Mercedes-Benz promises a 9-percent fuel saving compared to a similar car that does not feature start-stop capability. The B170 can run on a combination of gasoline and natural gas, or on clean diesel. It includes five fuel cells for a total of 16 kilos of natural gas and a range of 300 kilometers. When adding regular gasoline into the equation, the available range increases to about 1,000 kilometers. The driver can switch from gasoline to natural gas simply by pushing a button on the steering wheel. How nice!
Meanwhile, the European BMW 3-Series Cabriolet has just received a 170-hp, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with automatic start-stop and regenerative braking. The technology is basically the same as its domestic rival's, but at BMW, expected fuel savings are much higher: 20 percent. The Bavarian automaker will also offer the technology in the new 1-Series.
Exponential progress
While my own generation (60-something folks) feels nostalgic about the "glory years" of the automobile, my 22-year-old's generation will forever remember the exponential progress achieved in the auto industry over the last few years and especially the upcoming ones. What we're seeing today is only the tip of the iceberg. Interesting new technologies will keep being introduced at a faster and faster pace. Think about what it was like barely five years ago: fuel cells, electric cars, electronic steerings and throttles, intelligent keys, self-parking cars and start-stop systems were regarded as technologies of the future.
But there we are!
All these automotive innovations can be appreciated as we speak. Evolution is no longer calculated in decades (as was the case in the 1960s and '70s); we're talking months and even weeks! What do the next few months have in store for us in terms of environmentally-friendly technologies? Your guess is as good as mine. One thing's for sure, though: Auto123.com will be there to give you all the inside information.
When we'll finally see the largest intersections in Canada turn dead silent and emission-free, we'll know that the trend has been reversed and that a brighter, greener future is definitely in front of us. In the meantime, we have to be Earth-conscious and keep an open mind. So, the next time you walk into a dealership, buy with your head, not with your guts.
Meanwhile, the European BMW 3-Series Cabriolet has just received a 170-hp, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with automatic start-stop and regenerative braking. The technology is basically the same as its domestic rival's, but at BMW, expected fuel savings are much higher: 20 percent. The Bavarian automaker will also offer the technology in the new 1-Series.
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| BMW 3-Series Cabriolet |
Exponential progress
While my own generation (60-something folks) feels nostalgic about the "glory years" of the automobile, my 22-year-old's generation will forever remember the exponential progress achieved in the auto industry over the last few years and especially the upcoming ones. What we're seeing today is only the tip of the iceberg. Interesting new technologies will keep being introduced at a faster and faster pace. Think about what it was like barely five years ago: fuel cells, electric cars, electronic steerings and throttles, intelligent keys, self-parking cars and start-stop systems were regarded as technologies of the future.
But there we are!
All these automotive innovations can be appreciated as we speak. Evolution is no longer calculated in decades (as was the case in the 1960s and '70s); we're talking months and even weeks! What do the next few months have in store for us in terms of environmentally-friendly technologies? Your guess is as good as mine. One thing's for sure, though: Auto123.com will be there to give you all the inside information.
When we'll finally see the largest intersections in Canada turn dead silent and emission-free, we'll know that the trend has been reversed and that a brighter, greener future is definitely in front of us. In the meantime, we have to be Earth-conscious and keep an open mind. So, the next time you walk into a dealership, buy with your head, not with your guts.