G. David Felt

Top Gear just did an update as they reviewed last years C350 Plug-in and so they posted these details about the Detroit info from MB. DRIVETRAIN SPECIFICATIONS Internal combustion engine Number of cylinders/arrangement 4 in-line Mixture formation High-pressure injection, 1 turbocharger Displacement (cc) 1991 Rated output 208 HP @ 5,500 RPM Rated torque 258 LB-FT Electric motor Output (kW) max. 60 Torque 251 LB-FT System output (kW/hp) 205/279 System torque 442 LB-FT Acceleration 0-62 mph (s) 5.9 (6.2) Top speed (km/h) 250 (246) Top speed electric (km/h) 130 Fuel consumption (combined) from (l/100 km) 2.1 (2.1) Combined CO2 emissions from (g/km) 48 (49) Efficiency class A+ Electric range (km) 31 Total battery capacity (kWh) 6.2 Charge time 10%-100% (230/8 A -16 A), 1.8-3.7 kW(h) 1.75 – 3.5 So 31 km range equals 19.3 miles. Supposed to go on sale in the US at just under $50,000 dollars. I personally think this is a Joke and waste of money. Clearly they need a better battery solution and Top Speed says they believe it will only be around 100 MPG rather than the MB market speech of 134.5 MPG based on current testing of their hybrids.

So from a Marketing / Sales stand point. What can we create to fill a need to make money on. Perfect for those that should not be driving or cannot drive we have a self driven auto. Customer: Blind Narcoleptic paralyzed those not wanting to drive for various reasons. So I can see the ideas and reasons for this, yet we also need to do one thing. Acknowledged that Driving is a PRIVILEGE not a RIGHT! Biggest problem to distracted driving is the politicians who have pushed allowing driver license testing to be done in various languages and giving a person who cannot communicate with the local emergency responders / police the ability to drive when they are not prepared. Driving is a PRIVILEGE you EARN! We need tougher drivers training courses which can install the responsibility of not being distracted by cell phones, movies on entertainment systems, etc in an auto. If you do not want to bother with driving or enjoy it, then take the bus, taxi or get a self driving car. Yet before we push self driving auto's out on the public before their time, we really should look at fixing our system on how you learn to drive and the responsibility that comes along with driving.

I love that, I would buy that Jeep Pickup.

G. David Felt Alternative Fuels & Propulsion writer www.CheersandGears.com C350 PLUG-IN HYBRID MERCEDES-BENZ C350 PLUG-IN HYBRID The C350 Plug-In delivers 134.5 MPG, CO2 emits only 48 g/km and 19 miles is how much it can travel on electric power alone. So the question for this introduction at the Detroit Autoshow: Is it worth it? Does it make sense to have an auto that has so limited electric range as a plug-in even though with generator you can say you average 134.5 MPG? The best part of this is it makes the Chevy VOLT a Bargain that is superior to this MB. What are your thoughts? Would you spend money on this car?

The fashion Police!

How hard are they Blowing?

Please Snap a Photo of these sell running Caddies! I agree for those motorist who would rather be on Facebook over paying attention to driving it would be great and let the auto cars be programmed to always stay to the right. Let those of us that love to drive drive.

I hope with the refreshed Terrain, they bring back an AWD Typhoon Edition.

We'll this should sell better than their first attempt with the Maybach name. Wonder if it will take the same 50% depreciation hit that they tend to do so fast.

Simple, if the MFG's want to go retail like Tesla, then they have to purchase out the franchises for a fair market price and run them as delivery / repair centers only.

Not until I am forced to as I love to drive.

Very interesting, watched some of their videos. Lots of broken Carbon Fiber but looks like fun. Much quieter due to electric powertrains. Plenty of torque as you can see many spinning wheels at the start and through out the race. I was wondering how they kept them going and so you can do a battery swap or a complete car swap to have your full charge.

I am sure there was valid reasons for the time to protect franchise but no more. This out of date thinking needs to be retired like most over the hill out of touch politicians.

Pontiac

This is Great. Once people stop thinking GM and only think Chevy, Buick, GMC Cadillac it will be much more positive. The lesson to learn here is that GM can make universal parts that can be used across business units but the exterior and interior need to stand apart on their own.

That Rocks!

So if Cadillac does a inline 6 you will then bash it as being the old Chevy straight 6 from the trailblazer.

Someone not happy with their hosting services?

20 years to be legal and another 20 to become common like a Prius and then 20 more years to replace the bulk of auto's. About 60 years from now.

That is very weird. Hope they get caught by the law. DDOS just hurts everyone.

In researching this for my suburban, I found that the Electric motor I show above AMR 250-90D takes only 1/3 the space under the hood compared to the existing motor and connects to the current transmission. I then loose my exhaust system and fuel tank. So space on both sides of the drive line is where you can have battery packs as well as behind the rear differential as they can have battery cells there also. You have a wiring harness that connects to the existing harness in the dash so you do not loose anything, your gas gauge becomes the battery charge indicator and if you want you can change it out to be very accurate with a new digital unit. With Cheaper insurance on older auto's and styles that I like, there is valid reasons to convert.

I suspect Porsche helps support VW products since they do have one of the highest profits per auto.

Makes one wonder if GM with the Chevy BOLT will do better by also pushing a charging network.

I believe the company is here for the long haul and has respectable products. Stock price is currently over valued in relation to product depth. Like Drew states, eventually it will get to the proper price to performance ratio.

They should pull it in as soon as possible as coworkers who had older versions are not thrilled with the new version. They will loose sales and market share.