In the past few months, staff members at The Automobile Red BookTM have had the opportunity to test drive a number of electric vehicles. From the Ford Focus Electric, to the Nissan Leaf, to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, to the Smart Car Electric; we’ve tried them all. And the one thing they all have in common is limited range. Discharge the batteries, and you’re dead in the water unless you have a recharging station nearby.

But there is one electric car out there that all but eliminates that range anxiety. The Automobile Red BookTM recently spent a week with a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. And we can truly say that this car “generated” a lot of “buzz” around our Kansas City-based offices.

In a typical hybrid vehicle, an electric motor powers the car at lower speeds and keeps things like the air conditioning running at stoplights. The gasoline engine only kicks in at certain higher speeds, or when the driver blasts off the line. That’s why a normal hybrid generally shows better gas mileage numbers for the city than the highway—the opposite of a gasoline-powered vehicle.

In the Volt, the gasoline engine never actually runs the car at all. In fact, if you take short commutes (about 30-miles) and plug your Volt into the wall outlet every night to recharge it, you could conceivably never use a drop of gasoline again. The car itself runs completely, 100-percent on electricity.

Where the 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gas engine in the Volt comes into play is when the battery runs out. Then, the engine will kick-in to regenerate power in the battery. With all this going on, you may be able to travel more than 300 miles with the help of the gasoline engine.

By just using the gasoline-generated power, you can achieve as much as 37-MPG. Plug the Volt in, run off the electricity, and kick over to the gasoline for half your trip, and you’ll be looking at 60-MPG. Or, charge it up and take it on a short trip where you’ll just use electricity, and you’re looking at 94-MPGe.

The Volt proved to be a good car. It was roomy, powerful, and soothingly quiet in electric mode. For such a radical concept, it was very pleasant to live with.

All of this technology does come at a cost. Our test vehicle had an MSRP of $43,880. That does not include the government tax credit of $7,500, and there may be other discounts if you do your homework.

People really seemed to be interested in the Volt. Everywhere we went, people would want to stop and ask questions. For a car that has enjoyed as much press as the Volt has the last couple years, people don’t typically seem to understand how it works. If you dare to drive one, make sure you know what’s going on mechanically, and what all the in-dash displays mean, because you will be answering plenty of questions.

The Red Book enjoyed our time with the Chevrolet Volt. It really is a game-changer in the realm of electric vehicles. You can still do your part for the environment, and your good deeds won’t leave you stranded.

If you’re looking for a hard-working, good-looking heavy-duty pickup, The Automobile Red BookTM may have found the vehicle for you. We recently spent a week test driving a 2012 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD Crew Cab 4X4 with a Duramax 6.6-liter turbo diesel. And we discovered a vehicle that is made to get the job done, and still have a little left for a night on the town.

Our test vehicle had some impressive stats. It is rated to tow 17,000-lbs, or 21,300-lbs with a fifth-wheel. It has a maximum payload of 4,192-lbs, which is heavier than most cars actually weigh. And it does it all with a 5-year/100,000-mile warranty on the powertrain.

The secret to the Sierra HD’s success resides under the domed hood, where you’ll find that optional 397-hp Duramax diesel. Torque is rated at a stump-pulling 765-lb/ft at 1,600-rpm. And this is all mated to a beefy Allison 6-speed transmission. A 6.0-liter V8 is standard.

You feel the big diesel’s power constantly. When the truck isn’t loaded, it pulls hard no matter if you’re at a stop or lay into it while cruising. And it takes a pretty heavy trailer to cause any serious disruptions.

The Denali package adds luxurious touches inside and out. People everywhere commented on the impressive chrome grill and trim, and they raved about the optional 20-inch polished aluminum wheels. For such a formidable vehicle, it had a very sophisticated curbside appeal.

The cabin is equally plush, with real leather and shiny simulated wood everywhere. And even though GM still uses familiar switch gear such as turn signal stalks and wiper controls, you won’t confuse this with your grandfather’s pickup. Our test vehicle was loaded with technology, including a very welcome backup camera, built-in GPS, and a full-scale infotainment system housed in an in-dash touch screen.

Of course, this is a serious work truck with a 10,000-lb GVWR, so you are going to have to make some concessions when you use it for day-to-day driving. Unloaded, the stiff rear springs leap off of every bump in the road. You will always find passengers that complain about how hard it is to climb into. And parking this vehicle in tight spaces or normal-sized garages is all but impossible.

Fuel costs may also be a concern. Your results may vary, but we were seeing just under 17-mpg on the highway, and around 12-mpg for mixed city driving. Now, it has a 36-gallon fuel tank, so it actually has a pretty decent range. And it is certainly much better than what a heavy-duty truck like this could achieve 5-10 years ago, but it’s no Prius. But let’s face it; when you buy something that can work as hard as this can, you have to expect to pay at the pump.

The other thing that shocked most people about this truck, even the most hard-core truck enthusiasts, was the price tag. At $62,859, you are approaching the rarified air that was formerly breathed only by General Motors vehicles such as Cadillacs and Corvettes. To be fair, you can get into a well-equipped Denali like this in the sub-$50,000 range, but options such as the engine, touch screen, and transmission really added to the bottom line.

This is the ultimate GM pickup. It is the truck Cadillac would build if they expanded the Escalade line into work vehicles. Nice doesn’t even begin to describe it, and it impresses anyone who is interested in these types of vehicles. A truck like this might not be for everyone, but if you need something like this, the GMC Sierra Denali 2500 would be hard to beat.

When it comes to small crossovers, most people think of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, Chevrolet Equinox, or Ford Escape. One vehicle that deserves a second look, but may not immediately come to mind, is the GMC Terrain. The Automobile Red BookTM recently spent some time behind GMC’s practical, light-duty hauler, and our overall impressions lean heavily toward the positive side.

The Terrain recently made headlines when the fancy 2013 Denali version was introduced at the New York International Auto Show. Our 2012 test vehicle was an SLT-2, which may not have been quite as up-market as the Denali, but it was quite posh in its own right.

The Terrain comes standard with a 2.0-liter, 182-hp four-cylinder engine, but our Steel Blue Metallic tester was equipped with the 264-hp, 3.0-liter V6. The V6 is rated at 17-mpg/highway, 24-mpg/city. We experienced about 19-mpg in mixed driving. That seems reasonable for a blocky SUV, and the extra power was a welcome addition.

For such a small package, the Terrain offers plenty of room for four adults or a large amount of cargo. The rear seat can slide back, providing copious amounts of rear leg room while still leaving a good amount room in the covered cargo area. Or, slide the seat forward, cut down on a little leg room, and have 31.6 feet of cargo room. Finally, you can fold down the rear seat altogether for the maximum amount of cargo space at 63.9 feet.

The Jet-Black leather interior in the test vehicle was quite attractive, with soft-touch materials, impressive stitching, and fine details everywhere you looked. The optional eight-way power seat and tilt/telescoping steering wheel ensured that most drivers could find their ideal driving positions. This interior wouldn’t look out of place in a much more expensive vehicle. You could see it in, say, a Lexus or Infiniti. It really is a nice place to spend time.

Our $34,255 test vehicle was loaded with technology, including GMC Intellilink. This feature is described as “hands-free smartphone integration with Bluetooth audio streaming and voice-activated audio controls.” It also had Sirius satellite radio and OnStar Directions and Connections with Turn-by-Turn Navigation. There is also an optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system, which would further cater to the already coddled rear-seat riders.

The Terrain was similar to most good crossover vehicles in that it drove like a car, but offered command seating like a truck. You only really notice the high center of gravity during high-speed cornering. For most driving situations, the car DNA outweighs the truck side. The Terrain is more of an urban commuter than an off-road champ, however, as it only offers 6.9 inches of ground clearance. Of course, that just adds to its comfortable on-road prowess.

We enjoyed our time with the 2012 GMC Terrain, and were sad to give up the keys of the versatile crossover when our week ran out. Whether you are using it to haul people or cargo, the Terrain offered a comfortable, convenient package with rugged good looks. This is the type of vehicle that should have a great deal of appeal to a great number of people. 

A couple of us from The Automobile Red BookTM staff recently had the opportunity to drive the soon-to-be-available 2012 Focus Electric. What is it like to drive an electric car? Read on.

The Focus Electric is much anticipated and already has a lot of brand awareness even before launch. It has been in testing for several years and Jay Leno had a regular feature on his show where celebrity guests would race a Focus Electric for fastest times. The price of gas on our drive route was $4.89 for regular. That certainly gets people’s attention as well. The timing couldn’t be better.

As is routine on a test drive program, we spent the morning in the classroom learning about product features and comparisons to other like vehicles. Suffice it to say the standard equipment list is long. Some of the more notable features include Sony® Branded Audio, HID headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 17” wheels, heated seats, rear camera with parking sensors, and dual zone heating/cooling. In fact, the order guide only shows one option: leather seats with a 6-way Power Driver Seat.

There is a smart phone app in the works that can be programmed to precondition the temperature of the cabin, check your battery charge remotely, plan a trip, as well as program the home charging station to find the optimum time to charge based on local KW rates. You get a 25’ cord that can be used to plug in wherever there is a 110v outlet. I asked if I could use an additional extension cord so as to reach my neighbors house while they were on vacation and the official response from Ford was, “They do not recommended using an additional extension cord to plug into your neighbor's house.”

When getting behind the wheel, you first notice the brightly colored twin LCD instrument displays and a large 8” LCD color touch screen in the center-stack. The interior is modern and the seats are very comfortable. To begin driving, merely press your foot on the brake, hit the start button and place in D and go. Not unlike the car you drive every day.

The beauty of an electric car is the torque is there instantaneously. You give it throttle and it goes. No hesitation like your usual small underpowered gas or diesel car, it simply goes when you need it to go. Ford has an economy coach programmed into the instrument display that provides continuous feedback regarding acceleration, cruising and braking. When you don’t stomp on the accelerator or brake hard, your instrument panel rewards you with extra trip range and butterflies. If butterflies annoy you, the instrument cluster display is programmable to individual tastes. I found it to be a lot of fun and engaging to maximize my battery charge. Others on the drive found great pleasure in trying to deplete the batteries before the next driver rotation. The brakes are regenerative, so if you lightly engage the brakes the batteries recharge. Part of our course included a long downhill run and by lightly applying the brakes quite a few extra miles were added. In fact, often times we would return the vehicle back to the hotel with slightly less charge than when we started. The route was about 15 miles, which included urban, suburban and highway. We drove the route for hours, rotating driving one of the Nissan Leafs about every 15 minutes. The Leaf was OK, but not as well-contented and noisy when compared to the Focus Electric. The electric motor whine was particularly annoying when driving along the Pacific Coast Highway back to the hotel.

One of the reasons to buy such a vehicle is that mileage is rated at 105 MPGe combined city/highway. MPGe is the EPA rating equivalent of MPG. Another reason to purchase is the Federal Government gives a $7500 tax credit and California kicks in another $2500. California also allows driving in the HOV lane and free parking at LAX and other places that are metered. The list is too long to post here, but if you go to www.DriveClean.ca.gov you can read all the latest regulations and incentives.

A battery electric car isn’t for everyone, as range is limited and they are expensive to purchase relative to fossil-fueled cars of similar size and content. My commute is such that one full charge would be sufficient to get me to work and back most of the time, but not always. Because of that, unfortunately, it isn’t on my buy list. The Fusion HEV may be just the ticket for my driving habits so I will anxiously await its introduction which is later in 2012.

When compared to the Leaf, the Focus Electric is much more refined and styling is modern and main stream. The Leaf was styled to yell, “Look at me, I have an electric car!” Pricing has been set at $39,995 but drops to $29,995 in California with qualifying tax credits.

For those that want to follow the latest social networking buzz, tweet @forddrivegreen and join Facebook Friends at FordElectricVehicles.

The Truck Blue Book® covers 10 years of medium and heavy duty commercial truck identification and values. The book includes VIN identifiers, component specs, optional equipment, mileage, GVW/GCW and factory MSRP. A subscription includes a complimentary Truck Identification Book®.

]]>http://www.pricedigests.com/price-digests/rss-comments-entry-15595145.xmlAutomobile Red BookThe Older Automobile Red BookPrice DigestsThu, 29 Mar 2012 13:01:01 +0000http://www.pricedigests.com/price-digests/2012/3/29/the-april-edition-of-the-older-automobile-red-book-is-availa.html319002:3339593:15595002The April 2012 edition of The Older Automobile Red Book^TM will arrive later this month and is now available to order. For subscription information and pricing, click here.

The Older Automobile Red Book^TM covers 11 years, beyond The Automobile Red Book^TM, of automobile/light truck identification with high/low values, offering the most complete listing of older vehicles available. It also includes VIN identifiers, major options, MSRP and GVW.

Since 1911, The Automobile Red Book^TM has been providing automotive professionals with detailed comprehensive valuation and identification information. The book covers eleven years of automobile/light truck identification and values, containing 40% more models than our competition. It also includes VIN identifiers, mileage, options, factory SRP, GVWs and regional classifications.

The Automobile Red Book recently had the opportunity to wring-out a 2013 Malibu Eco. The week-long test revealed a car that was rewarding to drive, impressive to its passengers, and light on fuel consumption. General Motors continues to make strides in vehicle quality and desirability, and this latest offering from the bowtie division is a great example of that progress.

Built at the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kan., the 2013 Malibu takes some of its exterior styling cues from the popular Camaro. From the four rectangular taillights to the low, bulked-up beak, the Malibu imparts a bit of sportiness to the everyday midsized sedan.

The interior is probably the most impressive part of the new ‘Bu. The attention to detail in the instrument panel and wraparound door panels is phenomenal. There is a lot going on here—basketball-like texturing on soft surfaces, chrome accents, a painted center stack bezel, faux wood—but somehow it all comes together in a coherent package. The cool blue lighting, especially in places like the accent panel in front of the passenger, gives the new Malibu a modern, almost nightclub-like atmosphere.

Later in the summer the Malibu will be available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four, but the initial vehicles like our tester are equipped with a 182-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder paired with a 15-hp electric motor. This combination is the basis for the “Eco” moniker, and while it isn’t exactly a hybrid per se, it is stingy at the gas pump.

Chevrolet calls this setup “eAssist.” The rear-mounted lithium-ion battery pack harnesses energy from the braking system when you bring the car to a stop, then the charged-up battery runs an electric motor that assists the gasoline engine when it’s time to go. Also, the engine shuts off completely when the car comes to a complete stop, and the accessories are run off of the battery pack until you take your foot off the brake.

The Eco also receives low-resistance tires, lightweight aluminum bits like the hood, and even lighter carpeting and dashboard materials. You might not even notice these features, but they all work toward the goal of better fuel economy.

The EPA ratings for the new Malibu Eco are 25-mpg in the city, 37-mpg highway. Our test car observed a city/highway average of about 28-mpg according to the on-board computer, but that was with a week’s worth of relatively choppy stop-and-go daily commuting.

The battery pack and electric motor is located in the trunk behind the seat. Trunk space is limited to 14.3-cubic-feet with this setup, and it severely limits the pass-through feature with the rear seat. Such is the price one pays for decreased fuel consumption. If you need the maximum trunk space, you’ll have to settle for a non-eAssist model later this summer.

In contrast to its frugal intentions, the 2013 Malibu Eco is pretty rewarding to drive. From the seat of your pants it accelerates as if it has a six-cylinder engine, and it’ll easily cruise at 75-80-mph without subjecting you to frequent downshifts in the six-speed automatic transmission. Handling is modern and tight, and it manages to find a good balance between not feeling wallowy while still eliciting confidence in the turns.

Our test car came in at just under $30,000, and included a $1,300 leather interior option and a premium Pioneer stereo system. It also featured the Chevrolet “MyLink” infotainment system, which syncs-up everything from your favorite Sirius radio stations, to your Pandora Internet Radio selections, to the music you have stored on your Bluetooth-enabled smart phone.

If Chevrolet is judged solely on the quality of its products, it should get strong marks for the 2013 Malibu. Sometimes people seem to automatically replace their family vehicles with another Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, but the technologically advanced, American-built Malibu is definitely worth a test drive.

A couple of us from The Auto Red Book® staff recently had the opportunity to drive the soon-to-be-available 2013 MKS (Sedan) and MKT (Touring Crossover). We have been watching the transformation of Ford vehicles up close over the years and were very curious to know what plans were in store for these newest Lincolns. Lincoln gave its customers exactly what they wanted for many years, however, when the average Lincoln owner is of the age where they have bought their last car, something has to give.

Lincoln decided to go after the more discerning customer, a customer who demands much more from their personal transportation than in the past. Gone are the Town Cars and popular livery vehicles that previously defined the brand, as now there is a new focus that includes an emphasis on driving dynamics, along with comfort and safety, plus distinctive looks.

To begin, our group logged some classroom time learning about all the new enhancements and how they compared to competitive vehicles. They benchmarked the best. There are numerous systems that respond to and even predict and warn the driver about potential negative situations. These safety systems include but are not limited to: blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control, curve control, cross traffic alert, collision warning with brake support, Lane Keeping System and Torque Vectoring Control which improves corner capability when accelerating.

These systems work seamlessly behind the scenes to provide a responsive, agile and comfortably controlled ride.

The adaptive cruise works particularly well. On one of our drives in years past we tested a competitive vehicle with a $7,000 electronics package that included a stereo and something called intelligent cruise control. The cruise control almost took us into the back of a semi trailer before I chickened out and tapped the brakes to shut off the cruise. I guess it didn’t read the high bumper on the trailer very well. The Lincoln system worked as it should, maintaining a driver-adjustable comfortable distance.

The first leg of our drive took us up the Pacific Coast Highway, then we veered off to the canyons so that we could experience some winding roads with 100 ft. drop-offs. Our hosts wanted us to experience their new cars in circumstances that would adequately test these new and upgraded systems. We started out driving a 2012 MKS and I remember thinking “This is nice, nothing wrong with this car.” It handled everything I threw at it and it was fine. Then I drove the 2013 on the same course and was surprised at how much more in control I felt at speeds I wasn’t as comfortable driving as in the 2012. I can’t really explain how all these systems were working behind the scenes around all these cliffs, only that I felt in complete control the whole time. The 365 H.P. engine mated to the electronically-controlled six-speed transmitting power to all four wheels gave this car a solid and tight feel. We also drove the MKT around the same course and it was every bit as tight as the MKS, and for a vehicle that looks big it sure didn’t drive big.

Our drive rotation included some competitive vehicles. The Lincoln held its own in every measurable way even against vehicles that cost much more. One of the competitive vehicles in the rotation was simply awful with inadequate power, uncomfortable and noisy with over-assisted steering, plus sloppy shifting transmission. Oh yeah, it actually cost more than the MKS.

Lincoln is a brand that Ford brass has publicly committed to re-invent and revitalize and is working hard to change the image of overstuffed sofas on wheels. With vehicles like the new MKS and MKT, that image will eventually fade away and Lincoln will once again reclaim their place among the best in luxury. This is an excellent example and we look forward to what Lincoln has in store for us in the future.

On The Cover Review: Volvo Concept You

Editor's Note: Each year, The Automobile Red Book visits the prestigious North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Thanks to worldwide coverage, the NAIAS draws the latest and greatest from car and truck manufacturers around the globe. Many of them use this venue to showcase their newest concept cars. Although not available to the public, these cars often predict the styles and trends that may hit the streets in the near future. This is the seventh in a series of The Automobile Red Book’s annual review of some of the best concepts from COBO Hall.

The Volvo Concept You actually first appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011, but it resurfaced at the NAIAS in January. This wasn’t the most substantial concept, as it didn’t hint to any futuristic powertrain, or really any powertrain at all. Supposedly, it could use a four-cylinder engine, though. It was just a big, low-slung four-door concept car—pretty generic, actually. The back looked a lot like a Jaguar. The front had a Volvo grill, but was fairly bland. The interior was fashioned from fancy fabric and wool. The best part about this car was probably just the concept car-i-ness of it all. The wheels were too big to be production. The door handles were too delicate. The interior contained clear Lucite controls and an upper console hovering over a lower console. It’s all a bit ridiculous, and yet quite entertaining to look at. Still, the sloping roof line may hint at future styling features on future production models.