Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Trucks/Pickups, Green, Chevrolet, GMC, First Drive

With the 2009 editions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Hybrids just now beginning to appear on dealer lots around the country, we decided it would be a good idea to strap ourselves behind the wheel of the fuel-saving duo to see what fuel efficiency improvements we could manage in some typical city driving scenarios. Plus, there’s all kinds of techno-wizardry at play as soon as the driver’s right loafer touches the go-pedal, so we were keenly interested to see if The General was able to harness the power of three distinct power sources (one gas engine, two electric motors) while keeping everything smooth and controlled as one would expect from a $40,000 pickup truck.

Interested? Click here for the whole story on AutoblogGreen.

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.

First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Time Warp, Misc. Auto Shows

Last year, organizers for the Woodward Dream Cruise teamed up with Motorcities National Heritage Area to bring the classic car festivities all the way from the southern suburbs in Oakland County to Downtown Detroit. Ironically, it was the first year that the longstanding event officially entered the Motor City itself. Next year, the Dream Cruise will retreat back across 8 Mile and out of Detroit. Why? The economy, of course, as it seems the Detroit-specific programs didn’t earn enough money to repay the costs associated with promoting and running them.

The good news is that the 2009 edition of the Dream Cruise is still on schedule to run on a hot, humid Woodward weekend in August, and Autoblog will be there to bring you live coverage as always.

[Source: Detroit News]

Woodward Dream Cruise retreating back across 8 Mile originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying

As we reported yesterday, Consumer Reports‘ annual 2009 Auto Issue has just been released, and it seems that American automakers just can’t catch a break from the popular magazine. Included alongside the Automaker’s Report Cards are a list of cars that offer the best calculated value over a five year period. Hybrids, despite their initial cost disadvantage when the dotted line is first signed, managed to take five of the top several slots. The 2009 Toyota Prius Touring model bested all contenders as the top overall value out of all 300 vehicles CR tested for the ’09 season.

While perusing the results, we noticed the complete absence of any American automobiles on the Best Value list. We’d expect to see horrible performances from such vehicles as the HUMMER H2, which CR says will cost its owners $82,250 after just five years of ownership, but we’re a little surprised to see that cars like the Ford Fusion or Chevy Malibu couldn’t crack the top 5 family sedan list. Better luck next year.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Toyota Prius earns Best Value ranking from Consumer Reports, American brands fail to make the grade

Toyota Prius earns Best Value ranking from Consumer Reports, American brands fail to make the grade originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Geneva Motor Show, Auction Action, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert

Besides the gradual thawing of most of the country, March means the beginning of the Formula One season as well as Sebring, the Geneva Motor Show, the Amelia Island Concours, and NASCAR ramping up to full speed. Those events alone would be enough to sate even the healthiest automotive appetites, but there’s plenty more going on in the motoring world. As always, we tried to list the highlights as well as a few smaller events that we hope will be of interest to you. Feel free to use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Our Google Calendar and select listings are after the jump, all with links so you can get the full details. A few other March events worth noting are an homage to the Legends of Riverside; the Desert Classic Concours in Palm Springs; Hot Import Nights and DUB stops in L.A.; another Automotive World alternative vehicle conference; and a variery of local and regional auto shows under the Motor Trend/Autorama/World of Wheels banners. Some events are listed after the jump; all are in the Google Calendar.

As always, we want to give a shout-out to our two favorite sources; The New York Times automotive calendar for national and international stuff, and our buddy Dave Lindsay’s SoCalCarCulture pages for local stuff here in Southern California. Dave’s photographic coverage of these local events is fantastic. Check out the March event calendar we put together for you after the jump and start adding to it. Oh, and don’t forget we spring forward on the 8th.

Continue reading Event Alert: March Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: March Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sports/GTs, Etc., Government/Legal, Green

Former president Bill Clinton came this close to joining fellow politicos like Arnold Schwartzenegger and Gordon Brown as veterans of the Tesla Roadster Test Drive Club.

At a recent event put on by Shangri La Industries (a green building contractor) at Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport, Clinton was on “Guest of Honor” and speech duty, exhorting all that could be good for business and the planet. But just as he was handed the keys and set free to experience the electric thrill that is the Tesla Roadster, the Secret Service stepped in and said playtime was over, it was time to go.

Knowing how much the ex-Prez loves adventure, and if, as it was claimed, Clinton has been into the green thing for 30 years, well, we imagine he’ll be back for a spin.

[Source: Tesla Motors]

Dang, Bubba! Secret Service nixes Tesla drive for Bill Clinton originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Trends, Euro, Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

The European Union made noises last year about having the WTO verify that the U.S. auto industry assistance package doesn’t violate any international trade rules. Now French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he will ask the World Trade Organization to stick their hands into the matter.

Critics suggest that this could be a diversionary tactic – Sarkozy himself was accused of violating trade rules with his proposed assistance to Renault and PSA Peugeot/Citroen. Or it could be a way to see if both the proposed French and U.S. proposals will pass the WTO test. Either way, Sarkozy and other European heads of state will meet to plan a Europe-wide response to the auto industry situation, as the E.U. continues to mull whether to bring a formal appeal to the WTO regarding the United States’ bailout package.

[Source: Automotive News Europe, sub req'd. | Image: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty]

France’s Sarkozy urges verification that U.S. auto aid jibes with world trade rules originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, SUVs, Green, Videos

It’s not the love child of a Smart Fortwo and a Jeep Wrangler — it’s the TAC Motors Stark 4X4. While we’re not entirely sold on the looks of its four-piece composite shell, this off-roader is now aequipped to handle whatever terrain you might happen to encounter. Previously available with an ethanol-burning Volkswagen engine, power now comes from a 2.3-liter turbodiesel making 220 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a five-speed synchronized transmission that sends power through a Borg Warner transfer case back to a stout Dana 44 rear axle. A set of skidplates looks to keep it all protected.

Four-wheel independent suspension might make this more of a high-speed traveler than a slow moving rock-crawler, so we can envision plenty of Baja-style thrills behind the wheel of this beast. In any case, it sure looks like fun. Check out the galleries below and a video of the Stark in motion after the jump.

[Source: TAC Motors]

Continue reading VIDEO: More on TAC Motors’ Stark raving awesome Brazilian bomber

VIDEO: More on TAC Motors’ Stark raving awesome Brazilian bomber originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palestinian militants in Gaza reportedly fire five rockets into Israel territory but there is no indication of casualties.

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US Republicans broadly welcome President Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw most troops from Iraq by the middle of 2010.

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Another mass grave has been discovered in Bangladesh at the site of a mutiny by border guards this week which left scores of people dead and missing.

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