What's MB's stand on a hybrid SUV[?] All I read is the new R class, the new S class, etc, but nothing about a new hybrid or alternative fuel ML. Am I not reading enough?? What's the scoop? Lexus is hot, Toyota, Nissan and Honda seem tough, even BMW is in the news. What's MB doing in this truly technological leap in environmentally sweet vehicles??? I want to know when the new ML hybrid will show up!!!!![8D][?]
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1989 300ZXT - mine
A pair of running shoes
A 18Hp lawn mower
2 Mountain Bikes
350Z - will be mine when @ 300+HP and 3-Car Garage
What I can tell you is that Johson Controls which already supples a ton of parts to MB has been working on a battery pack for MB. I have no idea what model or when it will be in a proto, or it may already be in a proto. In typical MB fashion they are blatant about some developments and very aloof about others. Hybrids appear to be one thing MB does not discuss yet, but it does not mean they are not working on it.
MB did show a hybrid drivetrain for the new ML at the Detroit Auto Show. However it was largely ignored by many journalists. They do have hybrid vehicles in the works but seems like fuel cell vehicles are what they have been focusing more on.
To be honest, hybrids are not all they're hyped up to be; I believe one of the shows calculated that it would take something like 5 years to make up the difference in driving to make up the initial much higher price of the hybrid. Look at the Auto Bild test between the ML320CDI and the Lexus RX400h Hybrid. The diesel ML easily beat the Lexus as far as fuel economy and would be less expensive without the battery pack etc.
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Totally in agreement. Hybrids are a short term stop gap measure. Give me diesel, hydrogen, or fuel cells anyday over hybrids. 4-5 years ago BMW won a 24 hour race in a diesel at Hockenheim. If that is not enough proof that modern deisels are quick enough and reliable enough then I have nothing else to say, but please give North Americans that care all the diesel tech cars the rest of the world gets to play with. We will buy them, and be very happy.
in the long run hybrids will make more waste. mmm they wernt thinking about what you do with the old toxic batteries.... and what if you crash in a hybrid? say on a stormy night would you get shocked to death? i would hate to see Mercedes make hybrids unless the improve upon the power storage side of it.
Drew - 8/16/2005 12:34 AM
Look at the Auto Bild test between the ML320CDI and the Lexus RX400h Hybrid. The diesel ML easily beat the Lexus as far as fuel economy and would be less expensive without the battery pack etc.
Hybrids are a joke. They all do great on the EPA ratings but we live in the real world. Even the Toyota Prius (I believe this was the first Hybrid on the market) gets real world numbers close to it's gasoline-only counter parts. If the auto manufacturers were serious about helping the environment (and our wallets at the pump), they would work harder on hydrogen power. It is the only "true" clean air vehicle since it's only byproduct is water (which by the way, is clean enough to drink).
I was told by a mercedes salesman a year or so ago that Mercedes won't make a hybrid until all the kinks are worked out 100%, he said they don't want to make a car that is still in the beta phases
to me it doesn't look like its beta anymore, my mom wants to buy a hybrid but she wants a mercedes, it looks like she is going to sell her 02' C320 and buy a 06' E350, her plan is to sell and buy everytime her warranty ends
yea good to point out the MPG that the prius gets. infact the only way they can get 45mpg is by having a factory rep drive the car. they wont even let independent sources do a trip with the car to see what milage they can get. (i heard that on speedvision when they did a test of the car and the factory did have to send out a rep to drive it for them) i think the E320 CDI is a whole lot better it will get about the same gas milage as the prius plus if you ever drag race a prius your E320CDI or even ML320 could do 0-60-0 befor teh prius hits 60mph and i am sure the E320 could do 0-60-0-30 befor the prius hits 60mph its that slow..
yea good to point out the MPG that the prius gets. infact the only way they can get 45mpg is by having a factory rep drive the car. they wont even let independent sources do a trip with the car to see what milage they can get. (i heard that on speedvision when they did a test of the car and the factory did have to send out a rep to drive it for them) i think the E320 CDI is a whole lot better it will get about the same gas milage as the prius plus if you ever drag race a prius your E320CDI or even ML320 could do 0-60-0 befor teh prius hits 60mph and i am sure the E320 could do 0-60-0-30 befor the prius hits 60mph its that slow..
Actually my wife has a Prius and gets close to 50 mpg (I think it's around 48). Surprisingly it's mostly highway driving, but it is painful to go from a supercharged ML55 to a RC car with a lawnmower engine attached...
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