Mercedes-Benz News - In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Mercedes Benz E320 BlueTec
December 30, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
[tags]mercedes benz news, mercedes benz reviews, mercedes benz, daimler chrysler[/tags] -
In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Mercedes Benz E320 BlueTec
Filed under: Diesel, Mercedes Benz, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, In The AutoblogGreen Garage
Mercedes-Benz is quite literally the first name in diesel. The 1936 Mercedes 260D was the first production passenger car powered by a diesel engine. Daimler has been building diesel cars and trucks pretty much continuously ever since. Along with Volkswagen, Daimler has also been the primary purveyor of diesel vehicles in the US market over the past three decades. The current E320 BlueTec traces its roots back directly to the 300D of 1976 and is on the verge of being replaced with an all-new model for 2010.
The E-Class is Mercedes’ mainstream mid-sized luxury sedan and is second only to the smaller C-class in US sales volume for the brand. Several new diesel technologies have debuted on the E and its predecessors over the years including common rail and injection and turbocharging. Since the car we tested is near the end of its life cycle this one wasn’t the most up-to-date example, but it’s still a good sampling of a modern diesel car. See what we thought of the E320 after the jump.
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Mercedes Benz E320 BlueTec
In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Mercedes Benz E320 BlueTec originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Porsche News - Porsche launches production of the Cayenne diesel
December 30, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
Porsche launches production of the Cayenne diesel
After spending an inordinate amount of time over the last two years denying that it would ever build a diesel vehicle because diesels were incompatible with Porsche’s image, the company finally relented and announced it would put a diesel in the Cayenne SUV. Now, barely a month after that announcement, Porsche has launched production of the Cayenne diesel at its Leipzig factory. Porsche is installing the same 240 hp 3.0L V6 TDI that Audi and Volkswagen are using in the coming Q7 and Touareg for the US market. In the Q7 on the recent Audi Mileage Marathon, we achieved an average of almost 29 mpg over nearly 3,000 miles from New York to Denver.
For now, Porsche is only planning to offer the Cayenne diesel in Europe where it will be priced from €47,250. It goes on sale in February.
[Source: Porsche]
Continue reading Porsche launches production of the Cayenne diesel
Porsche launches production of the Cayenne diesel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: www.autobloggreen.com
[tags]porsche cars, porsche news, porsche models[/tags]
Honda News - Leaked documentation offers a few early Insight hints
December 30, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
Leaked documentation offers a few early Insight hints
Filed under: Hybrid, Honda, Detroit Auto Show, Japan
With the Detroit Auto Show right around the corner, we won’t have to wait that much longer before Honda spills all the details of its second-generation Insight hybrid, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t keenly interested in whatever tidbits leak out before its official unveiling. According to what appears to be a Japanese brochure for the new Insight, three models will be available along with a Modulo model, which is JDM Honda-speak for a factory customized rendition. The three standard trims in Japan appear to be G, L and LS, though we’d expect something more like DX, LX and EX in the US.
In addition to the leaked brochure, Insightman is offering some speculative information that includes standard features and options lists, including available colors. We hope to see some of these highlights on US Insights, especially the 7-speed paddle shifters for the CVT automatic transmission and navigation system with 7-inch screen. As far as the all-important fuel economy data, the Insight reportedly scores over 70 mpg under Japanese testing procedures, which is less than the 83 mpg the Prius manages under the same tests. On the flip side, the Insight will undercut the Prius by several thousand dollars when it finally goes on sale sometime in 2009.
[Sources: Temple of VTec, Insightman via Carscoop]
Leaked documentation offers a few early Insight hints originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: www.autobloggreen.com
[tags]honda cars, honda news, honda models, honda[/tags]
Toyota News - VIDEO: Blue guys check out the 2010 Toyota Prius
December 27, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
VIDEO: Blue guys check out the 2010 Toyota Prius
We’ll be getting our first in-person look at the 2010 Toyota Prius in a couple of weeks at the Detroit Auto Show, but the Blue Man Group has already checked it out. In a new teaser video, the cliche trio leaves the Vegas stage to spend some time with the new headlight washers, the steering wheel-mounted redundant controls and iPod integration. We get to see some of the new standard features of the Prius but learn nothing new about mechanical specifics. One has to wonder if relying on these blue guys to promote a new car is a sign that the Prius has become passe? Check out the video after the jump. Thanks to Jerry for the tip!
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading VIDEO: Blue guys check out the 2010 Toyota Prius
VIDEO: Blue guys check out the 2010 Toyota Prius originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: www.autobloggreen.com
[tags]toyota cars, toyota news, toyota suv, toyota[/tags]
Toyota News - Prius generates power in Massachusetts snowstorm
December 26, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
Prius generates power in Massachusetts snowstorm
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily, USA
As anyone who watches the evening news would already know, the East Coast States have been hit hard with horrible winter weather over the last week or so. This snowy pounding has revealed a new use for the Toyota Prius, or likely any hybrid that recharges its batteries with its internal combustion engine. John Sweeney, a resident of Harvard, Massachusetts, lost power to his home for three whole days. That all sounds horrible, especially in such awful weather. Fortunately, Sweeney came up with a novel way to use his hybrid car by connecting a power inverter to his Prius’ battery and using the hybrid as a generator. According to reports, Mr. Sweeney was able to run “his refrigerator, freezer, TV, woodstove fan and several lights through his Prius, for three days, on roughly five gallons of gas.” We imagine that proponents for a future electrical grid that gets power from hybrid and electric cars during peak hours are quietly smiling to themselves. Thanks for the tip, Corey!
[Source: New York Times via The College Driver]
Prius generates power in Massachusetts snowstorm originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[tags]toyota cars, toyota news, toyota suv, toyota[/tags]
