The Pontiac G6 is one of many GM vehicles that achieve better than 7L/100km on the highway.

(NC)-The environment has quickly become an important priority for many Canadians. In fact, fuel economy is now the second most important factor for drivers when considering a new vehicle purchase and recent polling revealed more than one quarter of Canadians view the environment as a top issue.

Automotive manufacturers continue to make improvements to the internal combustion engine to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce both smog and greenhouse gas emissions. Priority focus has also been placed on developing new, environmentally-friendly technologies including hybrids, bio-fuels, electric vehicles and fuel cells.

“GM Canada offers more green choices for consumers and we are taking an active role in developing environmental technologies,” says David Paterson, vice president, corporate and environmental affairs, General Motors of Canada. “GM is the green technology leader in Canada, engineering and manufacturing advanced environmental technologies ranging from active fuel management and hybrid systems to E85 biofuel and fuel cell vehicles.”

In addition to these new developments, there are steps drivers can take to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles every day:

1. Plan your trips and driving routes to avoid traffic congestion

2. Observe speed limits

3. Accelerate smoothly

4. Maintain steady speeds

5. Limit the use of accessories

6. Don’t carry more than you need

7. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained - proper tire pressure, clean your air filter etc.

For more information visit www.gmcanada.com.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

For Canadians who typically drive 64 kilometers a day or less, the plug-in Chevrolet Volt would eliminate trips to the gas station and produce zero emissions

(NC)-”Green” and environmentally-friendly vehicles are top of mind for Canadians these days. With daily commute times and distances increasing annually, consumers are clamoring for vehicle technology that makes their drive safer, more enjoyable and, most importantly, more efficient and cost effective.

With technologies ranging from hybrids to cylinder deactivation, whereby the engine shuts down half the vehicle’s cylinders when you don’t need them, there has never been more “green” vehicle choices for consumers.

Even with these advancements, automotive companies are continuing to develop alternative technologies to take “green” to the next level. General Motors, for example, recently unveiled a new electric concept, the Chevrolet Volt, which will potentially redefine the urban driving experience.

The Volt is a plug-in, electrically-driven car that will virtually eliminate trips to the gas station for those who drive 64 kms a day or less. Drivers will simply unplug and go each morning. Onboard electricity can be generated from a fuel cell, bio-fuel engine, or conventional small displacement gas engine.

In addition to plug-in vehicles, fuel cells are another key research area for developing environmentally-friendly vehicles. Fuel cell vehicles only emit water vapours and will virtually eliminate the vehicle from the environmental equation.

There’s no silver bullet out there to fight climate change, but automotive companies are working hard to continue to develop affordable solutions for all drivers.

For more information visit www.gmcanada.com.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

Cars have always been the hottest in the boy’s toys list. Whizzing past in a fast-moving car might have been the ultimate fashion statement for the men of past century. But today if you want to be regarded as stylist, you have to be politically correct even with your car and one aspect of political correctness is environment-consciousness. So today when we are fast moving towards a post-petroleum era, you can not afford to ride a fuel-sucking conventional SUV and claim yourself to be trendy. A cool dud like you should go green in a true blue way….you must drive a hybrid car!

If hybrid car has not been in your agenda so far, first of all you must get yourself acquainted with the top picks of the pack; much have changed since 1997, when the Toyota Prius hybrid first hit the roads of Japan. The latest hybrid models took the design and innovations to an unbelievable degree of excellence where concept and reality merge into one!

Take the example of General Motors’ latest concept vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt. Combined with Volt’s E-Flex flexible propulsion system, this new generation hybrid car is all set to offer the world the most efficient energy solutions.

Toyota has really moved beyond its Prius model that is already an icon in the green-car segment. The latest offerings from Toyota are the Camry and the Highlander respectively. The new Toyota Camry hybrid is a midsize car with a 4-cylinder engine and armed with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

For the lovers of more compact cars, there is this Lexus GS 450h which comes with a 6-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. 

Then of course the Honda —-once a king in hybrid segment and still is. In place of Honda Insight, you now get these two highly sophisticated hybrid models…the Accord Hybrid and the Civic Hybrid. The bonus points include the futuristic designs and other hi-tech amenities.

All the leading automakers are scurrying about to gab the market of more environment friendly cars. The consumer thrust also is definitely towards greener cars.

The future of the world seems to ride on these new generation hybrid cars; what about you?

Bloomberg reported today that Detroit automakers are working on improving hybrid cars while Toyota pushes hybrid trucks, stating “General Motors Corp. promised to make a hybrid car that travels 40 miles on a battery before its gasoline engine kicks in. Ford Motor Co. introduced a redesigned Focus compact with a voice-activated music player to attract young buyers.”"Toyota Motor Corp., meanwhile, showed off a five-passenger, 381-horsepower pickup, while the star of Honda Motor Co.’s presentation was a sports car with a V-10 engine.”

In an odd twist, the Japanese aim for the big and powerful while American companies shy away from fuel guzzling trucks and SUVs.

SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), an organization that awards accessory-friendly vehicles, chose the Chevy Silverado Classic as best in hybrids.

According to SEMA’s recent press release, ”The Chevrolet Silverado Classic Hybrid — the first full-size production pickup to utilize hybrid technology — is also the first hybrid to be recognized as the most accessory friendly vehicle at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, capturing one of four SEMA Vehicle Design Awards and becoming the benchmark in SEMA’s newest design award category.”

When General Motors showed off its hydrogen-powered vehicle to Chinese officials, it announced plans to build hybrid vehicles in China by 2008.

GM head Rick Wagoner said “We believe fuel cell vehicles offer the best long-term solution for meeting the world’s growing demand for automobiles in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner… From a China and Asia Pacific perspective, development of world-class fuel cells and the associated infrastructure are key initiatives that need the support of industry, government and the academic community.”

Read more at Yahoo! News