Motoryzacja

An advanced engine technology will improve fuel consumption and power for three key vehicles General Motors will unveil at the North American international Auto Show in Detroit next month.

Mazda will offer a new technology to reduce fuel consumption on its 3 compact car in Europe and Asia, but there's no plan to offer the system in the United States.

The 2009 Pilot is the latest Honda to use cylinder deactivation to reduce fuel consumption and engine vibration. The SUV's 3.5-liter V6 can shut down two or three of its cylinders to save gas when the Pilot doesn't need the engine's full output.

The 2010 Ford Flex crossover will now offer consumers more power and performance features, without sacrificing fuel economy. The boxy vehicle that debuted in 2008 now offers a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, which Ford says delivers V8 power with V6 fuel economy.

Anyone looking to reduce fuel bills by changing vehicles should go to a valuable Web site the U.S. Department of Energy runs. A quick trip to www.fueleconomy.gov lets you compare fuel economy and fuel costs for new models and every car and truck sold in the United States since the 1985 model year.