2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid

December 28th, 2008 by Justin

One of the legendary GMC vehicles has been the Yukon. The Yukon which is a huge SUV, is actually the smaller, sister version of the Suburban. And while the Yukon offers plenty of room, capability and functionality, one of the downsides of this vehicle is the poor fuel efficiency. However, over the years with advances in hybrid technology, the Yukon has been given a hybrid version from GM. It should be noted that while the Yukon has a hybrid engine, power and performance definitely do not lack. It should also be noted that fuel efficiency while not great, is much better than the normal gas version vehicle.

What’s Under the Hood of the 2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid
With the Yukon Hybrid, you should know that you don’t have to skimp on performance. This baby still offers a huge engine to handle almost any workload or family for that matter. It has a 6.0 liter engine that is a V8 and offers 332 horsepower- quite nice for a hybrid. The hybrid portion of the vehicle is GM’s advanced 2 mode hybrid system. It offers an electrically variable transmission and a 300 volt storage system. It should also be noted that there is an active fuel management system on board that makes sure this baby sips gas when advantageous- such as on the highway. Other tech specs requiring the hybrid system include a nickel metal hydride (NIMH) battery and a nice warranty that covers the engine and hybrid components for 8 years or 100K miles.

Regarding fuel efficiency, the Yukon Hybrid offers 20-21 mpg in city driving and 20-22 mpg on the highway. Not good, but also not that bad. The price for the 2009 Yukon Hybrid ranges from about $50K to $54K and it should be noted that the 2009 model is a carryover from 2008.

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Dodge Durango Hemi Hybrid

December 5th, 2008 by Justin

With large SUV’s getting massacred in the market, more and more car companies are moving in the direction of hybrids and fuel efficient vehicles. One of the more appealing vehicles now coming to market is the Dodge Durango Hemi Hybrid. While the word hybrid sticks out, for true 4×4 enthusiasts, you should know that besides offering the fuel efficiency of a hybrid, this vehicle is largely unchanged and offers plenty of power which includes a great Hemi engine and about 350 horsepower- which means you not only save on fuel and are greener, but still get some great thrills and utility.

The Engine and Transmission of the Dodge Durango Hemi Hybrid
Under the hood of the Dodge Durango Hemi Hybrid, you will find a great engine that sports a 5.7 liter V8 with a 90 degree DOHC. This powerful engine produces about 345 horsepower and 380 lb ft of torque giving you plenty of power when you need it. Matched with this engine is a very decent 4 speed automatic CVT transmission. Regarding the hybrid part of this vehicle, the Durango has a 2 mode hybrid system. It uses a pair of electric motors that are housed inside the transmission to provide fuel efficiency at speeds that reach up to 40 mph. This system works with the Hemi’s multi displacement system which offers lots of power whether the vehicle is working on 4 cylinders or 8.

All in all this vehicle offers plenty a nice gain in fuel efficiency. While not a spectacular gain, you will usually get about 20 mpg which is pretty good for a SUV of the size and power of the Durango. Regarding price, the Durango Hemi Hybrid is a little expensive with a base price of about $45K.

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Two Hybrid SUV Vehicles That You Should Avoid

October 4th, 2008 by Justin

One type of car or SUV that consistently gets good press are hybrids. How can you not like hybrid vehicles, they are good for the environment, better on gas mileage and good for technology. While there are plenty of bright spots with hybrid SUV’s not every vehicle is a winner- even if it is a hybrid. These two vehicles are actually losers when it comes to gas mileage and cost.

Lexus GS450H
For those looking for a hybrid SUV, but don’t want to give up on luxury, the Lexus GS450H may look attractive. After all, the exterior is sophisticated and the interior is filled with breathless luxuries. Unfortunately, the one reason many people purchase a hybrid (fuel economy) comes up short. For instance, compared to a gasoline Lexus GS 450 you only get about 3 more miles to the gallon driving the hybrid around. Add in the extra cost to purchase and maintain the vehicle and you actually lose in the end (by about $5,500). All in all the Lexus GS 450H while socially responsible is not really practical even for very wealthy drivers.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander has an excellent past and is one of the best 4×4 vehicles ever to hit the trails, however it’s hybrid version leaves little to the imagination and is not quite the most economical. While Toyota does get points for trying to put a hybrid engine into a behemoth size SUV, ultimately, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid fails to be economical or practical. With an average fuel economy of 24 mpg, you don’t save enough on fuel efficiency to make up for the extra cost of the hybrid technology. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a sticker price of $43,835, ultimately realizing a loss of about $1,250 over a five year period.

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2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

October 2nd, 2008 by Justin

For those that love the practicality of a SUV, but are having a difficult time swallowing the incredibly high gas prices, one SUV that has become popular is the Ford Escape Hybrid. The Ford Escape Hybrid offers plenty of function, great styling and an environmentally friendly hybrid engine. The Escape is back as a hybrid for the 2009 year and even though Ford has been having difficulty in this terrible market, expect to see much more of the Ford Escape Hybrid in the coming months.

The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid comes in four flavors, a 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive and a limited trim edition which also comes in a 2 or 4 wheel drive model. While the limited edition adds additional features and badging, it should be noted that the engines in all 4 of these models are the same. Equipped with a 4 cylinder 2.5 liter, hybrid engine that offers satisfactory performance at 94 hp. While you shouldn’t expect whip lash performance, this SUV is perfect for many commuters that require added functionality with very good gas mileage, plus the escape can be great for some tame off roading- especially with the 4 wheel drive models.

Gas mileage is very nice for an SUV. The 2 wheel drive models (both standard and trim) get a very nice 34 mpg on the highway and 31 in the city. However, you lose some gas mileage with the 4 wheel drive versions- 29 mpg highway and 27 in the city.

For those that are looking for an affordable hybrid SUV, the 2009 Ford Escape definitely impresses. For those on a budget, you can find a 2 wheel standard model for about 27K, however the 4 wheel drive limited will top out at about 35K.

Check out AmericanTrucks.com and their large selection of Ford Truck Parts.

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Range Rover to Receive an Electric Model

September 25th, 2008 by Justin

For off road enthusiasts one of the classic 4×4 vehicles is the Range Rover. It would be unthinkable to go on an African safari, trek through Mongolia or cross the dunes in Morocco without the Range Rover at your side. And while many now drive the Range Rover in suburbia hauling groceries instead of supplies, today Range Rover has made history by announcing it to will join the electric revolution. Range Rover is to produce an electric model in the upcoming year.

The Range Rover will not be a low powered, low distance vehicle that many manufacturers are currently producing. In fact, the Range Rover electric version is expected to achieve 200 miles on one single charge. In addition, it will have solar panels on the roof to help charge batteries, run the A/C and other interior amenities. In addition, Range Rover states that there are a whole host of technologies that they are in the process of researching and testing which might make their way into the vehicle. Range Rover states that this new electric vehicle will use about 80% less energy than a typical Range Rover with no reduction in power.

While this is definitely a step in the right direction, the first few production vehicles produced will be quite expensive and out of reach for most consumers. Range Rover is expected to release the first electric models for the price of $175K to $230K- easily twice as much as Tesla’s Roadster. However, for those into off roading and the environment, this is definitely a step in the right direction and will lead to lower prices and better technology for the many vehicles to come. While currently just a prototype, we look forward to seeing the new electric Range Rover in a couple of years.

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