The Nissan GT-R proves that the coupe is the best body style in the world.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)
I love coupes. I would go so far as to say that the coupe is the best style of car in the world. Limiting a full-size car to two doors may fly in the face of practicality, but it allows for much more body style than a sedan. Automotive designers get to play with the roofline and equip a coupe with real fenders, making for a sporty-looking package. The best a sedan can do is look stately.
Roadsters are loads of fun, but a soft top just says you're not taking driving that seriously. A coupe means business, ready to take on all sorts of weather, with a hard top that can be shaped for aerodynamics.
The only negative aspect of a coupe is the rear seat. Most coupe rear seats are a joke, cramped little spaces that serve as much purpose as your appendix, or a vestigial tail.
In honor of the coupe, I've collected our last 10 coupe reviews and added a little commentary about those rear seats. Enjoy! I certainly did while driving these cars.
How does the Leaf get huge miles per gallon without actually using gallons?
(Credit: Nissan)
OK, these ridiculous mpg claims are starting to get out of hand. Earlier this week, General Motors announced an estimated 230 mpg for the upcoming Volt extended-range EV--a claim that was later undermined by the EPA. No doubt attempting to steal a bit of GM's thunder, Nissan claimed (via Twitter) that its upcoming Leaf EV could do better:
"Nissan Leaf = 367 mpg, no tailpipe, and no gas required. Oh yeah, and it'll be affordable too!"
At first, we thought this was an odd claim to make, seeing that the Leaf is fully electric and (as stated in the same tweet) doesn't actually use gasoline or diesel fuel. Nissan, followed up later with another tweet stating that they were using a DOE formula to estimate the 367 mpg equivalency for the electric LEAF, but doesn't that just confuse prospective customers further with obtuse conversions?
What do you think, wise and noble reader? In a world where vehicles run on gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, ethanol, alcohol, natural gas, and electricity (to name a few), is it time for a new efficiency metric or should we stick with old faithful (if not sometimes inapplicable) miles per gallon?
Toyota is NOT going to be happy about this...
(Credit: Chevrolet/GM)For the last few weeks, we've been seeing a mysterious teaser ad all over the web. The ad simply displayed the number 230 (the "0" represented by a smiling electrical outlet) and a date. Well today's the day and the secret is revealed. The number 230 is significant because the Chevrolet Volt plug-in series hybrid has received an EPA estimated 230 city miles per gallon.
If that number sounds a little high to you, remember that for about the first 40 miles of driving on a full charge, the Volt uses no fuel. And once the batteries are low on juice, the gasoline generator kicks in to sustain the charge, not to motivate the vehicle--as is the case in parallel and two-mode hybrid.
The EPA has had to completely rethink its fuel economy standard for extended-range EVs like the Volt. For the Volt, that drafted number is based on combined electric only driving and charge sustaining mode with the gasoline generator running, although how much driving of each mode is still under wraps. The new draft works in GM's favor as the automaker now has bragging rights the the first ever triple digit fuel economy rating.
In addition to new fuel economy numbers, the new EPA stickers may also feature electric efficiency ratings. The Volt will consume 25 kW/hours per 100 miles.
Update: The EPA has subsequently stated that it hasn't actually tested the Volt to confirm or refute GM's claims.
Not exactly more than meets the eye...
(Credit: General Motors)
Capitalizing on the new Transformers film, GM has announced a Transformers Edition Camaro to coincide with this year's San Diego Comic-Con.
As an appearance package that can be added to the Camaro LT or SS model, the Transformers Edition kit adds black rally stripes, Transformers logo door sills, and Autobot badges on the front fenders, wheel center caps, and stitched into the leather of the center console. The kit doesn't interfere with the RS package accessories.
The idea is that owners can pretend to be Shia LaBeouf by riding around in Bumblebee from the Transformers movies while shouting, "No! No! N-no!" But as an admitted Transformers addict, I see a few inaccuracies. Prepare for Transformers-nerd rant in 5, 4, 3...
While cool to look at, the Transformers Edition Camaro is not exactly film-accurate to Bumblebee's vehicle mode. In the first film, Bumblebee is depicted as both a 1976 Camaro and as a new Camaro concept car--the latter of which is close to the production model, but not identical or available to the public. In the second film, Bumblebee's vehicle mode is based on the Camaro Z28, which has been canceled by GM and features--among other upgrades--a more aggressive front bumper. So, the Transformers Edition is close to both film versions of the character, but no cigar.
The missing feature from the Transformers Edition Camaro.
(Credit: Dreamworks)Oh, and there's the whole issue of it not Transforming into a 16-foot yellow robot with a penchant for blowing up houses, but let's not split hairs.
The Transformers Edition appearance package can only be added to Rally Yellow models (so, don't hold your breath for a red Cliffjumper variant) and costs $995 on top of the price of a new yellow Camaro, which is pretty steep for what's basically vinyl stripes and a few badges. But if you don't mind the cost, it is a cool way to get your Transformers fanboy on in a major way.
The Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell takes part in the Hydrogen Road Tour.
(Credit: GM)Electric cars have been getting plenty of buzz lately, but the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is still going strong. The California Fuel Cell Partnership, along with Powertech Labs, National Hydrogen Association, and U.S. Fuel Cell Council, will seek to regain the spotlight with a road trip to demonstrate the practicality of these vehicles.
The road tour route runs up the West Coast, from Chula Vista to Vancouver.
(Credit: California Fuel Cell Partnership)Twelve fuel cell cars from seven automakers will drive from Chula Vista, in Southern California, up to Vancouver, Canada, a trip of 1,700 miles. Vancouver was chosen for the destination because it will play host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, where a fleet of fuel cell buses will provide transportation.
Fuel cell cars that will be making the trip include the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell, Mercedes F-Cell, Honda FCX Clarity, Hyundai Tucson FCEV, Kia Borrego FCEV, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota FCHV-adv Highlander, and Volkswagen HyMotion. The cars, which have ranges of 200 to over 500 miles, will be relying on a mobile refueling station for their hydrogen needs.
The tour starts on May 26 in Chula Vista, and ends on June 3 in Vancouver. Stops have been scheduled along the route so the public can get a chance to see these cars. Check the Hydrogen Road Tour '09 Web site to see if there's an event near you.
The new Camaro gets an impressive cabin tech roster, including iPod and Zune integration.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)Microsoft employee David McLauchlan posted photos of how the Zune integrates with the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The news releases about the car from GM already confirmed that its stereo would feature iPod integration and a USB port, but this is the first we've seen about the Zune integration.
The pictures show a nice image of a Camaro appearing on the Zune's screen when it is connected to the car, along with the various play and navigation screens that show up on the car's radio display. We've never liked the aqua electro-fluorescent radio displays used by GM, but it is nice to see you can choose music much as you would on the Zune, browing artists, albums, songs, and genres.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
We spend a lot of time evaluating the electronics in new cars, digging through navigation system menus, hooking up phones and iPods, and listening to audio systems. But occasionally we get to put these very same cars on the track, to find out how their performance technologies work under stress.
This year, we drove a wide variety of cars on the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. There was the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Chevrolet Camaro. We had familiar rides such as the BMW M3 and Acura TL SH-AWD. Then there were the race-bred cars, the Audi R8 and Lotus Elise SC. We even had a Kia Soul out there.
Check out our gallery for performance commentary and stunning track photos.
This episode is all about your hands. So, put your clammy, pudgy, baby-like ham hands together for these handy gadgets.
Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 132 |
Mouse doubles as hand dryer, triples as seizure inducer
The new TV remote: Your bare hand?
DIY Microsoft Surface clone you can make on the cheap
Vibrating touch screen enables Braille reading
Apropos (of) nothing
Toto Neorest toilets, now even more high-tech, self-cleaning
Bling RX (thanks, Fernando!)
Chevrolet’s Captiva gets the Swarovski treatment. For some reason.
What the hell? (Gender gap edition)
CJ7: The ever-so randomly shaped MP3 player
Kill Me
Le Whif: Don’t eat your chocolate, inhale it
Fug!
Sony’s crocodile skin Vaio has teeth
GM gives the Chevy Volt its first auto show exposure at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. With a game-changing power train, the Volt is as relevant in Europe as it is in the U.S. The Volt uses a series hybrid system, using an electric motor to drive the wheels with a gas engine to generate more electricity once the car's lithium ion battery pack is depleted.
Under electric power alone, the car has a 40-mile range and can be recharged at any AC outlet. For many people, that range will cover their daily commute, which will result in no actual gas usage during a typical work day.
Click here for photos of the 2011 Chevy Volt at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.
Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 107 |
Pottery Barn makes 'Star Wars' bedsheets cool again--kind of
Moldy bag prevents your lunch from being stolen
Vacumm in style with the Issey Miyake + Dyson Limited Edition (thx Richard)
Hello Kitty Watch
Hello Kitty robot coming to clean you with cuteness (thx Sheala and Gregory!)
FUG!
Ferrari station wagon is a crime against cars
Kill me.
PMS Buddy isn’t at all offensive to women. Oh, wait…
What a concept
AI helicopters. Awesome.
Pink Watch
Memorex miniMove boombox
