2023 toyota that runs on hydrogen with about a 500 mile range........................

BY DREW DORIAN AND MIHIR MADDIREDDY Overview As an electric car that runs off hydrogen, the 2023 Toyota Mirai is a niche car within a niche segment. Its handsome design and luxurious cabin are as unexpected as its fuel-cell powertrain, which produces 182 horsepower and can motor on for more than 400 miles before needing a refill of hydrogen. It’s not as quick as EV rivals that use charging stations to fill their batteries, but the Mirai at least offers a refined ride and lively handling. Why aren’t more of these finding homes among the motoring public? Well, right now only the state of California has a reasonable infrastructure of hydrogen fueling stations, a fact that severely limits the Mirai’s—and its chief rival, the Hyundai Nexo’s—appeal.

Pricing and Which One to Buy XLE $50,595 Limited $67,095 Toyota offers the Mirai in either the base XLE trim or the loaded Limited guise, but we'd stick with the less expensive of the two. Standard interior features include heated and power-adjustable seats, keyless entry and ignition, faux-leather upholstery, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. All Mirai models come with a $15,000 fuel credit and 21 days of complimentary vehicle rentals for when travel dictates drives away from areas with hydrogen fueling stations. EV Motor, Power, and Performance The Toyota Mirai relies on what’s called a fuel-cell electric powertrain, meaning that hydrogen (which could actually come from cow manure, among other sources) is converted into electricity by the onboard fuel cell—essentially a chemical laboratory on wheels. Fuel cells create electricity by stripping electrons from hydrogen atoms; the hydrogen then bonds to oxygen to create water, while the electrons power the electric motor. The result is an electric vehicle that relies on hydrogen fueled from a pump rather than electrons drawn from the nation's electrical power grid. The electric motor powering the Mirai produces 182 horsepower, and a direct-drive transmission sends those ponies to the rear wheels. Although Toyota claims the Mirai requires a leisurely 9.1 seconds to reach 60 mph, the immediate nature of the electric motor's power delivery makes it feel perkier than that when driving around town. Likewise, the rear-wheel drive chassis delivers a surprising level of athleticism while preserving a refined and composed ride. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe The EPA hasn't released estimates for the Mirai's fuel economy yet, but the previous generation model earned ratings of 67 MPGe for both city and highway driving. The more frugal of the two Nexo models comes in at 65 MPGe city and 58 MPGe highway. According to Toyota, the Mirai is good for up to 402 miles per fill-up of hydrogen. For more information about the Mirai's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo The Mirai boasts a snazzy cabin that matches its swoopy exterior. Copper-colored trim pieces highlight several curvy elements on the dash and door panels while the nearly all-digital instruments and large infotainment screen dominate the upper part of the dashboard. It's a futuristic and rich-looking design that's appropriate for a car with a $50,000 starting price. The more expensive Limited trim brings even more niceties than the standard XLE, including a moonroof, heated-and-ventilated front and rear seats, three-zone automatic climate control, and more. for complete article go; here

The Smart Car Is Officially Dead in the U.S.

The Smart city-car brand will soon cease operations in the U.S. as its single model, the Fortwo, goes away after the 2019 model year. Smart, which is owned by Daimler, had already stopped selling the gasoline-powered Fortwo in America, restricting the lineup to include only the electric model starting in 2017. The 2019 Smart EQ Fortwo is still on sale for the time being, starting at $24,650, but won't be around for long. Smart is officially exiting the U.S. market and will stop importing its all-electric Fortwo city car to North America after the 2019 model year. A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz said in a statement that the high cost of homologating the Fortwo for the U.S., combined with slow sales, led to the decision. Smart had already dropped the gasoline-powered Fortwo from its lineup in 2017, leaving only the electric Fortwo that was recently rebadged as an EQ model to correspond with Mercedes-Benz's new electric subbrand.

A subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz and parent company Daimler, Smart first arrived in the U.S. in 2008 and sold nearly 25,000 copies of the Fortwo in its first year. Sales have been on a steep decline since then, and the downward trend took a sharp turn when the gasoline models were dropped from the lineup. A paltry 1276 Smart vehicles were sold in the U.S. throughout all of 2018. R.I.P. these vehicles are dead for 2020 These Vehicles Are Discontinued for 2021 dead cars 2020 These Vehicles Are Discontinued for 2020 Mercedes-Benz says that dealerships will continue to provide service and parts for current owners of both gasoline- and electric-powered Smart Fortwo models. Smart's U.S. website currently lists 82 dealers nationwide that are authorized to service the cars, with 23 of those dealers listed as having Smart inventory. this article can be found in its entirety at car and driver