Porsche Articles - Autotropolis.com

Least Fuel-Efficient Vehicles of 2010
By : Jeff Wysaski
Date : 11/13/2009

Most of us would like to think that America's taste in cars has moved past the gas-guzzling monster trucks and SUVs of yore. While it is true that the country's collective self-conscience has shifted to greener pastures, the truth is that there are still plenty of deplorably inefficient vehicles on the road. In fact, the vehicles with the worst fuel efficiency for 2010 barely hit double digits.

Technically, the least fuel-efficient vehicles for 2010 are made by the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini (the Lambo Murcielago takes the cake with 8 mpg city and 13 mpg highway). However, for this list Autotropolis has decided to stick to large-scale production vehicles. With that in mind, here are the 2010 vehicles with the worst gas mileage:

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee (SRT8)
(14 mpg combined)
Outfit your 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee with all-wheel drive and the SRT8 performance package, and you'll cruise along at 12 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway. As with most vehicles on this list, the 2010 Grand Cherokee SRT8 compromises fuel efficiency for power and performance. This decadent SUV teems with a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 engine that outputs 420 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque.
Despite the Jeep's large size, the vehicle screams from 0-to-60 mph in less than five seconds. Base price for the 2010 SRT8 Grand Cherokee is $43,325.
2010 Nissan Titan
(14 mpg combined)

Trucks are notorious for their poor fuel performance. The worst offender this year is the 2010 Nissan Titan. Outfitted with all-drive, the Titan guzzles 12 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. Fill 'er up with E85 flex fuel, and the EPA estimates 9 mpg in the city and 12 mpg on the highway (10 mpg combined). All that gas goes towards powering a 5.6-liter V8 that musters 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft. of torque. Unless you need the superior hauling and towing power of the 2010 Titan, steer clear of this completely un-green machine.
2010 HUMMER H3
(14 mpg combined)
The most infamously inefficient vehicle brand once again graces the list of least fuel-efficient vehicles. HUMMER's 2010 H3 and H3T earn as little as 13 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway. Flex-fuel E85 brings those numbers down to 9 mpg city and 12 mpg highway. To achieve those paltry numbers, you'll need to upgrade to the 5.3-liter V-8 engine, which offers 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft. of torque. While the 2010 HUMMER H3 excels in off-road situations, the price of gasoline these days is enough to make even the biggest off-roader think twice about sitting behind the driver's seat of one of these behemoths.
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (CL63)
(14 mpg combined)
The Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG is a car built around the idea of excess. When it comes to superior luxury and performance, this is a good thing. However, all that excess fuel consumption means 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. Of course, this may be unimportant to you if you're looking for a 6.3-liter V-8 that tops out at 518 horsepower and 465 lb-ft. of torque. And, if you're willing to drop a cool $145,200 to own the 2010 CL63 AMG, then you probably won't care too much about your monthly expenditures on gasoline.
2010 GMC Savana/Chevrolet Express
(14 mpg combined)
If you're in the market for a cargo van, then storage capacity or passenger space is likely the most important factor in your buying decision. To acquire all that extra space, you'll have to sacrifice fuel economy. The 2010 GMC Savana and 2010 Chevrolet Express are GM clones that offer as little as 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway (when equipped with a 5.3-liter V-8). With E85, those figures drop to 10 mpg city and 13 mpg highway. Of course, competitors like the Ford Econoline Series don't do much better. As such, if you need a full-size van, you're just going to have to get used to the idea of betraying Mother Nature.
2010 Porsche Cayenne
(13 mpg combined)
Porsche has always been known for one thing – performance. And when you pile that legendary performance into a big, opulent SUV, the result is a vehicle that offers as few as 11 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway (GTS models with a manual transmission). The 2010 Porsche Cayenne GTS comes equipped with a 4.8-liter 385-hp V-8 engine. Add in a price tag of more than $70,000, and it's clear that the Cayenne GTS is reserved solely for those who want sports car performance in an SUV package.
2010 Mercedes-Benz M-Class (ML63)
(12 mpg combined)
Mercedes-Benz has two vehicles that tie for the worst fuel efficiency for 2010. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG is a performance-tuned luxury SUV that competes directly with the Porsche Cayenne. Fuel efficiency is estimated at 11 mpg in the city and 15 mpg on the highway. The 6.3-liter V-8 engine boasts 503-horsepower and 465 lb-ft. of torque. Base price comes in at about $90,000.
2010 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (G55)
(12 mpg combined)
The Mercedes-Benz G55 SUV off-road performer performs just as poorly as the ML63 when it comes to fuel efficiency. A 5.5-liter V-8 engine hums along at 500 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque. All-wheel drive and a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds only serve to further deplete the vehicle's fuel efficiency. If you want a high-end luxury vehicle that you can take off the beaten path, then perhaps the 2010 Mercedes-Benz G55 is for you. Otherwise, keep your eyes on the road with a more fuel-efficient option.

Los Angeles Auto Show: 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder
By : Traci Benoit, Guest Contributor
Date : 11/12/2009

The 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder will go on sale in February of 2010. Anticipation is already high even though Porsche won’t officially introduce the car until the Los Angeles Auto Show in December.

Modeled after a combination of the 1953 550 Spyder and the open-cockpit RS Spyder Le Mans prototype, the 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder is made from some of the most successful and popular Porsches in history. With the soft top closed and the single-piece rear deck lid, the Spyder steals the looks of the Carrera GT supercar.

This new Spyder is a bit more race-inspired than past models. That may be because the 550 was Porsche’s first car made specifically for the race track. It eventually found its way on to public roads and furthered its victories in then-popular road races. Both the original Spyder and the newest model share low weight, supreme agility and the mid-engine.

Porsche packed more power into a lighter body with a lower center of gravity and included an all-new sports suspension. The car weighs in at 2,811 pounds, making it the lightest Porsche model. The 3.4-liter, six-cylinder direct fuel injection engine is placed in front of the rear axle, positioning it for the ideal weight distribution in this light-weight car.

The horsepower doesn’t qualify as lightweight, coming in at 320. For most enthusiasts, the 0 – 60 time of 4.8 seconds is worth taking a look at. This is achieved with the help from Porsche’s PDK double-clutch gearbox and the Sports Chrono Package. With the soft top down, the Boxster Spyder reaches a top speed of 166 miles per hour on the track. Since you won’t be driving this fast on an open road, with or without the top down, it’s a safe bet that the 2010 Boxster Spyder will be faster than almost any car next to you at a red light.

The interior of the Porsche isn’t exactly luxurious, but being born in a family of race car types, it focuses on driving. Regular door handles have been replaced with fabric door pools like those found in the 911 GT3 RS. Lightweight sport bucket seats include large side bolsters and are made with a carbon fiber shell. Optional interior equipment includes automatic climate control and a radio.

See this new Porsche at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December or watch for it on a street near you at the beginning of the 2010 year. The new 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder will be a production vehicle, not a special edition, and will have a base price starting around $72,000, making it easily accessible to most Porsche fans.

Recent Articles