubishi Endeavor, earned good ratings in the crash tests, while the Jeep Liberty, Jeep Wrangler, and Kia Sorrento came in at the bottom end of the scale.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, an independent, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C., has assigned environmental scores to all 2008 cars and passenger trucks, and has named the natural gas-powered 2008 Honda Civic GX as the “greenest” car of the year. The innovative Civic GX, which has won this award for five consecutive years, has a 113-horsepower i-VTEC engine that runs on compressed natural gas (which can be refueled at home) and is a near-zero-emissions vehicle.

The Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Smart Fortwo Convertible, and Toyota Yaris joined the Civic GX in the top five greenest vehicles for 2008.

At the opposite scale, the diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg was named the “meanest” vehicle for 2008, meaning that it’s the most environment-unfriendly vehicle. Diesel-powered cars from Mercedes-Benz, as well as a number of the world’s top exotic supercars, such as the Bugatti Veyron and the Bentley Azure, also received poor environmental marks.

There’s a new Big Three coming out of Detroit in the future, but these guys are centered all within Chrysler. At the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler debuted three new electric car concepts with appeal for a variety of consumer segments. The Dodge ZEO is geared towards performance enthusiasts, the off-road Jeep Renegade, and the stylish sedan-like Chrysler ecoVoyager. All three have a different type of electric powertrain featuring zero emissions and regenerative braking, with the ZEO fully electric and the other two fuel-assisted. Mind you, these are only concepts, and a lot is riding on the lithium ion battery technology that is still in its infant stages of development, but it does show a commitment to broaden the electric car audience, aimed at those wanting to remain eco-friendly without sacrificing comfort, looks, and performance.

The ZEO (pictured above), which stands for Zero Emissions Operation, is fully electric, powered by a 64 kwh lithium ion battery and 200 kw electric motor with 268-hp. The rear-wheel drive sports wagon hits top speeds of 130 mph, with a 0-60 time under six seconds. The battery maintains its charge for 250 miles. A raised rear beltine, windshield that slopes nearly the full length of the roof, and bulky 23-inch wheels give the ZEO a distinctive sporty look. Unlike other sport cars, the ZEO concept features four doors that open scissor-style, with seating for four passengers. Its nearest rival in terms of performance is the two-seater Tesla Roadster, but this electric sports car has hit some snags with its transmission and keeps pushing back its release date.

 
For outdoor enthusiasts who also appreciate the environment, the Jeep Renegade maintains Jeep’s reputation for superior 4WD off-road performance, but both its powertrain and materials are easy on the Earth. Its dual electric motors (one for each axle) power the car for 40 miles, but in combination with the BLUETEC 1.5-liter diesel engine, Chrysler claims the Renegade can go 400 miles on one charge, with top speeds of 110 mph. Its four-wheel drive capability, oversized wheel flares, and roofless dune buggy looks perpetuate the carefree spirit of Jeep. The foam seats and doors are soy-based, and the molded composite exterior avoids the use of harmful paint solvents, making the Renegade concept a total eco-friendly package.

Perhaps it’s a bit of a lofty statement, but Chrysler is branding its ecoVoyager concept as an “elegant American design” aimed at those looking to experience the luxury of their own “private jet.” Embodying luxurious refinement, comfort, and style for family trips, the ecoVoyager features a combination of a plug-in 200 kw electric motor and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The electric motor alone achieves 268-hp and goes for 40 miles on one charge, but the fuel cell extends that to 300 miles. Together, they propel the ecoVoyager from 0-60 in eight seconds and reach 115 mph. The powertrain setup resides under the floor to increase interior space, which is also helped by the one-box cab-forward design. A panoramic dual-pane sunroof and directional Direct Sound system improve the overall travel experience for all passengers.  

Chrysler’s ENV1 team, set up to focus efforts on development of electric technology, is hard at work trying to design a lithium battery pack that can both achieve the lofty goals set by these concepts and remain affordable. The high cost of current battery technology has left the electric car languishing on the development back burner for many carmakers, who have chosen to focus instead on alternative fuel sources. If Chrysler can make it work, these may be some of the few auto show concepts that actually see the light of day. 

With new fuel-efficiency standards recently mandated by Congress (see previous post), we thought we’d take a look at the mileage offered by cars currently available at your local dealer. According to the Energy Independence and Security Act, which was passed by Congress on Tuesday, Dec. 18, and signed into law by President Bush the following day, cars and light trucks, including SUVs, much achieve a fuel-efficiency standard of 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. Of course, many cars available today already achieve that mileage — and that number will continue to grow in the years to come.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the most fuel-efficient car currently on the road is (ta-da!) the Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle (no surprise there). The Prius currently achieves 48 mpg around town and 45 mpg on the highway. (If we all bought Priuses tomorrow, we’d exceed the government’s mandated standard in just a few days, instead of 12 years. But why rush things?) The Honda Civic Hybrid (40 mpg in the city, 45 mpg on the highway) also already surpasses the new government standards.

But you don’t have to buy a hybrid to be fuel efficient. The MINI Cooper (37 mpg on the highway), Toyota Yaris (36 mpg on the highway), and Toyota Corolla (37 mpg on the highway) are all high achievers when it comes to fuel efficiency. Of course, those are also all compact or sub-compact cars. So will we all have to start driving tiny cars (a bummer for soccer moms and drivers with long legs)?

Heaven forbid. Many roomier cars are already close to achieving the new standards. For instance, the Volkswagen Passat Wagon, with a four-cylinder engine and manual transmission, achieves 29 mpg on the highway — it just needs a bit of a nudge to reach that magical 35 mpg goal. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV, introduced a couple of years ago, and the Mazda Tribute Hybrid (pictured above), which is available this year in a limited production run of about 350 vehicles, both achieve 34 mpg, which is certainly in the fuel-efficiency ballpark.

So what are the worst gas guzzlers, according to the Department of Energy. Many are in the exotic car segment — the Lamborghini Lurcielago (just 8 mpg around town), the Bentley Azure (9 mpg), and the Aston Martin DB9 Coupe (10 mpg) are among the worst offenders. Of course, those are all 12-cylinder cars, and you probably wouldn’t jump in them to drive down to the corner 7-11 for a gallon of milk (or maybe you would).

Among the worst “normal” cars, gas-mileage-wise, are the eight-cylinder Cadillac STS (which gets 13/19 mpg in city/highway driving), the Audi S4 (13/20), the Saab 9-3 (15/24), and the Pontiac G6 (15/22). Of course, all those numbers will probably change for the better in years to come, as automakers begin to incorporate lighter-weight materials, like aluminum, rubber, and plastic, as well as carbon-fiber materials, and less steel into their cars, and seek to squeeze more gas mileage out of more efficient engines.

Also, keep in mind that the new mileage standards are fleet-wide, meaning that the average mileage of all of an automaker’s cars must be 35 mpg by 2020. That means you can still have a gas-guzzler in the crowd, as long as it’s offset by another vehicle that achieves somewhere in the vicinity of 60-70 mpg. And those cars may be showing up soon at your local dealer.

Before you pass judgment on the current Congress’ ability to get anything substantial done, a brand new energy bill has cleared both the Senate and House, and is likely to be signed by President Bush. I know it’s too early for April Fool’s, so you’ve got to trust me when I say that not since the 1970s has such a ground-breaking energy bill passed under the pen of the President of the United States. In December of 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, designed to increase fuel economy requirements, promote production of non-fossil fuels such as ethanol, and require more efficient energy ratings for appliances and lighting. And it appears to have the President’s approval, if not the entire GOP.

The focal point of the EISA mandates a 40% increase in fuel economy standards, from an industry average of 25 mpg today to 35 mpg by 2020. It also mandates a marked increase in ethanol production, from 6 billion gallons a year today to 36 billion by 2022, with two-thirds of that ethanol coming eventually from non-corn based sources such as switchgrass and wood chips.  

Of course the auto industry and its Republican supporters hate the bill, claiming it will increase car prices and limit vehicle selection, due to the necessary redevelopment of powertrain technology, hybrid engines, and use of costlier lighter-weight materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber. What they fail to see is that America’s adoration of the heavier and least fuel-efficient SUVs and pickup trucks was primarily manufactured by the auto industry and marketing agencies themselves, and not by any great need for such vehicles. Unless you require a pickup for work or live in a rocky, roadless desert, families (the biggest buyers of SUVs) can haul around groceries and soccer players just as easily in smaller, more fuel efficient crossovers and wagons.

The steel industry also fears a drop in profits as manufacturers move to other material sources, even though high-strength tensile steel is experiencing increased demand, because it is less expensive than aluminum (though not as lightweight). Both the car and steel makers claim that aluminum and carbon-fiber are less sturdy and safe, and that it will cost too much to invest in research into a strong, yet lightweight material.

Democrats hail the bill as an important step towards energy independence, even while they express regret that a Republican filibuster forced them to drop certain measures such as eliminating tax breaks for the big oil companies and mandating incentives to develop solar and wind power. The EISA is expected to reduce oil demand by four million barrels a day, saving the average consumer $700-$1000 a year by 2030. Republican detractors say it is not economically feasible in the long-run and that the ethanol mandate will increase corn prices and force farmers to become more corn-focused, thereby disrupting the food supply. They don’t appear to have a comment on the economic feasibility of a never-ending war for oil (hello, Iraq) or giant tax breaks for the richest oil companies (that’s you, Exxon).

 Despite the overwhelming worldwide influence of Ed Begley Jr., the electric car has yet to really catch on with supposedly gas-conscious, eco-friendly consumers. Yeah, we’ve all seen An Inconvenient Truth or at least clips of it on the Academy Awards, but will we ever practice what Gore preaches? As usual, it might take a Japanese automaker to get the ball rolling. Debuting at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show and set for production in either 2009 or 2010, the Mitsubishi i-MIEV will be an all-electric sports coupe. That’s right, a sports car, albeit one that only reaches 117-hp with top speeds of 112 mph.

The i-MIEV features an innovative engine and motor layout that Mitsubishi claims will improve sports performance and interior comfort. Equipped with three electric motors (one for each front wheel and one powering both rear wheels), the powertrain sits just in front of the rear axle, and the 330-volt lithium-ion battery packs are placed low under the floor, naturally creating a lower center of gravity. This, combined with the lightweight aluminum body and rear-wheel drive setup, actually enhances road feel and sporty handling. It also offers more passenger room in this tiny four-seater coupe. As with other electric motors, the i-MIEV features regenerative braking.

Road tests have shown a 90-105-mile driving range on one full charge. The charging process can take anywhere from four to 11 hours depending on the voltage, which could partially explain the reluctance to join George Clooney on the electric bandwagon. Long road trips are not an option with wholly electric cars. Working with three Japanese power companies, Mitsubishi is trying to develop a fast-charge system which will reduce charge time to 20 minutes, but that technology is still a ways off.

This literally green car (the Tokyo concept showed in a pearlescent green color) offers other energy-saving features, such as LED lighting inside and out, heat-absorbing glass, and plant-based interior materials. An optional photovoltaic roof features solar-powered cells, and a front grille fan will also be able to generate power. The i-MIEV is also a plug-in vehicle, with an internal charger that can hook up to any household outlet. For more information, check out the press release.

Thanks to an act of Congress adopted on Nov. 1, 2000, all 2008 passenger cars and light trucks will come equipped with a new standard feature — a tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS. Many higher-end models already have this feature, but it becomes mandatory for all 2008 vehicles, for a number of reasons.

One reason involves fuel efficiency. According to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, fuel efficiency is reduced by 1 percent for every 3 psi (pounds per square inch) a tire is underinflated. And experts estimate that 1 in 4 vehicles on the road today are running on underinflated tires.

Another reason is safety. Uninflated tires can result in skidding, hydroplaning, and blowouts, as well as loss of control of the vehicle, according to the Alliance.

A number of factors affect tire pressure, including slow leaks, tire damage, and changes in weather and temperatures. Cooler temperatures in the fall, for instance, can result in underinflated tires.

If one or more tires on a vehicle are uninflated, the TPMS symbol (above) appears on the dashboard to alert drivers. The Alliance has also created a new website, www.checkmytires.com, to provide information about the new system and familiarize drivers with the TPMS symbols. In addition, the site includes FAQs, how-tos, and resources for drivers who want to learn more about tire safety and fuel efficiency.

 John Delorean died two years ago, but the infamous jet-setter is probably one of a handful in history who left their indelible mark as a result of a miserable failure.  Credited with the creation of the first GTO, Delorean left GM to start his own company in Northern Ireland, building a two-seater futuristic car with the now iconic gull-wing doors, stainless steel exterior, and rear-mounted engine.  Only 9000 were made before the scandal and problem-wracked company folded, and 6500 remain on the road today, but nearly everybody knows what the car looks like, thanks to Marty McFly and the popularity of Back To The Future.

That movie alone has been responsible for keeping the Delorean alive in our hearts and minds, though a cult-like following still exists through the many Delorean owner clubs throughout the world.  With the current revival of all things ’80s (Police and Genesis reunion tours, anyone?), the automotive world itself is going back to the future with the imminent revival of a limited production Delorean.  It all starts in the inaptly named Humble, Texas, with a British ex-pat mechanic who honed his chops repairing Deloreans in his garage.  Stephen Wynne eventually decided to form his own company and, with John Delorean’s blessing, bought the rights to the name and logo, forming the new Delorean Motor Company in 1995.

He also purchased the Kapac Company, which had bought the inventory left over from the original factory in Northern Ireland, where the last Delorean rolled out in 1982 amid dismal sales and Delorean’s scandalous cocaine bail-out attempt.  Spare parts were purchased from other suppliers, and, 50 truck-loads later, his Texas warehouse abounds with gull-wings, headlights, body parts, and flux capacitors.   Since 1995, Wynne has been refurbishing used Deloreans for the bargain price of $25,000 and also offers to strip and completely rebuild one for $42,000.  Now, he plans to produce a limited number of new Deloreans (about one or two a month, or 20 a year) starting in spring of 2008.  Comprised of 80% original parts, the car will look pretty much the same as Michael J. Fox’s wheels, but with some minor improvements, such as enhancements to the problematic electrical system, a lightweight fiberglass undercarriage, and more durable stainless steel body.  A more powerful and suitable 195-hp engine will be offered as an option to the somewhat lackluster standard 2.8-liter, 135-hp V6 of the original.  135-hp in a Delorean?  Therein lies part of the key to the company’s failure.

One major snag for Wynne is the limited number of parts out there.  Though Wynne bought up the entire inventory from the old factory and existing suppliers, he still only has around 500 gull-wing doors on hand, meaning — yes, only 500 new cars.  This doesn’t worry Wynne, however, as he also bought the original engineering designs in order to reproduce the parts he needs.  The Delorean Motor Company has production facilities in California, Florida, Illinois, Washington, and the Netherlands, and eager enthusiasts, sporting short spiky hair, skinny leather ties, and pastel sports jackets, have already begun putting their names on the two-month waiting list.  That, as Huey Lewis would say, truly is the power of love.

The J.D. Power and Associates forecast released today tells us something that isn’t much of a surprise: the hybrid-vehicle market in the US is hot and getting hotter. We talk a lot about hybrids and other green approaches to driving here at the CarGurus blog, but a couple of other press releases that arrived in my in-box around the same time as the Power projections made me realize that this stuff is getting to be big business.

AutoTrader Publishing, it seems, is launching a spinoff called AutoTrader Green–which, according to the press release, is going to be devoted to “fuel-efficient vehicles….including Alternative-Fuel Automobiles (AFAs) such as hybrids.” AutoTrader, as you may or may not remember, publishes classified and dealer advertising in magazine form; their line of publications, including TruckTrader, CorvetteTrader, and SuperRVTrader, is produced and distributed locally across the US. It’s a solid cash-spinner for Atlanta’s Cox Enterprises, too.

This is a watershed moment, I think. You can’t get much more mainstream than AutoTrader, after all. If a savvy company like Cox thinks that there are enough people bringing a green emphasis to their car-shopping that they can support an entire title…well, something big must be happening.

Something less groundbreaking, but still very interesting, is this week’s launch of Earthcars.com, a green car “one-stop shopping portal.” This seems like less of a departure, because a lot of the interest in hybrids, electrics, and other green cars has been driven by (and expressed on) the Internet. Sites like Greenercars.org and AutoblogGreen.com are all green, all the time; most of the other Internet car sites (us included) devote a lot of attention to the green sector, and environmental websites like Treehugger.com cover new developments in automotive technology.

But the thing that made me sure that the market momentum was squarely in the green zone was the announcement that Toyota was introducing a new, bargain-priced Prius. They still haven’t broken the $20,000 barrier yet (so close, though!) but the writing seems to be on the wall: with more competition in the hybrid market, prices are bound to drop further. Then it’ll be a whole new playing field for the green car segment.

So, who knows? Maybe there’s a Toyota Hybrid X in my future…well, I can dream, can’t I?