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Audi

The EPA recently released its list of the most fuel-efficient vehicles for 2010. Hybrid cars dominated the list, accounting for nine out of ten of the top slots. That's no surprise of course – fuel efficiency is the major draw of hybrid technology. However, what if you don't want a hybrid?

Not everyone who wants to save at the gas pump adores the look and feel of a hybrid. Add in the premium price tag that typically comes with going green, and it's easy to see why some people would shy away from the technology. Luckily, there are plenty of non-hybrid cars that are nearly as fuel-efficient as their hybrid brethren. The most fuel-efficient non-hybrid cars for 2010 are listed below:

2010 Smart fortwo (36 mpg combined) - Okay, chances are if you aren't interested in a hybrid, you may not be interested in the 2010 Smart fortwo. With a diminutive 3-cylinder engine, this quirky little 2-seater isn't for everyone. However, if you're looking for a zippy urban commuter that earns 33 mpg in the city, then this may be the car for you. Just don't expect to take it out on the highway for too long. 2009 model pictured.

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (34 mpg combined) - The 2010 VW Jetta is one of the better non-hybrid options for those looking for a little extra room. Though it is considered a compact car, the Jetta still offers more room than most vehicles on this list. The Jetta's diesel engine mated to an automatic transmission musters 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway.

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI (34 mpg combined) - The 2010 VW Golf shares the same diesel engine as the Jetta. As such, they post identical fuel ratings. The 2010 Golf hatchback is one of the sportiest and fun to drive non-hybrid gas sippers for the year.

2010 Audi A3 (34 mpg combined) - Outfitted with the same diesel technology as the VW TDIs, the 2010 Audi A3 is the most fuel-efficient upscale non-hybrid for 2010. If you want a premium fit and finish, and don't mind an MSRP that starts around $27,000, then the Audi A3 should be on your short list.

2010 MINI Cooper (32 mpg combined) - The MINI Cooper gives the VW Golf a run for its money in terms of sporty appeal. Nimble, stylish and fairly affordable, the MINI Cooper is a good choice for the eco-friendly driver that wants an extra helping of visual appeal. The 2010 MINI earns 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. For a little more cargo room, check out the 2010 MINI Clubman (31 mpg combined).

2010 Toyota Yaris (32 mpg combined) - The compact 2010 Toyota Yaris is the non-hybrid to beat when it comes to value. With a base MSRP below $13,000, only a handful of vehicles can be had for less coin. Throw in good safety ratings, room for four and a peppy engine and the Yaris is an all-around good value. The 2010 Yaris with manual transmission earns 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

2010 Honda Fit (31 mpg combined) - For those who need a little extra cargo space, the 2010 Honda Fit is a good alternative to the MINI Cooper. The 2010 Fit offers nearly twice as much cargo space, along with a similar sport-inspired appeal. Better yet, the Honda Fit can be had for much cheaper (base MSRP $15,000). The 2010 Honda Fit earns 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

2010 Kia Rio (31 mpg combined) - The 2010 Kia Rio is a vehicle that's all about economy. Beyond the stellar 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway (manual transmission), the 2010 Rio also comes with a base MSRP of about $11,500. If you like the idea of bolstered safety features and don't mind driving around without a lot of bells and whistles, then the Rio is worth a look. 2009 model pictured.

2010 Hyundai Accent Blue (31 mpg combined) - The special edition 2010 Hyundai Accent Blue features a unique 5-speed manual gearbox that improves fuel efficiency on the highway. With an economical MSRP of about $10,000, this little hatchback competes ably against the Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris. Fuel efficiency is 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

2010 Chevrolet Aveo (30 mpg combined) - The Chevrolet Aveo combines 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with an introductory MSRP of $11,965 to deliver one of the best values available today in the small car market. The Aveo is available as either a sedan or hatchback.

Other Non-Hybrids That Feature Great Fuel Economy

Rounding out the list of most fuel-efficient non-hybrid cars for 2010 are a handful of vehicles that offer excellent fuel economy. All of these vehicles fall into the compact vehicle segment. They include:

• 2010 Suzuki Swift X (27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway)
• 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Coupe (25 mpg city, 37 mpg highway)
• 2010 Hyundai Accent (28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway)
• 2010 Nissan Versa (28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway)
• 2010 Toyota Corolla (26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway)
• 2010 Ford Focus (24 mpg city, 35 mpg highway)

Bob Lutz Steps Up With Cadillac CTS-V Challenge

The Cadillac CTS-V is already a media darling and one of the fastest four-door sedans in the world, but General Motors would like to show potential buyers just how well the performance vehicle fares against the best of what other car companies have to offer. The latest publicity stunt by GM executive Bob Lutz is called the “CTS-V Challenge,” and it involves pitting Cadillac’s hottest model against any driver out there with a production four-door who thinks they can beat the Cadillac CTS-V’s lap times around the Monticello Motor Club racetrack in New York.

Scheduled to take place October 29, 2009, track rats from across the country will get 5 laps in which to prove the superiority of their machines versus the best of what GM has to offer outside of a Chevrolet Corvette. Anyone over the age of 21 who gets their application in on time will be able to take part in the Challenge, which is shaping up to be a fun publicity stunt on the part of a company that could use as much goodwill as possible from beleaguered car buyers.

Volvo to Introduce Diesels and Hybrids

In an effort to both catch up with some of their European competitors and also differentiate themselves on the eco-friendly car front, Volvo has announced that they will produce alternatively-powered automobiles and bring them to North America. Closest to being ready for prime time is the Volvo V70 PHEV. This hybrid is capable of traveling for up to 30 miles on battery power alone, and features and electric motor driving the rear wheels and a diesel engine spinning those in the front. A more experimental hybrid system known as Volvo ReCharge has also been shown at auto shows, and it extends battery range to 60 miles and swaps in a four-cylinder gasoline engine for the diesel engine. ReCharge disconnects the gasoline-powered mill from the drive wheels, and instead uses it exclusively to charge the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery.

On the diesel front, Volvo plans to produce oil-burning versions of the Volvo C30, Volvo S40 and its Volvo V50 variant. Under the DRIVe banner, these aerodynamically-treated vehicles will all share a common 1.6 liter, four-cylinder diesel engine that should offer fuel economy of at least 50 miles per gallon.

Audi Surprises Industry With Announced Production of Audi e-tron

When Audi proudly showed off the Audi e-tron pure electric sports car at the Frankfurt Auto Show, few in attendance thought that it would ever see the inside of an Audi showroom with an MSRP taped in the window. Shockingly, Audi appears to be serious about launching the Audi e-tron as a road-going vehicle inside of a three year window. The Audi e-tron is not only remarkable for being a pure electric vehicle in a world where few such automobiles exist, but also for its astounding power. Four electric engines provide the Audi e-tron with more than 3,000 lb/ft of torque, as well as 313 horsepower – figures that no other passenger vehicle on the planet comes close to matching. Combined with quattro all-wheel drive, the sports car can hit 60 miles per hour in just 4.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 154 miles per hour. The Audi e-tron will no doubt give boutique electric car companies like Fisker and Tesla a run for their money in the high-end segment of the market in the coming years.

NASCAR Edition of 2010 Ford Mustang Unveiled

After years of campaigning the Ford Taurus in NASCAR stock car racing competition, Ford has produced a version of the Ford Mustang that is fully qualified to race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Unlike the top-end NASCAR Sprint Cup cars, which are based on a very specific template labeled the “Car of Tomorrow,” NASCAR Nationwide vehicles bear a far greater resemblance to their street-going cousins.

Over the course of the last five years NASCAR has been heavily criticized for moving closer and closer to becoming a spec racing series and deviating from the stock car roots encapsulated by the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” mentality that permeated NASCAR automotive sponsorship. The NASCAR Ford Mustang’s DNA is clearly derived from the same platform that graces dealer showrooms across the country, and the vehicle is meant to forge stronger ties between NASCAR’s legion of fans and the production cars that the series ultimately promotes. The NASCAR Ford Mustang will hit the track four times in 2010 at some of the series’ most respected venues. At this time, Chevrolet has no plans to retaliate with a NASCAR version of their Chevrolet Camaro muscle car.

Ford Joins the Recall Roll Call

In a Fall season that has seen untold numbers of cars recalled by a variety of manufacturers due to safety and quality concerns, Ford has been forced to add another 4.5 million vehicles to the list. Thanks to a defective cruise control switch, Ford has expanded a recall that originally began in 1999 in an effort to head off a possible fire hazard. The cruise control switches in question have been known to overheat and ignite flammable materials inside a vehicle, and perhaps scariest of all, this can all occur even with the engine off. Ford’ solution to the problem is to install a wiring harness with a fuse that should eliminate the risk of a conflagration.

In total, Ford has recalled 14 million cars and trucks facing this specific problem. Vehicles subject to the recall were built between 1992 and 2003, and include certain models of the Ford Windstar, Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Ranger, Ford Excursion, Ford F-Series Super Duty (diesel editions), and the Ford Econoline van.