Tag Archives: hybrid

Hypermiler.co.uk and Car Magazine go “Coast to Coast” in Toyota Auris Hypermiling Challenge

23 April, 2012   Karl   No comments

Going from coast to coast might not sound like a particularly hard challenge, especially with the current crop of “super diesels” that have flooded the UK market. So what happens when you take a Toyota Auris Hybrid with its 1.8L Hybrid Synergy Drive, 130BHP and hulking battery packs en route?

Our challenge was to pilot Hypermile the Auris from Gt. Yarmouth to the Isle of Anglesey racetrack on just one tank, with the remainder of the fuel used to lap the “duck” short circuit.

As you can see from the video above, we managed to get there on the single tank and proceeded to put the Hybrid Toyota though it’s paces with very little regard to MPG. Its hulking weight and super soft suspension it made for some “interesting” laps on the rainy track,  mostly accompanied by an array of warning buzzes and lights as the car was pushed well beyond the limits of its usual day to day use.

For your chance of winning six months of free fuel (well £437) head on over to the Car Magazine website. Simply guess how many laps we managed to wring out of the Auris before we ran out of fuel. Before you ask… I will not be giving any clues!

I managed many hours Hypermiling the nuts off the Auris while being subjected to amazing uncomfortable seats, I’ll be putting together a mini review of my experiences of the Toyota Auris Hyrid on the challenge.

digg Hypermiler.co.uk and Car Magazine go Coast to Coast in Toyota Auris Hypermiling Challengefacebook Hypermiler.co.uk and Car Magazine go Coast to Coast in Toyota Auris Hypermiling Challengeshare save 171 16 Hypermiler.co.uk and Car Magazine go Coast to Coast in Toyota Auris Hypermiling Challenge
Read More

Toyota taking orders for the 83MPG Aqua hybrid in Japan

29 December, 2011   Karl   No comments

toyota aqua 83 mpg hybrid Toyota taking orders for the 83MPG Aqua hybrid in Japan

Toyota Motor Corp has officially opened the order books for its Aqua Hybrid in Japan. Toyota is currently the leading hybrid-vehicle manufacturer and is looking to build upon the success of the Prius with a smaller, more efficient variant of the celebrity endorsed ride.

Official figures show that the  mini prius Aqua should return in excess of 83MPG on the Japanese cycle test. However as with the Prius, expect Hypermilers to be achieving triple figures from the mini hyrbid before too long.

Much like its big brother, the Aqua features a slightly smaller 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with an electric motor powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery.  This delivers a combined 98BHP with a  0-62 time of just over 10 seconds.

The Aqua, which is about the size of a Toyota Yaris, has a base price of 1.69 million yen or £14,000, we expect that figure to be much more in the UK if it arrives on our shores.

Read more for the full press release

digg Toyota taking orders for the 83MPG Aqua hybrid in Japanfacebook Toyota taking orders for the 83MPG Aqua hybrid in Japanshare save 171 16 Toyota taking orders for the 83MPG Aqua hybrid in Japan
Read More

Volvo V60 Plug-in Deisel Hybrid, 285BHP and 149MPG

22 February, 2011   Karl   No comments

web630 63129vol 300x176 Volvo V60 Plug in Deisel Hybrid, 285BHP and 149MPGVolvo has released more details of its V60 Plug-in Hybrid that will be unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show next week.

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, developed in partnership with Swedish utility company Vattenfall, which will be launched on the market in 2012.

The 2012 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid promises a fuel economy of 1.9 L/100 km (123.8 mpg US or 149 mpg Imperial) with carbon dioxide emissions below 50 g/km.

Volvo says the car can be driven on diesel power alone, as a diesel-electric hybrid, or as an electric-only car – technology that no other manufacturer can currently offer.
The V60 Plug-in Hybrid features a five-cylinder 2.4-liter D5 turbodiesel, which produces 215 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 Nm. The turbodiesel drives the front axle, while the rear axle has ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) in the form of an electric motor producing 70 horsepower, which receives its power from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The car features a six-speed automatic transmission.

Continue reading to read more and watch the video

digg Volvo V60 Plug in Deisel Hybrid, 285BHP and 149MPGfacebook Volvo V60 Plug in Deisel Hybrid, 285BHP and 149MPGshare save 171 16 Volvo V60 Plug in Deisel Hybrid, 285BHP and 149MPG
Read More

Introducing the Prius V, Toyota’s new “Family size” Hybrid

11 January, 2011   Karl   No comments

prius v toyota 300x199 Introducing the Prius V, Toyotas new Family size Hybrid

The Prius V, enough room for the whole family

Nearly one million Prius Hybrids have been sold in the U.S. over the past decade, and with the third generation model sitting in every other politician and Hollywood starlet’s garage, its appeal is at an all-time high. In Toyota’s estimation it’s a great time for the Prius brand to expand and kicking things off is a new crossover with the kiddies in mind.

The 2012 Prius V is packing all the hybrid goodness of the standard Prius but with 34.3 cubic feet of space for your stuff, 38 inches of rear leg room and the fuel economy most vehicles can only dream of. The V is five inches longer and an inch wider than the O.G. Prius with the same 1.8-liter four cylinder hybrid power source, so it won’t match little brother’s 50 miles per gallon efficiency. Sill, the roomy MPV will net 42 miles per gallon in the city and an also lofty 38 mpg on the highway, or better than most anything on the road. The efficiency quotient is helped with a .29 drag coefficient and creative engineering feats like a resin panoramic moonroof that helps keep weight in check.

digg Introducing the Prius V, Toyotas new Family size Hybridfacebook Introducing the Prius V, Toyotas new Family size Hybridshare save 171 16 Introducing the Prius V, Toyotas new Family size Hybrid
Read More

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid crosses America in under two tanks… Hypermiling

06 January, 2011   Karl   No comments

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2011 300x225 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid crosses America in under two tanks... Hypermiling

2,269 miles and 59 mpg (US)

To drum up some attention to the forthcoming 2011 Sonata Hybrid, Hyundai took its new hybrid on a cross-country trip, from San Diego to Georgia. They made the 2,269 mile trip on less than two full tanks of gas.

This summer, I did my own cross-country excursion with my girlfriend. While we managed to get over 30 mpg in my four-cylinder Mustang over the course of 12,000 miles, we still had to fill up over 40 times during our six-week trip. That’s a lot of fuel, and a lot of money that could have been better spent elsewhere.

I wish I had one of these Hyundai hybrids. At the wheel of the hybrid Hyundai is none other than Wayne Gerdes, who also successfully drove a Ford Fusion Hybrid for over 1,445 miles on a tank of gas. He also drove a regular Sonata from New York to Chicago, managing to get over 66 mpg. This latest trip took the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid across mountain ranges and the American south, meaning this vehicle went through some pretty extreme temperature and elevation changes, which would explain why it “only” got 59.59 mpg across the country.

digg Hyundai Sonata Hybrid crosses America in under two tanks... Hypermilingfacebook Hyundai Sonata Hybrid crosses America in under two tanks... Hypermilingshare save 171 16 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid crosses America in under two tanks... Hypermiling
Read More
  • hypermiling newsletter mpg

  • Recent Tweets

    • Engineering students on quest for a 3,300 mpg vehicle to compete in 2012 SAE Supermileage Challenge http://t.co/HjyGEg6F
    • 500 followers! Thanks for all the support fellow Hypermilers!
    • Find us on facebook http://t.co/scuDxf5C Show me the Like #hypermiling
    • Keep the air-con off. Air Conditioning can decrease your fuel consumption by up to 10 percent in some cases. #hotcar
    • @drumajo That's a great result! Only wish my Volvo was capable of that, its just too damn heavy!