Fuel and Economy

Form Enhances Function

DETROIT, 2008-06-24 – Besides its bowtie insignia, the all-new Traverse crossover shares something important with Chevy’s midsize cars: an exceptional aerodynamic drag coefficient (cd) that enables great fuel economy. Its cd is only 0.33 – making it the sleekest crossover in the segment.

2009 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ

When it hits showrooms this fall, the Traverse is expected to have the segment’s best highway fuel economy (EPA certification is pending). This is because of its new, efficient 3.6L V-6 with direct injection technology, a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission and an exterior designed to cheat the wind and slip through the air with minimal resistance.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 19, 2008 -- Building on the success of variable turbine geometry (VTG(TM)) turbochargers and regulated two-stage (R2S(R)) turbocharging systems, the experts at BorgWarner (NYSE: BWA) have achieved another ground-breaking advancement in air management technology, designing a turbocharger that can withstand the harsh environment created by low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems to meet the world's strictest emissions standards. The company expects to see the technology introduced in the U.S. in 2008 on diesel imports from two European automakers.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 23 June, 2008 – Ford Motor Company has added a high-tech new automatic transmission to its line-up, one which achieves the fuel economy of a manual gearbox but with the comfort and convenience of a normal auto.

2008 Ford Focus

Highlights:
* Efficiency of a six-speed manual with the convenience of an auto
* As light and sporty as a manual gearbox
* Available on Ford Focus and Ford C-MAX
* On-the-road prices from £18,195

Ford ECOnetic Smart Driving Challenge launched with Energy Saving Trust at Eden Project's 'Sexy Green Car Show'

EDEN PROJECT, Cornwall, 22 May, 2008 – Ford Motor Company and the Energy Saving Trust today announced a nationwide smart driving challenge to find the UK's greenest motorist. Smart driving techniques deliver environmental, financial and safety benefits through reduced fuel consumption and a smoother driving style designed to reduce wasteful acceleration and braking.

Ford's ECOnetic range of low CO2 models, showcased at this year's 'Sexy Green Car Show', will go on to regional smart driving events this summer.

2008-05-21 -- Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, ethanol refiner and driver of the Corvette Z06 Indy 500 pace car powered by E85 Ethanol for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500, Emerson Fittipaldi participated in the third annual Ethanol Summit and panel discussion held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 22, 2008.

Participants in the Ethanol Summit included:

* Joie Chitwood, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Welcome to the Speedway
* Andy Miller, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (Taped remarks for broadcast) - Indiana Ethanol Industry

May 21, 2008 -- Despite cool weather along the East Coast over the past several weeks, Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to the summer driving season is upon us. Some may interpret recent increases in gasoline prices as yet another manifestation of a long-standing tendency for gasoline prices to rise dramatically in the days before the holiday weekend.

The numbers from the last few years do not, however, support this view. Daily gasoline prices from the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Fuel Gauge Report show that prices have actually fallen slightly in the week preceding the Memorial Day holiday over the past four years (2004-2007), after having risen earlier in the month of May.

Gasoline Prices Tend to Decrease in the Days Before Memorial Day

Omaha, Neb., May 2008 – The following is a statement by Toni Nuernberg, executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC):

"The total global increase in corn-based ethanol production accounts for only 3 percent of the recent increase in global food prices. This according to a statement from Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer in which he noted ethanol is not having a “major” impact on food prices.

After the hype, hysteria and spin of the ongoing “food and fuel” debate, these facts from the Council of Economic Advisors provide further proof the ethanol industry has been made a scapegoat for global issues beyond our control.

Caracas, Venezuela, May 21, 2008 -- Abdalla Salem El-Badri, OPEC Secretary General, who is currently on a week long working visit to the two OPEC Member Countries in Latin America, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Republic of Ecuador, was on Tuesday granted audience by President Hugo Chavez Frias, in Caracas. The meeting covered a number of topics, including the current oil market situation, the positive relationship between Venezuela and the OPEC Secretariat, and a follow up on some of the issues contained in the three Declarations of OPEC Heads of State and Government which were adopted in Algiers (1975), Caracas, (2000) and Riyadh (2007).

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2008 -- Clean diesel technology powered the top three winning vehicles and 12 of 17 entries overall in a national engineering competition known as Challenge X to design the green cars of the future.

May 13, 2008 -- The two-litre turbodiesel version of the 2008 Volvo C30, Volvo S40 and Volvo V50 is now also available with a fully-automatic transmission. This new Powershift transmission is a six-speed unit and it significantly cuts fuel consumption compared with a conventional automatic transmission.

2008 Volvo C30

"According to our calculations, Powershift contributes to a fuel consumption saving of about eight percent compared with a conventional automatic transmission," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Volvo Cars.

GRAND BLANC, Mich., 2008-05-13 -- With gas prices exceeding $3.65 per gallon on average, filling up could cost upwards of $50, $60, $70 or more. Goodwrench offers consumers helpful tips to improve vehicle fuel economy and help drivers get every possible mile out each drop of gasoline. One of the simplest ways of doing this is with proper vehicle maintenance and sensible driving techniques.

May 14, 2008 -- A new powertrain lineup, with a more powerful and fuel-efficient 2.5-liter I-4 engine and a new six-speed automatic transmission, leads the list of enhancements for the 2009 Ford Escape and 2009 Mercury Mariner models.

2009 Ford Escape

Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, the popular compact SUVs, boast better fuel economy, thanks to a combination of the new engine and fuel-saving six-speed transmission. Other fuel-efficiency measures, such as refined aerodynamics and new low-rolling-resistance tires, also enhance fuel economy while contributing to a quieter, more refined cabin environment.

2009 Mercury Mariner

3M Car Care’s “Elbow Grease Economics: A Study of American Driving Trends” Shows that Car Owners Are Driving Less and Tackling More Repair Projects

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 13, 2008 -- With fuel prices still on the rise, American car owners are rolling up their sleeves to save money on their driving and car maintenance expenses.

While Americans have abdicated much of their car maintenance and even cleaning to automotive service providers over the past two decades, a new study from 3M Car Care finds that the current economic environment is causing a dramatic shift in how Americans care for their cars.

Ford’s New 6-Speed Automatic Transmission Offers 4-6 Percent Fuel Economy Improvement

DEARBORN, May 7, 2008 – The big shift is on at Ford Motor Company, as the automaker plans to more than double the number – to 1.4 million – of fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions in its North American cars and trucks by the end of 2009.

2009 Ford Escape

Highlights:
* Ford will more than double the number of North American vehicles equipped with fuel-efficient, 6-speed automatic transmissions by the end of next year.
* By the end of 2012, 98 percent of Ford’s North American transmissions will be advanced 6-speed gearboxes.

It's What's Inside That Counts

Detroit, Mich., 2008-05-08 – With rising gas prices, today’s car buyers admit fuel efficiency and diversity is not just a necessity, it’s also fashion forward. If Americans had to choose between driving a car that was beautiful on the outside vs. one that was “greener” on the inside, nearly eight in 10 Americans (79 percent) who plan to buy or lease a car within the next two years would choose the greener car.

These and more compelling statistics are a result of a national survey recently conducted by Challenge X – a national collegiate engineering competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM).

100% Electric Zapino Scooter Now in Stock for Immediate Delivery

SANTA ROSA, CA, May 6, 2008 -- With Presidential hopefuls talking up a Gas Tax Holiday to help consumers with rising gas prices this summer, electric vehicle pioneer ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB) is proposing a permanent holiday from gas taxes by using electric vehicles.

ZAP electric vehicles use no gasoline so no tax need apply. To provide an additional incentive, the Northern California Company is offering a $100 rebate to customers who purchase its newest electric scooter, the Zapino. Now in stock and available for immediate delivery, the Zapino is a good way to beat record gas prices this summer, whether there is a Gas Tax Holiday or not. To receive the rebate, order online at zapworld.com through May 31st.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 5, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to direct customer feedback citing the prospect of rising gas prices as a top concern, Chrysler LLC today announces its own economic stimulus package: an exclusive gas price protection policy that eliminates the risk of further spikes in fuel prices.

Highlights:
- "Let's Refuel America" available throughout the U.S. exclusively at Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge dealerships through June 2, 2008
- Three-year price protection from volatile gas prices available on compact, mid-size and full-size models, minivans, crossovers and pickup truck models
- Seventy-six percent of customers cite rising gas prices as "top concern"

Segment Best 36 MPG On The Highway

DETROIT, 2008-04-29 - Consumers looking to squeeze the most mileage from every gallon of gas will find much to appreciate with the new Chevy Cobalt XFE. It delivers a segment-best 36 mpg in highway driving, outdistancing competitors like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

The ChevyCobalt XFE - for Xtra Fuel Economy - is on sale now and includes LS and 1LT coupe and sedan models with the manual transmission. It uses revised engine calibration, low rolling-resistance tires, a new, 3.74:1 final drive ratio and other technologies to achieve an EPA-estimated mileage rating of 25 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. That's an improvement of more than 9 percent over the previous highway mileage.

Pilot Plant Gasification Technology Traces to GM Ohio Foundry

MADISON, Pa., 2008-04-25 – General Motors Corp.’s role in helping Coskata Inc. bring its next-generation cellulosic ethanol to market traces back a quarter of a century to technology developed for a GM iron foundry in northwest Ohio.

Coskata announced Friday that its pilot plant will be located at the Westinghouse Plasma Center in Madison, the current site of a pilot-plant gasifier.

Gasification is the first step in Coskata’s process to make ethanol out of practically any renewable source. Plasma torches are used to super heat source material, such as agricultural and municipal solid waste, to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, which creates a synthesis gas comprised of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

2008-04-22 -- GM statement on NHTSA proposed 2011-2015 Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets: "GM intends to meet the tough, new national CAFE standards of 35 mpg for cars and trucks combined by 2020, a dramatic increase of 40 percent. NHTSA’s proposed rule lays out the first set of standards toward this target. GM will work with NHTSA throughout its rulemaking process on the yearly targets and the sensible mechanisms needed to meet this challenge.”

Chevy Volt Concept Car: GM is significantly expanding its development work on electrically driven vehicles like the Chevy Volt and fuel cell vehicles.

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