Sport Wagon Green
Sport Wagon Green is devoted to the most practical and efficient cars on the road: environmentally friendly wagons. SWGreen aims to provide daily news, educate consumers, provide answers, and lobby manufactures. Most of the vehicles covered by SWGreen have not yet been authorized for sale in the U.S. market, but we hope to change that. By rallying enthusiast support, SWGreen intends to show automakers that there is a demand for efficient and environmentally friendly wagons, whether they be diesels, hybrids, or employ other emerging technologies.
SWGreen News
SWGreen: 875-bhp Bio-Powered Ferrari FF
The Ferrari FF is a revolutionary shooting brake. As the first four-wheel drive, four seat Ferrari, the FF had to overcome its birth as a pariah (to the tastes of Ferrari purists). But with its 651bhp V12 that revs to a stratospheric 8,000 rpms, most critics were quickly won over. To make the FF even more potent, several aftermarket tuners have advocated differing performance strategies. There’s the typical stage one tune with a revised exhaust, an intake, and an ECU flash. For even more power, many tuners (like Novitec Rosso) add forced induction in the form of twin superchargers. Yet, the FF has emissions befitting a twelve-cylinder engine, and these tuning schemes only exacerbate its carbon footprint. Enter the rarely seen and “green” performance tune: Bio-ethanol engine conversions.
Norweigan firm Customized.no offers this ethanol conversion for the new Ferrari FF. And the price is right too. For under $3,000, FF owners can install (or in all likelihood, pay to have installed) the full conversion kit. And don’t worry, it doesn’t require the installation of an LPG tank. Best of all, it appears that Ferrari is open to working with Bio-ethanol tuners, as a Ferrari dealership actually performed one of the first conversions.
By running E85 ethanol—85% ethanol and 15% gasoline—the modified FF produces an additional power output of 23%. That means the E85 FF yields a serious 875-bhp...
Full Profile, Specifications, and Photos
January 19th, 2012 (Source: Carsuk.net)
SWGreen: Five Axis Widebody CT200h at SEMA
Each year, the SEMA show in Las Vegas attracts hundreds of tuners eager to show off their creations. In the process, a fair number of sport wagons and hot hatches receive a lot of love and attention. This past October, Lexus’s new hybrid hatchback received a makeover by Japanese tuner Five Axis—and the results are stunning.
In order to create an aggressive—yet stylish and refined—hybrid hatchback, Five Axis fitted the Lexus CT200h with a widebody conversion and a custom “Dark Passage” paint job. TEIN coilover suspension and tasteful 19-inch “Custom FIVE:AD” forged wheels give the hybrid a decidedly non-pedestrian stance. Additionally, a Stop Tech big brake kit with cross-drilled rotors and four-piston calipers ensures this hatchback can stop on a dime—even if speed isn’t the CT’s forte...
Full Profile and Photos
January 7th, 2012 (Source: Five Axis)
SWGreen: Subaru Advanced Tourer Hybrid Wagon
Subaru has a long history of sporty and practical wagons. In recent years, the Legacy 2.5GT has offered a potent turbocharged boxer engine matted with symmetrical all-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual (only on the 2005 model). At the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, Subaru looks to continue this excellent legacy with...the next Legacy. Called the “Advanced Tourer Concept,” the design study gives wagon enthusiasts hope for a future beyond oddly proportioned crossovers that lack both practicality and efficiency. Aggressive in stance, the Advanced Tourer (ATC) is a low-riding and angry five door. A refinement of Subaru’s 2009 Hybrid Tourer Concept, the ATC previews a future where hybrid sport wagons offer efficiency and striking styling...
Full Profile, Photos, and Press Release
December 23rd, 2011 (Source: Insideline)
SWGreen:: Fisker Karma Surf Shooting Brake
Welcome to the future of the sport wagon. In addition to other emerging green technologies, such as diesel-hybrids and pure electric vehicles, the hybrid Fisker Karma offers practicality, performance, and efficiency for enthusiasts. With the recent announcement that Fisker will be selling the Karma in Europe, its no surprise the company is looking to offer a more practical model to appeal to European sensibility.
Featuring the same “Q-Drive” powertrain as the Karma, the Surf Concept features two rear-mounted 201 horsepower electric motors, and a 260 horsepower GM-sourced Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder in the front. Like the Karma, the Surf is rear-wheel drive only, with the Ecotec powering a generator to recharge the batteries. The internal combustion engine never powers the wheels themselves, but the twin electric motors produce an insane 981 lb-ft of torque. The result is an impressive 100 MPG, with a purely electric range of 50 miles, and a combined range of 300 miles. But the Karma is no slouch, with Sport Mode engaged the hybrid can hit sixty in 5.9 seconds and reach a terminal velocity of 125 mph....
Full Profile, Specifications, Photos, and Press Release
SWGreen: Peugeot 508 RXH Diesel-Electric Amps up the “Allroad” Segment
Let us begin by admitting a known bias: we mostly report on German, American, and Swedish sport wagons. It’s not that we don’t enjoy other makes- but their models too often lack the allure we crave…until now. French automaker Peugeot has just released information about their super-efficient 508 RXH Tourer, a high-riding wagon that offers to put the Swedes and Germans on their toes. Based on the 508 Estate, the RXH model offers increased ride height and competes with the Volvo XC70 and Audi A4 Allroad.
Utilizing a 2.0L turbo-diesel engine that powers the front wheels and an electric motor for the rear axle, the 508 RXH uses a similar diesel-electric design as the Volvo V70 plug-in diesel-hybrid. With this brillant set-up, the 508 RXH achieves an incredible 55.9 MPG combined fuel economy, despite its hefty mass and ride height. With the 2.0 liter diesel churning out 163 horses, and the electric motor providing an additional 37 hp, the 508 has a total output of 200 horses, but a much more important 332 lb-ft of torque (love those turbo-diesels!)...
Full Profile and Photos
July 11th, 2011 (Source: CarScoop)
SWGreen: VW Jetta TDI wins Consumer Reports Best Eco-Car
Looking for a practical, eco-friendly car? Look no further than the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Wagon. The Jetta received an “Excellent” score from Consumer Reports and was the only “Recommended” model in their test with the Mazda 2, Ford Fiesta, and Honda CR-Z. We’ve been lauding the Jetta TDI Sport Wagon for quite some time now, but it’s assuring to be supported by a venerable institution like Consumer Reports. The magazine tested the TDI Wagon with the 6-speed manual and achieved an average of 36 miles per gallon, with an excellent 49 MPG in highway driving...
Full Story and Press Release
December 21st, 2010 (Source: Consumer Reports)
SWGreen: Lexus CT 200h F-Sport Unveiled in Sydney
Want to make your Lexus CT 200h faster? Well Lexus can’t help you. But if you’re interested in making it look faster, the F-Sport is your cup of tea. Unveiled this weekend at the Sydney Motor Show, the F-Sport adds tasteful cosmetic touches but neglects any powertrain upgrades. The package adds a muscular body kit, 17 (?) inch anthracite sport wheels, a thicker steering wheel, tint, sport pedals, and revised dashboard and door panel trim. The most important functional upgrade are new front and rear dampers, which Lexus claims improves “ride and handling.” Also of note is the color choice, as “Flame Blue” is an F-Sport only option. Hit the jump to see if the CT200h is your kind of sport hybrid.
Photos and Press Release
October 17th, 2010 (Source: Lexus)
SWGreen: Saab ePower EV 9-3 Sportscombi Prototype
At the upcoming Paris Auto Show, Saab will unveil a new electric prototype that holds great potential for wagon enthusiasts. Claimed to be “the first all-electric car to offer its occupants the comfort and size of a wagon bodystyle,” the ePower prototype uses a 9-3 Sportscombi body. Under the hood and behind the front seats lie the cars innovation: a 184 hp electric motor in front utilizing a powerful lithium-ion battery back where the exhaust system and fuel tank usually sit. The electric motor drives the front wheels via a single-speed transmission, and allows the all-electric Sportscombi to reach sixty in 8.5 seconds. A top speed of 93 miles means this 9-3 is no Turbo X, but is perfect for all practical applications aside from the Autobahn.
Full Article and Photos
September 21st, 2010 (Source: Saab AB)
SWGreen: Lexus CT 200h- Hybrid Luxury Hatchback
Hybrid- Luxury- Hatchback. What’s not to like? First shown as the LF-Ch concept at Frankfurt’s Auto Show last September, Lexus’ new green hatchback promises to add some stiff competition for ze Germans. Gunning for the BMW 1-series, Audi A3, and Mercedes B-Class, Lexus is offering the first hybrid in the premium compact segment. The Japanese automaker claims the production version will offer “new levels of refinement and attention to detail, without compromising style or driving pleasure.”
The production version will be called the “CT 200h” and will feature Lexus’ second-generation hybrid technology. So equipped, the CT 200h can be driven exclusively on electric power and will certainly be an efficient hatchback. The architecture of the CT is likely to be based on the recently revealed HS 250h hybrid, so this 5-door will be front-wheel drive. Expect efficiency to rival if not exceed the HS 250h, which means at least 35 highway and 34 city on the U.S. cycle.
Full Profile and Photos
March 30th, 2010 (Source: Lexus)
Here at the Sport Wagon Enthusiast we are all about utility, efficiency, and performance. VW’s new Mk. VI Golf GTD offers all this and more for a reasonable price. Marketed as a high performance diesel hatchback, and Golf GTD is essentially the GTI of diesels. Sporting VW’s proven 2.0L turbo-diesel 4-cylinder, the GTD produces 168bhp and an impressive 258lb-ft of torque. Offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DSG transmission, the front-wheel drive Golf GTD sprints to 62 in 8.1 seconds and will continue to 138mph. These performance figures aren’t anything special until you consider that the GTD will return a combined (city and highway) 44.4 mpg (5.3L/100 km) on the European cycle. With a 14.5 gallon fuel tank, this means the GTD can travel over 620 miles on a single tank. No word yet on whether or not the GTD will be available in North America, but with fuel prices rising once more, it would certainly seem like a prudent decision for VW.
Full Profile
June 7th, 2009 (Source: VAG)
SWGreen: Volvo V70 Plug-In Diesel-Electric Hybrid
Has Volvo been listening to our prayers at night? Or maybe it’s been all the letters we’ve been sending? Either way, Volvo has created a prototype diesel hybrid wagon that aims to revolutionize sport wagons (and a lot of segments for that matter). Starting with their fairly new V70 Estate, Volvo engineers modified the diesel engine to run on renewable synthetic fuels that emit very low quantities of C02. While the diesel mill drives the front wheels, a 11.3 kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack powers the rear axle. The battery is charged in about 5 hours and improves the V70s performance and fuel economy. While this V70 is exactly what we’ve been dreaming of for quite some time, the technology will undoubtedly be further refined, and hopefully will be engineered to produce slightly more performance. Imagine if a BMW 335d Touring made sweet love with a Tesla Roadster. Welcome to our world. But for the time being, we’ll just say “Thanks Volvo,” its about damn time we entered the 21st Century.
Hit the jump for pictures and a video of the V70 Diesel Electric Hybrid Prototype
June 4th 2009 (Source: Autoblog)
SWGreen:Mercedes unveils the C300 Diesel Hybrid Sport Wagon
While our main obsession is with the “Sport” aspect of wagons, at times we are left wanting a more efficient and practical daily driver: enter the Mercedes C300 Diesel Hybrid Sport Wagon. Utilizing nearly all the same components as the fantastic new C-Class Wagon, the C300 “Bluetec-Hybrid” shows the future of Sport Wagons. Mercedes has remained quiet about the specifics of the Diesel Hybrid, but we expect great things from a manufacture who spends a million dollars a day on research and development. Expect a combined MPG figure to be somewhere around fifty. With that efficiency and a taught, responsive, and sporty chassis, and you have the ultimate daily driver. Stay tuned, more details to come soon.
April 17th, 2008 (Source: Autoblog)
SWGreen: Jetta TDI Sportwagon at Detroit
VW unveiled the Sportwagon version of its bread and butter Jetta Sedan at the annual Detriot Auto Show. There is a choice of engines, but this question essentially involves fuel types. The majority of Sportwagon’s will be fitted with VAG’s familiar 2.0L turbocharged Inline-Four. While this should be bearable, our option is the 2.0L Turbo-Diesel. The Sportwagon TDI features a 140hp oil-burner, packing a respectable 236lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels on both models by a 6 speed automatic.
April 6th, 2008