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Consumer Reports criticizes small turbo engines for misleading performance, fuel economy claims [w/video]

Consumer Reports has taken aim at at small-displacement, forced-induction engines, saying the powerplants don't manage to deliver on automaker fuel economy claims. Manufacturers have long held that smaller, turbocharged engines pack all power of their larger displacement cousins with significantly better fuel economy, but the research organization says that despite scoring high EPA economy numbers, the engines are no better than conventional drivetrains in both categories. Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports, says the forced induction options "are often slower and less fuel efficient than larger four and six-cylinder engines."
Specifically, CR calls out the new Ford Fusion equipped with the automaker's Ecoboost 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The institute's researchers found the engine, which is a $795 option over the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder, fails to match competitors in acceleration and served up 25 miles per gallon in testing, putting the sedan dead last among other midsize options.
The Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Sonata Turbo and Ford Escape 2.0T all got dinged for the same troubles, though Consumer Reports has found the turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the BMW 328i does deliver on its promises. You can check out the full press release below. You can also read the full study on the Consumer Reports site, or scroll down for a short video recap.

"Turbo" Chevrolet Camaro is a 700-HP fantasy car come to life [w/video]

For a concept car built to promote an animated movie about a snail that wants to go racing, this thing ain't half bad. The outsized monster you see before you started life as a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and then went through a big-time Hollywood makeover before being positioned on the Chevrolet stand here in Chicago.
This 2013 "Turbo" Camaro Coupe is getting the promotion machine ratcheted up for a new DreamWorks tale by the name of, you guessed it, Turbo. Coming this summer, the movie will follow one snail's quest to become a race driver worthy of making the cut at the Indy 500. Like many DreamWorks vehicles before it, we're guessing that the petrolhead snail will star in a movie that adults (especially racing fans) with have no trouble watching with their kids. Check out the trailer below to see if you agree.
As for the car, we're told that it is "instrumental" in transforming Turbo from snail into racer. Helping the beastly pony car in this mighty task, is an ankle-cracking front splitter matched by a ungodly huge rear wing out back, a COPO hood and a supercharged (yes, supercharged) V8 engine making more than 700 horsepower. 24-inch wheels all the way around - 10-inches wide in front and 15-inches wide in back - should allow the "Turbo" Camaro to hook up with ease, as well.

GM already raising prices on 2014 Silverado and Sierra pickups

General Motors must be pretty pleased with sales of its two newest pickups, the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, as it's announced price hikes for both models, as part of a planned price tweak.
Prices will be bumped by as much as $1,500, although weirdly, they'll be offset by as much as $1,500 in cash-back offers through the end of October. Fox Business reports that GM spokesman Jim Cain said of the price hike, "With the sell down of the '13 models nearly complete, this price adjustment was planned and is a normal part of business."
The move, as Fox is quick to point out, is an interesting one, as sales of the twin pickups struggled last month relative to the Ford F-Series, while both of GM's crosstown competitors have been aggressively undercutting Silverado and Sierra prices. The F-150 starts at $24,070 and the Ram 1500 comes in at $23,600, not counting any cash on the hood. A base Silverado, meanwhile, retails at $25,575.