AutoWeek Magazine Looks to the Future of Green Vehicles for Earth Day
First Drive of the Quick, Clean and Environmentally-Friendly Audi R8 Turbo Diesel
DETROIT, April 21 -- AutoWeek magazine published its first issue devoted entirely to the subject of "green" automobiles 18 years ago. Today, AutoWeek remains the authority in all things automotive, continuing this legacy with a special double issue dedicated to Earth Day. The weekly magazine's green issue contains the first drive of the Audi R8 Turbo Diesel, fuel trends, green vehicle reviews, vehicle recyclability, green racing and more.
"The automotive industry is gearing up for a greener tomorrow, releasing several alternatives to decrease our impact on the environment," states Dutch Mandel, editor and associate publisher of AutoWeek magazine. "People need to be educated regarding the various fuel choices entering the market, their costs and long-term affects."
AutoWeek Special Earth Day Double Issue - April 21, 2008
AutoWeek Reports:
Green Commute
-- 1100 energy-conscious commuters in California have placed orders for
the Aptera, a three-wheeled vehicle that allows drivers access to the
commuter lane. Classified as a motorcycle, the initial models will be
electric with a range of 120 miles. A plug-in-hybrid version, which
promises 300 mpg and a 600-mile range, is scheduled to be released
soon after.
More B-Class Vehicles
-- In comparison to C-class vehicles, smaller and more fuel-efficient
B-class vehicle sales rose 30 percent in 2007 and increased another 60
percent in the first two months of 2008.
-- Examples of B-class vehicles include: Mini Cooper, Honda Fit,
Chevrolet Aveo, Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio, the upcoming Ford Fiesta, etc.
-- B-class vehicles are cars smaller than traditional subcompacts, such
as: Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and the Ford Focus, known as C-class
vehicles.
Greener Super Car
-- The Audi R8 TDI Lemans concept has the first V12 diesel to ever be
used in a sports car. If produced, the production model is estimated
to receive 25 mpg.
Greener Commercial Trucks
-- Manufacturers such as Volvo and Mack are researching renewable-fuel
sources in commercial trucks, including: biodiesel, synthetic diesel,
DME (dimethylether), methanol/ethanol, biogas, a combination of biogas
and biodiesel and a combination of hydrogen and biogas.
-- Four Mack hybrid-electric trucks being tested by the Air Force run
diesel and electric motors with a 35 percent efficiency gain.
AutoWeek is the only weekly automotive enthusiast magazine in North America, providing its passionate readers with up-to-date information like no other automotive news source. AutoWeek is a subscription-only magazine with newsstand distribution in the Detroit, Mich. area. With 50 years of unbiased editorial, it delivers the latest on vehicle reviews, motorsports, events and trends, personalities, auto show coverage and more.
AutoWeek.com delivers breaking news, vehicle specs, photo galleries and podcasts to viewers faster than any other source. With its online community, visitors have the opportunity to post their own reviews and register to win unique trips as well as receive the latest, tailored e-mail alerts and blogs to fuel their automotive lifestyle, proving why first means everything.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080421/LAM038AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN7
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: AutoWeek editors and contributors are available for interviews by contacting Michael Haas.