We already wrote about the Pontiac Solstice GXP, one of the most exciting hi-mpg.org Hot Green Machines and sports cars produced by an American manufacturer. Shortly after the Solstice was unveiled, General Motors introduced a slightly more sophisticated corporate twin: the Saturn Sky Redline. » Read more..

Try to think of all the mass-produced American sports cars made in the entire history of the automobile, and you might be able to count them all on one hand. Sure, there’s the Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Viper. You might also remember the mid-engine, two-seat Pontiac Fiero GT—particularly after General Motors sorted out its handling by its final model year of 1988.

But the rest that immediately come to mind—e.g., the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Pontiac GTO—are technically pony cars or muscle cars. And so the Pontiac Solstice belongs on a very short list. In fact, if we make a list of American cars that fit the classic definition of a sports car—i.e., a two-seat roadster that was very affordable brand new—then the Solstice (and its corporate twin, the Saturn Sky) makes up a list all its own. » Read more..

In the days of yesteryear, a true sports car was minimalistic in the name of speed and lightness. Power locks and windows were shunned (indeed, many of those sports cars did not even have wind-up windows); room was available for little more than a driver and a passenger; and the ride was go-cartish: flat, sticky, bumps-be-damned.

Today, there are virtually no automotive manufacturers adhering to this philosophy with the notable exception of Lotus. This British sports car manufacturer, founded in the minimalistic philosophy of Colin Chapman, was known in the 60′s for its lightweight fiberglass machines that would tear up the tracks despite their small-displacement engines. The Elise continues this tradition. » Read more..

We admit, we had overlooked this one. Sure there are a few high-performance sports cars that are fairly well-known for being good on gas (e.g., a four-cylinder Audi TT). But a Porsche?

It’s true! Apparently, since 2007, the Porsche Boxster is capable of achieving 29 mpg on the highway per the EPA’s new test methodology. Per the old EPA test methods, the second generation Boxster gets as much 32 mpg!  This is better than a brand new V6-powered Mitsubishi Eclipse, for example, which is nowhere near the Boxster in terms of sporting aptitude. Teutonic greatness? Yes. » Read more..