Most Fuel Efficient of the New York Auto Show

By Erik Sofge of MSN Autos

 

There's more to fuel-efficiency than mere fuel savings. At events such as the 2013 New York Auto Show, automakers present new machines that consume less for a reason — whether to claim bragging rights from partnering with industry outsiders at Tesla on a new electric vehicle, or simply to play catch-up, ensuring that their brand isn't the last to release its first hybrid. Fuel-efficient debuts were everywhere at this year's event, and in nearly every segment. Here's a look at the updates and unveilings from New York that put conservation front and center.

2014 BMW 3-Series 328d

There's money to be made from America's clean-diesel stalwarts. Not much, but enough for BMW to square off against the upcoming Audi A4 diesel for niche-market dominance. Although the 2014 BMW 328d hasn't been EPA-tested for city driving, it's rated at a staggering 45 mpg on the highway, thanks to its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder twin-turbodiesel engine providing 180 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Pricing hasn't been released, but the 3-Series sedan will be available this fall, followed (at some point) by another diesel sedan, and a 3-Series wagon.

BMW Concept Active Tourer

Ninety-four miles per gallon. That's the number that BMW claims its Active Tourer concept could realistically hit, with a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine driving the front wheels, and an electric motor and plug-in lithium-ion battery powering the rears. BMW's novel approach to extended-range electric driving was introduced in Paris, but the sculpted hatchback made its North American debut here in New York. There are no specific plans to bring the plug-in to market, but as long as we're daydreaming, BMW says it can go from 0 to 62 mph in less than eight seconds, with a top speed of 124 mph.

2014 Infiniti Q50 Hybrid

Infiniti's best, most fluidic design in years, the Q50 sports sedan, debuted in Detroit in January. But in New York, the company released pricing information for both the 3.7-liter V6 model ($36,450) and the hybrid ($43,700). That latter was the centerpiece of Infiniti's press conference, highlighting the brand's hoped-for trifecta of luxurious design, high-tech engineering and blistering performance — the 3.5-liter V6 engine and electric motor provide a combined 360 horsepower, a 10 percent bump over the nonhybrid version. The gas and hybrid Q50's are available in front- or all-wheel drive; they will hit dealerships this summer.

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid

Last year, the luxury SUV segment got a little more stylish with the introduction of Infiniti's QX60. Now, the segment is getting a lot more fuel-efficient: The 2014 QX60 hybrid gets 24 percent better mileage than its nonhybrid equivalent, for a best-in-class 26 mpg (combined). The 250-horsepower hybrid drivetrain adds only an estimated $3,000 to the sticker price, which is impressive; the battery pack's placement (under the third-row seats) doesn't eat cabin or cargo space, and that's incredible. Infiniti doesn't have an official price for the QX60 Hybrid, which is planned for the fall, but it should start in the $46,000 range.

2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive

For its first production electric car, the 2014 B-Class Electric Drive, Mercedes-Benz is using a drivetrain designed by none other than Tesla, the company most responsible for the EV's mainstream resurgence. The sporty hatch represents a major, luxury-oriented step up from the likes of Nissan's LEAF, with a 100-kW motor capable of 100 mph and a maximum range of 114 miles. This B-Class can pull 60 miles worth of charge from a standard wall outlet in less than two hours. Mercedes hasn't set a price, but it plans to release the 5-seater early next year.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid

In a move that parallels the rollout of the QX60 courtesy of its upscale sibling brand, Nissan is following up its fully redesigned 2013 Pathfinder with a 2014 hybrid model, complete with a $3,000 price premium and a battery tucked out the way under the third-row seat. And just like the QX60, the hybrid Pathfinder will get a combined 26 mpg and 250 horsepower from its electric motor and supercharged 4-cylinder engine. In case it's unclear, this is the same exact vehicle — minus the luxury styling and amenities, of course. Available this summer.

2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid

The 2014 XV Crosstrek is the first production hybrid built by Subaru. The hybrid system may not be considred that impressive, eking out just one additional mile per gallon on the highway and three extra miles in the city (or 28/34 mpg), but those numbers make the Crosstrek Hybrid one of the most fuel-efficient AWD crossovers on the market. The hybrid does lose about 1.7 cubic feet in the cabin and 0.7 cubic feet of cargo space to make room for the batteries. The yet-to-be-priced Crosstrek Hybrid will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

Based out of the Boston area, Erik Sofge is frequent contributor to Popular Mechanics and Slate.com. He specializes in everything scientific and technical.