New Volvo 7700 Hybrid Bus Unveiled In Germany

Volvo’s new hybrid version of the 7700 bus was unveiled in Germany at the IAA Bus and Truck Show. While it’s not as exciting as, say, the new Volvo S40, it’s something. It’s eco-exciting… eco-citing. Lame?

Well, whatever, I think it’s interesting. This new version of Volvo’s 7700 bus will be 30% more fuel-efficient than non-hybrid models. It has a smaller 5.0L diesel engine compared to a regular 9.0L diesel Volvo 7700, but it’s built on the same platform. It’ll save on fuel costs, be able to fit more passengers, and have less emissions and vehicle noise compared to normal diesel buses.
Check out the unveiling:

Volvo website

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2009 Mazda2 Averages 70-hp and 60mpg, Still Has Performance Anxiety

Based on the compact underpinings of the Ford Fiesta, the 2009 Mazda2 micro wagon is currently under heavy evaluation to determine its potential for the U.S. market. Available in Europe with three engine options, a 74-hp or 85-hp 1.3L I4, 67-hp 1.4L turbo diesel, or a 102-hp 1.5L I4, it’s likely only the standard gasoline engines will be introduced to the U.S. Unfortunately, that means that we here stateside will miss out on the Mazda2’s most fuel-efficient offering, since the turbo diesel averages a staggering 65.7 mpg combined. The Mazda2’s 1.3L and 1.5L engines are nothing to be scoffed at though as they both boast impressive fuel consumption rates, averaging 52.3 mpg and 47.9 mpg respectively.

With impressive fuel efficiency and prices beginning at £8,599 [approximately $15,700], the 2009 Mazda2 has been doing wonders for Mazda’s sales as more and more drivers clamor for fuel sipping compact cars. Despite initial plans to release the Mazda2 in the U.S., Auto News reported that Mazda is now dragging their feet. Unafraid of stiff competition from similar models like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, Mazda is more concerned with how the Mazda2 will impact sales of their most popular vehicle, the Mazda3. Already precariously perched as a solid contender in the U.S. market, Mazda is concerned that the introducing the Mazda2 would hurt sales of the Mazda3, which is currently the company’s top seller.

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2009 Honda Civic Hybrid Gets A Facelift, Still Requires Beergoggles To Be Hot

As a part of the mid-cycle upgrade Honda is performing on its 2009 model line-up, the forgettable Honda Civic Hybrid will be getting some upper-class editions. Offered in basic budget trim levels before, the face-lifted 2009 Civic Hybrid will the option of leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Still priced below the Prius, the premium ‘09 Civic Hybrids will now feature Bluetooth HandsFreeLink mobile, and the entertainment system will gain a USB/iPod interface adapter. The biggest change, however, is the Honda Civic’s exterior revision.

While we realize that Honda is still smarting over their initial epic failure with the Honda Insight and we hate to kick someone when they’re down [no really, we don't like to do it], we have to say we’re rapidly losing patience with Honda’s lack of innovative exterior design. The Civic is an old favorite, so people humor it, but we seriously can’t remember the last time we saw or heard anything about a Honda Civic and thought, “Damn, that’s pretty cool.” In fact, Honda is becoming a lot like that weird kid everybody knew in high school who was always on the fringe of the cool crowd, just barely avoiding alienation as a loser. You know the kid, he played 5th string on the football team and was always the first one to get stupid-drunk at a party…he was humored, but never really respected. Well congratulations Honda, by continuing to be just another unremarkable sedan, you are rapidly becoming the kid who still hits on high school girls a full five years after he graduated.

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Prius Owners Aware of Elitist Image, Shrug Nonchalantly And Instruct Young, Supple Cabana Boy To Fetch More Grapes

According to a story run by FOX news, Prius owners are aware of their own pretentious, self-absorbed stereotype and are basking in the exclusivity. Ingeniously creating a way to worship not only themselves but also each other, Prius owners inspired the creation of Priuschat.com, a self-described online “support group”. The website provides several resources for Prius owners, including multiple tips for bagging out your Prius. One suggestion advised [which we quote verbatim], “Impress your friends by keeping your car clean with these WeatherTech Toyota Prius Extreme-Duty Floor Liners & Cargo Liner Mat.” In addition to hot-rod modification tips, priuschat.com also features - as the name would imply - a chat forum largely dedicated to allowing Prius owners to commiserate on the hardships of living amongst the wastrel dregs of society. As one poster on priuschat.com lamented, “I think that we Prius owners need a dating/whatever program, to hook us up with other Prius owners.” Vivid memories of repeatedly being shoved in lockers probably terrorized him, because the poster was quick to classify the comment as a joke, but did add that he does have a sincere “…inability to look at people with gas-burning cars as attractive.”

We are so stunned by the blatant arrogance, we can’t even think of a decent pedophelia-related retort.

[Source: Fox News]

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Tracking Your CO2 Emissions: Mother Earth Is Watching You

Meet “Green Wheels”,  a program that calculates the carbon dioxide emissions of individual vehicles. Tracking via satellite, Green Wheels compiles a driver’s CO2 emissions profile based on information recorded on speed, acceleration, braking, and steering.

Driver’s are then given a grade from A to G [mimicking the grading scale used in UK schools] evaluating the level of CO2 emissions their particular driving style produces. The program, still in its prelimary testing phase, was developed by the UK insurance company, More Th>n ["More Than"].

Keith Maxwell, one of the project suits for Green Wheels, said that although the program doesn’t offer a premium break for participants now, in the future it might. Rumors are also circulating that Green Wheels technology might also soon be used by United States insurance companies as well. According to Maxwell, “If someone is not accelerating, braking, and cornering hard, that tells us he is a better risk…there’s a demand for a product which allows people to learn about fuel efficiency, and benefit for us is that we can learn about driver behavior.”

[Source: Automotive News]

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