New Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van set for European debut

2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter e-Sprinter electric version (European model)The 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter commercial van launched today, the later generation of the successful delivery vehicle, and an electric version will enter production in 2019. It will debut initially in European markets, and might possibly make its way to North America—maybe. The eSprinter will borrow the electric powertrain from the eVito...

What if car buyers aren’t ready for electric cars, even in California?

Tesla Supercharger site in Vacaville, California, before expansion    [photo: George Parrott]It's accepted wisdom among electric-car fans and advocates that within a few years, mass-market car buyers will start snapping up battery-electric cars. First, battery prices have to come down to the point that electric vehicles aren't much pricier than comparable models with gasoline engines. But what it that assumption simply isn't backed up by...

New Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback to spawn CLA sedan, EQA electric car

2018 Mercedes-Benz A-ClassThe Mercedes-Benz CLA compact sedan made a big splash when it first arrived as a 2014 model, complete with a much-discussed Super Bowl ad sport the previous year. The small, couple-like sedan was built on the underpinnings of the smallest Mercedes on the market, the A-Class sold in Europe since the 1990s as a five-door hatchback. Last week, the...

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid winter gas mileage review

2017 Hyundai Ioniq HybridNearly a year ago, we published a gas-mileage review on the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, the South Korean brand's Toyota Prius challenger. We saw 49.5 miles per gallon over 565 miles of driving. Now, we've tested the Ioniq Hybrid in more extreme conditions, on the cold, wintry roads of Detroit, Michigan. Not only did we cover exactly 400 miles on those...