Click the ML320 BLUETEC for a high res galleryMercedes is anticipating massive things from its Bluetec badge, starting with its line of SUVs and crossovers. In fact, the German automaker anticipates fifteen percent of all if its utility cars to be sold with diesel engines. We think that figure may even be a bit low, think abouting that MB almost sells that percentage already and is unable to sell the cars in the massive California market, among others. Though diesel prices are currently hovering a bit higher than already high gasoline prices, both Mercedes-Benz and AutoblogGreen anticipate that the roughly $1,000 Bluetec diesel premium will pay for itself in just over a year. When we got our first drive in the clean-diesel Benzes, we managed rather impressive mileage numbers in all three cars, both on the highway and in city driving. Expect to see more of Mercedes’ massive diesel utes in green advertising. Stephen Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA says, “We would like to give that Bluetec logo as much cachet as the term hybrid has.” That will take some major marketing push, as the word “hybrid” is synonymous with green autos for many Americans.
Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 BLUETEC
Earlier this month, we learned about the “No Age Limit” adventure of Bob and Buddy, two old scooter riders who wanted to see the America of the Lincoln Highway using Piaggio MP3 scooters. The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the U.S. and was conceived and finished in the early part of the last century. While the road is historic, Piaggio is using more up-to-date technology to provide web visitors to check in on the two men.Daily updates can be seen on this website, which now includes a slick Google Earth feature that shows today’s location for the seventy-something riders. There are also a lot of pics updated to a Google PhotoMap and there’s a Google ProgressMap that gives multiple updates throughout the day - just in case you wanted to head out and ride along with them perhaps. If constant web-based updates aren’t your thing, then feel free to wait for the PBS documentary on the Highway to Harley riders, which will feature Bob and Buddy.[Source: Piaggio Group USA]
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram R/TWhile our guys were out autocrossing the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Viper ACR last week, Mike Levine (Yes, the same Mike Levine who tried to stuff himself into a RamBox) was doing his pickup thing over in another area of Chrysler’s proving grounds in Chelsea, MI. On hand was the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 R/T, which we’ven’t had a chance to see until now. The ‘09 Ram R/T will pull up to the line with a 5.7L HEMI V8 tuned to 390 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque and a 5-speed AutoStick transmission, as well as a host of exterior upgrades including a new front bumper, blacked out grille, dual exhaust, chrome 5-spoke wheels and body-color everything. The amazing thing is that the engine will scoot this short-box, two-wheel drive truck to 60 mph in less than six seconds, according to Chrysler. If that sounds a little too good to be true for a pickup with less than 400 horsepower, credit should go to the “loose” torque converter that allows less slip compared to a normal automatic. The shifts are more aggressive than in a normal Ram and the unique torque converter does degrade fuel economy a bit, but that should be none of your concern by nature of the fact that you’re interested in a sport truck to start with. Check out source link for a more detailed explanation of the “loose” torque converter from Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com, and view all the visual upgrades worn by the 2009 Ram R/T in our gallery below.
Nissan’s motorsports arm, NISMO, will bring a race-prepared GT-R to the Tokachi 24-hour race on July 20th and 21st equipped with NISMO tuning parts that’ll be available to consumers later this summer. The car is being prepped by both NISMO and MOTUL, the Japanese specialty oil manufacturer, and the altered GT-R will benefit from a special blend of the brand’s high-performance oil.The GT-R will not be packing additional ponies, with power still pegged at 480 PS (473 hp) and 434 lb.-ft. of torque. However, the curb weight of the racer has dropped from over 3,800 pounds to 3,527 pounds. Masami Kageyama (former Formula Nippon racer and SuperGT pilot) and Tetsuya Tanaka (2008 Super GT GT300 driver) will be handling the tuned GT-R around the track at Tokachi.The team’s director, Taro Kumagai, points out that this is the first time a production-based GT-R has been raced, and that the aim of the campaign “is to finish the race distance, testing both the performance and reliability of the car.” There’s no word yet on what performance parts will be released and whether they’ll find their way into NISMO-certified dealers in the U.S. We’ll let you know.[Source: NISMO via GTR-World]
Considering that the legacy left behind by American car companies has little to do with being clean, there seems to be an increased sense of urgency by some U.S. says to replace the older fleet of cars with newer, and therefore cleaner, cars. The says with the two hugest car fleets, Texas and California, have both implemented new programs which offer cash-based incentives to owners of older cars which fail current emissions testing. In Texas, up to $3,500 is offered towards a car three-years old or newer, though income restrictions do apply. In California, there’s no maximum income number, though the far-left say is a bit less generous, offering $1,500 towards the purchase of a replacement car.Canada is also getting in on the act with a program slated to start on January 1 of next year. In a move close to our hearts, the incentive is applicable to new cars, new bicycles or even bus passes. Sadly, the value is a rather low $300. Way to go Canada; perhaps upping the ante a bit would make the program a bit more meaningful.[Source: The Detroit News]
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Chevy Traverse At the Chicago Auto Show, Chevrolet rolled out the fourth and hopefully final member of its Lambda crossover family, the new Traverse. By the way, according to Chevrolet the proper pronunciation puts the emphasis on the second syllable. Like its Saturn, GMC and Buick siblings, the new Traverse is a full-size car that’s almost the same size as the Tahoe. That means it has seating for up to eight occupants, although three in the last row is a bit of a squeeze. GM invited the media out to its Milford Proving Ground last week for a first drive of the Traverse, which of course we attended on your behalf. We had the chance to sample the massive CUV in several different scenarios against what the marketing staff think about its main competitor, the Toyota Highlander. We ran the Chevy and Toyota back to back on the ride road, the skid pad, a lane change and slalom course and while towing a 4,200-lb boat. Check out how the Traverse fared after the jump.
Click above for high-res gallery of Audi RS6 spy shotsThe Audi RS6 is about to receive some sheetmetal tweaks that both bring the super sedan’s exterior styling more in line with the corporate design language and give it a decidedly more devilish look than the standard A6 or sportier S6. Out back the RS6 drops the current A6 taillights for a pair that appear lifted directly off the A5. It’s a good switch, as the A5’s rear end is decidedly more easy and clean the current A6. We would anticipate to see the same udpate made across the A6 line very soon. Up front the car gets new air intakes that flank the gaping grille, which include one massive intake on either side that are capped by a smaller inlet right at the leading edge of the front fenders. The headlights also sport a row of LEDs along their bottom as well as an eyelid of some sort above, which gives the RS6’s face a mean glare. Of course, behind those glaring eyes lie a 5.0L twin-turbo V10 producing well above 500 horsepower that can back up the serious stare. [Source: KGP Photography]
This isn’t the time to be betting on first-generation biofuels. Add up the increasing cost of feedstocks and an overall tough economy and it’s no great surprise that “going yellow,” as it were, isn’t the easy path that some made it seem a year or so ago. The reality is hitting home. According to Reuters, about a dozen biofuel plants across the U.S. have filed for bankruptcy protection thanks to corn shooting up to $8 a bushel and ethanol’s “miserable profit margins.” The affected plants are mostly small or mid-sized facilities, a biofuels expert told Reuters, and he said he anticipateed more to announce bankruptcy soon.On top of the financial problems, many ethanol plants are only operating at 50 percent capacity and previously-announced plants are being stalled or stopped completely. Who knows how much longer blending E85 into gasoline at the pump will be a way to save a few bucks.[Source: Reuters]
We at CarAdvice often feel morally obliged to be more environmentally aware, especially given the nature of our subject matter is a massive contributor to green house gas emissions.