"Hottie" Fuel Efficient Cars From Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen

As we see the numbers roll up on the gas pump and our pockets drain out, we are experiencing daily cardiac arrest.  We want to blame the Senate for not passing oil price freezes or the big oil companies who are sucking up the highest profits in decades.  We criticize the President of the United States and vow to buy a bicyle to get to and from work, school, the mall and church.

Then we start asking questions:
  
> Why are gasoline prices so high?
   
> When will they come down?
   
> How can I pay for a tank of gas this week?

But questions like these do not have definitive answers.  There may not be answers to these questions but there are solutions to fuel efficiency while the powers that be are battling with rising gas prices.

Around 15% of the energy from fuel that we put into our vehicles is used to drive down the road and to run accessories such as air conditioning.  That leaves 85% of the energy lost, yes, LOST to engine inefficiencies, driveline timing inaccuracies and improper idling of engines.  Today, there are technologies which can increase engine efficiency 5% to 13% then ultimately, promote fuel conservation. 

Cylinder Deactivation increases efficiency around 7%.  Cylinder Deactivation is simply deactivating cylinders when they are not needed to run the car.  So a 8 or 6 cylinder engine temporarily will convert to a 4 or 3 cylinder.  Direct Fuel Injection increases efficiency by 12% and creates a $3,200 saving over the life of a vehicle.  These technologies are basically for the manufacturers to develop and implement in the vehicles we will drive one day.  In the meantime, we need to know the "hottie" cars with the best fuel efficiency.