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Mercedes C250 BlueEfficiency gets 45 mpg

The gamut of models spanned by the Mercedes C-class just got a little wider. On one end, you have the CNET Editors' Choice C63 AMG, a rip snorting beast with a 405 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 that chugs gasoline at a rate of 16.2 mpg. Way down on the other end is the newly announced C250 CDI BlueEfficiency Prime Edition, a 204 horsepower four-cylinder that gingerly sips diesel at a rate of 45 mpg. It's hard to believe these two vehicles are cut from the same cloth, but they are.

The heart of the C250 is Mercedes' new … Read more

Mazda unleashes a barrage of green tech

Even though Mazda is working on an electric vehicle a la Chevy's Volt, if the barrage of e-mails in our inbox is any indicator, its engineers have been hard at work developing other green tech,too. Green tech such as a spin on start-stop engine tech, a new clean diesel, and a new plastic-molding technology that will make the manufacturing of vehicles greener.

First up is Mazda's new Smart Idle Stop System (SISS), which at first seems like the same system everyone else is already using that stops the engine at idle. Looking deeper into Mazda's specs, … Read more

Volvo unveils DRIVe, eco-minded diesel vehicles

Volvo has a reputation for making some of the safest cars on the market. Soon their cars may be known as safe for the environment, as well. Volvo has released images and information about its upcoming 1.6D DRIVe series of vehicles, set to be displayed at October's Paris Auto Show.

Essentially, the 1.6D DRIVe line is a series of diesel variants of the C30, S40, and V50 that yield an estimated 52 to 53 miles per gallon across the line. Aside from the thrifty 1.6 liter clean diesel angine that powers the 1.6D DRIVe line, … Read more

The 404 174: Where we reject labels

Fridays at The 404 are awesome, especially before a holiday weekend and especially when Justin gets his panties in a bundle over the term "hipster." With news like Brett Ratner's dream to make a Guitar Hero movie, the world's greatest hacker releasing an autobiography, and even more heartwarming "Calls from the public," how could you not love Fridays?

So it's official: David Duchovny has officially admitted his powerlessness over his addiction to lovemaking and has checked into rehab. Sounds like his next project with Gillian Anderson could be the SeX-Files. Isn't every … Read more

Mini Cooper D(iesel) delivers, but not here yet

By Richard Truett, Automotive News

DETROIT--I'm cruising south on Interstate 75 at a steady 64 mph. If the fuel economy gauge in the car can be believed--and there's no reason that it shouldn't--I'm burning one gallon of fuel every 74 miles.

I'm not limping along in some wimpy gasoline-electric hybrid. I'm not drafting behind a semitruck. And I'm not relying on any of the dangerous maneuvers that hypermiling eco-geeks use as they try to extract every inch of distance out of a gallon of gasoline.

Nope. I'm in a 2007 Mini Cooper D, and I am driving it normally. The D stands for diesel. It's a version of the popular hatchback that isn't available in the United States--yet.

Here's a car that lets you have your high fuel economy cake and eat big slices of it, too. Just as important as the Mini Cooper D's ultralow fuel consumption is its fun-to-drive factor. It's off the charts in this car.

The Mini Cooper D is quick. Its 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel engine propels the 2,600-pound hatchback to 60 mph in 9.7 seconds. Plus, the car is good-looking, the chassis is rock-solid, and the handling is as tight as a go-cart.

… Read more

Ford shows off 76 mpg Fiesta

Working hard to improve fuel economy, Ford showed off one result of its efforts at the British International auto show this week. The Ford Fiesta Econetic uses a 1.6-liter turbo diesel engine that gives it a combined fuel economy, under the EU test cycle, of 76.3 mpg.

Along with the diesel engine, the Fiesta Econetic has other tricks up its wheel well to achieve this fuel economy. Ford made aerodynamic changes to the standard Fiesta, such as adding rear air deflectors, lowering the suspensions, and putting the car on low rolling resistance tires. The engine uses low friction … Read more

Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel gets federal tax credit

According to information found on popular Volkswagen enthusiast site, VW Vortex, Volkswagen of America has announced that owners of the Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen will be eligible for a $1,300 federal income tax credit. This announcement is affirmed by the Internal Revenue Service, which has issued a certification letter that defines the credit more specifically as the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit.

Factoring in this new tax credit, the clean diesel Jetta is only about $700 more expensive than the gasoline version. While this is good news for VW, it's not like they … Read more

Photos: 2009 BMW 3-series preview

BMW released details and photos of its new 3-series, purportedly a mid-cycle face-lift. However, we found some impressive changes and new options. BMW will offer a twin-turbo diesel version available in all 50 states. The dashboard electronics get updated with a new iDrive interface, and the navigation system gets a hard drive, with space left over for music storage.

Click here for photos of the 2009 BMW 3-series.