General Motors cited when it announced on March 2 that it was temporarily suspending production of the car. But it does contain some bumps in the road of its own.

The Chevy Volt is a hybrid automobile that GM calls an “extended-range electric vehicle.” It is not intended to be used solely as an electric car; in fact, according to GM, the limited range of electric vehicles and the lack of charging stations make the Volt an ideal car because it has electricity for any short hops and a gasoline engine to extend the car’s range.

Bolling, who initially gave the Volt a negative review, tested the car for a week at the request of GM. He reported that it took 12 hours to charge and could only run for 25 miles before switching to the gasoline engine. He also complained in his Feb. 2 report that it ran out of juice in the middle of the Lincoln Tunnel on his way to work. He thought this was particularly disappointing for a car that cost $46,000 and was subsidized with taxpayer money. You can see Bolling’s report at tinyurl.com/7ou9s4c.

The writer of the viral email claims that it takes 10 hours to charge the battery so a 270-mile trip in a Volt would take about 14½ hours.

As Snopes.com points out, this is nonsensical. There is definitely a limited range on the electric motor, so you wouldn’t be stopping to charge it on a 270-mile trip. You would simply fill the gas tank. Snopes.com is a nonpartisan website that confirms or debunks rumors and urban legends.

The viral email goes on to say that since electricity costs $1.16 per kilowatt hour and the electric engine is 16 kwh, then it costs about $18.56 to charge the battery for that 25-mile range, or about 74 cents per mile. A comparable gas-only car costs about $15,000 and gets 32 mpg, which at around $3.19 per gallon (as cited in the email) is about 13 cents per mile.

Again, there are some funny numbers going on here. No one in the U.S. pays $1.16 per kilowatt hour. The average cost of electricity in the U.S. was $0.128 per kwh in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And Car and Driver magazine, which also tested the Volt, found that using standard household 120-volt power, it took about 13.4 kwh to replenish the electric engine. Therefore, 13.4 kwh at $0.128 per kwh translates to $1.72 to charge the battery and $.07 per mile to use the Volt electrically. GM spokesman Rob Peterson also responded to the viral email:

“Recently, there have been some numbers circulating online about the cost to drive the Volt that are flat wrong — either the person doesn’t understand how the Volt works or they are paying roughly 10 times the national average for electricity (in which case, they have other issues).”

Production of the Volt will be stopped from March 19 through April 23, The Associated Press reported. By the way, just days after GM announced it was pulling the plug for now.

Mixed Volt reviews underscore the need to understand the issues 

Recently it was Consumer Reports, now Edmunds Inside Line blog has posted a story about the Chevrolet Volt that could lead people to think it won’t make sense for them.

Not that Dan Edmunds lambasted the car, but he did make assumptions, while attempting to qualify: “The Volt’s cost and consumption story is complex, so I’m trying something a bit different with this particular monthly summary. It’s a work in progress.”

Sounds cautious, but he nevertheless prompted Chelsea Sexton (of “Who Killed the Electric Car?” fame) to write for plugincars that Edmunds made “worst-case assumptions,” plus other “flaws,” as he suggested the Volt is more costly to drive than two hybrid competitors.

“Their low-end mileage numbers are the worst I’ve seen so far in SoCal,” Sexton wrote, “which leads me to wonder if they were achieved while testing the governor.”

OK, we understand why people can get upset about something they care about, and agree Edmunds did come up with subjective results.

 

Review CHEVY CRUZE

One of the best compact car GM has ever made (been 25 years since I bought a Chevy compact). A friend (BMW 5 series owner) asked if I wanted to trade cars after he drove it. It is fun to drive, looks contemporary, has outstanding features for the price, and is averaging over 34 MPG for the first 1,400 miles of mostly city driving (47 MPG is best 50 mile average). The Eco 6M is one of the most sophisticated cars GM makes; virtually every aspect of the car was optimized for (MPG) performance to make it lighter, more efficient and more aerodynamic. These changes also improve handling. Hey now smile now.

Chevy Cruze Review – Appearance

The chevy cruze review indicates some of the various features of the car. Some people prefer to have this car unlike the other modes that are in the market. One of the reasons is the fact that it is quite affordable and various people have the ability to afford it and pay for the upkeep and service of the vehicle. This car is ideal for the middleclass society and has a strong presence in Europe and Middle East. The previous models from this company have enabled them to get this brand new model into the market. It is quite affordable since it has the latest style and fits the class life of many social elite in the society.

 

The S trailing the name of this Vantage stands for “sport”—hardly astonishing news—but the differences between sport and standard (one simply cannot employ so mundane a descriptor as “base” in connection with an Aston Martin) are a bit elusive. S means a little more motor, a little more brake, a little more rubber, a little less weight, some small trim distinctions, and, of course, a little more money.

The engine is Aston’s familiar 4.7-liter aluminum V-8, with improved intake airflow, new mufflers, and new programming that keeps the exhaust system’s bypass valves open longer. The net is 430 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque, gains of 10 ponies and 15 lb-ft. Although it’s a small gain in output, the S’s new transmission (more on that in a moment) should help it whittle the Vantage’s 0-to-60-mph time down from the 4.3 of the to about four flat. Beyond that, the menacing V-8 sounds that emerge when the bypass valves open up and the engine soars toward redline are almost worth the price premium on their own, with or without the extra thrust.

There’s just one asterisk. The single-clutch gearbox, chosen for packaging and weight-saving reasons, doesn’t quite measure up to the car’s other mechanical elements. Nor does it match the performance of the dual-clutch boxes found in many of the Aston’s peers. It offers two modes, sport and normal, but upshifts in the base setting are a little slow and convulsive, reminiscent of BMW’s unlamented SMG tranny. In sport, there’s more urgency, particularly when shifts are tucked close to redline, but even then the responses are a bit deliberate compared with something like the whap-whap shifting of, say, a Ferrari 458 Italia.

Jeep Liberty

The Jeep Liberty is a 4-door SUV offered in 4WD 4dr Limited , RWD 4dr Sport , RWD 4dr Limited , 4WD 4dr Sport , RWD 4dr Limited Jet , 4WD 4dr Arctic and 4WD 4dr Limited Jet . The powertrains include 3.7-liter V6 (210 hp) engines, and 4-speed automatic transmissions. It is Rear, part-time, or permanent 4WD wheel drive. EPA-rated fuel economy ranges from 15 mpg city to 21 mpg highway. The Liberty uses Regular fuel.

The Liberty has a 3,500 towing capacity.

Standard safety equipment includes No/no (Side air bags, front/rear), Standard Stability control, Standard Antilock brakes.

Competing models include Toyota RAV4 , Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester .

2.4L 4-Cylinder Engine with eAssist Technology or 3.6L VVT V6 Engine With SIDI

Optimize your driving experience by choosing either the 2.4L ECOTEC Direct Injection 4-cylinder engine with eAssist Technology that offers estimated fuel economy of 25 MPG/36MPG city/highway - or opt for the 303 horsepower V6 with EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 27MPG.

StabiliTrak® with Traction Control

Drive with confidence with LaCrosse’s StabiliTrak and full-time traction control. This system monitors the road and steering input to help LaCrosse grip the road when you need it most.

HiPer Strut Suspension

Short for High Performance, the available HiPer Strut Front Suspension integrates with LaCrosse’s performance systems so you can enjoy a smoother, more balanced and controll.