Audi And Germans Lead The Way On 2009's Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles List

From the article:

"Actually, it's the German manufacturers that are leading the most market segments in terms of fuel efficiency on 2009 models. Across the new model year, six from Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG rank among the most fuel-efficient, beating every new model in five classes and tying in one. Japanese models placed at the top of only one category (but tied in two); one South Korean model was the best in its category, and one category and one tie went to American cars."

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2008 6:58:30 PM | | Votes: 2   

Just because it is a hybrid does not make it the most fuel efficient. Diesel technology has advanced to the point that the 335d sedan has the power of a V8 with a smaller carbon footprint than the 335i and has the fuel effciency of a 4 cylinder engine.

— BMW3forMe (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2008 7:18:51 PM | | Votes: 4   

BMW3forMe...

"Sarcasm intended."

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2008 9:45:09 PM | | Votes: 1   

bimmerfan25..... Although what you say is true, diesel, and the new technology they use is an immediate step in the right direction, and will help save fuel now.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2008 2:11:35 AM | | Votes: 4   

"its not what you drive its how you drive it" makes sense.

i have a prius in my family. should test it out against our jaguar sedan.

— Lexurious (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2008 6:27:27 PM | | Votes: -7   

From earlier this year:

"Seven of the top 10 most fuel-efficient luxury cars sold in the U.S. come from European manufacturers."

http://www.forbesautos.com/advice/toptens/top-10-most-fuel-efficient-luxury-cars-story.html

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2008 6:56:08 PM | | Votes: 5   

yep...the German's long list of diesel options easily help increase their brand's overall fuel-efficiency.

Lexus hybrids have encouraged users to take advantage of the power rather than just the efficiency, btw.

Now all the Germans have to do is improve the efficiency of their new clean diesels, which, btw, are rather gas-guzzling when compared to their predecessors.

P.S.: Many, if not all, engines with a direct-injection system have that annoying diesel sound; am I right?

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2008 7:55:07 PM | | Votes: 1   

"Lexus hybrids have encouraged users to take advantage of the power rather than just the efficiency, btw."


I wouldn't say encourage exactly. From a MotorTrend comparo:

"And despite being fitted with $3000 worth of active anti-roll bars, the LS 600hL seemed to roll as much or more than the other cars here, even when set to 'sport' mode (it's borderline nautical in 'comfort"). Charging hard up the hill depleted the battery quickly (actually, pressing the gas pedal on any type of road kills the battery quickly), and horsing the CVT through its eight virtual gear ratios with liberal doses of carpet-crushing throttle provoked an unseemly 'hybrid system overheat' warning. We didn't find the hybrid gear equal to sacrificing a golf-bag's worth of trunk space for and, after this session, all editors were ready to red-pencil the 600 badge down to a 500."

and

"4th place: Lexus LS 600hL
Overpromises and underdelivers on performance, fuel economy, and even luxury."

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0712_high_end_luxury_sedan_comparison/impressions.html

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 11/12/2008 10:21:55 PM | | Votes: 1   

Hey Lexurious,

You have a point. I recall a "Top Gear" segment which pitted a Toyota Prius against a BMW M3. (Keep reading. It's not as crazy as it initially seems.)

The Prius driver was instructed to drive his car as fast as he possibly could around a racetrack. The M3 driver was instructed to drive his car as hard as was needed to keep up with the Prius, but not pass it.

The Prius and thed M3 "raced" each other for 10 laps around a racetrack. (Jeremy Clarkson said the "race" was quite boring). The "Top Gear" crew then compared the fuel mileages achieved by the two cars. You would think that the Prius would win handily, right? Wrong!!

The M3, loafing along at a fraction of its considerable around the track as fast as its modest engine, tires and brakes would allow, managed only 17.2 mpg during this "race".

Does this mean that the M3 is more economical than the Prius? No. Clarkson summed up the point of this test with a line very similar to yours:
"It's not what you drive that matters, it's how you drive it."
You (and Clarkson) have a point. You don't necessarily have to buy an econobox. You can keep your larger, nicer, more-fun-to-drive car, but don't drive as agressively as you normally would, and your fuel economy will improve.

— Audiphile (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2008 9:43:51 AM | | Votes: 4   

Hey Lexurious,

You have a point. I recall a "Top Gear" segment which pitted a Toyota Prius against a BMW M3. (Keep reading. It's not as crazy as it initially seems.)

The Prius driver was instructed to drive his car as fast as he possibly could around a racetrack. The M3 driver was instructed to drive his car as hard as was needed to keep up with the Prius, but not pass it.

The Prius and thed M3 "raced" each other for 10 laps around a racetrack. (Jeremy Clarkson said the "race" was quite boring). The "Top Gear" crew then compared the fuel mileages achieved by the two cars. You would think that the Prius would win handily, right? Wrong!!

The M3, loafing along at a fraction of its considerable performanced potential, achieved 19.4 mpg.

The Prius, driven around the track as fast as its modest engine, tires and brakes would allow, managed only 17.2 mpg.

Does this mean that the M3 is more economical than the Prius? No. Clarkson summed up the point of this test with a line very similar to yours:
"It's not what you drive that matters, it's how you drive it."
You (and Clarkson) have a point. You don't necessarily have to buy an econobox. You can keep your larger, nicer, more-fun-to-drive car, but don't drive as agressively as you normally would, and your fuel economy will improve.

— Audiphile (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2008 9:49:08 AM | | Votes: 1   

Why? In a couple decades there won't be anything but diesel cars. Gasoline will be illegalized (due to poor efficiency and pollution). Its already coming in airplanes. 100 octane Aviation fuel is going away, and diesel aircraft are already flying on most continents, including US designed and built engines.

— DieselRules (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2008 3:02:58 AM | | Votes: 3   

http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/die_sparsamsten_autos.html


According to the information on the page that you provided the link for the Audi A2 uses only 3.6L per 100 km while the Prius uses 5.2L per 100 km. And the information in the links below says that the interior volume of the Prius is just 0.6 cubic feet (18L) larger than that of the A2.

http://www.okcarfinance.co.uk/loans/29963-Used-AUDI-A2+HATCHBACK-1.4+SE+5dr.htm

http://www.okcarfinance.co.uk/loans/31100-used-TOYOTA-PRIUS%20HATCHBACK-1.5%20VVTi%20T%20Spirit%20Hybrid%205dr%20CVT%20Auto.htm

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2008 8:12:00 PM | | Votes: 2   

AutoExpress magazine recently did a group test of diesel and hybrid cars and found that the 1250 kg Mini Cooper Clubman D got 57.0 mpg and 133g CO2 / km while the 1300 kg Prius got only 41.5mpg and 157g CO2 / km.


"In our hands, the Clubman averaged 57mpg – the best on test. Yet its styling, driving enjoyment and performance are all first rate. As with the Cooper and Cooper S, it has precise steering, great body control and bags of character. The engine is refined and never has to be pushed hard, while the ride is superb. BMW has got the balance of efficiency and pace spot-on – the Cooper D proves it’s cool to be green."



http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/221616/the_clean_machines.html#

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/front_website/facts_and_figures.php?id=221616

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2008 8:56:54 PM | | Votes: 1   

OK , maybe Audi A2 is almost as spacious , but it`s a lot lighter becouse of aluminium space frame , which is very costly for such a small car and becouse of this the car was selling badly . If Prius would be made from aluminium it would also be more economical but to expensive .

— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 11/14/2008 12:49:23 PM | | Votes: -1   

And Audi A2 3L accelerates to 62 mph in 15 s ! This thing almost isn`t going even with such a low weight .

— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 11/14/2008 1:02:03 PM | | Votes: -1   

From the article:

"To find the most fuel-efficient cars of 2009, we looked at each model's combined city and highway gas mileage provided by Environmental Protection Agency site fueleconomy.gov (or Edmunds.com, if the EPA didn't yet have the information), and checked those findings against the manufacturers' gas-mileage claims."

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 11/13/2008 8:18:49 PM | | Votes: 0   

TurboSpyder , the article is clearly an advertisement , it has many expressions advertising German cars . But good thing is that Forbes is honest and informed that the article is sponsored by MERCEDES-BENZ , you can`t say this about some automotive magazines e.g. auto motor und sport that I read sometimes .

— abcd (View Profile)

Posted on 11/14/2008 12:37:24 PM | | Votes: 0   

"gas mileage provided by Environmental Protection Agency site fueleconomy.gov (or Edmunds.com, if the EPA didn't yet have the information)"

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 11/15/2008 9:48:33 AM | | Votes: 1