At the Paris Motor Show, 2013 Mercedes-Benz B 200 Natural Gas Drive powered by natural gas, which is to score points with top travel values and low consumption.
Mercedes-Benz extends the range of the B-Class is a natural gas model. The Mercedes B 200 Natural Gas Drive features in a false bottom under the rear bench seat has a large and two smaller gas tank, which summarize 125 liters of natural gas, equivalent to about 21 kg.
Running on natural gas needs of the 156 hp (115 kW) engine only 4.2 kg/100 km, which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 115 g / km. In addition, the natural gas - Mercedes already meets the Euro 6 emissions standard, which is effective from 1.9.2014 for all vehicles with gasoline engines in power. For emergencies, the B 200 Natural Gas Drive still has a 12 liter fuel tank.
Despite economical and low fuel consumption (the price per kilometer is around 50% below that of a gasoline-powered vehicle) is the B-Class also move fast. The sprint from 0 to 100 km / h is done in 9.1 seconds, top speed is 200 km / h.
In addition, customers can choose the B 200 Natural Gas Drive between a 6-speed manual transmission or the new 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox 7G-DCT.
Visual level, the gas B-class on some details, such as the striking front bumper with LED daytime running lights in the form of ingots. To the dealers, the B-Class will roll powered by natural gas in 2013.
Thanks to Zipcar I was once again able to review my first car from Ford Motor Company. For my first Ford Ill be driving one of their best sellers, the 2012 Ford Focus.
This specific Focus was a Silver Ingot SEL model. Ford equipped the Focus with a direct injection 2.0 liter engine producing 160 horsepower and 146 pound feet of torque. Driving the front wheels is the highly polarizing 6-speed dual-clutch PowerShift transmission. Buyers can choose from a 4-door sedan or a 5-door hatchback. I prefer the looks of the hatchback. Ford has really drawn many positive reactions from journalists and consumers so I was very excited to have a chance to test drive my first Ford.
I only had a hour and a half with the Focus, but I had the perfect route planned. The route was broken down into three sections: highway, rough road, and technical county road. This route challenged every aspect of the Focus. Fuel economy, noise vibration and harshness (NVH) and chassis control. With only an hour and half I had to get the most out of my time.
Fuel economy is a hallmark of the compact car segment. EPA estimates put the Focus at 27 city and 38 highway with the PowerShift transmission with SelectShift (tons of trademarks here). I was able to demolish these estimates by achieving 51 miles per gallon over a 15 mile stretch of highway. The direct feel of the PowerShift transmission and excellent throttle response gave me excellent control of fuel usage short of a completely manual transmission. The absence of an instant fuel economy gauge was troubling for someone like me. For those of you who want to stop using gasoline all together Ford has a fully electric variant of the Focus.
Taking a left off of Highway 46 east of Bloomington, Ind. brings you onto the weather beaten roads that pass through Yellowwood State Forest. These roads are potholed, bumpy and an excellent challenge for any suspension. It is amazing how solid and well built compact cars have become over the last few years. Instead of creaks, moans and other distressing sounds all you felt was a thrum through the chassis as it absorbed the blows. Ride quality is near the top of the class.
I had 30 minutes to drop the Focus off. Lucky for me Highway 45 and its endless S-Curves lay ahead. Ive taken a lot of cars out to this road to really get to know the suspension, engines and brakes. Its a road that offers little traffic and tight turns. What I can tell you about the Focus is that it has one of the best chassis for a subcompact car. Suspension is definitely firm and might be a deal breaker for some drivers. If you dont fall into that category this really is a drivers compact car. The Achilles heel of the Focus is its numb and light electric power steering. Even under heavy steering load you cant feel whats going on with the tires. For those who need to feel more connected to the road I suggest you check out the turbocharged Focus ST.
Unlike much of its competition the Focus has a decidedly European flair that a former Volkswagen driver like me can appreciate. What doesnt translate well is the overly designed center stack. If youre going to purchase a Focus Id recommend the Ford MyTouch system which gives the Focus an upmarket feel and better looking interior. Even with the silly button layout I found myself whispering how German the whole car felt. Black and silver accents adorn everything and there are firm but comfortable seats the interior was definitely my style.
Ford has succeeded in creating a car that is fun to drive and extremely frugal. In regards to the issues other journalists have faced I found the PowerShift transmission to operate just fine. I think this transmission offers drivers who have never driven a manual the kind of control over their car theyve never felt. If youre dead set on a manual there is a 5-speed version available. I really think Ford needs to add another gear, but thats just me.
This is a great car for someone with a duality of spirit. On one hand they want great fuel economy on the other they want to feel connected with their car on the road. Ford has accomplished this with the Focus.
For my first Ford review ever this one gets my seal of approval for drivers who want to save fuel and have fun doing it.
Pricing Info: 2013 Ford Focus
Gasoline Powered
Focus S Sedan: $16,200 + $795 Destination Fee
Focus SE Sedan: $18,20 + $795 Destination Fee
Focus SE Hatchback: $19,200 + $795 Destination Fee
12 June 2012 - the date marks the starting signal for the first real alternative to the usual refuelling stops. With the launch of the new smart fortwo electric drive, in future smart customers can enjoy even more fun at the wheel of an attractively priced vehicle that has the familiar compact dimensions - as a coupé or a cabriolet. The most important feature distinguishing it from its siblings with conventional engines is the fact that it does not produce any emissions on the road. With its 55kW electric motor the smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0-60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and with a maximum speed of 125 km/h driving pleasure is also guaranteed on urban motorways. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the urban two-seater to travel approximately 145 kilometres in city traffic without producing any local emissions. The new sale&care model makes opting into electric mobility particularly attractive: it offers customers an opportunity to buy, finance or lease the vehicle at an attractive price and to rent the battery for a monthly fee.
Extensive experience and customer feedback from various electric mobility projects were integrated in the further development of the smart fortwo electric drive. Ever since 1998 the smart has been revolutionising urban mobility like no vehicle before it. Compact, agile, environmentally friendly and stylish - it has evolved from a practical small car to a lifestyle product and has long become a familiar sight on the roads of cities around the world.
From the summer the smart fortwo electric drive will start winning wide-ranging buyers in more than 30 international countries for its innovative and forward-looking drive concept.
The new model is fitted with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor - the first product from the EM-motive joint venture founded together with Bosch - ensuring that it is as agile and lively as ever.
With torque of 130 Newton metres it accelerates powerfully from 0 to 60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and thanks to better acceleration in the higher speed range it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds as it has much more tractive power than its predecessor.
It makes for speedy driving and overtaking. The battery-electric two-seater smart fortwo now has a higher top speed of 125 km/h, as well. That is putting it on a par with the combustion-engined smart - also on the motorway.
A battery from the joint venture "Deutsche ACCUmotive" with Evonik Industries is fitted in the new smart fortwo electric drive for the first time. With capacity of 17.6 kWh the lithium-ion battery enables 145 kilometres of pollutant-free driving fun. In addition to the higher battery capacity clear improvements have been made to the efficiency of the drive system, resulting in a greater range. When completely empty it takes a maximum of seven hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries i.e. overnight.
Quick charging in less than one hour For the feasibility of quick charging it is possible to optionally equip the car with a quick-charging function. The 22 kW on-board charger enables a completely empty battery to be fully charged in less than an hour. A power cable is needed for this which is used to connect the vehicle to a public quick-charging station or a "wallbox" at home or work.
smart will offer this in future in cooperation with SPX, one of the worlds leading suppliers of technology solutions in the fields of energy and automotive as a global installation and service partner, and with KEBA, a specialist for innovative E-charging infrastructure and wallboxes. If a customer decides to install a wallbox at home or work the smart Sales department will contact SPX. SPX will examine the local conditions, make an individual offer, and after a purchase decision, arrange for installation of the wallbox from KEBA. The wallbox is standardised and can of course also be used to charge vehicles from other manufacturers, for example if there is a mixed fleet.
There are two different types of wallbox: Basic and Connected. Both variants can be used for the quick charging of a single vehicle, or several vehicles one after the other. For private customers who want to charge up quickly and easily at home, a Basic wallbox is the perfect solution. It provides quick charging up to 22 kW and can be used both indoors and outdoors. The Connected wallbox also provides internet connectivity once linked up to the customers web connection.
Furthermore, the Connectivity Plus system is an ideal solution for fleet customers. It enables up to 16 Connected wallboxes to be linked up to the "fleet server". This fleet server then enables several vehicles to be charged at once, all controlled intelligently and automatically. For example, certain vehicles can be given priority or a load limitation can be set. SmartCharging is also possible: economical charging and charging with green electricity (if the utility company provides the relevant data). This is financially advantageous to customers as they always have full control over their charging. The relevant charging cables are of course also available from SPX.
Attractive introduction to electric mobility The smart fortwo electric drive makes opting into electric mobility very attractive with a new marketing concept. With the sale&care model customers can buy, lease or finance the vehicle at an attractive price and rent the battery. The rental costs include regular maintenance and, if necessary, quick battery replacement. smart also has a solution for all those who want to buy the entire vehicle.
In Germany the price for the vehicle with the sale&care model is €18,910 inc. VAT for the coupé and €22,000 for the cabrio. As well as this there is the standard battery rental charge of €65 including VAT in all sale&care markets. In view of the low operating costs electric driving is therefore a very attractive form of individual mobility.
National promotion programmes in many countries and various mobility benefits such as the use of special lanes or exemption from city congestion charges are further advantages of electric driving. With the attractive sale&care package and the significant technological advancement of the smart fortwo electric drive smart offers its customers affordable driving pleasure in daily use based on the environmentally friendly drive.
smart also has an attractive offer for customers who want to buy or lease the complete vehicle with the battery: including VAT the new smart fortwo electric drive costs €23,680 as a coupé and €26,770 as a cabrio.
Since the International Motor Show in Frankfurt anyone interested has been able to register on www.smart.com with no obligation to receive all the latest news on the new electric smart. In some markets, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK customers have been able to make advance reservations for a vehicle online - and these customers will be among the first owners of the new smart fortwo electric drive. A four-figure number of reservations has already been received - and a five-figure number of people have even registered on the smart website.
Fill up on renewable energies Electric vehicles cut down greenhouse gases on a sustained basis, especially when they are powered by renewably generated electricity. This is why the company is supplying as much additional energy generated by wind power to the German grid as is needed to run all new electric smarts sold in Germany - thus supporting the ambitious climate targets of the EU. The energy needed for this is supplied by a new wind power plant on the A9 motorway, which Daimler has acquired in order to supply additional power generated from a completely renewable source to the grid on time for the launch of the new electric smart. Within the framework of this initiative Daimler is deliberately not taking up support measures from the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). With nominal output of 2.3 megawatts per year the onshore wind energy plant type Enercon E82 will generate enough green electricity to run the approximately 2,500 smart fortwo electric drives initially sold in Germany. Any power required over and above this could also be covered with electricity from wind power, without EEG funding.
A fresh green and even more colours With a larger radiator grille featuring the electric drive logo, stylish LED daytime driving lights below the headlamps, wider door sills and several modifications to the rear the new model is much more dynamic than its predecessor. The new E-smart comes in all smart colours and colour combinations that are also available for the diesel and petrol models.
The new colour fresh green is a particularly visible manifestation of electric driving fun. The electric drive design package comprises crystal white bodypanels and white alloy rims, tridion cell and mirror caps painted in electric green and numerous green accents in the interior, which form an attractive contrast to the black seats.
Those looking to give their vehicle an even more exclusive touch can choose from the range of options offered by smart BRABUS tailor made - with an even greater choice of colours and materials.
Perfectly equipped As to be expected the new smart fortwo electric drive features extensive equipment. A highlight is the fully automatic air conditioning with pollen filter and pre-entry climate control. When it is connected to the power supply the vehicle can be automatically pre-cooled or pre-heated as required for a programmed departure time. A new feature is the possibility to start the pre-entry climate control via the internet or a smartphone at any time. The standard equipment furthermore includes electric windows, a leather steering wheel, leather gear knob, the audio system basic, power steering, 9-spoke alloy wheels and a luggage compartment cover. In addition to the standard solid roof, a glass roof and a cabrio version are available. The trip computer - also a standard feature in the electric smart - shows journey information including the remaining range. And like the predecessor model the two round instruments show the battery state-of-charge and the energy used and recuperated. In addition, the smart fortwo electric drive can be equipped with a navigation system and a 3-spoke leather steering wheel.
Clever app for infotainment with smartphones smart is the first car brand to develop its own drive app for the iPhone®. Together with the smart kit and cradle for the iPhone® the cult phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras - for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car.
The new smart drive app for the iPhone is simple to operate, for example thanks to extra-large buttons. The new app therefore makes urban mobility even easier and more fun - the declared objective of the smart philosophy.
Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone a perfect team:
The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made
The smart drive app for the iPhone is the worlds first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters
Always know how far you can go: connected services The smart drive app for the iPhone can be supplemented with further functions tailored to the smart fortwo electric drive. However, the current state-of-charge or the SmartCharging charge configuration can also be conveniently controlled and managed via a web portal from a home computer or with any modern smartphone.
The Vehicle Homepage offers every smart fortwo electric drive customer a chance to visualise the range on an interactive map with 3D views.
All the destinations that can be reached with the current battery charge are displayed. The public charging stations within reach can also be seen at a glance. If a desired destination is further away than the available range the Vehicle Homepage can be used to quickly check how long the battery still needs to be charged for to reach it. Among other factors, the depiction of the range considers the topography and the route profile. The intuitive graphic depiction that can be combined with 3D views and satellite images is an attractive feature. Furthermore, the vehicle itself can also become active: information on the charge status and range can be sent by email or Twitter messages for example. The driver is notified as soon as the desired range can be reached with the current charge.
Intelligent charging The smart fortwo electric drive can be connected to the internet at home via a standard powerline adapter (Homeplug AV) for SmartCharging. After entering the planned departure time in the vehicle or the web portal the vehicle will be fully charged in a battery-saving and economical way. The smart fortwo electric drive also makes charging at public stations easy. With Plug&Charge the vehicle identifies itself as soon as it is plugged into a compatible charging point and the charging process is settled automatically.
"Electric history at smart" With the start of the first electrically driven test fleet in 2007 in London smart also took on a pioneering role in the area of electric mobility when 100 smart fortwo electric drives took to the roads of the British capital - with great success.
With the introduction of the second generation in 2009 the smart fortwo electric drive was ready to take to the roads. The electrically driven avant-gardiste from Stuttgart was introduced in 18 markets. The objective was to gather as much experience as possible about how customers use and charge electric vehicles. The huge demand exceeded all expectations. Instead of the planned 1000 vehicles more than 2000 smart fortwo electric drives were produced in Hambach. This means that smart has one of the largest fleets of electrically driven vehicles on the roads worldwide and a trove of customer experience and wishes that have been input in the new smart fortwo electric drive.
A higher top speed and better acceleration at speeds above 60 km/h were right at the top of the customers list of priorities. However, contrary to prevailing opinion the range wasnt the crucial point from the perspective of the test customers. The vast majority of users confirmed the results of surveys which say that people drive approximately 30 to 40 kilometres per day on average in urban areas and they expressed great satisfaction with the range of their smart.
Technical specifications Electric motor: Magneto-electric synchronous motor from EM-motive Continuous output: 35 kW Maximum output: 55 kW Max. torque: 130 Nm Battery: Lithium-ion battery from Deutsche ACCUmotive Battery capacity: 17.6 kWh Maximum speed: > 120 km/h Acceleration 0-60 km/h: 4.8 s 0-100 km/h: 11.5 s Range (NEDC): 145 km Charging time (0-100%) domestic socket: 7h (without wallbox), 6h (with wallbox) 400V: Less than 1h
