Chronicling the Ever-Changing Automotive Industry
Ford dropped a bomb on the hybrid car market earlier this year with the introduction of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Just to enlarge the size of the crater, they’ve announced that its base MSRP will be the same as the gasoline version of the MKZ, at $35,180. While not an insubstantial amount of money, it’s the first time a hybrid variant of a car hasn’t carried with it a multi-thousand dollar price hike.
Continue reading ‘Surprise! Hybrid Lincoln MKZ Price matches Gas version’
I’ve written about the upcoming 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid before, and even speculated on its gas mileage. Now it’s official! The EPA has run the new luxury hybrid through its paces, and certified it at 41/36 mpg city/highway. Those numbers match the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, its Ford-branded sister car.
Continue reading ‘Certified: 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Gas Mileage’
In a press conference this afternoon with Ford’s president of the Americas, Mark Fields, it was announced that the Mercury brand, in existence for the past 71 years, will be shuttered at the end of this calendar year. According to Ford, this allows them to enhance the Lincoln brand, with Lincoln-specific powertrains and vehicles, without straining the resources of the Ford brand itself, which has seen major growth in sales, customer satisfaction, and reliability over the past few years. Read on for more details.
Continue reading ‘Breaking News: Ford confirms rumors of Mercury shutdown’
So, you want to save the environment or lighten your gasoline expense? Naturally, you look to the many hybrid vehicles out there. Most of the major players currently have hybrid models on sale. In the near future, there will be a bevy of smaller players joining in on the fun. In the mean time, SFGate has ranked 7 of the most popular hybrids by the number of years until you “break even.” Click past the jump for more info.
Continue reading ‘SFGate Ranks Hybrid cars by Years to Payoff’
Part of Hyundai’s fuel-efficiency drive is the 2011 Sonata. Offered with only 4-cylinder power, as opposed to prior years when V6 engines were optional, the 2011 model boosts Hyundai’s corporate average for fuel economy. To appease buyers looking for more power, the 2.0T variant was announced, providing more than enough power without sacrificing at the pump. Now, the truly efficient Sonata has been revealed, the Sonata Hybrid. Click past the jump for more details and plenty of high-resolution pictures.
Continue reading ‘Hyundai announces Sonata Hybrid!’
For many years now, there have been hybrids. Each year, more and more automakers strap hybrid drivetrains to existing cars, and some even create new cars to host the hybrid goodies. Honda and Toyota have become famous for their hybrids. Then, something interesting happened; these same automakers started putting their hybrid drivetrains in more upscale vehicles. Lexus had a hybrid version of its very popular RX SUV and LS luxobarge. While the regular cars scored high marks for frugality, the luxury hybrids were more performance-oriented. So what’s going to happen when Ford takes its award-winning hybrid formula, used in the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, and mixes it with the Lincoln MKZ?
Continue reading ‘Preview: 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid’
