Paint it green

Last year, the Los Angeles auto show was moved from its familiar slot in early January (where it was continually overshadowed by the larger North American International Auto Show in Detroit) to November, where it can make its own mark. Yet, another move that helps give the show its own identity is its overriding green-car theme.

 

On the first press day, more than a dozen vehicles were highlighted that provide cleaner and/or more fuel-efficient alternatives to conventional gasoline engines. This ranged from the familiar, such as diesels and flex-fuel vehicles (which can run on E85 ethanol) to more exotic designs, such as the second-generation Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle and the plug-in, fuel-cell Volkswagen Space Up! Blue concept.

 

Chevrolet crowded eight vehicles onto its stage to provide the right setting for announcing that the brand will be GM’s big tent for fuel-efficient vehicles, and that its goal is to be “the industry leader for fuel-economy leadership.” The eight ranged from small, fuel-efficient conventional cars, such as the Aveo and new Beat, to hybrid versions of the Malibu sedan, Silverado pickup and Tahoe SUV, to the more advanced plug-in electric Volt and Equinox fuel-cell vehicle.

 

Among the intriguing, yet do-able, cars on display was the diesel/electric-powered Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueTec Hybrid. We were very impressed with the E320 BlueTec diesel we recently tested, rating it slightly higher than the similar E350 gasoline model. Like the E320, the S400 will be available in all 50 states. But in contrast to the E320’s 29 mpg overall that we got, the company says that the S400 will achieve 40 mpg while providing even quicker acceleration. That’s impressive for a relatively heavy luxury car. And even if Mercedes’ mpg number proves to be a little high compared with real-world results, the combination of clean diesel and hybrid electric power is promising and a design that we’ll likely see more of in coming years.

—Rik Paul