In the late 1960s, many VW Beetle sedans and convertibles were converted into Baja Bugs for desert or beach duty, or just to look cool. Like the iconic dune buggies conceived by Bruce Meyers, the Baja Bug originated in Southern California. Unlike dune buggies that had completely new fiberglass bodies on a shortened Beetle chassis […]
At its introduction, the 2017 Jaguar XE became this luxury automaker's new entry level model, but don’t let that 'entry level' distinction fool you. Available as XE 25t turbocharged and XE 35t supercharged gasoline variants plus a 20d turbodiesel, this sedan delivers a lot for its reasonable price of entry. The latter is offered at […]
Toyota’s 2017 Prius Prime aims to fill the needs of drivers who love the efficiency of the ubiquitous Prius but want the added benefit of a plug. As is the case with most hybrids, all-electric drive in the conventional Prius hybrid is limited to very short stretches with light pressure on the accelerator, otherwise it’s […]
Green Car Journal has witnessed the slow but progressive evolution of the primarily gasoline fueled, internal combustion car over many decades. This evolution has included much improved gasoline engines and vehicles, the use of alternative fuels, and cars producing low- or even zero-emissions. It’s been an uphill drive, too often stalled by special interest legislation, […]
We’re behind the wheel of the all-new Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, driving the future while recalling images of the past. That’s because Green Car Journal has been following Honda’s dynamic hydrogen fuel cell vehicle program now for some 15 years.
Honda’s Ridgeline has presented a departure from conventional pickups since its introduction just over a decade ago. Now, after a hiatus of several years, Honda has brought an all-new Ridgeline back into its lineup with features that make the model better than ever. Available as a four-door crew cab with seating for five, the second […]
The advantage of a year-long test vehicle is that we’re better able to sample how it performs under all types of road and weather conditions, plus the sometimes challenging situations that life throws at everyone. In hilly Southeastern Ohio on the edge of the Appalachian range, our long term Honda HR-V conquered snow and ice […]
It’s looking like Tesla doesn’t have a lock on the fast-charging that encourages longer-distance electric vehicle journeys. While clearly in catch-up mode, a number of automakers are partnering with charging providers to install fast-charge stations at key points along major transportation routes. The latest is a partnership between Nissan and EVgo that will enable rapid […]
Like most kids growing up in the 1960s, my first experience with an electric race car was at a slot car track as a teenager. They were fast…really fast if you used a hopped-up rewind motor capable of smoking competitors off the track. This was followed decades later with the full-scale, real-life electric cars I […]
A movement to reduce air pollution and encourage alternative fuel transportation to National Parks has been launched by the National Park Foundation, National Park Service, Department of Energy, and BMW of North America. The first of up to 100 electric vehicle charging stations in national parks and nearby communities has just been launched at Thomas […]
Volvo has marked the 90th anniversary of its first car rolling off its assembly line in Gothenburg, Sweden with the production of the first 2018 XC60 two-row compact SUV, available in T8 plug-in hybrid performance trim. The first generation XC60 – with well over a million units sold in its initial nine-year production run – […]
Honda sees long-term viability in vehicle electrification and is supporting this with its introduction of the Clarity EV trifecta. Honda is the first automotive manufacture to offer three variants of electrification on one manufacturing platform – in the form of its Clarity Hydrogen Fuel Cell, Clarity EV, and Clarity Plug-In sedans. The 3-in-1 Clarity launches […]
While hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles represent but a blip on the radar at present, there has been a 300 percent growth in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles sold in 2016, with an unprecedented 2500 FCVs making it to highways. It’s an important development in a field that has been striving to gain traction for some […]
For a decade now, Green Car Journal has been presenting its Green Car Awards™ at the Washington Auto Show to recognize environmental achievement in the auto industry. The magazine’s most recent press conference during the 2017 Washington Auto Show’s second Policy Day found automakers honored for their efforts in three important categories. Named 2017 Connected […]
The GMC Canyon mid-size pickup is a close cousin to the Chevrolet Colorado, built on the same platform and sharing much in the way of mechanicals while remaining distinctive inside and out. Distinguished as the only premium pickup in the mid-size segment, the brand’s DNA is clearly evident with the Canyon appearing a smaller version […]
An ultra-fast DC charging solution that can add hundreds of miles of range in under 15 minutes has been announced by ChargePoint, the world’s largest electric vehicle charging network. ChargePoint’s Express Plus uses a modular and scalable platform that’s aimed at charging centers and businesses located at transit depots or along major roadways or transit […]
BMW’s 330e iPerformance sedan adds yet another level of refinement to this automaker’s popular 3 Series along with a healthy dose of environmental acumen. The 330e plug-in hybrid combines a 184 horsepower TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder with a 76 horsepower electric motor to not only enable all-electric driving, but also some pumped-up performance. The combination delivers […]
The Ram ProMaster City compact commercial van and wagon, awarded Green Car Journal’s 2017 Commercial Green Car of the Year™ at the 2016 San Antonio Auto & Truck Show, is ideally-sized for city use where maneuverability and versatility are key. The ProMaster City’s strong suit is offering the hauling and commercial-use capabilities desired by tradesmen, small businesses, […]