There are a number of reports on a hosted media drive mileage challenge for the new Fusion and Fusion Hybrid in Los Angeles (you can read about them at Green Car Congress, AutoblogGreen, and Jalopnik). According to Green Car Congress, initial reported results from the city cycle mileage challenge indicate fuel economy of better than 43 mpg US (less than 5.47 L/100km) for the Fusion Hybrid. AutoblogGreen reported 43.1 mpg; Car and Driver, 43.6 mpg; and Jalopnik, 43.8 mpg US. These are all very good numbers, especially because they’re directly results of real city cycle driving.

A city cycle mileage challenge is a great way to help promote public education, awareness and, ultimately, acceptance of the new, cleaner generation of cars. We should have more of these done around the country to help with public awareness. A more formalized challenge would be even better, where a particular challenge is run over a period of maybe a week or longer in order to get a better average. Additionally, each vehicle make and model should have its own series of challenges. Then challenges with other makes and models can run in parallel or at another time.

This marketing concept is an all-around  win-win-win for interested parties involved. For the media, it allows them to really write about what matters: the new technology and how they are actually performing as used in everyday life. For the manufacturers, it allows them a true and unbiased avenue to showcase and market their new products, while keeping them honest at the same time. And for the consumers, it allows us to see real performance comparison in real life driving cycles without all the marketing fluff and chatter.

So let’s have more city cycle mileage challenges. We want them!

Check out some YouTube videos.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid at L.A. Auto Show – Car and Driver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1H_9UWTs_4

Guided tour of Ford’s new Fusion hybrid Smartgauge system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXZ1x1_ug4U

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Let’s Have More City Cycle Mileage Challenges! is a post from: CleanCarTalk

While it looks like Mercedes-Benz will leave the 2009 E-Class sedans unchanged, the arrival of the E-320 BlueTEC diesel is exciting. For the 2010 version, only more refinements are expected.

Directly from MB, the 2009 E320 BlueTEC’s arrival significantly alters the operating cost equation. The E320 delivers substantial torque and high mileage. Now emissions certified in all 50 states and all of Canada, the E320 BlueTEC uses a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 producing 210 hp and 400 lb/ft of torque. The EPA mileage estimate is 23 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway, putting the E320 BlueTEC at the top of the charts in its class by a wide margin. The E320 BlueTEC is otherwise identical to the E350 aside from riding on 16-inch wheels. The BlueTEC diesel is unlike any diesel you’ve ever seen or heard about. It features low emissions, a smooth, clatter-free idle with prodigious torque and impressive fuel economy.

It’s an impressive sedan. FoxNews.com back in April 2008 wrote about a 700-mile-on-a-tank trip on a 2008 diesel E-320 in this Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec article. The 21-gallon capacity tank did its job, proving that the car does what the EPA numbers specify. Here’s a YouTube video explaining the BlueTEC technology at work using cool animation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5STGppxcdw

MB won’t tinker too much with the 2010 model either, according to this Car and Driver spied article by Jared Gall. Mr. Gall wrote, “Our sources tell us there will also be little change in the engine room, where the V-6 diesel in the E320 BlueTec and the V-8 in the E550 will receive only minor updates”. That’s okay with me. Why mess with a good thing.

Check out below some spy photos of the 2010 E-Class courtesy of CarandDriver.com.

From the photos, I can see minor fixes around the vehicle body, most notably sharper edges all around, with new side mirrors and no more oval headlights. It also looks like MB will put the large three star in the middle of the grill instead of the hood ornament. The design actually reminds me of the new C-Class look.

With a New BlueTEC Buzz, a Glimpse of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a post from: CleanCarTalk