The future of the baby Benz is looking a little greener, which is because the German automaker will be incorporating their BlueEFFICIENCY power plants into the C-Class’s product range. The Mercedes C will benefit from added power as well as improved efficiency thanks to fuel saving technology like direct injection and modern day turbochargers and an intelligent shifting transmission.
The new diesel powered C220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY will be the most fuel efficient C-Class ever. The turbo diesel 2.1 Liter engine will make 170 HP and be able to go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 8.4 seconds, all while returning an almost Prius-like 49 MPG, and that is without any electric motors to aid with the gas wasting stop and go city driving. Whereas if you are reluctant to go with the alternative fuel here in America, for fear of limited supply, or the outrageous price; then the C250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY is what you are looking for. With its direct injected 1.8 Liter four cylinder engine that produces 204 HP, this saloon will take 7.4 seconds to go from 0 to 60 MPH while getting a CAFÉ friendly 32.6 MPG.
Both of these new efficient offerings from Mercedes Benz are reasonable solutions for helping out the environment while still enjoying the luxury of an upscale sedan. The new BlueEFFICIENCY power plants don’t compromise performance for fuel efficiency, and go to show that you don’t have to drive a hybrid to get 50 MPG, the one thing the little Toyota doesn’t have is 170 HP. Perhaps the combination of diesel fuel and a turbo works just as well as gas and electric.
The lovable little Audi A3 will be receiving a couple of new power plants thanks to the Volkswagen Group. The four ringed automaker has added an alternatively fueled four cylinder engine to the lineup in order to satisfy diesel drivers in Europe as well as increase mileage and reduce emissions. The 1.6 Liter TDI will be offered in two flavors, the first making 90 HP and the second putting down 105 HP, while torque output for the two turbo diesel engines is significantly higher.
In Europe they would say that the 1.6 TDI A3 will consume only 4.1 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers, whereas in the U.S. we would say that it gets 57.37 MPG, all while emitting minimal greenhouse gasses. This excellent ecological performance is made possible by the new vehicle’s start/stop and energy recovery systems. The turbo diesel A3 is no slouch either, the high output version is capable of going from 0 to 60 MPH in 11.4 seconds, not bad considering the vehicle gets about the same gas mileage as a Prius.
Top Speed’s test fleet recently received a 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid from General Motors. This oversized people mover seems more like another way to make a statement about being excessive while still thinking about the environment. The Cadillac is as luxurious as anything from the General is at the moment, with its 332 HP 6.0 Liter V8 and electric motor spinning a set of 22 inch chrome wheels, it will be nice to experience the lifestyle first hand.
The interior of our Escalade is comfortable and luxurious, adequate for $70,000 worth of extravagance and technology. From the driver’s seat you can enjoy an 8 inch navigation screen with everything from back up camera to nice little animation about what the Hybrid two-mode system is doing. The rear seat passengers should appreciate the flip down Panasonic DVD screen and Bose 5.1 surround sound system. The combination of wood on the center stack, steering wheel and armrest is nicely contrasted by the brushed aluminum piece in front of the passenger.
A few days ago we reported that Audi would be bringing an electric powered R8 to the Frankfurt Motor Show. However it is our sad news to announce that according to representatives from the German automaker, the speculations have been denied and there will be no battery operated mid engine super car in the Audi booth at Frankfurt in September. This is a little disconcerting, and considering that Audi has already cancelled a TDI V12 version of the R8 due to structural reasons, this is another let down at an attempt to create a high performance environmentally friendly super car. The reluctance to alternative fuel sources is very unlike the company’s “Vorsprung durch Technik,” Advancement through Technology, slogan would suggest.
However the R8 Spyder is still coming, but another disappointment is that the next generation luxury limousine, the Audi A8s unveiling has been delayed until the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. So for now, upstarts like Tesla and Fisker can relax, a major manufacturer is no longer out to build a better green super car.
You would think that an oil company would be all for gas-guzzlers and oil burners, vehicles that would keep the cash flowing and allow those companies to maximize profits. However there is one member of the crude retailing community that is more focused on getting the most out of every drop, as opposed to selling every last one.
The Hague based operation, Shell Oil, is committed to making the most out of the limited fossil fuel, that is why they have partnered with the Scuderia Ferrari in order to push the boundaries of both performance and efficiency. The pair work together to develop fuels that burn more proficiently on the racetrack and lubricants that allow the rotating parts of the highly sophisticated Formula 1 car to move with less friction and be less of a (parasitic) drag on the machine, allowing it t to be even more fuel efficient.
Shell’s efforts at conservation are not limited to the F1 circuit.
The oil company is also the title sponsor for the Shell Eco-Marathon, a competition whose record holders have achieved the equivalent of over 7800 MPG from their fuel-efficient forward thinking machine. The Shell Eco-Marathon is held in various locations around the globe, and invites students to design, build, and test their unique vehicles, all with the same goal, use the least amount of fuel to travel the farthest distance possible. The student design teams develop vehicles that run on conventional fuels like gasoline, ethanol and diesel, as well as futuristic concepts like solar power, hydrogen and other bio-fuels.
